Water of Life

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)\

Separating Grain from Chaff

It was a windy day in west Texas—just the kind of day my parents needed. I was only a small boy, but I remember the smell of grain, and the harsh thrust of hot wind on my face.

I was fascinated to see how my parents separated the grain from the husks. Placing grain and husks in a large canvas sheet, together they tossed the entire contents lightly into the air. As they did so, the unwanted chaff caught in the brisk wind and blew away. The grain, being heavier, fell back again into the sheet to be utilized as something of value.

This boyhood experience brings to mind the analogy in Psalm 1:4: “The ungodly…are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.”

A person without God is subject to destruction by the winds of adversity. But stability of purpose is found only in a true relationship with God.

A MIGHTY TREE

I grew up in west Texas where the most common tree is the mesquite. There are several varieties of this prolific tree, and some are large enough to climb in, and can give nice shade from the hot summer sun.

Such a tree grew in our yard. Under it was my favorite place to play with my little cars. I loved using a hoe to carve country roads and build up hills for my imaginary community. And I was able to climb the tree to survey my world. To me, that was such a large and wonderful tree.

The Psalmist said a righteous man is like a mighty tree. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. Psalm 1:3 (KJV)

SEPARATING THE GRAIN FROM THE CHAFF

It was a windy day in west Texas—just the kind of day my parents needed. I was only a small boy, but I remember the smell of grain, and the harsh thrust of hot wind on my face.

I was fascinated to see how my parents separated the grain from the husks. Placing grain and husks in a large canvas sheet, together they tossed the entire contents lightly into the air. As they did so, the unwanted chaff caught in the brisk wind and blew away. The grain, being heavier, fell back again into the sheet to be utilized as something of value.

This boyhood experience brings to mind the analogy in Psalm 1:4: “The ungodly…are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.”

A person without God is subject to destruction by the winds of adversity. But stability of purpose is found only in a true relationship with God.

SNOW

West Texas weather is changeable. So when we were blanketed with six inches of snow on Thanksgiving Day it was not too much of a surprise. But it was unusual. Thanksgiving in west Texas is often balmy. I remember many Thanksgivings when families had no problem with travel. And when together, the children played outside without jackets.

But Thanksgiving Day this year was the kind of day people sometimes wish for at Christmas. The landscape was cleansed by a brilliant white.

The Bible speaks of the darkness of sin. But this is changed when Jesus provides cleansing. Pray with the Psalmist, “Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.” Psalm 51:7 (KJV)

Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. Isaiah 1:18 (KJV)