Living Water

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What dark depths dwell in our lives?

Sinful nature, lost like sheep

Hearts fill with lasting troubles

Seeing life’s well, much too deep

 

Returning without promise

Jacob’s well cannot quench thirst

Our parched lips, where’s our relief?

Sinful souls, ready to burst

 

God’s Grace, in living water

Blessing in truth and spirit

Gushing with eternal life

Drink deeply, never fear it

 

Who will bring us this water?

We look, but the well is deep

Jesus draws living water

Saving His lost, thirsty sheep

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From John 4:11-15:  “The woman said to Him, ‘Sir, you have no bucket, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water?  Are you greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us the well, and with his sons and his flocks drank from it?’  Jesus said to her, ‘Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but those who drink of the water that I will give them will never be thirsty. The water that I will give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life.’  The woman said to Him, ‘Sir, give me this water, so that I may never be thirsty or have to keep coming here to draw water.'”

Arthur Wing Pinero Quote

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In this life, if you have anything to pardon, pardon quickly.  Slow forgiveness is little better than no forgiveness.

From James 3:17-18:  “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy.  And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace for those who make peace.”

Total Surrender

From Romans 6:4:  “Therefore we have been buried with Him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.”

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Are we truly walking in Christ?

With a new life, born again

Follow Jesus, He paid our price

 

True sanctification will come

Only from burial of an old life

Known as “white funeral” to some

 

Baptized into Christ, the Holy Son

Baptized into His death

With His death, victory is won

 

Through the confirmed Resurrection

We humbly come to a Holy God

His defining purpose, brings reflection

 

God is leading, always out front

Facing trying times of adversity

Our duty shall be, always to confront

 

Come to almighty and loving God

Sanctify a promise with the Father

God’s will be done, by His rod

 

When Christ forever defeats the Cross

His lasting, living Resurrection offers

“Walking in newness of life,” without loss

 

To Jesus, surrender these sinful ways

Hear Him, accept Him, follow Him

Ask for His forgiveness, without delay

 

Mighty God of angel armies leads

His righteousness marches with us

Filling a hungry soul, His Word feeds

 

Freed from sin, obedient to God

Wages of sin only bring death

Accept Jesus, He overcomes all odds

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From the words of Scottish evangelist and Christian teacher Oswald Chambers:  “No one enters the experience of entire sanctification without going through a “white funeral”–the burial of the old life.”

 

 

Christ Prevails

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From 1 Peter 2:24:  “He himself bore our sins in His body on the Cross, so that, free from sins, we might live for righteousness; by His wounds you have been healed.”

Chosen and precious in God’s sight

To believers, Christ’s Spirit brings Salvation

Jesus Christ turns darkness into light

 

Our faith’s chosen and precious cornerstone

Christ comes forward to redeem us

We can live by His bread alone

 

Jesus becomes our Holy, High Priest

Believe and never put to shame

God’s own Son takes His seat

 

Nonbelievers reject God’s Holy, chosen one

Christ prevails to become our Rock

Salvation goes through God’s Holy Son

 

Christ suffers mightily for His flock

Yet, He never commits any sin

Following God’s steps around the clock

 

Christ never waivers, He follows through

Entrusting Himself to His Heavenly Father

Bearing our sins, Resurrection’s glorious view

 

Our lives feel threatened with gloom

Jesus never ceases caring for us

Standing by, Christ prevents our doom

 

Jesus at our side, always a friend

Loving us with passion and intensity

Our opportunity for Salvation, God sends

 

Christ, the Good Shepherd, beckons us

No longer gone astray and lost

Christ’s body and blood heal us

 

The old, rugged cross stands tall

Freeing us from our endless sins

Washing us white, Salvation calls all

 

Living in bondage, forever in sin

Emancipation by Christ, paying the ransom

Accepting Christ, brings all believers in

From Luke 24:6:  “Remember how He told you, while He was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again.”

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Max Lucado Quote

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What makes a Christian a Christian is not perfection but forgiveness.

From Matthew 18:21-22:  “Then Peter came and said to Him, ‘Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive?  As many as seven times?’  Jesus said to him, “Not seven times, but I tell you, seventy times seven.'”

Renewing Rain

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From Isaiah 45:8:  “Shower, O heavens, from above, and let the skies rain down righteousness; let the earth open, that salvation may spring up, and let it cause righteousness t sprout up also; I the Lord have created it.”

Rain showers continuously hydrate the lands

Sending restoring moisture from God’s hands

 

Perhaps God’s design will deliver to rinse off me

Washing away transgressions that affix on thee

 

Flowers, grass, and trees experience joy now

Smiling as additional raindrops take their bow

 

This errant life feels God’s restoring spirit of the rain

Helping me to reconcile and move away from pain

 

The clouds hang low, soon rain comes again

Witnessing Christ’s love, forgiving all our sin

 

Temperatures remain cool, clouds shroud the light

Feeling God’s lasting affection, realizing His might

 

My disposition cools, harsh feelings evaporate

Praying to my Lord, as the darkness grows late

 

God continually watches over His creation

Looking down from above, smiles of elation

 

For me, a blood-stained cross forever stands near

Thanking Jesus for bringing Salvation, without fear

 

Nature comes alive as the rains abate

Growing with God’s love, will be its fate

 

An imperfect man such as me, steps from sin’s shadows

Kneeling before God, forgiven for my disobedient travels

Forgiving Wind

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God has used the wind for His purposes since the very beginning of time.  From Genesis 1:2-3:  “the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters.  Then God said, ‘Let there be be light.'” 

The wind chimes sing this morning with so much to say

Playing inspiring music that turns calmness aside today

The music brings warm comfort to one’s heart

Reminding at dawn of past memories to restart

These rich images from the past arrive so clear

Blessing one’s spirit with nothing ever to fear

With a renewing spirit bursting from God’s mighty fame

Sending forth meaningful counsel in His glorious name

The day’s agenda stands ready to roll out once again

Traveling faithfully forward with no desire to ever sin

Yet, this blessed life may again stumble today

Asking for God’s forgiveness with little to say

The old rugged Cross comes forward into one’s sight

Witnessing Christ’s red blood brings courage to fight

Just as the wind chimes tell again of God’s loving soul

Walking with Christ refurbishes a life that is now full