Faith and Water

I have some thoughts I want to share here, and usually before I would put thoughts such as these on the big ol' web for everybody to read I would want to do a little more research and cross-referencing, but
#1 - the thoughts are in my head begging to be let out,
#2 - the ol' blog has been dry for too long (yes, we are in the hospital again) and
#3 - being in the hospital with your 18 month old isn't the ideal time for in-depth Bible study.

So.... here's what I've got:

I have the bad habit of thinking that to have 'good' faith, you have to be positive and completely trusting God ALL THE TIME. And while that maybe should be our goal, it doesn't mean that if we fall short of that we can't be credited with having faith.

This 'revelation' came to me the other day when I thought of Abraham. He is one of the biggest heroes of faith, and what did he do when God told him he would have a son? Got impatient and took his wife's maid. (here is the point where, if I was home, I would do a little more checking of facts and give you Bible references. Sorry).

This realization about Abraham makes me want to read through the great "Hall of Faith" in Hebrews 11 and pick out the flaws of everyone mentioned there. That is something so great about the Bible. We can learn from the best and worst of people.... often all in the same person!


I've been reading in Isaiah, and just today read this verse, that I have liked for a long time: "But thou, Israel, art my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend." Is 41:8. I have always like the verse (and the 2 that follow) but today I saw something different: where God called Abraham his friend. Aw. Abraham that didn't trust enough to wait patiently. Makes me want to go back and read all of the good things Abraham did, and the examples of the times that he showed faith.

And then... moving on to a totally different thought....

Isaiah 41:17 "When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the LORD will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them."

First of all.... God doesn't say "the people will always have water and never thirst". Nope. There will be tough times. Dry times. Desperately thirsty times in our lives.

And then... God doesn't say "I will give them water before they even think to ask." Nope again. He says "I will hear them". Aha.... we should ask. Not be angry because God hasn't provided water. Or that he let us go through the dessert. Or not just sit back and think "God loves me. He knows I'm thirsty. They'll be some water coming."

Now, there may be other places in the Bible where God does say things more along the lines of the two things I said above. But, again... I'm doing the best I can here. This is study-in-progress. ;)

And finally...

Isaiah 41:18 "I will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys: I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water."

Don't you love how God goes all out?!? He doesn't just hand over a cup of water. Or even a new well. Nope. Look at the abundance he promises! And that is so true in so many ways, and I would love to expound on that, but my time is up. Hopefully you can take it from there and feel the hope and abundance that God gives in your life.

And feel free to leave any scripture references in the comments.. either correcting or adding to what I've said. :)