My French Press Life {Lent}

Everybody loves a good cup of coffee right?  Except when what they want is a clear, fresh glass of water...

Sometimes my life is like this french press.  There are bits and pieces of coffee floating around in the hot water - you know...my junk, my sin.  In order to avoid drinking these, I slowly, with my own effort, push the plunger down.  It catches all those unappetizing granules and traps them deep, deep below.  

I am pleased with myself; proud of my effort to get rid of these visible particles.  After all, I have tamed and managed them through my own effort.  I smile.  (Actually it is more of a slightly arrogant grin.)

But then Jesus looks at me, holds out His cup and says, "Give me a glass of water."

My brow furrows and I feel sick to my stomach.  All I have to offer is a stained, black liquid.  And no amount of my effort can push the brown away.

I look at Jesus holding my pot of brown - the parfait of squished junk at the bottom and a sloshy brown liquid above.  I sheepishly shrug my shoulders, hang my head and whisper...

"Jesus, if You are willing, You can make me clean."

Then I look up to find Him smiling as He says, "Now you get it."