What I've got..

As I wrestled with the "why is life so hard" thought this week...and of course, "why can't things be easier for me" the Lord encouraged me today with some words. Perhaps they will encourage you as well.

"Whoever believes in ME, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." -John 7:38

Living water? IN ME? Oh my goodness, that is what is available to me.
I've been licking the dust of my human, stark insufficiency to deal with my life's issues. Rather than tapping into the living waters the roll like the waves on the ocean that lives INSIDE of me.
INSIDE OF ME.
I just have to tap into it.
Sit at His feet. Surrender.

So today I told the Lord, "I give up" on trying to do "this" in my own strength. It's been a long couple of days, and i'm sick of the deceit that lives in my heart.
SO as I named my sin, and called it what it was, and requested the Lord rescue me from my hole of yuck, He did. He swept in like the river He is.
The river of life, living inside of me.
And I wrote this "poem" in my journal today:

Living waters!
    Flowing in me.
LIFESPRING.
Splashes on my face.
JOY of my salvation.
Constant.
Sustains me.
PROTECTS.
Creates thanksgiving within me.
Spurs me ONWARD in HOPE.
I AM REDEEMED.
Held.
              I have something to be excited about that will not fade away.
A hope that will not end in the end.
He takes my ASHES and turns them into beauty. beauty for ashes. 

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may OVERFLOW with HOPE by the power of the Holy Spirit." -Romans 15:13

No more dry bread crusts for me my friends. He has a banquet prepared for me, all I had to do was surrender my dead stuff, for His goodness. Not only can I be sustained, I can flourish. Like a 4 year old who is going to a crystal clear blue pool for the first time. I get to jump into His pools of joy and hope, and help. I surrender all. Jesus I surrender. Amen.