THE ART OF THE SHAKEN CUP

Greetings Cupbearers...how's your cup? I was at a funeral home for visitation the other night...and I was reminded of a Rambling that we did a while back about the cup. This person ( Brother Fred...the Kiing of Carpets) shared that at his business they still use a phrase related to that Rambling...WHAT'S IN YOUR CUP? In the Ruminator Sunday School Class... I will periodically...depending on if we have new people in there...use an example about how we speak...by taking their coffee cup in front of them...and SHAKE it violently to where coffee comes splashing out . I then ask them..."Why did coffee come out of that cup?" The answer is usually..."Because you shook it." While that is technically true... the answer that I am looking for is..."The reason coffee came out of the cup...is because THAT IS WHAT WAS IN THE CUP...the shaking only revealed what was in there." At my friends business...when ever someone gets frustrated...angry...emotional...someone will ask that person..."WHAT'S IN YOUR CUP?"


Have you ever had HOOF/FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE? I do quite often. I have read the instructions and now do it so naturally...I don't have to read the instructions any longer: (a) Open Mouth (b) Place foot in mouth. When the pressures of this life SHAKES ME...what is in me is REVEALED. What is in my HEART is manifested on my LIPS.

"For there is no good tree which produces bad fruit; nor, on the other hand, a bad tree which produces good fruit. For each tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they pick grapes from a briar bush. The good man out of the good treasure of his HEART brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his MOUTH SPEAKS from that which FILLS HIS HEART." (Luke 6:43-45).

These verses speaks of the heart condition that is manifested on the lips...but the next verse drives the point home...that what is in our hearts and manifested on our lips is fleshed out in what we do..."And why do you call Me Lord, Lord...and DO NOT DO WHAT I SAY?" Ouch...that one hurt myself. I gotta be careful in the Ramblings...and not self inflect conviction on myself.

The ultimate MOUTH MANUAL...is found in the book of PRO-VERBS (the book of professional, postive action words). NOTE: A Pro-verb a day...keeps the flesh away. There are 31 one chapters in the Book of Pro-verbs...on for each day of the month. One of the jewels of widsom found in PRO-VERBS...that deals with the MOUTH.. is found in PRO-VERBS 30:32. The next time you are shaken...by the swirl and circumstances of the world...and you have the urge to (a) open your mouth (b) inset your foot...consider these words of wisdom..."If you have been foolish in exalting yourself...or if you have plotted evil....PUT YOUR HAND ON YOUR MOUTH..." Loose talk really can cost lives. Loose lips really can sink your ship. Verse 33 demonstrates the cause and effect of what happens if we do not control our speech.

"For the CHURNING of milk PRODUCES butter...and PRESSING the nose BRINGS FORTH blood; Soooooooooooooooooo....the CHURNING of anger PRODUCES strife."

Your mouth is a churn...and what you place in the churn is determined by the storage of what is in your heart. If you have anger in your heart... the churning...or the talking...release of words...spilling out of your cup...produces STRIFE...unrest...and undercurrent in your life that is evident in your life...and spills out on all of those who are around you. Your mouth...will spread hoof and mouth disease quicker than a package of contaminated fresh spinach will spread E-COLI.

However...if you have peace...the Word of God...faith...love...joy...peace in your storage container (heart)...and you place this in your churn (mouth)...and begin to agitate an stir this up (speak)...the you will produce PEACE....and this will evident to all and it will spread...like rivers of living water...giving life to all who come into contact with you.

To misquote an Elvis Presley song...if you have love in your mouth...and begin to churn that....You will have a HUNKA HUNKA OF CHURNIN' LOVE....thank ya...thank ya very much.

RECOMMENDED READING: One of the best books on the subject is by Joyce Meyer...ME AND MY BIG MOUTH (Your Answer Is Right Under Your Nose)

Love and Peaceful Cups
Rodney "Well...Hush My Mouth" Boyd