☕️My Cup Runneth Over🤗

We don’t need more to be thankful for, we just need to be more thankful.  

~Carlos Castaneda ~

Psalms 23:5 (KJV) Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

We all understand what overflow is. Like the time you left the water running and forgot all about it until the time you remembered. Oh the mess you had to clean up. Maybe not but it was a well watered yard. Whatever it was that ran over it was a bit much for the container to hold. This is the picture that is being painted for us here. Notice it’s not someone else's cup oh no it’s “my cup” that is “runneth over”  

Drinking From My Saucer

 

Verse 1

I’ve never made a fortune; I guess it’s too late now

Oh but I don’t worry about that none cause I’m happy anyhow

As I go along life’s journey, I’m reaping better than I sow

I’m drinking from my saucer, cause my cup has overflowed

Verse 2

Ain’t got a lot of riches, sometimes the goings rough

But I’ve got a friend in Jesus and that makes me rich enough

I thank God for all His blessings, and the mercy He’s bestowed

I’m drinking from my saucer, cause my cup has overflowed

Verse 3

I’ve been through hard trials, sometimes my faith grew dim

But it seemed like one day the sun shone through again

So Lord help me not to grumble about the tough rows I have hoed

I’m drinking from my saucer, cause my cup has overflowed

Verse 4

And if I should go on living if the way gets steep and rough

I won’t ask for other blessings cause I’m already blessed enough

May I never be too busy to help another bear his load

And I’ll keep drinking from my saucer, Lord, cause my cup has overflowed

Tag

Yes, I’ll keep drinking from my saucer, Lord, cause my cup has overflowed My cup has overflowed

We can let our cup run over with Jealous and here’s the results  Proverbs 14:30 (KJV) A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.

Someone has more than you. More money, more land, more horsepower you have 650 HP but then Eddie your friend went to 700 HP. Well you had no choice you put on that turbo and now you have 850 HP. Put that in your piece pipe Eddie! Weather it’s HorsePower, Money or Land or more hair that keeps you up at night the Bible says it rotting your bones. The wrong cup is running over. In your Christian life what’s running over? Here are a few to consider. 

Does your cup overflow with God’s Blessing?   Romans 5:20 (KJV) Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: 

Does our cup overflow with God’s Grace?

Are my sins too great? No, read what is written “where sin abounded” great quantity “grace did much more abound” in greater quantity.   

What would one say to my friend Phillip? 

• He suffered from PTSD from Vietnam. 
• Then he lost his son to cancer which he discovered were the results of agent orange. 
• Then he had a liver transplant caused by agent orange. 
• Then he lost his wife and now he’s all alone. 

But wait he had something else, his Christian Faith. Paul says it this way: don't give into the questions you can’t answer. For these questions will not promote God's plan. Instead center on your faith.  

1 Timothy 1:4 (KJV) Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.

Does your cup runneth over? You bet it does. Phillip would agree but I can’t ask him, he went to heaven in April of 2020. Our cup may be low on a lot of things but not on the Mercy of our God for its overflowing Matthew 9:13 (KJV) But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

If we understand that we are sinners and ask God for forgiveness (repent). Then our cup is running over with God's mercy. Isaiah 55:7 (KJV) Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.  Let wicked people  abandon their direction and their thinking. Let them return unto the Lord for He will have MERCY upon them for the Lord will abundantly pardon. I’m afraid I have been guilty. Yes I have wanted even desired to have. A man once told me there’s nothing enough money won’t fix. Is that true? I always wanted an airplane. I just like them. Now I have no idea how to fly one but I love flying. Sometime back a friend of mine asked me if I would like to buy into a plane he and some others had ownership in. I told him I didn’t know how to pilot one. He said that’s no problem, we will teach you. We also have an instructor in our club. After you learn we’ll get him to finish you up. Are you kidding? Wow what great news my dream is coming true. Then it happened. I watched all my excitement go up in smoke. The plane crashed, the instructor, well I never got to meet him. I watched it all crash right in my living room floor when I asked my wife what she thought about me learning to fly. Her words and facial expressions were not what I wanted to hear. “🤨JUST WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO HAVE TIME FOR THAT?✈️💨 yes we all have dreams that never happen. You know what, I will never have a plane, I will never have a 1965 GTO sitting in my garage, I will never have more money than I could ever spend; now I’m getting a bit hoggish. They are dreams. Now what I do have outshines all that and more. You see I have abundant life, abundant Grace, abundant Faith, and I have a home in Heaven. Yes I have Jesus, what could I possibly want more? My cup runneth over. Plane, GTO, Money won’t do that but Jesus will. 

Jesus loves me:

Jesus protects me:

Jesus walks beside me:

Jesus understands me:

Jesus forgives me:

Jesus restores my heart:

Jesus opens my path:

Jesus never leaves me:

🤬Darkness🫢

Let nothing dim the light that shines.

One cannot see very well in the dark. I went into the sanctuary one day and decided not to turn the lights on. I mean what could go wrong? Well all was fine until I hit something in the front about knee height, man that hurt. What I’m saying is darkness cannot help us get to the light. All I would have had to do is turn on the lights. I would have had no problem seeing what somebody was working on; in the front where it should have been no problem for me to walk. 

Life is the same way, keep doing what you are doing and you will keep getting the same results. There must be a change on our part. 

Psalms 1:1 (KJV) Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

If we get advice from bad people, or hang out with those that offer bad advice we will be unhappy. Think, are we unhappy or are we a happy?  

Happy is the person who does not follow the advice of wicked people, take the path of sinners, or join the company of mockers. Be aware of those we follow. Why? Because it is true we are who we spend time with. Stop and look and listen to your own self. Do you like what you see? Do you like what’s coming out from within you? If not, it's you that needs to make a change. Keep hanging around in the darkness  and your vision will be weak and you are sooner or later going to trip over something you never saw coming. When we decide we have had enough we have to do more than just take off..

Luke 11:24 (KJV) When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out.

Here was a person who decided to clean up without replacing. 

Luke 11:25 (KJV) And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished.

Well, it looks as if the problem is solved. Watch what happens. 

Luke 11:26 (KJV) Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first.

Have you ever seen a person go on a diet? They lose weight but when they stop the diet the weight slowly comes back with more pounds. It’s true with anything we want to get rid of on our own.

Read what the Apostle Paul writes in

Ephesians 4:22 (KJV) That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;

Okay now that you have put off, what now? Ephesians 4:23 (KJV) And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;

Rebuilt, repair where are we to do that rebuilding and repairing? “your mind” How are we to do that? 

Ephesians 4:24 (KJV) And that ye put on the new man, 

Have you come to that point? You are wanting to change but you have tried changing before. It worked for a little while but soon found yourself right back if not worse than before? So why the effort? Sound like the man who cleaned up his house? Take off the old man and put on a new man. Okay but what’s going to make a difference this time? Great question and Paul has the answer “which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.” We are not only changing our way of life; that’s taking off. We are to put on a new life by changing our mind.  Romans 12:2 (KJV) And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

David put it this way. Psalms 119:11 (KJV) Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

Change the way you think by hiding God’s Word within your heart. Will change the way you walk and talk. After awhile listen to yourself and see if your language has changed.  

Matthew 12:34 (KJV) O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.

Well what’s coming out? Same old curse words? Then your heart and mind haven’t changed and you are heading in the wrong direction.  

2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV) Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

The old way of living has disappeared. A new way of living has come into existence. My unhappiness has now turned into happy, real joy. 

Happy is the person that walks not. Happy is the person that’s not hanging around old places. Happy is the person that’s sitting in new surroundings. Happy is the person that has new desires, new dreams, new direction.

Isaiah 30:21 (KJV) And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.

😤HUMBLE😇

Humility is the key to success. The moment you think you’ve achieved it all, that’s the moment you’re most vulnerable. – 

Lou Holtz

Merriam &  Webster says this about Humble–Not proud, Not arrogant   

James 4:10 (KJV) Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

Being Humble is not being weak. One morning I let my temper get the best of me: I’m sure you may have never let that happen but I did. Anyways it was to the main boss, and it didn’t matter if I was right or wrong about the matter at hand. I was wrong in the way I was handling it. He told me to come to his office and as we walked toward his office the Lord spoke to me and said I needed to humble myself; in other words do not be arrogant. When we arrived at his office he was still upset with me and I had no idea what he had planned. As the door closed I quickly said in a calm and soft voice “I need to apologize for my actions. I'm sorry for what I said.” Loud angry talk will never get you where you want to be. All of a sudden his attitude changed and we were able to work out the problem at hand. Where did I learn that? Glad you asked  Proverbs 15:1 (KJV) A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.

Proverbs 16:32 (KJV) He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.

Being humble is not a form of weakness. Humble ourselves in sight of the Lord. Humbling yourself is not done all at one time, that would be overwhelming. As we mature in the Lord He will reveal various areas of our life that need to be given over to Him or surrendered. What happens when we do that? He will lift you up. That’s what happened in that office with my boss. I humbled myself and the Lord lifted me up. Why do I say that? Well think about it, had I continued in my loud mouth actions what do you think would have happened? Nothing good I assure you. The same principle works with any habit we have. Humble ourselves and ask the Lord to help  and He will. James 4:2 (KJV) Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. Get humble and ask for help, or stay proud and work it out yourself. I have learned to ask the Lord for help. This is nothing new I ask my earthly Dad so why not ask my Heavenly Father? When I asked my Dad to help me he did. When I ask my Heavenly Father to help me fix this problem in stopping this habit I have created in my life He did. HELP, HELP! That is what Peter did. Matthew 14:29 (KJV) And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.

Matthew 14:30 (KJV) But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.

Peter humbled himself and cried out saying LORD, save me. If that’s what you want then cry out and ask the Lord for help. 

🕊️Truth Leads to Freedom. ⛓️‍💥

Live not in conformity with this world for Conformity is the jailer of freedom and the enemy of growth.

We are told that there are many ways to freedom. Question? Is that really true? Is there Freedom in Self Help? You or I may be able to fix many things ourselves like a computer, our car, replacing plumbing fixtures, and many more but all we can do is visit a person in jail. The same is true with a person in bondage. 

• Improving our Self-esteem 

will make us appear different but it doesn’t change us or give us Freedom. No more than painting the pump will purify the water.  What we need is a real change if we believe in ourselves that is only short term. I can’t count the times I said if I get out of this mess you will never have to worry about me ever doing it again. I meant what I said at the time but in just a short time I was back doing what I said I would never do. 

One can never change who they are themselves. That is why Self help or Self Esteem fail. It takes more. Wouldn’t it be great if we could just have a new start? How many times have we said things like if I could go back to High School I would do things differently? The only problem with that is that’s not going to happen. Know why? Because there is no reserve in life. A word spoken can never be returned. A lie can never be made into the truth. We need a new way because we can’t change ourselves. 

2 Peter 2:22 (KJV) But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire. The dog and the sow return to what they were. That’s our problem. We were born sinners and that’s who we are. Self improvement will only work for a short time then it’s right back to our sin nurture. When one realizes they can’t unlock the prison door by themselves, they just can’t, not by ourselves we can’t.  Ask yourself what do you want? A mask? Do you want to be a hypocrite? A player on the stage of life? Or do you want more? A real difference? 

James 4:6 (KJV) But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.

James 4:8 (KJV) Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

James 4:10 (KJV) Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

God wants us to humble ourselves and admit we need help. 

• A new Life

How is this Possible? Have you ever said “if I could go back and relive my life and know what I know now things would be different. 🙋‍♂️What if I told you that question had been asked and answered? In the book of John the fourth book in the New Testament. Read what a man named Nicodemus asked Jesus.   

John 3:4 (KJV)  Nicodemus saith unto him,(Jesus)

 How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? 

Nicodemus asked Jesus how can a man be born the second time? That, for sure would get you and I out of bondage wouldn’t it? Is there an answer to this question, how? 

John 3:5 (KJV) Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 

John 3:6 (KJV) That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

John 3:7 (KJV) Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

There it is, the answer and the possibility of a person being born again, made new. That means a new start with the knowledge one has now. Oh my 🤗a real chance of getting out of bondage a new start.  John 3:6 (KJV) That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

Being borned of the Spirit changes everything. Oh becoming a Church goer? Oh no that’s not what I read; Marvel not that I said unto you, Ye must now go to Church. Oh I see I must give up everything, all my friends and the things I love doing. No, neither did I read that. Read what Paul wrote, yes Paul a man who was well on his way to becoming SOMEBODY. He wrote this 

Romans 7:19 (KJV) For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. I’m not doing the good I want to do. Instead, I do evil.

Hello, I’m guilty my intentions were never to destroy my life by saying that or doing this. The man who wrote most of the New Testament was just like you and I. He came from a background similar to ours; oh no I have never killed anyone. That’s not the point God changed Paul, Paul didn’t change Paul and neither will you change yourself. He that is born of the flesh will follow the flesh and do good and bad things. Now once that person is born again God will use him or her to do good and maybe even great things. You see that request for starting over with the knowledge you have now will change you; that’s what you wanted wasn’t It?  

2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV) Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

So it is possible to start over!