Sopping Wet

Yesterday was such a fun day at Bible Study.  Our Moms and daughters met up at the Dollar Store to find goodies to go into shoeboxes that we were making for Operation Christmas Child.  It was a great afternoon filled with laughter and love. 

Once we assembled our boxes, we shared a quick lesson on showing God’s love, mercy and grace to others.  To everyone.  To our teachers, our mailman, the homeless guy on the street and even our parents and siblings.  Everyone, no matter what their social status or position, wants respect.

We talked about the children who were going to receive these boxes.  Some may be orphaned.  All of the recipients would be underprivileged and live in far different circumstances than we do.  They most likely won’t be waking up in a comfy bed with a solid roof over their house.  They most likely won’t be going into their kitchen to a stocked refrigerator.  They probably have to share their single toothbrush with other members of their family.  In tough circumstances like these, it is probably easy for these precious children to feel worthless and of little value.

Truth is that you don’t have to live in an orphanage or in an underprivileged environment to feel worthless.  Sadly, there are many people living in beautiful homes with beautiful things surrounding them.  They are successful in many aspects of their lives but they are feeling insignificant and useless.

If you are reading this and you are feeling this way, here is what I want to tell you.  You are already chosen by God!  He has adopted you and has put your picture in His wallet.  He is so, so proud of you and loves you and wants to have a deep relationship with you.  And because God is King and Ruler of all, this makes us princes and princesses!

We are children of the King and because we are now royalty, we need to act as such.  As President John F. Kennedy said, “With privilege comes responsibility.” And it states in Luke 12:48, “When someone has been given much, much will be required in return.”  So what do we need to do?  If we’re children of the King, then we truly believe that, then we need to act with others in mind.  We’ll need to act this way day-in, day-out.  Act church, at school, at the car wash, at home and all places in between. 

And I’m thinking it’s not going to be easy to do everyday.  We are going to slip and fall sometimes (Prince Harry).  We are going to stray, follow the wrong path and might not always do the right thing.

Everyone knows that I’m a country music lover.  Always have been, always will be.  My kids laugh at me because it doesn’t matter if it’s a song or a commercial; I’m singing it loud and proud.  It really stinks for them since I’m not a very good singer.  But I sure act like I am a GREAT singer.  And it really stinks for them if their friends are around.  “MOM, THAT’S SO EMBARRASSING!”  Truly, if I could be anything in the world, I’d be a country music singer.  On the stage in fancy clothes, big hair just belting it out. 

On the radio these days is a song called “Hard To Love” that Lee Brice sings.  It’s very catchy and I find myself singing along to it every time it’s on. 

I am insensitive I have a tendency to pay more attention to the things that
I need.
Sometimes I drink too much; sometimes I test your trust, sometimes I dunno
Why you're staying with me?

I'm hard to love, hard to love, I don't make it easy, I couldn't do it if I
Stood where you stood
I'm hard to love, hard to love, you say that you need me, I don't deserve
It but I love that you love me. good

I am a short fuse, I am a wrecking ball crashing into your heart like I do
You're like a Sunday morning full of grace and full of Jesus I wish that I
Could be more like you.

from: http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/l/lee_brice/hard_to_love.html ]
I'm hard to love, hard to love, I don't make it easy, I couldn't do it if I
Stood where you stood,
I'm hard to love, hard to love, you say that you need me, I don't deserve
It but I love that you love me. Good
Love me good

Girl you've given me a million second chances and I don't ever wanna take
You for granted, I'm just a man, I'm just a man

Hard to love, hard to love, oh I don't make it easy and I couldn't do it if
I stood where you stood.
I'm hard to love, hard to love and you say that you need me, I don't
Deserve it but I love that you love me. good. (x2)

You love me good.

So it’s another typical country song, right?  A guy talking to a girl about love and second chances and how this girl loves him good.  But I sometimes sing that song to God.  I mess up all the time.  I say things I shouldn’t.  I screw up and don’t treat people the right way sometimes.  But the cool thing is that I may be “hard to love” but God continues to love me. 

We are going to screw up but the important thing to remember is that our God, our precious Father, our sweet Dad, loves us so very much.  All we have to do is come home.  If we just turn around and walk back His direction, God is there throwing a party in Heaven and welcoming us back, just as the father did with the Prodigal Son. 

So since we’re royalty and are daughters and sons of the King of all Kings, it’s our job to lift people up, show them love, treat them with kindness and respect and show them God’s love.  How are we going to do that?  Philippians 4:8 tells us to focus on all things good, honest, lovely, just and pure.  We need to seek God in all circumstances.  We need to acknowledge God in all ways. 

Picture yourself as a sponge and God’s Holy Spirit is the water.  Without God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit, we are all dried up.  We are hard.  We are rough around the edges, brittle and tough. 

But what happens when God’s Holy Spirit is poured into us?  What happens if we go to God daily and turn to Him on a consistent and regular basis?  Our dry sponge begins to expand.  We slowly begin to fill up with all things good.  Things that are lovely, just, pure and praiseworthy.  We come bendable and flexible.  We can adjust and deal with all circumstances and situations.  When we are filled with the Holy Spirit, the Spirit that sweet Jesus poured into us, we begin to radiate goodness, love and joy.  We can give hope to others. 

And when our sponge has reached its maximum capacity and is full, it begins to overflow and the water overflows out of it.  Whatever happens to be next to the sponge gets soaked with water.  So if we are full of God’s love and His beauty, whatever we encounter will get soaked with God’s love too!  When we radiate all things good to all we meet, we are pouring God’s love into their sponge.  And the cycle continues.  When their sponge is full, they pass on God’s love to the next person.

Romans 5:5 says, “And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit whom He has given us.” 

This sponge example makes me think of the CocaCola commercial, “I’d like to teach the world to sing, in perfect harmony…”  I have always loved that commercial because I just think of what a beautiful day it would be if the whole world was truly in harmony.

Please Lord, I ask you to start with me.  Start with me and help me to spread Your sweet love to all those I meet.  Help me to behave in such a way that others will want to know You because of me.  Lord, pour Your Holy Spirit on me and let Your love flood over.  Let everyone’s sponges soak up Your goodness.  Help all of us seek You in every situation.  Help us to thank You for all the good things in our lives and also for the things we may not understand.  Lord, we might not know why we’re walking down the road You have us on but You know.  You drew the map and You know the Plan. 

I'm hard to love and I don't make it easy but I'm so, so grateful that You love me good.

Praise be to Your glorious name.

xoxoxo