Giving from the Overflow — Serving Without Losing Yourself

WEBVTT
00:00:01.257 --> 00:00:08.417
Well, hello my valued listeners, and welcome back to another episode of Living in Your Power.
00:00:08.937 --> 00:00:14.477
I'm your host, Dr. Marlene Greenleaf, and I am so thankful that you're joining
00:00:14.477 --> 00:00:19.797
me again as we continue our November series, Gratitude in Motion,
00:00:20.397 --> 00:00:23.657
Leading, Living, and Giving from the heart.
00:00:25.237 --> 00:00:30.077
So as we move deeper into this season of gratitude and giving,
00:00:30.557 --> 00:00:33.777
I want to remind you of something important.
00:00:35.477 --> 00:00:39.777
You can't pour from an empty cup.
00:00:41.697 --> 00:00:46.777
You cannot pour from an empty cup.
00:00:48.357 --> 00:00:55.297
And with that in mind, today's episode is titled, Giving from the Overflow,
00:00:56.437 --> 00:00:59.657
Serving Without Losing Yourself.
00:01:00.977 --> 00:01:07.297
Because service to your listeners is sacred, but only when it's sustained by
00:01:07.297 --> 00:01:09.877
strength and not depletion.
00:01:12.777 --> 00:01:17.437
So let's be honest here, I mean many of us I'm sure we love to help,
00:01:17.637 --> 00:01:22.577
we love to serve and we love to give, I mean we pour into our families,
00:01:22.997 --> 00:01:26.497
our communities, our jobs and our ministries.
00:01:28.097 --> 00:01:33.957
But somewhere along the way we forget that giving without refilling leads to
00:01:33.957 --> 00:01:36.097
burnout and not blessings.
00:01:38.937 --> 00:01:45.457
Luke 6.38 reminds us, Give and it will be given to you.
00:01:45.637 --> 00:01:50.437
A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over,
00:01:50.697 --> 00:01:52.697
it will be poured into your lap.
00:01:54.217 --> 00:01:58.577
Now that running over, that's your overflow.
00:01:58.937 --> 00:02:03.497
And that's the place where giving becomes joyful again.
00:02:05.277 --> 00:02:11.437
If you are constantly exhausted, it's not because you're doing too much good.
00:02:12.337 --> 00:02:15.497
It's because you're doing good without grounding.
00:02:17.837 --> 00:02:24.797
And God never called you to empty yourself beyond what he's equipped you to carry.
00:02:28.757 --> 00:02:32.497
We've been conditioned to believe that love equals self-sacrifice.
00:02:34.397 --> 00:02:41.277
That good leaders, good parents, good Christians should give until it hurts.
00:02:42.997 --> 00:02:46.177
But Jesus himself modeled something different.
00:02:48.057 --> 00:02:54.817
Mark 1.35 says, Very early in the morning, while it was still dark,
00:02:55.157 --> 00:03:02.657
Jesus got up, left the house, and went off to a solitary place where he prayed.
00:03:05.277 --> 00:03:13.297
Even Jesus withdrew. Even he paused to refill his spirit before serving others.
00:03:14.197 --> 00:03:20.097
He understood that purpose without presence leads to exhaustion.
00:03:24.534 --> 00:03:31.894
Your rest, your listeners, is not rebellion. It is, in fact, a responsibility.
00:03:33.394 --> 00:03:38.854
And when you protect your energy, you protect your effectiveness.
00:03:42.694 --> 00:03:49.594
Boundaries are not walls. They are wisdom. I've said this to you before.
00:03:51.854 --> 00:04:00.494
They are how you guard the garden of your peace Every time you say no to what
00:04:00.494 --> 00:04:06.234
drains you You're saying yes to what sustains you,
00:04:08.014 --> 00:04:12.414
I mean, some of us has been giving out of guilt,
00:04:14.554 --> 00:04:23.794
Guilt for saying no Guilt for taking breaks Guilt for not being everything to everyone.
00:04:25.614 --> 00:04:33.674
But here's what I've learned. When you start operating from overflow instead
00:04:33.674 --> 00:04:38.994
of obligation, your yes becomes more powerful.
00:04:40.614 --> 00:04:43.354
Why? Because it's coming from
00:04:43.354 --> 00:04:52.354
purpose and not pressure. and that shift that's where your peace begins.
00:04:55.556 --> 00:05:02.316
So how do we keep our cups full? And how do we give from overflow?
00:05:04.776 --> 00:05:09.616
I'm going to share with you three simple secret steps that I have used.
00:05:10.296 --> 00:05:14.016
And I hope it will help you.
00:05:15.536 --> 00:05:21.996
First and foremost is rest intentionally. Not just sleep.
00:05:22.636 --> 00:05:31.436
But restoration. Turn off your phone, close the laptop, and let God speak in the silence.
00:05:32.056 --> 00:05:34.556
Rest intentionally.
00:05:36.036 --> 00:05:41.976
I've made a commitment to myself on the weekends during my Sabbath from Sunday,
00:05:42.356 --> 00:05:48.376
Friday to Sunday, Saturday, that I turn off all of these things.
00:05:49.016 --> 00:05:53.136
I don't participate. Now I take that back because I keep the phone on,
00:05:53.276 --> 00:05:54.696
but I don't participate.
00:05:55.316 --> 00:06:01.136
I do not participate. I do not go to my desktop. I don't look at my emails.
00:06:02.796 --> 00:06:10.096
I pull away from technology and what I do during the week to rest intentionally.
00:06:12.732 --> 00:06:16.952
Now, the second thing that I do is to replenish spiritually.
00:06:18.432 --> 00:06:22.092
Spend time in prayer, in the Word, or in nature.
00:06:22.692 --> 00:06:29.132
And ask, Lord, what do you want to refill in me today?
00:06:31.372 --> 00:06:35.532
This is something that I strive to do on a daily basis.
00:06:36.092 --> 00:06:41.632
Wake up in the morning, have that quiet time with God. and out in nature when
00:06:41.632 --> 00:06:44.632
I go for my three-plus-mile jog in the morning.
00:06:45.212 --> 00:06:47.512
That's me replenishing spiritually.
00:06:48.912 --> 00:06:55.472
And third, release what's not yours to carry. I know, I know.
00:06:56.752 --> 00:07:02.192
You are not responsible for everyone's healing, happiness, or outcomes.
00:07:02.232 --> 00:07:08.392
So do your part and let God handle the rest. And when you give from overflow,
00:07:08.672 --> 00:07:11.712
you're no longer striving, you're stewarding.
00:07:11.932 --> 00:07:16.572
Because I've had that challenge to release what's not yours to carry.
00:07:16.852 --> 00:07:23.052
Because I just assumed that I had to be the one to take care of any and everyone
00:07:23.052 --> 00:07:24.932
and everything that came my way.
00:07:25.012 --> 00:07:32.012
But no, as it said, do your part and let God handle the rest.
00:07:32.012 --> 00:07:38.212
Because when you give from overflow, you're no longer striving. You're stewarding.
00:07:41.592 --> 00:07:45.652
Now gratitude, it keeps the flow alive.
00:07:46.932 --> 00:07:52.452
When you thank God for what's already in your hands, you make room for more.
00:07:53.072 --> 00:08:00.812
And when you give from a grateful heart, your service becomes an act of worship.
00:08:03.064 --> 00:08:12.724
Philippians 4.19 says, And my God will meet all your needs according to the
00:08:12.724 --> 00:08:16.404
riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.
00:08:19.524 --> 00:08:22.884
He's not asking you to give from lack.
00:08:23.184 --> 00:08:28.984
He's promising to sustain you as you pour.
00:08:31.404 --> 00:08:39.544
So here's your empowerment prompt for this week I want you to take a quiet moment
00:08:39.544 --> 00:08:43.644
this week to reflect on these questions,
00:08:45.324 --> 00:08:52.984
first is am I giving from my overflow or from my emptiness.
00:08:56.384 --> 00:09:02.744
What practices help me refill my spiritual and emotional cup?
00:09:04.844 --> 00:09:12.064
And where do I need to set or reinforce boundaries lovingly but firmly?
00:09:13.004 --> 00:09:17.864
I'm going to repeat those three reflective questions for you.
00:09:18.684 --> 00:09:26.244
First, am I giving from my overflow or from my emptiness? Yes.
00:09:28.388 --> 00:09:36.468
Next, what practices helps me refill my spiritual and emotional cup?
00:09:36.988 --> 00:09:44.808
And the third, where do I need to set or reinforce boundaries lovingly but firmly?
00:09:45.728 --> 00:09:51.088
So I want you to write these down, pray over them, and let God show you where
00:09:51.088 --> 00:09:54.848
He's calling you to rest so you can rise again.
00:09:57.308 --> 00:10:04.068
So now in closing my friends I want you to remember that your giving it does
00:10:04.068 --> 00:10:08.288
matter but so does your well being,
00:10:09.228 --> 00:10:12.888
you don't have to lose yourself to love others well,
00:10:13.708 --> 00:10:20.188
because when you give from overflow and not exhaustion your light shines brighter
00:10:20.188 --> 00:10:28.328
and your joy lasts longer and your impact runs deeper.
00:10:32.548 --> 00:10:41.168
So I want to thank you for joining me again on this journey in this episode of Living in Your Power.
00:10:41.388 --> 00:10:48.148
So until next time, dear listeners, I want you to remember to live boldly in your power today.
00:10:49.068 --> 00:10:52.468
And if it gets tough, just breathe.
00:10:54.288 --> 00:10:58.328
You still have the strength to rise.
00:10:59.348 --> 00:11:04.868
So continue to live in your power.