When I think of a warm cup, I also think of a full cup. We all live such busy lives that it is easy to feel that we have nothing left to give. I seem to work and live in places where there are a lot of needs. It is so important to keep filling "our cup" so we have something left to share with others.
These are my suggestions to fill your cup:
Every evening I try to Remember the day starts the night before
Genesis 1:5 says, "God called the light 'day,' and the darkness he called 'night.' And there was evening, and there was morning- the first day." (Notice: evening came first.) This makes so much sense. If I don't get enough sleep the night before, my day will not be as productive. Trust me--if I could get away with no sleep at all, I would. When I was a little younger I used to say that I could sleep when I am dead. One of my friends told me, "When we all get to heaven, everyone will be praising God except you. You'll be in a chair in the corner sleeping." So I do try to go to bed at a decent hour now, so I won't be sleeping during praise time in heaven.
Every morning I say this verse - "My help comes from God, maker of heaven and earth." Psalm 121:2
This is such a simple verse, with few words to memorize, but so powerful. I try to start each day knowing that whatever comes my way, the one who created everything is my helper, and I don't have to live this life on my own strength. What a relief!!
Every morning I pray to see God in all situations
This is a quote from Mr. Rogers “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, "Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping." To this day, especially in times of "disaster," I remember my mother's words and I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers – so many caring people in this world.”
I work in a school for special needs children, and I have learned so much about God there. Our God is able to teach us to love and learn from those who you would not ordinarily think would be the teacher. There was one little blind boy that I got particularly close to a few years ago, and one day when we were taking a walk with the rest of the class he asked me what a sound was. It was so much in my subconscious that I was not hearing anything, but in the distance I could here birds chirping. He made me think that he was much more aware of his surroundings than I, as a sited person. We all have so much to learn from each other. I try to look for God in even the little things. When I put this into practice I can be a much more postive person. The good is magnified, and the things that aren't so good are dimmed.
I know that if I start each day the night before, remember where my help comes from, and look for God in all situations, I will have a full cup that I will be able to share with those that I come in contact with.
I am praying for a warm...and full cup for each one of you.
Remember God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself,
because it is not there. There is no such thing.
CS Lewis
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Thanks Niki!
ReplyDeleteIn recent years I've become quite strict with myself about taking 1 day as a Sabbath. It's not full of legalism and a list of do's and don't's, but is more living out the command from God to rest, worship, and delight. What causes me to rest, worship, and delight may look very different for someone else. That's okay and good. At first, taking this Sabbath cost much in preparation the night before, to be ready for the day after. However, within a few weeks, I found myself preparing the night before for most days, not just the Sabbath day. It made so much sense. My days were ordered (loosely) and when 'broad-sides' came, they were more often than not taken in stride. Thanks for the encouragement and wisdom...my cup is full.
Good words, Nik. As always, you and your girls simply inspire me. Although we do not share the same amount of "faith" in the tightly wrought "christian" path, when I read your blog it makes me yearn, just a little bit, for the times in my past where I could put my troubles soley upon a "God" and rest a little easier for it. Until I find my Peace again, I am happy to drink encouragement and inspiration from the warm cups that find their way to my hands. Thanks for your loving consistency. Your sis, Sheree.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful. Thank you for these reminders.
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