Aches and Praise Three Hundred & Six

Dear friends,  

 

While preparing to have a new carpet installed in our radio follow-up office in Chateauguay this week, Karen and I heard a song coming from the office of the co-owner of the building. The opening line of this tune by the Lovin’ Spoonful is “What a day for a daydream.” If you were born before the 1970s, you may recall that their lead singer, John Sebastian, also sang the opening theme of a television series named “Welcome Back Kotter.”

Do you find yourself daydreaming more than usual in the summer? With more “free” time than during the rest of the year, some people find their thoughts turning to recreation, food, or other enjoyable things. The Bible says that God has given us all things to enjoy (1 Timothy 6:17) and when you think of His many blessings, He certainly has given us a lot!
 
One thing (of many) that I am thankful for is drinkable water. In Quebec we have an abundance of water which we often take for granted, while many people in the world have to walk a long way to get water. In the gospel of John, the Lord Jesus told the woman from Samaria that He met at a well that if she knew who He was, she would have asked Him for living water. After I trusted in Christ at the age of seventeen, I began listening to Christian groups and one of my favourites was “Love Song,” whose lead singer, Chuck Girard, came to Montreal after the members of the group went their separate ways. The night of his concert (at Evangel Church), Chuck had laryngitis, so he sang only a few songs before sharing his testimony of faith in Christ.
 
One of my favourite songs by Chuck Girard is entitled “Praise the Lord,” which includes these lyrics: “Let the living waters give our lives a start.” Whatever challenge you are facing, turn to the Lord and receive what only He can give.
 
Scripture for the weekend: “Jesus answered and said to her, ‘Everyone who drinks of this water shall thirst again; but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.’”  John 4:13-14 (NASB) 
 
Thought for the weekend: “Some critics say that Jesus never claimed to be the Messiah, but the claim could not be made any plainer than it is in John 4:26: ‘I who speak to you am He.’ He has revealed Himself unmistakably to her: He is the One foretold by the prophets. He is the One awaited and hoped for by generations. And He has come to Jacob’s Well to talk to her. He is the Messiah!” – Ray C. Stedman (from his book “God’s Loving Word”)
 

By His grace,

 

Steve


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