Month 12: The End of the Beginning

2013 has been one of the greatest years of my life.  I have been blown away by the generosity of so many people to help solve the world's problem of the lack of clean water.  To see God raise almost $12,000 from such a small project is just another reminder that all things are possible with Christ.

When this year started, I shared with you that I found encouragement in Jesus's words at the Feast of Tabernacles when he said "Jesus stood up and cried out "If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.  Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, 'Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water'"

John 7:37-38.

My year is almost over and I can tell you that I am more thirsty than I have ever been.  I am thirsty to drink in more Christ and let living waters flow from my heart.

So many people have been asking me "What does 2014 look like for you?"  I don't know the answer.  I know on the morning of Jan. 1 I will have a big cup of coffee and I will take pleasure in it.  It isn't my goal to take less pleasure in non-water drinks, but rather to take more pleasure in my spiritual disciplines.  This year has given me a deeper, more clear perspective of not only what I really need, but in how much pleasure I take in non-spiritual things when compared to how much pleasure I take in my worship of the one true King.

So this is the end of the beginning for me.  The beginning of a more clear view of what is importantant in my life.  The beginning of realizing how thirsty I am, and need to be, for Christ.  The beginning of watching God do amazing things through simple acts and regular people.   Christmas was the beginning of Christ on earth, but it wasn't the end.  Once He was here, He prayed, He invested, He loved, He ministered, He fellowshipped, He laughed, He loved, He presented the truth.  So 2013 was a great beginning for me of realizing how thirsty I need to be to have a deeper experience of Christ doing all of those things with me, here, today, and tomorrow.

Thank you to everyone who gave, prayed, read for the Water for Water campaign.  It was a very special year.  As you prepare for 2014, I want to simply challenge you with one question -

Are you thirsty?