Fresh Mannaby Pastor Tim BurtI was 25 years old. I wasn't a religious person, although I found myself often wondering if there really was a God, and if so, how would I know? Thinking about that was a ball of confusion in my head. What I did know was that my life was flushing down the toilet. I had too many close calls with death. I could see no way out of this destructive pattern of living I seemed trapped in. I knew in my heart it would never lead me to the life I really wanted. To the contrary, I knew it was going to kill me. But then, one day, this lovely person named Sharon shared the love of Jesus with me. She helped me pray and ask Jesus to forgive me of all my sins and to be my Lord and Savior. Although I prayed that prayer and meant every word, I had no idea of the changes that would begin from that moment in my life. When I woke up the next morning, I felt like a different person. Although I didn't know of or anything about the Holy Spirit, I came to understand that He came to live within me the moment I prayed that prayer. And I could tell something was different. All I could think about was wanting to understand more. Sharon suggested visiting a Bible-teaching church that would help me learn more. She said the multitude of questions I might experience would be answered there.One Wednesday night, just a few days after praying this prayer with Sharon, a group of guys came over to my house to play cards, smoke pot and drink beer. It was a regular thing in our lives. When they all showed up, I told them to come in, make themselves at home, and have fun, but I was leaving. I said to them, Hey guys, I'll see you later. I am going somewhere. They looked at me, confused! I said, I am going to check out this church someone told me about that has a Wednesday Night church service. They were sure I was putting them on, but I wasn't. I walked out the door and headed out to find this church. I wanted to know more about God!The entire experience was so different and unusual from anything I had ever experienced. When I heard my first sermon preached from a pulpit in 1978, it was about how Jesus and His Word—the Bible, and how it could change your life. Until that point in time, I had never read a Bible. I didn't understand what happened to me when I prayed with Sharon that day. She told me my sins were forgiven and I would go to Heaven and be with Jesus when I died, but honestly, I could hardly believe it. I felt so undeserving! In the midst of feeling like this, the Pastor began to teach from the Bible. How do I describe it? It was like I had been in a desert and so thirsty and parched, I thought I might die from thirst when suddenly this man is giving me an ice-cold drink that's helping me see and understand life through God's eyes. He read from John 7:37-38 (TLB) "... Jesus shouted to the crowds, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. For the Scriptures declare that rivers of living water shall flow from the inmost being of anyone who believes in me."That was what was happening to me. Every scripture I heard was like a drink of water quenching my thirst of ten thousand questions. The jig-saw puzzle of questions I had about life were being put together one-by-one. And with each scripture, a drink of living water from Jesus that would bring understanding and joy and peace!If you are a believer, then you have the Holy Spirit. He is in you to help you receive that drink of living water. But you have to give place to the Word of God.Most people don't read the Bible or prioritize it in their life. They treat the words read your Bible like an obligation and you know how your flesh wants to resist obligations. But it's not that! It's a drink of living water that helps you come to know the Lord, His will for your life, His master plan for mankind, the depth of His love for you--and the promise of being intimately involved in helping you live your life! It's not an obligation! It's a drink of living water that gives the best of life and brings wisdom and peace, and power to your soul! So read your Bible. It will speak to you if you ask God to speak to you through it. And you'll have your drink of living water and be refreshed and strengthened when you do!Isaiah 55:1-3 NIV"Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare. Give ear and come to me; listen, that you may live."In His love,Pastor Tim Burt
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