News Redeemer Fresh in the Faith
They are like trees planted by streams of water, bearing fruit in due season, with 
leaves that do not wither. - Psalm 1:3
Mmm..there are few things better than a cool glass of fresh, delicious water after a long hike, bike rode, or working in the garden. Sometimes it is only when I start drinking the water that I realize just how thirsty I am! Encountering God’s thirst-quenching love can be a lot like this, too. No doubt God’s love is all around us, all the time. But sometimes it is only when we or those we love have been brought low by circumstances – death, illness, divorce, moving towns, losing jobs- that we notice this love born of the Almighty, and just how thirsty we have become!
There is practical, hands-on advice in this first of all the Psalms quoted above. Meditate on God’s teaching day and night so that you may be planted like the trees described, with roots reaching down into waters provided by God. This is good advice, whether your life is in crisis or not. Think for a moment on how much time you spend each day digesting the latest news via newspapers, television, blogs, e-mail, facebook, twitter, texts, etc…Now think about how much time you spend each day meditating on the Word of God through the Bible, and maybe also through blogs, facebook, twitter, and e-mail! Consider how much of your time is spent on prayer, on face to face nurturing encounters with others who inspire you to a deeper life of faith. I would venture that for most of us we spend more time in our world news sources that our Good News sources. While this may be disconcerting to realize, it should not become another worry! Each day is a new day, and in every single moment we have choices about what we will surround ourselves with. And our lives are grounded upon a rock on which we can count.
We are invited to life wherein with Gods help our roots will reach down into the waters of Christ’s resurrection. My, what a promise! Now, with God’s help, let’s begin.
