Drops in a Bucket

I've been pondering what to write about for several weeks now. I'm obviously not in Mexico yet, and I haven't been able to do much work on fundraising, but God is definitely preparing my heart for the journey. How do you write about the work God is doing in your heart and actually do it justice? I sat with my friend Jenny for at least 2 hours at Panera this afternoon talking and still couldn't put adequate words to it. But I'll try nevertheless.

"Expecting stuff (or a significant other, parent, child, or friend) to fill you up is like holding out the dusty cup of your soul to catch the last drop of water from a broken faucet. It may feel a little wet, but there is nothing else coming to wash away the dust and fill the cup....You have been given an invitation to come and indulge in the feast of God's love. Don't settle for less...Don't expect cheese on a cracker to be enough when a five-course dinner is prepared in the next room. God has so much for you. His love is lavish. His grace is abundant. The invitation is free." Angela Thomas

The author goes on to talk about how your cup needs to be completely full of God first, and that when you get the drops of water from others it will cause your cup to overflow. While I'm still mulling this concept over in my own personal life, it has released me from expectations I place on myself when I am working with the orphan child. I often expect to be able to fill their cup fully, and that if I lend my listening ear, offer enough hugs, meet all the physical needs, and encourage them, their cups will run over. There are obviously many things wrong with that statement, and I often feel discouraged and ineffective in my plight to rescue these children. I am by no means powerful enough in my own strength to fill anyone's cup, I am flawed and make mistakes, and there are others out there dumping the water out of these precious children's cups faster than I'm filling. But most importantly, these children's cups need to be full of Jesus! While my flawed, conditional, earthly love is good and important, it can never be enough. They need the saving grace of Jesus, the perfect love of the Father, to fill their cups. Many of you who have prayed for me have often reminded me that it is not my job to save the orphan child, it's Jesus' job. It's my job to love them well, teach them who Jesus is, and partner with the Holy Spirit in the work that he's doing. I'm enjoying the freedom that comes from realizing (once again) it's not my job to save them, while feeling increasingly burdened to pray that these children's cups are filled with Jesus and the heavenly Father's perfect love and not just my drops in their buckets.

My mom told me to keep my blogs short. Mom, when have I ever done something the easy way?!? You'll read it all because you love me and I'm your kid, and I'll work on making them shorter for you or adding some pictures.