Blog, Poetry

Are you sad about not being able to water your yard and flowers as much as needed during our drought? As you know, California is currently experiencing another bad drought, but this time the restrictions seem too drastic, especially in our small town. My heart aches every time I look upon the beautiful roses, trees, and plants in our yard, realizing they may wither-up and die soon for lack of water. 

Last week I was talking to a cousin, who lives in Georgia, and bemoaning the water situation. She told me of a time a when they also had a water shortage because a lake they relied on as their source, was very low. Then she mentioned something they did to help during that period. But, before I get to her helpful tip, I’d like to dip my toe back into a story that’s about this very subject and is in my book, Fresh Eyes: Seeing; Seeing God in the Unexpected.

“Here in Southern California, we’ve had a terrible drought for the past few years, while most of the rest of the nation has been experiencing the worst winters in 100 years. Yesterday the soft patter of rain blessed our land with a short lived and partial quenching. The welcomed refreshment mostly wet our tongues and left us like unrequited lovers with a yearning for more. Oh, that we would also be as thirsty for our Lord.”  

“The psalmist speaks to this in Psalm 42 as he describes his own desire for God. “As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.” Mathew 5:6 also reminds us that we should “hunger and thirst after righteousness.” It goes on later in chapter 5 verse 13 to say: “You are the salt of the earth, but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned?”   

How do these passages relate? Have you noticed that most times when you eat something salty, you almost always crave something to drink? I’ve noticed that pizza is a great thirst stimulator. It is likely because of the high sodium content. It can make me especially thirsty for hours after consuming a couple of slices. Perhaps the answer to how we can encourage our hearts towards a stronger thirst for our Lord is by staying salty. 

Now, as I re-read my own words from a few years back about drought and thirst, I am once more reminded of my own dry spirit. I am convicted of how little my heart desires time with the Lord. To sit with Him and soak-in the refreshment of His Spirit. To let Him wash over me early in the day. Oh, my heart cries, to be like a deer who pants for the water brooks of the Lord God. Should I not be at least like the poetry I write? Should I not let Him salt my heart with a deep thirst that comes from the taste of His goodness in His word? Shall I also wither-up and die for lack of living water?

THE TIP: So, as I talked to my dear cousin in Georgia, she reminded me that I can save water from baths and showers to pour over our garden. All I need to do is keep a five-gallon bucket in the bathroom and reclaim the water we bathe with. Wow! What a concept. And how fitting is that concept when it comes to spiritual water too? After all, Jesus tells us in John 737: “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. He who believes in me,…out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” This tells me that when we do come to Him, he not only fills us with what we need for that moment, we come away overflowing with buckets of water for others to drink. For watering the dry ground of thirsty souls around us—and there seems to be a lot of those today.

WHEN THIRSTY HEARTS BE QUENCHED

The flowers lift their heads

With mouth and heart wide open

Receiving from the heavens 

His grace in rain that’s given.

With praises lifted in response

We see their leaves are raised

In thanks to Him who gave them life

And considered all their days.

Oh that we would praise as well

When thirsty hearts be quenched

Would ne’r forget to lift our hearts

Nor cease to be content.

                        Iris Carignan, 2014

I hope these thoughts, tips, and inspirations refresh your soul. Tell me, are you thirsty?

#inspirations #inspirational #writing #water #drought tips #helpful tips #booklovers #fresheyes #thirsty hearts #livingwater #salt of the earth #quenched #Jesuslover #art #poetry