Aptiva

The Carpenter's words are recorded in John 4:13-14 Jesus replied, “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.” Sometimes's we expect the life of the follower of Christ to be all excitement, action, and adventure, and then often we meet those who claim to follow the Christ, who live a life dull and flat, without any sign of zeal or love. The truth maybe somewhere in between. Jesus describes this life as "bubbling." Always something going on, always something new on the horizon, yet periods of stillness as new things take the time to emerge. This life of the Spirit becomes self-sustaining.How many people have strived to find a perpetual energy source, yet miss that these words are the biggest claim in history! We have the opportunity to live a life, and to live it to the full, take it today.

The Carpenter has "the Spirit without limit." What must a human be like to have the power to do anything, yet the obedience not to do so until asked. We often think of the Holy Spirit as a force of power, and forget he is a person of relationship. To know another without limit, to know another entirely, this is what we were created for. To be sure, Satan's interference has corrupted this objective, but Christ has re-established its direction and achievability. When we follow the carpenter, and allow his life to be ours, we understand that he is offering us not just a philosophy, but an actual life practically demonstrated. To do this, however, we need to know what brings us closer to God, and what drives us further away, these are the guidelines of Christ. His life and words demonstrate and teach who we must be to allow this end of "being known and to know" to come to pass.

The Carpenter once told a crowd that someone he was talking to was "not far from the Kingdom of God," the context is important, the person in question displayed the heart of God. In a culture which had become immersed in ritual and rules, this listener saw to the heart of God, that is the relationship he desires. The Kingdom of God is not a set place or time but is, in fact, an acknowledgement of the change in the relationship that the sacrifice of Christ brings. This man was "not far" as his heart was ready to have God's Saviour revealed to him. We are erroneous today in believing the lie that the world has fostered. Namely, that relationship equates to uncritical acceptance of others actions. Relationship with Christ involves the desire to have a pure heart. A person doesn't need to start with a pure heart, that is the role of the Holy Spirit, but one needs to be willing to work with Him in establishing it. This speaker, this inquirer, desired to have

We choose to celebrate December the 25th as the day Jesus physically was born. His incarnation started of course 9 months earlier. We don't know the actual date of his birth, but the celebration is important. Tozer writes about the desire among people to celebrate this day  " While men are able to rise even temporarily to such heights, there is hope that they have not yet sinned away their day of grace. A heart capable of admiring and being touched by the story of the manger birth is not yet abandoned, however sinful it may be. There is yet hope in repentance." The birth of the carpenter is important. It is a new start and fresh hope for all. One that can still be grasped despite two thousand odd years since it's happening. If we so desire, the hope it represents is freely available to us. Many will make "New Years" resolutions, without realizing that the true way to peace lies a week prior in the manger. This year Dear Reader, seek the truth of who the car