New Year’s question: Spigot or sponge?

It’s a new year, and I have decided I would rather be a spigot that a sponge. What on earth does that mean? OK, I’ll tell you.

First, what is a spigot?

A spigot is a faucet, a tap, or a pipe through which fresh water flows. Hot, cold, or lukewarm, this is the outlet for water coming from its source for our use.

If we’re thirsty, we go to the spigot. If our hands are dirty … you guessed it.

So why would I want to be a spigot more than a sponge?

Sponges are useful, right? Sure, it’s important for us to soak up all the learning and training knowledge and other edification that we can. I get that.

But when I think about a sponge, it’s from a different angle. Step into my kitchen, and you will find a squishy sponge that is used to wipe up all sorts of stuff. We use it to clean messy counters, swipe off dirty dishes, and even sop up spills on the floor.

That’s when the now-nasty sponge must be washed out well and tossed into the dishwasher on an extra hot cycle – or tossed out altogether. Otherwise, that same sponge can spread all sorts of germs and stinks. 

I don’t wanna be like that.

I’d rather be a spigot. People are thirsty for something real. How cool would it be to be an open outlet through which God could pour his life-giving fresh message to those around me?

Jesus told a wayward woman that He could offer water that would satisfy her for life.

Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but 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.” (John 4:13-14, NIV)

How great is that?

Yes. I’d rather be a spigot than a sponge. Because I’d much prefer to offer something fresh from the Source than to soak up and spread something stale and icky.

Image:

Adapted from public domain image/s

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Up Calvary’s Mountain (Blessed Redeemer) – Hearty Hymns from A to Z

The words of traditional hymns, deftly penned in rhyme and meter, remind us of biblical truths that never change. Chicago poetess and hymn-writer Avis Marguerite Burgeson Christiansen (1895-1985) wrote these lines to fit a melody by Harry Dixon Loes (1892-1965).

Up Calvary’s mountain, one dreadful morn,
Walked Christ my Savior, weary and worn;
Facing for sinners death on the cross,
That He might save them from endless loss.

Refrain

Blessed Redeemer! Precious Redeemer!
Seems now I see Him on Calvary’s tree;
Wounded and bleeding, for sinners pleading,
Blind and unheeding—dying for me!

“Father forgive them!” thus did He pray,
E’en while His lifeblood flowed fast away;
Praying for sinners while in such woe
No one but Jesus ever loved so.

O how I love Him, Savior and Friend,
How can my praises ever find end!
Through years unnumbered on Heaven’s shore,
My tongue shall praise Him forevermore.

This “Blessed Redeemer” hymn is often confused with another song titled “Blessed Redeemer,” but with lyrics by Fanny Crosby set to a tune by Ira D. Sankey. 

Listen to Casting Crowns’ version of “Up Calvary’s Mountain (Blessed Redeemer)”:

Image:

Created by this user with online generator

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25. Christ Is Born.

This Italian Baroque nativity painting using light in an intriguing manner to mark the Lord’s birth. All brightness seems to come from the Baby Himself in this image, who is the Light of the world.

As is so often the case in religious art, this work depicts the Holy Family and those attending the nativity in the artist’s own ethnicity. And maybe that’s fitting, as a metaphor for the way the Lord meets each of us right where we are. As mortals, we have always needed Him, so as a mortal he appeared.

And that’s the beauty of Christmas – the incarnation of the Lord, who took on human form such as ours and lived to die for us.

Merry Christmas. May He be ever praised.

The Birth of Christ, by Carlo Saraceni, c1610

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