We can't help but be drenched

Romans 8:38-39 (ESV)

38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

In 1985 I took my bride to visit Niagara Falls for our honeymoon.  We were truly awed by their enormity. Can you believe that at each and every second that goes by, approximately one-hundred and fifty thousand tons of water go plunging down to the bottom?! And because of their marvelous wonder, the Niagara Falls attracts nearly 12 million tourists a year.

The Lord could have used a lot less water. He could have made the Falls smaller, but instead He created them as high as a twenty story building -- but would you believe that as much water as pours down from those Falls, that amount doesn't even compare to the amount of love that God has poured out upon us?

God's love toward us is not like a little water from the tap. It is not as high as a twenty story building -- it's not as high as a fifty story building! His love far surpasses that! We can't help but be drenched!

Be encouraged! God loves you so much. He cares for every one of your needs and He is near to you! Call upon His name today.

Dear Lord, we thank You for your love. We pray that we would accept it and share it with those around us. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

The power of water

Matthew 22:29 (ESV)

But Jesus answered them, “You are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God.

The provinces of New Brunwick and Nova Scotia have one thing in common: they share the highest tides on our planet. Imagine 100 billion tons of seawater flowing in and out of the Bay of Fundy daily, or, to put it in terms more easy to understand, 338 983 050 847 457 ten-ounce-glasses of water. I doubt we could drink that much in a life time! To tell you the truth, that amount of water is higher than all of our planet's freshwater combined!

The Bay of Fundy not only experiences a 50 foot tidal range, which is 5 times higher than the usual tides on the Atlantic coast, but in some parts of its Bay, the tide retreats as much as 3 miles. And these high tides and low tides happen, on average, every six hours and 13 minutes.

Scientists have found an explanation for this phenomenon. These high tides are especially due to resonance and to the shape of the bay. The water in this Bay has a natural resonance, or rocking motion, which they call seiche. It's kind of like when we get into the bathtub, and the water sloshes from side to side for a few seconds. In the Bay of Fundy however, it takes about 13 hours for the water to "slosh" from the mouth of the bay to its head and back again. In essence, the Bay of Fundy is like an enormous bathtub, with the ocean tides invading the bay every 12 hours and 25 minutes reinforcing this resonance!

The bay's unique shape contributes to the high tides as well. As the bay becomes narrower and shallower, toward the upper bay (From 426 feet to 131 to be exact.), the saltwater is forced even higher onto the shores.

For many centuries people didn't understand the kind of power contained by the Bay of Fundy, and even less how to apply such a force in their daily life. After all, how could having the world's highest tides impact local lives for the better?

In 1984 the first tidal power station emerged in North America on the shores of the Bay of Fundy, in Annapolis, Nova Scotia, and since then, all over the world such tidal power stations are being built. Why? Because they are one of the most reliable natural resources! As long as we have a moon and a sun, they will generate electricity!

As Christians, we, too, aren't all that sure how to access the power provided to us by the Holy Spirit. Sadly, many of us aren't even aware that God is providing us with such power! But the Bible is specific: "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you." (Acts 1:8)

But just as the power in the Bay of Fundy is useless unless we harness it, we too have to become familiar with the power God has provided us with.

Unlike the powers in this world, this power strives on weakness and unselfishness:

"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." (2 Cor 12:9)

It's power, however, is more powerful than all the atomic bombs in our world: "I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come." (Eph 1:18-21)

Isn't getting to know Him what it's all about? Remember there is beauty in suffering as well as in rejoicing, as long as we remain focused on the One who loves us way beyond reason.

The next time you drink a glass of water, remember: God has given you power through His Holy Spirit. He is the living water who will set you free!

Dear Lord, thank You for being the living water. Thanks for the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Do you want results?

John 15:4 (NIV)

Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

How can you obtain the fruit that Jesus encouraged us to bear?

The bad news is that no one can bear such fruit.

The good news is that this fruit comes naturally if we remain in Jesus the Christ.

In other words, we cannot obtain these delicious, mouth-watering fruit by ourselves. We have to step aside and hand control to our King of Kings. We must stop depending on our own "clever" initiatives, and start depending upon Jesus Himself.

Let's think about this for a moment. Just how does fruit develop on a vine or tree? First of all, it must stay connected to the plant, and secondly, it must drink water! And in order to drink water, it must thirst! The Scriptures refer to God's Holy Spirit, our Counselor in all things, as water. Therefore we must thirst after God's Spirit!

"'If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.' By this he meant the Spirit" John 7:37-39.

I remember as a young boy drinking water from a mountain stream in Colorado. It was so sparkling and so pure. Why was it so pure? Because it has percolated through rocks as it came down the mountian, making it exceptionally pure for drinking.

We, too, can drink such pure spiritual water, by spending time with our Maker, the King of Kings of the universe.

We keep ourselves quite busy in this life, to the point that it seems like we can't even catch a breath of fresh air. But are all of our activities, no matter how important they seem, really worth the stress we are going through?

If we had been that busy when we encountered our spouse, would we have had the time to fall in love with one another? Or would we have missed the love of our lives?

Have you noticed that when we are so much on the run, there isn't even time to take a sip of water? Have you observed that no matter how long you spend on all the small stuff, you never get a handle on it? The work never ends. And neither does the stress!

Are we missing something by mimicking the world around us? Isn't taking time to be with God much more satisfying than anything else? Isn't loving our family and friends of much more importance than running around like a beheaded chicken?

Maybe, just maybe, this is why our fruit rarely grows and maybe, just maybe, this is why we have a hard time noticing God at work in our neighborhood.

"You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit - fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name" John 15:16.

Do we want results? Maybe it is time to slow down and think about what really matters in life. If we can't hear from God, maybe, just maybe we have fallen into the trap of busy…ness, neglecting what matters the most.

Dear Lord, help us take the time to drink the water of life, breath the fresh air, take the time to enjoy the life that You have given to us. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Just a Little Bit of Friendliness

John 10:10 (NIV)

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

It started small. In 1931 the Wall was just an ordinary pharmacy with one huge goal: to reach out to those in need. The depression years were terrible, and many businesses were going belly up; but despite the fact that the home of this particular pharmacy, Wall, South Dakota, was only a tiny town, it knew how to survive.

How?

Located at the entrance to the South Dakota Badlands, tourists frequently passed through Wall during the hot summer months. The pharmacist figured out that the greatest need he could fill for these tourists was to quench their thirst. Although in those days they did not have refrigerators like we do now, he figured out a way to provide free ice water to anyone entering his pharmacy. But more than this, he treated anyone visiting his store like royalty.

Before long, the little pharmacy of Wall, soon to be known as "The Wall", along with its pharmacist who cared enough to take an interest in his customers, became famous all over the state, and eventually all over the US. People literally flocked in.

Over the years, business continued to boom, and now The Wall has expanded to the point that it could better be called an indoor mall. Covering an entire city block, it contains a variety of stores where one can buy clothing, shoes, books, toys, souvenirs, music, food… and of course, pharmaceutical drugs. But it is still renown not only for its many services, but especially for its friendly and caring staff and its free ice water.

Being friendly attracts people. Caring for others makes people think. Being genuinely interested into the welfare of others opens up even the hardcore introverts. People flock to places where they really feel welcome.

I have to wonder why so many churches can't seem to attract those who don't know Jesus.

I mean, the gospel message is powerful. Not only does it free people from addictions, it also provides freedom and real life beyond anyone's wildest dreams. Jesus is alive and He backs up his message of salvation: "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." (John 10:10 NIV); "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matt 28:18-20 NIV).

So why aren't people flocking in?

Is it possible that it's because we, as Christians, do not know how to genuinely be interested into the welfare of others? Is it possible that we don't really know how to love others like Jesus did? Is it possible that we don't know Jesus intimately enough? "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." (John 13:34-35 NIV); "No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us." (1 John 4:12 NIV)

If newcomers don't feel welcome in an establishment, especially in a church, they will eventually stop coming. Churches are famous for clicks, but we have to ask ourselves if we attend church to be with our friends, or if we attend with the single purpose of worshiping the One who makes a difference in our lives, of loving and adoring Him and of loving and encouraging those He died for? Isn't attending for any other reason truly a waste of time?

"Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'" (Matt 7:22-23 NIV)

What is your purpose for attending church? Do you want to follow in Jesus' steps? Do you want to obey His call to love one another and to broadcast His dynamic message of love and deliverance to a generation that hungers for real meaning in life?

A little bit of friendliness will have a huge impact on someone's life. If you don't believe it, visit the Wall in Wall, South Dakota.

Dear Lord, we pray that we would display the friendliness that will impact somebody today and bring them to You. Help us be that glass of water. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Lessons from a Scarecrow – Watering

Isaiah 55:9-11 (NIV)

9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth,

    so are my ways higher than your ways

    and my thoughts than your thoughts.

10 As the rain and the snow

    come down from heaven,

and do not return to it

    without watering the earth

and making it bud and flourish,

    so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,

11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth:

    It will not return to me empty,

but will accomplish what I desire

    and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

So I have a question for you.  Have you ever stood out in a rain storm?  The other day I was minding my own business watching over the garden and the skies opened up and wow did the rain come down. From my calculations we got a little under 2 inches of rain.  The garden sure seemed to like all fresh water.

Water is the most important thing we have been given by God to support our life system.  We can go many days without food and live, but without water, we will be dead in a few short days.  Water is a key element in growing a garden.  Both seeds and plants need adequate moisture to grow.  Seeds cannot germinate unless their hard outer shells are softened by the moist soil.  So too, our hearts can become hardened without having communion with the Spirit of God.  Jesus promised that when we receive the Holy Spirit, it would like rivers of living water:

Rainwater is the best way to water a garden (and it keeps your water bill down too!).  God, in His infinite wisdom, knows how to send rain in proper proportion to each stage of growth for the plants.  One must be faithful to properly prepare the garden, so that the rain God sends will be beneficial to the plants.  For example, plants such as squash and cucumbers, it is best to plant the seed on a small mound, encircled by a round trough to keep the moisture in.

When we are obedient to God, loving Him with all of our hearts, and preparing ourselves by serving Him in obedience, making the soil of our heart ready, God sends the rain of His Spirit in it’s seasons.  By preparing the soil of our hearts through active and daily prayer, like my water troughs, our hearts are both receptive to receiving God’s spirit when He pours down on us, and we are able to contain more of what He sends.

Without water, plants will die.  Once I delayed to water my garden during a particular hot day.  When I finally went to water the plants, some were drooping and fatigued.  This reminds me of when we go without prayer and fellowship with other believers.  It is like the saying, “Seven days without prayer makes one weak.”  Also, sin and disobedience takes us out of fellowship with God’s Spirit, and He withholds Himself so that we might hunger and thirst after righteousness again:

What will you do?  Will you keep your garden watered with prayer and communion with God?  Will you be satisfied with a droopy spirit, or press on to know the Lord?  It is a matter of life or death, for no one can live without the rain of the Holy Spirit.

Dear Lord, we thank You for the rain that You rain down upon each of us to refresh and strengthen us. Help our hearts always look toward You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

God's Wonders

Psalm 119:65-66 (NIV)

65 Do good to your servant

    according to your word, Lord.

66 Teach me knowledge and good judgment,

    for I trust your commands.

In early 1997, Nathan Zohner of Idaho Falls, Idaho, surveyed some 50 people about "dihydrogen monoxide." His survey read: "The chemical compound dihydrogen monoxide has been implicated in the deaths of thousands of Americans every year, mainly through accidental ingestion. In gaseous form, it can cause severe burns. And, according to a new report, "the dangers of this chemical do not end there." The chemical is so caustic that it "accelerates the corrosion and rusting of many metals, ... is a major component of acid rain, [and] ... has been found in excised tumors of terminal cancer patients." Symptoms of ingestion include "excessive sweating and urination," and "for those who have developed a dependency on it, complete withdrawal means certain death." Yet the presence of the chemical has been confirmed in every river, stream, lake and reservoir in the World. Judging from these facts, do you think dihydrogen monoxide should be banned?" Some 86% agreed it should be banned. Follow-up surveys at the University of Notre Dame, in Glasgow, Scotland and in Stockton, California yielded similar results. Interestingly, "dihydrogen monoxide" is more commonly called water (H2O)! Fourteen-year-old Nathan won the Idaho Science Fair by proving his project's thesis: "How Gullible Are We?"

There are so many wonders the Lord wants to show us. But instead of seeking His ways, we tend to want to stay gullible and ignorant of His truths. Are you seeking to know God's ways?

Dear Lord, we thank You for the wonders of this world.  We pray that we would seek to know Your ways. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Niagara Falls, Where Did all this Water Come From?

Genesis 1:9 (New King James Version)

Then God said, “Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear”; and it was so.

Back in1985 on our Honeymoon we went to Niagara Falls. As we stood there watching the water pour down the falls three question came to my mind. Where did all this water come from?" The easy answer is from the water rain/cycle.  Rain would fall in the vicinity of the Great Lakes and eventually, would drain over Niagara Falls. The second question is a little more difficult, where did the rain come from?" As I thought about it the answer came to me, form the oceans. The many oceans on this earth release water vapor, which eventually cooled, condensed and then fell as rain or snow. But her final question stumped me. "Daddy, where did the water in the oceans come from?"

With research, I discovered planet Earth has 1,400,000,000,000,000,000 (1,400 quadrillion) tons of water. Indeed, this is a huge supply of the liquid stuff! Just in United States alone, 7 billion tons (1,500 cubic miles) of rain fall each year on the land. Now there are some scientists who suggest that water was dumped on Earth by a zillion comets billions of years ago. This view is intriguing because the Earth's distant brother, the planet Mars, or even our Moon, contain no large quantities of water. Imagine zillions of tons of water falling to the Earth with mega erosive power, and still confined to our earth's borders because of the normal atmospheric pressure of 14.7 lbs/si. If water fell on Mars or the moon, it would vaporize quickly, since there is no atmosphere on that planet. Thus, a difficult chicken-egg question is posed: what came first, the water or Earth's atmosphere? If a zillion comets unleashed zillions of tons of water here on Earth and there was no atmosphere, the water would simply vaporize. If the air was here first, falling water could vaporize as it hits the atmosphere.

Even more intriguing is considering this in relation to the Big Bang Theory of the universe. Water on the Earth would have a very difficult time staying within the Earth's gravitational pull if a big bang occurred. Then there are those who suggest that the Earth suffered from a large impact at one time which made a huge chunk of our planet fly away, eventually becoming our Moon. Such an impact would have vaporized much of the water within our oceans and blown away boulders, rocks, sand, particles--anything that would not be fastened or tied to the Earth. Some purport that water hidden in deep cavities within our planet, eventually surfaced, resting in hollow areas called oceans, seas and lakes. However, this theory is losing relative strength.

Thus, the question of where water came from will haunt many scientists and geologists forever. I suggest that we accept the simple belief that God created this planet along with its quadrillions of tons of water. Genesis 1:1,2 states that God created the heavens, the earth with its water. Simple, and yet, astonishing--something only to be taken by faith.

I hope this make you want to get closer to the creator of everything.

Dear Lord we thank You for your creation and for all the reminders there are around us. We pray that we would take the time to give You all the glory and honor for everything. In Jesus, name, Amen.

God's Rain from the Ground

Galatians 6:9 (New International Version)

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

John Patton, missionary in the New Hebrides in the mid-nineteenth century, concentrated all of his efforts on demonstrating God's love to the natives. His initial efforts weren't overly successful, however. The islanders had their own gods. They didn't think they needed another one, and as a result, John was often ridiculed.

While ministering to the people on the Island of Aniwa, John noticed that several of its inhabitants suffered from a form of elephantiasis. Wondering why, he began to realize that the climate on this particular island was different from the others. Aniwa didn't have the tall hills of the other, more mountainous islands, and without the hills, there was nothing to attract clouds during the non-rainy season. During the rainy season, from December to April, rain was abundant enough, but the rain water quickly disappeared into the porous soil. Because of this, there were no rivers and no lakes on Aniwa, and when the rainy season was over, freshwater was in short supply.

As time went on, God began speaking to John about digging a well. When he approached chief Namakei and one of his friends about the plans, the chiefs looked at him with bewilderment. Then they started to laugh. "Freshwater only comes from the sky!" was their credulous response. "Dirt cannot produce water!" They then requested that John NOT spread such foolish ideas among their people. They claimed that if he did, the people would stop believing anything he said.

Despite the opposition, John started to dig a well near his mission house. Some locals helped him at first, but when one wall of the well collapsed at just twelve feet, they all abandoned the project.

This didn't deter John however, and he continued to dig by himself. He designed a creative block-and-pulley system that would allow him to raise a bucket filled with dirt out of the hole, where one of the native teachers could then dump it on the ground outside.

John worked feverishly for weeks on this project, until he finally reached a depth of about thirty feet. Here he noticed that the earth was a bit damp. That evening, filled with the confidence that can only come from the Holy Spirit, John approached the chiefs. "Tomorrow God will give us water from that hole," he declared. It didn't matter to him that the chiefs dismissed his comment.

The next morning, as he was preparing to continue the dig, John sank about two feet through a narrow hole in the center of the well. Immediately, water began gurgling up to fill the hole. John tasted the water. It was brackish, but it was definitely drinkable! "Come see the rain that God has provided us through the earth!" he called out excitedly.

The natives were skeptical, but when John let them taste the earth-given water, they couldn't believe their eyes. "Wonderful are the works of your God!" exclaimed Chief Namakei. "No gods of Aniwa have ever helped us in any way. Since you came to our island, the world has turned upside down!"

But the chief suddenly had a new concern: What if John kept the water for himself? "Will you share that water with us or is it all for you and your family?" he asked.

John laughed: "This water is available to anyone," he answered. "Come and take as much as you want. I believe there will always be plenty for us, and the more we use it, the fresher it will become. This is the way with many of the God-given gifts, and for this we praise His name!"

Shortly after that, chief Namakie forsook all of his gods and declared himself a follower of Jehovah. He then encouraged all of his people to do the same. In the weeks that followed, many islanders came to the Lord. They brought their idols and piled them up on a heap just outside of John's house, and from that point on, meetings to worship God attracted large crowds. Families in Aniwa began to have morning and evening worship, and eventually, every islander became a worshipper of the only true God. Is it any wonder that crime became a thing of minor concern on the island?

What started out as a crazy idea became the catalyst for the conversion of all the Aniwans. John depended on God's Spirit for guidance, and when he received instruction, he acted upon it. We have the same choice to make. Sometimes we wonder how we can witness to our family. We may have been burned several times trying to do so and may have decided to not bother them with this any longer. John could have decided to do the same, but he didn't. Instead he began to rely more and more on divine guidance.

Only God can bring about a miracle of repentance. Will you give up, or, like John Patton, will you persevere?

Dear Lord we pray for perseverance as we strive to show Your love. Help us not get discouraged when those around us don’t follow. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

We shall never thirst

Water! That precious gift for the tired and thirsty. Water! That essential refreshment we all need. Jesus, however, offers water we don't have to carry or purify. No, this is water that wells up within us. This is the water that the Holy Spirit brings us. This is the water that gives us eternal life that starts now and lasts forever!

... 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 4:14

Dear Lord, we know Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to live in us when we became a Christian. We ask that our stubborn will and that our sinful desires can be overcome with the Spirit's power, and that our life will display the joy and confidence that your refreshing presence brings. In Jesus' name. Amen