Monday, October 10, 2011

Like a pencil with no lead..........

Like a pencil with no lead, these are the days of our lives.............

No, if you are a fan of that soap, you know that's not how it goes.

A year or so ago, maybe two, I found myself constantly sharpening pencils at school for my kids. I had the hand crank sharpener, which didn't work too well with alot of pencils. It seemed like it would just eat them up! (That, or either the kids were eating them! It happens!)

One day I kept turning and turning, not getting anywhere with this pencil. I'd look at the tip and still nothing. I was really getting frustrated with these "cheap" pencils, when I looked a little closer. I soon realized that it wasn't so much the sharpener's problem as it was the pencil's. What appeared to be a nice, new yellow #2 with brand new eraser (not eaten), was just that; but it was completely hollow inside. On the outside, it seemed to be as it was supposed to be, but empty on the inside. It happened more that once!

Immediately, the Lord spoke to me and I heard Him say that I am are like that some days. I may appear to be all dressed up, hair done, even matching my outfit to my earrings, bracelet and necklace- (which if you know me, you know that doesn't happen often!)- but inside, I am just empty- hollow- and not being used for the purpose I was supposed to be. My purpose is to know Him and make Him known to others, but if I'm not allowing Him to fill me up with His Spirit daily, then I'm just as useless as that piece of pretty painted wood.
Sure, it was stamped with the brand and #2, but was worthless. It could not fully serve its purpose and so, I threw it in the trash.
By the way, I've since gotten an electric sharpener, which is so much better- but even the best one still does nothing for the holder of hollowed out places.

I realize more and more how much I need that filling daily, hourly, minutely sometimes! I want God to fulfill His purpose in and through me by using my life to write on the lives of others and be a scribe of praise to His name!

Psalm 138:8 "The Lord will fulfill His purpose for me."