Showing posts with label water. Show all posts
Showing posts with label water. Show all posts
Thursday, November 1, 2012
When You Pass Through the Waters
But now, this is what the Lord says—
he who created you, Jacob,
he who formed you, Israel:
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.
For I am the Lord your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;
I give Egypt for your ransom,
Cush and Seba in your stead"
(Isaiah 43:1-3)
As I watched coverage of the devastation left in the wake of hurricane Sandy, these verses continually came to mind. I imagine, in part because of the literal references to water and fire - which were witnessed again and again.
These verses speak not only to the present, though. Rather they are intended to remind God's people that they have survived to this point because of His love and protection, His care and concern. He promises to continue that care and concern into the future -- in spite of what lies ahead.
I can't imagine what it's like to lose everything in a fire or to watch my house crumble or float away before my eyes. I was brought to tears many times, and was unable to wrap my mind around the devastation of the storm!
But I have had trials and struggles. God has brought me through each one to a conclusion of His chosing, His design, His plan. No I haven't literally lost all my worldy possessions. But I have had to give up dreams, struggle with life's battles, deal with the world and all it throws at me. On a personal level, it kind of sounds like whining, I guess, compared to what those in the path of the hurricane are dealing with right now.
My point is, that God doesn't just love and protect His people collectively, but also each of us, individually. When we walk through the waters of fear or doubt, or venture through the fire of sin or shame, God surrounds us and protects us - so that we can come out on the other side, renewed and reformed.
So many lives devastated! I pray for each of them and pray God blesses them, touching them with His grace and comfort through the days ahead. And that I remember them and their struggles, when I begin to feel burdened with my life situations.
Blessings on your journey,
Mary
Monday, September 27, 2010
Scuttlebutt, Refreshment and Gossip .
According to ezines@arcamax.com: scuttlebutt (noun) - 1 : A drinking fountain on a ship. 2 : A cask on a ship that contains the day's supply of drinking water. 3 : Gossip; rumor. Scuttlebutt comes from scuttle, "a small opening" + butt, "a large cask" -- that is, a small hole cut into a cask or barrel to allow individual cups of water to be drawn out. The modern equivalent is the office water cooler, also a source of refreshment and gossip.
The soldiers therefore came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with Jesus, and then those of the other. But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus' side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water. [John 19-32-34]
who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ [1 Peter 3:21-22]
I know . . . scuttlebutt doesn’t seem an appropriate word to be included in a devotional! I hope I’ll be able to explain how this devotion developed. I slept in this morning and did not have my full time before work to sip coffee, pray, check email and go through my normal morning routine. I did, however, intentionally save the daily “word a day” email I received when I read what the word was. I get it: you’re not satisfied with my explanation yet!
What occurred to me this morning is how fascinating words are—and how important. The origin of words has always been of great interest to me; I assume it is part of my crazy compulsion as a writer. Water. It’s just a word. Refreshment is certainly a word one would commonly associate with water. Gossip? Well, it might be a stretch to associate the two words, unless you do think of the office water cooler example.
In ancient times the equivalent of the water cooler was a town well or nearby stream or river. Women walked together to the town well or stream every day to draw water into jugs to carry home for cooking and cleaning. As they walked, they also took advantage of the opportunity to get caught up on all the gossip, or to start some of their own.
Water also calls to mind floods. Noah’s Ark comes to mind as well. John baptized Jesus with water in the Jordan River. Jesus used water to wash the feet of His disciples. Water-mingled blood poured out of the dead body of Christ on the Cross.
Scuttlebutt is what we are interested in and participate in when we live of the world. We are “of” the world when the day to day activities of “famous” people becomes an obsession, when we watch the predicted course of the latest hurricane and begin to think that surely God intends to end the world again with water—in spite of His promise. Scuttlebutt is what was used to “legally” crucify Christ. Scuttlebutt goes on everyday in church congregations, in schools and offices, in warehouses and executive suites. Scuttlebutt is what distracts us from what is important in and to our lives.
When we live in the world and not of the world, we seek the refreshment of the Living Water. When we live in the world and not of the world, we thirst for the water Christ offered the Samaritan woman at the well the water that springs up into eternal life. In the world we often feel drenched and soaked through with the cares and worries of the world. We also remember that Peter began to sink in the lake when He took his eyes of Jesus.
When we live in the world and not of the world, we know that even when we feel we’re going under for the last time, when we’ve breathed out our last breath before drifting soundlessly to the bottom of the sea, Jesus will reach out to save us. He is to be our focus and our foundation.
On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified. [John 7:37-39]
My prayer today is that you remember He is the Living Water that springs up in us to eternal life. And that you come to Him and drink.
Blessings on your journey,
Mary
This was originally posted at my first blog, Worship for the Weekday, Friday, 9/12/08
The soldiers therefore came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with Jesus, and then those of the other. But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus' side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water. [John 19-32-34]
who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ [1 Peter 3:21-22]
I know . . . scuttlebutt doesn’t seem an appropriate word to be included in a devotional! I hope I’ll be able to explain how this devotion developed. I slept in this morning and did not have my full time before work to sip coffee, pray, check email and go through my normal morning routine. I did, however, intentionally save the daily “word a day” email I received when I read what the word was. I get it: you’re not satisfied with my explanation yet!
What occurred to me this morning is how fascinating words are—and how important. The origin of words has always been of great interest to me; I assume it is part of my crazy compulsion as a writer. Water. It’s just a word. Refreshment is certainly a word one would commonly associate with water. Gossip? Well, it might be a stretch to associate the two words, unless you do think of the office water cooler example.
In ancient times the equivalent of the water cooler was a town well or nearby stream or river. Women walked together to the town well or stream every day to draw water into jugs to carry home for cooking and cleaning. As they walked, they also took advantage of the opportunity to get caught up on all the gossip, or to start some of their own.
Water also calls to mind floods. Noah’s Ark comes to mind as well. John baptized Jesus with water in the Jordan River. Jesus used water to wash the feet of His disciples. Water-mingled blood poured out of the dead body of Christ on the Cross.
Scuttlebutt is what we are interested in and participate in when we live of the world. We are “of” the world when the day to day activities of “famous” people becomes an obsession, when we watch the predicted course of the latest hurricane and begin to think that surely God intends to end the world again with water—in spite of His promise. Scuttlebutt is what was used to “legally” crucify Christ. Scuttlebutt goes on everyday in church congregations, in schools and offices, in warehouses and executive suites. Scuttlebutt is what distracts us from what is important in and to our lives.
When we live in the world and not of the world, we seek the refreshment of the Living Water. When we live in the world and not of the world, we thirst for the water Christ offered the Samaritan woman at the well the water that springs up into eternal life. In the world we often feel drenched and soaked through with the cares and worries of the world. We also remember that Peter began to sink in the lake when He took his eyes of Jesus.
When we live in the world and not of the world, we know that even when we feel we’re going under for the last time, when we’ve breathed out our last breath before drifting soundlessly to the bottom of the sea, Jesus will reach out to save us. He is to be our focus and our foundation.
On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified. [John 7:37-39]
My prayer today is that you remember He is the Living Water that springs up in us to eternal life. And that you come to Him and drink.
Blessings on your journey,
Mary
This was originally posted at my first blog, Worship for the Weekday, Friday, 9/12/08
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Where is your faith?
"One day he got into a boat with his disciples, and he said to them, "Let us go across to the other side of the lake." So they set out, and as they sailed he fell asleep. And a storm of wind came down on the lake, and they were filling with water, and were in danger. And they went and woke him, saying, "Master, Master, we are perishing!" And he awoke and rebuked the wind and the raging waves; and they ceased, and there was a calm. He said to them, "Where is your faith?" And they were afraid, and they marveled, saying to one another, "Who then is this, that he commands even wind and water, and they obey him?" (Luke 8:22-25 NRSV)
Is this a familiar scenario for you? I don’t mean being caught in a sudden storm in a boat! Well . . . maybe I do! I must say I find myself calling out to the Master in times of trouble. Those are the times I ask, “Why haven’t you allowed things to go the way I planned?” And much worse! And when something marvelous occurs, I marvel at God!
Oh, my . . . what a silly thing it is to confine God and reduce Him down to human dimensions. But we may have some consolation in that the apostles lived with Jesus - they had seen him perform miracles -- healings, driving out demons, and many other amazing acts. And they didn’t “get it” either! In fairness we often don’t see what is right in front of us. But what is the message here for us?
For me this passage speaks about how my faith falters when I find myself in a situation that is not going the way I think it should. Or when something happens that I don’t think is fair. Or when I’m tired and beaten down by the world. I’m good on an average day! I can profess my faith all day long and go into overdrive as long as everything is “going my way!” It’s the other times that I must admit I am challenged to keep my faith foremost in my mind and heart.
It is in the difficult times in our lives that our faith is tested. It is when we feel the farthest from God that we are challenged to look up--toward the Cross. It is when we want to take charge and force a point that we begin to act and think in a way that is the polar opposite of the faith we otherwise profess. Jesus asks, “Where is your faith?” The way in which we answer speaks volumes.
My prayer today is that you cling fast to your faith.
Blessings on your journey,
Mary
Is this a familiar scenario for you? I don’t mean being caught in a sudden storm in a boat! Well . . . maybe I do! I must say I find myself calling out to the Master in times of trouble. Those are the times I ask, “Why haven’t you allowed things to go the way I planned?” And much worse! And when something marvelous occurs, I marvel at God!
Oh, my . . . what a silly thing it is to confine God and reduce Him down to human dimensions. But we may have some consolation in that the apostles lived with Jesus - they had seen him perform miracles -- healings, driving out demons, and many other amazing acts. And they didn’t “get it” either! In fairness we often don’t see what is right in front of us. But what is the message here for us?
For me this passage speaks about how my faith falters when I find myself in a situation that is not going the way I think it should. Or when something happens that I don’t think is fair. Or when I’m tired and beaten down by the world. I’m good on an average day! I can profess my faith all day long and go into overdrive as long as everything is “going my way!” It’s the other times that I must admit I am challenged to keep my faith foremost in my mind and heart.
It is in the difficult times in our lives that our faith is tested. It is when we feel the farthest from God that we are challenged to look up--toward the Cross. It is when we want to take charge and force a point that we begin to act and think in a way that is the polar opposite of the faith we otherwise profess. Jesus asks, “Where is your faith?” The way in which we answer speaks volumes.
My prayer today is that you cling fast to your faith.
Blessings on your journey,
Mary
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