Surviving, but…Thirsty

On the last day, the climax of the holidays, Jesus shouted to the crowds, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. For the Scriptures declare that rivers of living water shall flow from the inmost being of anyone who believes in me.” (John 7:37-38, TLB)

The celebration of Christmas and the New Year has passed, and we're all settling back into work, school, and the routines of daily life. As we reconnect, the common question arises: "How were your holidays?" and most of us respond with some variation of "exhilarating" or "exhausting"—or perhaps a bit of both. The whirlwind of the season—whether filled with joy or exhaustion—often leaves us feeling parched and longing for renewal. 

Now that we are back at it, we’re surviving, but…thirsty. 

Thirst is a signal, a reminder that the body needs water. When that need goes unmet, the consequences can be serious. The same is true for trees. When trees lack water, they can survive for a time, but they become vulnerable to the devastating effects of killer beetles. Beetles thrive on trees that are not adequately watered. When a tree is well-watered, it produces an abundance of sap—so much that if a beetle attempts to bore into it, the sap overwhelms and drowns the beetle. The tree’s health and protection come from its access to water. Without enough water, the tree may survive for a time, but it becomes vulnerable to attack, illness, and eventual death.

This simple truth mirrors our spiritual lives: without the living water from Jesus, we may survive for a time, but we become vulnerable to the Enemy's schemes and eventually, spiritual decay. The Enemy preys on those who aren’t filled with the life-giving water of the Spirit. But when we are well-watered by the Spirit, Jesus produces abundant life in us—so much that when the Enemy attempts to attack, he is overwhelmed and driven out. Our strength and protection come from our access to the living water of Jesus. 

Jesus invites us to come to Him for this life-giving water:

Is anyone thirsty? Come and drink… (Isaiah 55:1, NLT)

Those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life. (John 4:14, NLT)

Jesus offers us the water of life to quench our thirst and empower us to thrive. Are you thirsting today? Come to the source. Let Jesus, the Living Water, fill you until you overflow, ensuring that you not only survive, but flourish.

An Epiphany on Epiphany

There were three things prefigured and promised by the gifts in the cave in Bethlehem concerning the Child who received them: that He would be crowned like a King; that He should be worshipped like a God; and that He should die like a man. And these things would sound like Eastern flattery, were it not for the third.

                            — G.K. Chesterton (1874-1936)

Thanks to G.K. Chesterton, I had an epiphany on Epiphany.

In the Christian tradition, Epiphany is a feast on January 6th that celebrates the Magi's (the three wise men) visit to the child Jesus, revealing Him as the Messiah to the world.

The “third” gift that the wise men brought, the myrrh, is the kicker.

The gold symbolized Christ's kingship, recognizing His authority over all, reminding us to honor Him as the King who lovingly reigns over our lives with justice and mercy. The frankincense, which was used in worship, in candles and incense, signifies Jesus' divinity, reminding us that He is Emmanuel, God with us, the only one deserving of our worship and adoration.

And then there is the myrrh.

Myrrh was commonly used in ancient times for embalming and burial preparations. Its inclusion as a gift for Jesus is startling. Myrrh points to Jesus’ sacrifice, showing that the Child came to die—so I could truly live. His suffering and death bridged the gap between me and God.

Without myrrh, the gifts of the Magi seem nice and flattering, but with it, they explode with meaning (an epiphany):

Jesus, my King and my God, came to die for me!

The Ultimate Mystery

Good news; but if you ask me what it is, I know not;
It is a track of feet in the snow,
It is a lantern showing a path,
It is a door set open.
       — G.K. Chesterton 1874-1936

Everybody loves a good mystery, and G.K. Chesterton has penned for us a tiny yet profound mystery novel in this brief passage. All the elements are present: an intriguing setup, a trail of hints, and the hope of revelation. A great mystery draws us in by what it withholds, and Chesterton offers just enough to stir our imagination and awaken something deep within us—a longing to know, to seek, and to enter in.

The beauty of his verse lies in the opening phrase: “Good News,” where he invites us into the very mystery of God. Like shepherds, drawn by an angelic announcement on a Bethlehem night, we hear whispers of “good news,” but ask, … what is it?

God and His ways are mysterious, yet He longs to be known. He is ever giving us clues—wooing us unto Himself with the beauty of creation, the depth of Scripture, and the quiet nudges of His Spirit. For those who long to know, to seek, and to enter in, the search is over. In the Christ of Christmas, the mystery is solved:

“The mystery hidden for ages and generations…is now revealed to His saints…Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:26-27).

Jesus is the track of feet in the snow, the lantern on the path, and the door set open. He doesn’t just point the way—He is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6).

Chesterton’s tiny mystery novel is no mere story—it’s an invitation to encounter the ultimate mystery—the “Good News”—and His name is Jesus.

Merry Christmas.

Unto You

"Now I finally know the real meaning of Christmas."

I’ll never forget the Christmas Eve my family and I spent with our friend Jaeyoung in Daejeon, South Korea. It was a cold, snowy night—just the way Christmas Eve is supposed to be—and we walked from our apartment to Jaeyoung’s restaurant for dinner. 

The place was tiny, with only three tables, and it was packed when we arrived. Some people were seated and eating, while others waited for takeout. Jaeyoung and his wife were dearly loved in that part of the city for two reasons: their good food and warm friendship. 

We finally got a table, and Jaeyoung and his wife showered us with care and attention—they adored our daughters. The meal was delicious. As the evening wore on, the crowd slowly drifted away. One by one, people left to return home and celebrate Christmas Eve. Eventually, it was just us in the restaurant. We didn’t have anywhere else to go and wanted to be with our Korean friends. 

Jaeyoung pulled a chair up to our table. Though we spoke little Korean, he thankfully knew English well enough for us to converse. With a thoughtful glance around the room, he gestured to the strand of flashing lights in the front window, the picture of Santa taped to the door, and the tattered Christmas tree standing in the corner of his shop. Then, meeting my eyes, he asked, 'What is the real meaning of Christmas?'"

I paused, letting his question sink in. 

Is Christmas all about Santa, the Grinch, Rudolph, Frosty, gifts, toys, trees, decorations, and twinkling lights? These are all part of the season as we know it, bringing joy and color, filling it with fun and festivity. But Christmas is more than that—so much more.

I shared with Jaeyoung about God’s deep love for all people, and how He created the universe and made humanity as His most treasured possession. God desires a relationship with us as His children and in His great love He gave us free will, allowing us to choose to love Him sincerely. But our choices led to sin, which caused a separation between us and the holy God. The Bible tells the story of how God’s love relentlessly pursues us, calling us back to Himself. In the most incredible act of love, God sent His Son, Jesus, into the world to save us from our sins. Jesus came, as God in the flesh, to reveal God’s heart and to pay the price for our sins through His death on the cross and His resurrection—offering us the hope of eternal life.

And then my mind went to Linus, standing on a dimly lit stage, answering Charlie Brown’s question, “Isn't there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?” and I shared Luke 2:8-12 with Jaeyoung:

“And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.” (KJV)

Then I said, “Jaeyoung, the real meaning of Christmas isn’t about Santa, gifts, trees, and lights. It isn’t even about the three wise men, Mary and Joseph, and a baby born in a manger. Look at what the angel said: ‘…unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior.’ … Unto ‘YOU!’” 

“Jaeyoung, Christmas is about you and me, and God’s love for each one of us.”

John the disciple says it well:

“This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.” (1 John 4:9, NIV)

That night, in that tiny restaurant, the message broke through. Christmas isn’t just about the nativity scene or traditions. It isn’t even just about God’s miraculous act. Christmas is about us—and God’s love for us. 

I’ll never forget Jaeyoung’s response. After a moment of reflection, his face lit up with understanding. He put his hand on his heart, smiled, and said, 

"Now I finally know the real meaning of Christmas.”

The Only Real Thing

I have always been a big fan of Pooh, that "silly old bear."

A.A. Milne, the creator of Winnie-the-Pooh, wrote the beloved stories of the Hundred Acre Wood for and about his son, Christopher Robin. In the early 1900s, Pooh and his adventures captured hearts and imaginations, offering comfort and hope to a world reeling in the wake of World War I.

Sometimes, life clouds our view of what truly matters. The world—and even our own reflections in the mirror—distract and overwhelm us with news, conflict, endless controversies, and the harsh, undeniable passage of time. Stories like Winnie-the-Pooh help us rise above the noise, lift our imaginations and remind us of things that are real: friendship, hope, love, and Truth.

In 1996, the London Times reported that Christopher Milne (the real Christopher Robin) had died at the age of 75. In response, the poet Czeslaw Milosz wrote an anecdote in the voice of Winnie-the-Pooh, reflecting on youth, aging, time and eternity.

“Christopher Robin” by Czeslaw Milosz^*

I must think suddenly of matters too difficult for a bear of little brain. I have never asked myself what lies beyond the place where we live, I and Rabbit, Piglet and Eeyore, with our friend Christopher Robin. That is, we continued to live here, and nothing changed, and I just ate my little something. 

Only Christopher Robin left for a moment.

Owl says that immediately beyond our garden Time begins, and that it is an awfully deep well. If you fall in it, you go down and down, very quickly, and no one knows what happens to you next. I was a bit worried about Christopher Robin falling in, but he came back and then I asked him about the well. “Old bear,” he answered. “I was in it and I was falling and I wore trousers down to the ground, I had a grey beard, and then I died. It was probably just a dream, it was quite unreal. The only real thing was you, old bear, and our shared fun. Now I won’t go anywhere, even if I’m called in for an afternoon snack.”

I love the exchange that Milosz created between Christopher Robin and the 'silly old bear.' As a child, I adored the stories of Winnie the Pooh—where toys were fast friends and the backyard was a world of adventure, limited only by my imagination. Milosz’s anecdote resonates deeply with me, giving voice to an unexplored realm in Milne’s beautiful story, where we all, like Christopher Robin, live in the midst of childlike hope, growing up, old age, and death.

The anecdote begins with Pooh describing the garden where he and his friends live. It is a place of peace and stability, where all abide happily together. Pooh has no idea what lies beyond the garden, nor does he care. Nothing seems to change—except for the fact that he says, “Only Christopher Robin left for a moment.”

Pooh knows that his friend Christopher Robin went somewhere. Wise old Owl says that "somewhere" is beyond the garden, where Time begins, and he describes this unknown place as an "awfully deep well." Pooh lives outside of Time and has no idea that Christopher Robin’s "moment" is the deep well of a lifetime (75 years), where he left the garden and entered the world of adulthood—with all of its adventure, hope, pain, joy, loss, and love.

Currently, I am surprised to find that I am like Christopher Robin was in his "moment." I am beyond the garden of childhood innocence and unchecked imagination, and Time is having its way with me. I, in my long trousers and graying whiskers, am free-falling headlong into the unknown deep.

Yet, as I fall, I realize that I am even more like Pooh, a "bear of little brain." Not because I face things I don’t understand or care about, but rather, because I forget to fully embrace and appreciate what I already know. I take for granted the fact that each day—and the moments and people that inhabit them—are precious gifts.

So here I am, in the midst of my "moment." It feels very real to me, yet I’m reminded that it isn’t—it’s, in fact, quite unreal. At this point, my imagination leads me to the only true thing: the Truth. There is something beyond this vapor of life I live. What began in a garden long ago ended victoriously on a cross, and all my "moments" were redeemed and transformed in the depths of an empty tomb.

The author of the truest of anecdotes is Jesus. In Him alone is the place of genuine love, forgiveness, relationship and “shared fun.” In Jesus Christ is found the “only real thing,” a place where Time is no more; where there are no more tears, regrets, and goodbyes—just life together, in all of its fullness,… forever. 

Jesus says, “I go to prepare a place for you”—a place where we can say, along with Christopher Robin, “I won’t go anywhere, even if I’m called in for an afternoon snack.”

^*Milosz, Czeslaw. New and Collected Poems, (1931-2001), 2003, pg. 656.

The Tree That is Me

Years ago, I served as an administrator at an international school in South Korea, and one day, Jackie, the office manager, said this to me: "Mr. Roberts, you are 대나무 정령 (daenamu jeongyeong)—‘a bamboo spirit.’”

I asked Jackie and the other Korean staff members what that meant in their culture, and they offered the following insights: Bamboo, they explained, symbolizes righteous living in a disorderly world—a combination of upright integrity and accommodating flexibility, perfectly balancing grace and strength. They described how the bamboo tree is resilient and adaptable: it can’t be knocked down or broken in a storm but simply bends with the wind. Its hollow center represents purity of spirit and an openness to the divine—embodying someone who lives with resilience, grace, and quiet strength.

Wow, I was deeply humbled by Jackie’s kind words and her comparison of me to a bamboo tree. Yet, as I reflect on the tree that is me, I know I fall short of being a true 'bamboo spirit.'

But oh, how I long to become a “tree” for the Lord and His glory!

The Bible references trees 257 times—more than any other living thing apart from God and people. Throughout Scripture, God's followers are frequently described as, or compared to, trees. Consider these verses:

Blessed is the one … whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on His law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers. (Psalm 1:1-3, NIV)

The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. They are planted in the house of the Lord; they flourish in the courts of our God. They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green, to declare that the Lord is upright; He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him. (Psalm 92:12-15, ESV)

Each of us is called to be like the trees in these verses: rooted in God’s Word, resilient in trials, and bearing fruit that blesses others. The tree that is me is a work in progress—ever growing and becoming in Him.

Jesus, You are the vine, and I am Your branch. May the tree that is me—whether a mighty oak of righteousness, a majestic cedar planted in Your courts, or even a humble bamboo swaying in the winds of Your Spirit—exist for Your glory.

Are You Thirsty?

As the deer pants for streams of water,

    so my soul pants for you, my God.

My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. (Psalm 42:1-2, NIV)

Are you thirsty? In 1985, I went on a college choir tour to Europe in the month of July. The weather was hot and humid and all of us in the choir were a sweaty mess—and constantly thirsty. The director kept warning us, "Don't drink the public water!" because it wasn't safe. Disposable water bottles weren’t common yet (it was the '80s) and clean water was hard to come by. We had to rely on purified water from the markets and restaurants that we encountered while touring by bus. Between that, and the relentless heat,… I was really thirsty.

Eventually, my thirst won out. At one point in the trip, we were in a small  shopping mall in Germany and I went into the public restroom, turned on the sink, and let the water run for a while. It looked fine. I cupped my hands under the flow, and took a long drink. It tasted great, and my thirst was quenched,… for the moment.

After the trip, I returned home to Idaho with a camera full of photos, lots of great memories, and a sick stomach—I was losing weight, dealing with diarrhea, and felt lousy. I tried to wait it out, hoping it would go away, but it didn't. Eventually, my parents insisted I see a doctor. After a thorough examination and a blood test, nothing unusual showed up. The doctor was stumped. He asked, “Have you been camping recently? Is there any chance you might have come into contact with contaminated water?”

I thought for a moment, and then it hit me—Germany! I told him that I had gotten really thirsty and drank from a public faucet in a German shopping mall. The doctor immediately diagnosed me with Giardia, prescribed some medicine, and within a few weeks, I was cured.

Are you thirsty? Of course you are—we all are. But it’s a thirst that water can’t quench. It’s an empty longing we often try to satisfy with binge-watching, endless scrolling, late-night snacks, an extra scoop of ice cream, impulse buying, and lots of other things that are much more costly and damaging than Giardia. The “mall” of the world looks good to our thirsty hearts and minds, but offers up “bad” water—leaving us sick and unsatisfied. 

But there is hope and help for our parched souls, and his name is Jesus.  

Jesus said, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. …whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life. … Come! Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.” (John 7:37; John 4:14; Rev. 22:17, NIV)

Jesus is the answer to our deepest thirst. He isn’t just a temporary fix—He’s the source that truly satisfies. In Him, we find the abundant life we crave. Don’t settle for anything less. Drink deeply from His well of goodness, grace, and love today.

Are you thirsty?… Look to Jesus. 

Becoming Godly

The godly will flourish like palm trees
and grow strong like the cedars of Lebanon.
For they are transplanted to the Lord’s own house.
They flourish in the courts of our God.
Even in old age they will still produce fruit;
they will remain vital and green.
They will declare, “The Lord is just! He is my rock!
There is no evil in him!” (Psalm 92:12-15, NLT)

Can you name any strong, flourishing, fruit-bearing trees? I can. Here’s my list: Bud, Margaret, Ernie, John, Virginia, Marlene, Lonnie, and Chris. Every good gift comes from God, and these “trees” (people) are a gift to me. They embody what the psalmist describes as “godly.”

Even in old age, the “trees” in Psalm 92 are strong and flourishing as they abide in God. Their roots go deep as they read and obey the Bible, worship the Lord wholeheartedly, and walk in holiness and love. They are green and growing as they trust in God, ever proclaiming with their hearts, minds, and moments, “The Lord is just! He is my rock! There is no evil in Him!”

Jesus said, “I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit” (John 15:5, NLT). The godly in Psalm 92 aren’t the type who retreat into retirement, get caught up in the 24-hour news cycle, complain about the "lazy younger generation,” or grumble about the lack of hymns in church. They’re not focused on what they’re entitled to receive; instead, their days are marked by serving, giving, and loving. With eyes fixed on Jesus, their lives bear beautiful fruit.

Maybe you don’t see yourself as part of the "old age" category and think you’re off the hook, but the reality is we’re all aging—no matter what Instagram or infomercials might suggest. Time is ticking, and each of us has the opportunity to choose who we are becoming with the days we’ve been given.

We are all becoming something. Are you becoming godly? Do you want to make the list of strong, flourishing, fruit-bearing trees? I do.

Look to Jesus.

Less Talk, More Work

The ideal teacher: someone who can’t talk. — William Stafford

During Christmas Break of my last year of college I worked in a floor covering warehouse with a friend. As we "worked," we were always cracking jokes, talking, laughing, and... goofing around. Every morning, the carpet and vinyl installers parked their trucks in the alley, entered through the warehouse door, and walked to the front office to get their job assignments for the day. Most of them greeted us with a friendly smile and hello. However, there was one crusty old installer who came in each and every day, grumbling the phrase, “Less talk, more work.”

That’s all he ever said.

He wasn’t our boss, and my coworker and I would roll our eyes and laugh it off, but it always troubled me. How did he know we were talking more than working? Hmm… Did he know Proverbs 10:19: "When words are many, sin is not absent" (NIV)? Yipes.

There sure is a lot of talk these days.

Radio, TV, Internet, YouTube, Podcasts, Social Media,… talk, talk, talk! People are quick to “speak their truth,” telling others how to think and what to do. Criticism abounds. Judging others is the new norm, and opinions are shared readily... and loudly. It’s the way of the world, and has been for thousands of years. But it’s not the way of the Kingdom of God.

In AD 53 the church in Corinth was getting duped into thinking that a life of criticism, judgment, strong opinion and “talk,” were “spiritual,” and characteristic of the Christian life. But the Apostle Paul set them straight with this:

“The Kingdom of God is not just a lot of talk; it is living by God’s power.”

                                                                                    (1 Corinthians 4:20, NLT)

(Or as the crusty old installer would say: “The Kingdom of God is less talk, more work.”)

When Paul mentioned “living by God’s power,” he was referring to Jesus, the epitome of “less talk, more work.” In John 1:14 it says, “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us” (NIV).

God went to “work” when the Word, the communication, the “talk” of God, left Heaven and lived in flesh and blood on the earth. The Word was God’s son, the person of Jesus, and He came to show us the heart of the Father and the way of the Kingdom.

Jesus didn’t just tell us how to live—He did it! He was kind, merciful, humble, patient, gentle, compassionate, forgiving, faithful, meek, obedient, just, peaceful, and loving. He fed the poor, healed the sick, forgave the sinner, turned the other cheek, went the second mile, and took on the very nature of a servant.

But it didn’t end there. Paul writes, “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8, NIV). Wow. God not only told us He loved us, but He showed us His love through the “work” of the cross, where Jesus died for the sins of the world.

No wonder Paul said, “The Kingdom of God is not just a lot of talk; it is living by God’s power.”

God help us. Are we talking more than working? How did that crusty old installer know?

“Less talk, more work.”

Old Wet Tennis Shoes

All of you, dress yourselves in humility as you relate to one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. (1 Peter 5:5-6, NLT)

According to the Apostle Peter, what we wear matters. And he isn’t talking about power suits and skinny jeans; he’s talking about pride and humility. The manner in which we conduct ourselves affects our relationships and interactions, both with God and with others. Pride is a non-conductor, an insulator that inhibits our connection with God and those around us; whereas humility, as exemplified by Jesus, serves as the conduit in our lives through which God powerfully impacts the world with His love.

As a kid growing up on my Grandad’s farm, I learned a valuable lesson about electricity and conductivity that I believe applies to Peter’s admonition to “dress yourselves in humility.”

At the time, I was wearing a pair of old wet tennis shoes.

In the midst of a busy day of feeding and milking cows, irrigating fields, and maintaining farm equipment, my grandad and I spent some time after lunch mending fence. The tools and materials we needed for the job were in the back of the old farm truck. My grandad asked me to back the rig up to an area of fence that needed some work. Eagerly I complied, but ended up getting the truck a bit too close to the fence—and it was an electric fence.

When my grandad let down the pickup's tailgate it was lying on top of the electric fence wire. My grandad, clad in rubber irrigation boots was unperturbed. He placed one hand on the bed of the pickup and, with a mischievous grin, beckoned me over, extending his weathered hand.

"Grab hold," he said, his eyes twinkling. Obliging and clueless, I squished over to him in my old wet tennis shoes. I reached out, took his hand, and completed the circuit. A jolt of electricity shocked us both!

Grandad's laughter filled the air. Despite the tingling sensation coursing through my veins, I couldn't help but join in. It was a moment of delightful levity, a lesson learned about conductivity, and a metaphor for life.

Pride is a non-conductor. Just as the rubber tires and boots shielded the pickup and my grandad from the electric charge, so too does pride insulate us from the flow of empathy, compassion, and connection with others. Pride stems from thinking too highly of ourselves, and our achievements and circumstances. Pride quenches the Spirit—extinguishing the spark, power, and life of God in our lives. It creates a barrier between us and God and the world around us.

Humility, on the other hand, connects us to God and others, and it is the pathway through which God’s power, grace, goodness, and blessing are realized in our lives. Jesus is our model—the Son of God, the King of Kings, and the Lord of Lords, “… made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!" (Phil. 2:7-8, NIV)

God extends His hand to us—and to the world around us—through humility. So, as you go about your day, remember Peter’s words and “dress yourselves in humility.” Put on your old wet tennis shoes and step into the world. You might find the outcome delightfully shocking.