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."

Let’s Meet Him at the Well

Every morning, I’m up and at ‘em by 5:30 am to look over the text of my blog one more time before I hit the “post” button. Not long after that, I send my morning “I love you” text messages to my children. I’m like clock-work with my daily deliveries – on FB, my blogger page and those text messages. I always feel like I’m “reporting for duty” each morning. And, then, it’s checking in with Heaven Central as, while it’s still dark outside, I make a cup of flavored coffee, settle into my favorite chair and, now, for the last few chilly mornings – put on my fireplace. I grab my lightweight blanket and reach for my journal and devotional. It’s my morning ritual -- my time with Him. Our time to be together.

I get to be with Jesus. What will He show me today? How will today’s walk and talk with Him affect me and those I’ve been called to encourage? I don’t want to miss a single thing in God’s Word that could make a significant difference in my day. I don’t want the distractions of the clock or my cell phone or the weight of daily assignments to pull my thoughts away from His. I’ve come to meet with Jesus -- to gather with Him for a momentary time at the “well” to take in His “living water”. It’s the same “living water” that He gave to the Samaritan woman. (John 4:4–42) That water He offered her would cause her to never thirst again. I also meet Him at the "well", and each day I am filled with joy, peace, comfort, hope, and strength. Then, like the Samaritan woman, I go and tell via my daily posts. I share with others about this Man Who not only promised her and me that He would be our everything, He also said "I am that living water. I am that Spirit. that Truth, that Way, that Life.” “Many Samaritans from that city believed in Him because of the woman's testimony.

This is the Jesus that prompts me each morning to share His Good News. I like to think that I’m like that Samaritan woman as I pass along His “living water” to others, too. In those priceless moments that Jesus had with the Samaritan woman at the town well where she came to draw water, Jesus opened her eyes and heart to a love as she had never known before. She had a revelation of Jesus – the one who ignited a fire in her soul to go tell the townspeople about Jesus. In our special moments with God, let’s ask Him to open our hearts so wide that we long to know His love like we've never known before. Let’s yearn for a deeper understanding of His character. Let’s wake up every day saying, “Good Morning Jesus,” and embrace the desire to spend time with Him, discovering His truths, and rejoicing in His promises.

And in those quiet moments as we read through the pages of our Bible, may we pray that our eyes are opened to see Him more clearly and hear Him more distinctly. And when He does, let’s respond with a wellspring of joy and gratitude that will cause us to "go and tell" about this Man who quenched our thirst and made our spirits soar!

Checked Your Fluid Level Lately?

Day 162 of Photo Inspirations -- Checked Your Fluid Level Lately?
God wired us with a built in “low-fluid indicator.”  It's called THIRST.  If the fluid level gets low, the signals will flare.  Dry mouth. Achy head. Weak knees.  Dizziness.     If we deprive our bodies of fluid, our bodies will tell us.

God also wired us with a built in "low-spiritual fluid indicator".  If we deprive our souls of spiritual water, the signals will flare.  Heavy hearted, sad, weary, depressed, grumpy, fearful, anxious, envious, moody, angry. If we deprive ourselves of spiritual fluid, our souls will tell us.

In John 4:13-14, Jesus says, “Anyone who drinks this (natural) water will soon become thirsty again. But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life."

Jesus offers living water that will permanently satisfy our thirst.  If we feel unsatisfied with our lives, that’s called spiritual thirst. And the only One who can quench that thirst is the One who said, “I thirst.” Jesus thirsted on the cross so we don’t have to thirst. He paid for what we don’t have to pay for. He became thirsty so we never have to be thirsty again.

It's time to go to THAT FOUNTAIN that never runs dry.  It's time to "hang out" at THAT FOUNTAIN -- there, we'll  be refreshed, restored, rejuvenated and replenished......and not only will we know and feel the difference....others will know that we've been "hanging out at THE FOUNTAIN" again, and they'll want us to take them with us to get their "fluids" refilled, too.