FINDING BILL

TODAYS SCRIPTURE: JOHN 4:10

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."

FINDING BILL

The phone rang just as I was getting ready to leave. "What are you doing?" Bill asked. When I told him I was going to get my hair cut, he said, "Could you bring me some water. Mine got knocked over." Considering he is doing fieldwork, I told him sure. "I am working on 500 E, just past 500 N." he said, as he hung up.

Instead of taking a couple bottles of water, I added water to a bag of ice and left the house. I figured he could just fill the water jug he had with him. By the time I drove to the beauty shop, I discovered the bag had a hole in it and the floor of my car was getting very wet.

While getting my hair cut, Bill called and said, "By the time you get here, I might be on 400 N."

Instead of a quick drive, I now had to go to buy water. That done, I left to find Bill.

I tried 400 N and sure enough there was the big Cat tractor. The tractor stopped, but Bill did not get out. "Bill is working over by that house."

That house looked like it was one mile over, so I drove one mile north, one mile east and did not see Bill. Bless cell phones. Hearing what corner I was at, Bill said, "Turn right."

Bill said turn right, but I turned the other right. Still on the phone, I hear Bill say, "Gee I should see you by now. Are you going south?"

Oops. Turn around. That would make another half mile back to the corner and straight ahead. Another half mile and I saw Bill. But I had to drive to the corner and turn right. Finally, I found Bill. I found Bill, on 400 N, about a quarter mile east of where I had stopped at the first time. I drove around the mile square for nothing.

I gave Bill the water and left for home. Bill called when I was about a mile down the road. He just wanted me to know, "The water bottles are too big to fit in my little cooler."

A Samaritan woman went to the well to get water. Something she did every day. A very normal activity. A normal activity until she met a stranger. A Jew who asked a Samaritan for a drink. A Jew who asked a Samaritan for a drink but offered water that would give eternal life.

With a few wrong turns, I found Bill. With a few wrong turns, a Samaritan woman found eternal life.

Do you know where to find Jesus and the living water he offers?

QUESTION OF THE DAY

Are you thirsty?

PRAYER

This week say your own prayer. Thank Jesus for finding you and giving you eternal life. Or, if you have not done so, ask Jesus into your life and ask Him for the living water.

STEPPING STONES

TODAYS SCRIPTURE: ISAIAH 48:17

This is what the Lord says -- your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: "I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go."

STEPPING STONES

Bill no longer has any Quikrete. He likes to keep it on hand to repair a chip in the sidewalk or a crack in the driveway. I will admit this is what the product is for, but I have found a way to use it that is a lot more fun.

Last October I went to Florida with our daughter and her family and I brought back some shells. I knew what I was going to do with them and finally got around to making stepping stones for their flower bed.

Internet instructions said to make the mix like "brownie batter." Not wanting to make a batch of brownies, I thought, "I know what brownie batter looks like. I have made many pans of brownies. This will be a piece of brownie." (That is meant to be funny.)

Found out this is a bit trickier than I thought. The mixing was going good but seemed a bit too thick. So I added a tad of water. Now too thin. So I added more Quikrete. Ah, that looked just right so I poured it in the pan. And started making another batch.

That one was no easier to make. I thought I was adding a bit of water and it turned out to be a bit more than I needed. But I planned to make a third stone and did not want to use all my mix. So, it was a thin "brownie batter" that I poured it into the pan.

I decided I better put the shells in the first pan before it set up too much. Oops! Remember that was the thicker mix. I am glad they were tough shells because I had to push them in.

That was not the problem I had with the second stone. Remember it was a bit thin. When I put the first shell in, it sank! When I dug it out, it left a hole. So I patted and smoothed in the hole. Finally all the shells were in place and I added some accent pieces. They were heavy and - yup - would not stand up. So I dug them out.

Do you get the picture? An easy project that was not easy and I now have to replace Bill's Quikrete. The stepping stones do look good though.

The Bible tells us many things about our steps. Bill used to get upset because I would go out in the barnyard barefoot. Proverbs 14:15 says, "A simple man believes anything, but a prudent man gives thought to his steps." Believe me, I gave much thought to where I would step. I like putting bare toes in mud, but I did not want to put bare toes in - well, let's just say I did not want to put bare toes in other barnyard items. I was prudent with my steps.

It is not always so easy to know where to step. Or what path to follow.

Again the Bible reassures us. Job 34:21 tells us, "His eyes are on the ways of men; he sees their every step". Psalm 37:23 says, "If the Lord delights in a man's way, he makes his steps firm; though he stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand."

So, when you are unsure of your next step. Or questioning what path to follow. Take the Lord's hand and he will direct you in the way you should go.

QUESTIONS OF THE DAY

Have you ever tried an easy project that ended up being not so easy? Do you watch where you step?

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

LET US PRAY

To the Lord my God, -- Who sees my every step. Who knows what is best for me. Who is there when I stumble and will not let me fall. Who upholds me with His hand. Who directs me in the way I should go. -- I reach for Your hand so I may step firmly onto the path you have prepared for me. May each step be for Your Glory and Delight. Amen

ONE MINUTE WARM AND THE NEXT COLD

Bill says I have a very narrow temperature comfort zone. If it is below 70, I am cold. Above 72 and I am too hot. The sad thing is that he is correct. And my comfort zone kept me awake the other night.

One minute I was too warm, so I kicked the covers off. Of course, that made me cold, so I had to find the covers. Shortly, too warm. That is the way my whole night went. The sheet was not enough and the blanket was too much.

As I went from hot to cold and back to hot, I thought about the Church in Laodicea. They had the same problem.

TODAYS SCRIPTURE: REVELATION 3:14 - 17

"To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation. I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm --- neither hot nor cold -- I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.

ONE MINUTE WARM AND THE NEXT COLD

Sounds like they were pretty well off. Most likely, no foreclosure notice in the mail. No credit card debt. Their children probably went to private school. And they went to church. How could God be upset with them? And why would he call them "wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked."

Are we ever like the church in Laodicea? Lukewarm? Does faith sit there somewhere along with the TV schedule, the grocery list and the latest novel? Is faith something reserved for Sunday morning?

What's the problem here? I believe. I go to church.

QUESTIONS OF THE DAY

Is your faith hot? Cold? Lukewarm?

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

LET US PRAY (Based on Revelation 3:18 – 22)

To the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation, You know my deeds and you are telling me these things because you love me. I need to buy gold from you, not from the world. Gold that has been refined in the fire so I can buy clothes of white and salve to put on my eyes so I can see. I am earnest. I repent. I open the door because I heard you knock. I heard your voice say, "Here I am!" I am opening the door so you will come in and eat with me. I desire to overcome so I can sit with you on the throne just as you overcame and sat down with your Father. My ears are open and I have heard.    Amen

WOMAN BE QUIET

TODAYS SCRIPTURE: 1 TIMOTHY 2:11-15

A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent. For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner. But women will be saved through childbearing -- if they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety.

WOMAN BE QUIET

The other day hubby Bill, said, "You are always reading a scripture to me. One you find interesting or new. I have one for you. Are you ready?"

That is when he read 1 Timothy 2:11-15.

Now, if you do not know us very well, you probably wonder what happened next. Are you ready? BILL AND I BOTH LAUGHED!

Yes, I do study in quiet, but one thing I cannot be accused of is being quiet. Submission to God? Yes. Submission to man? No. Another woman and I enjoy co-teaching our Sunday School Class. Yes, there are men in our class. And every so often God just lays something on my heart that I have to share and I deliver the Sunday message. God made two children, Adam and Eve. I believe God loved them equally. And the apple? Eve might have picked it but Adam took that bite.

Propriety? Has anyone ever used my name and propriety in the same sentence? Propriety: suitable, desirable behavior. Okay. Now I understand why Bill sometimes will just shake his head and roll his eyes. I have decided that my idea of good behavior is a bit different than the rest of the world. Don't get me wrong. I know how to behave. I just don't always see the need to behave.

Faith. Love. Holiness. Finally, something I can agree with. I was so excited when I learned the difference between religion and Faith. I will take Faith! Love. O my yes. Love of God. Love of my family. Love of my fellow believers. Love of my country. And love of my enemies. Darn. There I do not always have propriety.

Holiness. This is my goal. I am glad God gave me a strong, stubborn Holy Spirit because sometimes my Holy Spirit has to be a warrior. A comforter. A teacher. My Holy Spirit gives me courage. And by the way. I have a fat Holy Spirit. That is what I decided when I did a Bible Study. I am not overweight! My Holy Spirit just needs a lot of room!!! That is my story and I am sticking to it.

I have been saved through childbearing, but it was not because I gave birth to two children. I have been saved because Mary gave birth to the Son of God.

As we read the Bible. As we learn. We all pick and choose words, sentences or ideas we do not agree with. And we all pick and choose words, sentences and ideas that we build our faith on. There are things we question. There are questions we want to ask God. No man or woman has all the answers. No one has it all right. No one except God.

QUESTIONS OF THE DAY

What passages do you have trouble understanding? Accepting? What passages do you find strength in? Build your faith on?

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

LET US PRAY

Dear giver of the Word, The Bible is your story and the guide for my life. Give me wisdom to understand the meaning behind the words. Let my eyes see, my ears hear, my mind comprehend and my faith grow. Amen

I DO NOT UNDERSTAND. OH NO. IT IS TRUE!

TODAYS SCRIPTURES:

They kept asking, "What does he mean by 'a little while'? We don't understand what he is saying." John 16:18

Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified. Mark 15:15

He said to them, "This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms." Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. He told them, "This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem." Luke 24:44-47

I DO NOT UNDERSTAND. OH NO. IT IS TRUE!

When I am having a tough time understanding a passage, of the Bible, or I just cannot grasp a theological concept, I remember the disciples. They just did not get it.

They did not understand. Jesus had just washed their feet. He broke the bread. He took the cup. They had heard all of the parables. They had seen the miracles. They had been with Jesus when he prayed. When he read the scriptures. And they still did not understand. That is when Jesus used words they could understand. Jesus told them, "I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father." (John 16:28)

Wow. The disciples finally understood, but with understanding came reality. "I am leaving." What emotions and feelings and pangs of regret the disciples must have felt as that night and the next day moved before them. Have you ever felt like you were an observer at an event? Not part of it, but as if life was moving and all you could do was stand there? Stand there helpless. I am sure that is how they felt as they watched Jesus being taken prisoner. Being condemned. Being flogged. Being crucified. "I am leaving you." OH NO.

Then came Easter. The tomb was empty. Jesus was not there. Then Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene. And the disciples. And many others. Jesus is alive.

The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

Jesus is alive. IT IS TRUE!

QUESTION OF THE DAY

Do you celebrate a risen Lord?

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

LET US PRAY

Jesus is alive. Jesus is alive. I want to shout it from the rooftops. I want to whisper it into the ears of every baby. I may not understand every verse in the Bible. I may not comprehend theological concepts. But I know Jesus is alive. And he is alive for all. Thank you, my Lord Jesus. Thank you. Thank you. Jesus is alive! Amen