Cleanse.Fill.Pour.: Clean the table...

Thursday, September 11, 2008

Clean the table...

We have a great porch...we also have a bunch of "porch kids". The porch itself is nothing special but the kids that sit on that porch, they sure are. We live in a very kid-a-fied downtown neighborhood so....we get all kinds of kids. We don't live in a very big town but nonetheless we live near 3 schools and we get a lot of different kinds of kids.

So yesterday Maggie (my 6yr old) was playing outside with some neighborhood girls and well drama broke out. What is up with girls? I have 2 boys and not near as much drama! Anyway, we had some trouble and I had to go out and sit on the porch. We've had problems with 2 girls in particular not getting along and I asked them if they needed to "clean the table"? They looked at me like I had a third eye...so are you, I know. Hang with me...I asked them if they were to eat their snacks and dinner and have the table covered with junk, garbage and dishes. Would it be hard to get their books out and do their homework? Of course they answered "yes", so what would you need to do? "Clean the table", they answered.

Ephesians 4:26,27, "Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity."

These girls needed to "clean the table" of anger, bitterness and hurt feelings...guess what, they couldn't even remember why they were mad at each other. Shocker. If I'm not careful to "clean the table" in my own life, relationships can get pretty messy, pretty fast. "Clean the table" so that we don't give the enemy an opportunity....he's out to rob, steal and make us useless and unfruitful for the Kingdom of God...we need to "clean the table" early and often.

1 comment:

Sheryl said...: Mandi-
Thanks for stopping by, I am dying to know how you found me. I read your profile and realize that you must not be too far from me. Also, my parents are both graduates of Taylor University. (as are many other family members) Would love to hear your story of being raised in church and yet not really knowing Jesus.

Love this analogy of "cleaning my table". Boy mine needs one.

Thanks!
Sheryl; September 12, 2008 at 5:48 PM

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Purpose of Cleanse.Fill.Pour.

Cleanse.Fill.Pour. is a women's ministry specifically designed to encourage women. Our desire is to see you grow in discipleship...to become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ. 2 Timothy 2:21 says, "Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself (herself) from these things, he (she) will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work."

Our prayer is that this would be used as a small tool to encourage women to be useful "vessels" for the Lord to use... in their marriage, with their kids, in teacher appointments, in the workplace, in their churches and all throughout their sphere of influence, that they would be Cleansed. Filled. and Poured out to others.

Statement of Faith of Cleanse.Fill.Pour.

1.We believe the Bible to be the inspired, the only infallible, authoritative Word of God. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

2.We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. (Gen. 1 and John 1)

3.We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in His personal return in power and glory.(all of the Gospels)

4.We believe that Salvation is by grace and faith alone in the finished work of Jesus (Ephesians 2:8-9) and that Jesus Christ is the Only Way to have a right relationship with God. (John 14:6)

5.We believe that for the salvation of lost and sinful people regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential.(Ephesians 1:13-14)

6.We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a godly life.(Romans 8)

7.We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost; they that are saved unto the resurrection of life and they that are lost unto the resurrection of damnation.(all of the Gospels)

8. We believe in the spiritual unity of believers in Christ. (1 Corinthians 12)

Curriculum Available with Online Study Tools

"From out to IN" Our Position in Christ now available! This is my first book based on the book of Ephesians but starting "In the beginning..."

"In Christ...walking by grace and faith" an in-depth study on the book of Ephesians. This 15-week study looks closely at the idea of walking by the same grace and faith that we are saved with! What does it mean to BE and then to DO? We are called to BE who we are in Christ and out of that we DO, not vise versa!

"Free Indeed" a in-depth look at the book of Galatians. A 12-week study closely looking at what was truly accomplished at the Cross of Christ. What does that mean for us? What is the source of our growth now? Freedom, what is it!?

"The Relationship"

For more information or to get materials...email cleansefillpour@aol.com