Quick announcement first (especially for those overseas): The hosting company for this blog site is doing routine maintenance tonight, starting at midnight (Eastern time). My understanding is that the site will be temporarily unavailable during that time—only a matter of a few hours at most.

Early this morning, I prepared to wipe off my bathroom counter top. When reaching under the cupboard to find the sponge I had used yesterday, my hand bumped into a little plastic container of water that I had completely forgotten was there. I reached in to take it out and found a nasty, disgusting, smelly, water-soaked slimy sponge that had been sitting there for…I have no idea how long! I immediately dumped it into the trash can!

However, in doing so, I was reminded of an illustration I shared a few years ago when speaking to a group of ladies whose husbands were attending a preaching conference. {{I hate when my personal illustrations come back to remind me of the present needs in my own life!}}

All too often, those of us who are Christ followers soak in what we hear on Sundays at church. We do so with a smile, a responsive nod, carefully written outlines in our “sermon notes journal,” and perhaps even a hand raised in worship. Yet, when we get home, we place the saturated sponge of learning into a safe place (the plastic container) and let it sit—forgetting that it’s there and neglecting to use it. You guessed it: it begins to stink, and it becomes useless.

The opposite can also be true. We use the “Sunday sponge” over and over again without replenishing its supply of water. We become so busy in giving and doing and caring and sharing and helping and…that we quickly “dry up.” Sadly, we try to keep cleaning with a dry sponge, and we wonder why it’s ineffective in doing what we want it to do.

The solution has two parts. First, the “sponge” of my life needs a heavy dose of spiritual water on Sunday—provided by the God-focused, Word-centered preaching of a godly pastor. Then, I need to go home and use the sponge—giving out the water of life I have received from the precious Word of God. Secondly, I need to renew that water supply to my sponge each day so that it can be used in an effective way—fulfilling the purpose for which it was created!

“If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me.” —Luke 9:23, NLT

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Remember to submit your points for WRW month via e-mail, comment, or Facebook message. I’m blown away by how well everyone is doing! (It’s not too late to join in if you’re new to Petals from the Basket. The full explanation of the month-long contest and the methods for reporting your points can be found here.)

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