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Pastor Eugene Peterson in his book The Contemplative Pastor writes that, “a bucket, no matter what wonderful things it contains, is of no use for the next task at hand until it is emptied.”
The personal bucket of our thoughts and beliefs often contains much that no longer serves us in a positive way. If this bucket isn’t emptied periodically it may be causing the flow of good in our life to be delayed. We may find that we are laboring to carry around a bucket that is filled with pessimism, old thoughts and out dated beliefs that weigh us down with burdens we don’t need and with an outlook on life that refuses to see each day ripe with possibility. It becomes all too easy to dwell on negative experiences from our past. Here is where we can really get into trouble. So often we nurse and rehearse the past hurts and problems that we have had. They play over and over in our minds and these thoughts, these vibrations we have experienced, get magnified. More and more they get magnified. Is it any wonder that we continually repeat negative patterns in our lives? I’ve said this many times, things are always changing, they can’t help but always be changing because creation never stops, but if we dwell on and play over and over the past hurts in our lives, then the things that are changing are just changing to more of the same. We get stuck. God tells us in scripture to stop going over the old history of bondage. Remember it, so as not to repeat the same mistakes. Remember it only to remind yourself that God continues to bless you, and provide for you as God always has. Recall it only to remember how God has brought you forth in the past and will again and again. But don’t dwell on the past hurt. Don’t go there, to the old stuff that doesn’t serve you today. That old stuff God has already brought you through. Don’t dwell on more of it unless you want more of it. Let it go. Say, “I have been there, done that, hated it, glad God took it away, even burned the t-shirt.”
In order to experience growth and new blessings we must empty this bucket of negativity and create a space for what we really want to come to us. We want to see and experience the kingdom of God on earth in all of its abundant magnificence. We want to live lives of purpose and service and to walk continually with our God who loves us unconditionally.
God reminds us, “I am about to do a new thing.” Allow the new blessing a space to enter your life in a meaningful and wonderful way. This continual process keeps the flow of spiritual freedom circulating in our lives.
So, what are you carrying around in your bucket today?
“Do not remember the former things, or consider the things of old. I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?” (Isaiah 43: 18, 19)
Affirmation: “Gladly eliminating the old I make room for the blessings of God, both seen and unseen.”
Rev. Jefferson Beeker
We live our lives one thought at a time. Let each of those thoughts really count for something wonderful.
Be prepared to change your thinking and change your life. Please join us each Sunday at 5:30 PM in our Social Hall at First Christian Church, North Hollywood, CA for our Contemporary Celebration and Praise service. Come as you are and enjoy an hour of great music from our wonderful band and singers, inspiring messages and good fellowship. Those things in life that you have been seeking have also been seeking you. Now is a good time to receive them. We will lift one another to live exciting, abundant new lives of possibility and purpose.
Also, join me on Wednesday evenings from 7 to 8 PM for an hour of guided and silent meditation, reflection, affirmation and prayer. As always, we will share communion together. Everyone is welcome.
First Christian Church, North Hollywood, 4390 Colfax Avenue, Studio City, CA 91604. http://www.fccnh.org
Follow me on Twitter @jeffersonbeeker