I have often thought if I were a painter I would paint each sunrise and each
sunset in the most beautiful of hues. No color would be discarded, there would
be a color for every little bit of picture, there would be no blank spot on the
canvas. There would be no drab colors. All the colors God created would be
splashed across the canvas with abandon, totally remarkable with each stroke of
the brush. The beautiful colors of fall, with the varied hues of autumn would be
captured on my canvas. The unusually brilliant colors of spring with every
flower under the sun created by an Omnipotent designer, the first and greatest
Master Painter of the Universe; every tree of beauty, to give the color green;
every mountain and mountain stream, to give the esthetic quality to my painting.
I couldn’t omit the wonder of winter; the ice and snow on the branches of the
trees; on the bushes and ground cover creating as if by magic, the sparkling
effect of precious jewels and priceless stones. Such beauty was a thing of
splendid artistic inspiration.
Every season lends its portion to make a world of immeasurable loveliness, a
world created for man to behold the beauty of God’s handiwork.
Never learning or being taught to paint, I can only imagine what kind of picture
I could paint.
One day as I was daydreaming about being a world renowned artist, with brush and
paints and canvas, I happened to glance up at the sky and there in the blue of
the heavens was the most beautifully etched piece of artistry I had ever seen. I
say etched because it was as if a sculptor had chiseled a rock formation in the
sky. I looked at it in amazement and wonder. What did it mean?
My first thought was that I was just dreaming. This was not real; however I
could not dismiss it from my mind. The sculptor was of a beautiful mountain,
with rivulets of water coursing down through the hills and valleys, cutting out
a river bed or stream as it wound its way down the mountain side; crystal clear
water that seemed to invite me to come and drink of this water.
My throat began to get dry and I became so thirsty, I could barely swallow. I
lifted my eyes and thought that I could just reach up and get me a cup of that
sparkling clear water; it seemed so real.
I reached for the mountain and I was so discouraged that it was too far away to
reach. I continued to try to reach it, but to no avail. My arms just were not
long enough.
Then it occurred to me that I must be having a vision. This could not be real.
Then a voice came to me that said, “My child, this water is only for those who
have given their lives to Me. I am the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. You must
always serve me and love me with all your heart, mind, soul and body. If you can
do that, you may drink of this water that is crystal clear and pure, the water
of life.”
I was so disappointed. I knew that there were sins in my life and I felt there
was no redemption for me. I became more and more thirsty.
I cried out to God, “Oh Father, what must I do to be worthy of drinking this
water?”
God, in His omnipotence, omniscience and omnipresence reached down and embraced
me and said, “Dear one, all you have to do is submit your life to me and put all
your troubles in my hands and sincerely ask forgiveness of your sins and turn
from them. Then you will be worthy to drink from this crystal clear stream. Your
thirst will be quenched and you will have eternal life and always live with Me
and I with you, for I will never, ever leave you.”
This I did. I repented of my horrible sins, and received forgiveness. I
submitted my life to my God, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Now, I am
drinking from that crystal clear stream, and it shall never run dry for it is
the Living Water, the Water of Life.
Nell Berry louis_berry@bellsouth.net
Bio: Nell is a 74 year old newly published author of Growing Up in Missouri and
Other Short Stories available from Publish America and amazon.com, it may also
be purchased from Barnes and Noble. Nell lives with her husband at Mark Twain
Lake in Missouri. They have survived 55 years of marriage. They have four grown
children, nine grandchildren and two great granddaughters.
The Illustrator: This daily newsletter is dedicated to encouraging
everyone to look towards Jesus as the source of all the solutions to our
problems. It contains a daily inspirational story, a Bible verse and encouraging
messages. HTML and plain text versions available.
The Nugget: Published three times a week, this newsletter features inspirational devotionals and mini-sermons dedicated to drawing mankind closer to each other and to Christ.