Kanye's Thirst Was Quenched

I've been following the faith journey of Kanye West. I watched him respond to Joel Osteen’s questions at Houston’s Lakewood Church last Sunday morning before his Sunday night’s free, 3-hour gospel concert. Kanye’s responses to Joel’s questions, his lifestyle change, and the concert depict a very changed man. He is consistently giving testimony to his new life in Christ. He told ABC News “People are giving their life to God, He’s using me to point to Him. More are going to Him since I’ve been here -- more people from my generation and the next and the next generation. So it’s working." Thanks be to God!

A few days ago, Franklin Graham said: “Kanye is doing what he believes, even if there are skeptics and even though it goes against the liberal beliefs of most in the entertainment industry. Pray for Kanye. There will be many temptations.The devil will try to discourage, distract, and even destroy him. Pray that he will keep his eyes focused on Jesus, and that God would guide and protect him. God bless you, Kanye. We’re praying for you.”

Thanks, Franklin, for your heart for the lost…..and the found. You remind me of what a devoted follower of Christ looks like. Honestly, I didn’t pay too much attention to Kanye’s life, his lifestyle, his wife (Kim Kardashian), his rap music AND neither did I EVER pray for him! I just didn’t give him the time of day in my thoughts. I assumed he was a lost soul with morals and beliefs that were so far removed from being one of God’s children whose life could be redeemed and make it count for God. Shame on me. I should have been praying and believing for a miracle turnaround in his life.

It is the same with others who seem too far gone to ever see them changed. Why haven’t I prayed for those in the entertainment industry, in politics, in sports, those with high profiles who could have an “amazing grace” turnaround in their lives? We keep trying to convince others of what morality looks like, what the dignity of life looks like, what faith looks like, what being in “God’s camp” looks like, instead of displaying what God’s redeeming grace looks like. Dear Lord, I ask for your forgiveness. Instead of turning my back on those who don’t know you and who seem to be acting on behalf of the enemy of our souls, help me, by your grace and mercy, to have a tender heart to pray and believe for their souls.

In the Bible, is the story of a Samaritan woman at the well who had “issues”, too. She was thirsty and didn’t even know why. God placed the desire for something more in every one us. Until we meet Jesus, we fumble about trying to quench the God-given thirst with anything and anyone who offers temporary relief. But it’s just that … temporary. Jesus explained, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life” (John 4:13-14). This woman became so radical in her new faith, that she ran to town to tell everyone about her encounter. “Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in Him because of the woman's testimony" (John 4:39). I like to think that is what Kanye is doing too, and that is what we should be doing as well.

It is only in a relationship with Jesus that we discover what we’re all truly longing for. Jesus offers us what He offered her – what He offered Kanye – what He offers you and me: freely flowing, refreshing water from the indwelling Holy Spirit Who quenches every thirst, washes away every sin and flows into every nook and cranny of our beings. How can we keep it to ourselves?

The first photo here is of a cherished figurine of Jesus and the woman at the well, along with a water pot that signifies that I need to return to the well daily to fill up with His Living Water. Today, I’m honored to sit by the well and not only draw water for myself, but to pray for you and others who are thirsty and don’t even realize it yet. I pray today for us to be bearers of the water we drink and the water that we give to others through our prayers and belief that WHOEVER comes to this Living Water will never thirst again.

“Jesus said, ‘Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.’” John 7:37-38
I've been following the faith journey of Kanye West. I watched him respond to Joel Osteen’s questions at Houston’s Lakewood Church last Sunday morning before his Sunday night’s free, 3-hour gospel concert. Kanye’s responses to Joel’s questions, his lifestyle change, and the concert depict a very changed man. He is consistently giving testimony to his new life in Christ. He told ABC News “People are giving their life to God, He’s using me to point to Him. More are going to Him since I’ve been here -- more people from my generation and the next and the next generation. So it’s working." Thanks be to God!

A few days ago, Franklin Graham said: “Kanye is doing what he believes, even if there are sceptics and even though it goes against the liberal beliefs of most in the entertainment industry. Pray for Kanye. There will be many temptations.The devil will try to discourage, distract, and even destroy him. Pray that he will keep his eyes focused on Jesus, and that God would guide and protect him. God bless you, Kanye. We’re praying for you.”

Thanks, Franklin, for your heart for the lost…..and the found. You remind me of what a devoted follower of Christ looks like. Honestly, I didn’t pay too much attention to Kanye’s life, his lifestyle, his wife (Kim Kardashian), his rap music AND neither did I EVER pray for him! I just didn’t give him the time of day in my thoughts. I assumed he was a lost soul with morals and beliefs that were so far removed from being one of God’s children whose life could be redeemed and make it count for God. Shame on me. I should have been praying and believing for a miracle turnaround in his life.

It is the same with others who seem too far gone to ever see them changed. Why haven’t I prayed for those in the entertainment industry, in politics, in sports, those with high profiles who could have an “amazing grace” turnaround in their lives? We keep trying to convince others of what morality looks like, what the dignity of life looks like, what faith looks like, what being in “God’s camp” looks like, instead of displaying what God’s redeeming grace looks like. Dear Lord, I ask for your forgiveness. Instead of turning my back on those who don’t know you and who seem to be acting on behalf of the enemy of our souls, help me, by your grace and mercy, to have a tender heart to pray and believe for their souls.

In the Bible, is the story of a Samaritan woman at the well who had “issues”, too. She was thirsty and didn’t even know why. God placed the desire for something more in every one us. Until we meet Jesus, we fumble about trying to quench the God-given thirst with anything and anyone who offers temporary relief. But it’s just that … temporary. Jesus explained, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (John 4:13-14) This woman became so radical in her new faith, that she ran to town to tell everyone about her encounter. “Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in Him because of the woman's testimony." (John 4:39) I like to think that is what Kanye is doing too, and that is what we should be doing as well.

It is only in a relationship with Jesus that we discover what we’re all truly longing for. Jesus offers us what He offered her – what He offered Kanye – what He offers you and me: freely flowing, refreshing water from the indwelling Holy Spirit Who quenches every thirst, washes away every sin and flows into every nook and cranny of our beings. How can we keep it to ourselves?

The first photo here is of a cherished figurine of Jesus and the woman at the well, along with a water pot that signifies that I need to return to the well daily to fill up with His Living Water. Today, I’m honored to sit by the well and not only draw water for myself, but to pray for you and others who are thirsty and don’t even realize it yet. I pray today for us to be bearers of the water we drink and the water that we give to others through our prayers and belief that WHOEVER comes to this Living Water will never thirst again.

“Jesus said, ‘Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.’” John 7:37-38

Water for our Thirsty Souls

Bryson, my youngest grandson, and I were sitting on the deck overlooking the Sea of Cortez. We were talking about a tsunami and the devastation that it can cause. Then he asks me: "What is it that you can’t live without, but it can also kill you?” My “thinker” kicked in and I said: “WATER!” He pondered out loud: “Wonder what it feels like to be drowning?” Me: “Well, have you ever been stuck underwater and couldn’t get a breath?” Without hesitation, Bryson replies: “Oh, yes, it’s called brothers!”

Oh, that boy! The fact is water makes up about 70 percent of our body. It’s a crucial ingredient that helps our brain think, blood flow, and our muscles move. But what happens after we sweat through an aerobics class, spend a day at the beach, or simply ignore our thirst? Dehydration, and it's different for everyone. It depends on how much we’re exercising, the temperature around us, and how much we sweat, but it can get dangerous quick. Suddenly, I’m very thirsty. I just paused to get a bottle of water!

No matter if it comes from a bottle with a brand name or the faucet in our home or mountain spring, water can improve our physical health. But, it can't grant us peace and joy in this life, as well as eternal life. Jesus brought a whole new meaning to water – it is essential in the natural and it is essential in the spiritual. In John 4:5-42, Jesus meets a Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well. Referring to the actual well of Jacob, Jesus says “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again.” He was referring to every well, stream, lake and source of fresh liquid water. But to the woman and to you and me, Jesus tells us where the real, true fountain of “youth” (the joy and peace that spring up from within) and eternal life is, by saying, “Whoever drinks of the water that I shall give, you will never thirst. The water that I shall give will become a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.” Jesus calls the water that He gives living water.

Unlike bottled water at the convenience store, we can't just go and buy the living water of the Holy Spirit. Something more is required. That something is becoming clean and pure by the cleansing of the Holy Spirit. We put so much emphasis on keeping things clean in our homes. We wash everything: our clothes, dishes, hands, bodies, even our water. It’s not enough that it gets purified at the water treatment plant, it has to be filtered and purified again.

So, we ask, “Do I give as much attention to the cleansing and purification of my soul as I do with my body from germs?” Let's return to Jacob’s well for a moment – perhaps your well is represented by your church or a small group or even in your daily devotions – the places to go to encounter Christ and drink of the living water of the Holy Spirit. And most beautiful, are the waters of baptism that represents the old man and all his sins are washed away and a new man arises to abundant life in Christ here and for eternity.

Don’t be fooled, those cheap imitations in fancy brand-named bottles can quench a thirst in the heat, but nothing compares to drinking at the springs of living water that only Jesus can provide!

Isaiah 44:3 "For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants."

Are You Running on Empty -- Physically AND Spiritually?

At any given time, you’ll see me with my “must-have” 30 oz. Yeti mug with ice water in it. After a couple of physical issues and how they could have been averted by drinking more water, I now know the benefits of drinking water. Nutritionists say we should drink half our body weight in ounces every day. So a 135-pound person should be drinking 67 ounces of water each day. So, with my 30 oz. Yeti mug, I just need a little more than 2 mugs full. But, I drink a lot more than that. Now I’m programmed with a built-in “low-fluid indicator” and when I start to get a little thirsty, I know it’s time to fluid-up!

God wired us with this 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. When my granddaughter had a headache, I heard my daughter ask "How much water are you drinking?"

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

In John 4:13-14, Jesus said, “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.

A 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 recognize the difference. They’ll say “You’ve been hanging out at THE FOUNTAIN" again. How about taking me with you next time? I need my fluids refilled, too!”

Got Hunger? Get Filled!

Yesterday, I posted about the thirst for water AND God’s living water that will quench our thirst as we draw closer to Him. Today, it's hunger for natural food and the food of God’s Word and presence.

Our 13-day faith pilgrimage most certainly DIDN’T include a spiritual fast from food. We were literally filled with the finest food. We were well fed in each restaurant and hotel that we were in – as Psalm 81:16 says “But you would be fed with the finest of wheat; with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.” And we were, including the honeycomb we were served while in Jerusalem (shown here).

At the Mount of Temptation (hot and dry desert), we not only saw where Jesus was tempted by the enemy and we related only somewhat to His thirst, but most certainly not his hunger because we had been fed so well. We heard Jesus' response to the enemy: "It is written: 'Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.' Matt 4:4

Indeed, “Man shall not live by bread alone because our Father has prepared a banquet for us -- a feast of His presence, but we won’t have the appetite for it if we’re satisfied with something or someone else. The desire Jesus was referring to is for Him, and it's not reserved for only a few over-the-top passionate believers, but for all of us.

Psalm 107:9 tells us that God "satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things", but there’s a requirement before satisfaction comes -- we must be thirsty and hungry.

When we are spiritually hungry, we naturally desire the richness of spending time with God -- praying, attending Bible and prayer meetings, listening to teaching tapes, reading books on spiritual topics, attending conferences and retreats because days are filled with pursuing God and feeding on Him.

Don’t we wish it stayed that way? But life happens. Marriage, careers and children happen. Distractions happen. Lots of distractions like anxiety, fear, discontentment, and over-commitment keep us from that sweet intimacy that we may only find in hungering for God.

Jesus always has a table set before us of His presence, yet because we’ve been snacking on lots of other things, we aren’t hungry for Him. We try to satisfy ourselves, instead of having an insatiable hunger that can only be satisfied by fellowship with our Lord.

Matthew 34:8 says “Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him.” Honestly, "tasting" has become the motivating force in my life. I long to know Him more, and the more I crave Him like I did for certain foods when I was expecting my babies, the more I receive assurances from heaven that remind me I am feasting on Him.

While on the Mount of the Beatitudes, we heard Christ’s words from Matthew 5:6 “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness:for they shall be filled.” Lord, please make us as hungry and thirsty for You and Your presence, as we are for the best meal and drink at a 5-star restaurant! Only you can satisfy the hunger and thirst that satisfies our souls!

Got Thirst? Get Quenched!

God wired us for thirst b

y giving us a “low-fluid indicator”. If our fluid level is low, the signals will flare -- dry mouth, achy head, weak knees, unclear thinking, even fainting. Just before my Holy Lands trip, I was having some really bad neck and back issues, so I went to the chiropractor to give me a tune-up before departure. His first question was: "How much water are you drinking?" He caught me. I hadn't been focusing on my water intake, and my body was reacting to the low fluid intake.

If we deprive our bodies of fluid, our bodies will tell us. I certainly felt that low-fluid indicator a few days ago when we were in the deserts of Israel – incredibly dry and scorching hot. In fact, I heard that some of our pilgrims got blisters on the bottom of their feet just from walking on the hot mud between taking off their shoes and walking to the Dead Sea waters. And the Dead Sea certainly doesn’t provide the opportunity to have your thirst quenched – it is the saltiest water you’ve ever tasted. That speaks volumes for my Mom’s antidote to a sore throat “Take some warm salted water and gargle!” A sore throat wouldn’t stand a chance of survival in that Dead Sea water!!

I knew this would happen to me after having been where Jesus walked and traveled and ministered. I had to look at a map for today's post! Remember the Samaritan woman that Jesus met at the well? Remember His words to her in John 4:14 "Whoever drinks this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life."

Here's what I discovered about the location of Sychar (where the well was located) compared to our travels. The road from Jerusalem to Galilee lays through Samaria, but Jews often went around to avoid the Samaritans. (Cool map HERE of the route around. It’s a long way just to avoid people you don’t like!!). BUT, our loving Lord went this way because the Samaritans needed to hear him. He could have gone around but didn’t. Sychar was ancient Shechem and was the capital of Samaria. This is where Abram first came when he arrived into Canaan from Babylonia. (Genesis 12:6)

Jesus was tired after a long day of walking. Jesus was fully human and fully God and as fully human, experienced the same things we do. The sixth hour would have been around noon–the hottest part of the day. (My fellow pilgrims -- remember how hot it was at the Jordan River and the Dead Sea? Can you imagine how thirsty Jesus was there in Sychar?)

The woman at the well was unusual. Mostly women came together during the early part of the day for water for the day. Maybe she ran out of water or had a sudden need or maybe she was an outcast. Like a bar today, the well was a gathering place, a place to exchange news and gossip. It was also a place where prostitutes hung out. A Rabbi never spoke to women in public, not even their own wives or daughters. Some even closed their eyes when passing a woman on the street. Furthermore, Jews never asked favors from Samaritans. Jesus was breaking all the rules -- and showing us ALL how to live.

Also, Jews believed they would become ceremonially unclean if they used a drinking vessel handled by a Samaritan since they held the belief all Samaritans were unclean.

Jesus made a simple request to the woman....water. He makes a simple request of us....faith. Jesus often speaks to us similarly: “If you knew….” on a quest to draw us closer to him, to investigate more, to pray more. If we deprive our souls of spiritual water, our souls will give us low spiritual fluid indication. We’ll know we're low if we're not taking in the "living water" that Jesus offers us. The indicators of "spiritual thirst" might be, if we’re heavy hearted, sad, weary, depressed, edgy, poor decisions being made, frazzled nerves, quick to speak words of anger or unbelief. When those warning signs are indicated on our spiritual fluid indicator" -- it's time to "replenish and re-fluid" from God's "living waters" fountain of hope, love, joy, peace, and wisdom -- always the place to go to for refreshment -- it's a fountain that NEVER runs dry!

Psalm 42:1 "As the deer pants for the waters, so my soul longs after You, oh God!"

I’m really thirsty right now. It's time to fill up on those springs of living water that will never run dry! Come on in -- join me -- the water is fine!

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.

How Salty Are You?

Today, Tuesday, our missions team will be attending schools, feeding meals, seeing precious children who once lived in a trash dump, now with hope for their future because of loving and caring people who "salted" their world.

How "salty" are you? Salt has three qualities: it creates thirst. What if we lived our lives in a way that we made people thirsty for what we have.

It adds flavor – we are not called to be boring, do-nothings. We are called to be full of life…..with faith and excitement for what each day holds for us.

And, salt works as a preservative against decay. What if our lives were so on purpose and lived by the “WWJD -- What Would Jesus Do?” philosophy, influencing others with our optimism, clean living, and great attitudes that they would choose to live like that also?

And, lastly, for salt to be accomplishing all of these things, it must come out of the shaker or box – it does nothing unless it is commingled with the dish it is to season.
Let’s get out of our shakers and quench the thirst, be flavorful and provide ourselves as a preservative in our world. "You are the salt of the earth....." Matthew 5:13

God Wired Us For Thirst

God wired us for thirst – a “low-fluid indicator.” If our fluid level is low, the signals will flare -- dry mouth, achy head, weak knees, unclear thinking, even fainting.. If we deprive our bodies of fluid, our bodies will tell us.

In the same way, if we deprive our souls of spiritual water, our souls will tell us: heavy hearted, sad, weary, depressed, edgy, poor decisions being made, frazzled nerves, quick to speak words of anger or unbelief. When those warning signs are indicated on our "fluid indicator" -- it's time to "replenish and re-fluid" from God's fountain of love, joy, peace, wisdom, and understanding -- always the place to go to for refreshment -- it's a fountain that NEVER runs dry!

What "Seasoning" Are You?

If you or I were a "seasoning" -- how would we "flavor" our relationships with others. Are we cranky and grumpy, and have a tendency of bringing a sour pucker to the atmosphere? Are we capable of outbursts of anger or blowing our tops off with a "flavor" of "hot peppery alarm"? Or does our flavor bring a gentle "ahhh", with a refreshing burst of flavor? Are we joyful, full of life and vitality, or are we bland -- boring, life-less, pitiful, ho-hum in our "flavor" -- you know, the story of Jesus sharing about the salt that lost its flavor....is good for nothing? Wow -- that's makes me want to get saltier and spicier so that I'm a "seasoning" for God to pour out -- to bring thirst and desire for Him and His love that comes from me! Do we represent a sweet, delectable taste, that causes others to want for more of who we are because of Him?

May we be the "seasoning" that is so tasty that it creates a desire for the joy, peace, and love that emanates from our attitude, character, and actions