Here is my devotional for today from the church I go to

I have to read this again, because, alas, I am a sponge. Hope you can be a bucket- bearer.
Please take a sec and read it. I have put a link to a live puppy cam on the bottom of the page if you have got nothing to do. Who doesn't love watching puppies? I know I do! Careful, it's addictive! Love Joann
PS Here's a link to this weekend's lesson by Pastor Mark. It's a great teaching although it's long but you can get onto the web-site here or over to the right on my page. It's about spiritual warfare. Worth listening to. bye, again

Bucket Bearer or Sponge?
Based on “The Answer to Thirst” by Pastor Mark Balmer; 11/8-9/08,
Message #2464; Daily Devotional #3 - “Bucket Bearer or Sponge?”

Preparing the Soil (Introduction): So he sent two of his disciples, telling them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him.” (Mark 14:13) Are you a bucket bearer? Bucket bearers know how to regularly go to the source of living water in daily devotional time and manage to carry an overflowing bucket throughout their days. By reminding themselves of God’s past provision and of His continued goodness today, they keep their buckets constantly full. When some thirsty soul comes near, they are prepared to scoop up a dipper full of God’s goodness from their overflowing supply and freely share it. Sometimes in their day to day travels, they unknowingly slosh against thirsty fellow travelers and spatter refreshment unaware onto people who didn’t even realize that there was such refreshment available. This causes parched seekers to follow the bucket bearer’s trail until they, too can locate the bearer’s source. A man carrying a bucket of water must have been something of a rare thing in Jesus’ day, or his poor disciples would have been hard pressed to discover which man to follow (Mark 14:12-13). A bucket bearer is still rare today.

Planting and Watering the Seed (Growth): It is much easier to find sponges. The Israelites were sponges (Exodus 17:1-3). They absorbed God’s blessings over and over. They stood on the free side of the Red Sea, the pillar of fire lit their night hours, and the cloud protected them from the hot sun during the day. They were fed manna every day, and they knew Him to provide water in their past times of need. Yet as they absorbed every blessing for themselves they refused to be satisfied. At the first sign of missed expectations they became angry and resentful. They attempted to suck all the faith right out of their leader with their accusations, negativity, and demands of “Give us, give us!” The sponge’s selfishness results in complaints, quarreling, and unhappiness, no matter how many blessings are poured out upon them. A bucket bearer is willing to share his supply with all who are truly thirsty, but a wise bearer will soon recognize when he is dealing with negative, demanding sponges. At that point, he will do as God instructed Moses, and just walk on ahead (Exodus 17:5), leaving the choice to follow or complain up to each individual.

Harvesting the Crop (Action/Response): Do you consider yourself to be a bucket bearer, or a sponge? Are you looking into the face of expectations unmet? How are you responding? What are you doing to keep your blessings bucket full and ready to share? Are you mindful of the many blessings poured out on your life? Take time to list a few. Stay daily in God’s Word and refill that bucket today.

Cultivating (Additional Reading): Psalm 1:1-3; Revelation 21:6
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Our group singing in the Upper Room, and yes , I know I have a terrible voice, but God loves it!