“Water, water everywhere, and not a drop to drink.”

(The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge).

     Summertime is for looking toward swimming pools and ice cream, water slides and camping, water skiing and road trip vacations, water sprinklers and picnics.

Water! Just the thought of this simple word conjures up thoughts of fun and refreshment. A gentle cool shower lifts the spirits after a hard day’s work. A nice hot shower works out the kinks after arduous exercise and a long soak in the tub just makes everything okay.

It’s a known fact that man can survive without food for a time, but he must have water. Water “rights” have long been a source of celebration or contention in the great Southwest.

In the grand scheme of things, Living Water will soothe the soul, provide for your peace on earth and is the transportation for eternal life. Have you tasted this Living Water? See John 7:38, “He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.”

Jesus came to the well, and a Samaritan woman there. Jesus asked her for a drink; this was unheard of because in those days a “self respecting Jew” had nothing to do with the Samaritans. When the woman asked Jesus about this, He kindly replied, “Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.”

Or, read it this way from The Message, “The Samaritan woman, taken aback, asked, “How come you, a Jew, are asking me, a Samaritan woman, for a drink?” (Jews in those days wouldn’t be caught dead talking to Samaritans). Jesus answered, “If you knew the generosity of God and who I am, you would be asking me for a drink, and I would give you fresh, living water.”

Water is absolutely necessary for all of life. Are you drinking for the well of Living Water or are you drinking the cool-ade?

All scripture taken from the King James Version unless otherwise noted.

© 2014 Cat Brennan

How many times have you heard that God is never late?  Often the theory continues that He is never early, either.  Of course this begs the question about to whose time we’re referring.  In the Old Testament, we read in the book of Psalms, chapter 90 and verse 4: “For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night.” And in the New Testament, II Peter Chapter 3:8 “But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.”

Yesterday at writer’s club one of my fellow author’s brought up the scripture from Galatians 4:4 “But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law..”

When the fullness of time was come. . . Think about that for a minute.

Are you still waiting for that special man?  Are you still trying to go to college?  Are you still hoping to buy a newer, more reliable car?  Are you still waiting on that good job? Are you wondering what you’re going to do once you have your degree?

Have you talked to the Father? Have you trusted the Father? Have you put your faith up front or have you placed your wants, wishes and desires in first place?

Many times, in passing, I ask my Father what to write about, and He is often silent. This afternoon I sat down at my keyboard with what I thought were two good ideas for devotions. I wrote one, then the other, but they didn’t seem quite right.

Then, I remembered what my friend Ron had quoted to me yesterday from Galatians 4:4 – “…in the fullness of time.”  I took that to mean that while these were acceptable writings, it was not yet time for either one.

I stopped immediately and asked God what to write. He has such a sense of humor and replied in my spirit, “Write on the fullness of time.”

So I ask you, is it time-o’clock or is it Heaven o’clock?

All scriptures taken from the King James Version unless otherwise noted.

© 2014 Cat Brennan

“You catch more flies with honey than with lemon!”  So, who wants more flies, you ask.  The ‘intent’ of this short proverb is good, if not a little off kilter.   Look at this one, with which I’m sure you’re familiar:

Proverbs 15:1 “A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.”  (KJV) or Proverbs 15:1 “A gentle response defuses anger, but a sharp tongue kindles a temper-fire.”  (The Message)

I have several Barberry Bushes in my front yard. The only spectacular thing about these bushes is their thorns; long, sharp, pointy, mean thorns.  I do NOT like the bushes, but since I live in an apartment, it’s not ‘mine’ to chop them down.  However, I can do then next best thing.

The grounds keeper was trimming all the bushes this morning including holly, Nandina, barberry and others.  I went out and offered him some ice water, but he said he had drinks in the truck. So, I asked him if he would severely trim the barberry. He responded, “Severely”? And I replied yes, that it has those awful thorns that ‘bite’ me all the time.

He noticed that my patio is welcoming with potted plants and ‘yard pretties’, so he readily agreed, I think, because I asked him nicely. It didn’t cost me anything to be kind to this person and the offer of ice water was sincere.

While searching through www.BibleGateway.com and before I located the above verse in the 15^th chapter of Proverbs, I selected several colorful verses in the 18^th chapter as translated by The Message:

^“2 Fools care nothing for thoughtful discourse;
    all they do is run off at the mouth.

⁴ Many words rush along like rivers in flood,
    but deep wisdom flows up from artesian springs.

⁶ The words of a fool start fights;
    do him a favor and gag him.

⁷ Fools are undone by their big mouths;
    their souls are crushed by their words.

²⁰ Words satisfy the mind as much as fruit does the stomach;
    good talk is as gratifying as a good harvest.

²¹ Words kill, words give life;
    they’re either poison or fruit—you choose.

²³ The poor speak in soft supplications;
    the rich bark out answers.”

Aren’t these verses full of awesome wisdom? The entire 18^th chapter of Proverbs is full of wisdom, but I plucked only the verses that were germane to “good words”.

I am working on making my words sweet like honey and pray you will join me.  See Romans 10:17 for guidance, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”  Simply put, what you hear or listen to is what gets into your heart.

Both Matthew 12:34 and Luke 6:45 tell us what is in our hearts is what comes out of our mouths.  (Matthew) “O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.” And (Luke) “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.”

Are these things, anger, bitterness and ugliness, coming out or your mouth or do the rivers of sweet water flow with your words? Choose carefully what you ‘put in your ears’. If you “talk trash” your heart will be loaded with trash. Garbage in – garbage out! Let us speak good and kind and loving and that will flood your heart!

All scriptures are taken from the King James Version unless otherwise noted.

©2014 Cat Brennan