Category Archives: inspiration

Love Unsurpassed

Drawing water, it never ends

I smile and nod then stoop to bend

and fill my pots amidst the sneers,

feeling outcast I wipe the tears.

The others leave. At last alone,

to fill my pots then head for home.

Married five times. Oh what’s the use?

Loving someone just means abuse.

“Excuse me ma’am, I need a drink.”

A man’s voice? I turn and blink.

“Why you’re a Jew, talking to me?”

I look at him, no scorn I see.

“Living water,” he says to me,

“will give new life and set you free.”

“Living water? Where do I go?

Jacob’s deep well is all I know.

Come here to draw, day after day.

Yet, I still thirst. What did you say?

Get my husband? And bring him here?

I’ve no husband!” He perseveres.

“You have had five,” he says to me.

“You a prophet? My past, you see?

Messiah will come. He’ll tell all things.

He will save us. He’ll be our king.”

“Messiah is here. I am He!

I’ve come for you. Do you believe?”

Leaving the well and pots behind

I run to town and look to find

others to tell, others to see,

Christ the Savior revealed to me!

“Come see a man–told me all things.

This is the Christ. This is our King!

They come and see and hear Him too.

Many believe. Their hopes renew.

Living water springs in my soul.

Quenching the thirst. Making me whole.

My thirsting for love ends at last.

I’ve met Jesus. Love unsurpassed.

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Jesus the Gentleman

Jesus the gentleman walked softly by

on rolling waves ‘neath a stormy sky.

The weary disciples, late in the night,

thought it was a ghost and were filled with fright.

Their boat bounced and swayed on the raging sea.

Jesus the gentleman waited patiently

for them to cry out–send the S.O.S.

so He could help them and ease their distress.

“Take courage. It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

Then the sea became calm. The wind obeyed.

On this sea of life storms will come and go.

Jesus the gentleman stands near to show

that He waits for you to call out to Him

before He enters–He’s a gentleman.

Your faith in action begins when you call,

on Jesus the gentleman, Lord of all.

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Refreshed

Not a bird in sight. Small twigs & brown leaves had filled my backyard birdbath. I’d let a few days slip by without doing my turn-on-the-water-for-the-birds-duty. I rotated the spigot full blast until a stream of water flowed through the garden hose. Then I aimed it at the concrete basin of my pedestal birdbath and flushed away the debris. No wonder I hadn’t seen any birds. Next, I readjusted the flow to a steady drip-drip-drip and rigged the hose to hang in its usual spot, a couple of feet above the birdbath.

Soon my feathered friends returned. The familiar sparrows, cardinals and blue jays. Some spread their wings for a drip-drip shower. Others sat along the rim and scooped beakfuls of cool water.

There are days my soul is dry. Dry, like my neglected bird bath. Frivolous thoughts and busyness fill the hours. All because I let time slip by without a flow of God’s Word, living water, into my day.

I get back on track. Back into the routine of opening my email devotional and my Bible to its accompanying scripture. While reading and thinking, living water trickles in. Worldly cares drift away. Trust, assurance and confidence in an omnipresent God saturate me. My thirst is quenched. My spirit refreshed.

Selah.

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Enter Broken, Leave Whole

Crraacck! All who heard the breaking of the alabaster box and inhaled its sweet fragrance knew this was no ordinary oil.

They watched her. The woman who opened the stone container which held her valuable oil. Her body and hands trembled as she knelt before Jesus. With her hands wet from her abundance of tears, she carefully poured the oil and anointed Jesus’ feet. She sobbed. Expressed thanks. Kissed his feet, wiped them with her hair and cried (Luke 7:47).

And yet, even in this same worshipful atmosphere, there stood a man skeptical and unmoved. This man, Judas, the disciple who kept the purse strings and later betrayed Jesus, focused on the guesstimated cost and seemingly waste of oil.

Which person will I be?

When someone has been given much, much will be required in return. Luke 12:48 NLT

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. Psalm 51:17 KJV

John 12:3-8

Luke 7: 44-50

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My Palm Tree Reminder

My husband had a date. Not with me or anyone else. The kind you eat.

Would you believe in a box labeled Seedless Dates there was one with a seed in it? I remember his wide eyes and the “Oh!” he exclaimed when he bit into it.

Hubby planted his unexpected find and today I have a three-foot tall palm tree on my back porch. Soon, I’ll have to transfer the small tree to a larger container, hoping it will continue to thrive.

My back porch palm tree reminds me of two verses in Psalm 92 and my aim as a children’s ministry worker.

The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree. Psalm 92:12a

Those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in

in the courts of our God. Psalm 92:13

 In children’s ministry, spiritual digging, planting, watering, fertilizing, weeding is created in a variety of ways.  It’s accomplished through songs, games, role-playing, stories and giving positive incentives. All of these methods seek to put God’s Word into their hearts—praying it will take root. Believing our children will grow, flourish and perhaps one day, like my back porch palm tree, move on to bigger surroundings and greater things.

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Train Wreck Reflections

In my younger years, I was quick to sing Pick up, Clean up and help my kids’ put their toys away. But now, I’m content to let Thomas the Train and the box cars stay on the floor. The little train wreck reminds me of my grandson. His determination as he assembled the track and connected the box cars to the engine. The sounds he made as he pushed the train around the track and the blllliibphttaw he shouted as the train derailed and fell apart on the floor. Yes, the mess reminds me of him and his playfulness. But, most of all, it reminds me of my responsibility.

Tell ye your children of it, and let your children tell their children, and their children another generation. Joel 1:3

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From Tombs to a Territory

Nameless. Unfit to live with society. So he lived among the tombs–his hideout home. Scarred from frequent cutting. Dirty. Naked. Until Jesus stepped ashore.

Two words, “Come out,” and the legion of demons hurled into a herd of swine. Hell’s chains broke, fell off. Free. Clean.

The delivered one wanted to follow Jesus. Stay close to him. Was this longing from a feeling of eternal gratefulness? Was it from a fear if the unclean spirits returned he’d be close to The Messiah? Still, Jesus told him to stay. Stay and tell his story. He couldn’t help but tell his story.

And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid. Mark 5:15

And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel. Mark 5:20

Decapolis, a gentile region of ten cities–designated by Jesus to be his mission field. His spiritual jurisdiction. Two chapters later, Jesus returned to the same area and healed a deaf-mute.

And were beyond measure astonished, saying He hath done all things well: he maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak. Mark 7:37

A miracle in the former demoniac’s homeland. The gospel, the good news spread. His testimony, his story, used for God’s glory.

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Back On Course

Those daily check-the-box Bible reading charts didn’t work for me. Behind schedule by February. An abandoned reading plan by April. But, one day it occurred to me, I don’t have to follow a prescribed reading plan. I’m free to choose my own style–my own way of digging into God’s word.

So I did. The more I read, the more I wanted to read. Curiosity leapfrogged. I reviewed cross-references and studied definitions. I scanned maps and timelines. Browsed commentaries. I discovered answers to situations, wisdom, knowledge and guidance. I looked forward to my aha! moments–the times I found something I never saw before, though I had read the same scripture many times.

Over twenty years have passed since I began my unique approach to the greatest book of all time. Fresh spiritual bread feeds my soul. Written word, logos, truly is living word, rhema.

Oh the wonder, the adventure. I’ve found my Jehovah Jireh’s words are words that truly provide!

Matt 4:4

John 6:63

1 Tim 2:15

Psalm 119:11

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Hand in Hand

A small act of chivalry, yet it means so much. Whenever we’re walking together and my husband realizes I’m the one walking closest to the street he’ll say, “We need to switch places. I should be over there.”

We switch. I smile, knowing he’s willing to take a muddy splash, or in the worst case, a hit from an erring driver to insure my safety.

I have a spiritual protector beside me too. He’s promised to always be with me. I may never know the times He’s fought off unseen hindrances or attacks. Yet I trust Him.

I think I’ll keep walking.

Phl 3:14, 2 Tim 4:7, Rev 2:10d

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Blessed Are The Peacemakers

This is the third day in a row. Lord, are you trying to tell me something? A book, a social media post & today’s email devotional had the same message–the difference between peace keeping & peace making.

Peace Keeping

*remain silent

*stuff/hold it in

*go with the flow

*be compliant

*avoid risk

But, a maker makes things. Making things requires effort and action. Taking action often means initiating a much needed conversation.

Peace Making

*overcome fear

*open communication

*solve problems

*move forward

Yes Lord, I’ll take a deep breath & be a peacemaker. Season my words with love and wisdom. Give me patience to listen and understand. With your help, love and peace will win.

Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. Matthew 5:9

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