PRINCIPLE: “When you need paper towels, thank God for the overflow.”

It happened again a few weeks ago. I was pouring from a pitcher into my drinking glass and wasn’t paying attention – and before I knew it the overflow was on the countertop. So I grabbed a ‘quick picker upper’ and wiped it up. I then gave myself the usual brow beating for being so careless.

It’s amazing how God works. Since then I have been preparing messages on blessings and giving, and have been making the presentations for the campaign group meetings. My personal focus has been Malachi 3 and 2 Corinthians 8 & 9. The both deal with abundance and overflow of blessings. Today my mind returned to my recent brow beating exercise – and I realized that rather than berate myself I should have stopped and offered a prayer of thanksgiving. After all, I had enough supply of drink that I had more than enough, more than I needed; I had an excess. It should have reminded me of the many times God’s rich abundance has overflowed in my life. Thus the principle, “When you need paper towels, thank God for the overflow.”

As I ponder this I am taken back to my files to retrieve the following poem.

I’ve never made a fortune
And I’ll never make one now,
But it really doesn’t matter
Cause I’m happy anyhow.

As I go along my journey
I’m reaping better than I sow.
I’m drinking from the saucer
Cause my cup has overflowed.

I don’t have a lot of riches
And sometimes the going’s tough,
But when I’ve got my kids to love me
I think I’m rich enough.

I’ll just thank God for the blessings
That his mercy has bestowed,
I’m drinking from the saucer
Cause my cup has overflowed.

If you give me strength and courage
When the way grows steep and rough
I’ll not ask for other blessings,
I’m already blessed enough.

May I never be too busy
To help another with his load,
Then I’ll be drinking from the saucer
Cause my cup has overflowed.

“When you need paper towels, thank God for the overflow.”