Sponge

Have you seen a sponge? Have you tried dropping a sponge into a bucket of water, while squeezing tightly onto it? You see, when you hold tightly onto the sponge, even though it's in the water, it won't get wet. It is only when you start releasing your grip on it, the sponge starts drawing water into itself.

And, sometimes this is what we do with our own lives. We hold our lives tightly into our own hands. That means we try to control our lives on our own, telling God, "God I don't need you." But, the Bible says, when we are trying to hold our lives tightly into our own hands,  God cannot help us. Because He cannot come into our lives. It's only when we start releasing the hold, and tell God, "God, I let go of control of my own life." That's when God starts to come and help us, so that we can be used for Him. Are you trying to control your life on your own hand? It's time to let it go...

"....Be filled with the Holy Spirit" (Ephesians 5:18)

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Illustration adopted from Billie Hanks, A Call to Joy: Discipler's Guide (International Evangelism Association), 205.

http://www.clker.com/clipart-sponge-bob-square-pants.html

Pencil Vs. Rubber Band

Pencil Vs. Rubber Band. Which one do you think is stronger? Obviously, a pencil is much more hardened. So, the pencil is definitely much stronger. Now, let's say that the strongest person in the world is going to bend these. What would happen? You see, although the pencil is much hardened object, it will be broken. But, the rubber band? No problem. It will just bend. It's flexible.

Do you realize when our hearts are hardened, it will be broken? Our hearts get hardened when we become stubborn. When we start saying, "I do not trust God. I will do whatever I want to do," that's when our hearts become stubborn and hardened. And, God says such hearts will be broken.

The heart that God wants us to have is a flexible one. The flexible heart says, "God, I trust you for everything. And, I will do anything you ask me to do."  God says He will bless those flexible hearts. So, how is your heart? Is it hardened? Or, is it flexible?

"God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him..." 
(Matthew 5:3, NLT)

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Pencil: http://www.clker.com/clipart-1972.html
Rubber band: http://www.clker.com/clipart-24184.html

Sharp Edges

Have you ever thought, "What if the car's tires were in triangular shape?" How silly! What would happen if the car's tires were all in triangular shape? You see, cars with triangular tires won't go so far. For triangular tires to be used, their sharp edges must be cut off and rounded!

Do you realize our hearts need to be rounded as well, before God uses us? As long as we have sharp edges in our hearts, God cannot use us! Those sharp edges are our stubbornness that says, "God I don't need you!" God says, we must cut off those sharp edges, so that He can use us. And, we can cut of those sharp edges by saying to God, "God, I trust you for everything!"

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding" 

(Proverbs 3:5, NIV).

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http://www.clker.com/clipart-12288.html

Lion and the Mouse

Do you remember the story of the mouse and the lion? In case you need some review, here I have attached the video.

In this story, when the mouse told the lion, “I will save you someday,” the lion did not believe, thinking small mouse is of no use. Yet, the day really came when the lion needed a desperate help from the mouse! Later, the lion realized even the mouse can be a great help!

Sometimes we say things like, “Man, that person is so weak, I wonder if he will be helpful at all!” But, do you realize God has given all of us different talents? In other words, everyone has something they are good at! One person may be good at one thing, but the other person may be good at other thing. So, in God’s kingdom, everyone is important. Everyone plays an important role. So, next time, you think somebody is not helpful at all, remember the lion. You may need help from that person one day!

“In God’s kingdom He has given different talents to people. But we all need each other” 

(1 Corinthians 12:18-19, Summary).