This Drink’s on Me

I’m high-step-walking in early morning bliss when out of the blue, this phrase pops in my mind: “This drink’s on me!” I think: “Is that you, God?” I think He’s telling me to drink in the beauty of this morning. My pondering then goes to what is usually meant by “This drink’s on me!” I suspect that we’ve all heard that phrase in the context of an alcoholic drink in a bar. But, this day, my mind goes to Jesus saying “Come drink of THIS water and you’ll never thirst again.”

“This drink’s on me”, used as an offer for an alcoholic drink, often numbs the senses. “This drink’s on ME” – coming from our Lord, enlightens the senses – making feeling, tasting, hearing, speaking and seeing – so much more intense and empowering. He wants us to drink in HIM – and when we do – we become aware of just how big God is.

At our little neighborhood, sing-a-long concert with LaDonna Gatlin and her husband, Tim, this Sunday morning, she starts us off with Job 38’s explanation of just WHO God is. Job was in total despair after having lost his family, his belongings, his health – nothing remained. He was in misery and rather than God addressing Job’s woes…..He reminds Job WHO HE is AND, how big He is. “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Who decreed the boundaries of the seas when they gushed from the depths? Who clothed them with clouds and thick darkness? Have you ever once commanded the morning to appear and caused the dawn to rise in the east? Have you ever told the daylight to spread to the ends of the earth, to end the night’s wickedness? Who can tilt the water jars of heaven, when everything is dust and clods?”

If that doesn’t conjure up the greatness and bigness of our God Who holds us and this world in His hands – I can’t imagine what does. So, today, He reminds us that He is NOT unaware of what’s going on in our lives. He IS God, after all – Who created this world AND us.

I AM hearing the sound of water moving, fountains flowing, the sound of waterfalls. I feel those living waters – especially as I listen to our praises going up in our little sing-a-long that lifts my heart and soul. I can sense “everything’s gonna’ be alright.” I can sense God’s embrace and His holiness pervading me. Of course, our God is big enough to rule His mighty universe, but, He’s oh so small that He lives within our hearts and offering us to drink of Him and we’ll never be thirsty again. (John 4:14) Come enjoy these living waters. God is saying "This drink's on ME."

How Big is God?

"How big is God? How big and wide his vast domain.
To try and tell, these lips can only start.
He's big enough, to rule this mighty universe.
Yet small enough, to live within my heart."

Those are the words to an old song that asks that question, “How big is God?” God is GOD -- all knowing, all powerful, no beginning or ending. God sees the least little sparrow fall and He sees me when I fall. He has eyes EVERYWHERE – all the time. Psalm 121:4 says “He never slumbers or sleeps.” That scripture reminds me that I might as well get some shut-eye because there is just no point for both of us to stay awake.

Though we try to figure Him out and put Him in a box -- there's just not one big enough. I heard this story: "A man was trying to size up God and asked Him 'God, how long is a million years to you?' God replied 'A million years is like a second to me.' The man then asked 'How much is a million dollars to you?' God replied 'A million dollars is like a penny.' The man smiled and asked 'Could you spare a penny?' God smiled back and said, 'Sure, just wait a second.'

Out all of his "vast domain" and out of all His creation, we must be His favorites. Just think about it. God placed intellect, creativity and genius in us to come up with so many incredible inventions and discoveries. That shows He really did make us in His image to create, to never say “never”, to always say “It’s possible”, because the intricate working of our own minds is fashioned after our God Who made us.

We should never minimize the incredible beings that God made us to be. Psalm 8:6 says “God made man a little less than the angels and crowned us with “glory and honor”. The Psalmist also proclaimed in Psalm 8:5 that God is “mindful” of us. He keeps his eye on us, not because He is looking for mistakes or for us to fall, but because He takes delight in us. He enjoys seeing all that we can accomplish.

That sounds way too wonderful, especially when we consider our failures and limitations. We think “How can God rejoice in me? I have too many character flaws; I have too many problems; I’m nowhere near the kind of disciple I should be.” But that’s not how God sees us. He doesn’t look only at who we are right now; He sees who we can become. He sees the person He has created us to be: kind, loving, generous, humble, and faithful. And through his Holy Spirit, He has given us the ability to overcome any obstacle we may encounter.

THE GOD of the universe is our loving Father and He knows us by name. His arms are outstretched to us 24/7. I started this post with that old song and the last line sums up the greatness of our God. He's big enough to rule the mighty universe, yet small enough to live within our hearts.

Maybe it's time for you to become acquainted with YOUR indescribable, all powerful, unchangeable -- AMAZING God...for yourself. His ginormous arms are outstretched to you today.