Come Thirsty-Day 1

As soon as I had retuned from Whiskey Gulch the next day I headed back south this time all the way to Homer, AK. A 5 hour drive and only 20 miles farther south than Whiskey Gulch. If I’d had done some better planning I would have just stayed overnight in Homer rather than backtrack North to Chugiak only to get in the car and head back where I’d came from. But if I would have done that I would have missed out on a fantastic car ride with Jamie.

That's right folks gas is $4.83 a gallon in Alaska so ya'll can stop complaining

Scenery on the drive down along the Cook Inlet

Driving in Alaska one is very limited on radio stations outside of the Anchorage area. So we resorted to i-pod jams with the soundtrack from Wicked, the Beatles Strawberry Fields Forever, and of course Veggie Tales. With two DCE confined in one vehicle Veggie Tales was bound to be on the list.

Jamie & I jamin' to Veggie Tale's "Barbra Manatee" --in her defense she had no clue I was recording :)

Five hours later and we arrived in Homer. We met up with Gretchen to do some last minute prep work. Each year there is a Homer Retreat for All Alaska LCMS Church Workers. Those who are in charge of leading varies year to year but this year the Alaska DCE’s were in charge--all 4 of us. That’s right there are only four DCE’s (well three and me as the intern) in this 663,267 sq mile state.

Making our descent from the Sterling Highway into Homer

 The theme for the retreat as collaboratively chosen by us DCE’s was “Come Thirsty”. It’s based on John 4 with the Samaritan women at the well. The focus was on how church workers get “dry” and “dehydrated”, but I feel the issue is not isolated to those who work in the parish.

We followed the acronym W.E.L.L to discuss Christ's work on the cross and know that sins are pardoned and your death is defeated. Christ's energy and believe that we can do all things through the one who gives you strength. Receive his Lordship, knowing that we belong to him and that he looks out for us, and receive his love and feel confident that nothing can separate us from it. Each of us [DCEs] took a letter and led a service/homily. I was lucky enough to get the first session “W” on Christ’s WORK on the cross. Here is an excerpt from my homily…

We have a void in our lives that is only filled by God. From the time we are born we begin our journey to discovering the living water to satisfy the soul. We try to fill it with other things some fill it with money, drug and alcohol use, or others fill it with sexual improprieties, and others still fill it by dominating and oppressing their fellow human beings. These things fill the void for a moment but the feeling does not last for very long. This is because these things are not what God wants for us. He wants to fill the void with the living water of the Holy Spirit.

The Samaritan woman at the well we meet in John chapter 4 had tried drinking from many shallow streams. But they had all left her thirsty for more - or at least for something different. Jesus offered her freely flowing, resplendently refreshing water. Water that bubbles up from the indwelling Holy Spirit and quenches every thirst, washes away every sin, and flows into every nook and cranny of our beings. He invites us to come often and drink deeply.

When we drink water we don’t have to tell the water which part of the body it needs to go into. Water has a unique property that allows it to conform to any space we put it in--a glass, a fish bowl, a pond, or even the ocean. It also goes wherever it is needed. The water goes where it’s needed. So does the Spirit through Jesus Christ. Need help in your marriage, there goes the Spirit, need anger management, the Spirit helps, do you have addictions that affect your whole family the living water moves there as well.

Just as water is essential to the human body so also Christ’s Living Water is essential to the human soul.    Unless you thirst in your soul you will not seek for Christ’s Living Water.  But if you thirst for it you will find it and receive many benefits and  then produces his fruit of godliness: “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22-23).  This is because Christ’s Living Water prospers you and makes your soul healthy. Jesus Christ alone has the Living Water that you should thirst for – water that is not  seasonal, water that never dries out, water with healing power, water with protective power, water with provision power, and water with salvific power. 

Jesus said “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and let the one who believes in me drink. As the scripture has said, ‘Out of the believer’s heart shall flow rivers of living water’” (John 7:38). Come to me and drink. There is the answer. Come to Jesus, He will give you the Spirit which will flow out of your heart. It will reach every aspect of your life. Do you think you heart is too dry? There is nothing He hasn’t seen, he’ll understand, and he’ll forgive. His water is good, fresh water. His water heals and purifies. His water strengthens and renews. This is the living water of the Holy Spirit. So come drink Christ’s Living Water.  Come and gorge on Christ’s Living Water.  

I love this song by Casting Crown's--It was a source of inspiration for the theme for our retreat. Come Thirsty listen and watch and let it be your prayer for today.