Cisterns....

Cisterns....

One of the first places we worked when my husband was in graduate school was way out in the mountains of northern Nevada...my husband was hired for the summer to map a certain area for a mining company...
We had a 16 foot travel trailer, an old Scout for transportation and lived at an old homestead with no buildings, just a stone foundation, one fruit tree, one shade tree and a cistern with fresh water...

My husband dug a hole next to one of the trees for our "outhouse"... We parked next to the other tree for shade...no electricity, gas for cooking and a forty mile drive over graveled roads to town, laundry and shopping...

Driving that Scout was an adventure...the dust roiled in through every hole until we were covered with dust from head to toe and then some...I think if we would have had duct tape at the time, we would have used it for covering up the holes... But we made do and took baths when we could instead...

That is why we enjoyed the cistern each day so much...we had two wash tubs, some scraps of lumber from the decomposing cabin and a hose...so my husband syphoned the water from the cistern down a little slope to the washtubs which sat on the lumber...so we had two "bathtubs" each evening to enjoy...(the wild horses enjoyed the fresh water as well)...an amazing open view as we washed the days grim off...

I know I have written about this before, but reading about cisterns in the Word brought it to mind again...Joseph was thrown into a cistern which was dry, fortunately for him...Jeremiah was thrown into a cistern which was muddy....the Samaritan woman drew out of a cistern, but wanting the living water which Jesus offered....and we are offered the free gift of the water of life...

Out in the mountains where we were, we couldn't have lived without that wonderful fresh water bubbling each day for our cleansing and use...it was truly a gift...and life not only for us but the animals roaming the area...

Thank YOU for the water of life that You offer to everyone who comes and  asks...freely bestowed...


The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.
Revelation 22:17

John 4:3-43

“My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.
Jeremiah 2:13

Work....

Work...

Let them sacrifice thank offerings and tell of his works with songs of joy.
Psalm 107:22

I remember the days of long ago; I meditate on all your works and consider what your hands have done.
Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life.
Psalm 143:5, 8

Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”
John 6:29

Thank YOU for your wonderful works...and help me when I dwell in unbelief...for that is not doing the work you desire...

Halloween ....and beyond...

Halloween...and beyond...

Now that Halloween is over, the stores can stock with nice stuff...I have an aversion to all the ghoulish stuff that comes with Halloween...too garish and evil looking...there is enough of the real evil without emphasizing it for my taste...

I am a Halloween baby, meaning I was born on Halloween decades ago...and the decades are accumulating...so I want good things to show off my fall birthday...the rich colors of fall, the harvest, the changing of the seasons, the pumpkins, fall apples...fun costumes-fairies, princesses, swashbucklers, Knights, creative homemade costumes...a celebration of life and days...

This just points beyond  to the celebration we have of thanksgiving for provision and finally to the celebration of our Savior's birth....we don't have exact days for these, but thanksgiving should be ongoing...Christmas represents Christ's birth, without whom we would have no salvation...

Thank YOU for fall, it's experiences, it's richness, it's waiting for the celebration of Life...Real Life in Christ...

then I will send rain on your land in its season, both autumn and spring rains, so that you may gather in your grain, new wine and olive oil. I will provide grass in the fields for your cattle, and you will eat and be satisfied.
Deuteronomy 11:14-15

Yet he has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy.”
Acts 14:17

This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.
Matthew 1:18-25

A small gift...

A little gift placed in the hands of a big God can change the world...Lysa terkeurst...

Motivational speaker...Inky Johnson..l

Motivational speaker...Inky Johnson..

"When we fail to achieve our lifelong dreams, we must ask,
“Am I really failing, or is God prevailing?”"

http://www.coolestone.com/media/18021/This-Is-Why-You-Should-Never-Let-a-Tragedy-Define-Your-Life--Inky-Johnson/#.Wf2hk-tOKK0

http://www.inkyjohnson.com

This video was part of my morning ritual this am...I have never heard of Inky Johoson, but then I really don't follow football...
(The coolestone link was a speech before an Aflac group..the second link is his own).

He sounds like the walking testimony of "in everything give thanks"...a life long dream of football came crashing down in one tackle...changing his plans but sending him on a new adventure inspiring others through advsersity...

Sounds like some people in the Bible...
Moses wasn't looking to lead a lot of people...
Joseph wasn't excited about being a slave...
Elijah was ready to die...
Jonah really didn't want to go to preach to Ninevah...
To name a few...but God's plan prevailed and people were blessed...the world was blessed...

It goes back to handing each day over to God...He is the author, creator, planner...He holds the breath we take...the almighty I AM...

Thank YOU...let my life glorify You in some way today...

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
Jeremiah 29:11-13

 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.
Genesis 50:20

Bread....Bread of Life....

Bread...Bread of Life...

I AM the Bread of life...John 3:35...

I didn't know that Bethlehem means "the house of bread".... And when you think of it, why wouldn't it..?  Jesus was born there...the Bread of Life coming from the "house of bread"... It all makes sense ...
God has a plan...alway has, always will...from the beginning to all eternity...it all connects...

All cultures have some kind of bread...why wouldn't God try to connect with his creation in a basic way..bread...that Jesus could be everyones source of food, provision , salvation...


I loved reading through the following references...discovery...light bulbs flashing...
Read, take, eat...meditate ...on the true source of life...thank YOU...

https://www.openbible.info/topics/bread

http://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Bread,-As-Food

https://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionary/bread/

http://www.allempires.com/article/index.php?q=bread

http://classes.hawken.edu/youarewhatyoueat/?tag=bread

http://www.breadculture.net

http://biblehub.com/topical/b/bethlehem.htm

Giving thanks...

Giving thanks....

I was reading about the first declaration of Jesus' "I Am"-- the bread of life...
After he had given thanks and fed at least 5000 people...

Giving thanks---and food abounded , feeding multitudes...
Philippians giving thanks and peace abides...

Giving thanks is first listed in Leviticus and goes all the way to Revelations...it should be that way in my life, it definitely bring more blessings than grouchy get around...thanking God for who He is and what he has done ...I particularly like the phrase in Daniel when he was facing adversity, "just as he had done before".   He gave thanks...

It is God's will that we should give thanks...and He has give us soooo very much in the salvation that we need...thanks be to God...

Thank YOU...

https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-manna-700742

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
1 Peter 2:9

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.
1 Chronicles 16:34

The two choirs that gave thanks then took their places in the house of God; ....Nehemiah 12:40a

I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.
Psalm 9:1

I will give you thanks, for you answered me; you have become my salvation.
Psalm 118:21

Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.
Daniel 6:10

Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, and when he had given thanks, he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and they in turn to the people.
Matthew 15:36

Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down (about five thousand men were there). Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.
John 6:10-11

For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.”
1 Corinthians 11:23-24

But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 15:57

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

saying: “We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was, because you have taken your great power and have begun to reign.
Revelation 11:17

And here it is the month of thanksgiving ....ah ha...