Are you thirsty?

There are many things that draw me away

and entice me away

from

thirsting for Living Water.

Cheap imitations. Devilish deceptions.

Persuasive petitions... They leave me naked and ashamed.

Wanting for more....

emptiness...

I am never filled with chosen earthly things.

I cannot be filled with things of this world...

I am not from it.

But there is only one thing that can

satisfy.

That can fill me....

It is Him.

It is His living water.....He desires for me to drink deeply.

Until.

Until a river gushes forth from my belly.

So that....His living water

flows into the deep, dark crevices of my heart.

Healing, Comforting, Confidence Building.

A reflection

of Him through flowing water,

for a willing well. A vessel of destiny.

He even gives me the fortitude to pursue,

to drink, to come back for more...repeatedly.

Purity, clarity, refreshment. Longing....

Clean, life giving, liquid love....

More precious than anything....

His living water brings life.

Through me and out of me.

Abundant life. Fruitful life. Joy filled life.

His hands,

the ones that hold the water up.....

offering....like He does.

Patiently. Persistently....Beckoning...

He offers.....all His

goodness..

Life....abundant Life.....all the days of my life....

Longing for me to drink deeply.

Provision....Satisfaction....Perfection.....

In Him I find what I need.

My well shall never run dry......

I am His beloved and He is mine.

By His actions, He says, I was worth dying for....

I am forever bound with Him....and

He nourishes me with His Living Water...

Sustains....Energizes....Replenishes.... Available.....always.

and forever.

It is a mystery...and I don't always get it. He knows...

and still offers....

He is merciful....Compassionate.....Long Suffering and

Extravagant.....Are you thirsty He asks.....

Will you come

and drink from Living Water? He asked the woman at the well,

And He asks me...

Will you know,

choose and seek after....

true satisfaction....Me...My Living Water...

willing....waiting....no matter what.

He longs to fill up my vessel,

with ....

Himself.

What a faithful God. There is none like Him...

Clean Sweep

We had our carpets cleaned yesterday. It dawned on me that the process of cleaning carpets is a lot like how our God cleans our hearts.

Sand, debris, dog hair, drywall dust, food, drink, you name it came into my carpets. Since we have a large family, you can only imagine what those poor carpets have endured. They were crushed, matted, stained and were not fresh.

It is my understanding that sand is the worst culprit. It wears down the fibers. By getting your carpets cleaned regularly, you give the carpet new life.

First we were told to vacuum the carpet to remove the excess soil and loosen up the carpet. We had to move excess knick knacks out of the way. Then they came and applied a solution to bind the dirt particles together. Finally, they used a hot steam cleaner with a rotoblade to suck out all the soil. Finally, we put fans all over the house to dry the carpet.

Sin is the worst culprit in my life. It wears down my soul and separates me from my Lord. Jesus came to remove the excess soil and dirt in my soul. He shows me the debris that is in my way and that needs to be removed so that He can come in and cleanse me. Just as the cleaners applied solution to my carpet, He applies His blood to my heart; to make me a new creation. He binds up the broken hearted. Though the devil comes to destroy, He comes to give new life. Finally, the wind of the Holy Spirit breathes on me and gives me annointing, and I become a new creation. I receive a fresh touch and am revived, much like my carpet after it has been cleaned. It is amazing how everything in life points to the message of salvation. Everything in the physical points to the spiritual. It's no wonder, we serve an amazing God.

Aroma

A day or two ago, I was on my way to town in the car, when I saw our dog, Tilly eating something in the field. As I got closer, I noticed it was a large animal. Almost as big as her. I was disgusted and repulsed! It appeared that she was throughly enjoying herself. I yelled at her and told her to go home. She moved slightly away, and sat there looking at me in defiance. I was SO mad.

Tilly is half Saint Bernard, 1/4 Border Collie, 1/4 German Shorthair dog. We got her from the pound when she was about 4 months old. She was kept inside a small chicken coop with her litter and mother in complete filth. She had no human contact until she went to the pound. When I was talking to the shelter about her, they said she was extremely docile. My intention was to train her to be a companion dog for our daughter Abbey. A cool idea...rescue a dog, give a gift to a child......She has taught me more than I bargained for and stretched my patience.

Immediately we knew there were problems. She never wanted to be left alone and destroyed things when we did leave her. This docile puppy quickly turned into a dog with much anxiety. She had to sleep ONLY in the kitchen. She pottied in her kennel EVERY time we put her in there, that is what she had done for the first part of her life in the coop. It was natural to her. We wanted to crate train her...that was not going to work. We couldn't confine her in our laundry room because she would scratch and howl. She wrecked the door. We had to tether her to our dining room table while we were gone, which she thought was a chew toy. We made major progress in her training and she got older and reconditioned. By fall she was doing pretty well. We could trust her in the house by herself. We started letting her have more freedom.

She was given to much freedom..... She started exhibiting bad behavior again. She wouldn't come when she was called. She ran away. Started eating dead animals and bringing them home from our neighbors house. The same neighbor had dogs that came over and led her to running. She was hanging out with the wrong crowd, and became like them. At night we would put her in the laundry room and she totally smelled up the house. She whined and scratched at the door. She wanted to be outside, so we let her out.....The problem just got worse. I didn't take the time to work with her. As I was thinking about how exasperated and disgusted I was....I got a picture in my head of how I am not unlike Tilly. The Lord loves to use things that I am aggravated with to transform my thinking and show me how He sees things.

Before I was born again and accepted Jesus Christ in my life, I was hanging out in places and with people who were leading me down a wrong path. It felt natural to me. I felt very alone and sought the ways of the world to fill me up. There were no bounds to my freedom and what I would do with it. Sin permeated my life. Tilly is infatuated with dead animals, I was infatuated with sinning in the name of having fun and was dead in my transgressions. I am sure Tilly thinks it is fun to hunt for dead animals! Like Tilly, my perception on how to behave outside of that familiar environment, seemed uncomfortable and misplaced. I didn't know what holy was and thought that it was only for "excessively religious" people. The fragrant aroma coming from my life must have been a stench towards heaven. I was lost and confused. Tilly has been eating dead animals. She gives off a stench that is putrid. Not only does it smell up my laundry room, but also part of the house. I can't have that smell, I had to separate myself from her. That is much like the separation I had from the Lord before I understood who He is and who I am. My sin separated me from the Lord. Though He was always there, I was the one that moved away. Much like when I call Tilly, she looks at me with contempt and then runs in another direction. I moved her out to the garage today. I need to recondition and train her to not do these behaviors. I am not going to give up on her, but I have to discipline and teach her. My heavenly Father does the same for me.

Father wants to remove me from the stench of worldly ways and sin. I already know going my own way does NOT work. He disciplines me when I fall short and sin. He is faithful to recondition me. He taught me how to repent and turn away from temptation and gaze unto Him. When I am living holy, as He is holy, the aroma that I give up to the heavens, must be pleasing to Him.

I am amazed at the long suffering of the Savior I love soo soo much. He has never given up on me. He has been faithful, day by day, to mold me like clay in His gentle hands. He gave up the most precious thing, His Son, so that I could be really free. Free from myself and the sin which so easily entangles me. When I look to Him, conviction floods my heart. I hope that I am not like Tilly and look back with contempt or run away. I hope I listen, obey, and trust. I pray I submit to His Lordship and run after Him. These are the lessons I am going to teach our dog. I am looking forward to a new, sweet aroma....and she will look forward to her place inside!

Galations 5:2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling aroma.

Weather or whether?

Today in Iowa is just beautiful. It is sunny and warm. It is amazing how much conversation we have with people about the weather. I find myself talking to the grocery store clerk about it; talking to family who live out of state about it; worrying about events that may or may not happen because of it. No matter where we go, we talk about the weather with whomever. Everyone talks about the weather.

I used to watch the news every night to see what to expect. We want to be able to plan on what to wear. We ponder about "whether the weather" will give us a snowy day. We talk about how nice it is and how awful it is. Meteorologists want to predict what the forecast will be days in advance, so busy people can plan their life. The funny thing is, is that even though we have all this great technology to predict the weather forecast....God at any moment can bring a storm or send a rainbow regardless of what the 5 o'clock news predicts. In our life, He is the one who calms the storms and brings the blessings.

I wonder what would happen in our world, if the Lord was talked about as much as the weather? I wonder what would happen if people listened to the Word of God as much as they did the forecast....If they tuned in once or twice a day to hear His thoughts and reveal His forecast. What would happen if instead of asking lost family members about how the weather is in their hometown, I would be bold enough to ask "Who is calming the storms in their life?" Could I be so confident in the Lord, that I could ask complete strangers in the eyes and ask them if they know Jesus, rather than what their thoughts are on the weather?

In Matthew 16:2 Jesus answered and said to them, "When it is evening you say, "it will be fair weather, for the sky is red;" and in the morning, "It will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening." Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the sign of the times."

Next time I am out and about, and I am meeting up with strangers, I hope I don't look at the skies and comment about the weather. Rather, I hope I look up to the Lord, and that He will use me to reach His lost souls with a message of hope. It may be the last moment they will ever get to hear the "good news."

How then shall I live? What then shall I talk about? What would the Lord say in this? Am I open to listen to Him and speak forth the hope I have in Jesus? Or will I once again speak about the weather? Lord, search me and show me....

Written 11-8-09

Drying Wings

Sometimes it seems like the Lord isn't moving me in ministry as fast as "I" think He should. I am always in a hurry to get to a place, where I know not. I am a planner. I think everyone should have a plan, including God. It would be helpful, I tell Him, to know His plans for my life. He tells me that He does know the plans for my life. Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. "Then you will call upon ME and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you." Wow, the LORD of LORD and the KING OF KINGS, hears me! Why am I so impatient to wait for His plans?

The other night, I was spending some time with my Friend. I had this on my heart and I didn't bring it up to Him, but He knew......He showed me a picture of a butterfly that had just come out of its cocoon. It was all scrunched up and wet. A newly emerged butterfly needs to spend some time inflating its wings with blood and letting them dry. During this time, butterflies are very vulnerable to predators. Some wings take an hour to dry. Some take up to 3 hours. Wings that are frayed or torn cannot repair themselves. This is a very important time of preparation before the butterfly can take flight. Once the wings are dry, the butterfly is free to go.

The Lord spoke to my heart that He is drying my wings. Soon, they will be dry and I will be able to fly. I knew what He meant in my heart. He is using this time in my life to prepare me. If I go out now, go out in my timing, it could cripple me or render me useless because my wings may get damaged or torn. It comes down to trusting the Lord for His perfect timing, for His perfect agenda and His perfect guidance. He is preparing to set me free to send me.

The Lord desires to fully prepare His precious children before He sends them off in flight. They are NEVER to fly solo. In the safety of His wings shall I abide. Psalm 57:1 Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me! For my soul trusts in You. And in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge, Until these calamaties have passed by.

I must be covered by the blood and inflated with the Holy Spirit. I am going to face predators who seek to devour, destroy and damage my wings...But when my wings are unfolded, dried and I am prepared by my Heavely Father to fly, my true beauty and destiny will be revealed and I will be ready to take flight. I realize now, that I can wait on Him. And before I even speak it, He knows......

Written: 12-10

Slow and Steady

Life is referred to as a race. I want to finish strong and it would be nice to finish as a top contender! I was reflecting on the story of the turtle and the hare. They are running a race and the hare is confident he is going to win. The turtle is so much slower than he. But because of the hare was prideful, and decided to take a break, the turtle ends up winning.

Slow and steady wins the race...

The turtle was focused on the finish line and less worried about his abilities. He knew who he was. The hare was focused on himself and his abilities. Though the hare was created to be a faster animal than the hare, his pride led him down a path he shouldn't have been on.

I have lived much of my life much like the hare....Relying on my own abilities, taking matters in my own hands.....racing off here and there, full of foolish pride....concerned more about my reputation and what people thought, than the finish line. Worried about not finishing the race strong, instead of focusing on the ONE who created the race for me and is waiting for me at the end. I have missed the little happenings around me. I have been robbed of joy in the process. I haven't seen the blessings of the small things while I am running the race. I have let obstacles get in my way. I haven't listened to my coach when I should have. I have taken detours and been lost.

I have missed sitting in the secret places and just being still and knowing.....

Slow and steady wins the race.

Stepping out confidently, one step at a time to a destiny that was predetermined for me before I was born. Waiting for Him to show me the finish line, and tell me how to safely get there is where I need to be.

written 12-10

Masterpiece

Do you realize....

You are a precious and beautiful masterpiece.

You are created by God, in His image, unique and individual.

He has painstakenly and precisely ordered each brush stroke on your canvas.

He caringly picks out the vibrant or soft colors He likes you to wear.

Your picture is like no other. You are special.

When people look at the picture He has painted on your canvas,

they see a reflection of the Artist Himself.

He sees you, His masterpiece, as very good.

In fact, you are perfect in Jesus.

He hangs you in a special place right now,

where only you can be displayed,

to all the people He desires to inspire.

Day by day, He is putting the finishing touches on you.

Someday, you will be displayed in perfection in His throne room,

where He can admire all that you are and all that you became,

because you trusted Him enough,

to paint your days with living colors,

in submission to the hands of the Artist.....

The Hand of the Master is gentle, loving and careful.....

Each brush stroke is purposeful and diligent.

I wonder, do you see yourself as a masterpiece? Are you willing to let the Artist

apply some new strokes with living color?

Are you looking for the day when you see yourself

hanging in the throne room?

Written 1-7-10

Waiting....

Waiting.....

Waiting is hard, isn't it? I have been waiting for a mountain of things....phew! Good things.....

But have I been waiting on the ONE thing I should wait on?

I have been studying through the book of John. I have been pondering the story of Lazarus' death. Jesus is ministering and gets word that Lazarus is sick. Jesus says, "This sickness is not unto death, but for the lory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it." Jesus loved them very much, but He did not go right away to Lazarus. He had His reasons. He waited two days. Jesus was reminded by His disciples that the place where Lazarus was, was the very placeHe was about to be stoned on a pervious visit....Do you sometimes avoid going to places you know you should go? Jesus goes anyway and finds that Lazarus has already been in the tomb for 4 days. Martha and Mary greet Him upset saying that if Jesus had been there, their brother would not have died. Are you sometimes upset at the Lord for the way things are going?

Jesus tells them that He is the resurrection and the life. He asks them to remove the stone from the tomb. They objected a bit. Do you ever object a bit? Question? Jesus then asked again, "Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?" They removed the stone. Jesus prayed to Father with thanksgiving, saying, "Father, I thank You that YOu have heard Me. And I know that you always hear Me, BUT because of the people who are standing by I said this, that THEY may believe that YOU sent me." Jesus calls Lazarus out. With His voice. In one moment. It is finished. Lazurus lives again..... Do you need a breath of life from the Giver of life?

I wonder how it is that we respond to waiting? Do we get impatient and grow restless? Does it challenge our patience and our trust in the Lord? Do we question Him? Lord, if only? Have you ever asked the Lord why? Have you ever said to Him "If only....?" Have you played the blame game? I am guilty of all, ashamedly so, many times.

Mary and Martha said: "IF only You had been here...." I know for certain there is a purpose in waiting. It is for my good. It is for HIS glory. He LOVES ME! He asks me today in my waiting: " Did I not say that if you believed you would see the glory of God?"

If I stopped and thought about it, everything I have ever waited for in my life, was well worth the wait and the results were far better that I could ever imagine or think up. The end result was sweet. Instant gratification brings cheap rewards from the world. Waiting purifies my faith....It is really where the rubber meets the road in my journey of trusting the Lord in ALL things. I must believe that His timing is perfect. I must desire that HE RECEIVES as much glory as HE IS DUE....it's not about me waiting...

Romans 8:25 But is we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.

Do you know for certain in your heart that HE has heard you, and that HE is waiting for the optimal time to reveal His glory for your good?

The Lord gave me an awesome picture in this....He showed me fruit on a tree. If the fruit is picked to soon, it is not ripe and not good for eating. If the fruit is left on the tree to long, it rots and is spoiled or the birds get it. Fruit ripens in its own time. There is a window in which it is best eaten. Can I trust the Lord to bring the fruit in my life, In His timing? In perfection? as I wait.....and keep waiting....I want Him to be glorified, because I can trust Him to work ALL things for my good.....Can I say YES to the question He asks: "Did I not say to you that if you would believe, you would see the glory of God."

Written 2-4-10

Good day?

Good Day?

I find myself wondering if today is a good day. People pulling and prodding me in every different direction. Cars getting stuck in snow drifts, little ones making messes in bathrooms with soap and lotion and A&D ointment..... Dinner dishes still in the sink from yesterday. An angry teenager who can't find her phone charger and who is afraid she might miss something important. A hurried husband who is late to get to town with roads drifted high. Laundry piled up and a puppy who doesn't know how to go potty outside. Af frustrated son, who point out my impatient attitude and told me I was too prideful to admit it. Children who will not settle down and do school. Phone calls to repair people and missing socks. A missed appointment with my exercise tape....spilled messes....I start to grumble. I didn't want to start my day like this.... Especially not after going to a wonderful concert of praise last night. It seems that this Monday is more chaotic than usual. I was being transformed into an Israelite as I wandered in the desert areas of my home grumbling to myself and to others......And then it came....a thought.....a word I saw.....It was a divine interruption. "If I can't gratefully work with what HE has given me today, how can HE entrust me with much tomorrow? And so now, as I bow my head once again in humility before Father, and ask Him to give me a right heart. A heart that honors and glorifies Him through it all.....to forgive me again for being a flickering light....and a tail that will go between my legs as I go once again to apologize for my sharp tongue. And once again, I know that in my weakness, He is strong....If only I would stop in a moment and remember: And He said to me: "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." 2 Cor. 12:9 He works out my kinks, smoothes over the edges, applies pressure in just the right places in the ordinaries of my days. Will I resist? OR Surrender and wave the white flag? I think for a brief moment......I wonder to myself where I last left the white flag.....I am sure it is around here somewhere....it has been used many times......

Written 1-25-10