Fill My Cup

Galatians 5:22-23a, "But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control..."

I recently heard an old expression that was new to me, a saying that really captured my attention. It was, "Don't turn your cup over." If you don't want a waiter or waitress to pour coffee into the cup by your plate, you simply signal "no thanks" by turning the cup upside down.

When God wants to fill your cup with His presence, His guidance, His Spirit, have you ever turned your cup upside down to signal "no thanks" to Him?

How do we turn our cups over spiritually? One way is to ignore God, giving Him no place in our thoughts, our actions, our lives; by living as though He doesn't exist.

Another way we turn our cups over is by relying on ourselves, believing that we are self-sufficient. Remember the t.v. ad where a woman was cooking supper and her mother was trying to help her? The woman said, in an irritated tone of voice, "Please, Mother, I'd rather do it myself!" Have you ever said, "Please, God, I'd rather do it myself?"

Sometimes we turn our cups over by deliberately choosing to sin. We know better, but we do it anyway. We defy God right to His face. I can imagine God's look of disappointment and a great big leering grin on Satan's face when that happens.

Some people get mad at God, often because of a tragic event that happens to themselves or to someone they love. They decide to have nothing more to do with God. You can almost hear the loud "thump" as they turn their cups over. A friend of mine made a very profound statement when her husband died suddenly and unexpectedly, leaving her with two small children to raise. She said, "I can't afford to be mad at God. I need Him too much." We may not acknowledge it, but this is true for all of us. Those who choose to pout and sulk and turn their cups down miss out on all the love and comfort and other blessings that God wants to pour into their lives.

A song writer wanted God's presence and power and direction in his life so much that he wrote, "Fill my cup, Lord. I lift it up, Lord." Picture him energetically waving his cup in God's direction, signaling that he had a great need and desperately wanted God to fill it.

If you have turned your cup over, turn it right side up and lift it to be filled with God Himself and His love, peace, joy, and all the other gifts He has waiting for you. Only He can quench the thirsting of your soul.

Dear God, please fill my cup today and every day. I lift it up to you. Amen.

Life's Little Frustrations

I'm trying to do some housecleaning,

But you would never guess

That a housecleaning fling

Could make such a mess!

What do I do with stuff?

To keep or throw away?

If I keep it, where to put it

Is the challenge of the day.

Food

I Peter 2:2, “Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation."

Somehow, I've become addicted to three meals a day, and I consider in between snacks a real serendipity. One of my favorite slogans is, "A day without chocolate is like a day without sunshine." If I go too long without food my blood sugar begins to drop, and I start feeling weak, trembly, hungry, and grouchy. Securing food becomes my major focus, and I do not stop until I am successful.

Hopefully I have also become addicted to my daily quiet time--to taking in God's Word, to reading some inspirational devotional thoughts, and to conversing with my Heavenly Father. If I neglect my spiritual food, I begin to grow weak when temptations arise. There is an unfulfilled hunger. And I become grouchy and revert to the personality of my natural self, which is neither attractive nor desirable. When this is the case, hopefully I will shift my focus to taking in the milk of God's Word and spending time with Him and not rest until I am successful.

Father, may I always hunger and thirst for Your Word and for fellowship with You, even more than I desire fried chicken, cornbread, ice cream, and even chocolate. May I realize that all the times we meet are my greatest serendipities. Amen.

Life's Little Frustrations

Things aren't always as they seem to appear.

If I don't answer you it might be I didn't hear,

So draw a little nearer and speak closer to my ear.

Make what you're telling me really loud and clear.

Seasons

Ecclesiastes 3:1, "There is a time for everything, a season for every activity under heaven."

The Sunday before Labor Day I wore one of my most blatantly summer outfits as my personal protest that summer was ending. One of the Sunday newspaper cartoons had a picture of a little boy riding the bus to school. There was a balloon above his head that revealed he was thinking about all the fun things he had done during the summer. There were pictures of him swimming, having a picnic, chasing butterflies, lying in the grass, and playing ball with his friends. I feel somewhat like that little boy must have felt. Summer is my favorite season of the year, and I am always sad to see it go. And yet if it were always summer we would miss the beautiful leaves in the fall, the excitement of football games, and the holidays of Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and Valentine's Day. We would miss seeing our breath on the chilly air, snowflakes, and the welcome warm weather and flowers of spring. Actually I am glad I live where the seasons change so much.

As much as we sometimes dislike change, we also embrace it for the variety and excitement it brings to life. So I am embracing the season of fall, if somewhat reluctantly. I'm enjoying football season, already beginning to shop for Christmas, and am thinking about what I will serve for Thanksgiving dinner.

Every season of life has its different aspects, but each one is important and each one brings with it much for us to do and enjoy.

That thought reminds me of I Timothy 6:6a, "But godliness with contentment is great gain." Like Paul, I am learning to be content, and grateful, in every season of life.

Father, thank You for the seasons of the year that remind us of the seasons of our lives. Thank You for the renewal and excitement and enthusiasm that come with the changes. May we be godly, contented, and appreciative whatever our season of life may be. Amen.