Isaiah 55 : Refreshed

"Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters: and you have no money, come buy and eat! Come buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare. Give ear and and come to me: hear me, that your soul may live." -Isaiah 55:1-3a

Today I probably said the phrase "I am so ovewhelmed by the Lord's goodness" at least 20 times. The Ladies Tea Fundraiser today was.....amazing. The timing of everything was perfect. From Drew's crew of helpers that came right when we needed a massive amount of tea sandwich's made (which these guys did SO much to help: they served the ladies, they moved tables and chairs, they did all the dishes!!) to the actual timing of the ladies arriving (which we had literally just finished setting up everything as the first ladies came in). What a blessing! God coordinated everything that took place, even to the smallest detail. He was so gracious to use me to share how He has called me to Africa and to also give a short, 15 minute message. I spoke about Isaiah 55 and John 4 (The Woman At The Well). Tears were shed, knowledge was shared, Truth was declared. I am so thankful to the Lord for how He is using me and growing me.

I love being able to minister to women to share the power of God's Word. I mean, really....how amazing is the story of the woman at the well?! SO good! The fact that Samaritans and Jews did not mix so well, and Jesus--a Jewish man--took the traveling route through Samaria, when every other Jew did everything they could to travel around it (even though it was a longer route). And not only did He travel through it, He stopped, talked with the OUTCAST of the community, and offered her His SALVATION--His living water! Jesus came to Samaria, not just because it was a shortcut, but because He knew that this "loose" woman would be there. He came specifically for her! In the heat of the day when no other women came to get water, in the city that was traditionally/customarily "off limits", to a woman who would make any other man blush....He came for her. He came for you. He came for me. He came for us. He calls each of us for His specific purposes to further His kingdom and to bring glory to Him through the lives that we lead.

I just imagine this Samaritan woman being very beautiful. Men must have been drawn to her, unfortunately though, for the wrong reasons. She obviously had something that they wanted and freely offered it; therefore none of the other ladies in town wanted anything to do with her. I mean honestly, what wife in her right mind would want to be chillin with the town slut? Imagine the drama that would go down if those wive's husband's found out about this. Dang. But imagine what this woman's life must have been like after she tasted that living water offered by Jesus! Instead of having her beauty be used to draw men in for hookup's, she could then use her beauty to allure them to God's beauty: His salvation! Her feminine beauty, which was once used in all the wrong ways, could then be transformed to be used for the Right Way and her testimony of how her life was changed would bring many to the saving knowledge of Christ. How amazing! How encouraging! How refreshing!

God is a God of multiple chances, and praise Him that He freely gives grace to those who believe. The women at the tea gave generously: we raised about $1300. Praise the Lord!!! God knows our (many) needs and invites us to come and delight in the richest of His fare. God will continue to provide, therefore I will praise Him in advance. Be refreshed! God is good! He cares for you, He meets you exactly where you are, and He invites you in. "Give ear and and come to me: hear me, that your soul may live."