You are Priceless! You are a Masterpiece! That is the theme of this month’s newsletter.
For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. Ephesians 2:10 NLT
Included in this month’s newsletter is a devotion, prayer idea, conversation starters, and a Bible reading plan that focuses on our Creator God. Also included are “Identity Statements,” verses that proclaim who you are in Christ for you to memorize, meditate on, and claim in your life.
By Major Cheryl Kistan Divisional Director of Women’s Ministries – Intermountain Division
Read Ephesians 2:1-10 1. Have you ever thought of yourself as a masterpiece?
Ephesians 2:10 tells us that we are a masterpiece!
2. In verse 4 read, “But God,” what do you think that means?
“But” is one of the most important words in the Bible. Paul is using the word here to contrast our former dead way of life (trapped in sin) with our new life in Christ. God is merciful and did not want to leave us in a life that will lead to death, so he sent his Son Jesus to save us. By grace Jesus saved us and gave us the ability to say no to sin and live a life that is righteous.
3. What is one area of your life that God has helped you to change since you accepted Him as Lord of your life? Allow for personal sharing
4. What is God’s motivation for saving us?
God saved us because He loves us. Love is His character and His nature – He loves us and wants us to be part of His family.
5. what does it mean to be saved by grace?
Grace means that God gives us something which we do not deserve – salvation. It cannot be earned and it cannot be paid back. Our sins mean wee deserve judgement, but God gave us something much better – eternal life! It is a gift from God.
6. What does it mean to be “made alive?”
Before we accepted Jesus, we were on a road that leads to death but because of God’s gift in Jesus, we have eternal life. We are headed home to heaven and so we are truly alive.
7. If good deeds cannot save us because salvation is a gift from God, why should we do them?
God created us with unique gifts and talents, and he wants us to use them build his kingdom. These gifts we have show who God is and when we use them for Him, they point to Him.
8. What does it mean to be God’s masterpiece?
So often people talk about making themselves better by working hard and improving themselves. Without God, this will not make us more spiritual, in fact it can make things worse. The love of God not only saves us but also changes us.
God saves us not only from his judgement that we deserve but also to make something beautiful of us. We are his workmanship a masterpiece. We are God’s “work of art.”
9. Reflect on Psalm 139:7-18. What is one thing that God is saying to you as you read it and think about being His masterpiece? Allow for personal sharing.
For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. Ephesians 2:10
Goal: Using Alcohol inks you will create a beautiful work of art. then you can take your artwork and turn it into a card that you can give to someone that you would like to remind that they are a masterpiece created by God.
Supplies:
Note: All items can be found on Amazon, at a craft store such as Michaels or Hobby Lobby, while some items can be found at Dollar Tree. The alcohol inks can be a messy project so do this in a space that you don’t mind getting a bit messy.
Time frame expected: 1 – 2 hours.
Alcohol Inks
Rubbing Alcohol
Smaller Squirting bottles
Alcohol Ink paper
Straws
Scissors
Typed up and cut out Bible Verse
Gloves
Table Coverings
Paper towels
Glue sticks
Step 1
Prepare the space
Cover all the tables with a plastic tablecloth.
Put down paper towels as a place mat for each person with some extra paper towels for each person to absorb any extra mess.
Put plastic gloves out for each person.
Open all bottles of alcohol inks in advance if they are brand new.
Place alcohol inks in center and place one piece of alcohol ink paper on top of their paper towel place mat.
Put one small squirt bottle, filled with alcohol ink at each place.
Place one straw at each place.
Step 2
a. Put a few drops of alcohol ink on the paper.
b. Add a few drops of rubbing alcohol on top of the drops of ink.
c. Use straw to blow the liquid about until you are satisfied with the art.
d. Repeat, as desired, using different colors.
e. Put sheet of artwork aside to draw and create another one. Artwork will dry by itself in approximately 20 minutes. If you would like to move it along more quickly use a hairdryer on low.
Step 3:
a. After the artwork has dried, take the sheet that you like the most and fold in half to create a card shape.
b. Cut sheet in half so that you can make two cards.
c. Open up and glue the printed-up Bible verse into the card
d. Write a message to a friend to remind them that they are God’s masterpiece. (Be aware that the more you handle the ink the more it spreads to your hands and all over the white paper. Also, it will leak around the edges when you are initially doing the ink work).
Other ideas: Take a cookie cutter and cut out a shape from your alcohol ink masterpiece. Then glue it to a white piece of construction paper folded in half to make a card. Finally glue your masterpiece note inside and write a personal note to a friend.
By Captain Ryan Boyd Denver Red Shield, CO Corps – Intermountain Division
“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10
My mother-in-law is a gifted quilter. She has all kinds of quilts in her house that she has made over the years, and I love to look at them and admire her handiwork. Each time a grandchild was born, she made them a quilt. And while she sewed, she prayed for that child. Looking at each stitch reminds me how hard she has prayed for these kids all their lives.
One year, I decided that I was going to make her a quilt because she deserved something homemade. Did I know how to quilt? Nope. Did I let that deter me? Not for one second. I went to the fabric store, signed up for a quilting class, spent a ridiculous amount of money on a hobby I had no skill in, and started looking at patterns.
When I took the quilting class, I was the only student. Which was great, because I had also never used a sewing machine. The instructor patiently guided me through Sewing 101 and then quilting 101, and I left that store with an undeserved confidence that I was going to make the best quilt known to humanity.
It didn’t quite work out that way. Chalk it up to blissful ignorance or youthful hubris, but I chose a queen size quilt for my first go around. I spent weeks trying to create this quilt. And by the end, I was just happy to get it done. Would it last through the first wash? That was yet to be seen.
When I gave the quilt to my mother-in-law, she lovingly pointed out the stitches I got right and gracefully ignored the many I got wrong. And when we visit, she makes sure that it’s out to show her appreciation. I don’t tell this story to show off how great my mother-in-law is – although I could easily go on and on – I tell it because that quilt represented all the handiwork I could muster for almost six months of my life. Was it the prettiest quilt? No. But it was a labor of love that I know my mother-in-law felt.
We are God’s handiwork. God intricately made each one of us and formed us in our mother’s womb (Psalm 139:13). We may not feel like the prettiest quilt, we may have some imperfections, but God has created us for good things!
If we focus on the things that are “wrong” about us, we will miss all the things that are “right”. While we focus on the outward appearance, God is looking at what is in our hearts. He created us to be exactly as we are, knowing that the path he set out for us will require the exact talents and personality He has given us.
Often, I am quick to criticize the way that God made me. Like most women, I am rarely satisfied with the outside appearance I have. However, what I criticize most is what’s on the inside. Why am I so loud and mouthy? Why must I ask so many questions?
And when I get to be too critical of myself, I look back on Ephesians 2:10 and say, “God made me this way, there must be a reason.” Maybe I am loud and mouthy so that I can speak up for those who have had their voices silenced or for those who are too scared to speak for themselves. Maybe I am loud so that others can hear me tell them about Jesus. Perhaps I ask so many questions because God has given me this thirst for knowledge so that I can learn how to love others better through His word or so that I can be a better example of him to others.
When I reframe my view of myself from imperfect woman to God’s handiwork, my entire demeanor changes. What I view as weaknesses, God instilled in me to further His kingdom. I can’t spend my whole life looking at what I have gotten wrong, I have to look at what He has done right.
God has made each of us in His image and according to His purposes. While we may not be fully appreciative of the particular way He has crafted us, we can take comfort in knowing that there is a reason we are the way that we are. We can be confident in knowing that God loves us and wants us to use our unique abilities and personalities to love every other Image bearer we meet.
Major Cathi Boyd displaying the quilt made by her daughter-in-law, Captain Ryan Boyd
By Lt. Andrielli Gonzalez Hanapepe, HI Corps Hawaiian and Pacific Islands Division
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us. Ephesians 1:7-8
Paul, the writer of the book of Ephesians, tells us that Jesus redeems us. The Greek word for “redemption” refers to the ransom paid to free slaves; it is paying for an object or person so that it is not sold again; this payment frees a defenseless person from slavery. Jesus paid the price with His blood, giving Himself as a ransom for our forgiveness and freedom. This was made possible by God being “so rich in grace.” In Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, we witness God’s generous and selfless love for us. Who can understand the infinite wisdom and endless mercy of God?
Paul says that Jesus paid our debt, Christ paid our debts, cancelling any guilt we would feel for our sins. Jesus came to earth in human form, he was tempted in all things just as we are, but he was without sin (Hebrews 4:15). By offering the perfect sacrifice, Jesus freed us from the condemnation of Hell, rescued us from the curse of death, and freed us from the prison of sin. His blood shed on the cross so long ago guaranteed our redemption today.
Because of Christ, we are clean before God, justified in his presence. When God looks at us, he sees the perfect, beautiful sacrifice of his son. Because of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, we have new life, without the weight of guilt, fear, and judgment, as we have been freed, we have passed from death to life and will no longer enter into condemnation. For we are saved by Christ’s love for us.
Paul argues that Jesus also freed us. Jesus broke the shackles of sin and freed us to be able to live for the glory of God when He died for our sins. Sin no longer has dominion over those who are in Christ. We can only marvel at the extent of what Jesus did to redeem us. Because of him, we are saved from our sins, resurrected to be seated with Christ, given grace with free access to the Father, and counted as fellow citizens of God’s holy people.
John 1:29 tells us that Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Jesus is the perfect lamb! In addition to saving us and also being redeemed by his beautiful sacrifice, from that moment on, sacrifices involving lambs, herbs, and bread would no longer be necessary. With the perfect sacrifice of Jesus, the Lamb of the Lord, there was no longer any need for other types of sacrifices. The replacement of the meat of the lamb, the herbs, and the bread, Jesus instituted His body, His blood, in memory of this sacrifice.
Before knowing Christ and also accepting Him as my savior, it was impossible not to sin. After conversion, it is possible not to sin. We are not talking about perfection but being able to live and experience liberation from the enslaving routine of sin. The person who stole is now able to work and help people in need. The person once enslaved to slander now possesses the power of the Holy Spirit to use his lips as instruments of grace and healing. He who was enslaved to sins of a sexual nature can now live in purity and conformity to God’s will.
Christ has the power to change our lives, but we need to want and accept the change. Most of the time the change will be radical. We can live in rest and freedom from worries that hijack our peace and want to drive us to despair. Jesus made us an inheritance from his Father. We have the guarantee of God’s presence sustaining us daily and freeing us from the evil one. Furthermore, God has guaranteed that he will bring our salvation to the end and that he has granted all of us the merits of Jesus’ work. We also have the promise that we will dwell in the new heaven and the new earth and that we will be shepherded by God for all eternity. All this if we continue following his path.
Prayer: Father, thank you for your love for me, undeserving of the incredible work of Jesus Christ on my behalf. Thank you for Jesus’ sacrifice. Thank you, Jesus, for your perfect life and for your bloodshed to pay my debt, free me, and guarantee eternal life for me.
I praise the Lord, oh God, because sin no longer has the power to imprison me or condemn me. Today I can live to fulfill his will and live for your glory in me. Exalted be your name Lord, for Jesus guaranteed for me daily sustenance, the presence of his Holy Spirit, and deliverance in the fight against the evil one.
May my life be to the praise of your name and may the people around me see in me the virtues of a citizen of the Kingdom of God. In Christ, Amen
Enjoy this reminder from Big Daddy Weave, “I Am Redeemed:”
https://usw-womensministries.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/hugues-de-buyer-mimeure-wT0iS-TSZM-unsplash-1-scaled.jpg17072560Beth Desplanckehttps://usw-womensministries.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/uswLogo-300x75-300x75.pngBeth Desplancke2025-03-04 09:02:512025-03-04 09:03:04April 2025 Devotional: Redemption - What is It?
By Captain Raghel Santiago Kauluwela Mission, HI Corps – Hawaiian and Pacific Islands Division
Scriptures: Ephesians 1:7-8, Psalm 103:8-12
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us. Ephesians 1:7-8
Question: What does it mean to you to be redeemed?
According to the Merriam Webster Dictionary, the word redeemed/redemption means to buy back; repurchase or win back. Another definition from Merriam Webster Dictionary says, “To be free from what distresses or harms, such as to free from captivity by payment of ransom.”
Today’s Bible study emphasis is on the word redeemed. As a believer in Christ, we need to embrace what it means to be redeemed by Jesus, our Lord and Savior.
Question: Do you remember what life was like before you put your faith in Jesus and received forgiveness from your sins?
Maybe your life was full of chaos before knowing Jesus. Maybe you felt a void in your life. Whatever your experience, may you rejoice in the knowledge of who Jesus is, and grasp the knowledge of God’s love for you. Here are two Bible verses that remind us of just how much God loves us:
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. John 3:16-17 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8
Please read Ephesians 1:7-8 again.
Focus on the two words, redemption, and forgiveness mentioned in verse 7. These two words go together like a hand and a glove. Through Jesus’s blood shed for us, our sins are forgiven.
Question: Have you ever experienced being upset and hurt by somebody who has wronged you? What did you feel towards that person after they wronged you? Has that person asked for your forgiveness? If so, was it hard to forgive that person?
Forgiving someone who has hurt us, especially if that person is a family member, a friend, co-worker, or a church member can be difficult, because it is a person that was close to us. However, the Bible teaches us that if we are to follow Jesus, we need to live our lives like Him, and that includes forgiving those who wrong us. Here are some Bible verses that teach us about forgiveness:
Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:31-32 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. Colossians 3:13
These Bible verses have the same message: forgive just as the Lord forgave us. These Bible verses also apply when we need to seek forgiveness from someone we have hurt or wronged. When we repent of our sins and ask Jesus to be our savior from our sins, we can embrace being redeemed, because not only are we then freed from the bondage of our sins, but we are reminded how our redemption came at a costly price, which is our Lord’s blood that shed for us at Calvary.
Question: What do the words “in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us” mean to you?
When I think of the word lavished, I think of surplus. God is full of grace, and he gives it to us in abundance. When it comes to forgiving us, His grace is not skimpy. God is faithful to hear us when we confess our sins to him, and he is gracious enough to forget our transgression when we seek Him and repent with a whole heart.
When we are forgiven, we are redeemed, and God wants us to experience redemption, which is freedom of burden too. How? By freeing yourself from the burden of holding grudges, the weight of bitterness, and healing from the scars others may have caused. Christ has redeemed you from your sins, and now it is time for you to embrace redemption by forgiving others. To achieve this, we need to be more like the Lord.
To be more like the Lord, let us read Psalm 103: 8-12.
“The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever.” Psalm 103:8-9
To be more like Jesus, we need to be compassionate, gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love, not always accuse, and harbor anger. If this is how we want the Lord to respond to us, we need to do this to others, especially those who upset us and seek our forgiveness.
He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. Psalm 103:10
This Bible verse is the perfect example of what God’s grace looks like. He loves us so much that He sent Jesus to offer His life as a living sacrifice for us and take our sins away.
We are learning that God loves us and will forgive us no matter what the measure of our sin may be. If we confess our sins wholeheartedly and fully repent to God, He is faithful to forgive us.
Question: What does the world teach us about sin?
We see this being displayed on television, in movies, and on social media. If somebody does something wrong to you, taking revenge or getting even is how the world teaches us to react. This will not allow us to experience redemption, because revenge and anger will not free us, but keep us in captivity. Only when we can forgive the person who wronged us can we experience real freedom.
Question: What should we do after we have forgiven someone?
When we confess our sins and wholeheartedly repent to God, He will forgive us, which redeems us from the bondage of our sins. The next step is to live in His redemption. The way to do that is by trusting God’s love and believing that God has truly forgiven us and will not remind us of our past mistakes.
For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him. Psalm 103:11
The depth of God’s love for us is as high as the heavens!
Question: What does verse 11 mean when it says, “for those who fear him”?
The fear of the Lord means that we love him deeply, and because we love him deeply, we will honor him, trust him, obey him, and respect him.
As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. Psalm 103:12
When we ask God to forgive us, he will remove our sins and will forgive us. He will not remind us of that sin anymore, because God does not want us to move and live backwards, but he prefers for us to move and live forward. This is when we can say, “I am redeemed and forgiven by the grace and love of Jesus.” In this same manner, we must do the same for those who seek forgiveness from us. When you forgive someone, do not remind that person of their past mistake. By doing this, you will fully understand and experience redemption.
By Major Lynn Stewart Kapolei Kroc, HI – Hawaiian and Pacific Islands Division
This Easter craft is not only a beautiful centerpiece, but it’s also a perfect visual for devotional purposes. It’s great to know that you don’t necessarily need a Cricut machine, as lantern templates can be found online. To make the enchanting Easter Lantern, you’ll need to gather the following supplies:
Supplies List
You will need a Cricut Explore or Cricut Maker machine to cut the intricate designs.
Use a 12×24 Cricut mat with a Standard Grip to secure the materials in place during cutting.
It’s best to use high-quality 12×24 Olive paper, available on Amazon for the best results.
Purchase 12×12 Vellum sheets to create a delicate, translucent effect. (Amazon)
You will need a scoring tool and fine-cut blade for precise and clean cuts.
Instructions
Open Cricut Design Space online and search for the “Easter Lantern” project.
Gather all the necessary materials and prepare the cutting mats.
Use the scoring tool to mark the designated lines on the paper. Cricut Design Space will prompt you to insert the scoring tool at the right time.
Assemble the lantern by gluing the sides together and adding the optional bottom to complete the project. For easy and secure attachment of the pieces, I recommend having a glue gun or clear glue dots on hand. It’s also a good idea to pre-cut all lanterns prior to your women’s ministries program so that the ladies can simply assemble them.
By Captain Tanya Pemberton Administrator for Program Anaheim, CA Adult Rehabilitation Center
Scripture: Isaiah 43:1-2 and Psalm 18:16-19
Opening Prayer: Today, Father, we come before you with hearts full of appreciation and anticipation. We are looking for your unending love and mercy as we reflect upon your Word. As we sit here with the theme of being rescued, our hearts and minds are open to understanding how priceless we are to Christ. Amen.
Listen to the song, Rescue Story, by Zach Williams
Devotional: Reflecting upon the lyrics of the song Rescue Story, a vivid picture is painted of God’s relentless pursuit and rescue of us, His children. The song goes, “You are my rescue story, you lifted me up from the ashes, carried my soul from death to life.” This picture of being rescued resonates deeply for those who have experienced God’s power of transformation and His grace during life’s struggles.
The concept of rescue and being rescued is a fundamental part of understanding God’s character and His intimate relationship with us. We see this theme in Isaiah 43:1-2 and Psalm 18:16-19. This will help us gain a deeper insight into what being rescued by God means to us and how it shapes our identity in Christ. The Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Centers believe that this is a fundamental concept of the journey of transformation.
Scripture Insight: “But now, this is what the Lord says—he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.” Isaiah 43:1-2 (NIV)
In Isaiah 43:1-2, God speaks to His people with assurance and comfort. He reminds them that He is their Creator and Redeemer. Despite the trials they face, they are not alone, for God promises His presence and protection. This passage emphasizes God’s intimate knowledge of His people, calling them by name and affirming their belonging to Him. The imagery of passing through waters and fire without harm highlights God’s sovereign power to rescue and sustain us during our greatest challenges.
“He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters. He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me. They confronted me in the day of my disaster, but the Lord was my support. He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me.” Psalm 18:16-19 (NIV)
Psalm 18:16-19 further illustrates God’s rescuing hand. David recounts his experience of being saved from overwhelming enemies and perilous situations. He acknowledges that it was God who reached down from heaven to draw him out of deep waters, symbolizing deliverance from dire circumstances. The psalmist’s testimony reveals that God’s rescue is not just an act of power but an expression of His delight in us.
Reflection: Reflecting on these verses and the message of Rescue Story, we are reminded that our rescue is not merely about being saved from physical or emotional distress. It is about being brought into a relationship with God where our true identity is found. In Christ, we are redeemed, called by name, and cherished by our Creator.
At The Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Center, many individuals have experienced this divine rescue firsthand. Whether overcoming addiction, despair, or other life challenges, the stories of transformation and hope are testimonies of God’s rescuing power. Personally, I can recall moments in my life where I felt utterly lost and overwhelmed. During those times, it was God’s rescuing hand that lifted me from despair and set me on a path of hope and purpose. Each of us has our own “rescue story,” where God’s grace intervened and transformed our lives. These stories are powerful reminders of our priceless value in His eyes. Understanding that we are rescued by God should fundamentally shape how we view ourselves and live our lives. Here are a few ways to apply this truth:
To embrace your identity in Christ, recognize that being rescued by God means you are His beloved child, valued not by past mistakes or current struggles, but by His redeeming love. Reflect on the specific ways God has rescued you to reinforce your sense of identity in Christ. Living fearlessly, trust that God is with you through every trial, as He reassured Israel in Isaiah 43:1-2. His presence guarantees that you will not be overwhelmed, allowing you to pursue the life He has called you to without fear.
Share your rescue story to encourage others, demonstrating how God has worked in your life, bringing hope and transformation. Your testimony can point others to Jesus Christ, the ultimate rescuer. Rest in God’s delight, as Psalm 18:19 reminds us that God rescues us because He delights in us. Let this truth fill you with peace and joy, inspiring you to live a life that honors and glorifies Him.
Embrace the theme “Priceless,” recognizing your immense value in Christ, and allow this understanding to transform your daily life, producing the fruits of a life deeply rooted in God’s love and purpose.
Closing Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for being our rescuer. Thank You for lifting us from the depths of our despair and bringing us into the light of Your love. Help us to embrace our identity in Christ, live fearlessly, share our rescue stories with others, and flourish in our priceless identity. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
https://usw-womensministries.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/youssef-naddam-iJ2IG8ckCpA-unsplash-scaled.jpg25601920Beth Desplanckehttps://usw-womensministries.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/uswLogo-300x75-300x75.pngBeth Desplancke2025-03-04 08:59:112025-03-04 08:59:33May 2025 Devotional: You are Rescued
By Major Cathi Boyd Administrator for Program Las Vegas, NV Adult Rehabilitation Center
Bible Study on John 4:1-42
You are not hidden There’s never been a moment You were forgotten You are not hopeless Though you have been broken Your innocence stolen I hear you whisper underneath your breath I hear your SOS, SOS. I will send out an army to find you In the middle of the darkest night It’s true, I will rescue you. (Lyrics from “Rescue” by Lauren Daigle)
When I hear the words to this song, the faces of so many women come to mind; women who shared with me their pain, their stories, their lives. Some poured it all out in a rush, others slowly meted out the details, afraid to trust. The ministry of the Adult Rehabilitation Centers is one of loving the women who come to our doors until they can learn to love themselves, and to trust in the love God has for them.
When I hear the words to this song, I also think of a woman in the Bible who has so much in common with the women I serve each day. It’s as if the old country song “Looking for Love in All the Wrong Places” was written about her. We’re going to look at her story, found in John 4:1-42 (NLT)
To set the scene, it’s around noon on a hot, dry, desert day in Samaria. Jesus and His disciples approached Jacob’s well, near the town of Sychar. I love that the Bible says, “Jesus had to go through Samaria” (John 4:4). Jews avoided Samaria like the plague. They had a long-standing enmity with the Samaritans because invading countries had brought in pagan people who had mixed their race and their gods with the Jews who remained in the area. To keep themselves from being polluted by contact with the Samaritans, the Jews would take a three-day detour around the country. Yet Jesus had to go to Samaria. He had a divine appointment to rescue a woman. He sent His disciples into the village for food, and sat his weary body down, to rest against the well and wait (John 4:6). Jesus was God, and man, and that man got tired and hungry just like us. I’m thankful John includes this description of Christ’s humanness.
In the meantime, a woman was on her daily way to retrieve water from the well with no idea that her whole world was about to be turned upside right. Let’s hear the rest of the story from her perspective.
I was in the habit of going to the well midday. Yes, it was the hottest time of day, and the other women gathered at the well in the cool of the evening, but I was tired of their whispers, the things they said just loud enough that it would reach me. Whoever said “stick and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me” was either lying or incredibly sheltered. Words hurt the worst.
So I would go to the well around noon. It was the hottest part of the day, but at least I could go and not have to deal with the other women.
As I approached the well, I noticed a man sitting down with his back leaning on the rock wall of the well. He looked tired, and as I got closer, I could see from his clothes that he was a Jew. This was unusual because most Jews went out of their way to go around our country of Samaria to avoid having anything to do with us. It’s an old story, but the Jews view us as pagan mixed breeds who don’t worship God the right way. “Great!” I thought, “One more person to look down his nose at me.”
To my surprise, he asked me for a drink of water. I didn’t expect that. “You are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan woman. Why are you asking me for a drink?”(John 4:7-9) No self-respecting Jewish man would defile himself by talking to a lowly Samaritan woman like me. What was his game? I wondered.
He slowly stood and looked me straight in the eye. “If you only knew the gift God has for you and who I am, you would ask me, and I would give you living water.” (John 4:10)
Maybe the heat had gotten to him. This made no sense to me at all. “But sir,” I said, “You don’t have a rope or a bucket, and this is a very deep well. Where would you get this living water? And besides, are you greater than our ancestor Jacob who gave us this well? How can you offer better water than he and his sons and his cattle enjoyed?” (John 4:11-12)
There, that should stop this nonsense. I reminded him that we shared an ancestor in Jacob, and that this well was dug by him more than a thousand years ago.” Living water! I thought, humph! Whatever this guy was selling, I was not buying it.
The man looked down the well for a moment, and then he said, “People soon become thirsty again after drinking this water. But the water I give them takes away thirst altogether. It becomes a perpetual spring within them, giving them eternal life.” (John 4:13-14) He then looked at me again. It made me nervous because I couldn’t figure him out.
“Oh, in that case, please sir, give me some of that water! Then I’ll never be thirsty again, and I won’t have to come here to haul water.” (John 4:15)
Maybe I was being a bit sarcastic…
He kept looking at me, and I looked anywhere but at his face. “Go and get your husband,” (John 4:16) he said quietly.
“I don’t have a husband,” (John 4:17a) I definitely sounded defensive. This conversation was getting too personal. Who was this guy?
“You’re right!” he answered. “You don’t have a husband—for you have had five husbands, and you aren’t even married to the man you’re living with right now.” (John 4:17b-18)
Whoa, shut the front door! What was going on here? How could he possibly know this? The hairs on the back of my neck stood up and goosebumps shivered down my arms. How could He know my ugly story, the endless search for love, the long, lonely nights, mornings tinged with regret? Well, I did what any sensible woman does when a conversation with a man gets uncomfortable—I changed the subject!
“Sir, you must be a prophet. So, tell me, why is it that you Jews insist that Jerusalem is the only place of worship, while we Samaritans claim it is here at Mount Gerizim, where our ancestors worshiped?” (John 4:19-20)
There! Religion. A topic Jews love to talk to death.
The man looked up for a moment and then back at me. “Believe me, the time is coming when it will no longer matter whether you worship the Father here or in Jerusalem. You Samaritans know so little about the One you worship, while we Jews know all about him, for salvation comes through the Jews.” (John 4: 21-22)
I stifled a yawn. Here was a safe topic. He might go on for a while, so I sat down on the edge of the well.
The man continued, “But the time is coming and is already here when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for anyone who will worship him that way. For God is Spirit, so those who worship Him must worship in spirit and in truth.” (John 4: 23-24)
Wow! This was new to me. The Jews always said their temple in Jerusalem was the only place to worship God—and we had our own temple on Mt. Gerizim. But this man, this teacher, this prophet—I didn’t know what to call him, was saying that God could be worshiped anywhere? That true worship came in spirit and truth? I wasn’t exactly sure what the man was saying, but somewhere deep inside I felt a warming, a melting of the coldness around my heart.
I thought for a minute, but my mind couldn’t quite wrap itself around this. So I said, “I know the Messiah will come—the One who is called Christ. When He comes, He will explain everything to us.” (John 4:25)
“I am the Messiah,” the man said. (John 4:26) I looked up in surprise—looked straight into his eyes for the first time. I don’t know what I expected to see—religious fervor or a touch of madness? Was he making fun of me? Would I see judgement in his eyes? He knew me, he knew my pitiful life, my longing for love and acceptance—all of this I could see—and yet I saw something else. I saw that he was speaking the truth, to me, of all people. “I am the Messiah,” he had said. I am the One you have been waiting to meet all of your life. I am not judging you, I am reaching out to offer you living water—a new life, pure, clean, free from the past and your shame and your regrets.
How could I see so much in one look, you ask? I don’t really know. I just know that as I rose from the stone wall, I was not the same woman who had come to the well. I felt a freedom I had never felt before. I knew I was loved.
I saw some more Jewish men coming down the path, and I felt shy all of a sudden. I left my water jug and ran back to the village. I went to the center of the village and began telling everyone who would listen, “Come and see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could he possibly be the Messiah?” (John 4:27-29)
I don’t know how convincing I was, but pretty soon the people of my village were running out to the well to meet this man. They saw something in my face or heard the sincerity of my words. I’m not sure—but they followed me back to the well. When they heard the man speak, they begged him to stay and teach us more. So he stayed for two more days. (John 4:39-40)
After he left the people of my village said to me, “Now we believe, not just because of what you told us, but because we have heard him for ourselves. Now we know indeed that he is the Savior of the world.” (John 4:41-42)
To say that life is different for me now is an understatement. Life is incredible. I left the man I had been living with, and I now stay with fellow believers. I work hard each day, but I find joy in my work. I no longer am looking for love in all the wrong places, because I have the love of God with me always.
I have been set free from my shame and guilt, and I enjoy real friendships with others who have also drunk deeply from the living waters that Jesus—for that is the name of my Savior—so freely gives.
My hope is that in sharing my story that you too will turn to the One who knows all about you—your hurts, your pain, your shame, your regrets—and loves you totally in spite of all you’ve been through in your life. He is the One who can fill the hollow place deep inside you that you have tried to fill with so many empty things. He alone can set you free and fill your life with love and joy. Drink deeply of his living water and truly live.
Questions to Ponder
Have you ever been in a situation where you were being judged (fairly or unfairly) for life choices you had made? How did you handle that situation? What would you do differently now?
The Samaritan woman lived in a culture when a woman had nothing if she didn’t have a man to take care of her. A man could easily divorce a wife if she didn’t please him. This is still true in some cultures today. How does this knowledge change your perception of the Samaritan woman?
What does it say to you that Jesus had to go to Samaria? Why do you think He met this woman whose life was a total mess instead of the town leaders or religious leaders? What does this mean to you today?
It was natural for Jesus to talk about water—they were after all standing by Jacob’s well. The Psalmist says, “As the deer longs for streams of water, so I long for You, O God.” (Psalm 42:1) What does it mean to be thirsty for God?
Jesus speaks of giving us living water—a spring that never dries up. How does this word picture describe His presence in our lives? How do we acquire this gift?
We started with the lyrics to the song “Rescue.” How could it change your life if you truly believed that to God you are never hidden, or forgotten, or hopeless, or unfixable, and that He hears the whisper of your heart and is just waiting to rescue you.
How could this message change the life of someone you know? Are you willing to reach out and share this good news? Start with prayer and God will lead you from there.
By Lt. Colonel Noelle Nelson Director of Special Services Adult Rehabilitation Centers Command
Instead of throwing out your old hardback books, rescue them from the trash heap and make a knife block! It’s easy, unusual, and sure to be a conversation starter. Maybe springboard the conversation into how God rescued you and gave you a new purpose in life, just like these old books!
Supplies:
3 or 4 hardback books, of similar size/height. It looks best if the colors match or coordinate. If you don’t have books that match or coordinate, you can opt to spray paint the books in the color of your choice.
Hot glue gun
Popsicle stick, chopstick, or a pencil . Use this to press down on your ribbon after applying hot glue. Blisters are no fun!
Ribbon (I used Burlap) – choose different colors, widths, or textures that will play off the color of your books
Lace or twine
Scissors
Knives
Directions:
Make sure books are clean, dry, and dusted off.
Line up books in the order you’d like them to be.
Hot glue the books together. Some glue on each corner and a bit in the middle should do the trick.
Stand one book on its end and press it against the next one.
Repeat until all books are glued together. Press the stack together to make sure the glue is secure.
Wrap your ribbon around the stack of books and hot glue ends of ribbon together, on the back side of the books. (this is where the popsicle stick, chopstick, or pencil comes in handy!) You may want to measure your ribbon first to make sure it won’t be too short.
Wrap Your lace or twine over the ribbon, and secure with hot glue on the back side. (use the popsicle stick or chopstick or pencil)
You can also add any fun or seasonal embellishments for extra flair.
You are now ready to store knives in your new knife block!
