You had to be in Sunday School last week to get it…. but I’ve had more thoughts since then that I didn’t express, so here y’go…

First, a recap… the verses were Phillipians 4:4-20, and the curriculum focus was Joy & Giving. For an object lesson, everyone received dixie cups and some water from a watering jug – this represented “life force” which God gives to everyone…it could be money, influence, health, talent, any number of things – every good & perfect gift is from God. Not deliberately, but it fit, the amount of water in each cup was not absolutely equal, and before we even got started Courtney gave to Ashley Kay some of her own water – a sacrifice that we make in small ways daily and big ways sometimes.

We lined up over a bucket, and the intent was to pour water until some cups were overflowing into other cups, but I had forgotten that in the moment. We poured Andrew’s cup out, to present a need, and several stepped up & tipped their cups to provide. We discussed who would be willing to be bruised so that their life would overflow, and bent a few cups. Now, receiving the same amount of water that would get stagnant in some cups & begin to stink (Ebeneezer Scrooge, anyone?), these bruised cups would overflow & create room for more. We discussed who would be willing to be wounded, and poked holes in the bottom of a few cups – this would seem to render them worthless, but the objective was to make a fountain where many lives flowed into many others, and the source of all life would have room to continue pouring out blessings – thus, poking holes, or wounding, was just the thing to do. From the larger wounds, of course, came the larger flow – and the unwounded could only flow by tipping. (of course God does let life knock us around a bit, then we see what spills out).

If you noticed, Hannah and Courtney were able, by their own activity, to give of their “life force” to others by tipping the cup…this tipping could wear out the cup-holding mechanism, and the angle could make it harder for it to receive filling from the top – think about it – God doesn’t ask us, on a regular basis, to tip ourselves to satisfy others, but He does allow it. Be warned, the more you do under your own effort, the harder it will be to be refilled, and the faster you will wear out. But, as you allow yourself to be molded, even bruised or wounded, you will naturally pour God’s grace into other lives as it’s being poured into yours. Usually a greater wound will make a greater flow – check out the stories of Joni Earickson Tada, Jim & Elizabeth Elliot, Corrie TenBoom, Cassie Bernall, and Tricia Lott Williford. None of them knew at the time what would come of the tragedies they endured, but many, many people have been won to the Kingdom and strengthened through their testimonies.

If the fountain would have come together in a true example of how God directs us, there would have been movement where the bruised or wounded cups would have poured into random other cups, and the flow from the watering jug would have been constant. God doesn’t get sidetracked & stop pouring His blessings & care into our lives – He’s much better at multitasking than I am (yeah, I’m sure it’s a newsflash). There also would have been vertical movement, where Andrew (being the recipient of all the flow) would have moved above others & been given an opportunity to flow into their lives.

The question, then, both in the classroom and again out here – are you willing to be tipped…bruised…wounded… so that you may flow into the lives of other people and show them the grace & mercy of our loving God? Can you see your present circumstances, even the ugly ones, as a molding process to make you part of a beautiful and intricate fountain of love & grace? Rather than white-knuckling your way through another rough experience, can you give thanks for the privilege of being God’s helper as he seeks His lost children?

Life sucks, no doubt, but we serve a God who doesn’t waste a single tear. He is the God who doesn’t miss the fall of even one sparrow, nor fail to take notice of every cup of water given in His name.

Love to you all –

Mama J