Have you ever been thirsty? Silly question, huh? Of course, we have all been thirsty! There's nothing I enjoy more than a big ole glass of ice water after I've come in from a run! It does something for me that nothing else can do at that particular moment! Sure, a cool fan in front of my face feels really good........but that ice water does something for me that the fan cannot! You see, the water cools me from the inside out. The fan is only external! Are you seeing the spiritual connection I'm making here? We can do so much to change our outward appearance. We want to do better, so we clean up the 'outward man'. We cut our hair, change our clothes, stop drinking, stop smoking, stop cursing.........but you see, that's all just temporary, that's all just external. BUT....if we get a drink of the Holy Spirit.........that changes us from the inside out!
Have you ever wondered why we need water to survive? Well, our bodies are made up of mostly water. Approximately 85% of your brain, 80% of your blood, and 70% of your muscle is water. Every cell in your body needs water to live. Water helps remove the dangerous toxins that your body takes in from the air you breathe, the food you eat, and the chemicals used in the various products you use on your hair and skin. Water also cushions your joints and carries oxygen and nutrients into all your cells, as well as regulates your body temperature. You need water to keep your metabolism working correctly. For this to happen, there is a certain level of water in each of our bodies that we need to maintain. If we don't keep that amount, our bodies will start to dehydrate. Water is vital to our livelihood!
Water is often used in the Bible as an example of the Holy Spirit. Just like water is vital to our physical bodies, Christ is vital to our spiritual bodies. I'm reminded of the story in John, chapter 4, of the Samaritan woman at the well. Jesus was at the well when she came to it, and he asked for a drink. She could not understand why a Jew would ask this of a Samaritan, because they had no dealings with each other. Verse 10 says, "Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would hav given thee living water." He goes on in verses 13 and 14 to say, "Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosover drinketh of this water shall thirst again; But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life."
This physical body takes in water and it tastes so good, and makes us feel so much better....but, go to work again, start sweating again......what happens? We get thirsty all over again! The 'fix' is only temporary, we have to find more water to quench our thirst! I'm so glad that Christ gladly took my place on the cross and shed his blood for me, that as a 7 year old little girl, I gladly asked Him into my heart..........and now the 'well of water' dwells within me that gives me everlasting life! Thank you, Jesus!!!
But wait..........the title is called 'spiritual dehydration', isn't it? If I have the 'well of water springing up into everlasting life' within me, then how can I get spiritually dehydrated, right? Yes, I believe in eternal salvation, John 3:16 tells me that, but we can drift away from where we should be on our spiritual walk. It doesn't mean we are 'lost' again, or that the well has dried up within us, it simply means we have gone astray.........we have backslidden. And while I am at it....let me say, this is a DAILY battle that we must face, physically and spiritually!
If we withhold water for a day from our physical body, we will start to see some physical signs of dehydration. It starts slow, and for a while people will not be able to notice, but keep withholding the water, and everyone will eventually know! Your blood pressure will start dropping, blood clots may form, your kidney function will be impaired, your skin starts to dry, you head begins to hurt......just to name a few...........without intervention, you will die!
If we withhold 'spiritual' water for a day, you will start seeing 'spiritual' changes in us as well! What is 'spiritual' water, you ask..........it's daily reading the Bible and daily prayers! At first, no one can see a difference, but given time without it, they will! You get 'cold'. You begin to see everything in a critical spirit. Those things that were sinful to you, begin to not look so bad. You begin to find excuses for staying home instead of being at church. Before long, you are completely out of fellowship with Christ and right where the devil wants you......spiritually dehydrated..........and if you don't change things.......you will spiritually die!
What can we do about it? Well, when that first sign of thirst hits us.....what do we do? We go to the nearest sink and pour us a glass of water. As we drink it, to anyone else's eye, we look the same, they can't see any difference. But we can feel it can't we? I come in all hot and sweaty from running, and to feel that cool wetness go over my tongue and down my parched throat, and into my stomach........it makes a difference in me! My family can't see it, but I sure can! Before long though, my family begins to see that I'm not sweating anymore, my face isn't as red, and I'm not panting like I was before! Same thing spiritually! We start our day off in God's Word and in prayer. No one can see any 'difference' in us. But hold on, let the troubles and trials of this world hit us........and it will definitely show if we've been in contact with God, won't it?
God, please help me to realize just how much more the importance of spiritual hydration is for me, even more than physical hydration. Keep me close to that wonderful fountain that you placed in my soul on February 27, 1977. Help me to stay sensitive to your guidance, that when I feel the tug of spiritual thirst, that I can quickly restore my soul through, You, Oh, Lord. Thank you for sharing your Word with us, and giving us your Holy Spirit!
'There is a fountain filled with blood, drawn from Immanuael's veins. And sinners plunge beneath that flood, lose all their guilty stains! Lose all their guilty stains, lose all their guilty stains....and sinners plunge beneath that flood, lose all their guilty stains!!"
Saturday, August 9, 2008
Sunday, July 20, 2008
more Gatlinburg pics!
What a big banana split that Wade & Riley shared at Mel's diner........their eyes were definitely bigger than their stomachs! We had a lot of fun at the aquarium!!!!!
Our family trip to Gatlinburg!
This is a picture of the girls on our hotel balcony outside, then the next pic is a view down to the lobby from our 10th floor hallway!
'Us'
Well, here's the Breeden clan! The girl's and I....and Koda, just love to look at our beautiful flower bed.
And, here's Wade looking all 'mean' on his bike.......I think he looks like my sweetie. lol, aww shucks!
Kaylea's Koda Bear
Well, Kaylea has always loved pugs! She's wanted one for a long, long time. The Lord finally worked things out, and for her 14th birthday, she got Koda, a black pug. Here are some pics of him from the age of 6 weeks to 3 1/2 months old.
Our 4-legged family members!
Shiloh is our shy, but faithful and loyal beagle! And this is our new addition, Koda, he's ourblack pug that was born on Easter morning!
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
It's Not About Who We Are!
Romans 11:6 says, "And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work." Let that soak in for a moment. I know it can be a tongue twister, but the meaning is so important! My amplified version reads this way, "But, if it is by grace (His unmerited favor and graciousness), it is no longer conditioned on works or anything men have done. Otherwise, grace would no longer be grace (it would be meaningless)." Don't forget over in Ephesians 2:8,9 it says, "For by GRACE are ye saved through FAITH; and that NOT OF YOURSELVES: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast." If this old selfish world could ever grasp hold of that concept, that truth, that reality......what a different place this would be!
Some put all they have into their career, their calling. Now, there's nothing wrong with that.......unless it is what defines you. Are you a dentist, and that's all people see? What about a doctor, lawyer, teacher, nurse, banker, trucker, plumber......or even a preacher? When people allow what the DO to define them, then that is all they are. They are the ones constantly working, never taking a day off. Because, if they do........then they are undefined, it is when they are working that they feel good about themselves.
Some put all they have into what they have.....materials. It's all about that nice house, car, boat, designer clothing and jewelry. The more you have, the bigger the name brand, the better of a person they are. We've all seen these folks, haven't we? They are constantly buying, and bragging on their 'things', because that is what defines them.
How sad!! What a simple message Jesus gives us! Salvation has absolutely NOTHING to do with who we are, or what we have!!! It's what we are.............we are ALL sinners!! Romans 3:23, "For ALL have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" He didn't suffer that awful death on the cross because we have a great career, or because we drive that mercedes and wear the finest of fashion! He also didn't suffer so because we are poor, jobless, and can't afford but rags and drive a clunker, either! Don't let the devil take you down that road of 'poor pitiful me'! It's NOTHING to do with what we HAVE................it's what we ARE.....S-I-N-N-E-R-S!!!!
How wonderful it is to know that no matter what career I have, what I can afford, all that doesn't matter at all, none of that even is put into the equation! It's all about Him, and what He did! He loved us so much that He was willing to lay down his life so that we may have life eternal! It is His grace, His unmerited favor to us, that we are allowed to become a child of the king!!! Take that burden off of your back and relax, bask in His love and mercy and grace! All we do, all we have on this earth, stays exactly there.....earth! It is the eternal home that we need to think upon...........and He gave you that eternal home as a gift.........no work on our part is involved! How wonderful!!!!!!!!
Dear Lord, I am so unworthy of your gift, but I am so thankful that at 7 yrs. old, you presented your gift of eternal life to me, and with my child-like faith, I accepted your gift. It is NOTHING about me, nothing in me that you saw! It is your love and mercy, Jesus' precious blood that covered such a wretch as me that I can now say I am a child of the king!!!! Whether I am a nurse, or a waitress, whether I wear Tommy Hilfiger, or K-mart's brand...........you love me the same! Lord, let this old world have all of its glitter and glory, I'll stick with you! Their braggings are all temporary, for this old world's things will fade away........but your glory is forever! May those I encounter not see me, dear Father, not see my profession, my 'things'..........but see You, through me. Thank you that grace is NOT meaningless, it is not conditioned on our works or anything we do or have...........but it was all taken care of that day on the cross. It is by your unselfish deed, your blood that I am what I am today........nothing in me! Thank You dear Jesus for your mercy and grace!!
Some put all they have into their career, their calling. Now, there's nothing wrong with that.......unless it is what defines you. Are you a dentist, and that's all people see? What about a doctor, lawyer, teacher, nurse, banker, trucker, plumber......or even a preacher? When people allow what the DO to define them, then that is all they are. They are the ones constantly working, never taking a day off. Because, if they do........then they are undefined, it is when they are working that they feel good about themselves.
Some put all they have into what they have.....materials. It's all about that nice house, car, boat, designer clothing and jewelry. The more you have, the bigger the name brand, the better of a person they are. We've all seen these folks, haven't we? They are constantly buying, and bragging on their 'things', because that is what defines them.
How sad!! What a simple message Jesus gives us! Salvation has absolutely NOTHING to do with who we are, or what we have!!! It's what we are.............we are ALL sinners!! Romans 3:23, "For ALL have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" He didn't suffer that awful death on the cross because we have a great career, or because we drive that mercedes and wear the finest of fashion! He also didn't suffer so because we are poor, jobless, and can't afford but rags and drive a clunker, either! Don't let the devil take you down that road of 'poor pitiful me'! It's NOTHING to do with what we HAVE................it's what we ARE.....S-I-N-N-E-R-S!!!!
How wonderful it is to know that no matter what career I have, what I can afford, all that doesn't matter at all, none of that even is put into the equation! It's all about Him, and what He did! He loved us so much that He was willing to lay down his life so that we may have life eternal! It is His grace, His unmerited favor to us, that we are allowed to become a child of the king!!! Take that burden off of your back and relax, bask in His love and mercy and grace! All we do, all we have on this earth, stays exactly there.....earth! It is the eternal home that we need to think upon...........and He gave you that eternal home as a gift.........no work on our part is involved! How wonderful!!!!!!!!
Dear Lord, I am so unworthy of your gift, but I am so thankful that at 7 yrs. old, you presented your gift of eternal life to me, and with my child-like faith, I accepted your gift. It is NOTHING about me, nothing in me that you saw! It is your love and mercy, Jesus' precious blood that covered such a wretch as me that I can now say I am a child of the king!!!! Whether I am a nurse, or a waitress, whether I wear Tommy Hilfiger, or K-mart's brand...........you love me the same! Lord, let this old world have all of its glitter and glory, I'll stick with you! Their braggings are all temporary, for this old world's things will fade away........but your glory is forever! May those I encounter not see me, dear Father, not see my profession, my 'things'..........but see You, through me. Thank you that grace is NOT meaningless, it is not conditioned on our works or anything we do or have...........but it was all taken care of that day on the cross. It is by your unselfish deed, your blood that I am what I am today........nothing in me! Thank You dear Jesus for your mercy and grace!!
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