Living Water Hydration

While grocery shopping for my family I focused on how to keep them hydrated. I bought grapes, watermelon, Popsicles, and Roar'in waters. I stocked our garage refrigerator/freezer with the Popsicles and the waters so that the boys could get to them while outside playing, and easily offer them to a buddy, who also may be in need of a cool drink. I am ready now for the heat of summer.

Our bodies are about 70% water. It is reccommended to not go more than three days without water, however we can survive approximately 8-14 days depending on our size and output. Water is crucially important for our survival.

It got me thinking about "living water" hydration. Jesus talks about the living water in John 4:1-26.
I think that Jesus is telling us that the Holy Spirit is the living water and is essential to our survivial, just as water is to our physical survival. In order to have this living water we must develop a relationship with Christ by spending time in prayer and in His word.

The living water that Jesus offers, gives us wholeness, peace and eternal life. To drink now from Jesus’ teachings is to have the well of God in our very being. As our thirst begins to be quenched, the spring of God flows out to the broken around us, drawing others in to have a drink!

Dear God,
We thank you for the gift of Your Son, who taught us how we should live out lives. Allow us to drink from Your Word until we are quenched to overflowing so that others can be drawn in to You. Give us courage to share what You are doing in our lives with others, so that they may have the give of salvation that only You can give. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Psalm 42:1 "As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you..."

Psalm 107:8-9 "Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men, for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things."

John 4:14 "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."

Revelation 22:17 "The Spirit and the bride say, "Come! And let him who hears say, "Come!" Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life"

Drink it in
Look His way
Open yourself to Him
Allow Him to energize and fill you
Believe in Him and yeild you existance to Him

An Attitude of Gratitude

To promote an Attitude of Gratitude this week we, as a whole family, are going to keep a gratitude journal. Each day this week we are going to write down the things we are thankful for. (My youngest will have to color a picture.) During our evening meal, while we are all together, each family member can express something that happened that day for which he is thankful. It can be something serious or something funny that brightened our day. I am hoping this will make us more aware of what God is doing in our lives and the many ways he blesses us. May we be overflowing with thankfulness!

Dear God,
We have so many things to be thankful for but in our business and selfishness we miss out on thanking You for so many of our blessings. Lord, I do not want to miss a single blessing You have given. Help my family, through this journal of thankfulness develop a more gratuitous spirit. An Attitude of Gratitude that gives the glory back to You! In Jesus Name, Amen.

Psalm 100:4-5 "Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations."

Philippians 1:3-6 "I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you,
I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."

Colossians 2:6-7 "So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness."

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 "Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

Psalm 95:2 "Let us come before him with thanksgiving..."

Jolly, Jolly Ranchers!

My youngest son graduated from Kindergarten! His teacher had a special program for the families to come watch. She brought each child up individually and spoke of the gifts each one exhibited throughout the year, how each child was special, and how they contributed to the class. She also gave each child a candy that went along with their character traits.

I had no idea this day would make me sentimental and teary until we were there and she began to share what each child meant to her over the year. When my middle child's turn came he bounced up front to his teacher. She began to talk about how he always came to class with a smile on his face ready for the days activities. He received the enthusiastic reward as he was always upbeat and ready to try new things. He beamed under this praise. I was smiling too, but also teared up as now he is done with this rite of passage- Kindergarten.

Earlier in the school year in a parent teacher conference she described my enthusiastic child as a risk taker, willing to try new things with no fear. He is our risk taker. Last summer he could barely make it across the swimming pool, yet he was determined to swim on the swim team. Swim he did, with a smile on, always, even though most times he finished last.* He did win one ribbon simply because there were only five swimmers in his age group and he came in fourth. After the race he said I swam faster that somebody! He was thrilled!

He is a Jolly Rancher! " Jolly" does describe this child!

This jolliness, joy, and enthusiasm could only come from God and we, our whole family, are so blessed by his gift! It keeps our whole family's attitude sunny!

*this swim season he has already shaved 20 seconds off of his time! Still smiling the whole time!

Dear God,

Immerse my children in confident hope as they trust in You with thier self worth. Thank you for wonderful teachers who recognize the gifts You have given each child. Surround thier relationships at school, church, the ball field and home with Your guidance and love. Continue to shine through them leading others to You. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Psalm 68:3 "But may the righteous be glad and rejoice before God; may they be happy and joyful.

Proverbs 15:30 "A cheerful look brings joy to the heart, and good news gives health to the bones.

Romans 12:12 "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

Have a joyful, restful, beautiful Sunday praising our God-making sure He is first in your every thought. If you are in the pulic service industry and must serve others (work on Sunday) do so with love as if doing it for Christ so that others may see Christ shining through you!