Living Water

While driving along the Feather River in Northern California, I thought about the River of Life in Revelation 22. It must be beautiful with the Tree of Life rising on each side which bears twelve different kinds of fruit. Hard for me to imagine.

After a winter of heavy rain and snow, the Feather is fuller, faster and more captivating. White water rushers over boulders and descends into glorious waterfalls. The rushing water seems to be alive and I questioned, "Is this what living water is like?"

Jesus said to the Samaritan woman at the well outside of Sychar, that He had living water, water that would spring up into eternal life. She said, "I want some of your water," because she didn't want to have to keep coming to the well several times a day for water to clean her house and cook her food. She didn't want to have to come for water to bathe her family.

But Jesus wasn't talking about physical water. He talked about nourishment for her soul. She understood when she realized Jesus knew all about her sinful life but showed her love. She tasted the living water but couldn't keep it to herself. Like the water in the rushing Feather River, the living water bubbled up inside her and she had to run and tell others in town about the man who knew all about her, yet, loved her.

That's how God's love is. Once we experience it, we can't keep it to oursleves. We have to love God and love others. That's how God's kingdom grows and grows. Do you know God's lavishing love? If you do, you know what I mean. If not, my prayer is for you today, that you will call on Jesus' name. That's all you have to do. He is waiting to show you His love just as He did the woman at the well.

Why Do Fish Jump?

While at the ocean, lake or river, have you seen fish jump out of water" Did you wonder why? Fishermen have asked that question for a long time, and still ask each other today. Here are some of their ideas about why fish jump:

• They like to tease fishermen.
• They want to shake the sea lice off their belly, which has been proved not to be true.
• They jump for food when flies hover just above the surface of the water.

Some marine biologists think female salmon jump to loosen their skeins before they spawn. Does that mean that male salmon don’t jump? Not likely! A better explanation for salmon comes from Richard Stoll, a certified member of the American Fisheries Society. He says the fresh water from rivers  floats on top of the salt water coming in from the ocean. The salmon jump to the surface to find the scent of their native stream. Then they float on top of the water to find their way home.
The truth is fish jump for lots of reasons, just as we walk or run or jump for lots of reasons. One of the biggest reasons fish jump is because it’s fun. Think about it. Animals and humans enjoy the feeling of running and jumping and playing. Does it make sense that fish feel the same exuberance from physical exercise when they swim fast enough to raise themselves out of the water? Sure it does.

So the next time you are at the ocean, lake or river with your mom or dad or friends and they ask you why you think fish jump, you can say:

·         They like to tease fishermen. LOL.

·         They are shaking sea lice off their bellies.

·         They are jumping for food.

·         They are getting ready to spawn.

·         They are finding their way home, or you can say,

·         They are just having fun.

What will you say?