1 QUOTE

“Be rightly related to God, find your joy there, and out of you will flow rivers of living water.”

- Oswald Chambers

1 NOTE

When I was a campus minister I loved swimming at the USC campus pool.  The pool manager was the former USA Olympic coach and trained Janet Evans to win four gold medals. We became friends and he gave me tips. I swam for exercise (and prayer in the water) so my bar was low. His tip wasn’t technical. His tip was practical. He told me to make sure I drank enough water. 

I remember one workout when I forgot my water. After 30 laps I was panting, tired and dying of thirst. I found it so ironic that I was literally in water but dying of thirst. The pool water was compromised, full of chemicals. The pure water I needed was outside of my immediate environment. To drink that water I needed, I had to exit the pool. That sunny afternoon I hopped out of the pool and ran to the only fountain on the deck (good thing the pool manager didn’t see me running). I guzzled fresh, cold water until I couldn’t drink anymore.

C.S. Lewis captures our need for the Living Water of Christ in his classic children’s book The Silver Chair.

"Are you not thirsty?" said the Lion. ”I am dying of thirst," said Jill. "Then drink," said the Lion. "May I — could I — would you mind going away while I do?" said Jill. The Lion answered this only by a look and a very low growl. And as Jill gazed at its motionless bulk, she realized that she might as well have asked the whole mountain to move aside for her convenience. The delicious rippling noise of the stream was driving her nearly frantic. "Will you promise not to — do anything to me, if I do come?" said Jill. "I make no promise," said the Lion. Jill was so thirsty now that, without noticing it, she had come a step nearer. "Do you eat girls?" she said. "I have swallowed up girls and boys, women and men, kings and emperors, cities and realms," said the Lion. It didn't say this as if it were boasting, nor as if it were sorry, nor as if it were angry. It just said it. "I daren't come and drink," said Jill. "Then you will die of thirst," said the Lion. "Oh dear!" said Jill, coming another step nearer. "I suppose I must go and look for another stream then." 

"There is no other stream," said the Lion.

1 QUESTION

How strong is your habit of drinking from the only living stream? What can you do this week to make sure you get up and drink from the only stream that satisfies?

Until Next Tuesday,

John