Rivers of Living Water

Source: kitchenappliancespackages.blogspot.com

       

exerpted from a sermon written at the following site 
Oh, to be like a deep mountain spring overflowing in rivers of living water! In this verse "rivers of living water" implies fullness and completeness to the point of overflowing; sweet coolness and refreshment.   

Everything in the Old Testament had pointed forward to a time of fulfillment. Jesus is that fulfillment. When we hear Jesus cry out at the feast of booths "If any one thirsts let him come to me and drink," we understand him to mean, if you are eagerly looking for the Kingdom of God (Luke 23:51), for deliverance from sin and oppression, then; no longer look back to the days of old and don't look forward to the future, look to me. In me all the past is summed up and in me the future hope has arrived. "If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink."

(Now pay really close attention here. I LOVE this part!!)

The invitation goes out to all. Everyone has a personal invitation from Jesus to come to him and drink. There is only one condition: you have to be thirsty.(earnestly desire for what Jesus has to give.)  All men thirst. But not all thirst for God. We are the only species of God's creation afflicted and blessed with chronic longing. Dolphins are content to frolic in the sea, dogs are content to lie in the sun; frogs are content to bump their bellies from pond to pond. But man is not content. He is afflicted with chronic restlessness. Everything we set our hand to gets old. We fight without success against an epidemic of boredom. Fad after fad, fashion after fashion, challenge after challenge leave us thirsty in the end. Why? It's a hidden blessing.

We are afflicted and blessed with a chronic restlessness, an insatiable soul-thirst for this reason: that we might keep looking until we find Christ. And that having found him we might be turned back to him again and again when we taste of other springs and find them bitter. 

We were made for God!!

<><><><><>><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>><><><><<>><

I continue to share my blessings through the Joy Dare!

 3 Gifts, bent, broken, beautiful

      518. A tree in the neighborhood - it actually is bent in
   the middle of the trunk at a 45 degree angle.(vertical to
   horizontal)
   519. My heart - hearing a story on TV (60 Minutes) of 
   children who suffer from a disease that causes them to
   age prematurely.
   520. The view out the back window on a country house
   we are looking at to buy

       
3 gifts in the kitchen

521. My hubby's pot of apple tree seedlings, sprouting up green (I call my hubs my ‘Johnny Appleseed’, as he hopes to plant them in the ground eventually).

522. A place to gather family, when we have the opportunity to all be together to cook a meal!

523. My dishwasher! Oh, what a blessing!!

      
 3 gifts loud

524. My son’s band….music

525. My barking dog….sometimes frustrating, when he doesn’t stop, but still a gift to have him.

526. Singing loud in church!!

       
3 gifts carved

527. A  gift  from a friend given to me - small wooden box brought from Africa.

528. My uncles carvings…he is SO gifted!

                                                                      Source: google.com via Ann on Pinterest

529. Time carved out of the day for God, for family, for friends.

3 gifts in Christ

530. Salvation

531. Peace

532. Joy 

A gift in wind, in water, in white

533. Wind –(hard gift) Loss from tornados in southern Indiana, yet the love of mankind, reaching out to those who have lost.

534. water -  - John 7:37, 38: On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and proclaimed, 'If anyone thirst, let him come to me and drink. He who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, "Out of his heart shall flow rivers of living water."'  
535. white - Easter Lilies

linking over at these blog hops:

Fresh Brewed Sundays ( My Freshly Brewed Life)

Hear It on Sunday/Use It on Monday (Graceful)

 Multitude on Mondays (A Holy Experience)

Sharing His Beauty (Beauty in His Grip)  
A Pause in the Path (On Your Heart Tuesday)

They that Wait Upon the Lord. . .

Source: jcsnotebook.org via Ann on Pinterest

Have you ever run and not gotten tired? Maybe some dedicated athletes can relate to that, but personally, I have never enjoyed running. I just get out of breath and wear out after just a few minutes into a light jog! I'd rather walk, thank you very much!  But, this verse says with God as our strength, we will run (the race of life) and not grow weary!! Life can be tiring at times, with all the stress, health issues, pressures of work and family, and even resisting all the temptations of this world!

Friend, if you are feeling weak and think you can't go on anymore, turn to the Lord - read His Word - go to Him in prayer. Seek Him and you will find Him, for He says, "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:13

Isaiah 40:31 has been my all-time favorite verse since I can remember....at least since my teen years, when I dedicated my life to Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I love the imagery of an eagle soaring high in the sky, the wind keeping him high above the trees. With the strong wind holding him up, he can relax and enjoy the view below. No need to strain and work his wings. I see God, as being the "wind" holding me up when I can't hold myself up anymore!! What a relief, knowing that He is my strength!!

I wanted to share a short paragraph on the subject of the week from the blog hop (JamWithMe Thursdays) which is actually being held over at My Home Sweet Home blog. This week we are asked to share a " A heart healing moment." That is actually a hard one for me to pin down just one moment of God's healing, there are sooooo many!! But, I guess if I just had one to share, it would be the emotional healing of the loss of a child. Even though he was a step-child, James spent many weekends, holidays, and vacations with us and eventually lived with us through his high school years. God chose to take him early, at the tender age of 18. My relationship with him had been bittersweet for many years prior to the car accident that took him from us. For many years guilt and sorrow plagued me and even kept me from freely enjoy raising my own biological son. But, one day, as I was going to Him in prayer and wanting peace, God spoke to me and told me that it was o.k. and that He knew my heart. I felt immediate peace about what I couldn't change...God had healed my heart!

 May you find strength and healing this week in the power of Jesus Christ!!!!

Linking over at these great blog-hops:

On Your Heart Tuesday (A Pause in the Path)

Word-Filled Wednesdy (Internet Cafe')

 Winsome Wednesday (My Daily Walk in His Grace)

JamWithMe Thursday (Faith Barista)

Heartprint Hallelujahs(Heartprints of God)

What I would have in my Cottage Tea Garden:

I have this image in my mind of a small cozy "tea garden" where I can go to relax, sip on tea, maybe read a book, and take in the beauty of the surroundings. Yes, I would love to have my very own cottage tea garden...I currently have a small garden and pond on the side of my house, but my real dream is to someday actually live in a small cottage (preferably near the ocean) and have a little place to go.

  

Example of the cutest little cottage:

                                                                                 Source: crumpledenvelope.tumblr.com via Ann on Pinterest

Here are elements I would have in my Cottage Tea Garden:

·        Low fence and entrance gate(white picket or wrought iron)

                                                                                                 Source: susanbranch.com via Ann on Pinterest

    

Arches, Trellises, and Arbors·          

                                                                                            Source: theoldpaintedcottage.com via Ann on Pinterest

     

Fountains and bird baths

                                                                                                 Source: thisoldhouse.com via Biz on Pinterest

·         

·    

Benches (places to sit and sip on tea)

                                                                                           Source: theoldpaintedcottage.com via Ann on Pinterest

·         Wrought Iron or wicker table and chairs.

                                                                                      Source: eleganttabletop.blogspot.com via Ann on Pinterest

Bird feeders and houses

                                                                                         Source: craftberrybush.blogspot.com via Kerrie on Pinterest

       Of course, many flowers and herbs.

                                                                                                 Source: google.com via Sam on Pinterest

And most importantly, TEA!

                                                                                           Source: royalgardenhotelblog.com via Ann on Pinterest

            
Even the birds can join in the tea party!!!

                                                                               Source: emilysummers-designer.blogspot.com via Ann on Pinterest

We have had some very warm (but windy) days here in my part of the world. Hope you have a chance to get out and enjoy God's beauty in your area. Spring will be here soon! Very soon, I will be able to have tea out in my little garden by the house. Dreaming is fun, too!! Maybe someday my "Cottage Tea Garden" will be a reality!! :-)

Oh! I almost forgot. I promised you last week that I would show you a picture of my little whimsical birds that go with my birdcage, purchased at Goodwill. (The birds I got at a local consignment shop) Aren't they cute together?

Linking over at these blog hops:

Tea Time Tuesday (Rose Chintz Cottage)

A Return to Loveliness (A Delightsome Life)

Friends Sharing Tea (Bernideen's Tea time)

Tea Party Tuesday (Sweetology)

Meet Mariamu

                                                                                                Source: community.albinism.org

I watched a documentary on the TV show "20/20" last night about a brave young Tanzanian woman who not only has had to survive the judgement of her community because of something she can't help, but suffered the consequences of a satanic ritual observed by the people.. Read about Mariamu here

This story made me cry. Not only to learn about the suffering that goes on daily in Africa, but also to see this Christian woman, who is such an inspiration of courage and strength!!  I feel a sting of guilt, as I think about the many times I have complained about the little, petty things in my life that were a bother to me. Mariamu suffered the pain of losing both her arms, and her ability to feed or clothe herself, her toddler son, or even hug him. She literally depended on her mother to take care of her. But, instead of complaining, she lived each day praising God and waiting for Him to use her. Her strength and courage led her to come to the U.S., receive new arms, and help to change the laws of her country. She continues to use her challenges to help others, even today!!

                                                                                             Source: google.com via Ann on Pinterest

Our Lord desires that we be strong and courageous in following Him. In the book of Joshua, God encouraged the Israelites to be "strong and courageous, because (He) will lead (His) people" and to "be careful to obey the law.....meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it."  Why does he want us to do this? Because, "then you will be prosperous and successful."(Joshua 1:8)

I'm doubtful that Mariamu felt prosperous when she first lost her arms. But if asked today, she most likely will have a different response. Often success or prosperity doesn't come till much later in life, and then it may be something much different than financial or monetary. I remember at the end of the show, she said that what she was the most happy about was that once again she could put her arms around her son when he went to hug her. To her, that was success!!!

                                                                                               Source: 

Swahili Time

I am once again reminded that I have SO much to be grateful for!!!!

I continue to sing His praises through the Joy Dare!

3 gifts from the past – that help you trust the future.

500. Reading in the O.T. how God supplied the needs of the Israelites while they wondered in the desert.

501. When the Lord protected me from past near accidents.

502. Trusting God to hear my prayers...answering according to His will.

A gift dull, a gift shimmering, a gift cleaned.

    503.  Dull – winter landscape before spring comes.

    504.  Shimmering – A favorite lip gloss  

    505.  Cleaned - my car

3 gifts at 3 p.m.

     506.  Going to the park to enjoy the warm weather (70 degrees)

    507. A peaceful moment by the lake.

    508. Ripples of water around a dead tree.

     3 gifts green  

    509. Moss covering the ground!!!(Spring is coming!!)

510. Frog from my pond(somewhat green)

511. Fresh Kiwi

Source: free-extras.com via Ann on Pinterest

3 gifts wore

512. A bracelet that was a gift from my husband
513. A new top
514. New socks

3 gifts hard to give thanks for
515. Serious illness
516. A wayward child
517. Seeing when children in the world are suffering greatly.

linking over at these blog hops:

Fresh Brewed Sundays ( My Freshly Brewed Life)

Hear It on Sunday/Use It on Monday (Graceful)

 Multitude on Mondays (A Holy Experience)

Sharing His Beauty (Beauty in His Grip)

Always Trust

Today, I'm re-posting one of my posts from last year on the subject of "trust", which is the topic word over at Faith Barista, JamWithMe Thursday. 

As a whole, I usually have felt like I have overcome negativity, but learning to trust and having a positive attitude often seem to collide with each other for me when I'm faced with them together, especially when things aren't going well in my life. It's amazing how praise and gratitude can be so easily influenced by my circumstances (or even by my mood). 

 

Source: be-the-change.tumblr.com via Ann on Pinterest

I've tried to write down at least one thing every day that I'm grateful for. I've been doing this for almost a full year now, and still, there are days it's a great struggle. In fact, today is one of them. I've been racking my brain to write something down, but my mind keeps traveling to negative and worrisome thoughts.  I pray for God to take care of my every need and to give me peace about it, but then I struggle to trust Him fully with it. My mind almost has a mind of it's own, if that makes any sense. I know Satan wants my mind and my life, and the only way I know to battle against him is on my knees!

I'm still working on my gratitude list. Today, I may not be able to write anything inspiring down, but I am thankful for one thing for sure.....God is our conqueror and more. That reminds me of the Scripture verse - Romans 8:39

"No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us."

  (source)

 

Source: be-the-change.tumblr.com via Ann on Pinterest

I'm also reminded, in order to keep my mind and heart grateful, that I must "pray continually." And "be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus" (1 Thessalonians 5:17-18)

So today I am praying, praising God (through reading the Word). I'm reading Psalms 103, to start. And I'm remembering that God is my conqueror!

 

(source)