eBookWellspring - eBook [ePub] (Wellspring - eBook [ePub])
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Overview
A wellspring is a source of abundant and continual supply. That is how it is with God’s Word. In these pages you will find the refreshment God promises us in Proverbs 18:4: “The words from a person’s mouth are deep waters, a bubbling stream, a fountain of wisdom.” Throughout the scripture, water is used as a theme for so much that God provides. The “water” found in God’s Word quenches not just physical thirst, but the deep spiritual cravings we struggle with every day.
Using the readable and relatable scripture translations of the Common English Bible, Wellspring is the perfect companion for anyone who is thirsty for fresh, clear encouragement and a deeper walk with Christ. Each daily selection includes a Bible verse, a personal reading, and a short prayer. Here, readers will find that God’s love for them is a wellspring—inexhaustible, ever-flowing, always refreshing and available.
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781426744488 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Abingdon Press |
| Publication date: | 10/01/2011 |
| Sold by: | Barnes & Noble |
| Format: | eBook |
| Pages: | 392 |
| File size: | 915 KB |
About the Author
Read an Excerpt
Wellspring
365 Meditations to Refresh Your Soul
By Karen Moore
Abingdon Press
Copyright © 2011 Abingdon PressAll rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4267-4448-8
CHAPTER 1
January
I was hungry and you gave me food to eat. I was thirsty and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger and you welcomed me.
Matthew 25:35
January 1
Come to the Water
All of you who are thirsty, come to the water!
—Isaiah 55:1
As you celebrate the beginning of a brand new year, it feels like time is back on your side. With a new burst of energy, you're able to reassess your priorities, look at where you've been and where you want to go, and you're invited once again to drink from the well of living water. Slip away then from the muddy shores of the past and step into today where you can make a clean start. You may still be parched from yesterday, or a bit thirsty from all that you have left undone, but you're not going on alone from here.
Thomas Fuller once said, "We never know the worth of water till the well is dry."
Let us seek to understand the "worth" of living water this year for we have a fountain of joy to drink from, a well that is everlasting. We only need to come and take a daily dip into this pool to be refreshed and renewed continually.
As you change the date on your calendar to reflect a new year, clear the dryness in your throat by refreshing yourself with God's living Word and his everlasting waters. Allow him to wash over you with the goodness and love he has already prepared. It's a New Year and a new chance for you to quench your thirst. Come to the water!
In the Flow
Dear Lord, as I start another year, remind me that you are with me every step of the way. Wash away the things in my past that I no longer need and renew my life and my Spirit in your precious Name. Amen.
January 2
How to Be Happy
Even if the forest falls and the humbled city is laid low, those who sow beside any stream will be happy, sending out ox and donkey to graze.
—Isaiah 32:19-20
What does it take for you to feel happy? Isaiah offers a little insight into raising your happiness quotient when he says, "sow beside any stream and you will be happy." Sowing beside a stream puts you in the flow and connects you to the Source of all that brings life and sustains you. It means you have chosen to plant your values and your dreams, your hopes and aspirations in a place where they can be nurtured and grown. It is a place that fills your spirit with expectant joy.
St. Augustine reflected on happiness in this way. He said, "Where your pleasure is, there is your treasure; where your treasure is, there is your heart; where your heart is, there is your happiness." When your heart is connected to the One who can wash you anew, cause you to come clean and to start again with honest effort and joy, you have every ingredient for happiness.
The New Year has just begun. Happiness is ready to embrace you, ready to reveal its secrets as you walk into the waters of the Living Savior. He will guard your heart and mind and keep you steadily on the path of true joy. Be happy today.
In the Flow
Father in Heaven, help me plant my hopes and dreams firmly in your care this year. As I seek to find greater happiness through you and the treasures you place in my heart, hold me close. Amen.
January 3
Go Ahead, Take A Chance!
Send your bread out on the water because, in the course of time, you may find it again.
—Ecclesiastes 11:1
It's not easy to figure out when to take a risk or when to start something new. Even making an effort can seem overwhelming, and yet, something nags at you, insisting that it's time, that today is a new day and even if you didn't make it work before, you can now. Think of the Nike slogan that implores you to "just do it!"
Procrastination may make sense in terms of giving your new ideas thoughtful consideration. Weighing the odds is a worthwhile use of your time. Getting uncomfortable, though, is a challenge, but the writer of Ecclesiastes doesn't really care. He says get it done. With a little due diligence, in the course of time, you may reap a reward, and you may win the day.
If you don't cast your bread on the waters, you know that nothing can return to you. If you simply cast the bread and walk away, you won't be expectant. You won't recognize the opportunity or be ready for the win. So go ahead. Take a chance on becoming all that God meant you to become and show him and the rest of the world what you've got. It will renew your spirit and you'll be in a refreshing stream of opportunity.
In the Flow
Lord, I let things pass me by over and over again. This year, help me take a chance and step up to the plate to get things done. Amen.
January 4
The Drink that Refreshes
Both fresh water and salt water don't come from the same spring, do they?
—James 3:11
About this time of year, we love the idea of sandy beaches and warm salty water. We imagine the sounds of seagulls and ocean waves and shells along the shore. We love it until we need a nice cool drink. Hmmm ... imagine being surrounded by blissful breezes and burning sands, but no cold refreshing drink. Everything is saltwater. It looks like water, sounds like water, but it can't refresh you from the inside. It only leaves you feeling drier and thirstier.
Life can be like that. We don't notice whether we're being nourished because for the moment we're being satisfied. Once the illusion fades, we catch the reality like we just walked on a jellyfish. We are almost startled to realize we need a taste of something that will truly sustain us, something more.
Your current faith may sustain you very well, or it may just keep you afloat on an endless sea of uncertainty. It may be time to drink more deeply and receive greater refreshment.
There is a beautiful beach, a place where you can play and hang out in the sun. All you have to do is ask and you'll be there, filled forever after with the cool, refreshing Spirit that will never leave you thirsty again.
In the Flow
Lord, thank you for being the only living water that quenches the thirst of your children. Thank you for giving us all we need. Amen.
January 5
God Gave You Today
This is the day the LORD acted; we will rejoice and celebrate in it!
—Psalm 118:24
Do you ever get so caught up in your routine that you forget what day it is? You have to remind yourself whether you're going to work, or maybe sleeping in because it's Saturday? Some of us may even forget that we didn't "invent" today. In fact, we wouldn't be here at all if God had not acted on our behalf a very long time ago. The psalmist is right to point this out to us. God made this day. Now what will we do to show him how glad we are that he did?
Since it's the beginning of the year, let's be more mindful of what God has done each morning when we rise. We can begin the day, even before we put a foot on the floor, saying "Thank you, Lord." We can put a smile on our faces and celebrate the fact that we are surrounded by the abundance he provided.
Every action causes some kind of reaction. God acted. Now it's your turn. This is the day the Lord made so that you could ... what? What can you do to cause God to celebrate a little? What can you give back today that will connect your heart more closely to his?
Take a moment and give God a very intentional response. Don't hesitate to show him what you can do. It will be good for both of you. Praise him, praise him for today!
In the Flow
Lord, I get caught up in the to-do list of my daily life and I forget to be grateful. I thank you for all you do to make it possible for me to live more fully and richly. Bless this day and walk with me. Amen.
January 6
Hitting the Jackpot
Generous persons will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.
—Proverbs 11:25
Have you ever considered what you'd do if you won the lottery or somehow managed to win or receive an unexpected, but fabulous fortune? After you got over the excitement of the event and paid off your house and all your loans, you might start thinking about giving to others. You might start to imagine how good it would feel to share your good fortune.
The good news is this. You've already won the lottery. You already have a vast fortune to share with others. It may not be showing up in your bank account, but it's there. It's the spirit of generosity that came into your life the day you started following Jesus. It's the day you said, whatever I have, I'm willing to share.
You have been blessed with an abundance of treasure, and the more you give that treasure away, the more blessed you are. C. S. Lewis reminded us that "nothing is really ours until we share it."
It's a new day and the perfect moment to look at what you have to give away. It may just be a moment of your time, a smile, a kind word to the taxi driver, but whatever it is, share it. Love is never witnessed by a clenched fist, but only through an open and generous hand.
In the Flow
Father, you have blessed me beyond measure. You have filled my home and heart with joy. Cause me to never forget what you've done for me and to always remember to give in any way I can to others. Amen.
January 7
Setting Priorities ... Again!
Instead, desire first and foremost God's kingdom and God's righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.—Matthew 6:33
The start of a new year is a good time to take a look at your priorities, to examine more closely where you are willing to put your effort and energy. What's at the top of your to-do list?
Most likely, you'll find a lot of things there like working hard for that next promotion, studying to get through a course at school, or exercising to get your weight under control. At the beginning of a year, we're usually pretty focused on improving ourselves and our lot in life.
Matthew recommends that we go back to our to-do list to see if we've remembered to put God at the top of it. He says that when we start there, we're getting it right. In fact, we're getting the message that there's really nothing worth doing if God is not a part of the equation.
Today, put your grocery list aside for a bit and scratch out the stuff that keeps you busy and look for the stuff that keeps you in the business of life, the life God called you to. He can only help you, guide you, and bless you if you invite him into your story. Call him, he's always available to you.
In the Flow
Lord, I know that I get so busy with life I forget to even mention your name in passing. I forget that you are the reason I get to do anything at all. Be with me today and lead the way to all that you would have me do. Amen.
January 8
It All Begins With You
I was hungry and you gave me food to eat. I was thirsty and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger and you welcomed me.
—Matthew 25:35
It's easy in our culture to gloss over the needs of our neighbors and those who are still strangers to us in the world. We can pass by the homeless and imagine that they just weren't very good at managing their money or they really should join AA or some other "will somebody else please fix them" program. We may even give to United Way or some other such agency through the place we work. That makes giving so easy we don't even have to think about it. To us, it's just a loss of income anyway.
So how can we recognize the opportunity we have to act like Jesus? How will we differentiate the mindless-though-helpful giving from the kind that causes us to stop and notice what we're actually doing? When you give with a full intention, from the heart, is that more of the idea that Jesus had in mind?
Giving is always a choice. Whether you put your heart and mind into it is also a choice. Feeding others is not simply a matter of buying a meal. It's a function of inviting them to the feast of a gracious God who gave everything for our good. Giving begins with you. It keeps you in the flow of blessing in ways that nothing can measure. Is anyone thirsty in your midst today? Be their blessing.
In the Flow
Lord, show me how I can open up my heart and be more generous to others. I know that you have been more than generous to me. Amen.
January 9
Wow! That Was Stupid!
Patience leads to abundant understanding, but impatience leads to stupid mistakes.
—Proverbs 14:29
It's a New Year, and you have set new goals for yourself. So, what happens if things take a little longer than you expected? What happens to your faith when you have to wait things out?
We live in a world of instant gratification. When the Internet goes down for five minutes, we're irritated. We're used to getting information now and we don't like it very much when we have to wait ... for anything!
Look at what happens if you get caught in a traffic jam for fifteen minutes, or you're in line at the grocery store with the sweet little lady who has twenty-seven coupons. At first, you're a little annoyed, maybe a little antsy, and then just out and out angry because someone else is taking up your precious time. After all, you're pretty important and you have things to do.
Impatience leads to all kinds of problems. You try to go around the traffic jam, only to get caught in even greater congestion elsewhere. Today, watch the flow and energy around you. Observe your willingness to slow down enough to recognize that prayerful patience will reap greater rewards. The reward will surely help limit those stupid mistakes.
In the Flow
Lord, I know that I am not always patient. Help me realize that you can use me a lot more when I slow down and think of you. Amen.
January 10
For God So Loved You
God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him won't perish but will have eternal life.
—John 3:16
Can you really take that in? Are you able to comprehend what it actually means that the God of the universe, the One who created everything and who has the only real power and authority over heaven and earth, actually loves you? Wow! Who are you?
Who you are may not be nearly as important as what you are. You are his child, his object of affection. You are the one he sent his only Son to redeem because he couldn't stand the thought that anything would ever happen to you. You mean the world to God and he is doing everything he can to prove himself to you.
Today, take a moment and imagine what it really means to be loved by God. Embrace the idea. Pray and ask God to help you understand it more fully. Then, remind yourself that such love deserves to be shared. You're in a relationship and it's the biggest one that you'll ever be part of. It's bigger than your spouse, it's bigger than your partnership at the firm or your membership in the church. It's you and God, one to one.
God so loved you that he acted on your behalf a long time ago. You have every opportunity to act on God's behalf today.
In the Flow
Dear Lord, I can hardly take in the idea of your great love. I know that it is a gift of your spirit and I treasure it. Help me to be worthy of your love in all that I do. Amen.
January 11
What's Your Reality?
Faith is the reality of what we hope for, the proof of what we don't see.
—Hebrews 11:1
Reality TV is a funny concept. It invites us into a personal encounter with someone we've never met and before long, we're in a virtual relationship. We think we're part of their lives and they are part of ours. The problem is that neither of you knows the other, and chances are good you never will. It's simply not reality.
Sometimes we want faith to be a bit like a reality TV spot. We want to plug in and connect with it, and ultimately make the right choice and come out with the happy ending. We want it to be easy.
The writer of Hebrews reminds us that faith is about a reality we hope for, an outcome we believe in and move on even when we don't have proof. It's a lot like love or appreciation of the arts. No one else can really understand your choices or how you feel, but it's your reality.
Look at the things you have faith in. Furthermore, look at the things you don't have faith in and check in with your Creator. He is the only reality. He is the proof of what you don't see. Have faith in him and faith in yourself and the things you hope for will begin to come to you according to his will and purpose. Open your heart so that greater faith can flow through you to others.
In The Flow
Lord, I thank you for the gift of faith. Sometimes I have a lot and I feel on fire for you. Other times, I have a little and I look to things in this world to give me answers and direction. Help me see all that you want for me with eyes of faith. Amen.
January 12
When You're Smiling
A joyful heart brightens one's face, but a troubled heart breaks the spirit.
—Proverbs 15:13
Remember the old song that suggested "when you're smiling, the whole world smiles at you"? Proverbs 15 agrees.
(Continues...)
Excerpted from Wellspring by Karen Moore. Copyright © 2011 Abingdon Press. Excerpted by permission of Abingdon Press.
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