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The Devotional Diva - Drain-Oh!
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The Devotional Diva - Drain-Oh!
By Barbara Gobbs
Executive Assistant and Ministry Partner - Pocket Full of Change Ministries
“It is not what enters into the mouth that defiles the man, but what proceeds out of the mouth that defiles the man…..But the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and those defile the man.” Jesus, Matthew 15:11 & 18 (NAS95)
I am sure I have mentioned that when you rent out your home, interesting things can happen. Some interesting things are visible from the get-go, while others take time to surface.
Several weeks ago, I came home from helping a friend lay sod in her yard. Throwing sod doesn’t take a rocket scientist, but it usually results getting very dirty. Obviously when I returned home, a long hot shower was first on my to-do list.
I hope this isn’t too personal to share, but I love my showers, especially after a long hard day with dirt clumps. After all, haven’t you heard, cleanliness is next to godliness!
Now generally when I shower: I bathe and the water, complete with the dirt, goes down the drain. However, this particular day, I noticed something odd. The water backed up from the drain. I wondered - did I have that much dirt on me! No problem, it was nothing Drain-O couldn’t handle.
The next time I showered, I noticed the same thing. I guess my chemical cleaner didn’t work. The water was still backing up and this time, all over my clean feet! They felt defiled.
“Bob! The drain! Oh!”
With my pleas for help echoing through the house, my trustworthy handyman hubby came to my rescue. He proceeded to deal with the issue, while I scurried off to work - across the hall to my office.
It wasn’t long before he came into the office, plopped down on the sofa and looked at me through exasperated eyes. Ah-oh, something was definitely amiss.
“Honey, what’s wrong?” I inquired.
He shook his head and said, “You’re not going to believe this! I just opened the shower drain and you’ll never guess what I found.”
My first guess revolved around something dead.
Bob proceeded to explain his examination of the drain netted him, four large shampoo bottles tops, a plastic ring, one yellow Lego block and a fish!
I was stunned. With me looking less than amused, Bob showed me his “catch of the day.” I had to wonder why it took so long to back up. I was sure there was a lesson somewhere in this messy misadventure. I was right and it didn’t take long for the Lord to reveal it. What a God!
We live in a dirty world. We can be the best housekeepers in town, but there are going to be times where a little grim gets on us. Yet our heavenly Father has provided a way through Jesus, confession, and His Word for us to spiritually shower, emerging clean and fresh before Him.
Unfortunately, sometimes we might discount the damage a little piece of dirt here and there can create. We might fail to “clean” as thoroughly as needed. When this happens, stuff accumulates in our spiritual drains. We probably don’t even notice it at first. However, left un-checked, the dirt piles up until one day, when least expected, a backup occurs! Funny thing about backups, when they erupt, crud usually spews on some unsuspecting by-stander.
I must admit this lesson hit home. How many times do I grumble over the impolite driver, the good for nothing traffic lights, and the slow bank teller? Later, I fume because the telephone solicitors keep calling wanting to sell me burials plots just as my computer freezes up, only to have my sweetie simply ask what’s for supper, then I explode. Bob becomes that innocent by-stander.
Yesterday in Bible Study, our lesson was on word power. We concluded that stick and stones certainly can break bones, but words sear to the soul. We also concluded that if we filter our thoughts (all those little things that build up inside), we are more apt to speak those words that the Bible refers to as “apples of gold in settings of silver.” Words, we won’t live to regret.
Apparently, our renters didn’t use the drain cover when showering, thus allowing garbage to accumulate. When the garbage could no longer contain itself, it backed up all over me! May we always remember to use the drain cover or filter of the Holy Spirit in our lives. May we filter our thoughts and feelings through the love and understanding of Christ. When we properly filter our words and emotions, we are less apt to back-up all over those around us.
Wisely Worded,
Barbara
PS: Okay, I know there will be times we blow it. Use the directions of I John 1:9 – and it’ll do for your soul, what even Drain-O sometimes fails to do with pipes!
Barbara Gobbs is a ministry partner with and the Executive Assistant of Pocket Full of Change Ministries. For more information, to schedule a speaker for an event, or to request a newsletter, go to www.pocketfullofchange.org or call Gail Golden, Publicist at 904 316-5462. This ministry is supported by donations. If this ministry helps you or others, and God calls you to help support this work, you can make a donation to Pocket Full of Change Ministry at POB 51205, Jacksonville Beach, Florida 32240.
© Pocket Full of Change Ministries
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