Food for thought

"Rivers of living water" John 7:38

God alone is the blessing that is worked out through us; we are the vessel.

Do you know the old hymn that goes;" I have peace like a river, I have peace like a river , I have peace like a river in my soul ..." I remember Elizabeth Elliott saying how important and ministering old hymns are to one's spirit. It has stuck with me because I love old hymns and I now know why: they feed me. Many of today's Christian groups have put out the old hymns, (Selah is one I know of) and they feed your spirit in glorious ways; and if we don't feed our spirit the rivers of living water will start to dry up. Life is all about choices, what matters most to you will be evident by the choices you make. Jesus said " You can not love both God and money ...for you will end up loving one and despising the other." I believe it goes for all other things as well. What counts as an idol , John Wesley's mom told him, is anything you put before God . If we want or desire attention for our good deeds, did we not receive our reward by that attention here on earth; which by the way was not ours to have in the first place? Jesus said " do not store up your treasures on earth , instead store up your treasures in heaven." That treasure my friend is Christ alone. Jesus also said " Do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing." We all understand what this says and probably agree, but being put to the test of things is a whole different story .
When my mother was a young girl she was with her father after church, not realizing she was listening, she overheard him talking with the preacher. There was a retreat or camp coming up and he knew of someone who could not afford to go, when he paid their way he told the preacher there was only one condition, no one was to ever know who paid. You see my grandfather got it, the only one he wanted to receive the glory was the true recipient, the one who had already paid, it was His glory alone and it was to stay that way. My mom said no one ever knew and when I heard the story my grandfather had gone to be with Jesus many years before. What a legacy to leave behind, he touched the very core of my heart with this small selfless act of love; yet while on this earth he would never know . My Grandfather died before I was born but I couldn't love him more.
This world in which we live has it all backwards. Just turn on the t.v. and watch Cribs, or Pimp my Ride, or any other show, Extravagant homes and cars, we all crave it to some degree, it's called our flesh. Maybe it's traveling or being a big fish in a small or big pond. Make no mistake: we who love the Lord will be refined like silver and we are not ready to be taken out of the fire until God can see His reflection in us.
My daughter once posed the question to someone who said rather defensively;" Well, I'm a Christian!", and she simply said "Yes but do you Love Jesus?" It's the heart that matters and my daughter gets it, and she has taught me so much. As a parent we can not be blessed more.
As our love grows for Jesus our need to be recognized diminishes. The need to see if we made a difference becomes of no account to us because our focus has finally found what it was looking for all the time... Jesus. Our rivers of living water will come up against many obstacles, but like the river, pay it no mind; keep your focus on Jesus, and He will direct your paths. "A river touches places of which its source knows nothing, and Jesus says if we have received of His fullness, however small the visible measure of our lives, out of us will flow rivers that will bless to the uttermost parts of the earth." Oswald Chambers.

Heavenly Father your Son said "my peace I leave with you." I pray whatever obstacles our rivers come against, we may find our peace in you alone, knowing you alone direct our paths. In Jesus name I pray amen. Love to all in Christ Jesus C:)