got water?

I'm just sayin...I feel thirsty.  My spirit feels a little dry.  Like after being in a desert for several weeks, with only little drops to drink along the way.  I am parched...needing the washing of the water of the WORD, as Ephesians says. 

See, I have lived on sips for the month of December!  With all the busyness of what had to be done, places we had to be, and fun we just had to have!   But along the way only sipping little bits of His Word here and there, always being distracted by what called my name for the day, ...wrapping, shopping, decorating, baking, singing, laughing, talking, scurrying, and of course, just enjoying the season.

So now I find myself longing for the filling up of what only He can give me.  A drink that satisfies and refreshes a parched and "too busy" soul, in need of some sweet refreshment.  Jesus Himself says, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to ME and drink.  Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within Him."

I need His streams to fill me up this week, so that I can have sweet waters to pour out on those around me.  Something that is refreshing and lovely, not stale and dry. Trust me when I say, that without His sweet waters, I got some stale and dry people... let's just be real!  You too?

Take a moment today...whether you are returning all that didn't fit, or dragging that dead tree out to the curb....and fill up with a drink that will truly satisfy your deepest needs and driest places and bring sweet refreshment to your soul!

Jesus....the one drink that truly satisfies.

peace, joy and hope..not at wal mart, people!

I was buying some Christmas plates at Wal Mart the other day that read Joy, Peace and Hope, and as I stood at the register, I watched the prices ring up on the screen.  "joy", "peace", "hope"...$3.00.

It got me thinking on the way home.   How many people desperately wish everyday that they could go to a store and pick these gifts up?  I know I have had many times in my life when I would have given my last dime to buy a little peace, joy and hope.


You know the lines would be out the door.
"I'll take some joy please....because truth be told, my heart feels very flat lately.  laughter is hard to come by.  everywhere i look, it looks a mess.  i'm tired of pretending."


"Do you have any hope left?  I need some quick.  I am sinking in a hole of despair. depression. pain. I am sure that things can't possibly change for me, for others, for the hurt we have carried!  I'll take even a small glimmer please...I just need something to hold on to. "


 "Peace??  I'll take all you have.  I am stressed out, desperately dry, too busy to see straight, angry and tired....and it's Christmas for heaven's sakes!!"


The truth of the matter is this. Though I do love me a good Wal Mart with all their varied selections, they can't supply what our hearts need most desperately.  Only God has that, in a store that is never on backorder.


 I find it interesting that often in my own life I keep waiting for God to remove the circumstance that is so difficult....so I can have peace.  Or, take away the pain of that relationship....so I can have joy.  And, change that desperately needy situation...so I can finally have some hope!


Actually, God allows our circumstances to be difficult, purposefully difficult, so He can be the Calm in our storm.  How do we appreciate His calm, without knowing the fear of the storm?  We want peace in our trial, and we think that means waiting until the trial is over.  God says, I am Peace...a Peace that passes your understanding.  You can have My peace right now, in the midst.


He promises that we can have abundant joy...full and overflowing.  Bubbling over.  Not because all is well all around us, but because of Who He is inside of us.  His joy is real!  When we remind ourselves that this temporary life, with all of it's painful moments, is but a vapor...our fullness of joy comes from knowing that this is not all there is.  Our Home awaits...a Home with no more pain, no more crying.


How about hope?  I am pretty sure this is the one that would sell out the soonest.  For there is not one of us who doesn't carry a desperate need that needs the breath of His hope to remind our hearts that He sees, He is at work, He can be trusted, He is able, His promises are true, and nothing is impossible for Him.  God's hope is the only real hope there is and He will never say to your situation...Wow, I'm not sure about that one?  He is HOPE...no matter what.


So, in the busyness of a season frantic with shopping, parties, presents, all on top of the stuff we were already dealing with....go to the One who can offer you true joy, abundant and sweet.  true peace...so that your hearts will not be troubled.  true hope...He is aware of what concerns you today.


Romans 15:13, "May the GOD OF HOPE fill you with all JOY and PEACE, as you trust in Him..may you overflow with HOPE by the power of the Holy Spirit."

Jesus!

So I can rarely find anything that says JESUS this time of year, the whole sweet reason we celebrate! I finally made big red glitter letters and spelled out His wonderful name to hang across our doors like garland, cuz I mean He is the centerpiece of it all...this season, every season.

"Take a good hard look at Jesus. HE's the centerpiece of everything we believe, faithful in everything God gave Him to do." (Heb.3 in the Message) 


How can you proclaim His beautiful name this time of year?  In your home, in your words, in your heart?  He is the Reason...

an amazing life....

So, I went to see Thomas Jefferson's home, Monticello. It was beautiful to see the grounds and his house, his books, his creative inventions. But I must say that Thomas didn't really capture my attention as much as this grave stone I noticed walking past the old family graveyard.

"She went about doing good and set at liberty them that are bruised."

What a summary of this woman's life! Oh, I could only pray for such a conclusion of mine.

See, what I know, what I am learning more and more as I continue this journey called life, is that there are bruises all around us, in the people we see everyday. It is a fact of living in this fallen world that is filled with stress, pain, struggles, fear, sickness, death.

The truth is this, Christ is freedom...there is no liberty to be found apart from Him, so this woman must have known Him, must have known His powerful word. James 1:25 talks about the Word being the perfect law that gives freedom! She surely must have known this along with His tender love, and His cleansing forgiveness, because you cannot extend to others what you know nothing about.

She also must have had some bruises. Is anyone exempt from that? The Word tells us that we are given comfort so that we have comfort to give. I think a bruise recognizes a bruise. Our bruisings and hurts give us a keen discernment to the ones found in those around us. We recognize the despair of a situation and extend freedom and hope by saying, "I've been there, He helped me, He can help you too."

This I know to be true...on my own, I got nothing good to extend to anyone. Wrong sized bandages. Expired ointment. Missing gauze. Queasy stomach.   I myself cannot offer liberty to anyone, but I can help love them in their wounds, and lead them to the One who has the salve that can heal their bruisings.

Lord, by your amazing grace alone, help me have your eyes to see the bruises in those around me. To care enough to ask, and pray, and love, and listen, and help when I can...but mostly to extend to others the Truth and Freedom and Grace and Hope found in You alone.

I wonder if the lady with this gravestone knew. You know, knew that she was known for loving people like that. Or maybe she just knew lots about bruises, found a soft and sweet freedom in the One with the salve, and spent the rest of her days pouring that out onto those around her. what a life indeed.