The hot, dry weather we often experience in west Texas reminds me of when I lived in Alamogordo, New Mexico. Alamogordo is nestled near a beautiful mountain range but in the edge of a desert. This barren desert is the home of magnificent sunsets, colorful cacti and exotic wild life. Although it is beautiful in its own way, the one dominating factor in this environment is the absence of water.
But go north from Alamogordo, still in the desert, and soon you will be in the little city of Tularosa, where green lawns, colorful shrubs and tall trees are abuandant. The difference: a small river brings water from springs in the nearby mountains. This life-giving water is allowed to spill over to irrigate lush gardens and lawns, creating a veritable desert oasis.
Many of us often find ourselves facing the arid realties of life. Sometimes our spirits just seem to dry up much like a cactus plant in a New Mexico desert. We may feel as dry and parched as this year's hot, dry west Texas wind.
Remember, God offers his gift of thirst quenching spiritual water. Jesus said to the woman at the well, "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. John 4:14 (KJV)\
Showing posts with label New Mexico. Show all posts
Showing posts with label New Mexico. Show all posts
20110728
20090611
Water
A barren desert lies between two splendid mountain ranges in southern New Mexico. This desolate area is the home of magnificent sunsets, colorful cacti and exotic wild life. Although it is beautiful in its own way, the one dominating factor in this environment is the absence of water.
But in the midst of this desert lies the little city of Tularosa with its green lawns, colorful shrubs and tall trees. The difference: a small river brings water from springs in the nearby mountains. This life-giving water is allowed to spill over to irrigate lush gardens and lawns, creating a veritable desert oasis.
Many of us often find ourselves facing the arid realties of life. Sometimes our spirits just seem to dry up much like a cactus plant in a New Mexico desert.
Remember, God offers his gift of thirst quenching spiritual water. Jesus said to the woman at the well, "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. John 4:14 (KJV)
But in the midst of this desert lies the little city of Tularosa with its green lawns, colorful shrubs and tall trees. The difference: a small river brings water from springs in the nearby mountains. This life-giving water is allowed to spill over to irrigate lush gardens and lawns, creating a veritable desert oasis.
Many of us often find ourselves facing the arid realties of life. Sometimes our spirits just seem to dry up much like a cactus plant in a New Mexico desert.
Remember, God offers his gift of thirst quenching spiritual water. Jesus said to the woman at the well, "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. John 4:14 (KJV)
20071210
BUILDING ON SHIFTING SAND
Near Alamogordo, New Mexico is an area of more that two hundred square miles known as White Sands. At White Sands there are huge dunes, many as high as thirty feet. Actually, it is not sand at all, but gypsum.
In the center of this area, visitors find picnic tables and restroom facilities. There are, however, no permanent buildings, because everything must be moveable. Picnic shelters and restrooms are built on concrete slabs with steel handles, so they may be moved lest the shifting dunes cover them.
White Sands is fabulously beautiful, but not a place to live. When we build houses we want a foundation of rock—not shifting sands.
Jesus said, a person who refuses to heed His words, is like a man who built his house upon sand. “…And the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell.” Matthew 7:26 (KJV)
Are you building upon rock or sand?
In the center of this area, visitors find picnic tables and restroom facilities. There are, however, no permanent buildings, because everything must be moveable. Picnic shelters and restrooms are built on concrete slabs with steel handles, so they may be moved lest the shifting dunes cover them.
White Sands is fabulously beautiful, but not a place to live. When we build houses we want a foundation of rock—not shifting sands.
Jesus said, a person who refuses to heed His words, is like a man who built his house upon sand. “…And the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell.” Matthew 7:26 (KJV)
Are you building upon rock or sand?
20071206
PEANUT BUTTER AND CRACKERS
Years ago, I had just started my work as Minister of Music and Education at First Baptist Church, Alamogordo, NM. Almost every Sunday night some of our church members would get together after church for a “spontaneous” fellowship. Someone would bake a cake or some cookies and after the final amen, would call out, “Everyone come over to our house.” Often it was Graham and Jane Earl Hall who welcomed us.
We had not yet hosted the party, since we were still getting settled. But one Sunday night, Graham yelled out, “Hey everyone, we’re going to John and Marion’s house. That was fine, except Marion had not prepared any snacks. “That’s okay,” Graham responded. “Do you have any peanut butter and crackers? We did.
After that, any time there was no prepared snack, we’d jokingly say, “we can have peanut butter and crackers.” It became evident the purpose of getting together was not the food, but the fellowship.
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. I John 1:7 (KJV)
We had not yet hosted the party, since we were still getting settled. But one Sunday night, Graham yelled out, “Hey everyone, we’re going to John and Marion’s house. That was fine, except Marion had not prepared any snacks. “That’s okay,” Graham responded. “Do you have any peanut butter and crackers? We did.
After that, any time there was no prepared snack, we’d jokingly say, “we can have peanut butter and crackers.” It became evident the purpose of getting together was not the food, but the fellowship.
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. I John 1:7 (KJV)
20071127
WHAT’S IN A NAME
People in New Mexico tell funny stories of people in other states who don’t realize New Mexico is one of our fifty states. One Santa Fe resident was denied the use of his credit card in another state because the establishment didn’t accept cards of foreigners.
A traveler boarding a plane to return home to Albuquerque was told he must show his passport. Most likely the confusion arises because of name association with the country of Mexico.
We are called Christians. Are people ever confused by our name? Disciples in Antioch were the first to be called Christians because of the lives they lived. (Acts. 11:26) What do people call us? We must live the name through our love and our actions.
A Good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favor rather than silver and gold. Proverbs 22:1 (KJV)
A traveler boarding a plane to return home to Albuquerque was told he must show his passport. Most likely the confusion arises because of name association with the country of Mexico.
We are called Christians. Are people ever confused by our name? Disciples in Antioch were the first to be called Christians because of the lives they lived. (Acts. 11:26) What do people call us? We must live the name through our love and our actions.
A Good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favor rather than silver and gold. Proverbs 22:1 (KJV)
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