Time to Water

I woke up early, did the normal morning routine and headed off to work.  The day was busy and it took all in my power to find time to breathe, never mind think of other things that needed my attention.  The day found me leaving work late and heading up the highway to home wondering what I could make quickly for dinner that wouldn't take too much brain power (I didn't have much of that left).  Walked through the door, got dinner on the table and finally gazed to the outside deck.  There it was, right in front of me - my neglect!!

The beautiful potted plants that I had spent time making sure were selected and planted at just the right angle looked as if they hadn't been watered in weeks.  Although it was only a couple of days since they had last been watered, the plants were in their pots, withering away.  It hit me that evening, like never before.  A few simple moments was all that it would have taken - to care for something so pretty.  You guessed it - as soon as dinner was over I was out there filling my plants with much needed water (and sharing with them how sorry I was).

It made me think of all the other things in my life that I may have neglected because I was so busy.  Taking the time to really listen to someone.  Taking time to make a healthy lunch versus picking up something unhealthy - or not eating at all.  Taking time to fill up that water bottle to stay hydrated.  Taking time to tell someone you love them.  Taking the time . . .  We all need to be watered or we will become withering plants.  We all need to take a few moments to gain water to keep us living.  

In walks the ONLY one who can provide the living water for us - Jesus!  As we become scorched with our daily activities, there is only One who can provide the water we need to strengthen us and help us grow.  Jesus' water is found in so many different ways.  We open our Bibles to get words that will quench our thirst.  We sing and worship to our Heavenly Father to fill us up.  We read daily devotions to gain the waters that will never fail us.  

Just like plants, we need water to sustain us.  Yes, the water that runs from our faucets, but also the living water that runs through our veins.  It is the living water that holds a place for us in paradise.  It is that living water that reminds us to take the time to appreciate all that God has given us and to uphold it in His righteousness.  It is the living water that helps us to live out our daily lives showing others the love of Jesus.  That living water strengthens us, gives us hope, grants us love and brings us Home. 

As you would suspect, the next morning I took the time to look out the window, and the plants had regained their beauty.  The same happens to us.  Once we fill our withered bodies with Jesus' living water, we will also regain our beauty.  Take the time to water - it is good for our souls!

Dearest Jesus, thank you for your living water.  Help us to drink of that water every day, to sustain us, to fill us up, to regain our beauty.  Let us be the water that others need to drink.  May we share your love with all those we meet - giving them a taste of your wonderful water.  In your everlasting name we pray, Amen!

Taking out the Garbage

We live in a small town where there is a town dump.  Instead of paying to have your garbage picked up at your house, you may take your garbage to the dump.  Saturday morning seems to be the busy time and while out doing errands on Saturday, I noticed the long line waiting to get in to this town "meeting area" so that garbage can be thrown away.  I myself have sat in that long line, waiting to rid our home of our garbage.

I know, what does this have to do with a Biblical blog post?  Stay with me~~  As I was waiting for the traffic to pass, I thought about the garbage that I have hauled off to the dump over the years.  Broken appliances, broken furniture, broken technology items - a lot of broken "stuff".  I thought a moment if I could bring to the "dump" my brokenness, all the brokenness inside of me, how would that change me?

There are many areas of my life I would like to "take to the dump" and restore with goodness; those sins that we have every day.  The times when I am angry, I would like to replace with understanding.  The times when I am prideful, I would like to replace with humbleness.  The times when I feel shame, I would like to replace with forgiveness.  

Along with all of these emotions that I'd like to take to the dump, there are habits I would like to take there as well.  I would like to replace my moments of unhealthy eating with better options.  I would like to replace my time "scrolling through my phone" with my nose in a book.  I would like to replace my sedentary moments with exercising.  Yes, there is much in my life that I need to "take to the dump" and replace with healthier emotions or habits.  

The good news is that I have help with this!  I gain the strength to make strides with all of this because I have the Holy Spirit to guide me on the right path.  With much prayer, and Jesus who loves me, I am able to see when my "garbage needs to be taken to the dump".  Once I remove the garbage from my life, I am able to fill it with the goodness that God wants for me - kindness, humbleness, servitude, forgiveness, healthy habits, and a resounding joy!  By having the Holy Spirit inside of me, teaching me, showing me the right path, and helping me to realize when I need to do some changing, I am able to have a life that is filled with joy and thanksgiving.  Instead of wallowing in the muck of garbage, I am able to smile in the light of the day.  That makes my soul happy!

I pray, as we walk through the week ahead, we identify some of the garbage in our lives and make a concerted effort to "take out the garbage" and replace it with the goodness that God has in store for us.  Identify those areas where you want to grow, and live in the goodness of Jesus' love for you!

Dearest Jesus, help us to see the "garbage" in our lives that we need to take "to the dump".  May we understand that those areas only bring us into the muck.  May we replace our garbage by focusing on the wonderful blessings you have given to us and may we be that blessing to others.  In your loving name we pray, Amen.

Others

My range of emotions has been all over the map lately.  I wonder if you feel the same?  The last three months have seen more than just happy and sad (although those have been prominent as well).  It seems as if the emotions have been "bigger" than that.  Elation and disappointment.  Joyful and troubled.  Ecstatic and frustrated.  Contentment and unrest.  Emotions that can be difficult to actually articulate at the time.

There is much to be emotional about.  We look at our world around us and can easily understand why our emotions can be all over the map.  It may be hard for us to find peace during these days.  Every person I speak with has an opinion.  Every news report has an angle.  Every article has a belief.  Every one claims they have the truth.  It may be hard to form our own opinions without having the ability to be confident in what is being shared.

So, I go to the ONLY place where I know the truth is spoken - God's Word.  It is there that I can find what I'm looking for, the truth that is spoken by our One True God.  It is there where I can take my emotions and not feel judged.   It is there where I can find the answers to questions and form my beliefs.  God's Word speaks to us.  He has us open His word to find the truth that we need at that moment.

I struggled to write this week's blog.  I didn't know what to say about the troubles in our world.  Yet, when I opened His Word, He pointed me to this verse.  I have read this verse many times.  Each time, it has proven to be what was needed.  It spoke to me how pride can impede.  It spoke to me humility.  It spoke to me service.  It spoke me to love.  It spoke to me Jesus.  Today, when I read it, it spoke all of that and more.

When we need truth, especially in these days when truth can be hard to discern, there is one place to go for all the answers we need.  I encourage you to open the Bible and see what it has to say to you.  I encourage you to read the words of Jesus and see how we can live them out in our daily lives.  I encourage you to rest in His words of love and compassion.  I encourage you to seek and find the truth.

We all are responding to the events of our world in different ways.  Some are quiet while others are vocal.  Some are educating while others are listening.  Some see the world one way while others see it differently.  We are all bringing our experiences to the table.  Yet, God shares how we can prevail.  Do NOTHING out of a sense of selfish ambition.   Let HUMILITY prevail.  Put OTHERS ahead of ourselves.  OTHERS are more significant than us.  OTHERS count more.  Goodness knows our Dear Jesus lived His life that way.  He was the Son of God, yet, He never acted in a sense of pride.  In fact, His level of humility was so great that He washed others feet!  He put OTHERS so far ahead of Himself that He died on the cross for us.  

Emotions can run high, but God's Word is higher.  Take time today to put OTHERS above you.  Maybe it is in your own family.  Maybe it is a stranger you meet.  What's important is that we live out Jesus' love and words in all that we do.  May your week ahead be blessed.

Dearest Jesus, you provide us all we need in Your Word.  There we can find the answers to our dilemmas and the truth during difficult times.  Help us to read your words and live them out in our daily lives.  May we hold OTHERS up higher than ourselves.  In your gracious name we pray.  Amen!

Fear Not

Fear Not!  These seem like difficult words to utter during our current circumstances.  Many seem to have much to fear.  Fear seems to be all around us.  This fear can come to us in many facets.  There is the fear of health.  There is the fear of social injustice.  There is the fear of economic chaos.   The fear of loneliness.  The list of fears can go on and on.  These fears can make every day living seem like a heavy load to bear.

If we reflect back on our lives, I am certain that there have been many other times where fear has reared its ugly head.  I know I have lived with fear in my life on many occasions.  I believe we can all agree that living with any fear can strip away hope in our lives and leave us feeling helpless.  At least, that was my heart when the fears of my life have crept it.  I remember, at one point, sitting at the foot of my bed in anguish over what the future would hold and if I would have a place in that future.

So, how bold of our God to tell us "do not fear"!!  Doesn't He get it?  Does He understand all that is going on in my life and the world?  That's just it - He Does!  He has complete knowledge of the circumstances in your heart and soul in the midst of those circumstances.  Most importantly, He is the almighty and powerful God, who provides us the blessed assurance that His strength and His help is with us.  We may not feel it every minute of every day, yet, when we rest in His arms and feel Him wrap those arms around us, our fear can disseminate.

My mom bought me a wonderful journal that inserts my name into scripture, making the passages seem so very real and spoken words from God to me.  This has brought me comfort when I look at scripture that way - realizing that God IS speaking to me in each word of the Bible.  Try it with me:

        "So do not fear, ___________, I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.

          I will strengthen you _____________ and help you __________;  I will uphold you

          _____________, with my righteous right hand."

When I read scripture, in particular this verse, I realize that my fears are nothing to the power of my God.  I find hope that God understands all my fears and will strengthen me to rise above them.  He brings righteousness to my days.  He calms my soul and fills my heart.  Each word of the Bible is not meant for "someone else".  Each word of the Bible is meant for me  -  it is meant for you!  As we read these words, God is speaking to each of us.

Uncertainty can bring fear.  Change can bring fear.  Other's words can bring fear.  We do not need to succumb to the fear that is around us and in us.  God is there for each of us, to strengthen us, to help us, to lift us up. Take your fears to God and see how He brings forth change in each of us.  With our focus on God and away from us, we can watch miracles happen in our daily lives. 

Heavenly Father, grant us peace from our fears.  Look inside our hearts and see where they are troubled and anxious.  Give us serenity, peace and focus to move in the direction you want for us.  Let your path to righteousness be clear for all and may we calm our fears along the journey.  In your holy and gracious name we pray.  Amen!