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My Measuring Cup Overflows - Encouragement Café - June 12, 2015

My Measuring Cup Overflows

Café Menu for Friday, June 12, 2015

Today’s Special is:  How Much Does It Call For?

Carefully prepared just for you by your friend, Paris Renae

Main Ingredient:

That you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Ephesians 3:19b NIV

Entrée

I would be the world’s worst TV cooking instructor.  I just use a pinch of this, a bit of that, and whole lot of whatever sounds good at the moment.

I seem to be a bit more insistent with following the ‘recipe’ when it comes to what I think I ‘need’.  Things like,

God, just please make this person a Christian and all will be well,

or

Father, can you find someone else to do this?  I’m tired and someone else would do a much better job.

Then I’m reminded of people like Abraham on his way to sacrifice his son of promise when he says,

God Himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.

Genesis 22:8

And he did.  In Abraham’s timing?  No, at the last minute.

How about Ruth as she and Naomi are making their way back to the homeland, starving and without a man to protect them.  Ruth was thinking, "How about a little help here".  Again, in His timing, Ruth’s answer was more than she had dared to imagine.

Today you may need a car, a friend may need a kidney transplant, or a child may need salvation.  Our Father knows what we truly need and when.  Paul reminds us,

Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory…for ever and ever!

Ephesians 3:20

Perhaps we’re forgetting the most important ingredient:

But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Matthew 6:33

Abraham was seeking His kingdom.  Ruth was seeking His kingdom.  Will we truly seek Him first?

How much does Christ’s recipe call for: to be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Take Out:

Seeking Him first does not come naturally.  Like anything worthwhile, it requires diligence and practice.  Here are some actions steps I want to take.  Will you join me?

·        Seek Him first.  He’s bigger than the problem.

·        Be still, stop squirming and worrying.  He sees the big picture.

·        Go to that last minute.  He’ll be there waiting for me.

Dessert:

Father, fill us up with You so that we will not doubt your goodness, your provision. Help us today to follow one step at a time until we reach that place of trust. Help us seek first – You, all of You – knowing that Your answers are more than we ask or imagine. Let us spill over into the lives of others to Your glory. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

© 2015 by Paris Renae.  All rights reserved.

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