Streams of Living Water

I love flowers. I have been blessed with a garden that has one of my favorites - hydrangeas. I cut two of the beautiful blossoms to place in my bedroom. A couple of hours after placing them in the vase, I noticed that one of the flowers was completely wilted. The other bloom stood proudly hydrated and showing off its glory. At first, I just thought "oh well" got a dud. But then, I took it out of the vase and I noticed the hard nodule at the end of the stem. It was the point where I had made the cut from the bush. I always cut the stems again when I get back in the house before I place them in the vase. Somehow, I had neglected to cut the stem again, therefore, its source of water was stifled. I began to think about how as believers, the flow of living waters can be blocked. The flower that was drinking of the water was thriving. The flower that was right there in the same vase was dying. (I know that technically since they were cut from the bush, they were both dying, but let's not get too picky.) Our source of living water is Jesus Himself and the Word of God. Jesus said it better than I could. John 7:38 says "Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." If we don't believe in Christ, we cannot survive. We may live among other "flowers" who look just like us, but eternally we are perishing. The good news is that once I cut the hard nodule out, the flower perked right up. It was now receiving what it needed to carry out its purpose of bringing beauty and joy to the beholder. I can relate to that. In order for me to carry out God's purpose and plan for me, I must be connected to the Source of life constantly. I sometimes have places in me that need to be cut away too so that I may bloom. Thankfully, God is the Master Gardener who lovingly and gently prunes away what hinders growth. Will you trust Him today to be your Source and Gardener for life?

Scriptures to meditate on:

John 15:2 "He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.'

John 3:16
16"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,[a] that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

John 4:13-15 13 "Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14but 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."
15 "The woman said to him, "Sir, give me this water so that I won't get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water."

For quite some time now, I have enjoyed observing the various birds that come to feast upon the feeder I have in my yard. I have seen cardinals, bluebirds, wrens and finches to name a few. It brings me great pleasure to see their beautiful colors and hear the melodic songs they sing. Recently, however, some of that joy has been displaced by the largest crows I have ever seen eating up all the delectable seeds that had previously been reserved for my songbirds. There seems to be no short supply of what I consider to be nuisances and not my desired feathered friends. Their addition to my yard is univited and unwanted and I have considered them only a slight step above the carrions that eat the dead carcasses left behind. It got me to thinking though about how we respond to people that we consider undesirables...you know, the poor, the sick, the elderly perhaps...Most of us are attracted to people who are beautiful, cultured, financially secure etc. Not unlike those birds that I find to be attractive. It is easier to be friendly to people that are friendly. It is easier to like people that are likable. It is easier to like people that give me something in return. But, is that how Jesus would have us be? I don't think so. Who did Jesus associate himself with? Was it the most popular, talented, and handsome leaders of his day? No, it was the tax collectors, the lepers, the forgotten, the undesirables. Those people needed His love and bread from heaven possibly even more than the desirables did. I am not saying that you can't have the beautiful songbirds and only have crows. God gave us the birds to enjoy and to bring us pleasure. Only He wants us to let a few crows eat our seeds. Don't resent the people (or crows!!) that God sends your way...they need to eat too...

Scriptures to meditate on:

Luke 14:12-13 (New International Version)
12Then Jesus said to his host, "When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. 13But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind,

Romans 12:16 (New International Version)
16Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.[a] Do not be conceited.

Matthew 9:11-13 (New International Version)
11When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and 'sinners'?"
12On hearing this, Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 13But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.'[a] For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."