Springs of Living Water ~

Summer days of splendor...

These are the days in which we wait patiently for 

during those cold and blustery days of winter,

yet, it seems as if they fade so very quickly after their arrival.

I trust that you are enjoying each and every day

in the beauty and splendor that God affords us over these late summer days.
Summer for Texas has brought such 
tragedy and devastation to the lives of many.
My heart weeps over their struggles and loss, so throughout the day
I find myself laying it all upon the throne of God
and remembering them in prayer.
Please take some time out of your day and hold these dear people up in prayer.
Our effectual fervent prayers can avail much.

~~~♡♡♡~~~

When my husband and I were at the lake two weeks ago,

we visited an area that had some gorgeous water falls

and I couldn't help but sing the hymn "Springs of Living Water."

I have been singing that hymn ever since we viewed those three water falls 

as the rushing waters gushed forth over the hill side.
 

"Drinking at the Springs of Living Water,

happy now am I, my soul they satisfy"

Satisfied in God, the Spring of Living Water, Who quenches all my thirst.

Happy now am I!

"I thirsted in the barren land of sin and shame

and nothing satisfying there I found.

But to the blessed cross of Christ one day I came,

where springs of living water did abound"

Just like the gushing water of these falls,

Christ's Living Water abounds.

In these verses Jesus talks to the woman at the well ~
"Jesus answered and said unto her,
whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again.
"But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst;
but the water that I shall give him shall be in him
a well of water springing up into everlasting life.
The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water,
that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw."
~ John 4:13-15 ~

In the Old Testament, many verses speak of thirsting after God
as one thirsts for water.
"As the heart panteth after the water brooks,
so panteth my soul after thee, O God."
~ Psalm 42:1 ~
♡
"And the Lord shall guide thee continually,

and satisfy thy soul in drought;

and make fat thy bones:

and thou shalt be like a watered garden,

and like a Spring of water,

whose waters fail not."

♡
God is called the fountain of life ~
"For with thee is the fountain of life:
in thy light shall we see light."
~ Psalm 36:9 ~
♡
He is the fountain of living waters ~
"O Lord, the hope of Israel, all that forsake thee shall be ashamed,
and they that depart from me shall be written in the earth,
because they have forsaken the Lord, 
the fountain of living waters."
~ Jeremiah 17:13 ~
♡
Only the Messiah could give this gift that satisfies the soul's desire
of thirsting for God.
Our souls thirst after and need spiritual food and water,
just as our bodies hunger and need nourishment.
I know for myself,  I certainly do not deprive my body of any nourishment,
so why would we deprive our souls?
The living Word, Jesus Christ, and the written Word, the Bible,
can satisfy our hungry and thirsty souls.

~~~♡♡♡~~~

The woman at the well was a Samaritan, (John 4:7-9) a member of he hated mixed race,
she was known to be living in sin, and was in a public place.
No Jewish man would talk to a woman under such circumstances.
But Jesus did.
The Gospel is for every person, no matter what his or her race is,
social position, or past sins.
If we desire to be like Christ, and walk worthy of His calling,
then we must be prepared to share the Gospel at any time in any place.
Jesus crossed all barriers to share the Gospel,
and we who follow Him must do no less.
What a joy it is as we reach out to others with the Living Word,
sharing with them Jesus Christ, Who can satisfy their hungry souls.
Just as we would share fellowship and a meal around our tables,
lets remember to share, with grace, the written Word
 with those whom God brings into our lives
giving them the hope that we have, through Jesus Christ, our Savior.

~~~♡♡♡~~~

"I will worship toward thy holy temple,
and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for THY TRUTH;
for thou hast magnified THY WORD above all thy name."
~ Psalm 138:2 ~

Be Gracious!
~ Debbie ~

~ My Peace I Give Unto You ~

 Last week my husband and I took our motor home to a nearby lake

to enjoy some rest and one-on-one time with each other.

When we arrived at the State Park, the host informed us 

that there was no cell service, at least not with AT&T 

and wouldn't you know it, that is our provider.

In an instant my heart sank!

Mom? What about mom?

How was I to be contacted should anything happen with mom?

Quickly following my short lived panic attack, I was reminded of John 14:27
 "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you:
not as the world giveth, give I unto you.
Let not your heart be troubled,
neither let it be afraid."
The world cannot bring peace, true peace comes from God.
"And the peace of God which passeth all understanding
shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."
Philippians 4:7
God's  peace is different from the world's peace,
it is not found in positive thinking, in absence of  difficulties
or in good feelings. Real peace comes from knowing
that because God is in control, our citizenship
in Christ's Kingdom is sure, and we can be sure of His concern over us.
I know that I can trust in the God of peace no matter what
and I can rest in that trust.
What is trust if you cannot rest in it?
When we left for our mini vacation we knew that mom was being well looked after
in the Rehab Center and we had no need of worry.
With Christ, I have no need to worry, for I have that confident assurance
that in any circumstance God is in control.
"My Peace I give unto you" what a promise we can claim for our every day lives!

~~~♡♡♡~~~

After quietly talking with the Lord and thinking on Philippians 4:7 
there was such a comforting peace that passed over me,
a peace that really does pass all understanding.
I was able to rest in the Lord with perfect confidence knowing that
as I was away enjoying time well spent with my dear husband,
mom was in God's wonderful care.
Cell service or no service, all was well with my soul.

~~~♡♡♡~~~

 Our mini vacation consisted of 
*Floating on the lake in our rubber raft*
 *Bike rides*    
 

*Four Wheeling*

*Walks ~ Campfires*

 * a surprise delivery for my husbands birthday *
German chocolate cake (oh yea😍)  and precious God and I time.

While we were at the top of the mountain the view was amazing!
You could see for miles and miles across the valley
and God provided the greatest tripod for my husband to take his photos with.
 God knew last week was the perfect time for a Get-Away,
because after arriving home mom was released the very next day from Rehab.
This week has been fast paced on my toes, full days
of care-giving and getting all things in order with mom.
We have established a great routine in one week, praise the Lord!
Mom will receive in home therapy starting next week, 
but I have had the pleasure of assisting her this week.
Mom is still very weak and tired, that is to be expected, though I have seen
improvement each and every day and that is encouraging.

~~~♡♡♡~~~  

Once again, my dear, sweet and faithful friends, thank you
for your much love, care, concern and prayers during this season of our lives.
There is great joy in my heart as I rejoice and sing praises unto my God.
Life is beautiful in all and everything that God allows in our days,
and I am reminded that God makes no mistakes.

~~~♡♡♡~~~

"This is the day which the Lord hath made;
we will rejoice and be glad in it" 

Rejoice in Him!
~ Debbie ~ 

Introducing Binx ~

Let me introduce to you our bundle of love

and the new addition to our home and family.

This is our handsome Binx ~

He is our fourth pet rabbit since way back

in 1995 when we first brought a rabbit into our home believing he was going

to be a 4-H project for our youngest daughter Stephanie, only to find out

that Snuffles would become our first pet rabbit who would pave the way

and brand our hearts forever of the joy and love that a rabbit can bring

when you choose to teach them and train them like any other house pet.

Each of our pet rabbits, Snuffles ~ Snoopy ~ Lakota ~ and now Binx 

have all been unique with their own individual personalities

and our hearts have been captured forever more.

☆☆☆☆

You will notice in the photos that Binx may look either a grey color or chocolate brown.
It may be due to the lighting or the fact that the tips
of his fur is chocolate brown and underneath he is grey in color.
One thing is for certain, he is GORGEOUS!

I knew the minute I laid my eyes on Binx he was the one,

in fact, out of 10 male bunnies he was the only one I held, I wasn't letting him go.

Normally it is my husband who does the choosing,

but for certain, Binx was the one.

Binx enjoyed being held and cuddled from the very beginning.

That hasn't always been the norm with our other three rabbits,

it took time for them to warm up to us.
Toby, our cat, has taken upon himself the place of a father figure
and looks over Binx with such care and concern.
This is Toby's third bunny.

Binx has been the only rabbit we have owned who loves,

and I mean loves, to stretch out with ease and comfort.

He allows us to pet him while he is stretched out, 
never hopping to his feet uncertain of his safety.

From the back view he resembles a beaver, quite cute I must say,

I think it's because his tail is fluffier than normal.

He has HUGE back feet along with his fluffy tail

making it appear to look like a beaver.

But that's okay, we love him just the way he is because we know that

 God created him to be exactly how He wanted him to be.

Binx loves the out doors and runs and plays in our back yard

(with my husband's supervision)

with great delight kicking up his heals doing binky after binky. 

They say a rabbit is a happy rabbit if he does binkys,

and so ~ Binx was given his name because of all the binkys he does.

My husband has taught Binx to come when called for his treats.

His command is "treat time".

Unlike any of our other rabbits, Binx gives great eye contact 

and seems to enjoy looking at you whenever you speak to him.

His eyes are so alive and aware of everything going on around him.

After having three other rabbits we believe that Binx

is more alert, attentive, loving and more playful

than all the others.

Oh, we have certainly loved each rabbit to the moon and back,

but this dear Binx has warmed our hearts in a special way.

He may very well be our last as we are not getting any younger

and they have each given us long lives, with the exception of Snuffles,

so just maybe, Binx will have all the wonderful qualities

that make for one fantastic bundle of enjoyment for a very long time.

Plus, the lady whom we have purchased all of our bunnies from

is planning to retire.

~ An update on mom ~
Mom has been in Rehab for 10 days now and is doing exceptionally well!
Through every stage of this heart attack mom has been my trooper.
The goodness of God has been ever present in these many days
and my heart is filled with much gratitude and praise.
Do you have days when your heart sings unto the Lord profusely?
There is uncontrollable joy within that cannot be contained.
Mom has crossed many bridges while we as her loved ones have stood by watching,
and I cannot help but sing a new song unto the Lord.
"And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God:
many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord."
~ Psalm 40:3 ~
I will continue keeping my eyes upon Jesus,
knowing with confidence that my God is able to do exceeding abundantly 
above all that I ask or think according to the riches of his glory.
"Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my meditation.
Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God,
for unto thee will I pray.
My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord;
in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee,
and will look up."
~ Psalm 5:1-3 ~
I love the last of that verse, "and will look up".
God is hearing and answering our prayers, dear friends,
and He has been faithful in accomplishing His will.
Keep looking up and waiting with great anticipation
of happier and heart healthy days ahead for mom.

♡♡♡

"Saying Amen: Blessing and glory, and wisdom,
and thanksgiving, and honor, and power, and might,
be unto our God forever and ever."
Amen

Praising God!
~ Debbie ~