A couple of weeks ago my little brother was in town from Seattle. He had never seen our new house so when he walked in, he looked around and told me how much he liked our house. As he sat at my kitchen table looking out at the living room, he said "You need a picture on that wall. The couch looks too alone." Annoyed by his comment that I knew to be true, I quickly said "Yeah I know. We have been in this house for eight months and I still don't have anything for that wall. Do you want to buy something for me?" I could tell by the look on my husband's face that he hated the fact that my brother brought it up. It's all I have talked about since we've lived here. "Babe, I want to buy some stuff for our house. When are we ever going to have the money to buy stuff? I want to decorate!" After my brother's comment, the wall really began to bother me. I began to brainstorm and try to figure out how on earth I could get something for that wall. A trip to Kirklands or Hobby Lobby could solve it! But quickly I remind myself that any extra money we have needs to go towards something else. So the other day while I was folding clothes on the couch, I looked at the wall and felt bothered once again by it's bareness. In a spirit of hope I prayed to myself, "Lord, when you are ready for something to be on that wall, you will provide." And at that moment, I released the wall. I can't wait to see what ends up there, I know it will be something significant for sure. The empty space is going to have to be filled with something that will make my living room all come together.
As I read John 4, I am reminded of how much God has filled the empty space in my life. I have been saved for a long time but it wasn't until about eight months ago that I really began to make God's Word a DAILY priority. Before that I wasn't consistent or I was too busy filling it with other things. So many things God has given me spiritual eyes to see and supernatural strength to change. I have had a hard time trying to fathom how much God loves me. It was hard for me to accept the living water. My hunger and thirst for Him is strong. I crave Him to show me truth. When I praise Him in song, I can tell that the words are truly coming from within, they are no longer just words. I long for my nourishment to come from the Lord and doing His will.His Word has taught me that He can heal. His Word has taught me that He can restore, protect, provide, and save. Reading His Word has truly changed my entire life. It has filled the empty spaces with the most beautiful things. Instead of being empty, I am full. Full of peace, full of grace, full of forgiveness. It's not easy all the time but the more time I spend in the Word, the more I learn to quickly run to Him. For I can ALWAYS find refuge in Him.
Thank you Jesus for your Word! May I worship you in spirit and in truth!
12 comments:
This is totally awesome. I am once again up late... I didn't get to call you back but will tomorrow k? Good time ? You will have 6 kids :0)
Bless your heart! 6 kids! Mercy, I don't think I could do that, not and have live kids and my sanity afterwards, LOL. :-) You're a true friend, Amanda. :)
I read John 3 and 4. :)
I had a total of 4 kid's in Feb. Two of my own ages 1 and 2 1/2, and two of whom's parents went to Hawaii. They were 2 and 6. It was a challange. We made it through. I can't say any encouraging words because I feel that I failed the test pretty bad with those kids and my pride. I just tried and tried to look good to the world around me. I look back and found that I was playing myter again. I keep doing that. Dhoo! Oh, well, the first thing to do is to recognize your faults and then work on them.
To the study. I am encouraged that GOD is telling me there is consistancy in the Bible. I had read some things in chapter 3 and questioned them now they are answered.
On my response to GOD.
Thank YOU LORD for saving my soul,
Thank YOU LORD for making me whole,
Thank YOU LORD for giving to me
THY great salvation so rich and free
I want to Praise HIM for HIS persistance in getting to know us and in us getting to know HIM. Yes, HE wants to know us. HE wants us to open our hearts, and our lives to HIM.
I love that we have the Gospels to have an account of the life of our SAVIOUR. It is lovely to follow HIS ministry. JESUS had a mission. Not only to die for our sins, but also to live and teach. I truely feel I am reading a Love Letter from my LORD.
I will be praying for your time with the kids. That your own have their emtional needs met and that this will be an expierence to remember for a lifetime how you ministered to the children. You can change a life for the better during this time.
Love ya. Smile and stay positive. There is power in your words, so don't voice any negative thoughts. Satan would love to have tension, stress, and negativity enter this time. I found myself saying, "You guys are driving me crazy." Guess what I developed a twitch in my right eye before it was over and now am trying to deny its power to twitch when I am overwhelmed.
He's telling me that His Word contains ALL the answers. Where there is confusion it is brought to light in the Word. I loved verse 2 and how it spoke directly to a question someone had yesterday. Jesus did not baptize but his disciples. He reaffirmed the answers are there...keep reading. A mentor mentioned last night about a teaching from Jan Johnson, "you want to get to know our savior? Read HIS gospels. Read them in their entirity. Over and over completely." That is what we are doing ladies. We are reading his gospel, getting to know Him. It excites me.
My favorite verse from chapter 4 is verses 23-24: 23Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth."
Oh Lord let me worship you with my whole being. My whole heart. My spirit rejoices. Continue to show me your truth. Thank you for the transformation of my heart that allows me to worship you. I love you Lord.
What God is teaching me:
39Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman's testimony...41And because of his words many more became believers.
I need to continue to witness to the people around me, I need to be a light for Jesus. Your word will not come back void.
What will be my response:
Lord, I will continue to pray for the lost people that I know. Lord, please open the doors for me to witness about your Son, Jesus, and the amazing freedom, life, and salvation He gives.
Amanda....6 kids 4 days wow, after that you'll need a vacation.
Well, let me explain the kid thing. Two of the kids are the same exact age as mine (this is tough in itself because mine are young). The other two are older and in school until 3pm, then their Dad will come home. I will have six at the end of the day. I will get them back tomorrow. TWO days, not FOUR. They are precious kids too. Now that you know that, I don't sound so super mommish anymore!
I feel God is trying to tell me, or remind me rather that (v 36-41)we all have a part in helping others come to know the Lord. At times we may experience different aspects (such as reaping, or sowing...*how do you spell that*) anyway.
My response to God is to keep on sharing His love, even if you feel like you don't see the results of your labor.
You should read this post
John 3:16. I did not write it but someone sent it to me and it is VERY touching.
All I Read Today: John 4
Best Thing I Marked: John 4:27
Thought: "Just then his disciples returned and were surprised to find him talking with a woman. But no one asked, 'What do you want?' or 'Why are you talking with her?' "
How It Impressed Me: On a non-spiritual note, this verse takes me straight back to junior high, high school and sadly, at times, youth group. Unlike the disciples who did not ask Jesus those hurtful questions, I have asked them and been asked them many times.
I love this verse because it shows me once again that Christ's love has no boundaries, no limitations. Jesus was committing a major no-no by speaking not only to a woman but a Samaritan woman. He came to die for everyone. He came for 'the unlovelies', 'the untouchables' as well as 'the upper class', 'the religious leaders' and all those in between. God - I want to be more like you every day. Help me see everyone around me as you see them not in the stereotypical categories I place them in. I can't so this without you!!
In Spirit and Truth...
I blogged my thoughts at:
www.bricksmom.voxtropolis.com
This chapter really brough out a couple of things that I flashed back to while reading especially.... the time my husband and I went to counseling in the church. I remember that was the first time I was told to never count on my huband to fill my cup. Why? because we are suppose to go to God to fill our cups. That was the first time I REALIZED that God was in my marriage.
Another thing in John C4 that I thought was neat was that God new everything about the Samaritan woman. He know each and everyone of us on a personal lever... and just think that billions of people.
Awesome!! I love it....
Thank you Lord for everything you have blessed me with. Thank you so much for helping me understand the dynamics of a marriage and how to make mine work... I was so young when I married but You have always been right there with me every step of the way. I love you Lord because just looking back now... I know I would not have made it. There were so many times I wanted to quit. You were my only family when I really needed someone. Thank you for never leaving me and always wiping my tears away. For keeping me company and just leading me to be the wife that you needed me to be my husband.
Lord I am Thankful for my existence. Thank you for making me who I AM physically,mentally and spiritually. Thank you for making me the kind of mother my children need. I treasure Your time and effort that You put into me.
Well, what I see God telling me is that, His word really is ALIVE.
And it is SO VERY TRUE that we who have drunk the living water will never thirst again.
Our lives ARE full.
And it's in our hands now to try to begin to explain the fullness of God to others.
May God Bless you richly.
And PLEASE do tell us what He has provided for that wall, when he does.
Sarah.
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