Don’t Go To Bed Dirty

One night recently, the water service to some of our rental property was interrupted. Two voicemail messages, one personal visit and another phone call later, the unhappy tenants wanted their water back immediately even though it was 10:00 pm and pitch dark. After relating to them that it would be tomorrow morning before we could assess the problem, these individuals told me of their urgent need for water. It was not to alleviate thirst or hunger, they simply wanted to take a shower. After declining the offer to use my bathroom facilities, they resigned themselves to go to bed dirty this one time.

Oh that we would crave spiritual cleansing from sin the way we desire physical cleanliness. It's almost unthinkable that we would have to go to bed carrying on our bodies the day's dirt, grime and odor when water for washing is so readily available. However, we are perfectly satisfied to retire for the night bearing rotten, stinking sins in our hearts. Our Savior was crucified and His innocent blood was shed so that we might be cleansed from all sin and unrighteousness. His forgiveness and purification is just a prayer away.....

Father, instill in us the daily need for the cleansing power of Your Son's blood. Make us miserable with the dirt and grime of sin so that we would never go to bed dirty.

Lisa Barnes

Love for One Another

John 13:34-35 - "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."

Wanted to put a great scripture on my facebook status page this morning and the one above was on the forefront of my mind. These are the words of Jesus! Notice this is a commandment not a suggestion. We are commanded to love one another as HE loved us. He then goes on to tell us that by this Love ALL men will KNOW that we are His disciples "if.....we have love for one another."

How did Jesus love us? Well, go back to the Word of God, walk with Jesus through the pages of the New Testament. He loved without an agenda or a wrong motive. He loved unconditionally. He loved without partiality. He loved those hard to love. He loved those easy to love. He loved those closest to Him but also loved those who were not in His intimate circle. He didn't love out of a sense of "what will I get" or "what will they do for me. His love was pure, undefiled, impartial and Holy. His love was selfless, sacrificial, saving, sanctifying, supernatural and secure.

So, can others look at our lives and tell we are His disciples because of the love we have for one another?

Renee

A Lesson I Learned About God from My Dog.

A few mornings ago, I was sitting on the couch, praying and spending time in the word. I looked over at the carpet and there was a pile of white stuffing out of one of Gracie’s toys. She loves to pull the stuffing out of every toy in order to get to the squeaker. I really paid little attention to that mess until my husband walked into the room. He was annoyed and said, “I just vacuumed the carpet last night and now there is another mess.” (He hates the stuffing out of toys.) As soon as he said it, I responded without thought, “God’s mercies are new every morning.” It was a light bulb moment. Then I smiled as I got it.

Every day I make a mess, but because God loves me and “His compassions never fail, and they are new every morning”, (Lam.3:22-23) He cleans up my mess.

Thank you Lord that you are patient with me and you still are willing to clean up my messes.

Walking by faith,
Jane Wolfe

Are You a Christian?

This was the question I was asked as I sat at the ticket table at the recital this weekend. My response was, "Yes!" The woman who stood before me said, "Then I can trust you..."and she then went on to explain what she needed from me.

As I pondered this encounter, I thought about how much better life would be if we all could simply ask someone, "Are you a Christian?"and that answer would unequivocally determine whether or not that person was trustworthy.

Frederick Nietzsche said, "I might believe in the Redeemer if His followers looked more redeemed." So I ask you, Are you a Christian?

Janette

EMPTY WELLS

Empty Wells
John 4:5-26

What empty wells are you drinking from?

The woman we know as “the woman at the well” knew what it was like to drink from empty wells! She had tried to satisfy her thirst through her relationships w/men, several marriages, her religion, her daily rituals and routines, only to come up EMPTY! Most women came to the well in the cool of the day. It was a place of sharing and community. This woman came to the well in the heat of the day, when no other women were there. She didn’t want anyone to cast judgment on her for she was living with a man who was not her husband and had been divorced several times. Can you Imagine how worthless, unlovable and well, empty she must have felt? On this particular day she would meet someone who would change her life forever!

One day, a day like any other day, she came to the well carrying her water pot. She was alone with no one to talk or share the latest news with. As she began to draw up the water from the well, she heard a man say, “Give me a drink“. She was astonished at this! After all, he was a man and on top of that a Jew! It was not the custom in that time for a man to speak to a woman that was alone. Now here is a Jewish man asking her, a Samaritan woman, for a drink of water! That man was none other than Jesus Christ, the Messiah! He didn't come to judge her or condemn her. Earlier in the passage we are told that Jesus “must” go through Samaria. He had a divine appointment with a certain Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well. Now was her appointed time to receive the gift of salvation, to drink from the Living Water!

She had come to the well for one purpose to draw enough water to get by on for a day or so. She never dreamed that today would be the day God would draw her to himself through His Son Jesus Christ. She came carrying her empty water pot, but once she met Jesus Christ, her life was transformed. Scripture tells us that she left her water pot and ran to tell everyone about her encounter with the Christ. You see, her water pot represented her old life. An empty, thirsty, void of purpose, love, acceptance, security and satisfaction life. After her encounter with the Living Water of Jesus Christ her heart was filled, no longer empty, no longer did she hang her head in shame. She had drunk deep from the well of Life.

How about you? What empty wells are you drinking from? Will you leave your water pot and come and drink deep from the well of LIFE in Christ Jesus?

"But whoever drinks from 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."