Seasons of Water

 

If I had my perfect tiny house in the woods somewhere, it would be on a stream instead of a lake. There are many different reasons for this. First, I love the sound of running water. Second, running water is clearer than water that stands still, where plants like algae can grow. As I was thinking about this in prayer, God brought up an old song called “Keep Your Lure in The Water” by Randy Travis. I wondered am I stepping out in faith and going where I’m called to go. Now retired, I rarely leave my home. Am I being complacent? That’s when I realized my life has been like seasons of water. There were two parts to my job, I created exhibit environments for preschool children and parents to grow, and designed hands-on art programs that helped people love literature and develop character. Now the true one focus of my job was to highlight exhibits and create interest in them. As a person of prayer, God showed me the importance of increasing literacy in the region and using the power of words to build character. It was never overt. God directed me and I was obedient. I prayed without ceasing for most of my 33-year career. I watched parents play with their children and talk about things like honesty, kindness, caring for others, taking turns, being humble, respect, and patience. During art programs parents would ask their children about their art, what it meant to them, how it helped them see the exhibits, and what about the exhibits and their interaction that impacted them. It was exhausting, challenging and inspiring all at the same time. At the height of my career, I was working 60-70 hours a week, often seven days a week, creating 120 programs a year and designing new preschool exhibits every two months. My life was like white-water rafting. Swift, steady, and often unpredictable, but greatly satisfying. My dreams were filled with visions for exhibits, books that related to our traveling exhibits, and creative art ideas that brought exhibits and books alive. God inspired all of it. Life was fast and fruitful.

Since retiring, I have been in a season of stillness, recuperating from years of being on the edge of empty. Each day I poured everything I had out, and at night I would rest in His presence and be refilled. Recently, I have seen years of extended loss, and redirection. Long moments of stillness and peace. I am no longer thirsty having been saturated in the waters of His love day and night, and night and day. It’s been just me and God hanging out with the fish. As I think about how much I love fishing, how God called me to be a fisher of men, I wonder if that is still the case. The memory of taking my son fishing when he started college is teaching me some new lessons. While I grew up fishing, my children didn’t fish with me. When we camped, I would send them out fishing with their dad while I cleaned up camp and prepared meals. My son was surprised to learn how much I loved fishing. We went charter fishing in Florida before the holiday season started. The rest of the boat was filled with dads and their sons. We put our lures in the water and we were still and waited. It’s a special skill to wait on the Lord, eagerly listening, feeling for a pulse on the line, and awaiting with anticipation. We started pulling in the fish. The others gathered around us thinking we had found a school of fish, yet we continued to be the only ones catching. We caught over 120 pounds of fish that day. Listening, knowing the touch of the Lord, and believing in His goodness is always rewarded in prosperity and peace.

As I think about this season of being in still waters, I feel like it’s a new season of being reborn. This stillness is new, I went from never being alone, to almost always being alone. Yet God is still the constant companion. The enemy whispers I have fallen away, just lies. God reminds me of the little fish I caught and how I would release them back into the water for them to continue to grow. That’s the season I am in now. It may not seem fruitful from a worldly perspective, but God has released me back into still waters to take me deeper into His presence and His glory. Fish get put back when they are not ready for their next assignment. Perhaps I’m being fattened up by the Global Celebration School of Supernatural Ministry so that I’m ready for my next assignment. I am thankful for the meals of truth, like good fats that stick to my bones, protein that is developing new muscles, and the wine of joy that is starting to bubble up in my blood. 

 

 

Pushed to Obedience

There have been several times in my prayer life when God has pushed me to obedience and I have been blown away by his response. As I was praying into the word “push” this morning He reminded me of the time He pushed me to growl in church. As an extreme introvert, I can tell you that was no easy task. I was on the floor in front of the alter praying, when I heard God say “I need you to roar and bring my people to the river of living water.” The worship band was playing a song about living water. As I wrestled with God the song came to an end and I thought I was off the hook, too late. Then they started playing the next song about coming to the river. I remember taking a deep breath and saying “ok.” As I sat there on my knees, I practiced what it might look like, “quietly” roaring. I sounded a lot like a sick kitten. That’s when I told God I was willing to roar, but I didn’t know how. He was going to have to help if He really wanted me to roar. That’s when my stomach started churning, like a raging fire had been lit inside my belly. I actually thought I was going to be sick. As the fire intensified, I said “ok” again and opened my mouth. Up from the deepest parts of my soul came a revibrating roar. A wave of power came out of my mouth, bounced off the wall at the front of the church and hit me on the way out to the congregation. That was a turning point in our call for revival.

Several times after that during worship we were asked to roar and call out for revival, but it was not the same. In all of my experiences being “pushed” I can say honestly, I was willing to take the first step of obedience, but God was never expecting me to act completely on my own. This journey is meant to be lived hand-in-hand with God. Jesus made that possible. The creator of all has a plan that includes us, but it is His plan and requires His touch. Had I roared in my own ability, that sick little kitten would have just sounded a little louder and nothing would have changed. True change only happens in the authority and power of the one true God. We are called to be His hands, feet, heart, and mouth. Come in obedience today, but allow God to move through you so that what happens from your “ok” makes a difference.