FILL UP THAT TANK

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE: John 4:10-15

Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water."

"Sir," the woman said, "you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his flocks and herds?"

Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."

FILL UP THAT TANK

Watching the evening news, I saw the lines of people trying to fill their gas tanks before the price went up another 20 cents. The first time I put gas in a car, the price was 25 cents per gallon. (Yes, that was back in the dark ages, as are the next two examples.) The cost has gone up.

Saturday afternoon at the movies was the highlight of the week. You saw not one, but two movies. Good westerns where the guy in the white hat was the hero and he kissed his horse instead of the girl. The movie, popcorn or candy bar, and pop cost less than a dollar. The price of watching a movie has gone up.

The first job I had was as a carhop at a Tastee Freeze. (If you know what a carhop is, good. And Tastee Freeze? That was like a Dairy Queen.) I made 35 cents per hour plus tips. Wages have gone up.

We live on a farm and, unbelievably, we sold our rock pile. Rocks we had picked up out of the fields. Now who would buy rocks? It seems people pay at least a penny a pound for rocks to put in their flowerbeds. The cost of a flowerbed has gone up.

Then there is bottled water. No longer do people turn on the tap and take a drink. The water has to be from a spring, be flavored, be enhanced with power aides or be a certain brand. A bottle of water is over one dollar. The cost of water has gone up.

Or has it? Jesus told us that if we drink the water he offers we will never thirst. And the cost of that water today? The same as it was back then. All we have to do is ask for a drink.

QUESTIONS OF THE DAY

Are you thirsty? Do you need to fill up? Have you asked Jesus for a drink?

Please use this as a beginning of your prayer. Finish in your own words, words from your heart.

LET US PRAY

Giver of the Living Water, The world takes so much out of me. Sometimes it seems I am running on empty. I turn to worldly things to fill me up. I think I can be filled by having a better car or a better job or more money. Teach me to ask you for the living water. Only then will I be filled. Teach me to ask you for the living water when .………………………………… Amen

GIFTS FROM GOD

(Introduction to today's devotional: This blog actually started because I tried to get a book of devotionals published. I was told, "These are good but there are so many devotionals on the market that getting published is almost impossible." I found out one thing -- To get published, you need to already be published. Then I had an even better thought -- If I do a blog, anyone can read it. Free! If you have read this blog since I started posting, you have pretty much read the book I envisioned. Last week was the last devotional. This week is how I would have ended the book. OH, DO NOT FEAR -- I PLAN ON CONTINUING. (You are not going to get rid of me that easy.) Now I get to start writing new ones. I AM EXCITED.

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE: Psalm 145 (Please read the whole scripture. Quoted are verses 1, 2, 6 and 7)

I will exalt you, my God the King; I will praise your name for ever and ever. Everyday I will praise you and extol your name for ever and ever.

They will tell of the power of your awesome works, and I will proclaim your great deeds. They will celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness.

GIFTS FROM GOD

God has given me so much; I don’t know where to begin. He gave me things before I was smart enough to realize they were gifts from Him. I am continually amazed by this world. Trees and who would have ever thought of frogs? Turnips yes, but spinach? And how does a calf know where to look for the milk supply? This world -- one wonder after another. All I have to do is open my eyes and look. I know that God gives me a new day as the sun comes up and watches over me at night when the sun sets.

And the giving does not stop there! Looking back, I realize God gave me help and strength when things were tough. Those times when I was not sure about God or had to face the loss of a loved one. When I had to give care to someone ill, God was giving me strength. The tough times are when my faith grew.

And it does not stop there! God gives me opportunities beyond belief. He gives me the opportunity to help others. So many people need help because of floods, tornadoes, abusive home lives, or just bumps in the road. He gives me the opportunity to tell others, so that God’s story reaches each of his children. God gives me the opportunity to praise Him. Prayer is such an easy thing -- a word of thanks spoken quietly or joy coming clear from the toes or a plea for help sent with head bowed.

You know what? These are not gifts God only gave to me. God sent these gifts for all of us. FOR YOU.

And it does not stop there! God gave us the beginning of His church. A foundation on which to build. A church where we can fellowship. And sing. And hear the word of God. And study. And grow in the faith.

And it does not stop there! God gave us His Son and offers us eternal life!!!

I write these devotionals because God gives me the words. If I had to rely on myself, there would be just blank pages.

*I hope, within these devotionals, you find a reason to smile.
*I hope you find some moments of peace and rest.
*I hope these devotionals touch your soul.
*I hope you are changed. That you will want to reach out to others who need your help, who could use a friend.
*I hope somewhere on these pages you find a word or a phrase or a thought that brings you closer to God, that deepens your faith.

QUESTION OF THE DAY

No questions today. Just my thanking you for reading my blog. For being a part of my faith walk. For sharing my life.

LET US PRAY

Dear Lord Jesus, Today I want to thank you for each person that enters this site to read your words. I am but one of your children and my prayer is that you will use me to encourage others. Please continue to give me words so that others receive the strength they need to get through the day. Words so someone will feel less lonely. Words so someone will smile. Words so someone will come to You. Bless and enrich each person that reads this. Give them peace in their soul. Give them your protection. Give them the courage to stand up for their beliefs. Give them the assurance that you are the Alpha and the Omega. The Beginning and the End. Amen

MAKING "EVE" CHOICES

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE: Genesis 2:15-17, 3:1 and 3:4-6

The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. And the Lord God commanded the man, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die. Genesis 2:15 - 17

Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden'?" Genesis 3:1

"You will not surely die," the serpent said to the woman. "For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."
When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. Genesis 3:4 - 6

MAKING "EVE" CHOICES

Okay, so the apple on the tree looked good and that ole snake told a good story, but why did Eve fall for it. Why did she not do as God told her? How hard could it have been to resist the fruit of just one tree? It isn’t like she and Adam didn’t have anything to eat. And she should have known better. After all ---

Come to think of it, there was no “after all.” No one before Eve had ever been tempted. She really did not understand the consequences of that one little bite, of that one little piece of fruit.

Don't you hate those "Eve" choices in our lives? Those choices that seem innocent. Those choices where someone is telling us, "Go ahead. Who will ever know?"

Wouldn't it be great if there were warning labels on choices? We are warned not to use that curling iron in the shower. We are warned to buckle up before we drive. We are warned that, if we spend too much time on the computer, we could get carpal tunnel. Why don't our choices come with a warning label? After all ---

Come to think of it, there is an "after all." A very big one. It is called the Bible.

QUESTIONS OF THE DAY

What choices do you face? Are you ever like Eve and listen to that ole sneaky snake instead of your own good sense? Are the big decisions in life easy, but the little "one bite of the apple won't hurt" decisions hard? Can you find help in the Bible?

Please use this as a beginning of your prayer. Finish in your own words, words from you heart.

LET US PRAY

Dear Lord, It would have been so much easier if Eve had not listened to that snake. Then we would still be in the Garden of Eden. Working. Talking to you. But so many times, I am like Eve. I listen to the wrong people. I listen to the world instead of to you. Let me turn to you and to your word when I am making decisions. Let me turn to you and to your word when I face ………………………………… Amen

YOUR STORY --- THE BEGINNING, THE MIDDLE AND THE END

TODAY'S SCRIPTURES:

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
Genesis 1:1

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
Genesis 1:27

Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.
Revelation 2:10

YOUR STORY --- THE BEGINNING, THE MIDDLE AND THE END

We often think of the Bible as the whole story, but the Bible is only the beginning and end of “Your Story.”

Please read this section aloud. It is about you. -----

MY STORY

The Bible tells me, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” It also says, “… male and female he created them.” My story began that day and what a wonderful way for my story to begin – with God. And in a world, God made just for me. Not just any world either. A world that held everything I would ever need. Food, clothing, shelter, companions and, most importantly, a loving God who wanted me to celebrate my life in His world. What a way for my story to begin! (Read Psalm 139:13-18)

God knew I would get into trouble. He knew I would need help, so he sent his Son. The Christmas and Easter message assures me that I will make it from the beginning of my story to the end. (Read Philippians 3:12-16)

The Bible tells me, “Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.” That will be the end of my story. The goal I am moving toward. My eternal reward. My life in the light of God. (Read Revelation 22:17)

What about the middle of my life? That part of my story is still being written. Each day I am writing the middle of my life.

QUESTIONS OF THE DAY

How will you write the rest of “your story?” Will you draw from the beginning of your story and all of God’s promises? Will you accept the gift Jesus has offered you? Will each day be a step closer to the end of your story? How will you do this? What are your strengths? Where are you weak?

Please use this as a beginning of your prayer. Finish in your own words, words from you heart.

LET US PRAY

Dear Heavenly Father, I am so thankful that you have been with me from the first breath I took. I am so thankful that your Son paid the price for my sins. I am so thankful that, when my time comes, you have a crown ready for me. I ask that you guide me as I work on my life. I ask that you ………………………………… Amen