Monday, February 22, 2010

In Need of a Little H2O

A virus--vicious and violent--attacked me with vengeance. Left me feeling lethargic. With a low-grade temperature. Low blood pressure. And lying in an emergency-room hospital bed. Not exactly how you want to spend Valentine's Day with your sweetheart.

But that's where we ended up this year. That ill-bred virus depleted me of fluids in record-breaking time.

Took me totally off of my feet.

Several nurses had attempted to start an IV but couldn't. Then one determined nurse came in, wrapped that rubber band thingy real tight around my arm, and found her mark. Aimed. Stuck me successfully. Fluids flowed into my dehydrated body. Along with some heavy-duty medication.

The fluids and the meds worked a little magic. I started to feel better.

I was really thirsty. So, I asked for a cup of water.

But the nurse said, "I'm sorry. You can't have anything to drink yet. We're not sure what's wrong with you--we're running tests--and until we know, I can't let you drink anything."

Just one sip of H2O?

"No, I'm sorry."

How about some crushed ice?

"No, sorry."

Are you thinking this nurse was so not nice? Well, that's exactly what I was thinking too.

Finally, the doctor reported that the test results had eliminated suspicious stones and other stuff like that.

So that's when the nurse gave me the cup of water that I had been wanting for hours.

Water. Clear. Cool. So good.

Each swallow soothed and strengthened me.

Nothing else rehydrates our bodies like water does. That's how God made us.

He also made us to need water for our heart and our soul. A different kind of water. Living water. He offers this living water to us, but sometimes, we don't accept it.

This is what God said to Jeremiah:

"My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken Me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water" (Jer. 2:13).

You know, I've committed both of these sins before. Like, when I go to another source to satisfy my thirst for affirmation and assurance or for any other reason, then I've forsaken Him. My actions say to Him: I don't need You in this area of my life. Someone or something else will do just as well. You alone are not enough to satisfy me.

I break His loving heart when I do this.

I've even attempted to dig a few cisterns of my own. I try to create and control circumstances to bring about selfish satisfaction. My efforts to manipulate others and God don't work at all.

Only living water from God can rehydrate our souls.

I was just wondering if you're in need of a little H2O. Are you feeling a little bit of lethargy when it comes to your relationship with Him? Like things aren't the way you really want them to be. Maybe dehydration is about to get the best of you.

I know what that's like. It takes a long time for our bodies to recover from the effects of dehydration.

Our sweet Savior says that if we come to Him, He will give us living water. He won't withhold from us. We can drink. Again and again.

So what do we do when we're in need of a little H2O? We spend time with Jesus. Reading His word. Talking to Him. Listening to Him. Getting to know Him better and better.

I think that these disciplines help us to acquire a taste for the only One who offers living water.

May I offer you a drink of water?

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20 comments:

  1. So sorry to hear you were so sick but glad you are feeling better. Thank you for this beautiful analogy of our need of H2O and Jesus!

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  2. Beautiful post Deb. I love all the pictures water brings....and I have to drink lots of it for health as well, physical and spiritual. I'm delighted you are feeling well enough to blog about your experience and tie it with Jesus' living words!

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  3. Deb, glad you're on the mend.

    I heard recently that humans are the only animal that waits to feel thirst before drinking -- the rest drink to prevent thirst.

    If that's true (and I'm not an enough of a scientist to know), I wonder about us and our spiritual thirst too. I know I often wait to go to the well until I think I need to. What a dork I can be. That Living Water is there all the time.

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  4. I'm happy you're feeling better. We don't appreciate some things until we are without them, like water and the Living Water.

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  5. Hope you're feeling better. I love Lyla's comment, I too wait until I'm thirsty to go to the well.

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  6. Deb,

    Ya, I can't imagine spending Valentine's Day in the ER either but so glad that you are out with no lasting effects but just a little virus that will be gone in no time. Here is hoping for a full recovery and loved how you tied this whole thing in to God's refreshing never ending water!

    Love and Hugs ~ Kat

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  7. Glad you are better. Loved the post. Your posts always make my day....thanks for sharing the word of God as you do.

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  8. Thanks for sharing this Deb. I need that living water.

    I'm glad you're better.

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  9. Oh, Deb, that was scary! I'm happy you are better now. Great analogy. Blessings**

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  10. Hello Deb, I am visiting from "Peace for the Journey". I am so glad God directed me here today. Jer 3:13 is a verse that I studied about a month or so ago when I was preparing to teach the story of the women at the well. It hit me so hard that I had to put the study away for a day or two but He would not allow that verse to let go of me.

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  11. Oh, friend, I wish I had known... I'm so sorry. Bless your sweet heart. I'm assuming you're refreshed now, but not without a few scars to remind you of your thirst. As it goes with our flesh, so with our spirits. May we never forsake the Living Water... may our scars serve as a reminder.

    peace~elaine

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  12. Great analogy! And so glad it was nothing more serious than a fierce virus!

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  13. Thank you for your sweet comments on arise 2 write and most especially for your prayers on behalf of Amden. They are greatly appreciated. I am getting ready to update, again. I just got off the cell with my sister, Courtney (Amden's grammy).
    Hugs,
    andrea

    PS: I am following you, too.

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  14. Dear Deb,

    Thank you for this post. I am reminded that only the Lord can quench my thirst.

    Deborah

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  15. this post refreshed me....quenched my thirst...made me want more of the living waters...glad you're feeling better...hey stay well...stay safe. no more accidents or illness but know this Deb...you write amazing...

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  16. What a refreshing post this was, Deb...made me want to literally get a glass of water, and also to sit at the feet of Jesus, read His words, and get more of that living water that He alone can give!

    Glad you are recovering. I'm sure the experience has drawn you closer to God!

    Love
    Lidj

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  17. always, always, always dying of thirst. So thankful for the fount that never runs dry.

    was aghast to hear of your emergency visit, dear one. so glad all is well. here's a big wide prairie hug for you.

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  18. So glad to hear you're feeling better. What a bummer around Valentine's Day. But love can celebrate anytime, can't it?

    This was a great post, Deb. You drew us right to the well that never runs dry.

    Thanks.

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  19. There is nothing worse than a nurse who CANNOT find a vein - repeatedly!!!! I have rolly veins that just won't cooperate! I so feel for you! I hope you are recovered COMPLETELY and ready to take on the world!

    Why is it we want, demand, whine for water when we cannot have it and then when we can, we do not seek it out, demand it, whine for it!

    I personally want a Holy Spirit IV fluid drip! I'd drag that cart right around with me all day long!

    Be blessed:)

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  20. Oh, I'm really sorry you were so sick! I hope you are feeling much, much better now.

    I can definitely relate to this post because my body is in a constant state of 'hypovolemia' - dehydration/low blood volume. That is just a part of my illness. But, I have also been extremely thirsty lately for my spiritual H20. I think I'm a few quarts low. :0) My quiet time has not been what I've needed it to be because I have been so very sick, so very tired and SO very weary. It has been really hard for me to focus on The One I need to focus on the most!

    Thank you for posting this. It is certainly an analogy that I could relate to! It is also very inspiring and just the encouragement I needed to hear today.

    I hope you are enjoying a wonderful weekend. I hope you'll come visit soon. I have a really cool post today about the time my husband was featured on the TV show, RESCUE 911! You should come check it out.

    Take care, my friend!

    {{HUGS}}

    Teresa <><

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