Our move to Utah has been fast and furious. Once Leif accepted a job in Salt Lake City at Capital Church, we had 18 days at home to pack everything we owned, stuff it into a U-haul and drive to our new city. The first boxes were well-packed, orderly. The last were stuffed, protruding with randomness.
We stayed on friend’s property for six-weeks. Moved to house sit for three months. Now we’re renting until the housing market picks up with options.
We arrived on a Saturday. Leif started work on Sunday. I started heavy travel season for speaking on Wednesday. Other than a few days over the holidays, we haven’t stopped. We’re still searching for our rhythm. Our sustainable new life.
I’m confident that it’s out there somewhere.
But today I feel swept up in the swirl.
Swirls differ from storms. Storms hit. Swirls arise. Storms shock. Swirls surprise.
Perhaps that’s why today’s reading in the #lentchallenge rings with hope and grace throughout my soul. The Gospel of Luke, chapter 22, busts with the high-volt story of the Last Supper, the betrayal, the two swords, the agony, the trial, the denial.
(NOTE: Click here to download a FREE one-page reading guide of Luke and Acts. or upgrade to the downloadable ebook called The 40-Day Live Lent Challenge: A Color Method Study for Luke-Acts for only $8.99. This 200-plus page booklet includes: a welcome letter, the reading plan, instructions on how to use the Color Bible Study Method, ideas on how to get the most from your study, creative artwork, and space to journal and doodle.)
Amid the swirl of activity, one image takes center stage in my imagination:
A pitcher of water.
Jesus will celebrate the Passover with his disciples. Nothing will stand in his way. Not the fact that Jerusalem busts at the seams with pilgrims. Nor the quiet deal that Judas booked with the religious leaders to turn Jesus over to the authorities.
Unlike other meals, the Passover required extensive preparation. Jesus handpicks John and peter to make the preparations. The Galileans wonder where the meal will be hosted. Jesus instructs them to enter the city and follow a man bearing a pitcher of water to the home he enters.
The man looked odd. Women carried water jars; men carried water skins. The disciples follow this man “bearing” a water jar, say particular words, and the upper room opens to them.
Sounds like a scene out of a spy movie.
Or the game Clue. My guess: Judas, in the library, with a knife in the back.
Irony abounds.
Passover celebrates life, yet the religious leaders scheme to kill the One who brings life.
Judas sells out the One who gives him everything money can’t buy.
Back to that pitcher of water.
Jesus could have sent the disciples to a specific address. But then Judas would have known where to send the soldiers to arrest Jesus. The secret arrangements prevented Jesus from betraying Jesus prematurely.
Jesus was going to die, but only on God’s timeframe, not when his enemies thought best.
Jesus uses a pitcher of water to perform a little miracle of sorts. Hiding himself, his disciples from those who wanted to arrest Him.
The Gospel of John records Jesus using a pitcher of water, in fact several, for his first miracle of turning water into wine.
Now here toward the end of his ministry a picture of water is used again, and we are reminded through it and all details surrounding this fateful evening that God is in control.
Not the religious authorities.
Not the throngs in the city.
Not the the betrayer.
In the Passover, God is in control.
In the preparation, God is in control.
In the last discourse, God is in control.
In the betrayal, God is in control.
In the arrest, God is in the control.
In the trial, God is in control.
In the swirl, God is in control.
Why is this important to you and me?
Because on this dark night everything swirls out of control, God remains in control.
As I read, I cling that water pitcher as a token of God’s ability to be in control when I feel so out of control.
And I realize the importance of finding my water pitcher.
The one item, the one interaction, the one detail I can cling to in the midst of the swirl of this move, this transition.
When we left Colorado, we hoped to rent out our home. A renter never arrived. Week after week. Month after month. We waited and waited. But then someone came along and bought our house. We never had to place the home on the market. The sale of our home last week is my water pitcher.
A sign that God is in control even when life is still swirling.
I don’t always feel it. I don’t always understand it.
Sometimes I feel like I’m grasping for anything that feel steady, anything to hold on.
Then I remember God is in control.
When the swirl of life leaves you dizzy and turned around, find your water pitcher. Find the one event, act, interaction that secures you to the goodness and faithfulness of God. Remember it everyday. Thank God for it. Reground yourself in God even in the midst of the swirl.
In the silence, God is in control.
I am going to have my cup of coffee, head out to the gym, then to a 10:00 women’s bible study, then to meet a friend and check out a new park to come back and cook for my husband. Somewhere along the way, I will look for the one “bearing the water jar.”
God is giving us beautiful sunshine this morning. March 1st and the weather could be dreary and cold. Yet, God is sending us the warmth of sunshine today and the birds are singing. I thank God for His bountiful blessings and hope.
Thank you! I actually just posted this on facebook about an hour ago — “Just Overwhelmed”. The prayers of those who responded have already helped, but I’d forgotten about my ‘water jar’ that can always keep me grounded. We adopted twin boys (about 14 years ago now), and the adoption was particularly dicey. At the last minute the judge decided the parents weren’t as awful as everyone said (drug addict and alcoholic) and was going to award custody back to them. A week later, in what I like to refer to as a “Touched by an Angel” moment, the parents decided to quit fighting and sign over their rights. After a long struggle, no one expected this. Even their lawyer and the judge stated that we must have had a lot of people praying. There are so many moments surrounding that event that can only be defined as God moments. There is enough there for a whole room full of water jugs. Thanks for the reminder.
Good Morning. As I sit here all cuddled up with blankets and my little black dog, Ber (he and Hershey would be buddies, I just know 🙂 I just have to thank you for the amazing timing of this reminder from the Lord. Your blog was truly timed by the Holy Spirit perfectly for me today … wow God! Another Wonderstruck moment! Hmmm… too many … but a sweet blessing to me yesterday was yet another time of Bible study with my precious Mom. Though a thousand miles apart we have the distinct privilege of working through a discipleship series together over the phone … what a privilege! Stop the train of life. Pull over to the side. Bible study with Mom. My eyes are brimming with hot tears. Mom hasn’t ever been in a Bible study before … it is an honor and a privilege that I will forever count as God’s water pitcher. He has a plan. Long term. And it’s enough. Love you Margaret. Thank you!
Love the connection between turning the water to wine and the pitcher of water in preparation for the passover! Never thought of that before.
Even though I know God is in control, it’s always comforting to see little pitchers of water along the way as reminders.
This is so timely for me right now. The reminder came just when I needed it. Thank you for allowing God to speak thru you!
Hope for me comes from answered prayers. So many answered prayers! A house for one son’s family, twin girls for another son and daughter-in-law, an amazing ladies Bible study group that I joined 10 years ago that blesses me over and over, an awesome church to belong in … I have hope every day! Thanks for this post, Margaret.
Beautiful reminder of what our Heavenly Father gives and does for us to sustain us through our seasons that seem “uncontrolled”. In reality nothing is in our control, yet He knows we need humanly, mentally to grasp on to some reality that speaks of His control. I will picture the “pitcher moment” and look for that today! Be blessed Margaret. We pray for you as you head into your next days of whirl-wind –being used by God to bring His scriptures to life and pour our your pitcher to refresh dry weary souls!
Water jars are Joy bombs. Thank you
I pray you find Him each day and rest in His presence! Hugs!
The sounds and feels of spring! A welcomed refreshment after winter. Thank you for sharing! Hugs!
Love it! God is so good to us. All we need to do is stop and remember our “water jars”! Hugs!
What a joy to do a Bible study with you mom! How wonderful! Hugs!
We all need reminders throughout our journey. Hugs!
Your point of view caught my eye and was very interesting. Thanks. I have a question for you.