Can you think of people in your life you would describe as ‘givers’ who overflow with love and joy – despite their circumstances? In this week’s chapter, I mention our dear friend Judy who was called Home to be with Jesus just a few months after completing that chapter. She was the first person I gave the first draft to and her comments were used by God to encourage me to keep going. Judy overflowed with love right to the end and told me before she left that she would give Bethy a hug for me. I can just imagine them laughing and twirling around with their glorious ringlets joining in the dance!
Another overflowing friend is Julie, who has also walked this road of losing her hair through chemotherapy treatment. Julie offered an overflow of love and joy that greatly encouraged our girl throughout her suffering. Julie continues to live life to the full as she parents her four girls and teaches at our kid’s school. As she fights her disease, she continually pours out her life as an overflow of her love for Jesus Christ to all around her.
Beth told me one day, “Mum, I really want to be like Julie when I grow up!” Julie and Beth shared very similar personalities and used to play around together trying on each other’s wigs – what laughter used to overflow from that sick bed during Julie’s visits! They always said to each other that if God called them Home early, it was because He needed them for the party! Thank you dear Julie for sharing in our suffering and in our joy and loving our girl like your very own.
I have been reminded this week through several other examples that the basis for this overflowing comes forth from sacrificial offering. Offering ALL to God does result in an overflowing of all the gifts He has on offer to us! God’s supreme offering to us makes all of our offerings possible. The offering of both our pain and our treasures to God delights His heart more than we can imagine! As we empty ourselves, He does not leave us empty but pours upon us the richest treasures of the universe. In order to BE Overflowing friends, we must offer ALL to our King and wait on Him for the wonders He will pour out by His Spirit through us!
Quotes on’ giving and overflowing’ to inspire you:
“Measure thy life by loss and not by gain, not by the wine drunk but by the wine poured forth. For love’s strength standeth in love’s sacrifice and he that suffereth most has the most to give.” – Elisabeth Elliot
“Nothing you have not given away will ever really be yours.”
― C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity
“Give me all of you!!! I don’t want so much of your time, so much of your talents and money, and so much of your work. I want YOU!!! ALL OF YOU!! I have not come to torment or frustrate the natural man or woman, but to KILL IT! No half measures will do. I don’t want to only prune a branch here and a branch there; rather I want the whole tree out! Hand it over to me, the whole outfit, all of your desires, all of your wants and wishes and dreams. Turn them ALL over to me, give yourself to me and I will make of you a new self—in my image. Give me yourself and in exchange I will give you Myself. My will, shall become your will. My heart, shall become your heart.”
―C.S. Lewis Mere Christianity
“I know I’m filled to be emptied again, the seed I’ve received I will sow. “
– Brooke Fraser
“We love God with all our strength when we offer Him all we have, however little, however much. Is your body physically ill or handicapped? Offer it to Him! Love Him with it! He greatly esteems your offering and He will use what you give!”
– Beth Moore
A song to encourage you:
Pour My Love on You by Phillips, Craig and Dean
A book to build you up:
Elisabeth Elliot is one of the most influential Christian women of our time. Check out her biography or devotional writings – a life overflowing with the Holy Spirit throughout suffering and grief.