Water of Life (Part 2 of 2)

By Amanda T. (read her blog here)

We have already looked at the soil in which we are planted. But there is one important element in raising fruit trees that we forgot to mention: water. We can dig a hole, stick our fruit tree in it, cover it with soil (even good soil), and leave it. What will soon happen? The tree will thrive for a while, gaining nutrients from the soil, but without water, the tree will eventually shrivel up and die.

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Jesus said, “whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.” (John 4:14)

We can spend hours a day bent over God’s Word (the good Soil), reading chapter after chapter, but unless we have Jesus Christ living inside us – that life-giving Water – it will not take root and bear fruit. Reading the Bible is not enough. It will not save us.

Let us revisit the passage where Jesus says He is the living water:

There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink.

(For His disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat.)

Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.

Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of Him, and He would have given thee living water.

The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water?

Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle?

Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:

But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw.

John 4:7-15

The woman that Jesus talked with was an adulterous woman. She had had five husbands and was currently living with a man who was not her husband (see John 4:17-18). She had a void in her life that no man could fill – she had proven that by her multiple husbands. But when she met Jesus, she realized that He could fill her void – He could quench her thirst eternally.

John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Because of His great love for us, Jesus was willing to come down and offer us much-needed, life-giving water. “He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” (John 3:18) This water is offered to every man, woman, girl, and boy freely, but we must accept the free water. We must accept Christ’s gift (Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”).

If we do not accept God’s gift, our tree (life) will soon lack what it needs to live life abundantly. But if we allow God’s Water of Life to nourish our roots, coupled with the soil of His Word, our life will grow, thrive, and ultimately, bear fruit for the kingdom of Christ.

Have you accepted God’s gift? Are you drinking from God’s Living Water?

~~~

About Amanda:

Amanda is a homeschool graduate living with her parents and eleven siblings in Louisiana. Their family sings together, sharing God’s love through music in churches and nursing homes. Until God shows her a different path, she enjoys teaching piano and music theory, hymn-arranging, photography, writing, spending time with her siblings, and home economics. In the past few years, Proverbs 3:5-7 has been a passage that God has used in her life, showing her how vital it is to trust Him in any issue. You may visit her blog: withajoyfulnoise.blogspot.com

Soil for Life (Part 1 of 2)

By Amanda T. (read her blog here)

Into what kind of soil would one plant a fruit tree? Hard clay, a mixture of clay and soil, or rich, fertilized soil? If we want our tree to grow, thrive, and bear fruit, we would wisely choose the rich soil.

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Into what kind of soil are we planting our life in? Hard, worldly clay, a mix of worldly clay and Bible soil, or the rich soil of God’s pure, untainted Word? If we want our life to be healthy, meaningful, and ultimately fruit-bearing, we would wisely choose the best soil: God’s Word.

Are we choosing wisely?

Let us do a quick test. Think through the following questions carefully and answer them honestly.

   ~Do I spend more time in God’s Word than I do in secular books, movies, or internet?

   ~Do I quote Scripture more often than movies?

   ~Are the people I look up to Heroes of the Faith or movie actors/actresses?

   ~Are my thoughts about love and romance Biblical or Hollywood?

  ~Do I rate sin according to God’s standard, or the world’s standard?

   ~Do I condone movies and books that go contrary to God’s Word?

   ~Do I desire to be like Christ, or do I desire to be like my favorite movie/book character?

There are many other questions one could ask, but the bottom line is: our thoughts and beliefs will be directed by what we spend most of our time with. If we allow the world to lead us (plant our roots in clay), our spiritual life will soon shrivel up and die.  If we spend a little time reading God’s Word (mixing a little of the good soil with our clay) our spiritual life will do okay, but we will still struggle to thrive when the freeze (trials/temptations) come. But, if our roots are lavishing in the rich soil of God’s Word, then our spiritual life will grow sturdy and be able to endure.

Where are your roots planted?

As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him: Rooted and built up in Him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. Colossians 2:6-8

I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit He taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, He purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. John 15:1-2

~~~

About Amanda:

Amanda is a homeschool graduate living with her parents and eleven siblings in Louisiana. Their family sings together, sharing God’s love through music in churches and nursing homes. Until God shows her a different path, she enjoys teaching piano and music theory, hymn-arranging, photography, writing, spending time with her siblings, and home economics. In the past few years, Proverbs 3:5-7 has been a passage that God has used in her life, showing her how vital it is to trust Him in any issue. You may visit her blog: withajoyfulnoise.blogspot.com

Everything We Do

“Abraham expressed his faith by packing his bags and moving. David administered a kingdom. Jesus pounded nails on a carpenter’s bench. Paul made friends, sewed tents, planned journeys, and raised funds for the poor in Jerusalem. Through such ordinary deeds the kingdom of God advanced. What they did mattered less than why and for whom. In creation, in incarnation, in all acts on earth, God hallows the ordinary.”     Philip Yancey *

Every day we make choices:

     to work diligently or lazily

     to be considerate or rude

     to neglect or nourish our relationship with the Lord

     to excuse or repent of our sins

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You might have influence over hundreds of employees or two toddlers. You may decide how your company spends $2,000,000 or how your family spends $20.

“And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord” because God cares about the ordinary and extraordinary duties of our lives. (Colossians 3:23). 

* Rumours of Another World, Philip Yancey, Zondarvan, copyright 2003, Page 231

~~~

About Gail

Gail Purath has been married to her best friend for 41 years, has two married children and seven grandchildren. Her blog Bible Love Notes(http://biblelovenotes.blogspot.com) features one-minute devotions each weekday.

Unhidden

By Amanda T. (read her blog here)

“God sees everything.” We have heard this concept, but do we really know it? Reading through Psalm 139:1-16 helps to paint a clearer picture of this concept.

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Verses: O LORD, Thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, Thou understandest my Thought afar off. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, Thou knowest it altogether. Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me. (Psalm 139:1-5)

Truth: The Lord knows everything about us. He not only knows who we say we are, but also who we really are – better than we do ourselves. Right now, He is around us seeing what we are doing.

Verses: Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it. (Psalm 139:6)

Truth: God, the Creator of the Universe, the Master of the seas, the all-knowing, omnipotent Ruler, know my name! He has bowed down from His Majestic throne to take interest in my life!

Verses:  Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, Thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, Thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. Yea, the darkness hideth not from Thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to Thee. (Psalm 139:7-12)

Truth: There is absolutely nowhere that we can go to hide from God. He sees us wherever we are, at all times. Our sins might stay hidden to those around us, but they are open and revealed before God’s eyes.

Verses: For Thou hast possessed my reins: Thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise Thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from Thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them. (Psalm 139:13-16)

Truth: From day one of conception, God saw us. He was working in our lives to mold us how He saw best then, and is still working in our lives today – spiritually and physically – to continually mold us as He sees fit. Because God created us and molded us, we are a marvelous work.

What are some truths that you see in these verses?

About Amanda:

Amanda is a homeschool graduate living with her parents and eleven siblings in Louisiana. Their family sings together, sharing God’s love through music in churches and nursing homes. Until God shows her a different path, she enjoys teaching piano and music theory, hymn-arranging, photography, writing, spending time with her siblings, and home economics. In the past few years, Proverbs 3:5-7 has been a passage that God has used in her life, showing her how vital it is to trust Him in any issue. You may visit her blog: withajoyfulnoise.blogspot.com

"Our" Talents?

By Amanda T. (read her blog here)

As a piano teacher, I have taught several children who have what we call “musical talent.” Some of my students are very gifted and if they continue lessons, they will advance to be very good pianists.

Recently, I read through Matthew 25, the parable about the talents. Each servant was given a different amount of talents and each used their talents differently. The servant with five talents doubled his talents. Likewise did the servant with two talents. However, the servant who received only one talent hid his. When their lord came back, he judged each servant according to how he dealt with the talents that were given to him.

As I read this familiar parable again, I suddenly noticed something. The slothful servant “hid his lord’s money” then later told his lord, “[I] hid thy talents in the earth.” Did you notice it too? The talents were never the servant’s. The talents were always his lord’s and the end result was that the lord – not the servant – received the glory and the benefits (see Matthew 25:26-27).

God has given each of us talents. Some of us have only one talent while others have five or ten or twenty. It is not how many talents we have been given but what we do with the talents we have been given. They are not ours to develop and benefit from, but to use for God’s glory. One day, God will call us to give an account of the talents He has given us.

Are you a musician? A writer? A singer? A cook? A seamstress? Are you using the talents that God has given you for His glory or for your own?

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If you have not read the parable of the talents recently, I encourage you to take a moment and read it again:

Matthew 25:14-30

14         For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.

15         And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.

16         Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.

17         And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.

18         But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money.

19         After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.

20         And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.

21         His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

22         He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.

23         His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

24         Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:

25         And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.

26         His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:

27         Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.

28         Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.

29         For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.

30         And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (KJV)

 ~~~

About Amanda:

 

Amanda is a homeschool graduate living with her parents and eleven siblings in Louisiana. Their family sings together, sharing God’s love through music in churches and nursing homes. Until God shows her a different path, she enjoys teaching piano and music theory, hymn-arranging, photography, writing, spending time with her siblings, and home economics. In the past few years, Proverbs 3:5-7 has been a passage that God has used in her life, showing her how vital it is to trust Him in any issue. You may visit her blog: withajoyfulnoise.blogspot.com