Water is a picture of the Spirit of Jesus working in us. He’s not working to save us, mind you; that work is done. He’s working to change us.
From John 7:37-38: “On the last day of the festival, the great day, while Jesus was standing there, he cried out, ‘Let anyone who is thirsty come to me, and let the one who believes in me drink. As the scripture has said, ‘Out of the believer’s heart shall flow rivers of living water.'”
Max Lucado (born 1955) is an American pastor and Christian author.
From Isaiah 55:3: “Incline your ear, and come to Me; listen, so that you may live. I will make with you an everlasting covenant.”
Hear this, all who thirst
Come to these still waters
Blessed with Father’s grace
Every son and daughter
Hear this, leave darkness
Only this light to seek
Return to Father
Step beyond earthly creek
Hear this, feast awaits
Steadfast love to behold
Cling to Father’s Word
Leave wilderness, be bold
Hear this, come to Me
Lasting peace to embrace
Love in Father’s heart
Salvation’s truthful place
Hear this, Savior lives
Walk no longer in fear
Trust in Father’s plan
Heaven’s path becomes clear
From 1 Corinthians 10:13: “No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God is faithful, and He will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing He will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it.”
From 1 Thessalonians 3:11-12: “Now may our God and Father Himself and our Lord Jesus direct our way to you. And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we abound in love for You.”
Arising each morning
Heart breathes in Father’s love
Praising pilgrim’s journey
Grace follows from above
Standing firm with Father
Hands of patient potter
Shaping this precious day
Mercy’s living water
Overcoming darkness
Light comes from Father’s Word
Taking in wisdom’s breath
Faith strengthened from what’s heard
Accepting Father’s plan
Truth breaks through evil’s crust
Walking in harmony
Submission brings man’s trust
Breaking free from bondage
Christ severs every chain
Paying sins’ debts with blood
In victory, He reigns
From 1 Thessalonians 5:9-10: “For God has destined us not for wrath but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep we may live with Him.”
Sower scattering any seed
Wildly without any foresight
God scatters His Word as planned
His aim, truthful in its flight
Called to sow His righteous seeds
Following a living light
Sharing of God’s Holy Word
Walking in Jesus’ delight
These efforts shall bear His fruit
Quenching the rich, fertile ground
God adds the living water
Patient, His trust to be found
Not every seed shall bloom now
Some will lie quiet and wait
Just as a pine cone pauses
Holds seeds for their proper fate
Spreading God’s Word to others
Using our freedom for good
Allowing Spirit to work
Sowing for Him as we should
Sharing love and forgiveness
Lord’s eternal Word aligned
Taking blessed, scattered seeds
Harvesting fruit of all kinds
From Isaiah 55:10-11: “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there until they have watered the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and succeed in the thing for which I sent it.”
Originally published July, 2020.
From John 7:37-38: “On the last day of the festival, the great day, while Jesus was standing there, He cried out, ‘Let anyone who is thirsty come to Me, and let the one who believes in Me drink.’ As the scripture has said, ‘Out of the believer’s heart shall flow rivers of living water.'”
Resurrection’s eternal light
Enemy’s darkness surrenders
Glory of Christ, forever bright
Holy Spirit’s peace, so tender
Precious river shall always flow
Savior’s grace offers faithful hope
Living water shall never slow
Forgiveness offers mercy’s rope
Come all to witness freedom’s tomb
Believe and each shall receive grace
Light forever shines from this room
Spirit unites this Holy place
From heavenly vision above
Safest harbor rises from dust
Infinite mercy bearing love
Eternity’s river of trust
From Revelation 22:1-3: “Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city. On either side of the river is the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, producing its fruit each month, and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. Nothing accursed will be found there any more. But the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His servants will worship Him.”
From the words of British pastor and theologian, Charles Spurgeon: “The closer we are to the Shepherd, the safer we are from the wolves.”
Encountering another of life’s setbacks
Visitor from the darkness shouts, “I am back”
Old Man Trouble comes knocking at my front door
Relentless, he desires to even the score
How will I choose to deal with adversity?
His darkness masks the sky over this city
Tackle straight forward what Old Man Trouble brings
Or . . . wait timidly for his continued sting
God’s Word teaches us and brings us hope:
We all live preciously in God’s perfect sight
He gathers us in His loving, Holy might
Past—present—future . . . from the Great I Am
Making it through turbulent seas for each lamb
Through desolate wilderness, God shares a way
Bringing rivers of hope to this life’s gateway
Looking Old Man Trouble in his doom-filled eyes
With faithful courage, my hope begins to rise
Life waits to see . . . who will finally blink first?
With God’s living water, quenching my parched thirst
Listening, following God’s steadfast handbook
His love will save me with a whole new outlook
Bringing Godly fortitude, when needed most
Old Man Trouble defeated, nothing to boast
From Isaiah 43:2-3: “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.”
Originally published August, 2020.
For all who thirst
Come to blessed waters
Now follow carefully
Every son and daughter
Listen with care
Abundance of hope waits
Covenant’s faithful love
Key found to Heaven’s gate
Witness David
Leadership born in him
All for Father’s glory
Faith’s light shall never dim
Truth from Heaven
Look toward Savior’s grace
No longer forsaken
Trust brings us to His place
Return to God
Leave each unrighteous thought
Sin’s indictment erased
Messiah’s blood has bought
Embrace His way
Mercy looks upon earth
Thorns transformed into blooms
Anchored at Spirit’s berth
From Mark 5:27-29: “She had heard about Jesus and came up behind Him in the crowd and touched His cloak, for she said, ‘If I but touch His cloak, I will be made well.’ Immediately her flow of blood stopped, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease.”
Father’s righteousness
Immortal mercy’s voice
Molding man in His image
Praising heavens, let all rejoice
Savior’s healing breath
Joy fills morning’s new light
Turning darkness upside down
Nourishing with grace, always right
Spirit’s eagerness
Generous with His love
Inspiring faithful actions
Living bread shares truth from above
Messiah restores
Faith accepts lasting peace
Sharing His divine goodness
Living water shall never cease
Father’s blessed plan
Gospel sharing Good News
Witnessing Son’s promised choice
Meeting Calvary, hope renews
From Psalm 30:11-12: “You have turned my mourning into dancing; You have taken off my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, so that my soul may praise You and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever.
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
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.'”
Originally published June, 2020.
Photo by Kévin Dorg on Pexels.com
Like deer at a flowing stream
I wake thirsty from a dream
Tears feed me, night and day
“Where is your God?” people say
My spirit is cast down low
God’s faithful, trusty love, He shows
Nightly, Psalms sing to my heart
Praying for my life to restart
My flesh cries out in thirst
God’s love will always arrive first
In the middle of dry land
His love extends from His hand
Sometimes life brings bitterness to drink
Thirsty like parched land, I think
The Gospel brings forward good news
Living water quenches, like morning dew
The Enemy taunts me once more
“Where is your God?” he implores
He has left and forsaken you
Your tiny life should be through
Glory of God fills the streams
Desert sands become pools, no dream
Grass thickens across the vast plains
Springs arise, thirst never to wane
Jesus, the Lamb, shepherds me now
Providing living water, kneel and bow
Come, take this water of life
Receiving God’s grace, without any strife
Waking in the darkness of night
Thirsty for God’s message of might
Making water flow from a stone
Split open by God’s blessed tone
The Enemy’s spirit no longer swarms
Thirst for righteousness, defeats any storms
All who thirst, seek God’s altar
Holy Spirit’s living water, never falters
Photo by Ali Hassan on Pexels.com
Originally published September, 2019.
Big Sky Buckeye 