fire hydrant

the above picture effectively describes my life most days. Let me explain why. Anyone who spends any amount of time with me will eventually describe me as a fire hydrant. My relationship with Jesus is not a casual relationship, a stroll or even a fresh breath of air. It is intense, intentional and often a force to be reckoned with. And for a lot of people...it is too intense, too intentional and a force they would rather avoid. Spending time with me, can often feel like you are drinking from a fire hydrant. And for many, that is an experience they can do without. People need to drink from a water hose, not a fire hydrant.
For years, I have worked on capping that fire hydrant off, controlling it and meeting people where they are. And I have gotten better...although there are moments when the cap pops off and there she blows.
However, in recent days, this picture has come to illustrate something different in me. Yes, I am still the fire hydrant, learning to be controlled by the Spirit so that I don't hose people down. But the more important picture for me now is that I am the one drinking from the fire hydrant.
The Father is lavishing His love, grace, mercy and relationship on me. It is overwhelming and astonishing, challenging and changing, fulfilling and satisfying. But what I have discovered is the closer I come the more powerful it becomes. The drink from Him is no longer a sip, a gulp, or a hose down. But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly {places} in Christ Jesus, in order that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
He is longing to lavish Himself on us....He wants us to drink from the fire hyrdrant of His mercy, love, grace and kindness. He is not holding back, merely giving us a taste or a sip. He is waiting for us to step up and to allow the down pour to begin. Who He is, is not just a taste and see God...for once we have tasted we will want to be drenched with, lavished by, poured out on by the greatness of who He is.
I may be a fire hydrant, but that is because I am drinking from one...and loving every minute of it. For I will never thirst again!


ALL FOR YOU