{"id":1726,"date":"2021-10-29T04:30:00","date_gmt":"2021-10-29T08:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/inspirationallaroundme.org\/?p=1726"},"modified":"2021-10-29T10:37:11","modified_gmt":"2021-10-29T14:37:11","slug":"pouring-from-an-empty-cup","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/inspirationallaroundme.org\/index.php\/2021\/10\/29\/pouring-from-an-empty-cup\/","title":{"rendered":"Pouring from an empty cup."},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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I was on the phone the other day with a friend while trying to figure out exactly what I was going to do for my birthday. At the moment there were so many different ideas in my head but due to lack of planning, my wants seemed simply impossible. I made the comment, \u201csometimes I just want someone to pour into me for a change.\u201d Her response was, \u201cbuddy you have to pour into yourself.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And then the light bulb went off in my head\u2026..<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So I asked myself, \u201cHow can I pour from an empty cup?\u201d Since my mom passed I have dealt with an abundance of emotion. Although I lost my dad 14 years ago, I didn\u2019t know the pain of loosing a mother. My feelings were totally different, my emotions often ran rampant, my heart felt like it had been shattered. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not knowing from day to day how hard it would be to face my fears, to address the \u201celephant in the room,\u201d confront the enemy; all while trying to work full time, be a wife, be a mother, be a friend, a sister, and be everything and everyone folks needed me to be. I lost control of Whitnee\u2019. I lost control of how to be Whitnee\u2019. When I looked in the mirror I didn\u2019t recognize myself. It\u2019s like I had gone to the ATM to withdraw money and my emotional, physical, mental, and spiritual \u201cbank accounts\u201d were in the negative. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I was beginning to spiral out of control. I refused help because I didn\u2019t think I needed help. I was taught to take it to God and I\u2019ve always tried to \u201ccounsel\u201d others and was ashamed to tell someone I think I am the one who needed the counseling. I tried so hard to help \u201cfix\u201d other people while I was damaging myself. I felt helpless and was starting to crack at the seams. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It felt so phony telling people, \u201cI\u2019m fine, how are you?\u201d Knowing I wasn\u2019t fine. But no one seemed to see my hurt, no one seemed to see my pain, no one seemed to see my brokenness. I hid it well in my opinion. I didn\u2019t want my \u201cblack to crack!\u201d I didn\u2019t want anyone judging my connection to God, telling me how to mourn the loss of my mother, how to feel, how to think, how to live, I didn\u2019t want any pity. I just wanted time, and time is something I couldn\u2019t get back. So I had to learn how to adapt. I had to learn how to \u201cgive myself some grace.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. You therefore must endure in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. The hardworking farmer must be first to partake of the crops. Consider what I say, and may the Lord give you understanding in all things. Remember that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead according to my gospel, for which I suffer trouble as an evildoer, even to the point of chains; but the word of God is not chained. Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. 
This is a faithful saying:
For if we died with Him,
We shall also live with Him.
If we endure,
We shall also reign with Him.
If we deny Him,
He also will deny us.
If we are faithless,
He remains faithful;
He cannot deny Himself.

2 Timothy 2:1-13<\/pre>\n\n\n\n
I thought I had the self care stuff down pack but little did I realize keeping my hair and nails done did nothing for my mental and spiritual being. How and why would I care about being pretty on the outside if I felt so broken, run down, empty, and ugly on the inside?!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I knew I was uniquely and wonderfully made. I knew I was a Beloved Child of God. I knew God was with me. I knew God could be my mother and father. I knew He loved me BUT I could not shake the feeling of pure emptiness. I was longing for something I couldn\u2019t find at the bottom of a wine bottle, the French fries, the ice cream, or any place I looked. I was looking in all the wrong places. I knew the Word to be true but it was not clicking and it\u2019s like my heart, my mind, and my thoughts were fighting with each other. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Thinking I would be ridiculed, I shunned any thought of weakness. I didn\u2019t want to be selfish and take away from anyone, I didn\u2019t want to be a burden. Boy have I been a silly rabbit!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So now that I have aired my \u201cdirty laundry\u201d and the \u201ccat is out of the bag\u201d per say here is where God\u2019s word truly resonated within my heart: God is allowing me to use these feelings, these raw emotions to get me out of my comfort zone to try and minister to someone who is still going through. By surrendering to God and keeping it real with myself (who was I fooling) I feel so free. The very things I was afraid and ashamed to share, are the very thing that is setting me free! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
As I draw nearer to God, He is giving me the strength to be courageous and bold again for Him. I feel like I can begin trying to spread the Good News through my journey in Christ, and I can start fulfilling His purpose in my life again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Yes I went through a rough patch, and probably will still have some trying days (as I know everyday won\u2019t be peaches and roses) but I know that God will use every bit of it for His glory and I\u2019m so grateful that in the midst of my brokenness God saw me worthy enough to use me. I\u2019m so unworthy but He loves me IN SPITE OF MY FAULTS. He loves me even though I\u2019m a sinner, a back slider, I\u2019ve short changed Him, I stopped reading daily for a while\u2026BUT I NEVER STOPPED PRAISING HIM! I never stopped thanking Him anyhow. I never stopped loving Him even when I couldn\u2019t love myself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sounds familiar anyone?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just as Paul encouraged Timothy to be strong in the grace of Jesus, this morning I too want to encourage you. And while I encourage you I meditate on this very passage of scripture (2 Timothy 2:1-13). It\u2019s by God\u2019s strength and only His alone that we can get strong. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
My brothers and sisters so many of us are at war within ourselves, we are fitting the enemy, we are fighting with our spouses, our siblings, or our friends. The enemy wants us in disarray. He wants us at each other\u2019s necks. We must fight this spiritual battle like soldiers. We are fighting in a war and we are apart of God\u2019s army. Like myself, some of us may have gotten our body armor dirty. It\u2019s time for a spiritual cleanse. Fast if you have to. Pray without ceasing. Ask God to cleanse you from the inside out. Seek spiritual growth and understanding. Trust Christ. Feed your spiritual while taking care of your mental, emotional, and physical. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Truly LOVE YOURSELF AS YOU LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR. Redefine what we are taught as Christians: Love God first, others second, and yourself last. Allow Christ to pour into YOU and Fill your cup while you do for others and Christ BUT DO NOT DEPRIVE YOURSELF! Find a healthy balance. Don\u2019t feel selfish for taking care of self. (I am talking to myself on this one). <\/p>\n\n\n\n
I want to challenge each person reading today\u2019s message to begin filling your cup from the inside out. Take care of mind, body, and soul. Be gentle with your heart. Show yourself grace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I want to list some takeaways from today\u2019s message:<\/p>\n\n\n\n