Living Water

I am writing this series of events so I can look back and remember HOW I was victorious in the midst of adversities. I was able to "see" myself walking in the Spirit.

This morning (Saturday) Susanna woke up rather early who woke up Miriam who woke up Ella Grace. I was not able to get up early to spend time with the Lord, so I knew I was in for some serious battles. For some reason, I find it hard to have a quiet time on Saturday. I woke with the tape recorder playing in my mind all that I have to do to leave for two weeks, doing laundry, making phone calls, more thoughts of me, me, me.... in addition to being physically exhausted Hmmm..... thoughts again pointing to SELF. I knew I needed to just stop and get my thoughts under control, so I did with God's leading. After feeding the kids, I sat to read. I read Philippians 2:3-8. I meditated on Christ's humility which opened my eyes to how He wanted to work through me today.

3Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves;
4do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.
5Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus,
6who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped,
7but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.
8Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
What encourages me is thinking of Christ's humility. He emptied Himself! He was a servant and always in tune to His Father's will. Laying aside self and my wants and wishes is hard and impossible unless I literally empty myself and step out of the way so that Christ can do what He desires in me. He has refocused my thinking so that my focus is on others and meeting their needs. I am walking in His Spirit and held by God! This is huge for me because so often I quit before the battle begins. I often feel defeated. But today I have victoriously been able to lay aside myself to serve my family and to do it effortlessly- Because HE HAS DONE IT.

Here is how knowing His truth helped me obey Him today: Since I have been walking in His Spirit, I have been remembering to ask for wisdom more often. After lunch, it was meltdown central. Everyone was crying at the same time! I felt the battle creep in. So......
1.I prayed for wisdom.
2.I began to sing, knowing that He would show me what to do. I sang HE KEEPS ME SINGING
Refrain: Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,
Sweetest Name I know,
Fills my every longing,
Keeps me singing as I go.
3. I remembered that I was serving my girls and I was to meet their needs, NOT get irritated or put them right to bed. (I do that when I am at a lack of what to do. Guess I need to ask for more wisdom)
4. I prayed again for wisdom.
5 God brought to mind the woman of Samaria John 4:7, 13-15
There came a woman of Samaria to draw water. Jesus said to her, "Give Me a drink." Jesus answered and said to her, "Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again; but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life." The woman said to Him, "Sir, give me this water, so I will not be thirsty nor come all the way here to draw."
6. I looked at Susanna in her highchair covered in avocado and bananas. I knew she needed a bath because she was filthy. I had forgotten a bib and wipes were not cleaning it all off of her! Miriam was only in a diaper and was trying to take it off and Ella Grace had just taken her dress off because she spilled something on it. So, three naked girls. It was bath time! I really believe God give me wisdom to get them all in the water for soothing, calming and restoration. Just what I needed too! I went to the bathroom, turned on the water and realized that I am just like that woman of the well. I NEED THE WATER. When I drink from Him, I will never thirst again. "You are to KEEP ON drinking from me, Kelly."
7. We talked of God and how our days have been going. We talked of how we can be more kind to each other, how to talk with pleasant words and encourage one another. They went to bed willingly and all slept well.
I’ve been able to write this and thank the Lord for showing me His heart