The Notes

This coming Wednesday night, August 5, 2026, we continue our message series "Wacky Worship" with a look at brokenness.  It's the Enemy of our souls who tells us we are broken.  But the truth is - God uses "broken" people every day and He doesn't consider them broken.  He sees them as humble, willing vessels for His light to shine through.  God makes the brokenness beautiful when we surrender it to His care.  Join us at 6:00 p.m. for in-person Bible study and worship as we look at another ordinary thing to show us more about our extraordinary God and draw us closer to Him.  

A little wacky, but a lot of positive, uplifting, & encouraging truth!

If you can't join us in person, you can always participate through our Facebook page.  We go "live" at 6:00 p.m., and you will have a front row seat.  If you can't join us live, there are 3 ways to watch the message later - on Facebook, on YouTube, or here on our website. (the "Past & Future Messages" page).  Watch anytime!  

This week's message, July 29, 2026, continued our message series for the summer called, "Wacky Worship."  It's wacky ideas and ordinary things that can connect us to our amazing and extraordinary God and draw us closer.  

This week, we considered that age old question - is the glass half empty or half full?  It's a common sight, every day - we all have glasses with water, iced tea, or whatever.  And, of course, there is the proverbial idea of our cups being our lives.  Even Jesus prayed, "let this cup pass from me, Father, if it be your will."  How do you see your cup?  Whichever way you used to think of it - consider a new way to look at your cup.  The truth is - your cup is refillable.  And our God is a wonderful, loving Father who delights in filling our cups.  Not only does He want to fill them, He wants to do it so they are overflowing!  Never forget He is an abundant God. 

That is why David, the Psalmist, could write in Psalm 23:5 - “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.” 

So for this wacky worship topic, let's look at 4 spiritual truths:

1 – God is an abundant God.

2 Cor. 9:8 – “And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”  Understand from this verse that God wants our cups to overflow so we can live fully for Him. . . so we can be a blessing to others.  He fills us so we can do good and help other people.  David experienced God's abundant goodness even though he spent years living on the run in the wilderness.  That's why he could write, “The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing!”  The Lord is my Shepherd so I have all I need.  I shall not want.  No living with lack.  Never in need.  Cup overflows!  That's our heavenly Father - filling and refiling the cup of our lives.

And there is also Philippians 4:19 – “And my God will supply all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.”

Our limitations don’t limit God.  He has a vast supply.  He wants us to live in “plenty;” recognizing He will supply what we need!  He will refill the cup!

2 – God waits on us to ask for His water.

Consider the story in John 4 which we know as the story of the woman at the well.  Jesus waited on her to arrive, which she did about Noon.  By herself in the heat of the day.  She was alone, likely due to a very poor reputation.  She's had many husbands and is living with a man who is not her husband.  You know the type. 

Jesus asks that Samaritan woman for a drink.  She said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.)  (John 4:9)  Let's stop right there.  She’s Samaritan, so doesn't want to ask Jesus, a Jewish man for a drink.  But consider us.  We too often say, How can I ask God for anything?  I’ve not been living for Him.  I've sinned, wandered away.  I don't deserve anything.

But here is the thing - God loves you and me not because we're good, but because He is.  He wants to bless you.  Fill you.  Because He is good and loving.  So ask away.  Pray.  Draw closer to this God who loves us unconditionally.  He can change your circumstances and . . . yep . . . fill your cup!

Back to the story, Jesus answered the woman, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”   See that?  He is willing to give to her . . . waiting to be asked!

And Jesus didn’t judge why she was empty.  He knows.  But He loves here (and us) anyway.  He gives generously because He is good.  Because He is love.  And that's what love does.  Jesus taught that our Father in heaven “gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike.” [Matt. 5:45].  That is very true.  But if you want to really be blessed - the abundant blessing - consider what God said to Moses about how we live in Deuteronomy 28 tells us – if we will obey God and live for Him, God will bless us in many ways.  Scripture says "You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country.  The fruit of your womb will be blessed, and the crops of your land and the young of your livestock—the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks.  Your basket and your kneading trough will be blessed.  

You will be blessed when you come in and blessed when you go out.  The Lord will grant that the enemies who rise up against you will be defeated before you. They will come at you from one direction but flee from you in seven.  The Lord will send a blessing on your barns and on everything you put your hand to."  Want that kind of blessing?  Live fully for Him and God will bless all aspects of your life! These are blessings that are waiting for us.  They are waiting for us to connect with God and ask Him to refill us.  Ask, and you shall receive! 

3 – Let God fill your cup.

God is the fountain of living water.  He needs to fill our cup, not us.  But we sure do try.  Problem is, our efforts will never result in lasting happiness or true joy.  Our efforts will be like what God told Jeremiah [Jer. 2:13] - “For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living water, & they have dug their own cisterns—broken cisterns that cannot hold water.”

Truth is - if you’re digging your own well, you’ll still be thirsty, and rejecting His water leads to brokenness.  The phrase, "broken cisterns" symbolizes our failure; it's false security, not true fulfillment.  Anything we do apart from God is inadequate and temporary.  Brokenness is the inevitable disappointment and spiritual drought that comes from turning away from God’s supply.  God urges us to draw from His well. . . seek Him rather than things that do not satisfy.   Isaiah 55:1 says:  “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you without money, come, buy, and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost!"  If you are running dry - running on empty today - let God fill you up.  It's free, just like His love and grace.  

4 – Our filling happens in God’s timing.  

When God refills us, it's always right on time.  Oh I know what you're thinking . . . it seems late.  It seems last second.  It's true.  And it is.  Just at the very end, He is there to answer that prayer, provide the strength, fill that cup.  It happens that way so we will know its Him.  Truth is, He is constantly leading us where we need to be.  He knows our journey . . . and He knows our needs.

Isaiah 49:10 – “They will not hunger or thirst, nor will scorching heat or sun beat down on them. For He who has compassion on them will guide them and lead them beside springs of water.”

Over & over, the Bible shows us God fills us… satisfies us… gives abundantly!  Here are 5 examples:

Matthew 15:34 - “How many loaves do you have?” Jesus asked. “Seven,” they replied, “and a few small fish.”  And from that little bit, He fed 4,000 people.  And they picked up 7 basketfuls of left-overs!  

Mark 6:38 - “How many loaves do you have?” he asked. “Go and see.”  When they found out, they said, “Five—and two fish.”  And from that, Jesus fed 5,000 and they picked up 12 basketfuls of left-overs.  In Exodus 16:4 – “Then the LORD said to Moses, “Behold, I will rain down bread from heaven for you. Each day the people are to go out and gather enough for that day.”  Each day, God provided and the people had all they needed, from nothing!  The Bible says, “Each one gathered as much as he needed to eat.”

And there is 1 Kings 17:14 - “For this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the LORD sends rain on the land.’”  Think about what God did in that story - He provided food everyday for the widow, her son, & Elijah.  He did it during a famine, with no rain, no river, no crops.  At the time of need, God provides.  Right on time.  Then there is a story in 2 Kings 4:42-44 – A man came “with a sack of 20 loaves of barley bread from the first ripe grain. ‘Give it to the people to eat,’ said Elisha.  But his servant asked, ‘How am I to set 20 loaves before a hundred men?’ ‘Give it to the people to eat,’ said Elisha, ‘for this is what the LORD says: ‘They will eat and have some left over.’  So he set it before them, and they ate and had some left over”!!

Our God provides, and multiplies.  He gives abundantly, so there are left-overs.  And when those moments happen in our lives, we will know then with certainty – it was none other than God.

If you are feeling empty today . . . running low on hope, faith, or supply - just remember your glass isn’t half empty or full.  It’s refillable. . . by an abundant God!  He is faithful.  You can count on Him to meet all your needs.  All.

As Jeremiah 31:25 says, "For I have satiated the weary soul, and I have replenished every sorrowful soul."