Not Your Typical Church Lady

"You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows."

~Psalm 23:5 (NIV)

There were once two little buckets. They were left sitting outside on a stone wall. One bucket was turned upside down so that it could dry out. The other bucket was left upright. A bucket's fondest desire is to hold and carry things so when it began to rain later that day, the bucket that was turned upright began to catch the rain drops. The bucket that was upside down only repelled the rain.

At first the upside down bucket didn't mind not catching anything, but it soon noticed that its friend was beginning to fill up. The upright bucket smiled from one side of its handle to the other, brimming with water. The upside down bucket was jealous. "That's not fair," said the upside down bucket. "Why does THAT one get to catch all the rain?" It stewed in silence, with a scowl on its face.

After the rain, the buckets' owner came and got them. The upright bucket was so full of water that the owner used it to water the porch flowers which were under a roof and unable to receive the benefits of the rain. The upside down bucket got carried to the basement where it sat unused and grumpy until the next time it was needed.

Rain came down on both of these buckets. Why did one catch the drops and not the other? Because one bucket was ready and waiting to receive, the other was not. Blessings are the same way. It's how we prepare to catch them that makes the difference. Do you experience life with your arms wide open and your face pointed toward Heaven or do you walk around stooped over, mopey and downcast? The upside down bucket couldn't help its circumstance, it was a bucket and unable to move itself. You, however, are not a bucket. You get to choose whether or not you want to open your arms and soul to receive the blessings God showers on us daily, or you can choose to repel them. The funny thing is, sometimes we embrace a repellant attitude without realizing it. God is not a dictator. He will not make you properly hold your bucket to receive your blessings. That decision is entirely up to you, thanks to the gift of freewill.

If you want to receive the blessings, make a daily conscious effort to look for them and keep your arms wide open to catch them. Much like the little bucket that got full, you will find that you end up with so much that your cup will run over. When you learn to seek and receive the blessings, you will realize that there is enough to go around. Then you can share with others, filling their cup as well.

"Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you" (Luke 6:38, NIV).

My life has become 100 percent better since I learned to set my bucket in the correct position. Blessings are everywhere. Some think of blessings only in the financial sense. No, money is not raining down on us though I wouldn't be opposed. Our blessings come in other forms. Do we have enough to wear? Yes, we have so many nice hand-me-downs from a friend that I didn't need to go school shopping and there was plenty left over to share with several other families. Do we have enough food? The coons got every ear of sweet corn we planted but my brother-in-law's did so well that the family collectively put away about 110 dozen. So the Bakers were very blessed with corn. Do we have heat for the winter? We got a nice load of logs to cut into firewood, enough for us and my parents-in-law. Do we have nice new vehicles to drive around in? Well.... no. But we do have a fleet of decently maintained old and aging vehicles we are dearly fond of that get us from point A to point B. We like them so much that they all have names. Most importantly, we are blessed with family, friends, and a community that supports each other through thick and thin- good people who share their overflowing blessings with others. God has poured all these good things upon us.

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ" (Ephesians 1:3, NIV).

When you receive your blessings, don't forget the one who gave them to you. Give thanks daily, with a spirit of sincere gratitude for the things you have received.

I think the words from Ephesians 1:17-19a would be a good way to close this thought: "I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe."

How are you holding your bucket? Are you ready to receive?