The Overflowing Cup: A Devotional


The Woman at the well


“Fill my cup, Lord; I lift it up, Lord…” These simple yet profound words from the hymn express a heart yearning to be filled by the Lord’s presence. It reminds us of the story of the Samaritan woman at the well in John 4:7-14, where Jesus offers living water that quenches spiritual thirst eternally.

Life often leaves us parched, seeking satisfaction in things that fade—success, possessions, or approval. Yet, Christ’s invitation is clear: “Whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst” (John 4:14). Only He can fill the emptiness within us and give us a life of abundance that overflows.

To lift our cup is to humbly admit our need and surrender to His grace. It’s an act of trust, inviting God to meet us in our brokenness and renew our spirits. When He fills us, our lives become vessels of His love and blessings, spilling over into the lives of others.

As you meditate on this hymn, take a moment to lift your own “cup” to God. Pray for His living water to refresh and sustain you. Trust that He is faithful to meet you right where you are and to fill you—not just for today, but for eternity.


May this devotional remind you of the richness of God’s grace and the sufficiency of His provision in every season. What part of the hymn speaks most deeply to your heart?

FILL MY CUP LORD

George Beverly Shea

Like the woman at the well I was seeking
For things that could not satisfy;
And then I heard my Savior speaking:
“Draw from my well that never shall run dry”.

Fill my cup Lord, I lift it up, Lord!
Come and quench this thirsting of my soul;
Bread of heaven, Feed me till I want no more
Fill my cup, fill it up and make me whole!

There are millions in this world who are craving
The pleasures earthly things afford;
But none can match the wondrous treasure
That I find in Jesus Christ my Lord.

Fill my cup Lord, I lift it up, Lord!
Come and quench this thirsting of my soul;
Bread of heaven, Feed me till I want no more
Fill my cup, fill it up and make me whole!

REFLECTIONS ON THE PASSION OF CHRIST


Reflecting on the Passion Week: A Journey of Love and Sacrifice

The Passion Week, also known as Holy Week, is a cornerstone of Christian faith. It commemorates the final week of Jesus Christ’s earthly ministry—a period filled with profound teachings, acts of love, and a sacrifice that changed the course of history. Each day of this sacred week offers a poignant glimpse into Jesus’ unwavering mission and the depth of His love for humanity.

Palm Sunday: The Triumphal Entry

The week begins with Palm Sunday, a day of celebration as Jesus entered Jerusalem on a donkey, fulfilling Old Testament prophecies. Crowds welcomed Him with shouts of “Hosanna!” and palm branches, recognizing Him as the promised Messiah. Yet, beneath this joyous occasion lay the shadow of what was to come. It was a moment of triumph mixed with the foreshadowing of sacrifice.

Holy Monday and Tuesday: Cleansing the Temple and Teaching

On Monday, Jesus cleansed the temple, driving out merchants who had turned a house of prayer into a marketplace. This act highlighted His zeal for holiness and reverence. On Tuesday, He engaged in profound teachings and parables, addressing topics like faith, hypocrisy, and the coming kingdom of God. These days were marked by Jesus’ wisdom and authority, which amazed both His followers and His critics.

Spy Wednesday: The Betrayal Begins

Wednesday is often referred to as “Spy Wednesday,” as it marks Judas Iscariot’s decision to betray Jesus. For thirty pieces of silver, Judas conspired with religious leaders to hand Jesus over. This act of betrayal reminds us of human frailty and the cost of sin, yet it also sets the stage for God’s redemptive plan.

Maundy Thursday: A Final Act of Love

On Maundy Thursday, Jesus gathered with His disciples for the Last Supper, instituting the sacrament of Communion. He washed their feet, demonstrating humility and servanthood. It was a night of love and fellowship, yet it ended with Jesus praying in the Garden of Gethsemane, fully aware of the suffering He was about to endure. His agony in the garden revealed His humanity and submission to God’s will.

Good Friday: The Ultimate Sacrifice

Good Friday is the somber culmination of Passion Week. Jesus was arrested, falsely accused, and subjected to unimaginable suffering. He was crucified on a Roman cross, bearing the weight of humanity’s sins. As He breathed His last and declared, “It is finished,” the veil in the temple tore, symbolizing the new access to God made possible through His sacrifice. Good Friday is both heart-wrenching and awe-inspiring—a day of immense sorrow and divine grace.

Holy Saturday: Waiting in Silence

Holy Saturday is a day of quiet reflection. Jesus lay in the tomb, and His followers mourned, grappling with grief and uncertainty. It is a day that reminds us of the tension between despair and hope, as God’s redemptive plan was still unfolding.

Easter Sunday: Victory Over Death

The week culminates in the glorious celebration of Easter Sunday, when Jesus rose from the dead, conquering sin and death. His resurrection is the cornerstone of Christian faith, offering hope, redemption, and the promise of eternal life to all who believe.

Final Thoughts

Passion Week is more than a historical account; it is a spiritual journey that invites reflection, gratitude, and renewed faith. It reminds us of the depth of God’s love and the lengths He went to reconcile humanity to Himself. As we meditate on these events, may we find inspiration to live lives marked by love, humility, and a steadfast hope in the risen Christ.

Apocalyptic Carols reblog from THE CHRISTIAN PUNDIT


I had just finished an article on why we should be celebrating the return of Jesus during our Christmas celebrations and then I ran across this post at another blog and thought it fit quite nicely with my dissertation.

There was a time in the not so distant past where Saints of old would remember that the coming of Jesus during the first Advent was proof that he would return a second time to usher in the Millennial reign of the Lord and King. In fact some of the old familiar carols alluded to this truism and it was the author’s intent to remind the church of Jesus’ true purpose in the fulfillment of scriptures.

Many of these verses have long been discarded since they are not as popular as some of the other verses of these hymns but none-the-less they were included in the original scores.

Apocalyptic Carols « THE CHRISTIAN PUNDIT.

What do Christmas carols make you think of? Luke 2? Manger scenes? Candle-lit Christmas Eve services? Turkey dinners with family? That’s what they do for most people. Few of us think, “Oh, Christmas carols = the sky being peeled back and saints being caught up in the clouds.”

It is true that the nativity is the main theme of carols. Several carols also point to Calvary: “Then let us all with one accord/ Sing praises to our heavenly Lord/ That hath made heaven and earth of nought,/ And with his blood mankind hath bought” (“The First Nowell”).

But some of the best-known carols refer to the second coming. They tell us that Jesus was “born to raise the sons of earth,” so that Christians “need not fear the grave: Peace! Peace!/ Jesus Christ was born to save!/ Calls you one and calls you all, to gain His everlasting hall.” Because of Jesus’ incarnation and crucifixion, “He rules the world/ With truth and grace,” and comes to “open wide our heav’nly home;/ Make safe the way that leads on high,/ And close the path to misery.” One day, “Saints before the altar bending/Watching long in hope and fear/ Suddenly, the Lord descending, in His temple shall appear.”

The first coming—Christmas—was tangible, crucial proof that God was keeping His promises to His people. The first coming—the incarnation—was evidence that God was executing His plan of salvation. But it was the first: we have been promised a second. Christmas should not only remind us of what did happen, incredible as it is. It should also remind us that because of what did happen, we can look forward to what will happen. The second coming will finish the work that the first coming established. A good Christmas carol will remind us that looking back is only spiritually useful if it spurs us on and points us forward to the day when Jesus will again come to earth incarnate. Then the plan of salvation will be complete. The glory that Christ’s birth began will be consummated when He comes again, with glory:

Not in that poor lowly stable,
With the oxen standing by,
We shall see Him; but in heaven,
Set at God’s right hand on high;
Where like stars His children crowned
All in white shall wait around
.”

What if instead of Santa Claus you got a visit from Jesus Christ?


Source: victorpicarra.files.wordpress.com

Here is is a thought to ponder as you end 2014 and make plans and preparations for 2015. Now that Christmas is behind us now maybe a good time to ask this very important question.

We say December 25th is the day we celebrate Jesus’ birth, okay what day do we set aside to celebrate his SOON RETURN?

What instead of spending so much time and energy making preparations for the jolly fat man, who is never going to come because newsflash he is not real, we put the same amount of energy and preparation into a imminent return of the Lord Jesus Christ?

Nary a thought is given to a returning King but we sure do spend a great deal of time preparing for the arrival of Santa Claus.

Isn’t something out of kilter here? Shouldn’t the Christian church be focusing people’s attention on the upcoming arrival of King Jesus? Isn’t that what Advent is supposed to be preparing hearts and minds for? Isn’t the coming of a Messiah the reason for Christmas?

He has already been born, he has been crucified, he was buried, he arose from the dead and ascended into heaven, his next big move will be to return to gather together all his believers. Since no one knows the date or time of his upcoming arrival it really would behoove us to be ready and waiting by the door when he comes to call don’t you think?

Many call this generation the Millennials and perhaps they are for this may be the generation that ushers in the millennial reign of Jesus Christ. What are we doing to prepare the Millennial generation for the millennial reign of Christ? Was there any talk around the Christmas tree of Jesus’ second coming? Or were we too busy opening presents and talking about all the stuff we got? You do know that you will not be able to take any of it with you.

The greatest gift ever given to man was when God gave us his own son to die in our place. There is not a gift under heaven that can compare to that great gift of God. Nor is there anything under heave that is able to keep you from the wrath of God that is going to come to this earth. Therefore the gift God gave us is the only thing that we can take with us and will protect us from the coming wrath, everything else is worthless by comparison.

Since we do not know when Christ will return we only know that his return is guaranteed shouldn’t we be working hard to make preparations for his return? Just saying.

That is the way I see it, what say you?

See on Scoop.itEagle Views

Apocalyptic Carols: Singing About the Lord’s Return in popular Christmas Carols

If You Love God, the World is Going to Hate You


“… Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God” (James 4:4, ESV).

 

This week in Pakistan, a pregnant Christian mother of four and her husband, falsely accused of burning pages of the Koran, were beaten by a Muslim mob and thrown into a kiln, a fiery oven at a brick factory, where they were roasted alive.

Over 200 Christian girls in Nigeria were captured by Boko Haram. “I abducted your girls, said its leader, Abubakar Shekau in May; “By Allah I will sell them in the marketplace” as slaves.

Pastor Saeed Abedini, an American, is still being held in prison in Iran for apostasy and practicing his Christian faith. Source

The current trend in society today is for everyone to get along. The tag-line is tolerance. Except when it comes to morality and societal norms than tolerance becomes lost in the rhetoric and vitriol.

No one likes to be told what to do, and yet that is exactly what is happening in our society. A few people are telling everyone else how they are to behave and act. They are pushing their views of morality upon the masses, and refuse to show any tolerance to those who might not hold to their moral standards. These preachers of hate stand in the city square and pontificate loudly and forcibly their viewpoints and even threaten dissenters with legal action. They are all for freedom of speech and assembly as long as those who are speaking are using the approved talking points and are gathered in support of the ‘cause’. There is no room for opposing viewpoints.

If anyone does happen to offer an opposing viewpoint or even question the legitimacy of the issue they are shouted down, or worse yet browbeaten into submission.

Who are these militant purveyors of hate? If you said right-wing conservative Christians you would be 180 degrees out of step with the real world. The true haters are all those who hate God. They call themselves progressive, liberal, or free-thinkers. They portray themselves are ‘enlightened’ and educated, while portraying their adversaries as ignorant, unenlightened, and regressive. They only wish to hear one side of an argument, and that has to agree with their viewpoint.

Real enlightened individuals espouse multiple viewpoints, and ponder all differences of opinions, and weigh all options before forming a defining position on any issue. The ones who militantly vocalize only one viewpoint are not open-minded at all but are rather close-minded and dogmatic. They show no tolerance or mercy. They are hateful, vindictive, and vile ideologues.

They do however have one thing in common, they have a uniform dislike for anything that resembles God or godliness. They hate the sound of Jesus’ name, and run with their ears stopped when scripture is read out loud. They bash Christianity and decency at every opportunity. They are lawless, abusive, selfish, slanderous, ungrateful, unthankful, disrespectful, loud, obnoxious, unforgiving, proud, abusive, greedy, brutal, lack any self-control, are conceited, and boastful. They rejoice in wrongdoing, and actually encourage others to take part in their destructive behavior as if to be promoting a worthwhile cause.

Those who espouse Christian principles and a Godly worldview, attempt to live at peace with all men. They are loving and kind, generous, forgiving, merciful, law-abiding, honest, truthful, and humble. And because they love Jesus Christ and have faith in the God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob, they are hated by the world, just like Jesus was.

2 Timothy 3:2-4 (NIV)
2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God–

We have been warned that this day would come.  There will be those who will pretend to be godly and even use scripture to support their perversions, and the bible tells us to have nothing to do with them. Do not imitate their ways, do not even engage them in their folly, simply have nothing to do with them. Let them go and do what they are going to do, because in the end they will receive the rewards their folly deserve, for they have rejected the wisdom of their elders, and have forsaken the sure paths to walk in crooked paths. They have built their lives on the shifting sand of moral relativism and as a result what they are building will crumble and fall. It is inevitable and their destruction is sure.

As for your my brothers and sisters in Christ:

Matthew 5:11-12 (BBE)
11 Happy are you when men give you a bad name, and are cruel to you, and say all evil things against you falsely, because of me. 12 Be glad and full of joy; for great is your reward in heaven: for so were the prophets attacked who were before you.

 

And that is the way I see it. What say you?