Water



Green Door © Debbie Turner Chavers

 


 
The beginning of warmer weather has brought an amazing display of song birds, robins, and assorted woodland creatures to my yard.  The water color painting above is an example of a bird bath that I have in my back yard that we try to keep filled for the birds in my area.  Recently, I witnessed several birds landing on the empty bird bath in my back yard.  Due to extra activity I had been remiss in keeping  their watering hole, filled with water.
It was sadly comical to watch the birds reactions when they landed on the dry bird bath.  Most would land on the edge, stop, lean forward and peer into the bowl for several seconds and then hop into the bowl and walk around slowly, usually dipping and coming up dry.  A few then hopped back on the rim and continued to look in the bowl as though they thought the water would appear. After a moment, they would then fly away.   It was impossible to know whether these were the regular birds that use this bird bath often, but judging from their reaction I think it is possible.

 My husband and I receive a lot of enjoyment from watching these small winged creatures take their small sips of refreshment as they journey. But watching the birds reaction to an empty bird bath, caused me to think about keeping myself overflowing with God's word.  It is easy to become busy with life's demands and forget to refill yourself with the water of God's word.
When I saw the birds and their expectation of finding water,  the Lord reminded me, that there are people in our own lives who come and expect to find the living water of God in us.

Daily we have opportunity to share the water of life, through God's word and our actions. Let's be diligent to keep ourselves filled with the knowledge of God, so no one will leave us thirsty.

~Debbie



Colossians 1:10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;

John 4:14 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.

John 7:37, 38 In the last day, that great [day] of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.  He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

Ephesians 5:26  That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word










All writing, poetry, posts, art, and photography, copyright © 2011 Debbie Turner Chavers. All Rights Reserved. Would you like to see what I am currently painting? Click on these links http://artparables.com/ or http://debbieturnerchavers.com/

Our Hands

Some things in life defy logic, which can cause me to throw up my hands.  Have you ever thrown up your hands in disgust or aggravation? Our expressive hands can tell the world our immediate thoughts.  With hands that declare, "I can not believe they did that!", "I give up!", "Are you kidding me?"
I must admit I have not always used my hands to say the nicest reply, so today, I am encouraging all of us to throw up our hands in a holy, wonder filled way, without wrath.  Titus 1 warns us not to lift up our hands in an unworthy way.  To be mindful, for we are speaking with our hands.  Let us say something worthy.

~ Debbie


1 Titus 2:8  I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.

Psalm 63:4  Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name.





Unless otherwise attributed, all writing, poetry, posts, art, and photography, copyright © 2011 Debbie Turner Chavers. All Rights Reserved. Scripture references taken from the King James bible.
Would you like to see what I am currently painting? Click on these links http://artparables.com/ or http://debbieturnerchavers.com/

Religion vs Reality

Original water color painting "Man Shall Not Live by Bread Alone " copyright © 2006 Debbie Turner Chavers

 Religion is evidenced as men's traditions versus the reality of the Living Word of God effecting a real verifiable change in you. Salvation should bring about a change in you and your behaviour. Salvation is not just a few words said to please others or our self.

Christ accomplished our salvation on the cross through His shed blood and His obedience to God.
Jesus submitted to His Father's will. Our acceptance of the shed blood of Jesus Christ should bring about our own obedience to God's word as well.
The seed of our new birth has been planted in us and manifests itself in the light of God's word working in and through us.
How can we know that the love of God is at work within us, unless there is the manifested fruit of a changed heart by word as well as deed?
We have need to be hearers of His word as well as doers of His word.
I am addressing the day in day out change that should be evidenced in our over all daily behaviour.

John 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

Our walk with Christ should be evidenced by fruit, the evidence of a changed heart followed by our actions.

An example in nature.

As a seed grows, it expands out of its shell. In first grade my teacher had the class perform a science experiment to view a growth cycle.
We brought a seed from home, a bean seed. The seed was cocooned in a moist napkin until the shell was softened. Then we removed the seed and planted it in a small milk carton containing soil. Before it was planted we could see evidence of the new growth. There was a small green shoot emerging from the seed. Without moisture, no growth will happen. The Holy Spirit of God supplies the moisture needed for our growth through our application of God's word in our everyday life. The water of His word begins to soften our spiritual shell and prepares us for growth. As we apply ourselves to doing  His word, we become rooted and grounded in our faith.
Do not allow the cares of this life to uproot you. As a new creation in Christ Jesus you need to receive the needed moisture and the life giving warmth from the Son through the study and application of God's written Word, the bible.

~Debbie

Galatians 5:22-24 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

Deuteronomy 30:6 And the LORD thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live.

John 15:5 I am the vine, ye [are] the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

All of John 5 and Galatians 5 for your consideration.

Galatians 5: 19-21 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are [these]; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told [you] in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

Unless otherwise attributed, all writing, poetry, posts, art, and photography,

copyright © 2011 Debbie Turner Chavers. All Rights Reserved.
Would you like to see what I am currently painting?
Click on these links http://artparables.com/or http://debbieturnerchavers.com/

Proverbs 1

I try to read proverbs daily. It is an easy way to read the Bible and gain wisdom. Today is the first day of March therefore I will read Proverbs 1. I read and as I read I receive a nudge of understanding. A moment of clarity regarding my own walk with God or a situation may be shown in a new light. I love Proverbs.
I like to study from the King James bible. The headers on Proverbs 1 have the verses broke down into 4 sections. A quick summary of the given information or a preview of the menu.
As I read and digest the food of God's word I can consider the meal set before me.

The first header for Proverbs 1:1-6 states
A Wise Man Will Hear.
Jesus said to take heed what we hear. So listening to the right thing is important. We need to guard our hearing. If I have time to chew on this precept/concept, it will lead me to thinking about what I hear, who I hear it from, and if I should be listening to them! Our minds and spirits become conditioned to the verbal atmosphere we surround ourselves with daily.
Proverbs 1:5 A wise [man] will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:
The word hear in this sentence means obey. This shows that we have a tendency to obey what we hear. So listen up! Be careful what you hear.

The Beginning of Knowledge
Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the LORD [is] the beginning of knowledge: [but] fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Verse 7 clearly says fools despise wisdom and instruction. I will not be a fool. I will study, hear, and obey God's word to me. Will you?

Walk Not in the Way of Sinners
Proverbs 1:10 My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.
Peer pressure at its worst! How often are we tempted to go along with the crowd around us. Be the voice of reason. Speak, someone is waiting to hear the obvious.

Proverbs 1:15 My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path:
Lead by example.

Wisdom Cries in the Streets
Proverbs 1:20 Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets. In our everyday, day in day out life, in the market place and beyond, the wisdom of God cries for attention. There is a severe warning for all who ignore her. Wisdom will not be ignored. The fruit of her presence is manifested in those who take heed and obey.
Verse 31 warns
Proverbs 1:31 Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.
We need Godly wisdom to live this life of ours successfully. This was a quick summation of my own study today. Sometimes I have the luxury of a leisurely meal at the table of God's word. Sometimes a snack. I am always fed and fueled for the next step in the journey. Do not try to accomplish your day on an empty stomach. The table is set and He has prepared a wonder filled meal for us.

Bon Appetit
~Debbie




Unless otherwise attributed, all writing, poetry, posts,art, and photography, copyright © 2011 Debbie Turner Chavers. All Rights Reserved.
Would you like to see what I am currently painting?
Click on these links http://artparables.com/ or http://debbieturnerchavers.com/