"Jesus answered, 'Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." -- John 4:13-14

These are words that Jesus says to a woman he had an encounter with at a well.  She was a Samaritan woman-- a person no good Jewish person would associate with in that day.  Jesus shouldn't have spoken to her, but he did.  To her, this was shocking.  Not only did he speak to her, he asked her for a drink.  She was shocked.  His response to her was along the lines of "do you know who I am?  Clearly you don't, because if you did, you would be asking me for a drink."  But then when he says the kind of drink she would be asking him for, it's not water... it's living water.  She's not sure why Jesus is there.  He doesn't have anything to draw water from the well with... what's he even doing here?  Then he explains to her that the water he's talking about is very different.  In fact it's not water as she knows water at all.  Drink the water from the well, you'll just be thirsty again... but drink from what Jesus offers... it will change your life forever.  Once you experience and understand the salvation and freedom that comes from Jesus, you'll see that life is more than quenching your thirsts and appeasing your appetites.  From what well are you drinking?

Readings:  Judges 21:1-Ruth 1:22; John 4:4-42; Psalm 105:1-15; Provers 14:25

"All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty." -- Proverbs 14:23

How many good ideas have you had in your life?  How many good intentions you carried only to be weighed down by them?  Often, the difference between people who have impact and people who don't is that those who have it act on their ideas and intentions.  Most don't though.  Most people fear failing to the point that it's safer just not to try.  These are the ones who regret later in life.  What do you feel God is calling you to do... that you would do if you weren't so afraid?  Examine the fear.  Is it warranted?  Is it keeping you from living the life God intends for you?  Pray to overcome that fear today, and live your life.

Readings:  Judges 19:1-20:48; John 3:22-4:3; Psalm 104:24-35; Proverbs 14:22-24

"For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." -- John 3:17

Since Constantine, the fear factor of Christianity has been employed to keep people in line to help the Church maintain power and control.  In the early years of the faith the only ones who could read were the priests, and it would be many generations before the printing press was invented, so the writings of the New Testament weren't readily available to people.  They were dependent upon the priests telling them of the contents.  This led to abuse of power and skewed interpretation.  To some, the words of Jesus were threatening, cold, and utterly frightening.  Once the scriptures were made accessible to the broader public, people protested and revolted.  They came to read that the faith was a kinder and gentler one than that which had been presented to them.  But even now, there is still a residual employment of fear by those in power in order to manipulate and control. While we should fear God in a way that displays awe and respect, we shouldn't let fear be the driving force of what we do in and through our faith.  Remember, God didn't send his Son into the world to condemn the world... but to save it.

Readings: Judges 17:1-18:31; John 3:1-21; Psalm 104:1-23; Proverbs 14:20-21

"A quick-tempered man does foolish things, and a crafty man is hated. The simple inherit folly, but the prudent are crowned with knowledge." -- Proverbs 14:17-18

Countless relationships are destroyed by things that are said hastily and impulsively.  We get in an argument with someone, feel the anger well up inside of us, and then lose control.  We can't think clearly, and so words come out of our mouth that can never be unsaid and the damage is done.  Think back to times in your life when you've said something you wish you could take back.  Ever desire to go back in time to prevent one of your own actions?  Consider the danger of reckless words spoken in anger.  Check your anger before you speak, and your relationships will be stronger for it.  Stay cool.

Readings:  Judges 15:1-16:31; John 2:1-25; Psalm 103:1-22; Proverbs 14:17-19

"Samson went down to Timnah and was there a young Philistine woman. When he returned, he said to his father and mother, "I have seen a Philistine woman in Timnah; now get her for me as my wife." -- Judges 14:1-2

I can't help but laugh when I read this.  To imagine a time and place where the young man sees a girl he likes-- and then tells his parents to "get her as his wife", and for the parents to comply-- wow... that's a different reality!  Things sure have changed.  It's important to remember that when we read scripture that we are reading things in a particular historical and cultural context.  Some may say, "do what the Bible tells you"... and yet at the same time would never support this way of getting a wife for their son.  But that doesn't mean the Bible is false or irrelevant.  We can still find richness in its stories, and instruction in its teaching.  It can still speak to us as a living, breathing, fresh and relevant word.  Read it, enjoy it.  Soak it up.  Read the story of Samson for what it is... a great story!

Readings:  Judges 13:1-14:20; John 1:29-51; Psalm 102:1-28; Proverbs 14:15-16  

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning." -- John 1:1-2

While John is our fourth Gospel, it begins with an echo of Genesis: In the Beginning...  This is the phrase that establishes Christ's spiritual place as being with God... and being God.  He was the Word ... this is the creative force that calls things into being, that establishes earth, sky, sun, and moon.  The one to arrange life and give it breath.  The Word is God.  How strange to read this in our day and understand the language.  The word "word" brings about ideas of writing, speaking, and what we use to convey ideas.  But to leave John's meaning now, even as we consider words as we know them, consider the power they carry.  They can inspire people to do amazingly good and creative things or bring whole nations to act in unspeakably evil ways.  They can form relationships, and they can destroy them.  The old phrase our mothers taught us when we were young: "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names can never hurt me..." is a lie.  A broken bone heals much quicker sometimes than a broken relationship.  We must understand the power of a word.  Use them wisely.

Readings:  Judges 11:1-12:5; John 1:1-28; Psalms 101:1-8; Proverbs 14:13-14

"Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations." -- Psalms 100:1-5

There's something about worship that is renewing, lifting, and even transforming... it's that time when we put ourselves aside and give ourselves over to the task of focusing on God, thanking God, praising God, speaking to God, and listening to God.  Some think worship is a one-hour per week event, but truly, it's something that we can do anywhere, anytime.  When you remember that you stand in the presence of God...  when you relate to him even as you do the mundane in day-to-day living... when you seek him, speak to him, thank him, praise him... when you listen to him... and when you act in his name for his glory... you worship God.  A life filled with worship is so much richer than the weekly (if that) obligatory "God nod".  Enter a new way of living and worship God with all you have and all you are.

Readings:  Judges 9:22-10:18; Luke 24:13-53; Psalms 100:1-5; Proverbs 14:11-12