Need a fresh perspective?

A new outlook?

An attitude adjustment?

I often find the winter months difficult, so the need for some quality self-talk always does my soul good.

I’ve learned that seasonal blues are always a part of my January and February.

And since I’ve battled periods of depression my whole life, I’ve had to develop some strategies for avoiding major times in a pit of sadness.

Not long ago, Olivia was in a low time herself.

As we talked, I remembered having so many of those same feelings at her age.

 I would be in denial if I didn’t admit that I still experience these feelings today from time to time.

Loneliness

Insecurity

Self-doubt

Fear

Anxiety

But I’ve learned a lot in forty-nine years.

I’ve learned that if I dwell on the negative, I will live in the negative.

I’ve learned that if I think sad thoughts, I will feel sad.

I’ve learned that if I think I need more to be happy, than I’ll never be happy with what I have.

I’ve also learned that if I spend my time focused on myself, I will constantly be in turmoil.

It’s when I release the need to fix me,

let go of the desire to figure out what’s next,

stop thinking about how I can make my life better,

say goodbye to the need for more…………………

that’s when I become happiest.

When I turn to others and see their needs,

when I look around and think, “How can I help them?”‘

when I realize just how much God has done for me and how full my cup really is……………………..

that’s when I become fully alive.

As Olivia and I talked about the things she was feeling,

I was on my way out the door for a meeting at church,but I really wanted to leave her with something to think about.

That’s when I said the words that stuck with me through the whole meeting.

I said,

“Olivia, when I feel like you’re feeling right now, it does my heart so good to reach out to others and see how they are doing.  Pour your life into someone else’s and watch God fill you up.”

 I sat in the meeting and kept imagining the pouring of one person’s life into another’s and I had a visual that I couldn’t shake.

I remembered a pitcher and bowl that were tucked away in my bedroom.

I couldn’t stop thinking about what I was going to do as soon as I got home,

because I want this year to be a year where our family pours.

 I walked in the door about an hour later and went straight to my bedroom on a mission.

I found the bowl and pitcher covered with dust.

I took them to the kitchen and washed them.

I went in search of stationery in a drawer in a dresser in our back room,

and I filled the pitcher and the bow to overflowing.

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I placed this new mission plan right in the middle of our kitchen table; and I told Tim and Olivia that whenever we thought of someone who needed a note, I wanted us to grab a card and an envelope and pour into someone else’s life.

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Because in so many ways, God has filled our lives up with more than we could have ever asked or imagined.

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Maybe you’re feeling a little blue this winter.

Maybe you’re longing for a little more from life.

I want to challenge you this morning with this phrase I’m sure you’ve heard before,

“The secret to having it all is knowing that you already do.”

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Once you wrap your mind around this truth,

you realize just how full your life is and there’s really only one thing to do when your cup overflows………………….

POUR!

Pour love

Pour hope

Pour encouragement

Pour hugs

Pour service

Pour time

Pour whatever you need to pour to make your heart sing.

Because a world full of pouring people is a world full of joy.

Praying for you today.

Praying for you as you choose to pour.

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