Psalms 23:2 “He leads me beside still waters.” “Just as physical waters are essential for life, spiritual still waters are necessary for the soul’s vitality.” (Bible Hub.com) Even though still waters usually mean a sense of peace, the Biblical meaning runs much deeper, it’s about spiritual renewal and trust in a higher power. God leads His believers to trust Him for spiritual strength, and to pray to Him to be refreshed by the Holy Spirit. This sustenance we get through faith in Him.

In John 4:3-15′”Jesus left Judea and started for Galilee again. This time he had to go through Samaria, and on His way, he came to the town of Sychar. (which was also known as Shechem which means shoulder) It was near the field of Jacob (which passed between two mountains) had long ago been given to his son Joseph. The well that Jacob had dug was still there, and Jesus sat down beside it because He was tired from traveling. It was noon, and after Jesus’ disciples had gone into town to buy some food, a Samaritan woman came to draw water from the well. “Jesus asked her, “Would you please give me a drink of water?” “You are a Jew,” she replied, “and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink of water when Jews and Samaritans won’t have anything to do with each other?” Jesus answered, “You don’t know what God wants to give you, and you don’t know Who is asking for a drink. If you did, you would ask me for the water that gives life.” “Sir, you don’t even have a bucket, and the well is deep. Where are you going to get this life-giving water?” “Our ancestor Jacob dug this well for us, and his family and animals got water from it. Are you greater than Jacob?” Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will get thirsty again. But no one who drinks the water that I give will ever be thirsty again. The water I give will become in that person a flowing fountain that gives life.” The women replied, “Sir, please give me a drink of that water!”‘

Jesus told her to go get her husband, even though He knew that she did not have one, then continued to tell her things that no one else could know about her, He did not come to this well for Himself, rather he came to the well so that this woman would become saved. Jesus, Father God, and the Holy Spirit provide the living well within each person who believes that Jesus came, died, and rose from the dead for each one of us. That afternoon at the well this Samaritan woman was saved, she also ran back to town to tell everyone she saw about Jesus! He is our refresher, He revives us, as He said in this passage, He gives us water that quench our thirst forever more! Those who believe in Jesus will never thirst again!

“You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.” C.S.Lewis

As this year ends there may be places in our lives where we sense that we have lost our light, or in some cases perhaps we feel that our lamps have gone out altogether. This quote by C.S.Lewis reminds us that though the year is ending, there is much more to come for our lives as long as we are fortunate to still be breathing. Look ahead to new beginnings, a fresh place to start, refuse to keep reliving all those past hurts, past pains, choose to grieve all loss and grieve all pain, and let go.

C.S.Lewis also quoted,” Getting over a painful experience is much like crossing monkey bars–let go to move forward.”

In Isaiah 43:19 it reads: “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”

“The prudent will bring a supply of oil along with their lamps.” Matthew 25:3

What is that supply of oil? It’s the living word of God, Jesus tells us: “I am the way, the truth and the life.” John 14:6. John 12:36 “Have faith in the light while it is with you, and you will be children of light.”Fill your lamps with His word every day, do not let your lamp go out.

If you are someone who has not yet put your faith in Jesus as Lord and Savior of your life, now is the best time! Let go of the past and choose to move forward by putting your trust and faith in Jesus Christ. He came to save you and He wants to give you a fresh start, light your lamp and continue to show you the way by His living word.

Psalms 119:105″ Your word is a lamp that gives light wherever I walk.”

Happy New Year!!

The old song by Frank Sinatra is a famous one that many of us may judge how our Christmas is going, by searching what’s going on in our hearts:

“Have yourself a Merry little Christmas

Let your heart be light, from now on our troubles will be out of sight.

Have yourself a Merry little Christmas, make the Yuletide gay

From now on our troubles will be miles away.

Here we are, as in olden days, happy golden days of yore,

Faithful friends who are dear to us, gather near to us once more.

Through the years, we all will be together, if the fates allow

Hang a shining star upon the highest bow, and have yourself a merry little Christmas now.

Here we are as in olden days, happy golden days of yore,

Faithful friends who are dear to us, gather near to us once more.

Through the years we all will be together, if the fates allow,

Hang a shining star upon the highest bow, and have yourself, a Merry little Christmas, now.

Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas!

I love this song, but not all families are happy, safe -some do not have a roof over their heads. The song says, “let your hearts be light”. This is also difficult to do when lives are in turmoil, it is when we look for support from our faithful friends and family members, sadly, however, some have no support. I have been in these situations.

What I have learned over the years is that I needed a savior. I could not find lightness, happiness, or even family support. When I found Jesus Christ as Lord of my life, that was when I learned to appreciate all that I have, all of the things that God has done for me, through Him I found everlasting PEACE on earth.

Our “hearts may be light”- because baby Jesus was born on Christmas Day. He came to earth, God incarnate, in a form of a baby to save us all. The Shepherds of Old and the Three Wise Men (Matthew 2:1-11) went in search of the newborn King, following the eastern “shining star” until it stayed over the stable in Bethlehem.

“Hang a shining star from the highest bow”. Accept what Jesus came to earth to do for you, accept Him as your savior today. No matter what the state of your life may be right now, He came to bring you peace in the midst of it all. Surrender all your pain, your cares and concerns to Him today and let Him bring you eternal peace in life. He can make “your troubles be out of sight.” My Christmas is a Merry Christmas, is your Christmas Merry?

David wrote in Psalms 56:8 ” You have kept record of my days of wandering. You have stored my tears in Your bottle and counted each one of them.” David had an intimate relationship with the Lord and that is really where all the Psalms came from, his intimacy with God guided by the Holy Spirit. David knew that our creator knew everything about each one of us. Psalms 139:15 reads: “Nothing about me is hidden from You. I was secretly woven together deep in the earth below, but with Your own eyes You saw my body be formed, even before I was born You had written in Your book everything that I would do.”

Psalms 87:6 reads: “The Lord will make a list of His people, and all who were born here will be included.”

Malachi 3:16 reads: “All those who truly respected the Lord and honored His name started discussing these things, and when God saw what was happening, He had their names written as a reminder in His book. “In Jeremiah 22:30 it reads: “Erase the names of Jehoiachin’s children from the royal records. He is a complete failure, and so none of them will ever be king. I, the Lord, have spoken.” This is eye opening. It is clear that what many do not think the Lord is watching or aware about what is going on, He sees all things, knows all things. We all have heard the song written about ” Michael row the boat ashore…….” Daniel 12:1 reads: Michael, the chief of angels, is the protector of your people, and he will come at a time of terrible suffering, the worst in all of history. And your people who have their names written in the Book will be protected. “The main point that I draw from these scriptures is what David knew, if we respect and obey the Lord we will be protected unto our eternal day. He always sees what we are doing, even from the foundations of the earth- He sees all. This was what David was referring to when he said in the Psalms 56:8 ” You have kept record of my days of wandering. These scriptures do show that the Lord keeps records of right and wrong. This message is not to condemn, ” There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” Romans 8:1.

God gives us free will and He can see all that we do, but He loves us enough to give us a second chance to be redeemed by Jesus Christ and teaches us to respect and follow after His ways, and the Bible is full of warnings, directives, truth, and comfort as we make our way through life in the Spirit. Frankly, I do not know how people make it through the ups and downs of life without the Lord.

Today is a chance to start over again and lean on His word and promises to keep you protected and in His Spirit. Ask Jesus to be your Lord and lead and guide you to the correct path. Jesus died and rose again so that we can have that second chance if only we believe in Him. The Holy Spirit will always comfort you, direct you and reveal the truth of His word to you daily.

Your name will be written in the Book of Life.

Sitting beside water always sooths my soul. The excitement of rushing brook or the stillness of a beautiful lake, speaks so much calm within me.

Philippians 4:7 “Then because you belong to Christ Jesus, God will bless you with peace that no one can completely understand. And this peace will control the way you think and feel.8) Finally, my friends, keep your minds on whatever is true, pure, right, holy, friendly, and proper. Don’t ever stop thinking about what is truly worthwhile and worthy of praise.” It has been said (Bible hub) that the peace of God abiding in the heart is a sure and trusty garrison, guarding it so that once the evil spirit is cast out, it cannot return. Once we are prayed for and are clean, the peace of the Lord acts as a protector as we meditate on the right things: soul, mind, body and spirit. These good thoughts keep our minds in the right place; therefore, God’s peace keeps us safe. This includes peace with God, peace with men, peace with self. It watches over with a watchfulness “that neither slumber or sleeps”–“both the hearts and minds”(the souls and the thoughts formed in them), guarding our whole spiritual action (Elliott’s Commentary for English readers).

Poem by Robert Jones Burdette

Somewhere, out on the blue sea sailing.

Where the winds dance and spin;

Beyond the reach of my eager hailing,

Out where the dark storm-clouds are lifting.

Out there where the blinding fog is drifting,

Out where the treacherous sand is shifting,

My ship is coming in.

I find my peace in Jesus Christ, find your peace in Him too! Invite Him to come into your heart and fill it with His peace.