Sunday Evening, June 1, 2008,

Sis Joanne spoke on the difference between a spiritual watering pot and a self absorbing sponge.

 A story was told where a mother washed ugly words from the walls of a school building .  When asked ‘Why?’ by her daughter, Tashira, the mother replied that it was just her turn to help.  

The teacher and others were painting a steeple for a minister.  Tashira asked, “Why are you all way up there?”  They replied, “It’s just our turn to help.” 

The minister’s wife made a dinner for officer Hamlette and his family because of the birth of their new baby.  The minister told Tashira it was just their turn to help. 

Officer Hamlette loved to protect the children in the park from bullies because he loved to do his duty. 

Finally, Tashira saved two little children from perishing in a fire. When asked "Why?", she replied, “It was just MY TURN TO HELP.” 

Remember:  The ugly words would have stayed, the steeple would never have been painted, the children would have continued to bully, little ones would have gone hungry, and two helpless children would have perished in flames IF NO ONE HAD CARED TO HELP!

2 Cor 5:15 Paul said of Jesus: ‘Jesus died for all that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves but unto (Jesus) which died for them and rose again.’ Christ didn’t come into this world to serve himself, but to save others. Christ came as a servant, as our example we should serve others! James said in James 1:27 ‘…pure religion was visiting the fatherless and widow in their affliction!’ 

God help us not to be as sponges soaking up the good things of God,  absorbing and absorbing, but giving so little in return.  A sponge can absorb and retain several times its own weight but unless pressure is applied it gives out nothing in return.  Be ready to POUR yourself out for God!