Pouring it on.

3 GIFTS IN JARS...

Water  filling...those empty jars being filled... clean life-giving water for the thirsty

Son is watching as I fill each jar... ever thinking, he's done it since small.
He watches as I adjust lighting and get camera ready... take photos of water jars in a row.

"Those jars are like us, Mum. 'Full' is like someone who spends a lot of time with God and His Word, ...' half-full', even 'quarter-filled'...doesn't matter how much water is in them there is always someone that our water can bless.
It's really all about grace - His grace. It just overflows from our jar and spills over into their's,... even if their's is fuller than our's."

"May I use your wise words?"
"Sure, Mum." Smile quietly peeking ... "There's no copyright yet."

I enjoy a laugh with my thoughtful son.

I ponder his words of wisdom...his jar emptied into me "...even a quarter-filled jar can overflow grace and blessing for someone."

"Might I have a small amount of water for someone, Lord?"

Phone call ... a heart heavy with the burdens of life. They share some of their story, and I feel for them.

I have no magic answers. No "Thus, saith the Lord..." No, this is how to make it right". I wish I did, so I could ease it for them.

Instead, I find myself asking them if they can see the gift in their situation. Find the blessing that God is gift-wrapping for them in their mess. Revel in His great love for them. Give Him grateful thanks.

This is the water He has been graciously pouring into my jar... received that I might give.

~~~~~

"1000 Gifts"...


#147 Washing drying in strong breeze
#148 Phone calls that keep in touch
#149 laughing with my darling
#150 hearing his day
#151 the opportunity to pour it on
#152 fresh apple
#153 the soft taste of filtered water
#154 excitement to read yesterday's psalms again now that I have more context...makes so much more sense!

water running over skin...

3 gifts WATER...

plip      plip plip         plip            plip plip plip

unexpected gentle rhythm
clouds low to hills
rain on broad tropical plant leaves


lying in bed listening
absorbing the gentle sounds
soothing
refreshing

It's been a day filled with laughter, noise and hugs
birthday singing and party games
feeling loved and honoured
but even the good takes out of your emotional reservoirs

I go for a warm shower
enjoy the water running over skin
still my soul

opening my Bible, I wash with the water of His word to me
quiet my mind
drink in the life
hydration

water still falling
nature's percussion
eyes shut
listening

plip plip plip         plip     plip plip        plip

~~~~~

"1000 gifts"...

#118  Bird sucking sweet nectar

#119  Family love

#120  Laughter

#121  Thoughts & effort in expressions of love

#122  Cherries

#123  No hurry day

#124  So much party food I won't have to cook for a week!

#125  Warm shower to end a day

#126  His Word 

#127  Gentle rain to fall asleep to

3 GIFTS: SMALL, BIG, JUST RIGHT

A dear friend is struggling with depression...a struggle I know all too well! She's worried with all the advice she is receiving. Some of it leaves her feeling more depressed, hopeless, more aware than ever of the big black hole she is in. Some of it makes her insides flare up... "I'm not like that!" "If I'm not like that then what am I like... weird?" lost and confused...like she's groping in the dark for the light switch.

I remember well the day I was told I was clinically depressed and needed to get help IMMEDIATELY. It felt like playing monopoly..."Do not pass 'go', do not collect $200, go straight to jail!" There was nothing nice in it, and I did not know where to turn for help. Yet, help was the very thing I knew that I did need. I did not feel I could turn to the church we were then attending... was afraid to go and get help from outside the church (what kind of new-age 'stuff' would they try to make me swallow)... didn't have any money to be able to pay them, anyway. I turned to the best source of all. I got step #1 right and He's led the journey from there just one step at a time.

It would be a book given to us, a TV documentary, a sermon at church. A conversation with someone who had no idea of what gift they were giving me, or a series of seemingly inconsequential events that triggered something for me. It was the patience of Job displayed in my darling as he tried desperately to understand the tangled mess of beliefs inside my head, then help me see things from a different perspective. Sometimes he succeeded... other times he failed miserably, or rather, I failed to get it. But he loved me anyway, and God helped me get it some other way.

God knows exactly the right tools to use...not too small, not too big, but just right for this moment on your journey. He's the master gardener. If you plant yourself in Him, ask Him to feed and water you. Let Him be your guide. After all, He knows you even better than you do! With that kind of knowledge, you are bound to flourish!

~~~~~

"1000 Gifts"...

#88 Being woken in the morning for a great photo opportunity
#89 Friends online
#90 A cloudy day
#91 Shade under the tamarillo tree as I weed
#92 Peace
#93 A son voluntarily taking out the trash

A GIFT IN WATER, IN WORDS, IN WHITE

Fiery red/orange, boiling, steaming. My heart...an angry cauldron. I slammed the lid shut not wanting to see any more. I had been reading about anger and felt sure it was not my problem, so, feeling confident, asked the Lord to reveal to me if I had any issues in this department. My ability to deceive myself had been impressive! I was shocked by the strength of the emotion I saw inside myself... but I knew straight away to whom my anger was directed.

Graciously, God never reveals bondage without also revealing the path to freedom. Forgiveness, challenging mindsets, being vulnerable... I am grateful.

That was 15 years ago.
Today I relish my relationship with that person.


A gift in water...water is life. The river of life flows from God. He invited me to  go deeper... and still does.
A gift in words... His words of truth to my heart. Words between two people... words of forgiveness...words of growth.
A gift in white... The colour of my heart, no longer fiery red/orange, but washed whiter than snow.
... eternally grateful

                                                                                              with grateful thanks Loma Photography©