Clean Water, Living Water

My posts have focused mostly on the hunger that is faced by those who live in areas that do not have access to food.  But it is important to realize that they also often don't have access to clean water.

I've mentioned before that I know my project doesn't duplicate the situation of those who are suffering due to starvation, because they are also living in conditions that we, as Americans, cannot fathom.

We take clean water for granted.  It is always there...to drink, to wash, to even flush away our waste.  In fact, bottled water (often packaged out of a tap in some unknown city) is big business here.  Apparently our clean water is not always clean enough for us (myself included).

A few years ago during Advent, my church decided to spend some of their Christmas shopping money on gifts that would make a difference in the lives of others.  We purchased two wells.

Well, they were not wells at that time.  But we paid to have wells dug so that people in two communities in Peru would finally have access to clean drinking water.

Can you imagine being that excited about water?

The organization is Living Water International.  According to their website, they can provide one person with clean water for a year for $.98...about the price of one cold bottled water at your nearest convenience store.

Their current promotion is called "With this Ring".  This started with a woman who sold her wedding ring because she felt that it was ridiculous to have that much money on her finger when she could be doing something to make a difference with it.  Awesome.

On this website, you can sell your extra jewelry (or even your precious jewelry) or you can purchase some of the donated jewelry.  All proceeds go to new wells.

Your gold and silver are corroded. 
Their corrosion will testify against you 
and eat your flesh like fire. 
You have hoarded wealth in the last days.
--James 5:3

Obstacles...Seen and Unseen

I'm not a morning person.  Yet, here I am up early again this morning.  Why?  Bruce woke me up again.  This morning's 5am alarm was Springsteen's angry anthem, "Born in the USA".  Wow.

My biggest fear yesterday was that I would unconsciously pop something in my mouth without thinking.  I didn't.  I carried a water bottle with me most of the day.

When I came home after work, our "I am Second" bracelets were waiting for me.  The kids are wearing them, also.  My family's support is crucial to my success.  I know I am blessed in that area.

Then I took the kids to get haircuts.  On the way, I noticed that my elbow was bothering me.  Upon closer inspection, I realized that something had bit me--something with fangs.  These fang holes are a good 2mm apart, and there are two sets.  By the time we got to the hair stylist's, a large red feverish 2-inch circle enclosed them.

Great.

There have been articles in papers all over Kansas about the large number of spiders this year--in particular, Brown Recluse.  That may sound a bit paranoid; however, my husband has found several both at work and in our home even though our home has been sprayed specifically for spiders.

As I looked over this big red welt, my mind wasn't thinking as much about the type of spider that bit me as it was thinking about spiritual warfare.  Now, I don't know that Satan is responsible for my spider bites.  However, I do know that it is possible.  Why now?  Because I'm trying to make an impact on others.

Angels and demons?  Don't be ridiculous.

It is so hard to believe in those things we can't see.  Yet we are told over and over again in the Bible that they are real.  In fact, we are made up of body, spirit, and soul.  If you have a spirit, why is it so hard to believe that there are other spirits?  We know so very little about our world...our reality.  Yet, we think we know so much.

Let me ask you, if I professed to be a Christian but didn't live my life for Christ and rested in the false security that going to church each Sunday was somehow equivalent to faith--would Satan mess with me?  No need.  He would already have me.  It's those who live their faith that must fight this spiritual battle on a regular basis.  

So, if you were Satan (Remember, he is NOT God's equal.  He is not omniscient, omnipotent, or omnipresent.) with limited resources and abilities, who would you target for temptation and destruction?

I believe that those who must be the most on guard are those who are reaching out.  My piddly efforts may be bigger than some, but they don't compare to many, many others.  Billy Graham describes it as "living in a perpetual battlefield." (Angels, 1995)

In his letter to the people of Ephesus, the Apostle Paul says, "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood,but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." (Ephesians 6:12, NIV)

The spider bites look better this morning.  All is well.  But I do feel like I've received fair warning to be on the lookout.

This journey is not going to be easy.