Clarity

"Jesus answered,'Everyone who drinks this living water will be thirsty again, 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.'"

John 4.13

I have met a few people in my life who seem to be always thirsty. They either carry around a water bottle with them, or they go through 6 glasses of a beverage at dinner. It always amazed me that they were able to still eat their dinner on top of drinking about a gallon of water before, during, and after their meal!

I have always been the type of person to kind of ignore my body's thirst signal. I know it's not the healthiest of things to do. Whether I was running around during college or now as I have been working on a post-surgical floor it seems almost impossible to have time to take a few sips of water throughout my day. My body has gotten accustomed to it's signals of thirst and I am able to make it through my whole day without having any water. 

On top of not drinking enough water, I have found that recently as I have begun doing the Insanity workout series that even that doesn't seem to increase my desires for hydration. I have to intentionally fill a glass of water and drink it all because I know I won't remember how much fluid i lost during my work out and just go about my day. 

It was during my prayer time this morning that I began to see how my thirst for scripture was similar to my thirst for earthly water. 

I make it a point of my day to spend time with God. In prayer for a few moments, and then reading and reflecting on teachings of his word. However  God has revealed to me that I have been neglecting the power of his word, his living water. 

Just like when I finish up with my insanity work out I am wanting to run to the cupboard and grab a bite to eat instead of drinking water, I have been running to other people's teachings instead of God's handwritten words. 

Just as neglecting my bodily thirst for hydration, I have been neglecting my hearts desire to interact and hear from Christ through his living water. 

Insanity is an difficult workout requiring a lot of physical energy and endurance to complete each workout, and just as much motivation to start the video the next day. Without the water my body is thirsting for it is difficult. I can't replenish my body, and I am not able to physically quench my bodies desire for moisture as I have grown use to just eating instead of drinking. I am filling my body with a replacement for water.

It is true that through hearing other leaders interpretations of biblical truth i have grown stronger in my faith. Still however it seems to me that I have the thirst for living truth that is never quenched after hearing a message. As Jesus says to the woman at the well ""If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water." John 4. 10. -- "whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst." Oh what truth! Only Christs words, and instructions can give me the satisfaction of his love and his will for my life. 

Running to the cupboard instead of the faucet has to stop! Just as I need to stop running to other people for interpretation of Christs word. I fully believe it's healthly and beneficial to hear sermons and so on, however I feel it is absolutely vital to continue to interact daily with Christs word, and his instructions. God created us all to be unique individuals who, while working together in community can have an impact in this fallen world. I know I need to be receptive to his calling, his leading and most importantly the words and instructions he has left with us in his Holy Bible. 

What a blessing it has been to be able to connect with many messages from different individuals about Biblical truth. However, being able to see just how important individual biblical study is has opened my eyes to completely satisfying the desires of my heart. 

Beautiful Beginnings

There is nothing more reassuring than knowing you are exactly where God wants you to be.

In February when I began feeling God leading me towards Rochester I felt a sense of peace as I felt his calling. My patience was strengthened as there wasn't any signs that a job would actually be open for me to apply to. With one step forward at a time and daily prayers for continued guidance and patience I waited to see what God would do. Previously I wrote about the holy spirit speaking to me about God being able to do the impossible despite what society might think. (My Reality)

By God's grace the answer to my prayers were revealed to me and I felt comfort knowing I was being obedient to where I felt the Holy Spirit leading me. I was offered a job when few were being opened. I felt tremendously blessed and couldn't wait to see what God was going to have in store for me as I moved down to Rochester.

As the big moving day began approaching apprehension developed in my heart as I realized I was moving out of my parents house and beginning my life in a new town. This was a different kind of apprehension than attending college as I knew that Rochester would soon become  my permanent address. God never left my side through the move and as I adjusted to living on my own. It's amazing how there were moments when I felt as if I was moving alone that I was able to see that God never leaves my side. And as I have continued to grow closer to him and rely on him for everything the transition isn't something that I am nervous about anymore. I instead am able to acknowledge the loneliness  that comes from being away from my family, and accept that my mission here on earth is to bring glory to God where ever he calls me to be. 

Below is a story of his faithfulness that leaves me speechless in amazement at his never ending faithfulness and love towards those who earnestly seek him and his will.

I woke up last Sunday morning (7/21) unsure of what church to attend. I was trying to decide between two and woke up feeling like I had a real thirst to dive into God's word and drink up his truth. I felt like God wanted me to once again step out of my comfort zone and try something new, as I felt led to attend a newer church in the community and one that I had not attended last summer as a Summer III.

As I sat through the service at Harvest Bible Chapel Rochester I felt completely consumed by God. Although I was sitting alone, not knowing anyone in the congregation I felt completely satisfied knowing that I had followed God's leading once again. I went to the "Welcome Table" after the service and was welcomed by a woman who was glowing with the spirit of Christ. She walked me around the church and introduced me to people and then to a group of young adults in the church. From there I was in complete amazement at God's faithfulness and love as I was able to enjoy an afternoon/evening with the group of young adults whom I now very much consider my friends. A parade and dinner Sunday night, berry picking Monday night, and a ladies cooking night on Wednesday.

What a blessing it was to meet so many new people who are also completely surrendered to Christ. I am still in complete amazement at what happens when I truly give God the pen to my life and he scripts a story and a life I could never create on my own. I can't wait to see where he continues to lead me. 

Proverbs 3:5-6

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight."