ROOTED!

"Sink your roots in Him and build on Him. Be strengthened by the faith you were taught, and overflow with Thanksgiving." (Colossians 2:7, NOG)

As it says in Matthew 13:3-6, (paraphrased) when there is "no depth of soil, roots wither away."

May the Lord extend my roots to the Living Water today as I  trust in His Spirit to guide me to flourish with my mind rooted and filled with Scripture to stay steady through life's ups and downs.

"Yes" and "Amen." To God be the glory.

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BREAD AND WATER DIET

In the past, a prisoner's diet often included a "bread and water diet" as  a physical disciplinary measure. Result was often malnourishment.

In Scripture, Christ is described in bread and water terms. With Him we will never be malnourished. "Bread of Life" & "Living Water." Not to discipline but to encourage. Truth which believers can depend on ....a spiritual gift from above, received in our innermost being. A spiritual nourishment of daily bread and living water which which one must seek daily.

A spiritual diet of sorts to be passed along i.e. shared with others! 

Think of an artesian well spilling over.

Today may we allow the flow of the Spirit deep in our hearts, to bubble up & gush forth to others to comfort and encourage them. 

*in web view of this entry, click on living water label to see other entries.

CHOOSE: THY FOUNT OF EVERY BLESSING

Fountains can offer quiet tranquil places---places which evoke tranquility even in the midst of hubbub. Water can do that or me----reminding me to relax and be still, that God might speak.

Ask the One who is the source of the Living Water, to teach you that His words might come alive in your life, in spite of all the distractions and chaos. As the psalmist says in Psalm 42:2, "My soul thirsts for God. for the living God." (NIV)

In the Message version of Psalm 42:2, I read words that spoke to my thirsty heart. 

I want to drink God, deep draughts of God. I'm thirsty for God alive. I wonder, 'Will I ever make it--arrive and drink in God's presence?' When can I go and meet with God.

How blessed one is to have God's Word at her fingertips.

"The word of God is alive and active." As Stephen reminded the Sanhedrin, Moses received living words to passion." (Acts 7:38) We need to remember these words as well. 

Words that can be a fount of blessing when we share with others.

CHOOSE: PURPOSE

An oft asked question is what is my purpose on earth?

The Westminster Shorter Catechism identifies "the chief end of man is to glorify the Lord and enjoy Him forever. "

Pondering "my purpose" these few weeks was an exploration of thoughts that went down many trails. 

This morning, the Lord helped me condense my whirring thoughts as I applied my moisturizer. 

Purpose ®, no less. 
A closer look showed me it had a dual purpose---which it took me a while to figure out. 1) Long lasting moisture prevents long -lasting dehydration. For me the  One who is the "living water" keeps me hydrated eternally. (John 4: 14)

2) Provides protection from sun exposure. My protection is lots of exposure to the Son of God. Just like Purpose ®, my purpose is dual as well. Pleasing God is my purpose with two components;to love God and to serve others well!

May my choice please Him.

"May He be pleased by all these thoughts about Him, for He is the source of all my joy." (Psalm 104: 34 (TLB)

Cuppa Vague Spirituali-TEA

For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. 

(2 Timothy 4:3, NLT)

These days many people sip from a cuppa vague spirituali-TEA. A "spirituality" that never says NO to their own whims or behavior. There is no big fat no-o-o for any spirituality, which actually condones their chosen lifestyle. 
A spirituality often more interested in the environment than in God, who created it. Loving creation more than the creator.
Saving an obscure species or protecting the oceans can become their religion, because it's what they love. 
Vague spirituality is self-love---NOT love of the Lord.

To put it in "southern speak," folks seek a spirituality which allows them to harken after their own hankerings. 

Choose NOT to let the world serve you a cuppa vague spirituali-TEA. Rather drink deeply form the well of "living water." (John 4:10)

"sal-TEA"

You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men.
You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 5:13-16, NASB)

Part of a Christian's identity is being salt and light. Being salt and light is not optional. It's a way of saying that our actions should show what we believe---so much so, that others are drawn to the Lord.

During recent travels, I witnessed 2 shops, one in Sand Rock, AL and one in Dahlonega, GA  that not only sold gifts, but also provided salt and light for their community through a prayer wall. Prayers needed. Prayers answered. Posted for all to see---even out-of-towners. 

"Salt" and "Light" in a gift shop to draw others in their community to the Lord.

All of our lives should be so "sal-TEA" that others become thirsty and desire to sip from whatever our cuppa holds. Living water.

"Wil-TEA"

As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. (Psalm 42:1. NIV)

Not only does a deer long for water, so does my forsythia!

Desiring a big POP of yellow sunshine at the end of the driveway, I planted a forsythia. Nothing "pops" YELLOW in a landscape quite like this bush.
According to Mother, a forsythia requires sunshine and lots of room to spread as  it grows---"don't contain or shape it, Dotsy. Let it shape itself." Words from long ago that still ring in my head.

Before God sent the rain, I, and hubby, watered it faithfully, or so we thought. It still looked wil-TEA to us----like it needed a big cuppa fresh water. Even my "master gardener neighbor," Lynda used my same term. "Your forsythia really is looking mighty wilty."

Then, the rains came.

Washed by water from the heavens, my forsythia perked up.

I feel the same way when I've been "washed with water (from God) through the word." (Ephesians 5:26)
Cleansed. Refreshed. Perked up.

That's why one's wilting soul "pants" after the Living Water. The One who offers the drink of living water assures us that when we drink deeply, we will never thirst again. (John 4:14)

No more wilting for those who drink from His cuppa.

"thirs-TEA"

...If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. (John 7:37, NASB) 

A new RX has left me with a dry mouth. I'm always thirsty. I crave liquid and more liquid. Tho I love my morning cuppa, it only satisfies my taste buds, not my dry mouth.
Nothing seems to quench my thirst, not even ice cold Memphis water. I need a 7-Eleven® BIG GULP size slurpee. If it satisfied my thirst, I'd be willing to risk the brain freeze.....but there's not a 7-Eleven anywhere near my neighborhood. 
Hopefully this malady is temporary---just enough discomfort to make me open to life lessons from scripture and more sensitive to those for whom hunger and thirst are daily occurrences.

How grateful I am that God's word reminds me that one day believers will hunger or thirst no more....(Revelation 7:6) (physically or spiritually)

And He said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of life freely. (Revelation 21:6) 
Thirs-TEA no more. Eternity will be spent with the One who gives the living water. (John 4:4) For with you is the fountain of life. (Psalm 36:9)

Fountain: a rich metaphor for Jesus

"Come, thou Fount of every blessing, tune my heart to sing thy grace; 

streams of mercy never ceasing call for songs of loudest praise." (My favorite hymn)

3X

9/6/12 Three times something is mentioned in the spiritual realm is a real heads-up for me.

After Monday’s blog entry on the idea of fullness of Christ in me overflowing to others, friend Jennifer B. sent me (9/5) this great poster, John 7:38, from a Broken People facebook page. Today’s on-line devotional was on “Rivers of flowing living water.” Thus, the head’s up.

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Broken People FB entry

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https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150876815937255&set=a.379006197254.150030.272936877254&type=1&theater

My notes:

• Such a river is all about the Source….
• If we have received His fullness, “rivers of living water” will flow out of us, reaching in blessing even “to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8)
• We have nothing to do with the outflow
• God rarely allows a soul to see the blessing that he is to others
• A persistent river often has to overcome obstacles.
• Keep paying attention to the Source… God can either take you around the obstacle or maybe remove it all together. Wonder if sometimes He leaves it there until we learn the life lesson He has for us?

In conclusion, Oswald Chambers says it perfectly.

Think of the healing and far-reaching rivers developing and nourishing themselves in our souls! God has been opening up wonderful truths to our minds, and every point He has opened up is another indication of the wider power of the river that He will flow through us. If you believe in Jesus, you will find that God has developed and nourished in you mighty, rushing rivers of blessing for others.

http://utmost.org/ 9/6

 His words are often a real heads-up for me!

Let it flow, let it flow….

9/3/12…..let it flow. My Utmost entry (9/2) reminded me that it’s not what I gain in my relationship with Christ that’s most important. Rather it’s what He pours out (in me) to flow through me that counts. Out of me should flow to others all the fullness of Christ.

In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture* hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (John 7:37-38)

In midst of meditation on these verses, imagine the thousands of lives that could be touched and refreshed by the lives of believers living out this truth and letting it flow.

For additional info on what scripture says about thirst, check out Isaiah 55:1 and Isaiah 58:11.

Dancer's Delight

1/19/12 Psalm 87:7 says, "They that sing as well as they that dance shall say , All my fountains are in thee." (ASV)

---Singers and dancers alike say, “All my springs are in you.” Psa. 87:7 (ESV)

May I be one who, though she can't sing a lick but loves to dance, recognizes the LORD as the source of living water. May I be one who declares, "springs of spiritual peace and refreshment are available to all who believe." May my delight in my "Lord of the Dance" overflow to others.

Looking and leaning toward the Light

9/24/11 Light and water are two of the natural resources necessary for plant growth. These are basics taught in kindergarten.
Like these trees at Ben's Park in Harbor Town are leaning toward the light for growth, most plants do the same thing---looking to the sun for needed light. This often shapes them in a recognizable way.

How similar that is to our own spiritual growth, as we look to the "Son" for growth. Hopefully this shapes our growth in such a way that others can see our Christian "bent."


Water is also a necessity. That's why trees that are planted by rivers have roots that go deep, rooting them to flourish and establishing them to weather storms. How blessed we are to know the One who is the "living water" and who can establish us in His love when we plant ourselves close to His word.

Today I prayed Ephesians 3:17b-18 for my Saturday folks...." And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ."

To which I say A-men---which means , "so be it."

SOUL FOOD

10/19/09 Hungry for the Word? In God’s Word, Christ is revealed as the “Bread of Life” and the “Living Water.” Try to digest a small portion today. For me, great value comes from ingesting bit by bit, line upon line, as it were, rather than a large passage. Don’t get me wrong, context is gained from seeing the larger picture of a chapter or lengthy passage. But I tend to scan longer passages rather hurriedly, looking for words to pop out and speak to me and that’s not always a good thing. In years past I would skim a passage quickly in order to check another thing off of my spiritual “to do” list. Conviction! (Okay so I still do it on occasion.) It’s a faux meditation---a way of appeasing my conscience. Sometimes it’s just a habit----because it’s Monday and that’s what I do on Mondays. Not a bad habit to get washed by the water of the Word. It is cleansing. But God……knows the difference and so does my soul. It is way too easy to nibble at this banquet of spiritual food when I should be feasting.

Just as our physical bodies need “healthy” nourishment so does our soul. Without good food packed with vitamins and minerals we can become susceptible to disease---too weak to be effective in our work. Without our spiritual food, the scenario plays out in much the same way---weak in conviction, susceptible to temptation and unable to be effective in the work God has called us to do.

John 7:37-38

37Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. 38"He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, 'From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.'"

Today, my friend, drink fully and joyfully expect the flash flood of love that will flow from you to others.