At a table in the corner of a diner on Main Street, sits a man and woman. As they share conversation and coffee, time passes quickly and they are caught up in the fellowship. The gracious waitress continues to come over and offer more coffee. They gladly accept but as they have finished their breakfasts, they start to slow down on the hot, soothing beverage. Don't want to overdo it. They look at the time and notice how long they have been there. As she comes over again, they turn down the offer for more of the black refreshment and decide instead to pay the tab and leave her a generous tip. A beautiful morning has begun and the visit to the diner has them looking forward to the possibilities of the day.
As I think back to those beautiful mornings and reminisce, I have fond memories of the time well spent getting to know the one who is now my spouse. I am reminded of the excitement of a new love and the gift of His grace that allowed us a second chance at a deep and lasting love that has been blessed by Him. I recall that those breakfasts that started after work in the morning were just the beginning to the end of our day. We would continue our thoughts and converse even more as the day unfolded. Taking the time to invest in and getting to know each other led us to healing and peace. His deep presence seemed to surround us as we moved forward in time and talked endlessly of our dreams and hopes. We of course had a past, but the future was awaiting us and our walk together. Surely, there is nothing like getting to know the one that you plan to walk with for years to come. Surely, there is nothing quite like getting to know the One who wants to walk with you in the years that lie ahead.
I think of the lessons that I have had to learn through these last sixteen years (now twenty years). The plans that I had that were scrapped, the future that I was looking into that was suddenly and providentially closed to me. The Author of my hopes and dreams had a better plan. One that I didn't even know existed. It seemed as if time stood still and our love grew. We didn't seem to care that the world was still turning. It was She and I and His smile on us. Nothing else seemed to matter. And while we were enjoying this time together, we found places in our hearts that we had to allow Him to enter into and Heal. Inviting Him in to use the balm of His Grace on those scarred areas, we became better for each other. None of which would have happened if we had not come thirsty for the Love that Only He could give.
There are times when I find myself looking into the mug, knowing that it is empty and yet I refuse to accept more of the Life-giving Presence that He offers. I have had enough, I say to Him. He asks if I am sure, and I say that I am. I rush out to live the day, running on fumes of His holiness, because I refused to drink more. I find myself at times, asking for only a little bit more and the day goes a little better than days when I am not as thirsty. But the days that I drink in more deeply, flood my soul with His presence, I find that I can take on the world. I am filled to the brim with the outpouring of His Holy Spirit and have a positive attitude that can taste like thick syrup to a world that is cold and negative. A world that has yet to experience the depth of Mercy and Grace that I have had the pleasure of experiencing. I can seem overly positive or too religious for those who did not get their fill that morning and who do not understand nor have been awakened to His presence yet.
As He comes over to the table and offers more, what will you say? Will you start your day with more of His presence? Or will you say, “No, I am OK. I have had enough.” We will only be filled to the measure that we want to be. It's sad that sometimes we don't connect that our lives are not going well because we consume less of His Presence. I am finding that my day, my reactions to the stuff life throws at me, is tied directly to the amount of Him that I want to drink in. And although, each day His mercies are new, I can still start today as I did the day before and find myself a less joyful person. The proportion that I ask Him to fill the cup is the same proportion to which my responses will be either positive or negative. On the days when I get plenty of refills, life still throws things at me. But because I can be filled with Him, the things this world uses to drag me down, can more easily be shaken off. I am more ready to take on the day, as I spend time with Him in preparation. As I drink deeply from the cup of Mercy and Grace, I am reminded of His Power and Presence and I can carry that with me and face the day.
We have only as much of Him as we want to have. Although as believers, we have His Holy Spirit living inside of us, we still have the choice to make. Moment by moment, we can choose to be filled with Him, or choose our own way. We can believe that He is for us and that nothing that comes our way today is going to bring us down. Or we can try to fight off the negative things of this world on our own. Have you had enough of Him this morning? Or do you need a refill? Half a cup more? Would you like more Grace and Mercy with that? How about more of My Presence to help you produce more of the Fruit of the Spirit today? A refill to energize your prayer life, because I cannot give you what you do not ask for. Would you like more Hope and Encouragement so that you can be a greater blessing to others?
He wants us to come thirsty. He will not let us go away empty, but that is what we can choose. Do you choose more today? Do you want to drink more deeply today, because yesterday didn't go so well? Do you want your light to shine more brightly today? To add flavor to your world? Come and drink deeply from the Giver of Life. He awaits, patiently. There are always Free Refills!
As I think back to those beautiful mornings and reminisce, I have fond memories of the time well spent getting to know the one who is now my spouse. I am reminded of the excitement of a new love and the gift of His grace that allowed us a second chance at a deep and lasting love that has been blessed by Him. I recall that those breakfasts that started after work in the morning were just the beginning to the end of our day. We would continue our thoughts and converse even more as the day unfolded. Taking the time to invest in and getting to know each other led us to healing and peace. His deep presence seemed to surround us as we moved forward in time and talked endlessly of our dreams and hopes. We of course had a past, but the future was awaiting us and our walk together. Surely, there is nothing like getting to know the one that you plan to walk with for years to come. Surely, there is nothing quite like getting to know the One who wants to walk with you in the years that lie ahead.
I think of the lessons that I have had to learn through these last sixteen years (now twenty years). The plans that I had that were scrapped, the future that I was looking into that was suddenly and providentially closed to me. The Author of my hopes and dreams had a better plan. One that I didn't even know existed. It seemed as if time stood still and our love grew. We didn't seem to care that the world was still turning. It was She and I and His smile on us. Nothing else seemed to matter. And while we were enjoying this time together, we found places in our hearts that we had to allow Him to enter into and Heal. Inviting Him in to use the balm of His Grace on those scarred areas, we became better for each other. None of which would have happened if we had not come thirsty for the Love that Only He could give.
There are times when I find myself looking into the mug, knowing that it is empty and yet I refuse to accept more of the Life-giving Presence that He offers. I have had enough, I say to Him. He asks if I am sure, and I say that I am. I rush out to live the day, running on fumes of His holiness, because I refused to drink more. I find myself at times, asking for only a little bit more and the day goes a little better than days when I am not as thirsty. But the days that I drink in more deeply, flood my soul with His presence, I find that I can take on the world. I am filled to the brim with the outpouring of His Holy Spirit and have a positive attitude that can taste like thick syrup to a world that is cold and negative. A world that has yet to experience the depth of Mercy and Grace that I have had the pleasure of experiencing. I can seem overly positive or too religious for those who did not get their fill that morning and who do not understand nor have been awakened to His presence yet.
As He comes over to the table and offers more, what will you say? Will you start your day with more of His presence? Or will you say, “No, I am OK. I have had enough.” We will only be filled to the measure that we want to be. It's sad that sometimes we don't connect that our lives are not going well because we consume less of His Presence. I am finding that my day, my reactions to the stuff life throws at me, is tied directly to the amount of Him that I want to drink in. And although, each day His mercies are new, I can still start today as I did the day before and find myself a less joyful person. The proportion that I ask Him to fill the cup is the same proportion to which my responses will be either positive or negative. On the days when I get plenty of refills, life still throws things at me. But because I can be filled with Him, the things this world uses to drag me down, can more easily be shaken off. I am more ready to take on the day, as I spend time with Him in preparation. As I drink deeply from the cup of Mercy and Grace, I am reminded of His Power and Presence and I can carry that with me and face the day.
We have only as much of Him as we want to have. Although as believers, we have His Holy Spirit living inside of us, we still have the choice to make. Moment by moment, we can choose to be filled with Him, or choose our own way. We can believe that He is for us and that nothing that comes our way today is going to bring us down. Or we can try to fight off the negative things of this world on our own. Have you had enough of Him this morning? Or do you need a refill? Half a cup more? Would you like more Grace and Mercy with that? How about more of My Presence to help you produce more of the Fruit of the Spirit today? A refill to energize your prayer life, because I cannot give you what you do not ask for. Would you like more Hope and Encouragement so that you can be a greater blessing to others?
He wants us to come thirsty. He will not let us go away empty, but that is what we can choose. Do you choose more today? Do you want to drink more deeply today, because yesterday didn't go so well? Do you want your light to shine more brightly today? To add flavor to your world? Come and drink deeply from the Giver of Life. He awaits, patiently. There are always Free Refills!
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