Monday, July 25, 2011

Thirst

O God, You are my God;
earnestly I seek You.
My soul thirsts for You;
my flesh faints for You,
as in a dry and weary land,
where there is no water.
Psalm 63:1, ESV

We in north Texas are talking much of two things right now: heat and water. Today is predicted to be the 24th consecutive day of temperatures higher than 100F, and my city has had no rain at all this month.

The grass in the parks is August-brown already. The crepe myrtles, usually a bright spot in the green-brown landscape through Labor Day, are losing enthusiasm, too.

Water rationing has begun, and many homeowners are choosing to protect their lawns or their foundations, which tend to shift as our clay soil expands and contracts with changes in water or heat.


Even Ebony is lagging in his morning walks.

Every glance outside reminds me of our dependence on God. Even the wealthiest and most powerful nations on earth are powerless against the problems of too much or too little water. Only the God who made the heavens and earth can give the hydration needed to sustain life here.

The thirsty plants remind me, too, that my deepest hunger and deepest thirst are not for health or beauty or professional significance, but for God Himself. My soul thirsts for Him; my body faints with longing for Him.

And that thirst He promises to satisfy. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but in this life partially and Someday in full.

Then the One seated on the throne said, "Look! I am making everything new." He also said, "Write, because these words are faithful and true." And He said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give to the thirsty from the spring of living water as a gift.
Revelation 21:5-6, HCSB


{see also this song from Nichole Nordeman}

Thanking God today for more of His gracious gifts:
~visual reminders every time I look outside that my primary thirst is for my Creator and Redeemer, the God who is my salvation


~Asiatic lilies, more sunflowers, and zinnias providing bright spots in an otherwise sunbleached, drought-fatigued landscape

~Isaiah 40-43: "Do not fear; I am with you," over and over again
~your prayers for me and mine
~transportation lined up for the first two weeks of August's physical therapy (in case it hurts or wears me out too much to drive safely)
~the two women from church, one who knows me only a little and the other not at all, who have offered their time and energy to meet that need
~Allen taking a personal day to support me through the first therapy session and the predicted pain increase afterward
~3 months with no antibiotics for any problem (longest stretch since November 2009)
~our governor's call for a state day of prayer and fasting August 6
~celebrating a birthday with family (thanks for your prayers!)
~cowboy boots a size too big
~superhero hugs
~Grandma hugs
~the way my sister tells a funny story
~laughter
~party blowouts as weapons
~balloons
~bubbles
~birthday cake
~trick candles
~cars, trucks, and things that go
~baseballs, beach balls, bouncy balls
~friendly neighbors and their prayers
~good memories of my grandfather and his love for reading and Tootsie Rolls. He would have been 95 yesterday.
~redeeming a Groupon for grocery delivery from small local vendors
~courage to keep doing the prescribed exercises even when they increase discomfort
~a whole week, Lord willing, with no medical appointments on the calendar
~watching the sky


(from the gratitude list, #1016-1043)

8 comments:

  1. What a beautiful list, reflecting a beautiful spirit! I am rejoicing with you, and through you, giving Him Glory! I love to hear testimony of the Body being the Body!! Enjoy your week of no medical visits!!! WOOHOO!!!

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  2. Thanks for sharing your list ...it encourages me! I'm so glad, too, that you belong to a body where they help you! I belong to a church like that and I'm grateful as well!

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  3. Lovely list. I especially like the one of your grandfather memories. My grandfather would have been 75 this month - he's been gone a year and a half, and I miss him, but am thankful for good memories.

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  4. yay! You got to celebrate. Such joy:)
    What a beautiful, abundant list. The contrast of the dry heat to your God-watered list of gratitude reminds us of the Source of all good.
    Oh, and your zinnias could color pounce my zinnias any ol' day. My Morning Glory is wrapping around a couple of them, and I don't even care. Maybe I need to check into a different kind. . .

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  5. Christina, from your list I choose the last one as my favorite – looking at the sky – because of two meanings – one looking for rain clouds and probably getting mostly the kind you picture – and two, I've been looking up a lot lately as well. And I heart how you wrote of the dryness of the land and the dryness of the flowers and equated that with our spirit. We need Him - I need Him to regularly infuse me with his life – as I abide on HIS vine. Thank you for the reminders. I heart your words. God bless and keep you and each and every one of yours this day.

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  6. I love how you connect the dry thirsty land to our deepest need-- our thirst Him. I don't know why, but your post brought tears to me today. The reminder that "He promises to satisfy" is what did it. I think I needed to hear that.

    And I love your thank you's! 3 months with no antibiotics! Oh that is a biggie, even though I don't know much about your condition or how long you've needed them, but -- offering praise on your behalf! And no medical app'ts this week-- yay!
    And the call by your governor to fast and pray-- I love that!

    And what made me smile: too-big cowboy boots, party blowout weapons, and the fact that your grandfather liked tootsie rolls! (I can't stand them, can't seem to even bite into them!)
    Blessings on your week!

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  7. such a richly particular and encouraging gratitude list this week...i've been praying especially that neither physical pain, nor fatigue, nor anxiety, will sap the energy you'll need to do the prescribed exercises and (in august) the physical therapy. so i'm very thankful to hear that you're having a holiday from antibiotics and medical appointments, and that Allen and the women from your church will
    make the coming weeks less tiring than they would otherwise be.

    blessings upon blessings for you and Allen this week!

    p.s.: in the "unexpected, but appropriate department": when i went to post this comment, the word to type in the 'verify' box (which is usually something random) was "grace"!
    as Ann (V.) would say, that's what it all is...

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  8. Thanks for the prayers and encouragement, y'all!

    good to see you Craig. I'm glad you're "looking up" more.

    Anna, I'm sorry this made you cry but glad there were some smiles, too.

    Chris, please keep those prayers coming. May the Lord return the blessings back to you and yours! How lovely about the word verification, too. Yes, it is all grace.

    The Lord bless you all.

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Thank you for sharing your day with me! Your presence here is a gift. *You* are a gift. Right now I am unable to reply to every comment, but please know I read and pray for each and every commenter. Grace and peace to you in Christ.