"For at that time the Holy Spirit will teach you what you should say."
~ Luke 12:12
A Happy Belated Mother's Day, to all of the amazing mamas out there!
St. Therese of Lisieux is quoted as having said, "The loveliest masterpiece of the heart of God is the heart of a mother."
I hope and pray you were all well celebrated.
~
Today's topic of conversation came about in such a perfect way.
There I sat, thinking to myself, "Self... ;) This is one of those rare moments when there's not something specifically on your heart to discuss." Okay, that's oddly paraphrased, but I didn't have specific guidance per usual.
Then I remembered Luke 12:12 and felt that little inner nudge to trust Him for words.
So here we are.
We are a vessel of the Holy Spirit.
We are a vessel holding... what?
Holding living water?
Holding something unseen.
If you didn't catch it the first time, take a quick gander at today's image again.
It's a stock photo. (Those come in handy when you employ this particular method of communication.)
I could have missed it myself, in searching for just the right image du jour.
Thankfully I didn't.
Doesn't it sometimes feel so hollow to walk in the world?
Let's be real...
- Loneliness is real.
- Hardship is real.
- Trying times are real.
- Walking through the deserts and wildernesses of life... those are very real and harrowing journeys.
- Confronting the wants of the flesh, the ways of the world, and the wiles of the enemy can leave us weary.
It's possible, from time to time, to find ourselves a seemingly empty vessel.
So, "as the deer," yes?
We yearn for Him.
We yearn to be filled with Living Water, to be the source of Living Water in the circumstances of life, supplied by the True Source.
And, as in the image above, while it may not be readily apparent to every eye, when we choose the Father, choose the Son, choose the Holy Spirit, there is something lovely within, just waiting to be revealed, offered, and even leveraged to give us the strength for the work we are here to do.
To those who don't know, it can seem inexplicable... magical and mysterious even. To those who know, they know.
The trick is, to remember to reach for it. The more we do, the better we'll be at unleashing Living Waters of grace and mercy and love when the world wants to have its way, or when our own humanity gets in the way.
It is indeed there for us in any moment, whether words of the Holy Spirit or the presence of extraordinary grace, unimaginable peace, or unconditional love making itself known through us...
Still, we must choose it; moment by moment, breath by breath, once and for all. We choose.
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Thank You for the Lamb.
Thank You for buying us at a price far too dear, for helping us to walk in the bearing of one royally ransomed.
Thank You for making us vessels of Living Water.
Thank You for walking with us, working in us and through us, in ways only You can.
Psalm 63 begins with the words, "O God, You are my God. Earnestly I seek You; my soul thirsts for You."
Thank You for positioning us to receive living water for our thirst, for helping us to earnestly seek you, to be children after Your own heart and will and ways.
We trust You. We choose You. We love You.
In Your most precious names we pray,
Amen
"Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said: 'Streams of living water will flow from within him.'" ~ John 7:38
"As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul longs after You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, the living God." ~ Psalm 42:1b-2a
"'In the last days, God says, I will pour out My Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams." ~ Acts 2:17
May the Good Lord bless you and keep you, friends... always, in all ways. Amen.
Bonus song of praise... ♥ Sweetly captured.
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