Cool, Clear Water

Let us draw near with a true heart

in full assurance of faith, having our

hearts sprinkled from an evil

conscience, and our bodies

washed with pure water.

Hebrews10:22

When in grade and middle school, my delight was getting to go to the “show” (that's what we called the movies) on Saturday afternoons. Most often, I liked going to the State Theater because on Saturdays, they were usually showing cowboy movies. I loved when there was a Roy Rogers movie. Most people think Roy started out in cowboy movies when in reality, he started out in California as a singer. He was more than talented playing a guitar as well as singing. Through some amount of time, Roy helped in the forming of a men's quartet that after some struggles came to be known as “The Sons of the Pioneers.” When Roy was in a movie, you pretty much knew those singers would be hanging around a corral or campfire singing. Probably their most popular song was “Tumbling Tumbleweeds” but my favorite was “Cool Water.” It was the first time I had heard a song about water, the need and longing for it even if it was a cowboy song.

We still need and long for it but we don't tend to think about water until we have a dire need for it. There are times we do this to ourselves spiritually. Many Christians don't take in God's spiritual water on a regular basis, thus comes a time when they find themselves in the throes of spiritual thirst which isn't a good place to be. They will drink and drink at those times and then often fall back into their old patterns. A steady diet of God's water is what will keep us spiritually hydrated and healthy.

Water is something we take for granted: we bathe in it, cook with it, brush our teeth with it, water our yards with it, wash our cars with it, swim in it, water ski on it, and wash our clothes with it. We can't forget that people get baptized IN it as well. There are so many uses for water that we can't list them all. One of my favorites these days is to sit by a mountain stream, just taking in the beauty of the water dancing and splashing over and around rocks.

Water was often used by God for judgment or punishment in Old Testament days. Noah's experience was one such instance of that. Noah and his family along with a menagerie of animals were saved, but no one or nothing else. Don't forget one of the plagues Pharaoh had to endure was with the waters of Egypt being turned into blood. The Israelites wandering in the wilderness found themselves without water and gave Moses a hard time about it. Thus the rock was struck and water poured forth for the people. God's people in captivity found themselves sitting by the waters of Babylon weeping as they remembered the homeland. Armies often cut off a city’s water supply and when that was accomplished, all the enemy had to do was sit and wait. Thirst would take over and people were quick to surrender.

It is important for us to remember that it is God who is in charge of our water supply be it physical water or spiritual. Scientists of various sorts have tried to come up with ways and means of coming up with water during times of drought. Years ago, it wasn't unusual to “seed” clouds by flying into clouds in small planes, dropping chemicals of every sort and shape to encourage clouds to give off even the lightest bit of rain. Most of those efforts went for nothing despite the desperation of those who had paid huge sums to have that process done. I'm so often amazed at the arrogance of scientists who feel they are in some way in charge of nature. It would seem to me that God has never had a problem in taking care of His earth no matter what damage man does to it. Physical water in whatever form it comes (rain, snow, sleet, hail, dew, etc.) is on God's to-do list, and not on anyone elses.

The thing I love about water in the Bible is that it so often refers to spiritual need, refreshment or salvation. One can read the following verses with a good glass of ice water in hand, splash around in God's Word and be renewed and refreshed.

We must have an all consuming desire and thirst to be in God's Word with consistency. I'm always blessed as I read about a very thirsty deer that isn't just thirsty. It is so thirsty, it is panting, can't wait to get to a stream to drink. Scripture indicates that our thirst for God should be the same as that deer that pants after water.

As the hart panteth after the water brooks.

So panteth my soul after thee, O God.

Psalm 42:1

At one time, we drew living water out of the well of salvation. Praise the Lord for that water that is available to all who seek God and the salvation He offers.

Behold God is my salvation; I will trust

and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH

is my strength and my song; he also is

become my salvation. Therefore

with joy shall ye draw water out of the

wells of salvation.

Isaiah 12:2-3

Oh that wonderful water that is permanently available to us, an ever running stream that never runs dry despite the fact that we at times run dry spiritually. That water is ever present to perk us up, refresh us and bring a renewal in our spiritual lives.

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 unto

everlasting life.

John 4:14

I love this next verse. In fact it is the last verse in Scripture that speaks of water. It has attached to it a wonderful invitation. No matter how thirsty we become, the water of life is available without cost. The Spirit throws out His ongoing invitation.

And the Spirit and the bride say, Come.

And let him that heareth say, Come.

And let him that is athirst come.

And whosoever will, let him take

the water of life freely.

Revelation 21:17

Thank You Father for giving to us Your precious Son Jesus, the Source of our living water. May we not waste a single drop of Him but allow Him through Your Holy Spirit to continually drink in the water of life You have so lovingly provided for each of us. We love You. Amen

How Firm is Our Foundation???

For other foundation can

no man lay than that is laid,

which is Jesus Christ.

I Corinthians 3:11

Finally, after arriving here to what is now our home town, builders got started on the construction of our new house. We were living only a block from the building site which made it very handy for Brian to keep a check on the construction progress. However, on one particular morning, our phone rang. A lady who lived a short distance from where our house was being worked on, called with great concern. She said that there were large machines being used to dig what would be a crawl space under the house. She was a little alarmed because the workers had been digging unreasonably deep into the ground.

Brian jumped in the car and headed for the lot. Within a few minutes, he was back and wanted me to go with him to view the disaster. When we got there, I noted that they had practically dug out a full basement. I figured we could at least have one Olympic size swimming pool for a crawl space. When asked why they had done what they did, the reply was that they were trying to dig down to a firm area and still hadn't reached a solid table that they could consider a foundation for the house. Terrible mistakes had been made. They had not tested the soil before proceeding to even know what they were dealing with. We live a block from the river so the soil is very different than other places. The company had to make corrections. My concern was that if there was just a small area of that ground that could give way, the whole house could be affected. I knew if one little place gave way, the whole house could give way or be rendered unsafe for habitation.

Foundations are important. Foundations are important enough that Jesus chose to close His Sermon on the Mount with a very familiar story about building a house either on sand or on solid rock. He wasn't just talking about the how-to's of building houses. Jesus was speaking of spiritual foundations in people's lives. If you are like me, you learned a little song in Sunday school about the wise man and foolish man who each built a house but on different foundations. We know that the wise man built his house on rock while the foolish man built his on sand. Thus, when the storms came, one house fell while the other one stood firm.

There was a time when the foundation of our country was firmly in place. We've never been a perfect country, but most of us of any age beyond 50 recall a country with moral integrity and you didn't even have to be a Christian to know what America was all about. However, much of the character, morality and integrity of our country is eroding and eroding quickly. Did we ever think a president of our country would endorse the gay agenda including gay marriage? Fifty years ago, such a president would have been run out of the White House with no apology. That's just one example of where we are and the list could go on. Let me hasten to say, though, that a nation's foundation doesn't just slip and crack on it's own, nor does it happen overnight. It happens individual by individual and sadder yet, it happens Christian by Christian. We aren't the Christians we used to be either. We used to be a very vocal influence in our country. Now we've been cowed into corners and we're told to just sit and keep quiet because the “separation of church and state” requires that we do so. What is sad is that even Christians have fallen into the trap of believing that statement. No other key statement has done the damage to our country like that one and it isn't even true.

 

So where are you and I as far as our own personal foundations are concerned. What today are we standing on spiritually...sand or ROCK. I recently taught a Sunday school lesson entitled, “Back to Basics.” At first, my thought was that such a lesson would have to be the most boring thing to teach, but it turned out to be a very beneficial lesson. How often do you and I take stock of what we believe spiritually? I'm not talking about doubting ones salvation but just taking a good look at what we believe and why.

I know Christians who would consider the business they own to be their foundation of life. They might not want to admit it but it's what their overall attitude reveals. Just listen sometime to what friends talk about and you will quickly learn what is important to them. Some may speak of stocks and bonds, while others dote conversationally on their children. Many women talk ad nauseum about scrap booking and crafting. It's just interesting to listen to those things sometime. We are all guilty. There's nothing wrong with sharing interests but when was the last time, in the course of conversation, someone said, “Let's talk about Jesus.”  Where does He fit in our every day conversations and doings?

On the other hand, I know of folks who don't claim any relationship with Jesus Christ. Many do claim to be religious but base their religion on good works of all shapes and sizes. They seem to do and say all the right things, but it's all based on a faulty foundation. That foundation won't make it in life and definitely won't at the time of death. I repeat our opening verse:

For other foundation can no man

lay than that is laid, which is

Jesus Christ.

I Corinthians 3:11

Whatever else we stack on that foundation that is Jesus Christ, is basically good for nothing. He's strong and quite capable of holding us up, giving us sure spiritual footing. There's nothing we can add to it or subtract from it. Jesus is who and what He is...we can stand straight and firmly on Him. Any other foundation will crack, give way and be disastrous. Isn't it wonderful, in these days of so much insecurity that we can look to our sure foundation knowing that He not only supports us but wants to be in close relationship with us and on a personal level too. Along with this one on one relationship we enjoy, we all come together to make up His church. There have been times when we have been in a worship service and have sung a familiar hymn that is so appropriate:

The church's one foundation, is Jesus Christ her Lord;

She is His new creation, by Spirit and the Word;

From heaven He came and sought her, to be His holy bride,

With His own blood He bought her, and for her life He died.

**********************************

Thank You, dear Jesus for giving Yourself, shedding Your blood for me. I can't repay You but I can live my life to please You. I can also fully and lovingly be a part of Your church that You founded and that You still dearly love day by day, year by year. Thank You. In Jesus' dear name. Amen and Amen!

Zucchini Bread

Behold, how good and how pleasant

it is for brethren to dwell together

in unity.

Psalm 133:1

I remember the summer we planted a garden in our back yard. Our three children watched carefully for growth of veggies on a daily basis. Our green beans were doing well when we left on vacation. By the time we returned in a week, beans should have been ready for harvesting. We pulled up in our driveway at the back of the house only to see that someone(s) had pulled up all of our green bean plants. We were sooo disappointed. However, whoever had done the damage had left our zucchini plants alone. Zucchini was growing all over the place. We had zucchini practically coming out of our ears.

A dear friend had given me a wonderful recipe for zucchini bread. All I knew to do with our overload of zucchini was to get busy baking bread. We had a good food grinder so that was a blessing. We also had a freezer where we could stash the nut bread and that was a blessing as well. For several days, we breathed and slept zucchini bread. Our freezer was full of the individual loaves. I was thankful at Christmas for all of those loaves of zucchini bread because they made wonderful gifts.

As I looked at the recipe for this very special bread, I didn't understand why some things were included in the recipe. I must admit that through the years, I have tried leaving out one or two ingredients I thought wouldn't matter. Guess what?...the bread never tasted the same when I did that. It looks like a little spice here or there wouldn't matter but it did. To be successful in cooking my zucchini bread, I have had to consider every single ingredient important in the process. Sometimes, I tend to leave out or ignore what I consider might be an insignificant element. I have often done that in real life. I've been guilty of disregarding people if I didn't feel they mattered or fit in with whatever the cause, especially in the church family. We've all done that at one time or another even if it is hard to admit to it.

All we have to do is look at the church we attend, the Sunday school class we are members of, the choir we sing in and see how we view people. Let's be honest..some people just seem to be more important than others, kind of like the zucchini, flour, sugar or eggs in our recipe. Some may be no more than a bit of salt or allspice...surely we can do without them but we would be sadly mistaken. I've tried my recipe without both and let me tell you that even those small ingredients are necessary. The most important element in the bread is the zucchini but we all can't be the zucchini in our church. In fact, as important as flour is, there's only so much that can be added to the mix. All in all, every single ingredient, no matter how large or small is necessary for a good end result. The largest quantity ingredient in this baking wonder is 3 cups of zucchini. If I'm salt, I might wish I could contribute 3 cups of salt to the mixture but that wouldn't work, nor would 3 cups of cinnamon or 3 cups of baking powder. Whatever we are, God has placed us where we are to be in amount and strength as He has deemed best. We ingredients blend together in unity, each contributing to the end product for God's glory. God loves unity and wants it in our very large Christian family. A part of that happening means respecting the value of each person and respecting whatever their contribution is in this large family of God.

God loves when His people dwell in unity. A lot of our judgments come from our deciding who is worth keeping around and who isn't...who we could get along without and who can stay. We may get into disagreements with fellow church members because we value our own opinion over those of others, who may not seem worthy of having an opinion. Sounds cruel, I know, but there are some things in life that are very real. Unity doesn't come unless we face up to the facts of why unity doesn't exist.

We would be surprised all those who contribute to making our churches run smoothly. It may be some seemingly insignificant people who do the most for us and we don't realize it. I am in a small church right now. We don't have a paid staff to do things. There is a lady who cleans the building, a man comes early to unlock doors, someone sets up rooms for meetings, a dear lady is in charge of the kitchen when we have get-togethers and let me tell you, she runs a tight ship. Ushers “ush,” deacons “deek,” and greeters greet. Nursery workers watch children so that services can be orderly. If light bulbs go out, someone changes them. If there's ice on the steps, someone salts them down. I know a lady at my former church who wipes off the bathroom sink and fixtures before leaving a church bathroom. I would guess her to be in her 80's. I'm grateful for that courtesy. The list could go on and on. All are ingredients of this wonderful “unity bread” that is the end result of so many who do their part and do it joyfully.

Perhaps one of these days when at church, we ought to look around and notice all of the things that must be done by many who we may not know but who contribute to keeping things running smoothly for the benefit of us all. Maybe we need to forget petty differences and appreciate each and every member of our church family. Some may appear to not be doing anything to contribute to our church life, but we might be surprised. 

Unity is when we are functioning with loving spirits as a well-oiled machine. Every person in our church is important and needed. We need to drop the high-hat attitudes and love and appreciate each ingredient God has placed in the recipe of our church. We must also realize that the “glue” in this recipe is the Holy Spirit who indwells each believer. There can never be a true spirit of unity among Christians anywhere unless all are walking in tune with the Holy Spirit. This doesn't mean, however, that we will always agree on everything. That just wouldn't make sense but we can learn to offer our opinion, step back and do a lot of praying. We can make a determination to get along with others, respecting opinions, enveloping all in God's love.

Dear Father...I thank You for my church. I know it isn't a perfect place. If it was before I got there, it wouldn't be after I got there. Help me to be a loving church member, loving each member and recognizing the value of each person. May our churches be places of unity. That will only happen in Your power. I don't have to be the flour or eggs....I'll be that ½ tsp of salt, but I want to be the best ingredient You want me to be. In it all I pray that the end product of my church will be that of a strong witness and souls won for You. Amen

 

 

I hope you'll try this wonderful recipe for Zucchini Bread, remembering the importance of each ingredient as you blend them together.
                                                                                                                                

Preheat oven to 350

Grease & Flour 2 loaf pans

Mix together:

                                          3 eggs                                1 tsp nutmeg

                                          2 cups sugar                       1/2 tsp salt

                                          2 tsp baking soda               1 tsp cinnamon

                                          1 tsp baking powder           1 tsp allspice

                                          ½ tsp almond extract          1 cup salad oil

    

Add

3-1/2 cups flour

3 cups grated zucchini unpeeled

(Add these alternately)

Add:

1 cup raisins

1 cup nuts (pecans are best)

 

Pour into loaf pans and bake 1 hour, 15 minutes

Walking on Water

And He said, COME. And when Peter

was come down out of the ship, he

walked on the water, to go to Jesus

Matthew 14:29

I've heard people speak in admiration of a friend, family member or well-known celebrity, saying, “He's so great... I'm sure he can walk on water.” In making that remark, they usually aren't talking about Jesus. There are only two people I know of who have walked ON water...Jesus and Peter. Jesus walking on water has never surprised me...Peter walking on water is another thing. Have you ever tried walking ON water? I would sure like to know who you are if you did such a miraculous thing. I've waded in water, gone swimming in water, gone off of a diving board into water, bathed in water, skated on frozen water, but never have I walked ON it.

Peter was successful in doing what Jesus asked him to do if only for da few moments...a very few steps. All Jesus had to do was stand ON the water and ask Peter to come to Him. Peter only had three things to do in this process:

• Notice first that Peter had to get out of the ship. Something I had never paid attention to was that Peter had to “come down” out of the ship. This wasn't a row boat or a canoe like we often picture. Fishing boats were often pretty good sized vessels. This one was big enough that Peter had to get over the side of the ship and ease himself down to water level. Whatever moments this took, if this were me, I would be asking myself, “What in the world am I doing?” Verse 24 reveals some complications. The sea was tossed with waves and on top of that, the winds were contrary so this wasn't a calm sea situation. Peter lowered himself onto water with waves blown by wind gusts. Under those circumstances, it might be hard to even stand steady on the ship.
  

 

• Why did Peter do this in the first place? The invitation didn't come from a fellow disciple or family member. It was from Jesus, Peter's dearest friend in the world. He didn't seem to hesitate even though I'm sure his heart was skipping a few beats. Peter was well acquainted with ships, turbulent water and high winds. His life as a fisherman had exposed him to all of that. This was different because Someone called Peter who he had come to love and trust. Peter had witnessed Jesus' miracles. He knew by now that Jesus could do anything and in this case, all would be well.
  

 

• Peter no sooner let his feet touch the water and his hand let go of the ship but what he found himself taking steps on water that was as firm and steady as any road he had walked on with Jesus. In fact, straight ahead of Peter stood Jesus with his inviting smile and perhaps outstretched arms. Nothing to it...piece of cake. Peter began doing what no man had ever done. I can't imagine how thrilling that must have been. Also remember that Peter wasn't the only one in that ship. There were others taking all of this in. We have no idea what they were saying to Peter, but he appears for a time to be undeterred.
  
 

• Something happened and verse 30 tells us what it was:

But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was

afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying,

Lord, save me.

Peter took his eyes off of Jesus...he saw the winds stirring the sea. In fact we see that

the wind was boisterous. That word means that the wind was very loud. There

was a lot to grab Peter's attention. Whatever those things were, Peter's attention suffered a lapse. Before his attention was firmly fixed on Jesus, all of the circumstances around Peter caused him to forget the One who had invited him to come. RESULT: he no longer saw the One who could hold him up, could keep him walking on the water. He began to sink. A very loving Jesus extended a helping hand to Peter just as Peter cried out for help. Again, Peter wasn't new to the sea and it's storms. He probably knew of fishermen who had lost their lives in that very same sea. But Jesus took hold of Peter caught him and got Peter back to the boat, but not without a word of correction. Jesus said, “ O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?” Oh my goodness, I would never want Jesus to have to say that to me, but I'm afraid He could for there have been times when I like Peter have lost focus and found myself sinking.

Back safely in the ship, the winds immediately calmed. In the boat, men were in the presence of Jesus, the controller of all weather events. I don't believe in these moments that this incident took a lot of time. No matter how brief, that was some object lesson for all who witnessed it. As they all came together on that ship, there broke out a worship service. It was a time of praise as they recognized the Son of God in their presence.

You and I may at times be called upon to accomplish what looks to be an impossible task. We know at that time that God has called us and in our enthusiasm we step right into whatever the task is. Sometimes, though, things get rough and are nothing like we thought they would be. The winds of adversity blow strong and we lose our mental or emotional footing. We end up disturbed, unhappy, maybe afraid of failure...all types of wind that can blow straight at us. I find it odd that so many of us Christians try everything to rescue ourselves, not thinking to call on Jesus for help first. Peter had no alternative plan...it was Jesus or drown.

I must admit that I am going through such a time. I know that those who pen books, blogs or whatever are never supposed to admit any kind of weakness but I find that on the dishonest side of life. All of us, no matter who or what our title, face difficult times. We all get to the end of our rope and when I get there, don't ask me to tie a knot in it and hold on. When at the end of my rope, I generally have no energy of any kind to do anything to help myself. I just get too weary.

Let me share some things I'm doing that I feel are helping:

1. I'm tracking my sleep schedule to see if I'm getting enough. Along with that part of things, I'm thinking about my diet as well and if I'm eating regularly.
2. I'm re-evaluating the task I felt called to because I never want to be doing what the Lord doesn't want me to do. At this point I know I'm doing what I'm called to.
3. My big point of evaluation is spiritual in nature. How much time am I spending in the Word of God? What about my prayer life? In both of those areas, am I backslidden? Without both, I will be weak and upset. My strength will be come from being in the Lord's presence. When in His presence, I am focused on Him. Even when I feel like I'm sinking, He stands ready to take hold of me and get me back to my “boat.”
   
 

Someone had a really good statement on FB and I must share it with you:

When you feel like you're drowning in life,

don't worry, your Lifeguard walks on water.

I just love that and hope to keep it in my memory. What a sweet assurance that is and just as Scriptural as can be.

So...........

Walk by faith

                         Keep walkin'

                                               Keep eyes on Jesus.

                                                                              

Dear Jesus,

When the storms of life are raging,

Stand by me.

When the storms of life are raging,

Stand by me.

When the world is tossing me

Like a ship upon the sea,

Thou who rulest wind and water,

Stand by me.

Amen