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CLASS Blog

February 1, 2010

By Betty Southard - View Betty's Faculty Profile »

Posted in: Inspiration & Motivation

Out of the Overflow - A Lesson in Clay

Not long ago I attended a day retreat at the Center for Spiritual Development. I had been so busy for several weeks, and was feeling drained and burned out. I needed refreshment, time and space away from all my responsibilities. Even though I kept up my regular daily time with the Lord, I would often find my mind shifting over to what needed to be accomplished that day. I find it very helpful to get away from home, the phone, computer, all the "shoulds" that confront me everywhere to concentrate on the Lord. 

With anticipation, I drove to the retreat center. The day started with some Scripture reading, contemplation, times of silence and prayer. Then we were offered options to do during a scheduled three-hour time of silence. One of the options was to take a hunk of clay, and shape it into whatever form came to mind. Having never worked with clay, I didn't know how or where to begin. Briefly turning to the Lord in prayer, I asked for an idea. Mary, the mother of Jesus, came to mind. My personal verse for the year had been a repeat of her answer to Gabriel, "May it be to me according to your word." A prayer of submission and commitment to do His will. As I thought about Mary, I realized that she gave life to our Lord and Savior. Through that life, Jesus, God has given you and me new life.

My desire, as a wife, mother, grandmother, friend, speaker and writer, is to give life to those around me. So I began to form a simple bust of Mary, and as it took shape, I felt the desire to place in her lap a baby, new life. It became a symbol to me of the desire of my heart, to live in submission to the Lord, and to give forth life to all around me. To do that, I realized, once again, that I must have that ongoing daily connection with the Lord through Bible reading and prayer. The foremost process of being filled by His Spirit, His life within me, before I can begin to give life to those around me.

I have tried to give life with my natural gifts, determination, responsibilities, only to fail miserably. The secret to living a life through giving, is to live "out of the overflow" of the blessings I receive when I spend time with the Lord.

As I look at Mary, holding life in her lap, each day I am challenged to remember Mary received from God what she gave to the world. So I desire to daily receive from the Lord that out of the overflow of His love, I can give to others.

CLASS wants to help you live a life out of the overflow of God's presence in your life. We will be sharing lessons we've learned to help you discover living out of the overflow. I pray you will join us in that discovery.

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