May 2020 - Sparkle on Daily

my storms

This week I was reminded of the story of Jesus calming the storm. I taught pre-school for years and this is a story I told over and over. You may remember that this story is told in Matthew, Mark and Luke. It is Mark 4:35-41 that we are going to focus on. As I told this story to pre-schoolers, you can imagine that I thought I knew it. It is short – 7 verses! And pre-schoolers have a very short attention span. I had always imagined that Jesus came up on deck and yelled at the storm to stop and it did. Once as I was preparing, the Holy Spirit said, “Jesus did not yell. His power is strong even in a whisper.” I was pretty amazed by this. It makes a difference to my heart to understand Jesus did not yell. I try to yell over storms in my life but Jesus is greater than me.

I woke up the other morning with this same lesson on my heart. However this time, the Holy Spirit had a different message for me. The disciples were panicked. The scripture says their situation was getting dangerous because the boat was filling with water. They went to get Jesus and cried out to Him. “Jesus, do you even know what was going on? It’s bad! We are going to die!” (I paraphrase)

Jesus knew. He walked up on deck, rebuked the winds and the waves and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” Then there was a great calm. I can’t help but think Jesus command was not only for the storm but also for the disciples. That is what I heard the other morning. Jesus telling me, “Peace! Be still!” Then the Holy Spirit reminded me of the awe the disciples had at who He was! Jesus had called the disciples way back in the 1st chapter. They had seen Him heal people and listened to Him speak, yet they still had “little faith.” They did not yet trust Him.

Jesus led them into the boat and into the lake where He was well aware there was a storm waiting for them. Jesus calmed the storm for them when they cried out for help. All to show them the incredible power and authority that He held over nature and their lives. Jesus was more than able to care for them, just as He is us.

Jesus knows what you are encountering. He desires for you to cry out to Him so that He can reveal to you a new aspect of His character that you have not seen before. What storm, besides COVID-19, do you find your self in right now. Cry out to Jesus. He hears you.

pour out to be filled

This statement “pour out to be filled” is NOT how we think! I mean, do your kids or spouse, ever drink out of your cup? They do. They do when you are looking right at them and they sneak a drink when you aren’t! Be honest- you probably say – “Put my cup down! That’s mine!” I do. Is that how Jesus reacted when the woman who had suffered 12 years from a bleeding disorder touched His robe? No. He sought her out, not to reprimand her but to bless her, Luke 8:48 “And He said to her, ‘Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.”

I learned something this year about giving of your self or taking what God has given you and hoarding it. I experienced this several years ago when I visited Lebanon. However, it wasn’t until earlier this year that the concept really sunk into my heart. Middle Eastern culture is very hospitable and giving. I was at a Turkish restaurant and we had coffee after our supper. Turkish coffee is very distinct. It is served in a tiny cup, it is very strong and it is made with cardamon. Like a good Southern girl I drank the entire little cup. As I sat there proudly admiring myself for drinking it, the server came by and suddenly I had another cup! Which I drank out of obligation, and then it was filled again! Oh no. Finally a friend leaned over and said if I did not want anymore, I needed to leave a little in the cup. You see by emptying my cup I was signaling that I need to be filled back up.

This is a principle God explains in the 23rd Psalm. Verse 5 says, “my cup overflows.” I had always interpreted this as God gives me so much my cup cannot hold it all and it so overflows. This is not consistent what Middle Eastern culture. The principle of an over flowing cup is one that in continually emptied and filled back up so that it can be emptied again.

Do you pour out onto others from what God has filled you with? I mean: do you empty your cup to them? The only way to be renewed by God is to give away all that He has already given you.

Jesus is the Good Shepherd, He meets your needs so that you can meet the needs of those around you. When you give all you have, He in turn refills your cup. When you operate your life by Jesus principle of giving, your cup will always flow through Him. Quarantine is a good time to practice giving of yourself. As you sparkle, Jesus will make His light shine brighter through you.