PRAY IT! Thirst Things First - John 5:31-47

"But someone else is also testifying about me, and I assure you that everything he says about me is true."  John 5:32 (NLT).

Picture this:  Someone is peddling a delightful beverage.  It's the best beverage ever.  They keep raving about the beverage, but you begin to notice something.  It's 90 degrees out with 100000000 percent humidity.  They're clearly sweating.  But they do not take a drink.  They talk so much, their voice begins to get hoarse.  You assume their mouth is dry.  You see all these cues... these symptoms... that would indicate they should probably drink something.  They have an entire case of this beverage they are raving about right there.  They are even waving an open one in your face.  But they don't drink it.  Something doesn't add up.

Do you buy their beverage?  Or do you size them up as crazy or hypocritical, not fully leaning into/believing in their product, and beat feet as fast as you can?

Picture someone else... in their living room alone, sipping on the best beverage ever.  It truly is.  They stay in their living room, enjoying their beverage quietly... savoring the moment.  When the beverage is complete, they go about their day, contentedly, but as though nothing phenomenal was encountered.  A neighbor pops by, sweaty from some yard work.  Though they have a whole pitcher of the best beverage ever in their fridge... more than they could drink on their own... they simply chat with their neighbor while they drink some regular water, and then send them on their way.

What gives?  Is it a lack of awareness?  Withholding joy?  Is it selfishness?  Whatever the reason, the end is the same:  something was withheld.

Now apply the same level of ridiculousness to Christians who mis-proclaim with mismatched words/actions or withhold the good news of Jesus.

It's probably not a testimony about Jesus if it's not true... it's probably not a testimony about Jesus if it's not proof... and it's probably not a testimony about Jesus if not about Jesus.  It's also probably not a testimony about Jesus if the words never come out of your mouth, no matter how much you authentically love him.

There's power in a life that bears witness to Jesus.

Is yours?

Does your mouth and your life match up and give testimony to Jesus?  Does your mouth open up?  John the Baptist did it.  The woman at the well did it.  Paul did it.  Even God did it.  We can do it too.

Since we believe human testimony, surely we can believe the greater testimony that comes from God.  And God has testified about his Son.  1 John 5:9.

Scripture says our sin testifies against us.  Isaiah 59:12 (NLT):  For our sins are piled up before God and testify against us.  Yes, we know what sinners we are.  Yuck.  Thankfully, we have Jesus, our redeemer and ultimate Thirst Quencher.  However, our testimony will be much more powerful if we LET Jesus do some redeeming and we LET Jesus do some Thirst Quenching in our own lives.

Let us individually and collectively pray for harmony among our words, our actions, and Jesus, and pray with the following heart this week, the following lyrics from For King and Country:   "Let my life be the proof, the proof of your love".

FAMILY IT! — Wednesday Family Devotional — “Thirst Things First”

What’s your dream vacation?  Where’s the one place you would love to go more than any place else?  Maybe it’s so amazing you haven’t even told anyone, because you’re so certain you’re never actually going to get to go.  Where is it, where is it, where is it?  Share!

Knock, knock.  There's someone standing at your front door with free tickets to your dream vacation place.  Seriously, some dude with a briefcase and a big cheesy grin is handing you the plane tickets…or train, boat, rocket, etc.  They’ve got your name and your family members’ names on them, and the destination is [insert dream vacation location].  Your family is smiling ear to ear.  He’s handing them to you.

Here's the question: do you believe him?  Do you think this is for real?  Or are you more likely to think it’s a scam, or maybe some kind of practical joke?  Are you the one looking for the hidden cameras?  

We live in a pretty suspicious world.  “There’s no such thing as a free lunch,” after all.  Everyone loves to catch someone getting spoofed, especially with the chance that the video might go viral.  So it’s no surprise we carry doubt around.

And yet, sometimes great things really do happen.  So what would it take to convince you that the trip was real?

What if your parents said it was a surprise that they’d been planning for?  Would that do it?  (Probably depends on your parents.)

What if your best friend shows up, all smiles?  Your parents told them and he/she wanted to be there to celebrate with you.  Now are you buying it?

How about if the president of the theme park/cruise ship/airlines/resort got out of the car and came up to congratulate you.  Is that enough?  I’m hoping that would convince most people, although some are skeptical enough that even the CEO wouldn’t be enough.  

But what about this?  In addition to the tickets in front of you, you see a stack of luggage sitting by the garage door ready to go.  You remember that your parents have been working a lot of extra hours “to save money” they say.  You realize the dog is gone, already at the kennel.  You see a slip of paper on the counter saying that the mail has been placed on hold.  It’s right next to the stack of make-up work for the days of school you’re going to miss.  How ‘bout now?  

Testimonies from people are a tricky thing.  Sometimes they’re convincing, but sometimes our doubt is too strong.  When we see that testimony repeated or confirmed in how someone is acting or the choices they’re making, then we’re much more likely to believe.

Jesus struggled with this same idea.  No one wanted to believe He was the Son of God, especially not the church leaders.  It seems kind of funny, because these guys were supposed to be the experts on the Messiah, but when He actually showed up, they thought He was a big fat liar.  

Jesus told the religious leaders what He thought in John 5:31-47.  He points out that they read about the coming Christ in the Scriptures.  They had the verses memorized about God’s special Savior.  But when Jesus came, fulfilling every prophecy, they didn’t believe him.  (v. 39-40)  They sent a messenger to John the Baptist, Jesus’ cousin (who they also didn’t like), so see if he’d confirm the story.  John replied with a huge thumbs up, but they still refused to buy it.  (v. 33)  Jesus points out that even God himself vouched for his Son, but the religious leaders wouldn’t even listen. (v. 37)  

I think Jesus drives it home the most in verse 36: “But the testimony that I have is greater than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to accomplish, the very works that I am doing, bear witness about me that the Father has sent me.”

Ok, so maybe they didn’t believe that all the prophecies in Scripture applied to Jesus’ life.  And maybe they figured John was to biased—or too delusional himself—to tell the truth.  And maybe they figured “God’s testimony” was just a flashy magic trick.  But look at Jesus’ life!  Everything He did—healing, teaching, ministering to the lost and the broken, talking constantly about the love of God and his Kingdom, helping the neediest people—no one does that kind of thing just for fun.  That’s a mission that only comes from God.  

That should have been testimony enough, don’t you agree?

So what about you?  My guess is that if someone asked, you’d tell them you believe in Jesus.  Maybe you even share on your own that you are a Christian.  You’ve got some t-shirts with cool God-quotes on them or your church logo or something like that, and you wear them proudly.  That’s great!

But here’s the real question: do people believe you?  Does your life—your actions, your speech, your attitudes—line up with a Jesus-serving life?  If someone took a look around at your day today, would it confirm that you are all about God and his mission?

That may seem like a hard question, but it’s an important one.  We don’t want to focus on living our lives based on what others think, but we do need to step back from time to time to make sure we are who we think we are.  After all, if you have your “Jesus ticket” but don’t have your bags packed, so to speak, then maybe there’s a problem.

Spend some time talking as a family.  Is there something you can do today, this week, to live more like a Jesus-lover?  Is there something your family can do or needs to do to live out your faith?  Talk about it then close in prayer, asking Jesus to help you take these steps.  Let’s make sure the best testimony we have to our relationship with Jesus is not our words, but our way of life. 

PRAY IT! Thirst Things First - John 5:16-30

It's about to get real.

As if offering living water to a Samaritan woman or healing a paralyzed man and telling him to no longer sin wasn't already radical enough, Jesus responds to harassment and critical accusations from those who assert he has broken the rules by healing a man on the Sabbath.  Jesus explains in John 5:16-30 that he is the Son of God.

Read John 5:16-30.  Spend some quiet time reflecting on and praying about the following:

Who is Jesus to you?

Who does Jesus say he is?

In what ways might Jesus be trying to get your attention?

Jesus states in verse 24, "I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life.  They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life" (NLT).

Jesus says quite a lot of bold, attention-getting things in this passage.  

As Christians, it is important that we give Jesus our full attention and our full devotion, and that we fully lean into who he is.  This may not always be easy or intuitive, but thankfully, we have help!

Some may assert that Jesus was just "a nice guy" - someone to look up to with admiration because he was helpful.  Others may profess that Jesus was just "a prophet" - he did see good things and said some wise things, but no more or less than other prophets.  However, who does Jesus say he is?  Let us focus on that as we pray, allowing Jesus to help us come to a bigger and deeper understanding of who he is and who he wants to be to us, if we would let him.

Pastor Celia

FAMILY IT! — Wednesday Family Devotional — “Thirst Things First”

I admit—I love math.  I know, my cool exterior covers it well, but the truth is I am a ginormous numbers nerd.  I’ve noticed people are either lovers of math…or haters.  Which are you?  Go ahead and share with your family.  (Don’t worry haters—Jesus still loves you.)

Believe it or not, math can be found throughout Scripture.  No, really!  Check out our passage for the week, and see what I mean.

John 5:16-30  

Did you see the math?  Seriously, it’s all over the passage.  I know, I know—it seems like a stretch, but hear me out.

There are two principles in math known as the Equality Principle and the Substitution Principle.  The Equality Principle says that if two things are equal, then they’re equal.  So if a = b, then b = a.  Seems pretty basic, right?  In language we’d call them synonyms: gigantic means huge and huge means gigantic.  

Going along with that, we have the Substitution Principle.  This one says that if two things are equal, you can substitute one for the other.  So if I have a math problem that says 4 + a = 10, and we already know a = b, then we can also say 4 + b = 10.  If they’re equal, we can choose to use either one.  

Just like I can either say, “Todd rode a gigantic llama up the hill,” or I can say, “Todd rode a huge llama up the hill.”  The words are equal, so I can choose either one.

Jesus is showing us that He and God use the Equality and Substitution Principles.  The Jews saw Him making Himself equal with God…and it made them mad, actually. (vs. 18)  Because of that, Jesus explained to the disciples how He and God do the same things.  

In math, it would look like this:      Jesus = God

God raises the dead and gives them life.  

Jesus raises the dead and gives them life.  (vs. 21)

People honor God.

People honor Jesus.  (vs. 23)

God offers eternal life through salvation.

Jesus offers eternal life through salvation. (vs. 26)

Jesus follows the will of God perfectly and is able to do that which God does.  Pretty cool! 

But what does that mean for you?  For me?  

Next time you’re in a scary situation and you’re wanting the almighty power of God to chase away your fears, you can call out to Jesus. 

Are you confused about some things going on in your life?  Would you like direction from God, who knows all things?  Ask Jesus, and He can guide you.

Searching for peace from God, maker of heaven and earth?  Go to Jesus!

Have you begun a relationship with Jesus, receiving His gift of grace and forgiveness?  You are now in relationship with God, who has forgiven you and wiped away your sins.

When we’re thirsty for God, we’re thirsty for Jesus. He’s all we need.  That one relationships can heal every hurt, calm every fear, meet every need, answer any questions.  Just Jesus.

Close with a time of prayer, praising Jesus for all He offers to you and your family, and thanking God for giving us the Son.

PRAY IT! Thirst Things First - John 5:1-15

In the previous passage, we saw how our prayer could be positively impacted when looking at the healing of the official's son.  In John 4:47, we saw it beautifully modeled how we can approach Jesus when we model how the official approached Jesus:  he heard, he went, and he begged.  But how do we respond when we are the ones who get approached by Jesus?  We can look to John 5 for some input.  In John 5, Jesus heals a paralyzed man lying by a pool.  

Read a bit of it below (John 5:3-6):

In these lay a multitude of invalids - blind, lame, and paralyzed.  One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years.  When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, "Do you want to be healed?"

In this passage we see that there were many people with many needs.  This man who was about to encounter Jesus had been dealing with his circumstances for THIRTY-EIGHT years.  Talk about patience... talk about potential frustration.  But Jesus saw him.  And Jesus asked him a very pointed question.  

"Do you want to be healed?"

Many needs.

Much patience.

Jesus sees.

Jesus asks.

In Psalm 142:4, the psalmist laments:  "Look to the right and see:  there is none who takes notice of me; no refuge remains to me; no one cares for my soul."  Ever feel that way?  If so, be encouraged.  Hope abounds in Jesus.

When we're feeling washed over by waves of many needs, including our own... when we have been waiting (perhaps patiently, perhaps not so patiently) for what seems like eons... when we're discouraged that no one notices or cares, take heart that Jesus sees. We can approach him in prayer desperately, like the official did in the previous passage.  Or, sometimes in his care, Jesus makes the first move.  In his kindness, he offers the help and hope we desperately need, but that perhaps we have given up on.

Is Jesus asking you something?  Take the time to focus your attention and listen.

What is it that you need from Jesus?  Talk to him now.

Are you worried that Jesus cannot attend to your needs whilst attending to the needs of the MULTITUDES?  He can.  Set those fears aside and talk to the one who died on a cross for you, me, and everybody we know.  

I cry to you, O LORD; I saw, "You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living."  Psalm 142:5

Pastor Celia

FAMILY IT! — Wednesday Family Devotional — “Thirst Things First”

What kind of helper are you?  Do you like to help, or not so much?  Or does it depend on what kind of help is needed?  

Right now my son wants to help with anything that involves cooking.  He likes to measure, pour, mix, and taste.  Especially taste.  There are times when it would be a little easier (and a LOT faster) if I just did things myself, but I love that he loves to help, so we pull out the step ladder and just let dinner be a little later. 

I’m extra grateful for his helpfulness, because, truth be known, I was not a big helper as a kid.  I was pretty independent, which basically means I wanted to do things myself without anyone telling me what to do or how to do it.  So since I didn’t need or want help, I had a hard time understanding people who did.  When people said they needed help, I figured they were either lazy or they were trying to “teach me something” through work.  Well, I didn’t want any part of that!

It took me a lot of years to understand that there are times when each of us—even independent people like me—need help from other people.

Get out your Bible and read about a time when Jesus helped someone in need.  You’ll find it in John 5:1-15.  

This was a pretty special pool!  Every once in awhile, the waters would start to churn, like a whirlpool almost.  Then, whoever got into the pool first was healed.  I can’t imagine seeing all of the people who were sitting around waiting for healing.  The man that Jesus talked with had been there for almost forty years!  All that time and no one had helped him get to the pool first.  

I wonder why?  Maybe they figured he was strong enough to get into the pool on his own.  I’m sure it took a long time waiting for the waters to churn, so maybe his friends didn’t have that kind of extra time.  Or do you think he was the kind of guy who just didn’t have any friends to help him at all?  Thankfully, Jesus showed up.  He knew what this man needed and healed him.

We have our own reasons for not helping people.  Sometimes we think it’ll cost too much to help someone.  It’ll cost us money.  It’ll cost us time.  It may even cost us other friendships or our reputation if we get teased for helping in the first place.  Other times we figure we shouldn’t help.  We’re convinced that either the person doesn’t really need help or, if they do, that we don’t know how.

But these are really just excuses.  The truth is that we can bring a lot of helping to people in very simple ways.  Maybe you know someone who needs money.  You may not be able to give them all that they need, but you could give them some grocery money or even invite them over for dinner.  Is there someone at school or at work who is having a hard time learning what they need to know?  Maybe you can help them study or go over the manual with them during lunch.  Sometimes they biggest need a person has is just to have a friend they can talk to who will listen and care about them.  Everyone can do that!

One of the cool things about this story is that we see Jesus help twice.  First, helps the man walk again, which was what the man wanted most.  But then at the end, Jesus comes back and offers help for the man’s heart when He warns him not to sin anymore.  That’s the help the man really needed!

When we help others, when we offer that help and hope that they’re looking for, God uses it to connect people to himself.  That’s a great reason to help!

Talk together about ways you and your family can help someone you know.  It could be a friend, a neighbor, a family member, or maybe even people you don’t really know.  Think of something you can do to help meet a need.  Now pray that God would use this help to show the hope they have in Jesus.

PRAY IT! Thirst Things First - John 4:39-54

Jesus had an honest conversation with the Samaritan woman at the well.  The woman at the well then had an honest conversation with the people in her town.  The chain reaction that happens when we let the Holy Spirit move through us as we spread the Gospel message layered with our story is not one we want to just read about, it is one we want to experience now.

And it is possible.

But we need to pray.

As we transition from the story of the woman at the well to the story of the official's son who was healed, we follow along our constant:  Jesus.

John 4:47:  "When this man heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea he went to him and begged him to come and heal his son, who was close to death" (NIV).

What did this man do?
He heard.  He was listening.  He was aware.  He was ready.
He went.  He moved.  He was active.
He begged.  He petitioned Jesus.  Like it mattered.  Because it did.

If we truly want to see, live in, and experience our city, transformed, in the same way Jesus transformed the Samaritan woman's town, we must endeavor to be aware - keeping our eyes and ears fixed on Jesus AND our city.  But being aware is not enough.  Our awareness MUST prompt us to action.  And when we intercede on behalf of our city, we should be praying urgently, as though we believe that

1.) There's a lot at stake (because, there is...) and

2.)  That we have a God who is worthy to be prayed to... and that we have a God who can do something about it (because He is... because we do).

Urging you this week to consider ways WE can pray TOGETHER sincerely and urgently for our city to know Jesus, and for our church to be one that hears the voice of God and the cry of the city, and that goes out to the city.

1 Timothy 2:1-4:  "I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people - for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.  This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth."

Pastor Celia

FAMILY IT!--Wednesday Family Devotional--"Thirst Things First"

People are watching, listening, waiting for our stories! We live in a world that is hungry for Jesus and each of us has a beautiful story of how Jesus has impacted our lives. I don’t know about you, but sometimes I get nervous sharing. I never know what parts of my story to tell, I wonder if it’s the right time to tell it and of course, wonder if they’re going to think I’m some crazy lady and then never speak to me again. Sometimes too the word "testimony" can be intimidating…like it has to be this well-worded, beautiful story with amazing visuals and an ending where everyone is left in awe. Now that can happen, but your testimony is just your story, part of your story and a summary of your story. You speak it and let Jesus leave them in awe. 

I get less nervous when I think about the impact my story could have; people coming to know Jesus is bigger than my nerves or my fears. This is someone or many people’s eternity we’re talking about. The very cool story of the woman at the well gives us a glimpse of what happens when we tell our story: 

John 4:39-43 ‘Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I ever did.” So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days. And because of his words many more became believers. They said to the woman, “We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.” 

MANY of the Samaritans…not just one or two, many people in that town believed in Christ because of this woman’s testimony. She was so excited and touched by her encounter with Jesus that she shared it, probably with passion! Like the Samaritan woman, we can see people believe in Jesus because of our testimony. 

Imagine the impact that your testimony could have! Could it impact friends, family? God can and does use our stories to bring people to know Him. Through something you say a friend could become a Christian, a family member, your whole family…your child’s whole class could believe in Jesus through them! It’s good to have our testimonies ready to share, but also we need to be telling people about our encounters with God as they happen! As prayers are answered, as God provides, as He works in your life, share those awesome and exciting stories!

This week as a family at some point…around the dinner table, before bedtime, while on a walk playing Pokemon Go!...share the names of the people you would like to see come to know Jesus personally. Also, talk about and even practice sharing your testimony! What would you say to a family member or a friend that doesn’t know Jesus? What would you tell them Jesus has done for you? What is something that has happened recently that you could share that might let people know how awesome God is! 

Enjoy your time with the Lord as a family!

Featuring guest writer Jessica Whisler

PRAY IT! Thirst Things First - John 4:27-38

"You're not you when you're hungry," according to the popular Snickers commercials, concluding that  a bite of the candy bar "satisfies" and turns those who are Betty White or Aretha Franklin when they're hungry back into their normal selves.

Who are you when you're hungry?

In John 4, Jesus' disciples urge him to eat.  Jesus responds to them with this powerful statement:  "My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work."

Deuteronomy 8:3b echoes this sentiment:  "...that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD."

How's your spiritual life?
Are you daily feasting on God, and partaking of his Word and prayer?
Are you actively engaged in His mission?
Or... are you hungry...?
What do you reach for to fill your hunger?

According to Jesus, his food is to be obedient to the will of God.  Food both satisfies us and fuels us.  If you feel dissatisfied in your soul and lacking in spiritual energy, take some time in prayer to consider if there are areas of your life in which you have not been obedient to God's will.  Perhaps it's doing something that God does not want you to do.  Or, perhaps it's not completing what God does want you to do.  Prayerfully ask him to show you areas that need (re)surrendering and ask God to help you with that now.  He is always present and he is faithful.

Pastor Celia

FAMILY IT! — Wednesday Family Devotional — “Thirst Things First”

I love my cooking shows!  Truly, when I watch TV, it’s about all I watch, and my favorites are the competitions.  The mix of new cooking techniques, suspenseful judgings, and delicious end products ticks every box for me.  I am especially drawn to contestants with interesting stories.  

One of my favorites is a twenty-something who still lives with his mom, and eats nothing but grilled cheese, plain hamburgers, boxed mac n’ cheese, and pepperoni pizza.  That’s. It.  That may sound like a fabulous diet to some of you, but even as young as twenty-five, this guy has figured out that trying to live on these foods alone has had a negative impact on his health and therefore his life.  He confesses that he doesn’t want to eat like a five year old anymore.  (Hey, my five year old eats way better than that!) His purpose for coming on the cooking show was to try to learn how to cook and improve his quality of life.  

What about you?  Do you enjoy eating unusual food or are you a plain hamburger kind of person?  What’s the most unique thing you’ve ever eaten?  

In John 4:27-38, Jesus talks with the disciples about food.  After a day of traveling, the disciples ran into town to try to find a drive-thru while Jesus rested at the well just outside of town.  This is where Jesus met the Samaritan woman and had a great conversation about living water.  But now the guys are back with burgers and fries and are a little confused to see Jesus chatting up this lady.  They wait a little awkwardly for her to leave, wanting to give Jesus the food they know He’s been waiting for.  

After she returns to town, however, the disciples are shocked when Jesus refuses the to-go bag.  Instead, He says, “The food that keeps me going is that I do the will of the One who sent me, finishing the work he started.” (v. 34 Msg)  Um…what?  Did someone already bring Him food?

What Jesus means is that doing what God wants (“the will of the One who sent me”) is what really fires Him up.  His drive, His inner fuel and motivation is knowing the Lord’s will and getting it done, like sharing God’s grace with the Samaritan woman.  It’s what fills Jesus up inside and makes Him happy and content.

What about you?  To be honest, most of us find our inner fuel in “five year old” things: playing, hanging with friends, sports, job success.  The food that keeps us going is having fun doing what we want.  Eventually, however, we figure out that trying to live on these things has a negative impact on our hearts and therefore our lives.  Jesus is showing us that focusing on God’s mission—being missional—is way better.  It’s so much more fulfilling to care for someone in need, the way Jesus would, than it is to simply care for ourselves.  It improves someone else’s quality of life…and after life…and it makes us better, too.  Win-win!

What can you and your family do to live on mission?  How can you focus your time on God’s will?  What will help you make that a priority over some of the others fun things in life?  Think of one thing you can do this week to be missional.  Put it on the calendar or make a big sign to remind everybody and get excited about it!  Then pray and ask God to fuel you all with his mission.

FAMILY IT! — Wednesday Family Devotional — “Thirst Things First”

Ok, here’s a simple one: what’s your favorite drink?  Now, I didn’t ask what you drink the most, although that may be the same answer.  I want to know what your absolute favorite, tickle your tastebuds, what you thirst for drink is.  Take a second and share with your family.

For our family, there are only two answers.  There are times I feel bad for our guests, because most of the time they can choose milk or Dr. Pepper.  (Or water, which is what they usually go with.)  My husband and children go through 6-7 gallons of milk a week, while I’m trying to ween myself off of my Dr. Pepper addiction.  What is it about those 23 flavors that makes it so tantalizingly awesome??

Our house is the rarity, I think, because when it comes to drinks there are so many options out there.  Have you noticed?  Types, flavors, sizes, temperature, caffeine content—the combinations are endless.  And we seem to have a beverage for every purpose and occasion.  We have drinks to wake you up and drinks to help you sleep.  We have some specially designed to give you that burst of energy during the day and others carefully crafted to not give you energy when you don’t want it.  You can get a drink to help you bulk up muscle and something else to help you drop pounds.  You drink one thing when you’re exercising, another when you’re celebrating, and another when you’re felling sick.  We have drinks for summertime, wintertime, even fall.  (Is there a spring drink?  I couldn’t think of one, but maybe.)  

With all of those options, all of those differences, do you know what each one of them has in common?  Every single one of them will eventually fail.  By definition, beverages are meant to quench thirst.  They help us keep our bodies hydrated.  Yet every single drink on the planet has a limited ability to do that.  No matter what you drink, you’re going to have to drink again.  

Today we’re looking at the story from John 4, when Jesus talked with the woman at the well.  In the story, Jesus said He had living water that would mean she would never be thirsty again.  Can you imagine what must have been going through her head?  She must’ve been like, “For real?!”  How incredible would that be!!  To have a drink that meant you would never have to drink again!  (You can read the whole story in John 4:5-26.)

Of course, when Jesus told her that, He wasn’t talking about hydrating our bodies.  He was talking about the thirsting we get in our souls, when we feel like we want something to make us happy or to help us feel complete.  That’s a different kind of thirst—the kind that can only be quenched with Jesus.  When we have a relationship with Jesus, His living water flows in our hearts, and we realize those other things we used to want, those other things we used to thirst for just aren’t important anymore.  How fab is that??

Jesus told the woman at the well that He could fill her life with things that mattered.  He could fill her heart in a way no husband or friendship or toy ever could.  And the great thing is, He makes that exact same offer to you.  Jesus has a huge glass of living water just waiting for your heart.  And He’s got glasses for your family, your neighbors, your friends, your teammates, your coworkers—everybody you know.  All He asks is that we help Him pass out the drinks by sharing Jesus’ love with others.

Who can you share a Jesus-drink with?  Jesus talked with a woman most Jews thought was completely unworthy.  They would’ve treated their dogs better than they treated her, yet that’s who Jesus picked to tell about living water.  Who can you tell?  It may be the person you least expect who needs it the most.  Talk together with your family about who you want to share Jesus with.  Talk about ways you can share love together to show the full measure of His love for them.

End your time praying that God would bless your efforts and help you share what living water really is.

FAMILY IT! — Wednesday Family Devotional — “Thirst Things First”

A new family must have moved into the house behind us over the winter.  We hadn’t known; there was no way we could have seen the For Sale sign or the moving vans from where we lived.  But suddenly, once the snow melted and the temperature warmed up, there were lots of boys running around our shared backyard.  Now, it turns out they didn’t all live in the house behind us.  A couple of them did, and the rest of the boys were their neighbors who came over to enjoy the expansive yard.  At first my kids were over the moon at the thought of new friends.  Finally, they had someone to play with besides each other.  And the boys ranged in ages, so both of my kids had someone their own age to talk to.  But after awhile, my daughter became less enthusiastic about playing with “the boys.”  When her dad and I asked what had changed, she stumbled around for an explanation.  “They’re loud.  And sometimes they’re mean.  And they’re just…different.”

I knew what she meant.  They were different—a lot different from her, in fact.  These boys liked loud, rowdy games, which meant they weren’t too interested in a game of make-believe with a wonderfully detailed and complex story line.  They didn’t want to take turns jumping in the trampoline.  They wanted to bounce together, colliding and trying to knock each other down.  They treated each other in ways that my children had learned were disrespectful.  Based on the short interactions we’d had with the parents, I guessed their home lives were different from my kids’, as well.  So I understood what she meant.  But did that mean my kids shouldn’t play with these other children?  

What do you think?  I’m sure you’ve known lots of people who were really different from you.  Maybe they came from a different country, spoke a different language, and ate really different foods.  Maybe their family treated each other differently than your family did.  Maybe they liked to do way different things, things that didn’t even sound fun to you.  Maybe they had different values, or even worshipped a different god.  What do you do when you’re around people who are so incredibly different?   Is being different a good enough reason to avoid someone or a group of someones?  

Take a minute and talk about that with your family.  What does everyone think?  When is “different” too different?

The Jews thought their “neighbors,” the Samaritans, were different.  Even though some of their ancestors had been Israelites, God’s chosen people, those ancestors had married people from other nations, nations that believed in many gods and not the one true God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.  That meant they were, well, different.  At the time Jesus and His disciples were teaching, most Jews wouldn’t even talk to someone from Samaria.   But Jesus decided to turn that practice on its ear.  Read what happened when Jesus traveled into Samaria, on purpose, in John 4:1-9.  

Jesus didn’t deny that the Samaritans were different.  He knew they had some views of God that were just plain off.  But maybe that’s what made it even more important to Him that He visit Samaria and share the real God of glory with them.  He knew that God wanted to be reconciled to ALL of his children, including the Samaritans.  And since they were so different, it would take a special connection, like Jesus talking with a woman at a well, for them to hear how much God loved them.  He could have avoided them.  After all, everyone else was!  But instead, He marched right into their downtown and told them about God.

Who are some of the “different” people in your life?  Have you been using that as a reason to avoid them?  What about Jesus?  What does He want for these different folks you know?

Talk together about ways you and your family can help people feel more welcome.  How can you share God’s love with even the most different kid at your school or in your neighborhood?  Pray together and ask God to help make you successful in reaching out to those who are different from you.

PRAY IT! Thirst Things First - John 4:1-4

In John 4, we learn fairly quickly that Jesus was leaving Judea, with the destination of Galilee in mind.  However, Jesus passes through Samaria on the way.  John 4 is about to get interesting as we follow Jesus on his holy pitstop.  Verse 4 says, "And he had to pass through Samaria."  The Greek translation of dei ("had to") is used at other points throughout John to suggest a divine necessity.

Jesus intentionally going to Samaria would be like us intentionally going to "the armpit of our neighborhood/city/state/country."  (You can decide what your own Samaria might be...!)  Does that make you reel?  Does that make you wrinkle your nose with... disdain?

According to Merriam-Webster, disdain is "a feeling of contempt for someone or something regarded as unworthy or inferior".  The Samaritans were the object of disdain from both Jews and non-Jews, alike.

Have you ever experienced disdain?  I have been on both the giving and receiving end.  Neither is preferable.  Disdain can be a way in which we re-order and re-define people so that they are less-than-human and have no value.  This then makes it "okay" for us to treat them differently, or ignore them outright.  And this is not what Jesus is about.

Remember that we are fresh on the heels of John 3:16:  "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life", and consequently we can be excited that Jesus was willing to intentionally visit "the armpit".  (And, not just visit, but save everyone, everywhere, to the "uttermost", as it says, in Hebrews 7:25.

For God so loved the world (including Samaria)...  Personalize it... For God so loved the world (including *insert your name here*).  For God so loved the world (including *insert your "armpit" here*)...

How does all of this influence our prayer life?  How should we pray differently in light of this passage in John?

The intentions of Jesus can be lived out in our prayers and actions as we intentionally pray for people, situations, or places that we might otherwise mistreat or ignore out of our disdain.

Spend some time in prayerful reflection with God.

Who, what, or where is your "armpit"?

Ask God to help you replace disdain for his true compassion.  We can't generate it on our own.  This is where daily presence is going to come in handy!

Pastor Celia

FAMILY IT! — Wednesday Family Devotional — “Thirst Things First”

Survey time!  Raise your hand if you’ve ever lived with a cat.  (Did you actually raise your hand?  Because you know I can’t really see you, right?)  I got my first cat when I was ten.  My parents had a dog since before I came along, so I knew what it meant to have a pet.  I didn’t realize that cats and dogs were really so significantly different in how they act.  Because…well…cats are crazy!

Now, I don’t mean that disrespectfully.  I have loved every cat I’ve ever owned.  My first cat lived to be 21, and I cried like a baby when we had to put her down.  But there’s just a fact of life that cats are completely, positively, without doubt crazy.  They’ll be sitting on your lap, comfy as can be, then for absolutely no reason they’ll bolt out the door faster than Superman.  Sound familiar?  How about when you’re watching TV and you hear this thumping sound.  Suddenly the cat bursts into the room, skids to a stop in the middle of the floor, and looks around with these wide eyes that almost say, “How in the world did I get here?”  They bounce around chasing bugs that aren’t actually there…I mean, I could go on and on, but hopefully you get my point.  I finally got a little insight when my kids and I watched “Inside Out.”  That’s the Disney movie about what it’s like inside a tween’s brain.  Cool flick, especially during the credits when they show the inside of a bunch of other brains, including a cat’s.  Makes total sense to me now!  

Anyway, in our Scripture passage for today, you could almost say that Jesus is acting a little bit like a cat.  Check out John 4:1-4.  You may know the story of the woman at the well—well, this is how it starts.  Jesus and His disciples are doing what they do: they’re preaching the Good News about God’s love and then baptizing those who choose to turn their lives around and live for him.  They’re reaching a lot of people, even more than John the Baptist, and his name includes “the baptist.”  So the Pharisees hear about it, which really doesn’t seem to be a big deal.  I mean, they don’t want anybody really doing this, so whether John or Jesus has a bigger total count shouldn’t really matter.  But then out of left field, Jesus decides to pack up shop and head to Galilee.

Um…that seems a little cat-like to me.  I can picture some of the disciples, maybe Peter, saying, “Hey, Jesus, what’s up?  Why are we relocating?  We’ve got a great site here, and everybody knows where to find us.  We’re making a big difference for these folks.  Can you let us know why we’re chucking it all to head to Galilee?”  On top of that, verse 4 says He “had to go through Samaria.”  Now any Bible scholar will tell you that Jews didn’t travel through Samaria.  There were well worn paths all the way around Samaria, so that the children of God wouldn’t have to set foot on tainted soil.  (More on that in our next family devotional.)  But again, Jesus makes a cat-ish maneuver and heads into this forbidden area.  You wonder if someone’s maybe messing with Jesus’ controls in “head-quarters”?

In truth, yes.  Jesus wasn’t just bouncing from one spot to another all random like.  He was being directed by God.  Jesus spent more time with God than with anyone else, and that says a lot since He basically lived with His disciples.  But by spending so much time in the Father’s presence, He knew exactly what the Lord wanted Him to do, where the greatest need was, what ministry opportunity was going to reveal God’s glory most.  He wasn’t being a cat—He was being the hands and feet for God’s mind.

Now, this phenomenon is not just available to the Son of God.  Every single one of us can know God’s leading—that’s exactly what he wants for us.  The more time we spend with God—the more we invest in daily presence with the Father through prayer, studying the Word, being mindful of how the Holy Spirit is working in and around us—the easier it is to hear God’s voice and understand his heart.  When we choose to invest in our relationship with our Abba Father, we find countless opportunities to follow his lead into new…and sometimes crazy situations.  But as we’ll find out when we explore the rest of this story, when we listen and obey God’s lead, we get to participate in some awesome moments that will transform lives.

Take some time as a family and share about what God’s been saying to you lately.  Where’s he leading?  What’s he up to?  

Feeling a little low on daily presence?  Ask your family to help you find time each day to spend with God.  Maybe you can turn it into a family challenge.  Set a goal for how many days you want each family member to spend with God and then decide what you’ll do to celebrate when you reach that goal.  After all, Jesus is a whole lot of fun!  (Even if He’s not cat-crazy.)

PRAY IT! Street Hero - John 3:22-36

This passage from John 3:22-36 illustrates how John the Baptist recognizes Jesus for who he is, and is now willing to take a back seat, so great is his love for Jesus and others.  "He must increase, but I must decrease," states John.  

If you were to mentally ponder your typical prayers, how much of them dive right into an "I...I...I..." without acknowledging God in his power, or others in their plight?

Praying for yourself is not wrong.  You should do it.  So continue to do it.  (Psalms, anyone?)  But praising God in all his awesomeness is also a vital part of prayer, as is interceding on behalf of others.

Let John's humility, committed spirit, and love saturate your prayer life today.  

Perplexed on where to begin?  Ask for the Holy Spirit's help.  

Looking for some Scripture to assist you as you pray?

Psalm 34 is great.  An extra point to ponder in prayer:  Notice the beginning sentence before verse 1?  What behaviors do we need God's help with in changing for us to decrease and for Jesus to increase?  

Taste and See That the Lord Is Good

[a] Of David, when he changed his behavior before Abimelech, so that he drove him out, and he went away.

34 I will bless the Lord at all times;
    his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2 My soul makes its boast in the Lord;
    let the humble hear and be glad.
3 Oh, magnify the Lord with me,
    and let us exalt his name together!

4 I sought the Lord, and he answered me
    and delivered me from all my fears.
5 Those who look to him are radiant,
    and their faces shall never be ashamed.
6 This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him
    and saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the Lord encamps
    around those who fear him, and delivers them.

8 Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!
    Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!
9 Oh, fear the Lord, you his saints,
    for those who fear him have no lack!
10 The young lions suffer want and hunger;
    but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.

11 Come, O children, listen to me;
    I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
12 What man is there who desires life
    and loves many days, that he may see good?
13 Keep your tongue from evil
    and your lips from speaking deceit.
14 Turn away from evil and do good;
    seek peace and pursue it.

15 The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous
    and his ears toward their cry.
16 The face of the Lord is against those who do evil,
    to cut off the memory of them from the earth.
17 When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears
    and delivers them out of all their troubles.
18 The Lord is near to the brokenhearted
    and saves the crushed in spirit.

19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
    but the Lord delivers him out of them all.
20 He keeps all his bones;
    not one of them is broken.
21 Affliction will slay the wicked,
    and those who hate the righteous will be condemned.
22 The Lord redeems the life of his servants;
    none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.

Pastor Celia