Christian Counseling Service -- Devotions

Half a mile from the county fair

Sunday, March 27, 2011

Romans 5:5 (The Message)
We can't round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit!

John Wimber sat beside the road in his car and watched honey fall from the sky. Big globs sliding around in the sky, settling on people. What should you do when you're about to be hit by honey? Dodge it? Open your mouth as wide as you can? Look for a big honey pot to fill? Put up an umbrella and complain about the weather?

It can be hard to breathe with honey all over your face. Makeup runs, and hair ... don't even think about hair. But God tells John, "My healing just keeps raining down and raining down. I never stop the flow. Whatever problem you have receiving it is not on my end."

Again, the Bible tells me what God is like. Rather than calling attention to my failing as a love-gatherer, He just keeps pouring it on, adding life to life, joy to joy. When I don't find anything to hold all that gift, it might at least NOT make sense to complain about the giver. I could use my energy to look for another container. Where are all the buckets!!?

There's so much life to be lived, and God has all the fuel I need to live it. Give it and give it; he provides more than I can ever give away. Van Morrison sings about falling in love with life, with this abundance:

Oh, the water, oh, the water, oh, the water ... let it run all over me.

On the way back home we sang a song, but our throats were getting dry. Then we saw the man from across the road with the sunshine in his eye. Well, he lived all alone, in his own little home with a great big gallon jar. There were bottles, too, one for me and you, and he said, "Hey, there you are!"

Oh, the water, oh, the water, oh, the water, get it myself from the mountain stream.

Half a mile from the county fair, and the rain came pouring down. Turn around and head for home? No way. This is good stuff, the rain. Water of life. It smells like grace and peace and mercy not strained, dropping so gently from heaven upon the place beneath. Stay out here and get a little wet. Stick out your tongue and drink. The grass is getting greener every minute.

Father, You told Moses, "Strike the rock, and water will flow. All you need." He struck the rock, and we all drank. "This is not the end," you say, "but only the beginning. Drink up, drink up, and let me take care of you tomorrow too."

Let me let you, Lord. You are God, you are living water, you are life.

Devotions Archive

Half a mile from the county fair

Sunday, March 27, 2011