Enjoying Hot Water!

by Anusha Atukorala 

April was an interesting month. I’d recently been diagnosed with a heart condition that could be serious, so I was sent off for a battery of tests – expensive ones at that – a halter monitor for 2 weeks, a CAT scan, an MRI and more. What fun! Not! I was dismayed at the thought of being forced to spend two days with a zero caffeine intake! My energy levels were about one tenth of what I needed most days … and that was if I was fortunate. Other days, it went into minus figures! Help! I need my caffeine!

 

On the day of my MRI, I found a perfect drink to replace my morning cuppa. No! It wasn’t a herbal tea. I simply filled a mug with piping hot water and sipped it slowly, as if I was drinking heaven’s nectar! Believe it or not, I enjoyed it. I really did. It was no replacement for caffeine of course, but I loved my delicious zero calorie drink. And, you will be happy to note that I got through those two caffeine free days pretty well … snoozing comfortably through my MRI, since I was so sleepy. It was all good.

 

I recalled then that years ago, a friend had been appalled that then too, I had sipped hot water on occasion. I did it only because my friend drank numerous mugs of coffee when she visited – but my temperamental tum could only tolerate one cup of tea a day. So I sipped hot water just to keep her company. Iris (not her real name) had had a bad experience with a family member who did the same. This woman had been nasty. My dear friend was triggered every time I sipped hot water – perhaps she thought I must be then, according to the hot water theory, as evil as her sister in law? Oh oh!

 

Sometimes I am in Hot Water! Literally so, as I stand under a steaming hot shower and relax under its deluge – but … also … figuratively! Listen to James 1:2-4 on the subject. 

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” 

That kind of Hot water? Oh no!

I’ve in fact just been through a challenging season in ultra-hot water … where debilitating fatigue and debilitating pain impacted my creativity big time. I love composing worship songs, which helps get me into flow, and therefore is good for my well-being, but I haven’t had the energy to sit at the piano. 

My Season of adversity was hard. Way too hard! However … I have also learnt so much in the process and my character was immersed in a learning curve, like a tea bag in hot water leaking all that delicious caffeine out, due to the 100 degree heat. During my tough season, God’s presence and reality has become more real and glorious – a steady beacon of hope, joy and beauty – Jesus was my Lighthouse who shone bright on choppy seas.

 

Recently, I discovered the benefits of my Hot Water Season, after my pastor asked me to share my testimony at church of 50 years with Jesus. I loved sharing, but I had a little problem. A good one! I’d effortlessly filled 16 pages of what I wanted to share (and could have written so much more). However, the message had to be only 20 minutes long, so reluctantly, I pruned it down to 6 1/2 pages! (Clever me! Perhaps I am a good editor?) I found then, that my season of doing only a little writing was a time of research! I’ve journaled a great deal these eight years, so my computer is bulging with material. 

 

Perhaps all this hot water I’ve been dunked in, will lead to the birth of my next book? And the one after? And more? Hope springs eternal – I pray fervently that 2025 is my year of comeback with a return of good health. Today, in faith I praise my God who does all things well – and whose ways are perfect, knowing that good will come out of all the enemy threw my way. I thank God that He uses everything. yes, everything, for good as we trust in Jesus and seek His face.

 

The hotness of the water I sipped was perfect for my tummy, because warmth helps digestion. Water is good for me because hydration is vital for my wellbeing. Likewise – the hotness of my past season only heightened the precious love of Jesus and brought Him closer to me. The water I was dunked in, cleansed me from the inside out, to create a better me! It’s therefore been a wonderful season, really! And now my heart is bursting to share more of God. This little writer may just be ready to hatch from her cocoon, and to fly high, so she could sprinkle more of God’s beauty, truth and goodness around her!  

What about you, dear friend? How much hot water have you been seeped in, of late? Not too much, I hope? I trust your present season is bright and beautiful and that your creativity continues to fill our world. Let’s do what we can, knowing that with God, all things are possible and that He turns our mourning into dancing, our ashes into beauty and tough times into God-exalting stories that will enrich our world!

Anusha’s been on many interesting detours in life, as a lab technician, a computer programmer, a full time Mum, a full time volunteer, a charity director, a full time job chaser, until one golden day (or was it a dark moonless night?) God tapped her on her shoulder and called her to write for Him. She has never recovered from the joy it brought her. She loves to see others enjoying life with Jesus and does her mite to hurry the process in her world through her writing and through her life. 

The goodness of God is her theme song through each season, 

as she dances in the rain with Jesus.

 

Her first book 'Enjoying the Journey' contains 75 little God stories that will bring you closer to your Creator. Her next book ‘Dancing in the Rain’ brings you hope and comfort for life’s soggy seasons and is dear to her heart. Her third book, ‘Sharing the Journey’ is a sequel to 'Enjoying the Journey'.

 

Do drop in on her two websites to say G’day! She’d love to connect with you.

Dancing in the Rain 

Light in the Darkness 

Thank You, Lord!

by Margaret Lepke

This year has been full of ups and downs for me. There have been times when I felt like a spring chicken - ready to chirp and run and play - but also times when I felt like a tired old mare, ready to be put out to pasture. Too much to do, too many things to contend with, never enough time. Just stop the world, I want to get off... But through it all I have tried to thank the Lord in (not necessarily for :) all circumstances and kept reminding myself of two things: that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us (Phil. 4:13), and that godliness with contentment is great gain (1 Tim. 6:6). Thank You, Lord, that You know best how to order our lives. 

http://1thessalonians417.wordpress.com/tag/thank-you-lord/

One of my Bible studies this year focused on the book of Job and I concluded that I am blessed beyond measure. Thank You, Lord! This patriarch suffered terribly for almost a year. His repeated cries for help seemed to fall on deaf ears, his questions were left unanswered, and the heavenly scene that could have explained it all was hidden from his sight. In other words, God seemed to be absent. Did Job curse Him and die as his wife suggested? No, his faith endured despite incredible heartache and physical pain.

When Satan was allowed to remove Job's worldly attachments, Job’s faith did not crumble. When Satan attacked Job’s body with almost unendurable pain, Job remained steadfast. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble? And throughout all of this Job did not sin in what he said (Job.2:10)! What an example to us... thank You, Lord!

Then the final test arrived: a prolonged attack on Job’s integrity by those whom he counted his friends. Their psychological assaults would have hurt just as much as the physical and emotional pain Job endured. If only they had remained silent! But when his time of trial was finally over, Job’s faith had grown and his understanding of God had deepened. In his suffering he had sought God like never before, and his reward was a more intimate knowledge of the Almighty as well as physical blessings. His attitude would have been, "Thank You, Lord!"

I am so glad that God answered Job’s cry, Oh, that my words were written! That they were inscribed in a book! (Job 19:23). The record of this faithful man encourages those who suffer and gives a rare insight into Satan's involvement in human affairs.

Satan was given power over the elements, marauding people and physical illness, and he was able to use Job's friends for an attack on his integrity. While their assumptions were well meant and based on cultural norms, their reasoning couldn’t have been more wrong in this particular case. Let’s remember not to be like them when we take on the role of comforter. Let’s never assume, never offer cliché answers, and instead be willing to listen without judgement and to love without giving advice.
 

Friends that are tuned to God are worth their weight in gold. They accept one another, help one another and love one another at all times (Prov.17:17). The kisses of an enemy may be profuse, but faithful are the wounds of a friend (Prov. 27:5-6). Two are better than one, and they have a better return for their labor. If either of them falls (or is discouraged, or goes down the wrong path), one can help the other up (Ecc. 4:9-10). 

 

We all need friends like that in our lives. People who influence us to become what God intended us to be, who fill us up when we are empty; people whom we can trust and be ourselves with, and those who encourage us to stretch and expand not only our faith but also our God-given abilities. We can thank the Lord for each true friend He has given us.

 

And this is where I would like to take the opportunity to thank you, dear writers, for your encouraging, inspiring, insightful and soul-searching blog contributions throughout the year. As fellow travelers along the narrow road, I count you my friends. And while I rarely have time to comment (and for that I apologize!) I do read your posts when they arrive via email. 

 

Please know that your thoughts and challenges have left their mark... As the writer of Ecclesiastes puts it: As iron sharpens iron, friends sharpen the minds of each other (Prov. 27:17). I believe that this writers' blog is capable of sharpening minds and encouraging hearts, and for that, too, I thank You, Lord.

Margaret Lepke is a Christian educator, counselor, naturopath and freelance writer. Enjoy the resources on her website.  http://drlepke.com.au