Are You Ready to Receive?

I read an awesome quote during my devotional period this morning. It simply said "God gives to those who have empty hands". It got me to wondering, how many times has God wanted to give me something, but I was too full to receive. This is a sobering truth, that there have been moments that God wanted to bless me, but I was to encumbered, to saturated to receive. God is looking for empty vessels to fill. I am reminded of the story that chronicles the first miracle of Jesus. He was at a wedding in Cana when the wine ran out. He was then commissioned by His mother to do something about it. He commands the servants to bring forth some used, discarded and empty stone clay jars. It would be these forgotten but empty vessels that Jesus would have filled with water that would be changed to wine. I suggest that the only thing that mattered to Jesus was that these pots were empty, which meant they could be used for His expressed glory. You have to figure out would you rather be a shiny, brand new vessel that is too full to be filled, or a discarded, ostracized jar that is empty and ready to be filled for the use of the Master. Its your choice. PG

Being Still in His Presence

I wonder what has taken me so long to really understand this. I have had an ephinany over the last few weeks. I finally realized that I am not God. I know that this might sound crazy, coming from a preacher and all, but I needed this dose of reality. God has graced me in so many awesome ways in 32 years of life. I have had my fair share of ups and downs. As a pastor, I have seen the best in people, but also the worst in people. I have been to the mountain of success but also the valley of pain and suffering. I was at a point where I could not handle everything that was coming my way. It was effecting my health, my mind, and even my spiritual walk. I was consumed with trying to figure out how to make everything right and work everything out. I had finally got to the point where I was broken, mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually. it was at this point, I heard a voice and it simply said, "BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD". Wow. It finally hit me. I am not God. Since I am not God, it is not my job to work it out and figure it out. that is God's job. My job is to trust and seek to be close to God every single moment. I guess I had what Martin Lawrence would call a "WOOSAH" moment. I feel so much peace, joy and serenity now that I realize I am not God. PG