Yucky Bucket

10/21/08

I've been in Pennsylvania for the last several weeks visiting with friends here. What a blessing it has been for me, even though I do miss my family and friends in TN as well.

Before I left my home to come up here, there was a lot of tying up of loose ends to be accomplished. I fear I didn't get as much done as I wish I had but feel confident it will still be waiting for me when I get back.

One of the chores I accomplished before leaving was to empty the bucket on my back porch, which had faithfully held the contents of many days of vegetable scraps accumulated while cleaning and canning. I had gotten so busy with other things that I had forgotten the container of rotting refuse on the porch until it had become loathsome. I'm sure you can imagine the mess it was after days of heat and flies. When I opened the back door I caught my breath and kicked myself, as the smell of my neglect hit me square in the face. I swallowed hard and determined to do the task I now dreaded. I picked up the bucket and hauled it out to the compost pile, dug a deep hole and dumped it in. The best part was covering it up was watching it disappear. Soon a fresh smelling pile of dirt smoothed over the evidence and the only remaining thing to condemn me was the stinking bucket. I quickly grabbed it up and took it to the water faucet and turned the water on full force. As I watched brown water foam, swirl, and flow over the top I took notice of how the water began to change colors. Soon it was crystal clear. Amazing! I thought about my life and realized I am very similar to that bucket.

Over the years lots of refuse has been deposited in the closet of my mind. I have dumped lots of garbage there and left it, seemingly forgotten but it doesn't disappear. Instead it molds and rots and begins to stink and draw parasites. It causes me to be sickly and makes my character stink. It is not an easy or savory task to recognize and dispose of it, but thankfully it's not a task I'm left to accomplish alone. There is a part for me to do and part for God to do. It is my responsibility to take my sins to Jesus' Garden and dump them out at His feet asking that He forgive and cover them with His righteousness. The Bible assures me that He will do just that. " If we confess our sins He is faithful and just to us forgive our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." But just because I dumped the garbage out of the bucket and covered the contents did not make the bucket clean. I had to place the bucket under the water, allowing it to run full strength until the bucket was clean. Just so, in my life. Once I take my sins to Jesus, I must go and sit at the feet of Him who is the "Water of Life" and allow Him to pour Himself into me until the dirt disappears.

Were I to let the water drip slowly into the bucket I would still be standing there waiting for the water to clear the rate at which the water pours in greatly effects the desired results. In my life, if I really want to see serious changes I must turn the water on full force, so to speak. Spending time reading God's Word, filling my thoughts with His thoughts, and praying to Him asking for His guidance and strength is the only way that, "clear water", good things, like praises to Him, patience, kindness and love for others will flow out of me.

God bless you today my friends,

Bonnie Morsette ~ 10/21/08