Thirsty

 

Several months ago, Jason S. invited me to visit his ministry in the Dominican Republic.  I enjoyed the ten-day trip and enjoyed his kind hospitality.  There were many details to remember and most of them I covered.  The few that I overlooked didn’t threaten the trip.  For instance, I forgot to feed the birds in my back yard.  But they did just fine without me.  I forgot to stop the mail.  But I called my neighbor and she took care of the mail each day.  But the morning that I left, I watered my two inside plants not knowing what to do.  They would just have to make it (or not) for ten days.  And when I got back, the plants were wilted and dry, but after drinking up some water, they perked right up after a day.  Hey, have you ever been thirsty after a hot afternoon in the summer sun?  A cool drink of water refreshes the soul and revives the spirit.  Jesus asked the Samaritan woman for a drink of water in John 4.  She drew some cooling water from the deep well, and an interesting conversation followed.  John 4:13&14, “Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.”  The woman offered Jesus physical water to satisfy His parched throat, but Jesus offered the woman spiritual water to refresh her needy soul.  Hey, have you had a refreshing drink of that spiritual water?  Have you let Jesus Christ meet your soul’s needs?  Take a moment and talk with Him in prayer.  You’ll be glad that you did.

Best Breakfast Ever!

 

I think I have discovered the second best breakfast ever.  Bacon, sourdough toast, and local honey.  It is the perfect blend of sweet and savory.  I take a bite of thick-cut bacon, squeeze a dollop of honey onto the toast, and take a bite.  My tastebuds are at the same time confused and exhilarated.  David described the dear Lord as having two opposite traits as well: strength and beauty.  Psalm 96:6, “Honour and majesty are before him: strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.”  Usually something is either durable or pretty, but not both.  Hey, each and every good quality is found in the Lord!  And David goes on to say in verse 9, “O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth.”  And that is my response too: fear the Lord and love Him with all of my heart!  Now, … what about you?  Oh, and by the way, the first-place best breakfast?  Chicken Mini’s at Chick fil-A, of course!

Stretch Out

 

When I wake up in the morning, I always have new aches and pains.  One of the curses of growing older.  But also, the new aches and pains are one of the blessings of growing older … I get to grow older and not die young.  We had a dear friend who attended Calvary years ago stop by for a visit.  Rosemary likes to hike, so she wanted to visit Cloudland Canyon in nearby Trenton, Georgia.  But Rosemary is a serious hiker, and I made a serious mistake.  You see, I am only a novice hiker … barely a moderate walker.  But being the macho man that I am, I didn’t want to admit my noviceness and turn back on the strenuous hike when I should have.  Hence my post about tired muscles.  Did I mention sore knee joints too?!  But I did enjoy stretching myself out and going further than I thought that I could.  Hey, we should stretch out a little further than we think that we are capable of in the spiritual world too.  Do more for God than you think that you can.  Good spiritual exercise!  The apostle Paul stretched himself out saying in II Corinthians 10:14, “For we stretch not ourselves beyond our measure, as though we reached not unto you: for we are come as far as to you also in preaching the gospel of Christ.”  And then Paul went on to say, II Corinthians 10:17, “But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.”  Good words, Paul!  After all, we don’t stretch out in our spiritual life in our own strength; we stretch out and go further in the strength of the Lord!  Hey, do a little bit extra today for the dear Lord … and do it in His strength!