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Saturday, July 23, 2011

Mayim Chaim ~ Living Water

It never really leaves. That longing to go, to depart from the hum of the city, to quickly find that place of rest and quietness. Sometimes, I find that I can breathe more easily in the forest or mountain air. It's amazing how Christ as our All in all, meeting every need of ours, is reflected in nearly every part of life. It's reflected in the "needs" we have for solitude and escape. A change of scenery. A chance to enjoy something far bigger than us and the drone of our little lives. It is marvelous that we were made this way. We are not to underestimate the significance of rest, nor are we to abuse this gift as if our need is greater than the needs of other's or than time with our Maker. When I find myself overwhelmed or stressed, I remember this. I remember that I am designed with physical and emotional limits. I also remember that I am to die to self and the "rights" that self demands. And I remember that even when I am called to do something or bear something of greater difficulty than I had wanted, He can do it in me. And when I'm not called by His voice to go further, I am to lay down beneath the Living Waters. Either way, this River of Life is always flowing alongside and within.

On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, 'Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.'" Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. ~ John 7:37-39


The woman said to him, "Sir, you have nothing to draw water with, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob? He gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did his sons and his livestock." Jesus said to her, "Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." The woman said to him, "Sir, give me this water, so that I will not be thirsty or have to come here to draw water." ~ John 4:11-15


On that day living waters shall flow out from Jerusalem, half of them to the eastern sea and half of them to the western sea. It shall continue in summer as in winter. And the LORD will be king over all the earth. On that day the LORD will be one and his name one. ~ Zech 4:8-9


For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd,
and he will guide them to springs of living water,
and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."

~ Revelation 7:17

2 comments:

Nolan said...

Really encouraging words to read after these past few weeks. I haven't had a moment's rest between work and an avalanche of tasks to work on lately. Many times I have been getting overwhelmed with all of the work and no downtime, and the only thing that keeps me going are those times when I can say a quick prayer in the middle of it all, and know that Christ is my strength, and that stress doesn't mean everything is going wrong, it just means I can't handle what He can handle, and to strive for nothing. And in the midst of having all these goals and tasks to complete and press on toward, to stop and realize just how thankful I am for every blessing He pours on me. It's truly the only way to get me through the day, and He has been teaching me so much of this lately through the trials of non-stop busy busy busy life. I'm so thankful for His rest, He leads me beside still waters and makes me lie down in green pastures. :)

Ms. Pajak said...

I'm encouraged to hear that you were encouraged! It sounds like it has a busy and stressful time for you. It's hard to cultivate thanksgiving in the midst of a busy life, but He is good to turn our hearts towards Him in praise. Praying for you. :-)