HEALING WATERS THAT FLOW FOR OUR SOULS

HEALING WATERS THAT FLOW FOR OUR SOULS

JESUS AND HEALING WATERS

ARE "FREELY" RECEIVED

"Freely you have received ~ Freely give"

Revelation 22:17

17The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.

Grace Applied:

The conversation at the well has imparted at least 5 priceless gifts to this woman’s soul.

Value: Jesus is the one who seeks her out.

Though a woman and a Samaritan, and in spite of her sin and shame, Jesus addresses her.

Note too that the depth of the conversation speaks value into her.

Salvation: Jesus offers her living water which satisfies the thirsty soul into eternity.

Forgiveness: Jesus helps her to acknowledge her sin. Brought into the open, she is relieved of its burden.

Spiritual insight: He opens her eyes so that she can proclaim, “Could this be the Messiah?” as she points her community to him.

Honour: she is his chosen vehicle through which the townsfolk would come to believe in him.

Bestowed with this honour, it’s hard to imagine that she doesn’t gain a new status in the wake of his visit.

Applying the story today

Jesus’ conversation with the woman at the well poured grace into her life which overflowed into the life of her community. The same things which Jesus bestowed on her are timeless graces, given freely to whoever will receive them. They rightfully belong to God’s children, yet they often slip through our grasp.

Here are a few questions for reflection and Bible verses which relate to each of these gifts.

If you find that you have difficulty in living out these graces in your life, reflect upon the Scriptural truths and ask God to help you to embrace them by faith.

You may also find strength in sharing your reflections with a spiritual friend or mentor.

Value: Am I secure in my knowledge that I am valued as one made in God’s image, addressed by him, and precious to him? (Romans 5:6-11, 1John3:1-3, Eph 1:3-6)

Salvation: Am I drinking—deeply and consistently–from the living water which Jesus gives, allowing it to well up in me and to flow from me? (John 7:37-39, Isaiah 55:1-3, Isaiah 58:9-11)

Forgiveness: Do I bring my sins into the open, being truthful with myself and with God, so that they can be forgiven and their burden removed? (Psam 32:1-5, Isaiah 43:24-25, Luke 7:44-50)

Spiritual insight: Do I seek to know God ever more deeply, aware that the depths of his being are knowable and yet ever beyond my mastery? (Col 2:2-3, Phil 3:10, Romans 11:33-35)

Honour: Without seeking my own honour, am I faithful to reflect Christ to the world around me, compelled by his love, glory and praise? (Mt 5:13-16, Rev 4:10-11)

Song:

Peace like a River

Peace like a river

Love like a mountain

The wind of Your Spirit

Is blowing everywhere

Joy like a fountain

Healing spring of life

Come, Holy Spirit

Let Your fire fall

Song:

Let your living water flow

Let Your living water flow over my soul

Let Your Holy Spirit come and take control

Of every situation that has troubled my mind

All my cares and burdens on to You I roll

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus

Father, Father, Father

Spirit, Spirit, Spirit

Come now, Holy Spirit, and take control

Hold me in Your loving arms and make me whole

Wipe away all doubt and fear and take my pride

Draw me to Your love and keep me by Your side

Give your life to Jesus, let Him fill your soul

Let Him take you in His arms and make you whole

As you give your life to Him He'll set you free

You will live and reign with Him eternally

Journey - Corrinne May

Lonely Road

Lonely Road

As I walked down a lonely road,

that seemed to have no end,

I had no one to comfort me,

no one to call my friend.

With tear-filled eyes I stumbled,

as I walked along the way.

Then suddenly I heard His voice

and I heard Him say...

"Come let me walk this road with you,

I'd like to take your hand."

And as we walked He told me of

a new and different land.

A land where no more sorrow

or tears will enter here.

Then all at once we came upon

a flight of golden stairs.

At the top I saw my mother,

her arms stretched open wide.

I tried so hard to reach her,

but He held me at His side.

"Not yet my child, You see I still

have work for you to do

and then these golden stairs will

also open up for you."

Inspired by God

@Lee Ward

Roses and Thorns

Roses and Thorns

We all have thorns in life.

Our hurts, sorrows, regrets, bitterness, bad habits, guilt,

people who hurt us or make us unhappy,

or people we haven't forgiven are our thorns.

As long as we do not let go,

we do not forgive,

we do not forget any dark area in our lives,

they remain as thorns in our hearts.

But if we let go,

forgive others,

and forgive ourselves,

our thorns can become roses.

There are no hopeless or permanent thorns.

So make thorns roses.

At the end of the day, will you be sleeping on a bed of thorns,

or on a bed of roses?

At the end of your life, will you be counting with God,

more roses than thorns?

It's your call.

It's your choice.

Fr. Jerry Orbos, SVD

From his book Defining Moments

"We came to this world with nothing and we will leave with nothing.

What matters is not the things we hold in our hands,

but the things we carry in our hearts."

Fr. Jerry Orbos, SVD

Tree of Life

Genesis 2:7-9

7And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

8And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.

9And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

Genesis 3:22

22And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:

Genesis 2:15-17

15And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.

16And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:

17But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

Revelation 22:1-2

1And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.

2In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

Revelation 22:5

5And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.

Proverbs 3:18

18 She is a tree of life to those who embrace her;

those who lay hold of her will be blessed.

Genesis 2:9

9And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

Proverbs 11:30

30The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.

Proverbs 13:12

12Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.

Proverbs 15:4

4A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.

Revelation 2:7

7He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

Flowers In God’s Garden

God designed a garden

So lovely flowers could blossom in it

They would grow in different shades

Emerge in many forms

And as God walks amid His hand-made garden

He finds delight

He is the object of their adoring

He also sees in the desert, the wilted ones, they break His heart

For they do not do, what they were made to do

All flowers were made to worship

In God’s garden.

With outstretched petals

Offering pure colors and sweet odors

This sweet adoration; the earth was destined to be covered

He finds pleasure

He is the object of their adoring

He also sees in the desert, the wilted ones, they break His heart

For they do not do, what they were made to do

All flowers were made to worship

In God’s garden.

Every flower with a special scent

Make up this odorous garden.

Every flower with a distinctive tint

Make up God’s multi-colored garden

Every flower with harmonious sound,

Make up a lively floral choir

He is the object of their adoring

He also sees in the desert, the wilted ones, they break His heart

For they do not do, what they were made to do

All flowers were made to worship

In God’s garden.

One flower, a beautiful blossom

All flowers, a glorious bouquet

One flower’s fragrance, pleasingly pleasant

All flowers together, imbue earth’s terrain

Their God is the object of their adoring

He also sees in the desert, the wilted ones, they break His heart

For they do not do, what they were made to do

All flowers were made to worship

In God’s garden.

Oh, Sweet Rose of Sharon

When the flowers play

In this field of compassion

The wilted ones are watching

When the flowers leap for joy

For they are no longer dismayed

The wilted ones are watching

Oh wilted ones

Enter into God’s garden

Where the cold of winter has passed

And it’s a bright new day

Where all your fears will vanish away

Oh wilted ones, enter into life,

Come and worship

In God’s garden.

@Written by Deborah Caruso

Song of Solomon 1:4 --- Hooglied 1:4

Song of Solomon 1:4 (KJV)

Draw me, we will run after thee:

the king hath brought me into his chambers:

we will be glad and rejoice in thee,

we will remember thy love more than wine: the upright love thee.

Hooglied 1:4

Neem me mee, laten we gaan!

Hij bracht me naar zijn kamer, mijn koning!

Ik kan wel zingen van geluk,

ja, jouw liefde is zoeter dan wijn.

Geen wonder dat alle meisjes van je houden!

Collages of the Garden

Scripture - Bijbeltekst

Jeremiah 31:3 (KJV)

3The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.

Song of Solomon 2:2-4(KJV)

2As the lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters.

3As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste.

4He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love.

Jeremia 31:3 (NBG)

Van verre is de HERE mij verschenen:

Ja, Ik heb u liefgehad met eeuwige liefde,

daarom heb Ik u getrokken in goedertierenheid.

Hooglied 2:2-4 (GNB)

hij

2 Als een lelie tussen distels,

zo is mijn vriendin tussen de meisjes.

zij

3 Een boom vol appels midden in het struikgewas,

zo is mijn lief te midden van de mannen.

Hoe graag wil ik in zijn schaduw zitten,

zijn vruchten zijn zo zoet in mijn mond!

4 Mijn lief neemt mij mee naar het wijnhuis,

daar heft hij voor mij zijn banier,

de banier van de liefde!

Song of Solomon 4:12-15 --- Hooglied 4: 12-15

Song of Solomon 4:12-15 (KJV)

12A garden inclosed is my sister, my spouse; a spring shut up, a fountain sealed.

13Thy plants are an orchard of pomegranates, with pleasant fruits; camphire, with spikenard,

14Spikenard and saffron; calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense; myrrh and aloes, with all the chief spices:

15A fountain of gardens, a well of living waters, and streams from Lebanon.

Hooglied 4: 12-15

12 Een afgesloten hof zijt gij, mijn zuster, bruid,

een afgesloten wel, een verzegelde bron.

13 Wat uit u opspruit, is een lusthof van granaatappelbomen,

met kostelijke vruchten,

hennabloemen en nardusplanten,

14 nardus en saffraan, kalmus en kaneel,

met allerlei wierookstruiken,

mirre en aloë,

met al de kostbaarste specerijen.

15 Fontein der hoven, bron van levend water,

beken van de Libanon!

The Sunflower

The Sunflower

From Glory you were born,

I called forth the sun’s rays to shine upon your yellow smile

The morning dew to kiss the beauty of your soft petals

You began to grow higher to me

and I laughed with joy as I saw your strength

I longed for your day of destiny

For my hands to reach down from heaven and pick you

Choosing you among the roses, choosing you among the lilies,

Yes, I choose you from a cherished spot in the bed of earth

I breathe in faith blowing it out on you as a breeze that waves you in its wind

No longer can I wait to spread your seeds of hope across forgotten places

And allow them also to bloom gold with my Glory

Flowing from you is a light sweet fragrance that is carried on ribbons of peace

I gaze upon you on in a summer and see that the birds have stolen from your smile

The wind has bent you over where the rain can no longer find the face I love

My light is searching you out. Can you hear my voice?

I am calling you by name. My spirit rises and I speak firmly to the sun,

I speak with authority to the dew,

I say to them, “This is my cherished flower, shine on her with warmth,

Rain on her love, earth, nurture her stems with words of life,

I tell the birds not to touch this one.

My voice echoes in your roots,

You shake with resurrection

“Life to you I speak, Life to you, Arise and look to me, you will find me before you utter a sound”

I anoint you, and you began to dance in the sun

You dance with life,

Now you can call forth the rain, the dew, and the sun,

You can shine in the Glory and send your seeds to the forgotten places

Still I will hold you, for you move my heart so much with your yellow smile

I pour out the love of growth, strength and maturity in me out on all your gentle beauty

Do you see how I love you? Do you hear my voice now?

Grow high to me. Grow strong toward me

I will always choose you, even among the other flowers

I love your yellow, your shape, and your dreams

Sunflower, I know you by name, I see you for what you are meant to be

Grow high to me and you will find the heavens open to you

@written by Hanahreed

Source: http://matterofloveministries.com/thesunflower.aspx

You Are God’s Flower Garden

Did you ever notice how quickly a small flower bud opens up into a magnificent blossom? Every spring I am amazed to see how quickly the little buds pop out of branches, bushes, and the ground. And then I get excited as within days the buds burst open into leaves, blossoms, and flowers. Just a little nutrition from the soil, warmth from the sun, and spring rain, cause the unfolding of glorious beauty all around us.

Did you know that you are God’s flower garden? The living Word of God, spoken into your life, contains everything needed to unfold the glory of God into your life. Maybe you feel like you’ve been plowed under by the weight of problems and struggles for too long, but watch and see how that plowing is preparing you to become a beautiful garden.

God sees what you can’t see. He has been planting many seeds into your life, and you don’t always realize that they are there. These seeds may have come from others sharing spiritual truth with you, through reading the Bible, through circumstances that have drawn your attention to God, through words of encouragement, through Christian music, through sermons, and through the Holy Spirit teaching you.

All you need is to add spiritual nutrition through prayer and meditating on His Word. Soak up the warm Sonshine of Jesus’ love. And open your heart to let the water of the Holy Spirit flow into you and out through you. As you do, the seeds will grow and poke up through the good soil of your spirit. (If your spirit hasn’t been good soil, ask His forgiveness and ask Him to make you into good soil.)

Suddenly buds will pop out and bloom. You’ll find yourself singing His praises. As you worship in spirit and in truth, the glory of His Presence will manifest in your life. You will be His beautiful flower garden. The loveliness and fragrance will draw others to Jesus.

Source:

http://www.daily-devotionals.com/2010/07/you-are-gods-flower-garden/

FLOWER'S OF GOD'S GARDEN

We are the flowers of God's garden

with stems, roots and seeds

Our soil deep in the earth

is food for our needs

Now we've been planted

We are a beauty of God's gift

As he protects his garden

and sends rain to give us a lift

The sun shines down from high

opening up our bloom

Then God blankets us from destruction

in a world full of doom

Our thorns grow strong and prickly

as a hard cover of sin

But God begins to pick those thorns

to shed us of our sins

We once were just a seed

that sprouted up with time

We have now become God's flower

and faith in us you will find

Our seed has been planted

Our faith we must find

with hopes of a great future

in God we seek to find

Our root is our soul

planted deep into the earth

we search among the soil

to show others their worth

Our stem is our body

the temple of the Lord

as we sprout from the ground

God protects us from the swarm

As the thorns began to emerge

that's full of sin and pain

God picks them one by one

To bring us happiness again

As the bud begins to bloom

from the love that he has shared

For he has always been a part of us

to free us from despair

@Written by Carla Lee Davis