In chapter 3, I share how “our hearts leak and will always end up empty when we find our worth in anything but who we are in Christ. Our value is not measured by what others think of us—but we surely live like it is, don’t we? It’s almost as though we wake up every morning with an empty jar, like Sam, and walk around holding it out to people or things, hoping they will fill us…”
In today’s video message, I talk about the things we look to and illustrate how we can allow God to fill the empty places in our hearts…
Please click the arrow below to watch.
(Optional) Download my “Message Notes” in a PDF format here or in a MSWord doc here. We want you to just watch and let God speak to your heart the first time, but we also knew some of you will want the notes. I even included blanks for you to fill in. 🙂
UPDATE: It’s been quite a week at our house…a trip to the ER with my mom after a bad fall Sunday, I woke up sick on Tuesday and my son Andrew (14) broke his collar bone that same afternoon. Wednesday we found out I had bronchitis and that Andrew’s break was much worse than we expected. Fortunately, we are doing a good bit better today. God’s kept us close to His promises and provided strength and encouragement through so many of your prayers and notes. THANK YOU!!
Connecting in Community: I’d love to hear your thoughts about this week”s video message and your answers to questions at end of Chapter 3. If you left a comment earlier in the week, let’s talk about questions we hadn’t answered yet. Like 4-7. And how the video message ties into the question about finding our “worth-ship” in Christ.
Just click “share your thoughts” right below this post and do just that – share your thoughts, I love to hear them! And I’ll share mine too.
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It is amazing to me after being a dedicated christian for 33 years that this study and this video speak in such volume! I know we always have room to grow. However, it seems I should be more “grown up” after all these years! 🙂
God is good and I am thankful there is this abundant life He provides. I am reading the prayer out loud daily and practicing my verse. These are helping me stay more focused. I love that.
Hang in there, Renee, as you have been hammered this week. God provides for you in the storms of life and many are praying for you. He wins!
Karen:
RE: More grown up…
I am finding that the more I learn in my Christian journey the more that I discover that I don’t know! This is one area where it is nice not to ever be “grown-up.” 🙂
Thank you so much for this video and the message notes. I love the illustration of the jar filled with things and then pouring them out and replacing them with the crystal clear water. That is exactly what I needed for today. I know that I will be watching this video again <3
How refreshing to learn why my heart has been so thirsty!!! I have lots of ground plowing to do so that God may have the soil of my heart to fill with HIS li ing what.
How did I forget this? I remember speaking on this very same subject (unfailing love) several years ago. Several years back I lost it all and have been searching every since. Thank you
Peggy,
I am so glad you have found it again! It will be twice as sweet. Welcome back.
I watched your teaching video today while sitting beside a window that looks out on an open field that is currently covered with snow. I was reminded of a saying I heard once that, “walking with Jesus, leaves tracks, for others to follow.” Your message has left those tracks and I thank you. It was just what I needed to see and hear today. God Bless You Always!
Dear Katy, thank you for your post about walking with Jesus leaving tracks for others to follow, sometimes it seems like I am the only one in my family interested in following Jesus, I keep praying for all of them, it was an encouragement to hear my example might be noticed. This video also spoke to my heart about trying to fill my heart and life with others approval, being afraid to say “no” to people thinking they won’t like/love me. Trying to fill my emptiness with food, shopping for new stuff, love of people, activities….this Bible study and Renee’s book are something I was ripe for. I am feeling more confident, I am feeling the prayers of all you sisters out there and hope you feel mine. I am experiencing God’s love and peace in a very special way. It is a sweet journey. God bless all of you.
Love the video and this week’s message. I so related to you as you described your college years. I know I am guilty of overcommitment and trying to be satisfied by a new outfit or my achievements. I often look to my husband instead of to God for security and worth. But, my heart is never fully complete until I come to God. In worship. By prayer. Through anger, tears, or joy. By doing these things, I find that I am satisfied in Christ.
Thanks for sharing! I blogged a bit more on my thoughts to this week’s message: http://theuncontainabletruth.com/2012/02/a-confident-heart-week-3/
Hope your family gets to feeling better 🙂
Christen
Your video is a great reminder for me to ask myself ‘who am I really serving with my hurried lifestyle?’ I need to clear out the other things, and put Him first. Thanks Renee!
Thanks for the teaching video and the notes! I’m a note taker so I was excited to see you have a download available! This is so powerful. I know I often look to the gifts instead of the giver. I pray for you Renee and your son and your mom as well. It seems that you are under attack, cause the enemy doesn’t like us to be free from things and doubts and depend fully on God, so I pray a hedge of protection around you Renee and your family in the name of Jesus. I pray God would send you peace in the storm. I pray for all my cyber-sisters here on your blog that the enemy cannot steal what God is giving us. Let these truths that Renee is sharing penetrate our very heart and soul and bind the enemy from attacking her and her family. We ask this oh Father, in the powerful and precious name of Jesus, Amen
Awesome Renee,well done it made it so clear with using items as a visual to see and hear a wonderful God felt message!!! Just what i needed to hear today!!! i wish for you and everyone reading this a blessed day:)
I spent most of yesterday afternoon, in tears pouring over this chapter and scripture. I know I have looked to everyone else to fill me, and I know in my head that God is the only one who can satisfy my longings and I think it has began to get into my heart. So many struggles in my life right now, my depression has been really bad this week to the point I am not getting much of anything done. And that is not good for my business. I need to let go of certain people but am struggling to do so,
I just love this study! I bought a book for my daughter and my best friend in Michigan who just recently lost her husband. I have had struggles with acceptance all of my life. I have never felt good enough! I have struggled with OCD and from studying this book and the scriptures I am realizing that a lot of the OCD is related to me not feeling accepted. I am always striving for perfection! But I am realizing that I don’t have to be perfect because the Lord loves me unconditionally! I have to remember that each day because it is a struggle for me! Thank you Renee for being real!
Thanks Renee!!! What a great analogy! I am praying for you to get well soon and for God to touch your son’s injury! In Christ, Laura
Wonderful video! I know I have so far to go to fill the empty spaces of my life. I am grateful for today’s message and pray that today I will spend time in His Word and in thinking and praying about how I can get closer to our Lord. Thank you for the message for today!
WOW!! I have been slow to speak, but have been blessed with the reading of this book. I did watch the video this morning and the word for the week “Satisfied” snatched my attention. I must admit since I have been apart of this study. I am already much stronger and a more confident person. Thanks to this bible study have been able to look back over the “scenes” of my life and ask GOD to help me with my insecurities that has kept me from moving foward ,and being happy. I have finally realize that I needed and desired to be loved unconditionally, and was looking for it in all the wrong places and things. When I accepted JESUS as LORD I knew He Loved me and Greater is HE that was in me then he that’s in the world , but no matter what I did I always ended up in a lonley space unfufilled! Halllelujah, but now Praised GOD I’m looking to HIM to be Satisfied, and LOVED UNCONDITIONAL!! I’m having a WOW 😉 Factor Moment! LOve, Love, Love the Book…..
Thank you for the video! I am a visual learner and it’s great to see the visual illustration of God’s love for us!
YESS…the visual works wonders for me!!
Renee ~
You and your message were absolutely beautiful.
Everything you share with us is so simple and meaningful to understand.
Jesus lead me to Proverbs 31 in September.
Everyone’s messages speak to me every day.
Each of you are an amazing woman who shares God’s love in such a special way.
Your book is my life line trying to overcome Satan and accept God’s unconditional love.
I love you, your book and your pink heart memory verses.
Praying for God’s healing touch on your family and daily trials.
Always waiting to hear what you have to share.
In God’s Abundant Love ~ Wanda
Thank you Renee! I do this so often………..I needed to hear your message this morning because I was looking in a wrong place for love this morning. Just because my son didn’t acknowledge a post I put on his facebook, my thoughts started telling me all sorts of negative things……I have done this my whole life………looking in all the wrong places……God has been so gracious to me all my life, but especially this past year. He has restored so much in my life and I want to live for and thru Him the remainder of my days. I want Him to show me what I’m longing for, what He’s wanting me to do with the second half of my life. I pray that I can (daily) remind myself that He is the Only One that can give me the Unconditional Love I have longed for all of my life. Thank you for what you do and I pray your son’s collar bone heals quickly….ouch!
Rhonda, I could have written that myself. I have been that way my whole life, too. I am almost 65.
I am asking Jesus to fill the empty places in my heart. The son “Fill my Cup” has been in my head since last night.
What a wonderful message! This really touched home with me. Another reminder that only God can fill my empty places. Continue to be blessed and be a blessing!
This message is SO VERY TRUE. As I drove to work this morning after reading most of chapter 3, I was able to share the message with reassurance with a family member who is going through a lonely place right now. It is so easy for us to base our worth and value on circumstances that life deals us. But thanks be to God who loves us unconditionally. We can find HOPE, PEACE, FULFILLMENT and CONFIDENCE in what we KNOW regardless of how we FEEL. Thanks Renee for allowing God use you to communicate HIS message to others through your life’s experiences.
Thank you so much for todays video message i was feeling so sad this morning i realized that i woke up with a empty cup my life is filled with taking my children to one lesson or another all week, church three times a week i should be happy but today started just plain old feeling sorry for myself. Thank you for reminding me that jesus loves me even when i dont love me i pray that you feel better soon and that your son recovers well.
Thank you for such a wonderful message this morning! It hit my heart and filled it with hope, joy and peace. I lost my 21 year old daughter almost 3 years ago, and have tried to fill that empty spot she left with lots of shopping but it hasnt worked at all! I know Jesus is the Only One who can do that! Sometimes its just not easy to allow Him to do so. I will continue to pursue my confidence from God to fill my empty places, heal my heart and set me free! He is my All and I want Him to fill me so full of Him that I dont have to keeping searching!
KariB,
I am so sorry to hear about your daughter. God will answer the need of your heart.
Karen C
..praying for your heart, Kari…..HE IS THERE…..touching your heart, ever so gently, with his healing love, He understands you so much.
Much love, hugs to you
Thanks a lot for sharing this message. I am so thristy for la living water.
I hope you get well soon Renee, blessings.