The River Is Full

Psalm 65:9 "You visit the earth and water it, You greatly enrich it; the river of God if full of water; You provide their grain, for so You have prepared it."

I can still see the drinking faucets in my mind.  These faucets were the most crowded place after the lunchtime recess at St. Joseph school.  There were six all together, three to the right, and three to the left.  The three on the left were for girls only, so this was forbidden territory, even for the most thirsty boy.  One day I ventured over to the girl's faucet and was very surprised to find that the girl's water tasted pretty much the same as the boy's water.  Unfortunately, a nun caught me committing this dastardly crime, and I had to spend the rest of the day kneeling next to my desk....but I digress.  To a sweaty thirsty boy after the lunchtime recess, the water faucets were frustrating and disappointing.  The line was too long, and there were way too many of us packed three across.  But the real disappointment was when I finally arrived at the much needed water source.  Due to poor water pressure and heavy use from all the thirsty boys, the water only came out in a trickle, and was warm.  There wasn't much else to do, these were the water faucets, it was the only place to get water in the school.  Remember this was before you carried a water bottle with you everywhere, mommy didn't put expensive store bought water in your fancy backpack with wheels.  In fact we didn't have backpacks, we carried our books in our arms, with rocks, in the snow....but I digress.  In John chapter four, Jesus spoke to a woman about spiritual thirst.  He promised that whoever drank of Him would never thirst, and His water would become a "fountain of water springing up into everlasting life".  We all know the letdown of standing in line at the world's faucet, slurping the warm trickle, and leaving dry.  The Lord's promise is sure, "the river of God is full of water".  His call to us all is to come to the river of life and freely drink, honest, you will not leave dry!

The Tomb Is Still Empty

Every Easter we reflect on the empty tomb and are reminded, that in spite of all the difficulties of this life, all is well, for Jesus Christ is alive.  But today is Monday, we are back to life, and life has a way of robbing us of the joy and confidence gained in knowing that Jesus is truly alive.  Jesus' resurrection puts a new light on everything, and though I may not understand life's headaches, or the Lord's methods and timing, this I do know He is alive and reigning.  I've discovered in my Christian journey that it is important for me to take a regular reflective pilgrimage to the empty tomb.  In doing so my heart and mind get centered and stable.  So, I know it's Monday, but the tomb is still empty.  I know that bill is still hanging over your head, but the tomb is still empty.  Your boss is a "#!$*%", but the tomb is still empty.  He or she or they were mean to you, but the tomb is still empty.  Those kids drain you and won't listen, but the tomb is still empty!  The power of His resurrection is available to us every single day, may you find in it strength and joy.