Ari, Jezziah, Owen, Oakley,
There may come a time in your life that you find yourself overwhelmed with the things that are going on in your life. I have tried to be a model for you all of my life, by showing that there are some jars that you must prioritize over others in your life. In this analogy, you can have as many jars as you’d like, but you’ve only got one pitcher of water that you can pour out into those jars. It also matters where you fill your cup up.
You treat me to a feast, while my enemies watch. You honor me as your guest, and you fill my cup until it overflows. Your kindness and love will always be with me each day of my life, and I will live forever in your house, LORD.
Psalms 23:5-6
Life will give you a dozen jars, and you can choose to do nothing with them and waste the talents that you’ve received in your overflowing cup. You can also focus on just a few jars, and miss the opportunities of filling other jars. You can also fail to seek God while you’re filling jars, that when you’re empty, there’s nothing left of you. You can also fill up a dozen jars half way, and never accomplish anything in your life.
My hope is that you’ll see God as the living water that He is, and seek him with all of your heart – He will fill you until you are overflowing, allowing you to fill a field of jars – if you invite Him into your life, and trust that He is there with you.
The irony of great success and amazing leadership is that at the center of each of those stories lies a truth that is inescapable – God was present in each of those stories. A remarkable saying that had great consequence in its day, was a quote by your 19th cousin:
“A house divided against itself cannot stand”
Abraham Lincoln – Illinois Republican State Convention, Springfield, Illinois, June 16, 1858
Originated from the bible:
But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them: “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand
Matthew 12:25
While it was likely known by most of the people hearing that speech from Abraham that it was a quote from the bible, I think that fact escapes present understanding as we review remarkable leadership qualities of leaders. That isn’t to say that great leaders must be Christian to be successful – but their successes are marked by tenets clearly articulated in the Bible.
My hope is that you’ll take that truth, and learn more from the God who loves you fiercely, pouring into the jars in your life that will glorify Him, and He will continue to allow you to prosper through triumph and tragedy.
It’s a wildly awesome pleasure to be your father, and my hope for you will see that you have an even better Father, who loves you more than I ever could.
So, learn to fill the jars in your life using the Living Water of His gracious gifts to your lives – I can’t wait to see what His plans are for each of you!