another plumber???

Have you ever tried to hire a good plumber? I must be honest and say that I have never had the need to, but I have heard some horror stories. It seems like one plumber just can't do the job correctly, you usually have to hire a few of them to really get something fixed. This means two or three bills, two or three exposures of some man's butt crack (this is where the real stress and trauma occurs), etc. I know this is extremely stereotypical, but it's something that we can all relate with, or at least most of us. It's a situation that down right sucks. You put a lot into it, but it never seems to work. This is especially true for old plumbing, it constantly leaks no matter how many times you fix it. You're probably wandering where I'm going with this. I speak about plumbers because of a text that has wrecked me lately from Jeremiah 2. I just can't get over it.

for my people have committed two evils:
they have forsaken me,
the fountain of living waters,
and hewed out cisterns for themselves,
broken cisterns that can hold no
water.
Jeremiah 2:13

I realized that I have spent my whole life employing plumbers to fix my cisterns that can never hold any water. The cisterns in this passage refer to the things that we turn to for fulfillment instead of God. Idols that we worship instead of the living God. This isn't the part that really convicted me though. I always knew this. I knew from Romans that we are broken and all have fallen short, so I knew that I had committed this evil. It was the first one that really got me. Of course, this was a bit confusing because I thought I had known that too. However, I realized that I have been trying to use counsel from others and even Scripture and Jesus to fix my cisterns, instead of turning to the abundant stream of joy that is God himself. I wanted Jesus to fix what I thought would satisfy me, instead of looking to him for real, fulfilling joy. There is no plumber that will fix our cisterns. They will always leak, if not pour. Turn to the fountain of living water. After all a stream flows freely and doesn't take energy to partake of. It takes a lot of effort and personal expense to fix cisterns, even if you're not the one doing the work.

sanctification

I've been holding on, I've been holding on.
All that is inside me, screams to come back home.
If you feel lost, if you feel lost, sing along.
If you feel tired, if you feel tired, sing along.
And if you feel lost and tired, this is your song.

I've been broken down, I've been broken down.
I ain't giving up, love will come back around.
I've been holding on, I've been holding on.
All that is inside me screams to come back home.

If you feel lost, if you feel lost, sing along.
If you feel tired, if you feel tired, sing along.
If you feel lost, if you feel lost, sing along.
If you feel tired, if you feel tired, sing along.
And if you feel lost and tired, this is your song.
If you feel lost and tired, this is your song.

O, My God shine your light on us, that we might live.
O, My God shine your light on us, that we might live.
O, My God shine your light on us, that we might live.
O, My God shine your light on us, that we might live.
O, My God shine your light on us, that we might live.
-Robbie Seay Band, Shine Your Light On Us, Give Yourself Away.

We sing this song at my church. It seems like this song has been my life lately. I'm so lost and tired. So tired of confusion. God is breaking me down. Everything inside my heart wants to go back six months and never leave. Why? I keep asking myself that over and over. How long? So many questions. It's so easy for me to focus on these things. So easy to see such a small part of the picture. I have found myself singing this song focusing on the chorus, often neglecting the verse and bridge. I am broken down, but love will come back around. When God shines his light on us, we are restored and experience life to the fullest. I think this is why we usually sing another song after this one. It goes like this:

You bring restoration.
You bring restoration.
You bring restoration.
To my soul.


It seems so simple, just a few words repeated over and over. Those are the words of the cross. On the cross, Jesus brings restoration. Not only did he pay the penalty for our sin, but he took the pain and shame that are caused by our sin. Praise Christ! He did it for His glory. In our joy, He is most glorified. It's still all about Him! How worthy of praise He is because of our redemption!

I say all of that to encourage those who are here with me. Life is tough. When things get confusing and you get tired of everything, He will restore. It may take longer than you would like, and you may have to go through things much worse than what you are now. Even so, He will restore to the fullest. He is good.

"For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you." -Psalm 86:5

Call upon Him. He will restore.