Calling all singers...

Listen to the words of the wise; apply your heart to my instruction. For it is good to keep these sayings in your heart and always ready on your lips. I am teaching you today - yes, you - so you will trust in the Lord. I have written thirty sayings for you, filled with advice and knowledge. In this way, you may know the truth and take an accurate report to those who sent you. [Proverbs 22: 17-21, NLT]

"Flowers need a lot of water..." was the phrase that Kelly and I woke up to this morning, as my blackberry alarm buzzed in my ear! It was sent to us in an email from a dear sister and friend in the Lord - who is incredible, wise counsel in our faith walk. And when I read these words...immediately my mind went to the scene of the Samaritan woman at the well, as Kelly and I were very thirsty! Not necessarily for a drink of water, but we were spent - absolutely wore out -and after a night of restless sleep we woke absolutely drained! Even Carter shared as he climbed into bed with us this morning that he did not sleep well, had some bad dreams and woke up "very upset", as he described it...
But it was the next line in the email, that clarified/affirmed the reference for me to John 4:10: “If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water." Her words were simple, and yet full of insight...

"Flowers need a lot of water. Could it be that the Lord is going to use all those tears to provide even MORE blooms in the desert? He is the Master Gardener."

He is the Master Gardener, the Great Physician, and the Fountain of Living Water...and all we need to do is ask Him, and He would give "living water"! And so this morning we turned to Him in His Word and asked of Him for the promise of overflow of Living Water to fill, renew and restore us!
Over the last several weeks I have been taking a walk every afternoon...don't get excited-it is just to the mailbox...desperate to receive a note of encouragement, a card, a book - just something that would allow my mind to stop "thinking" so much about the move, the house, Jackson, our situation, how the Lord is going to provide, or when the Lord is going to deliver us...but everyday it has been empty! I mean nothing - no junk mail, no solicitation, not even a bill - talk about a miracle! But it was a little over a week ago that my mom and I finally figured out, that when she forwarded her and dad's mail to their new address - it also forwarded all of our family's mail there as well. So of course, last week, I went online and corrected the change for Kelly and my mail to be delivered back to the farm. And even though we received confirmation that the address change is in effect - now mom and dad or Kelly and I are not receiving any mail in any mailbox! So, somewhere in the midst of the "USPS black hole" you will find there all the bills, all the letters, all the junk mail and all the notes of encouragement that have been sent over the last two weeks to us! And man is it frustrating...but oh, what a lesson HE has taught us! Even though this "wicked scheme" of the enemy has cut a line of encouragement...our Master has used it to Glorify His Name and Teach us in His Ways!
In Proverbs 22 the Holy Spirit revealed to me today a powerful insight...that, "I am teaching you today - yes, you - so you will trust in the Lord." So many times we tend to rely on, lean on, or trust in the counsel and encouragement of others - and not to say that is wrong or unwise - but it is...if we don't look to Him, lean on Him and Trust in Him...because “If you only knew the gift HE has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask HIM, and HE would give you living water.” Do you see the promise there...
If we would just ask Him, turn to Him, rely on Him...He would give us Living Water - that we would thirst no more! That we would be filled with "the gift"...the indwelling and outflow of the Holy Spirit in our life - that we would not be worn out, exhausted, absolutely spent or drained! That our tears would only "create more blooms in the desert" - that the Spirit would guide, lead, instruct, equip, correct, renew, restore, resurrect and reveal to us the Truth that would unlock and continue to set us free! And - oh - what a gift...and all we have to do is ask!
And so here is where Kelly and I need your help - and we are calling all singers...
"Blessed be the Lord, Who daily loads us with benefits,
The God of our salvation!
Our God is the God of salvation; And to GOD the Lord belong escapes from death.
But God will wound the head of His enemies, The hairy scalp of the one who still goes on in his trespasses.
The Lord said, “I will bring back from Bashan, I will bring them back from the depths of the sea,
That your foot may crush them in blood, And the tongues of your dogs may have their portion from your enemies.”
They have seen Your procession, O God, The procession of my God, my King, into the sanctuary.
The singers went before, the players on instruments followed after;
Among them were the maidens playing timbrels.
Bless God in the congregations, The Lord, from the fountain of Israel. [Psalm 68:19-25, NKJV]
Did you hear that...God will crush His enemies - those giants that surround and come against His people! God will destroy the wicked schemes of this world! God will wound those who do not turn from their sin, and accept the Unconditional, Unmerited, Unfailing Love and Grace of Our Lord and Savior -that washed away the sin of the world through the Blood that was shed on the Cross at Calvary! He will create an escape, provide the resources and deliver us from sheer death and destruction...if we only believe, look, trust, and rely on Him! That is His promise... Psalm 68 is a rally cry for God's people to fix their eyes on Jesus, and ask him for the Promise of Living Water! He is the fountain...and all who drink of Him...will never go thirsty! He has brought us to a point of "definition" in our relationship with Him in this journey...and even though we are weak and weary - we ask of Him, rely on Him, lean on Him, and Trust in Him! We do not look just to the mailbox for direction, encouragement and gifts - for all we have to do is ask of Him...
Though the silence and the delays may be deafening and frustrating...turn to Him, and ask that He would bring "singers" to go before - a choir to step out in faith, when there seems to be no way - and "players of instruments" to come after! So we may share the story of His Great Love, Grace and Provision for generations to come, and let us never forget...that when we boast, we do not boast in our own, but in Christ and Him Crucified - just as the Living Word teaches us! To Christ alone be the Glory now and forever more!
Do you believe...that He is the Fountain of Living Water...and that He has incredible gifts, incomparable riches, and the Power, Strength, and Majesty to move that mountain, deliver and provide the resources in abundance in your life...in ways that will "shock and awe" us? I do...and so I ask that you would sing with me, stand on the Promises of God and walk by Faith-and not by sight!
Love you all...and keep those Eyes on Jesus!