One night some 5 years ago the following happened and I wrote about it.
As Tina and I sat there watching something on the TV, we heard a
“pop.” At first I thought it was the wind throwing something at the window. A little while later. “Pow!” This was way too weird. Someone was shooting at us! Seconds later the third “pop!” I jumped up and ran into the kitchen. I looked to the area of smoke coming from the wall. Oh no! The batteries had blown up for my camera.
How had it happened? There are two types of rechargeable batteries. I had used one for so long, I forgot to hit the switch when I
introduced a different kind. The power was too much for them. They
exploded, leaking into the charger and onto the floor. (Hey, at least
we weren’t being shot at!)
In my life and the lives of others, we want to see more of God. We
cry out “more!” But what happens when He shows up? I am convinced it is not always the way we think it is going to be. Maybe we will be like the battery, coming to the place where we can not absorb any more of what He is doing, because we have to make room for the new.
“I must decrease that He might increase.” Maybe it just doesn’t seem to be a “wow” in our life but if we really looked around we would see the increase.
Busyness must go. I have too many friends, too much family and too
little time. I do not want to “explode” no longer able to contain or
do what He is asking of me.
There was an old Monkees’ song. In it, a pig ate so much…he popped. If I am going to “pop” I want it to be a release of the goodness of God and His grace over all those He holds dear.
That is what I wrote in 2009. Even now I “hear” the explosion of some as God overtakes them, overshadows them, bringing increase in their lives. Not all increase is visible or evident in our mind. But it does not mean it is not there. I see so many looking to create “excitement” to make something happen. The greatest excitement for me is giving a word or praying for someone at work and and seeing it work. Everyday people walk over to talk to me and I get opportunities. Part of not exploding is allowing the “charge” you have gained to go out and do something. Not to hoard it or to save it.
This morning I awoke and my cell phone was dead. (It was at 100% last night.) I came down and went to turn on my computer. The cord had come out last night. It was “dead” as well. I awoke 15 minutes late this AM, and went through some old words. This one jumped out. On batteries. (It was the next one I was using from a week ago!)
What does it mean? I submit to you the following thinking.
Many have “unplugged” from their source. I am not suggesting they are not saved, just not plugged into the source, who is Jesus. Not spending time or allowing other things to build up. There is no “charge” to give from because there has been no charge received. In real life when a battery drops to a certain point, a light will dim, certain features stop working and more. The same is true in real life. Yes, you still have Jesus, but that verve for life wanes, not everything works and it is “hard to remember” when it did!
A battery is more than a storage device; it is an energy provider. So are the people of God.
Today, spend some time with Him. Allow Him to recharge you. Allow His word to refresh you. Don’t wait for the “pop” but give away what you have received.
