I Love Watermelon!

 Photo from http://www.graziadaily.co.uk/food/playing-with-your-food-just-got-cool--heres-10-examples-of--foodart

"Then they said to the woman.

'Now we believe, not because of what you said,

for we ourselves have heard Him

and we know that this is indeed the Christ,

the Savior of the world.'"

John 4:42 

Girlfriends, it is SUMMER, my favorite time of the year. School's out, warm weather, longer days, sweaty hikes, swimming, picnics, and...watermelon!

I love watermelon!

I suppose my love of season and of fruit are intertwined: Summer means watermelon, watermelon means summer. As soon as I see those massive green orbs appearing near the grocery store entrances, I begin my happy dance. Summer. Summer. Summer. Yum. Yum. Yum. I boogie my way over to the display and start thumping away. You know I have no idea why I am knuckle rapping fruit? Eventually I simply choose the biggest, most perfectly shaped one I can lift out of the bin. Slicing it open at home, I hold my breath until I see the bright redness beckoning me from inside. I grab a spoon and dig in. (Hey, if the guys can drink milk from the jug, I can eat out of my own watermelon, right?) I savor the sweetness and enjoy the thirst-quenching delight of my lovely watermelon, which I then place in the refrigerator to chill. Sweating in the summer heat stimulates my thirst, and icy, cold watermelon quenches it. All summer long, I am craving the sugary water in the melon.

Living Water 

Did you know that long ago another woman craved satisfying water? Walking in the heat of the day, carrying an empty pot, this woman from a city called Sychar went to fill her vessel. When she arrived at her destination, she found something far greater than reservoir water, although she did not know it immediately. To her surprise, a man was sitting on the well. When the woman approached, he told her to give him a drink. The woman was undoubtedly surprised, since this man was a Jew and she was a Samaritan woman. The Jews had no dealings with the Samaritans. She voiced these facts, and the man replied, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, 'Give Me a drink,' you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water." John 4:10 

Now the woman respectfully questioned this claim, which appeared to place this man above the great Jacob, who created the well and used it himself and for his sons. She said to the man, "Sir, You have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep. Where then do You get that living water?" John 4:11 

Girlfriends, the answer she received is the same answer you would get today if you were to ask this question--Where then do you get that living water? And let me tell you, as much as I love it, the answer is NOT 'from watermelon!'

"[He] said to her, 'Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.' The woman said to Him, 'Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor come here to draw.' " John 4:13-15

The Source 

Ladies, the man sitting on the well speaking to this parched woman is Jesus...the same Jesus sitting on your source of water, waiting for you to come seeking. Jesus knew all the things this woman ever did, and He revealed Himself to her as the Messiah. In the same way, He knows all you have ever done, and He is still revealing Himself as the Messiah yet today. Jesus called out her sins, yet continued to offer the gift of Himself, the living source of eternal life, the water of salvation, that she should no more lust after the water that does not satisfy (five husbands and present lover.) The woman accepted the drink, and she left her waterpot to return to the city and tell the men of the Man who told her all things she ever did. (John 4:28)

How about you? Are you in a spiritual drought? Perhaps you have never even tasted the living water because you mistakenly believe that if Jesus knew your sin, He would not offer you a drop.Or maybe you keep running back to that same source of satisfaction over and over and over again because your desire is never satisfied.

Girlfriends, forget the well and come to the Savior's bubbling fountain. Do what Jesus told the Samaritan woman in verse 10: "You would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water." ASK! Confess your sin as an illegitimate source of temporary gratification. Give it up; leave your waterpot behind. Go forth to"worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him." John 4:23

I pray today that the next drink you take will come from God and become in you that "fountain of water springing up into everlasting life."

P.S. And then you can probably go have a slice of watermelon! After all, didn't God speak about the fruit of the Spirit? Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, Self-Control....and the one I think Paul forgot--WATERMELON!!!

Go in Peace, Sisters!

Mom's Perfect Day

 
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,

 patience, kindness, goodness, 

faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; 

against such things there is no law. 

Galatians 5:22-23

Greetings Girlfriends! This is a very special weekend as we approach the celebration of motherhood!

The Contest

While exercising my motherly skills this morning, aka folding the kids' laundry, I heard the DJ on KLOVE read an entry aloud from their contest called "Mom's Perfect Day." A woman had written that her perfect day would include a visit to Scotland to research her family history for the three books she is writing. Mindlessly placing shirts on hangers as I listened, I marveled that a mother with children at home could write one, let alone three, books. I began to envision her trip to Scotland, with rolling green hills, highland dancers, and bagpipes. As I sorted socks, I wondered about my own "perfect day."  

In an instant, the laundry room faded, and I was relaxing on a private, white sandy beach with my husband in the middle of a clear blue ocean. Our fully furnished villa was stocked with fresh fruit and fine chocolates for me and Diet Mt Dew and pizza for him. No phones; no internet, just island music floating through the air, a serene backdrop to our light conversation, as we gazed lovingly into each other's eyes, reminiscing and laughing carelessly. 

Ding! Ding! A text message alert. Back to reality. I set aside my search for a missing green sock and picked up my phone. My daughter wrote: "I have to give a speech at graduation!" A smile spread across my face and excitement for her welled up inside my heart. All visions of sun, sand, and romance were washed away by the pride I felt for my third child, who four years ago would have passed out on the spot if she had been told she had to speak in front of a group of five people, let alone five hundred people! Suddenly I realized that I have already experienced "the perfect day"... more times than I can even remember. 

My Perfect Day(s)

Today's key verse from Galatians 5 reveals to us the fruit of the Spirit, which grows in a Christ-centered life. I can see the seeds of this fruit sprouting in my life because God chose perfect days to plant them in my heart.

Love. We love because he first loved us. 1 John 4:19 

Perfect Day #1: The day I met my husband. Our marriage has led me to accept Christ's unconditional love and to grant that same unconditional love to my spouse. I cannot imagine my life without him. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 1 Corinthians 13:7

Joy. You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever. Psalm 16:11 NLT

Perfect Day #2: The day of the birth of each one of my children. Motherhood has unveiled the joy of Lord in every single moment.  I am honored to instill in my children the joy of knowing Christ as Savior and of living a life of love, seeking truth, granting mercy, respecting justice, and basking in His grace. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. 3 John 1:4

Peace. I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

Perfect Day #3: The day I celebrate Easter, year after year after year. Standing at the foot of the cross, having meditated for days and weeks upon Christ's sacrifice and physical suffering--His forgiveness in the midst of torture--I am filled with peace because He has overcome. Christ conquered death and all sin, fear, restlessness, and disharmony. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. John 14:27 

Patience. As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience. Luke 8:15

Perfect Day #4: Each day I taught in a classroom, led a girl scout meeting, mentored student leaders in FCA, or coached a youth sports team. God has blessed me with multiple opportunities to model His patience, love, and provision to youth across this nation. In return, I have developed trust and endurance to calmly withstand the trials and tests of this life, including my daughter's serious injury last summer. But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. Romans 8:25 

Kindness. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” Act 20:35b NKJV 

Perfect Day #5: The day a co-worker gave me a huge box of baby clothes for my first child because she knew how little I could afford; the days military spouses prepared us meals after coming home from the hospital; the days the mailman delivered cards and packages from our parents while we lived thousands of miles away; and the days friends came to my rescue while my husband was deployed or traveling. The Lord is truly rich in kindness, placing caring, compassionate, and giving people in my family's life. As the scripture says, He gives generously to the needy; his kindness lasts forever. 2 Corinthians 9:9 

Goodness. Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the LORD forever. Psalm 23:6

Perfect Day #6: The day I was born. My parents have loved me and my sister out of the goodness of their hearts, showered us with good gifts, disciplined us with good intentions, demonstrated goodness by their actions toward others, and continue to uplift us and praise us for our goodness. God, our eternal Father, will one day call us all home, and I pray my family will dwell eternally together in His goodness. Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise—“so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.” Ephesians 6:1-3

Faithfulness. For we walk by faith, not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7

Perfect Day #7: Moving Day, all twenty of them! From infancy to middle age, I have moved with faith in God's plan. In each new location God has shown His steadfast faithfulness, providing affordable housing, safe communities, access to quality education, opportunity for spiritual growth, and amazing lifetime friendships. For what you have done I will always praise you in the presence of your faithful people. And I will hope in your name, for your name is good. Psalm 52:9 

Gentleness. To speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people. Titus 3:2

Perfect Day #8: The day I met my best girlfriend, Linda. On this earth, she is my role model. Her core ingredients are: humbleness, gentleness, kindness, goodness, giving, loving, sharing, believing, praying, trusting, and devotion to Jesus Christ. The frosting on top is that she is also fun, adventurous, talented, beautiful, a great mother, and most of all, willing to hang around people like me! Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Colossians 3:12

Self-Control.  But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified. 1 Corinthians 9:27 ESV

Perfect Day #9: The days I spend in peaceful meditation, surrounded by the beauty of God's creation. Sometimes this day is on a beach, or hiking a wooded-path, or admiring the brilliance of a sunrise or sunset from my back deck. Whether alone or in the company of others, God has impressed upon me the need to focus upon Jesus Christ as the center of my life, taking time to be still and know His power and presence. These times of refreshment and devotion strengthen me for the battle of the flesh and will that permeates all of my imperfect days! We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:5

 My Prayer for You

Girlfriends, my prayer for you this weekend is that you will celebrate and honor motherhood--thanking God for the mother who birthed you. If you too are a mom, I pray your children will esteem and praise you for your sacrifices to them. May the fruit of spirit sweeten your soul as you watch it grow. Please, do not wait for a radio contest to recognize and enjoy God's perfection in your ordinary days. His will for you is good and holy!

Love to All!

P.S. If any of you do happen to win an exotic vacation and need some company, or are unable to go, well, hey, I am available for travel! A girl can still dream, can't she????