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The Woman at the Well by Debbie Ogrodnick Where water is plentiful we tend to take it for granted. Not so in the desert, where even plants hoard water with bristly defenses. Taunting visions of pools dance in the heat waves. A craving for water crowds out all other thoughts and one spoonful on a parched tongue is worth gold. To a woman living in a dry land who spent part of each day hauling clay jugs to and from a well, water was the most powerful symbol imaginable. Little wonder that when Jesus offered her living water that would never run dry, the Samaritan woman paid attention. "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst" (John 4:13). Some of Jesus' most memorable sayings came in the midst of very ordinary conversations. Let's look at this Samaritan woman. To a Jewish man, a woman was already considered a person of lesser value. The fact that she was a Samaritan pushed her worth down even further. Generations of bitterness raged between the Jews and the Samaritans. To make matters worse this particular Samaritan woman was likely not even respected by people in her own community since she had had five husbands and was not married to the man she was currently living with. Jesus would have violated several understandings of that day simply by speaking to this woman. Jesus not only spoke to her but he conversed with her at great length. Jesus often challenged accepted cultural behaviors by attaching love, mercy and grace to his actions. He was full of compassion for those who were condemned by their own sin and knew it. The woman at the well knew who she was. She stood in awe because even though Jesus told her everything about her, he didn't condemn her. He treated her as a person of value, a person to whom he wanted to impart hope. Unlike the woman at the well, I have one husband, yet she and I have one thing in common. Expectations. Expectations about ourselves, expectations about marriage, about people and about life. There is no human being nor anything this world can offer that has the ability to meet my deepest needs. No financial wealth, no personal accomplishments or human relationships, no outward beauty and no high social status. It is only God, through Jesus Christ, with His living water that satisfies the innermost longings of my soul, in ALL situations and in all circumstances, completely and permanently. Jesus loved the Samaritan woman. The same blood that He shed for the disciples, the religious leaders, the thieves on the cross, the Roman soldiers, his mother, his friends and his enemies was shed for the woman at the well. How did Jesus see her? He saw her through eyes filled with love and compassion. He saw etched on her face the disappointments, the failures and the regrets. He saw the resignation of accepting things for what they were; hardly daring to hope that change was possible. How did Jesus relate to her? He extended grace and mercy. Max Lucado, in his book God Came Near says, "Silently the Divine Surgeon reached into his kit and pulled out the needle of faith and a thread of hope. In the shade of Jacob's well he stitched her wounded soul back together. ?There will come a day . . . ? he whispered." It is the same today as it was then, 2,000 years ago. Some people followed Jesus courageously, others remained skeptical and still others reacted with hostility. Some just did not understand Jesus' use of visual images. Some people still don't understand. The woman at the well understood and she believed. She went back to her people and excitedly shared what Jesus had told her; as a result many believed and their lives were changed forever . . . just like mine has been...just like yours can be.

The ultimate do-over by John Fischer God worked his way into your life by faith; now he wants to work his way out through your life by making you into the person he had in mind for you to be all along – a person who can be used for God and his purposes in the world. You don't fully know who that person is, except that he or she is like you and like Christ – a Christ-like version of you. God has a claim on your life. He wants to make you like Christ. Not a clone of Christ, but a person with all your capabilities and personality traits with Christ's character coming through you. It's a lengthy do-over (it takes a lifetime) but it's worth it because it is a life filled with purpose and it prepares you for an eternity filled with the same. There seems to be a version of Christianity out today that places little emphasis on how you live your life; it's all about being saved, or going to church, or worshiping properly. Yes, we are saved, but saved to what? To keep living our lives like we always did the only difference being we go to Heaven when we die? Saved to keep sinning – just forgiven this time? I don't think so. Paul addresses this very thing in Romans: "Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more kindness and forgiveness? Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it?" (Romans 6:1-2) This doesn't mean we don't sin anymore; it means we don't live to sin. Sin once was what gave our lives meaning. We lived to sin. We lived for the weekend, as it were, when we could get in as much sin as possible. Now Christ gives our life meaning and we live every day for him. We want to know what he wants to accomplish in our lives and that's what we live for. Is sin something you fall into and regret, or is it what you live for? Do you make plans for sinning or not sinning? The mark of a new life is set in a new desire to do the right thing. Paul goes on to say, "We died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives." (Romans 6:4) There it is: a new life. You are in the process of a total do-over – letting this new life in Christ dictate more and more of what you do and what you choose. How about it? Are you living your old life or your new one?

Joel Osteen's 30 Thoughts for Victorious Living Day 19 Stand Firm Fear not; stand firm and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will work for you today (Exodus 14:13). When you step out to do something big for God, the enemy will send challenges and distractions to knock you off course. He may try to send you running, but you have a promise that God is working behind the scenes for you. You'll be amazed at what God will do in your life when you stand and face your challenges and hold on to the promise found in His Word. When you take a stand, you make a declaration of your faith in God and automatically raise that shield of faith, which extinguishes all the flaming arrows of the evil one (Ephesians 6:16). So take a stand today, and stay on the course the Lord has set for you – take a stand in your prayer life – take a stand in your Bible-study time – take a stand in your acts of service and giving to others. Take a stand and see the salvation and provision of the Lord in every area of your life! Prayer for Today: Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for Your promise to being me through to victory. I ask for Your strength as I take a stand to do what is right according to Your Word. I know Your hand of blessing is upon my every act of obedience. I bless Your Name today and will seek to serve You in everything I do.

The Devil tries By: Marci, P.H.D. The Jesus Believer The devil tells his demons to go to Grace and make her day miserable. So, the demons go one by one and play terrible tricks on poor Grace. At the end of the day the devil calls them back and says "okay what terrible, awful things did you do to her?" The first demon says, I went and made her have a stain on the shirts she wanted to wear for work!" Everyone laughs. The devil says "oh good work!" Then the second demon says "I made her run out of gas and made her late for work, she had to call for a tow truck!!" Everyone cheers the devil is overjoyed. Then the third demon speaks up. "Oh I did better than that! I got her fired from her job for 'misplacing' an important document!" All of Hell laughs and is overjoyed. The devil says, okay, let's check in and see how terrible she is doing!!! When they turn on the screen, they see Grace bowed on her knees thanking God for the blessed day. The devil is outraged. "You didn't do what you said you did!" He rewinds the day and sees that after the first demon made her shirt stained, she wore a beautiful dress. After the second demon had made her car run out of gas, the guy driving the tow truck turned out to be her future husband; he fell in love with her and asked her out on their first date. Better than that, after the third demon made her lose her job, she was able to take a better job for better pay at a bigger law firm. If none of those things had happened, she wouldn't have been so blessed. So she thanked GOD for all the bad things that happened so that she could have a great day! The devil may be sneaky but the Lord is STRONG!

This song is to you, sung by God.... My Dearest Daughter, To the teller down at the bank You're just another checking account To the plumber that came today You're just another house At the airport ticket counter You're just another fare At the beauty shop at the mall Well you're just another head of hair Well that's alright, that's ok If you don't feel important, honey All I've got to say is To the world You may be just another girl But to me Baby, you are the world To the waiter at the restaurant You're just another tip To the guy at the ice cream shop You're just another dip When you can't get reservations 'Cause you don't have the clout Or you didn't get an invitation 'Cause somebody left you out That's alright, that's ok When you don't feel important honey All I've got to say is To the world You may be just another girl But to me Baby, you are the world You think you're one of millions but you're one in a million to me When you wonder if you matter, baby look into my eyes And tell me, can't you see you're everything to me That's alright, that's ok When you don't feel important honey All I've gotta say is To the world You may be just another girl But to me Baby, you are the world Love, Daddy (The World. By: Brad Paisley) "To the World you might be one person, but to one person, you just might be the world."

I am sick to death of hearing people whine about their lives circumstances, and how unhappy they are. They don't do a dang thing about it and then blame it on God. If you can't help yourself, how can you expect anyone else to? If you are not willing to change, how can you expect someone else to change you? God gives us free will for a reason, apart from free will, there cannot be love. If you are unhappy with your life, change it. If God changed something in your life, deal with it, move on! "All changes, even the most longed for, have their melancholy. For what we leave behind is a part of ourselves. But, we must die to one life before we can enter into another." "If you don't take control of your life, don't complain when others do." ~Beth Mende Conny What is that old saying if life throws you lemons, squeeze the crap out of them and make lemonade, don't forget to add sugar! hahaha I know that isn't exactly it, but keept rolling with me... For me, if I am unhappy and I just sit back and complain about it, it just depresses me. But, if I pray it into God's hands, take what I have and be greatful for what God has given me, I have such a different outlook on life. You cannot expect God to just snap His fingers and life will be great, you have to do your part too. Yesterday, I had a bad day, everyone seemed grouchy at work, clients were terds, the walk home was hot. I got a headache and didn't feel good. It was a crummy day. BUT TODAY! On my way to work, I prayed for a better day, for hearts to be open, for thankfulness in the little things. I DECIDED to have a better day. When I first got to work, there was a problem with the computers, I fixed it and moved on. Then I had a terrible conversation with the phone company on behalf of a client. I wasn't as full of grace as I should of been, but God had grace on me and we worked it out. I decided not to let those things make a bad day. Now, I am having the best day, because I gave it to God and decided I wasn't going to let the little things bug me. I know life can be bad, circumstances, hard to deal with, faith low. But those are the times that we need to dust ourselves off and start all over again. God has a plan for your life, let go of the bad and clothe yourself in His mercy, forgiveness and grace. LOVE you Marci

Joel Osteen's 30 Thoughts for Victorious Living Day 18 Filter your Thoughts I will set no evil before my eyes (Psalm 101:3). Did you know that what you think determines the direction and quality of your life? The Bible encourages us to think on things that are pure, wholesome and of a good report (Phil. 4:8). In order to think on the right things, it is important that you filter what you watch, read and listen to. Don't let the enemy slowly deceive you into lowering your standards and desensitizing you to what is good and pure. Don't let him have a single opportunity to pull you down by watching or being involved in things that are questionable. Remember you are the temple of the Holy Spirit. Fill your thoughts with the promises of God found in His Word – promises of peace, joy and freedom; promises of safety, deliverance and provision; promises of a future and a hope that are only found through Jesus Christ! As you fill your thoughts with God's Word, victory will come alive in every area of your life! Prayer for Today: Heavenly Father, today I ask You to fill my thoughts with Your thoughts, and fill my heart with Your promises. I choose to focus on You and the good things You have in store for me. I will meditate on Your Word. Thank You for guiding me every action my every thought and my every step.

Remarkable by Max Lucado Every day I have the honor of sitting down with a book that contains the words of the One who created me. Every day I have the opportunity to let him give me a thought or two on how to live. If I don't do what he says, he doesn't burn the book or cancel my subscription. If I disagree with what he says, lightning doesn't split my swivel chair or an angel doesn't mark my name off the holy list. If I don't understand what he says, he doesn't call me a dummy. In fact, he calls me "Son," and on a different page explains what I don't understand. Remarkable. At the end of the day when I walk through the house, I step into the bedrooms of three little girls. And one by one, I bend over and kiss the foreheads of the angels God has loaned me. Then I stand in the doorway and wonder why in the world he would entrust a stumbling, fumbling fellow like me with the task of loving and leading such treasures. Remarkable. Then I go and crawl into bed with a woman far wiser than I … a woman who deserves a man much better looking than I … but a woman who would argue that fact and tell me from the bottom of her heart that I'm the best thing to come down her pike. After I think about the wife I have, and when I think that I get to be with her for a lifetime, I shake my head and thank the God of grace for grace and think, Remarkable. I'm learning not to take these everyday miracles for granted. I'm discovering many things: traffic jams eventually clear up, sunsets are for free, Little League is a work of art, and most planes take off and arrive on time. I'm learning that most folks are good folks who are just as timid as I am about starting a conversation. I'm meeting people who love their country and their God and their church and would die for any of the three. I'm learning that if I look … if I open my eyes and observe … there are many reasons to take off my hat, look at the Source of it all, and just say thanks. From In the Eye of the Storm Copyright 1991, Max Lucado

Walking in Line with Father By: Marci, P.H.D. The Jesus Believer A teaching from Lion King Seek His will in all you do, and He will direct your paths. Proverbs 3:6 This picture reflects a young simba who had disobeyed his father and realizes as he walks behind him that he has some pretty big shoes to fill. Simba made a mistake. He put himself and Nala in danger because he wasn't listening to his father's warnings about the shaddow lands. When we disobey our Father, we not only put ourselves in danger, but we put others in danger too. People are watching us, and I don't mean just children. Non Christians watch every move we make. Most non believers think that to be a Christian you have to be perfect, but that just isn't so. But, we do have a responsibilty to teach others by what we do (With great power, comes great responsibility. ~Spiderman). We have a responsibilty first to God to listen to Him and walk in line with Him. Then to everyone else around us we have the responsibility to chose the right path. When we make mistakes, God knows our hearts, but others don't. But if they see you make a mistake and own up to it, and try to make things right, then they see the true power of God and His forgiveness. This also means forgiving each other. When we walk in line with the Father He teaches us to forgive like Him and love like Him and be like Him. He teaches us His heart for His children and helps us to reach out to Him for knowledge and wisdom. So, next time you find yourself like Simba, stepping into some pretty big footprints, remember that this is the place God wants you. In that moment when you realize you did wrong and you seek forgiveness and you want to be just like Him, you will find His truth, love and forgiveness. Don't try to walk away, don't justify what you did. Tell your Father what you did and when you Seek His will in all you do He WILL direct your paths. In Jesus, Marci

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