WHAT COMES OUT?

Amy Carmichael has a note in her little book: “A cup filled to the brim with sweet water cannot spill even one drop of bitter water, however suddenly jolted.”

If it is full of sweet water when it is jolted, what will come out of the cup? Sweet water. If you gave it a harder jolt, what’s going to happen? More sweet water. If someone is filled with sweet water and someone else gives him a “jolt,” what will come out? Sweet water! Jolts do not turn sweet water into bitter water. That is done by something else.

Jolts only bring out of the container what’s already in the container. If you’re filled with sweetness and light and you get jolted, you’re going to spill sweetness and light. If you’re filled with honey, then honey will come out. If vinegar comes out, what does that indicate? It shows what was already in the container. In other words, bitterness is not based upon what the other person did at all. It is the result of what we are and do.

–Adapted from article by Jim Wilson; via Northern Frontier Mission Newsletter

“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling, and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you” (Ephesians 4:29-32).

_______________________________________________________

THE GIFT OF CRITICISM?

“Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness” (Romans 12:6-8)

I just double-checked. Criticism is not a gift of grace. It takes no special skill to destroy. If I am going to tear down a building, unskilled labor can wreck it. When I want to build a new one, I want people who know a building trade. God has given all his children building trades of grace. Grace to speak, serve, teach, exhort, give, lead, and show mercy. When we exercise those building trades of grace, the body will be built and souls will be strengthened. If you feel you have the gifts of destruction, discouragement, and discord, bury them in the depths of the sea. They are from the devil, not the Lord.

–Grace For Your Spirit, submitted by Paul Kent

_______________________________________________________

ANGEL WRITINGS

>God gives every bird its food; but He does not throw it into the nest.
>To handle yourself, use your head. To handle others, use your heart.
>Learn from the mistakes of others. You can’t live long enough to make them all yourself.
>Many people will walk in and out of your life; but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart.
–Poplar Log Bulletin, Glasgow , KY

_______________________________________________________

SUNDAY PAPER

“Where’s my Sunday paper?” the irate customer calling the newspaper office loudly demanded, wanting to know where her Sunday edition was.

“Ma’am,” said the newspaper employee, “today is Saturday. The Sunday paper is not delivered until tomorrow, on Sunday.”

There was quite a long pause on the other end of the phone, followed by a ray of recognition, as she was heard to mutter, “Well…. That’s why no one was at church today!”

–cybersalt.org