hydration

"Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, 'Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water" (John 7:38).

We need to be constantly hydrated with the Word of God. It is our choice to drink... for the Lord's cup is always overflowing for us... and He desires that our cup remains in constant overflow as well. He is the living water, not just physical, tangible water... living water! He wants us to come to Him for refreshment. When we start to fall away, we become dehydrated... weak... etc.

Anything that has been hydrated contains water. And, anything with a lack of water becomes dehydrated. If you think of this in terms of intimacy with the Lord... it is actually a serious matter. We need to be one with the living water and remain hydrated. God is always raining down His love on us, so there is always opportunity for refreshment.

jonah

There is a song called by Ian McIntosh called Fully Loved... and I just cannot stop listening to it. The title is pretty literal... we are fully loved by God. I pray this is encouraging and that you have a renewed sense of God's love for you.

I recently read through Jonah in the Bible, and honestly, I think it is the first time I have ever read the book. Most people have heard the "story" of Jonah enough times... maybe even too many. But, do we read and discover the historical event for ourselves, in God's word? I think this applies to many Bible stories. We just hear the story and think we know everything, but scripture is so much more than words... or stories for this matter. The Creator of the Universe wants each of us to receive revelation through these powerful, dynamic historic events.

"But the Lord hurled a great wind upon the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship threatened to break up. Then the mariners were afraid, and each cried out to his God. And they hurled cargo that was in the ship into the sea to lighten it for them" (Jonah 1:4-5).

In the midst of Jonah's disobedience, the Lord sends a great storm to the seas. Jonah's disobedience to the Lord not only affected him, but everyone else aboard the ship, not to mention the other ships on the sea at that time. So naturally, in the midst of catastrophe each mariner tries to gain comfort, or resolve the situation by crying out to their own gods. Even today, we cry to false gods for comfort... we cling to idols for artificial love. We think that money will make things better... or music, or sex, etc. God is the only giver or TRUE satisfaction, love, truth, peace. In the midst of struggle we should cling to Him. And, when we are walking in disobedience, we have to repent... we have to totally resolve the situation. The mariners thought the ship would ride the waves a little better if it was a bit lighter... so they tossed over the cargo, in hope of peace.

We try to deal with struggle the same way the mariners did... as Jonah did... thinking that partial resolution will ease the pain. But until we come to the point of total repentance... and we stop beating around the bush, the storm only gets worse. Cry out to the God of the Universe for refuge, and don't think that the many temporary gods or idols of this world will better the situation.

"So they picked up Jonah and hurled him into the sea, and the sea ceased its raging. Then the men feared the Lord exceedingly, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lords and made vows" (Jonah 1:15-16). I think this is so true... others realized the faithfulness of God and repent and give their life to him. God even used this situation to redeem the souls of the mariners.

living flame of love, come baptize us

Last week I just started my second school at YWAM Tyler... School Of Evangelism. It is so great to be back here, and I am especially happy to be with my friends again. Mostly, though, I just want to continue to commit myself to God's plan for my life, and become a humble God fearing man. SOE is basically a continuation of Discipleship Training School, but unlike DTS, SOE is not so much focused on myself. SOE is focused on making God known throughout the earth. To see His kingdom come and His will be done on earth as it is in heaven. In July, I will leave for Romania for the outreach portion of SOE. I am so excited... I just cannot wait! I will need $2800, so if you feel led to support me... I would greatly appreciate it. It is so much more than giving someone your money, but rather a way to benefit the kingdom of the Lord. Please pray for me... financially and spiritually: that my fear of the Lord, and boldness in His name would increase. I desire to be more intimate than I can imagine, with the Lord.

"Now John wore a garment of camel's hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan were going out to him, and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins." (Matthew 3:4-6) It seems as though John the Baptist was a wild man, as illustrated in this passage. But despite his seemingly unusual lifestyle... PEOPLE CAME TO HIM FOR BAPTISM... ALL of Jerusalem, Judea and the region of the Jordan were going to be baptized by him. And amidst all of this "attention"... John still cries out in the wilderness, "Prepare the way of the Lord; make His paths straight." (Matthew 3:3) That is his desire, his only reason for baptizing... for living. It should be our cry, too... even to the wilderness.

"Prepare the way of the Lord; make His paths straight."