Overflowing
This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people, but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.
2 Corinthians 9:12 (NIV)
Just the other day, I walked in the laundry room to notice the utility sink almost overflowing with water. I quickly checked the faucet and closed tightly the handle. The bucket was placed almost perfectly over the drain so that not only was the bucket full of water, so was the sink and it was just centimetres from the edge before it would start flowing over onto the floor. I thought how close it was to overflowing and luckily that I “just happened” to catch it before it began overflowing.
I am sure that many of us can talk about similar situations where we left a faucet running and we just stepped away for a minute to only get caught in a conversation or a situation where when we return water is pouring over the sink and running over everywhere. Sometimes it is not only happening in our sinks; it is also happening in our lives and in our hearts.
With the overflowing of life, It could be a slow drip of situations, changes and adjustments occurring where stress increases slowly over time. Then if left unattended the overflowing begins to enter other parts of life and the effects begin to seep into new areas. We all may react differently to theses effects, but we know when they reach the maximum in our lives and they are overflowing…. It is almost like an internal alarm and when we hear it, we know…. Life is overflowing and we begin looking for a way to release, turn off the valve and reduce the pressure. How does one do that? What will help to slow the drip?
This is where my story takes an interesting turn, I picked up a pen and a notebook and started to write. When I was younger, I used to write. I wrote plays, speeches, and dramas. I loved going out into the woods and sitting at the foot of tree with a notebook and writing for hours. I would fill up the notebook with journal entries of ideas, plays, monologues, where I could pour out what was overflowing in my mind and onto paper through words and emotions. It was a way to release and engage; to engage one’s emotions and heart felt energy of passion and life. Writing was something I always had to work on, though it was something I realized that I could define it as me, and who God designed me to be.
verse 10: For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
Ephesians 2:10 (NLT)
God masterpiece in all of us. It is an incredible work that often I may not fully understand His true innovation or allow that creativity to come through. Though when I began to write and put words to paper my soul would be able to release the emotions and be filled with peace. The dripping would come to a slow halt and the overflowing of life dissolves into the stories and paragraphs on the paper. The emotions of harmony and peace would return and fill my soul. The joy I began to feel in writing again came and engaged my whole humanity to know that a truly unique and powerful creator could only design me.
We each are created uniquely by our God and the way that he intricately designs us for a specific task and passion. It is immeasurably rewarding to engage that zeal and joy. Once a notebook and a good pen is in my hand and I can dive into a story or a thought, I sense the harmony and thrill of the Lord through releasing and enjoying how He has a unique design for each and every one of us. Life’s challenges may mask and cause us to overlook His unique design, though when we engage in His true masterpiece of us, the joy of life is what then overflows in our hearts. It is with this eagerness; I hope to connect with my creator and His amazing design.
If your bucket is beginning to overflow and life is feeling overwhelming, seek the Lord for His unique design of your life and search what gives you peace, joy, and harmony. It’s a way to express your thankfulness in His creativity in you and His unique propose for your life. Start a journey, enjoy the adventure and Praise the One who uniquely designed you.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
Psalm 139:14 (NIV)
