When
I moved out to our property in the middle of nowhere 25 years ago, my friend, Mary, did not mince words. “A well is
challenging,” she said. “People get
testy when their well acts up and they don’t have water!” Mary’s words haunt me from time to time but
the stories that come from owning a well are worth telling.
My
early morning devotional prepared me for my day. The teaching spotlighted the story of the
woman with three hairs on her head. The woman got up one morning and decided she would braid her hair with those three
strands and go on her merry way. The
next morning she looked in the mirror and realized she had only two strands of
hair and decided to part her hair in the middle. The following morning she had only one strand
of hair and chose to wear a pony tail that day and went on to enjoy the
day. The next day she woke up with no
hair and exclaimed “Yippee, I don’t have to fix my hair today!” Grasping the power of a positive outlook, she
remained cheerful.
The
message dropped in my spirit loud and clear.
Remain positive always and praise the Lord in all things.
My
husband stepped into my office trading me a hot cup of morning brew for the bad
news: “I didn’t anticipate the
temperature dipping to 26 degrees through the night and I didn’t plug in the
heat tape for the well. We have no water
this morning.” Having just fed my spirit
with the devotional that stressed praising God in all things, even if you only
have three strands of hair, I exclaimed:
“Good, I don’t have to shower
today.”
My
praise music on in the background, I choose to sing. Praising God helps us win in every difficult
situation. The author of this morning’s devotional reminds me of the power of
praise.
1) Praising God brings healing to my spirit.
2) Praise empowers my prayer life.
3) Praise defeats Satan:
May we shout for joy when we hear
of your victory
and raise a victory banner in the name of our God.
May the Lord answer all your prayers.
and raise a victory banner in the name of our God.
May the Lord answer all your prayers.
Psalm 20:5
I have places to go
and people to meet with today and it looks like my hair may be somewhat flat ….but,
praise the Lord anyway. All is well with my soul.
God can use anything
to measure our maturity. In my case, He’s
using the well…again. I want the victory today. I'm hanging in there. How about you?
That is so true that he can use anything to test our maturity. Sounds like you have done well in maturing in Jesus with the lesson you had today with the water; sounded like you handled it well and indeed it was well with your soul indeed :)
ReplyDeletebetty
I’m a WIP, Betty. This happened earlier in the week. Today I woke up with a bad sinus headache, but had a commitment at church. I tried to adjust my attitude, friends at church prayed, but as the service just got started, I had to ask Tom to take me home. Sigh. Bless your week, dear lady.
DeleteIf nothing else, wear a hat and use perfume! LOL A good lesson in thankfulness. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteIngenious, Melanie! Hats would be a great investment for a gal like me. Ha. God bless your week, sister.
DeleteWonderful story about the lady with 3 hairs! And, I loved your response about not having to take a shower ... reminds me of something Miss Clara might say!
ReplyDeleteNow I'm wondering, how in the heck Tom squeezed out that steaming cup of coffee? What a fella!
Myra: We use the faucet in the island vegetable sink (purified) for coffee and have learned to store much bottled water. I feel more like Laura Ingalls than Miss Clara. LOL.
DeleteWhat a great lesson in gratitude!
ReplyDeleteIt's better than staying frustrated I think...that only leads to bad language and I don't think you want to read about those days. LOL. Bless you, my friend!
DeleteMary, this is a wonderful story and has such a powerful lesson for us every day. I am sure you didn't expect to be tested so soon as reading your devotion. Love your spirit and your attitude.
ReplyDeleteThe Holy Spirit orchestrated that morning for sure with that devotional. I have to spend that first hour in the morning with Jesus or I'm good for nothing.
DeleteSuch a great post, Mary! I love the attitude of the lady in the story...and your positive attitude, too. :) It is all about our perspective, isn't it? I trust your well issues will be resolved soon...having no water is not fun. God bless you, sweet friend!!
ReplyDeleteThank you for those beautiful blessings. I ask the same for you!
Deletevery inspiring. love your header
ReplyDeleteHeader pic taken at Balboa Park in San Diego. Wish I was there!
DeleteGod is speaking so clearly to me lately about this *positive attitude* thing - about choosing to be grateful, instead of grumbling all the time. I absolutely loved the story about the woman with three strands of hair. See, that's the kind of girl I want to be. It doesn't come naturally, so the Holy Spirit has His work cut out for Him. (When it comes to working on me, He usually does!!)
ReplyDeleteGOD BLESS!
It doesn't come naturally for me either, Sharon. It's the battle of the flesh and the spirit. Let's get the victory together!
DeleteI loved your story of the lady with 3 hairs, and your response to your husband's declaration of bad news. We must cover our outside faucets and wrap pipes when it gets real cold here. I trust the shut down of your well was only temporary. Thanks for sharing with us here at Tell me a Story.
ReplyDeleteJust temporary, my friend. Water is flowing, PTL!
DeleteIt's so easy to praise and thank God when everything is going very well. But it is another story to give thanks and praise Him even when circumstances surrounding us are threatening to rob our hearts with the joy that comes from Him. I love your story about the well and the hair :) I always remind my son growing up about having no room for "complaints". Rather, think about the blessing he sees/perceives in any given situation. Then again, it starts with knowing and drinking the Living Water...Hope you're feeling better sister Mary re:sinus issues. It's hard. I've been sick last year especially worse at work. Tomorrow is my official resignation from Corrections. I'm enjoying each moment being at home, taking things slowly and boy! Thank God, I never have sinus headache since I haven't gone to work. I knew it! I must have "allergy to work." LOL. Take care and God bless.
ReplyDeleteGoodness, I remember those allergy/sinus issues & how we use to storm the heavens for you. You understand for sure! Oh, the Living Water is a wonderful name for our Jesus. And praising - a great weapon to have in our arsenal. Glad the transition is going well. I look forward to what your heart will reveal to us in blog world in the future too. It will be good; I just know it!
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ReplyDeleteThank you so much for your great and wise words! Our potter molds us, shapes us so that we become more and more like Him.
ReplyDeleteI am so grateful for His patience in the process! Wishing you a great day, Ariella.
DeleteAs usual, you sure grabbed a lot of people b/c of how you were sharing. It's a constant treat to truly "see" you and how you have connected with the Lord over and over again... and helping others connect with Him more strongly. Thank you much!
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean, Joanne. I enjoy reading how the Holy Spirit speaks to us, God's children, and the things we learn in the process too.
DeleteThat is true. He uses pain or change to mature us, and test us if we've learned. We need to trust Him. :)
ReplyDeleteHe has perfect tools to shape us, doesn't He? Have a great week, Lux.
DeleteOh I love this post. Yes...I've reminded myself recently that "all is well with my soul". We surely need a little humor in the midst of our madness! Hugs and blessings, Cindy
ReplyDeleteI'm all for the humor, Cindy! Hugging you back!
DeleteAwesome perspective! I'm so fascinated by the undervalued gift of free will. We so take for granted that how we respond is a choice that God born and gifted this creation with. We live beyond instinct and yet we seldom act like it. Thanks for the reminder, Mary. I'm working on it, or God is I should say... Thanks for the reminder and encouragement. I'd never heard that story before and I'll be sharing what I learned here today!
ReplyDeleteMay it get easier & easier to choose rightly for us, Floyd. We are Works in Progress and need each other to cheer us on to victory. So glad each day is a new beginning to exercise that gift of free will!
DeleteHi Mary, you have the most humorous touch to telling your stories! I laughed out loud!
ReplyDeleteI am praising God right now! I do't have to wait till I have two strands of hair!
Love you Loads
Blessings from South Africa
Exactly! And even though I couldn't wash my hair, what the heck...I have more than a few strands (but not much more. LOL!) Luv U!
DeleteJust what I needed to read today! I love your spirit and hope I can keep my thoughts as up as you do! :)
ReplyDeleteYou are a blessing, Terri. I'm happy you found encouragement here!
DeleteHow is it that visiting your blog always put a smile on my face not matter what the topic? Love this lesson about gratitude.
ReplyDeleteHow is it that visiting your blog always put a smile on my face not matter what the topic? Love this lesson about gratitude.
ReplyDeleteWell, as we say sometimes around here, "Hallelujah anyhow!" There is power in praise, even when the water is frozen. I hope things are better by now.
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