This last weekend I went to our annual Women's Retreat. It was such a great time of conviction, enjoying my sisters in Christ (and my real sister) and just taking in what God has been doing in my life. The past few years have been extremely trying and I constantly find myself looking for a "solution" for all the areas in my life that seem to be falling apart. Part of what Beth Moore spoke about in her video series "Loving Well" was how we are to love others trusting God to fill our well and overflow us. One of her phrases was "God will not love THROUGH us what He will not love TO us."
I find this consistent with scripture and have seen it clearly at different times in my life. Proverbs 11:25 says "Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and he who waters will himself be watered."In so many instances we have given and later, clearly see God give right back to us. Even when we did not give out of our need He still continued to bless us just for blessing others. I see it weekly with the use of my time alone!
Now, many of you young moms probably feel as I do - we do not always see the rewards for loving our children or spouses right away. After all, a 6 month old doesn't have much skill to really "water me" back :) But God is so much bigger than what we can see or even comprehend. His blessings aren't limited by a person's ability, by a person's time or abundance. I've often see God bless my husband's work after committing my efforts toward blessing my family instead of searching for my own rewards.
After this weekend, I have a renewed sense of God's promise to provide for me. He provides not only all my material needs but also works where I don't see to keep me from going off the deep end emotionally. When I wake up feeling at the end of my rope yet choose to act according to His commandments of love, fully trusting the Spirit of God to work in me, somehow, I make it through the day with incredible peace. Not to say I won't continue to face trials or that my days will be filled with ease, but I do know that loving others without hesitation is the only way to allow God to fill me up. When I am already full of His love yet refuse to water others, I will only remain how I am and won't experience the amazing reality of God's active love. This love is alive and constantly moving the hearts of His believers to give to others who are just like us - people who don't deserve God's love but people who God desperately desires and gave everything for. What could be a greater calling in life?
I find this consistent with scripture and have seen it clearly at different times in my life. Proverbs 11:25 says "Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and he who waters will himself be watered."In so many instances we have given and later, clearly see God give right back to us. Even when we did not give out of our need He still continued to bless us just for blessing others. I see it weekly with the use of my time alone!
Now, many of you young moms probably feel as I do - we do not always see the rewards for loving our children or spouses right away. After all, a 6 month old doesn't have much skill to really "water me" back :) But God is so much bigger than what we can see or even comprehend. His blessings aren't limited by a person's ability, by a person's time or abundance. I've often see God bless my husband's work after committing my efforts toward blessing my family instead of searching for my own rewards.
After this weekend, I have a renewed sense of God's promise to provide for me. He provides not only all my material needs but also works where I don't see to keep me from going off the deep end emotionally. When I wake up feeling at the end of my rope yet choose to act according to His commandments of love, fully trusting the Spirit of God to work in me, somehow, I make it through the day with incredible peace. Not to say I won't continue to face trials or that my days will be filled with ease, but I do know that loving others without hesitation is the only way to allow God to fill me up. When I am already full of His love yet refuse to water others, I will only remain how I am and won't experience the amazing reality of God's active love. This love is alive and constantly moving the hearts of His believers to give to others who are just like us - people who don't deserve God's love but people who God desperately desires and gave everything for. What could be a greater calling in life?
