June 20th, 2015

Life as a River
What is the level of your 
River or your Reservoir?

Several years ago here in Georgia we were in the middle of an extended draught. There were daily postings of the most recent reading of the level of local lakes and reservoirs. Of course they were all below their ‘required’ level, and in most cases were going down each day. 

While reflecting on that experience, my mind shifted to a book I have been reading called More or Less: Choosing a Lifestyle of Excessive Generosity. The author, Jeff Shinabarger, says this:

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“At the risk of oversimplifying, let’s define some terms. More than enough is excess. Less than enough is suffering. Most of us either have a positive or a negative balance. More or less. I believe the most difficult and yet important question for our generation is to determine what is enough in each and every aspect of our lives. We should keep a figurative balance sheet for everything that consumes our money, time, energy, concentration, and other things. Then you can ask yourself, what is my balance today? Are you in the red, or are you in the black?”

Let’s face it - the majority of us (particularly in the US) have enough and are in “the black”. However, whether that daily report shows in the black or the red, we face a choice:  “What will I do?”  I believe that our choice will gradually over time determine if we are more a Reservoir or a River. 

Like the daily postings of the level of the Georgia lakes and reservoirs, as our level of ‘living in the black’ continues to rise, we relax and ‘thank God for His blessings’, but make sure that we keep a ‘healthy’ balance ‘just in case of a draught’. 

Honestly, I don’t think I am as aware of it rising as much as I am when it is ‘going down’. And the danger is that the more it goes down, the more I tend to become fearful, and to rely on my own ‘solutions’ to stop the trend- rather than relying on God my provider. 

So now I am faced with a conundrum (one of my favorite words to say).   WHAT DO I DO?

A few questions to ask myself. 

• “Who controls the rise and fall?” 
  
• “Who owns the time, energy, money and things?” 
• “Does it matter what I do?” 
• “Does God really care?” 
• “How much is enough?” 
• “Do I really trust God?” 
• “Is there really always enough?” 

Next week - A few MORE thoughts.

RIVERS NOT RESERVOIRS
7982 Hillcrest Trail
Jonesboro, Georgia 30236
404.784.4618

BLOG:   www.hisrivers.org
EMAIL: his.rivers@gmail.com

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