Cupcakes

By: Gwen Wilson

“I am the vine, you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).

When my kids eat a cupcake, they don’t actually EAT the cupcake. Usually they eat the icing, the sprinkles, candies and leave the cake part – the “meat” of the cupcake. The icing always seems like the best part. It is so creamy and sugary. Then the kids leave the table, run around like little monkeys on a sugar high for about 30 minutes to an hour.

When that’s over, the crying starts. Or maybe it’s the whining. Or when my kids really crash they start running into things or falling over.

Sound familiar?

I tend to do the same thing with God. I love to get the sweet stuff – all the extras that come with knowing God, but I forget that I really just need Him. I get icing from Him – maybe church service is especially good. Next, I get some sprinkles – a small group or mommies group. Then I get some decorations to make everything look adorable. I add some pretzels for ears, candies for eyes-that’s my conversations with friends, connections that make it seem like a great day.

Now it’s the end of the day. Life has crashed around me. I’m tired. I’m overwhelmed. I’m not feeling confident in my decisions. I question everything from the jeans I wore to if I am a good enough Mom. I’ve just spent the entire day on my sugar high. I filled in all the holes with the extras and the topping. I never ATE the cupcake.

John 15:5 says “I am the vine, you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”

Although I think this is a “big picture” statement about our salvation, I think it is also a daily statement. Going through the day without Him, we lack the strength to do what we’re called to do. I’d like to encourage you: find time to eat the cupcake.

Cupcake all by itself is enough. However, the icing and sprinkles (or heaven forbid – the powdered sugar), they add to the experience, But without the meat of the cupcake, finding time to be with God, you’ll be running around like my little monkeys… just waiting for the sugar crash.

Questions: Are you running ragged and don’t have time for the Lord? Why is it that at the end of the day you are overwhelmed and feeling a lack of confidence?

by: william bolivar journal