First of all, let me thank my vast horde of admirers (this means you Cheri, Brianna, and Terri) for giving me the impetus to do this. I do enjoy writing, and I do miss having Bible studies, so this blog will give me an outlet for both. At least right now I’m thinking along the lines of devotional type blogs, but who knows what may come of this….possibly not much, since I am prone to starting projects and then fizzling out on them. Just ask Jon about his cross stitched Mickey Mouse; he’ll be glad to share that with you, again.
Why “A Watering Can” for a name, you ask?
Several years ago, a lady at church gave a devotional about vessels. As followers of Christ, we each are vessels for Him.
But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work. 2 Timothy 2:20,21
We all have our purpose in God’s plan, we all are vessels, but we have different purposes and we are different kinds of vessels.
She said that God had showed her that she was a tea pot, which she didn’t take kindly to at first, seeing as how that brought to mind the little ditty about teapots being “short and stout.” As she came to understand her purpose in God’s plan, she understood and accepted her role as His “teapot.” Then she asked us to name different kinds of vessels and what came immediately to my mind was a watering can. ??? I had no idea why that vessel was the first one I thought of at the time. Why not a crystal vase or something elegant? She suggested we seek the Lord to find out what kind of vessel we were for Him.
So as I was driving home from work late one night, and I began to pray and ask what kind of a vessel I was. A watering can….there it was again. The Lord showed me that whenever I would get really close to Him, full of zeal to “do something” I always thought in grand terms. I wanted to save the world, so to speak. Like a great evangelist I wanted to be a garden hose, turned on full force, spraying that water over everyone at the same time.
But I wasn’t a garden hose, I was a watering can. A watering can doesn’t water a whole garden at once, but one flower at a time. A watering can isn’t forceful, but gentle; the plant still gets refreshed, but not beaten down.
I remembered how I would sometimes seek advice from a Christian friend on how to deal with people I was trying to help. His answers were to be very blunt or even to wash my hands of one person in particular who I had tried to counsel for years to no avail. I never could use his advice though, and now I understood why. I was a watering can!
So I will never be a great evangelist or minister or have huge auditoriums filled with women holding notebooks, poised to jot down my infinite pearls of wisdom. God has other vessels for those purposes. He just wants me to water, to refresh, to encourage, to comfort one soul at a time. Perhaps that is the purpose for this blog; I pray it is.
I often think of that quote, “The smallest good deed is greater than the grandest intention.”
I’ve had lots of grand intentions, always wanting to be that garden hose, but now I just want the Lord to use me as a watering can for Him; that I may be a vessel of honor.
Now, what kind of vessel are you? Why don’t you seek the Lord, and let Him show you?
If you do, I’d love to know what kind of vessel you are.
Gail, this is wonderful!
I sure do hope that you keep it up because I love to read what you write. You are always so insightful and in such a kind way, too.
You are a blessing for sure!
<3
Cindy
It is GOOD! and encouraging, Gail… Great job.. Now, keep it up. luv U
Gail, I loved reading this. I hope you stay with it, it is
uplifting and the vast internet world could use more of what you have to say.
Gail, this is wonderful. Stay with it!
I love the imagine of a watering can…
Very nice Gail. I’m happy you decided to go with this and I do think your writing is very insightful.
Gail!
You are truly a gift from God. I am so glad to know you.
You are blessing.
And you are a wonderful writer!!
“He just wants me to water, to refresh, to encourage, to comfort one soul at a time.”
Gail, This is why Eddie married you!! Just for ME!! You water me..
luv U
Hey Gail, this is a great testimony! I would think when compared to a vessel, I would have to say I’d be an old watering trough, sharing my wisdom and knowledge with people that are thirsty for more of Christ. People that have been hurt and need someone to help them on their way to the goal… Heaven. People that need a friend, and need someone to show them the path, or remind them of the pathway to the River of Living water.
I only contain so much, but always am looking to be filled with a new revelation, or new water daily. God’s like the farmer who fills me and works through me, the watering trough, to lead people to Christ. People who have had a relationship with Jesus, and found themselves dry and barren, parched without any hope of tomorrow, or hope of abundant life, or hope of eternal life… living water…. Those people come to me, leaning on my shoulder, and finding peace when the words of the Lord are drank in, recieved with a greater understanding of the Plan of eternal life.
You see the water I contain is my testimony, all that I have been through, learned and come out of. God has brought me out of tough situations and has opened doors for me to bring people to church, or talk with people about church and conviction is realized. You see conviction is kindof like thirst, its there and cattle only know where to find satisfaction when they see that broken down, humble trough sitting by a fence, somewhere in a dry plain.
God draws all men unto Him, and will use anyone who is willing to let Him. I am nothing empty and without Christ, or water, I am just a vessel collecting the dirt of the world without Him. But God… God has a plan for each one of us… He brought me out of my rut, and cleaned me up and wiped me clean. He filled me with living water and instrumentalizes me to fill others with right teaching and makes a way that I can help others to see the goal.
I hope this helps inspire someone to find the way to living water.
God Bless You Gail for your efforts and letting God pour into you, so you can pour it into those around you!!
Andrew
OK, Andrew, you’re not supposed to outshine the blogger.
Thank you for sharing what kind of vessel you are. I know the Lord does fill you with that new water daily. You are an outstanding young man who fulfills the words of Paul to young Timothy:
“Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.”
One thing you wrote that struck me:
” I am nothing empty and without Christ, or water, I am just a vessel collecting the dirt of the world without Him.”
An empty vessel is kind of useless, isn’t it? What if those thirsty cattle finally made their way to that watering trough, and found it empty, would they survive until they found anther watering spot? You are the watering trough for those particular “cattle” in that field; in other words, God made you to be a light and a blessing to those in your little corner of the world
What if a watering can just sat on the shelf in the garage all the time, as you said collecting dirt (and spiders…ewww)? The poor flowers would just wither and die. The flowers in my own garden that I was supposed to water.
I want my vessel to be clean and filled with refreshing living Water…..”meet for the Master’s use.” In other non- King James words, a vessel that God can use for His glory.
Gail, I really enjoyed reading these. You are truly a blessing to many. Keep it up!
Gail,
When I count my blessings you are there.
When I need a prayer warrior you are one of the first I think of.
Thank you for always being there when I have needed you.
Gail,
This is great. Maybe just what I need. Keep it up.
Love you,
Cuz
Gail, This brought tears to my eyes! Wow, I knew you were a good writer but not THAT good! Very nice! I look forward to reading more so keep it up! Love you!
Gail,
This is very, very good. As a writer myself, I want to tell you that only a God-given servant could write down the magestic principals of God in human vinacular that we humble humans could ingest, digest, and be noursihed from.
These are the very thoughts God has given me for next year’s Ladies Retreat. I was thinking about it last night.
I was really blessed by this. I am am a Christian wife and mother, and just made my first blog a couple days ago. I like that you shared that “watering cans” are just as important as “garden hoses”. I guess I am sort of a watering can, too.
Gail,
God IS working through you, “one flower at a time”! Thank you for sharing your wonderful insight and stirring some spiritual ponderings in myself. =D
I look forward to your future entries! =)