John 15:4-5 NIV — Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”
Romans 8:28 NIV — And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Welcome to See You Saturday. Often we share our outtakes with you. We want you to see we are not perfect, yet God continues to use us to share our testimonies and imperfections for His glory and our good. We encourage you to like and subscribe to our YouTube channel as we close out our week on Living Water.
Make sure to join us tomorrow for a new week as Deborah shares on nourish to flourish.
Three Generations Worshiping Together in God’s House.
John 4:39, 42 NIV — Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I ever did.” They said to the woman, “We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.”
You can read the full passage of today’s scripture reading, John 4:39-42 NIV. This week we have been sharing the story of The Woman at the Well from John, chapter 4. Today I want to share my personal testimony.
Years ago I listened to a United Methodist podcast featuring J. Brent Bill, the author of Life Lessons from a Bad Quaker. He said that our testimony is belief translated into action, not so much our personal stories rather a statement of how we should live our faith. While I do believe this is true, I also believe in sharing your personal testimony. Mark Batterson, in his book IF, writes “Our testimony is our secret weapon. Of course, you can’t keep it a secret. It’s the way we share the win with others and overcome the enemy.” Therefore, I feel the need to tell you my testimony.
Both my parents did not grow up in Christian homes so unfortunately I do not have a family with a long legacy of faith. I was born in California on March 3, 1981, and not long after I was born, there was an earthquake. My parents always joked that I was stating my presence in the world. Look out, Julie has arrived. Although my parents were not Christians they still made the commitment to have me baptized within the first month of birth. Go God!! We moved a few times from California to Illinois and from Illinois to Pennsylvania. Not long after we moved to Pennsylvania my family experienced a life-changing event, at least in the eyes of a 6-year-old it was life changing. For about six long months my Dad decided he did not want to be a family anymore. It was a very painful experience for all of us. But my mom did something incredible, when my dad returned she forgave him. I did not truly appreciate this until I became an adult and married myself. Just a few years ago I was able to write my parents a thank you note. One to my mom for teaching me the act of forgiveness and one to my Dad for teaching me that you can right your wrongs.
For many years we lived in unhealthy relationships. We went through counseling and my mom desperately wanted something more for her family and committed to have us all in church. Although my Dad sat in the pew he did not get saved until after I was married. My parents liked to socially drink and always had alcohol in the house. At 12 years old I had an injury on my horse and was unable to ride for months. I started hanging around the wrong crowd and making bad choices. I would drink my parent’s alcohol and would steal alcohol from the family that I babysat for who also happened to be my horse trainers. At my 13th birthday party I decided it would be fun to mix hard liquor and overdosed. When I got to the hospital the doctors had my stomach pumped. My alcohol level was so high I should have died. I was immediately sent to a Mental Health institution for 2 weeks and then to a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center for 6 weeks. I was so mad and had so much hate toward my parents. I did not think I had a problem, I just had bad luck. About half way through my recovery I started to change and realized week after week when my parents would come visit me that they truly wanted the best for me. I returned home to an alcohol-free home. My parents realized my choices were a reflection of their choices. My mom and I attended Alcohol Anonymous classes where we recited the serenity prayer together a thousand times:
Dear God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.
Still one of my favorite prayers today. At 15 I had a chance for a fresh start when we moved from Pennsylvania to South Carolina. I quickly made new friends by joining the tennis team but unfortunately still managed to fall into the party scene. Remember, I did not think I had a problem so going to parties and hanging out with friends who drank should not mold my decisions. But I wasn’t strong enough to say no to temptation and started drinking again. I could never just have one, if I was going to drink I was going to get drunk.
My sophomore year I started dating the son of a Church of God minister. Go God! However, at the time he was living a sinful life as well. We started attending his church as a family, never missing a service or a youth group outing. It wasn’t long into our relationship, he decided to rededicate his life to Christ and gave me the ultimatum to do the same. So I committed my life to Christ but for the wrong reasons. It wasn’t long and we broke up, however I stayed strong and found my own relationship with Christ. Go God!! If it wasn’t for this relationship I would not have met my husband, Hollie. Ever heard the song, “Unanswered Prayers”? That break-up was an unanswered prayer.
As of today, I have not had a drink of alcohol since I was 17 years old (I am now 44). I don’t ever want to find out if I am truly an alcoholic or had just made bad choices. Although relaxing at home with a glass of wine sounds nice, I know as an adult I have addictive tendencies. My name is Julie Wicker and I am addicted to coffee. Of course my husband and my children play a big role in this too, I want to continue to leave the legacy my parents have left for me. When my children were 8 my relationship with Christ changed drastically for the better. I have never been a reader but was given the book Redeeming Love, not a beginner’s book but rather a 500-page novel. I could not put it down and read it in less than a week. I have been reading ever since. I can’t get enough of Christ. Go God!! I am now standing on the promise from Philippians 1:6 – He who began a good work in me will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Believing in John Wesley’s style, that the life of faith is a journey, we don’t ever fully arrive. I will end this week with a series of questions. Mark Batterson asks in his IF book: “What if everything in your past is God’s way of preparing you for something in your future?” If the answer for me is Yes, I have Godly confidence there will be more earthquakes to come. Look out world, Julie has not fully arrived. You too can receive God’s redeeming love through His son Jesus Christ (John 14:6). Have you ever written your testimony? I encourage you to list five bullet points to get started.
Isaiah 12:3 NIV — With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.
This week we have been sharing the story of The Woman at the Well from John, Chapter 4. I encourage you to take a moment to read Isaiah 12: 1-6 NIV. In today’s key verse, Isaiah tells us that our salvation will be our joy. We should be singing out testimonies for all to hear. Take a moment to think about how grace rewrote your story in the song, My Testimony by Elevation Worship.
On this Thankful Thursday, what would your story say? Is God the strength of your song? Are you giving thanks when you call out His name? Or do you need a refreshing of His living water? Notice that Jesus comes to you at your well. He offers forgiveness of sins, unconditional love, and a fatherly relationship. All you have to do is receive it.
Let’s pray through worship with the lyrics of today’s song, “My name is registered in heaven. My praise belongs to You forever. This is my testimony from death to life. Cause grace rewrote my story, I’ll testify. By Jesus Christ the Righteous, I’m justified. This is my testimony.”
John 4:13-14 NIV — 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.”
This week we have been sharing the story of The Woman at the Well from John, Chapter 4. I was once that Woman at the Well. Seeking all the wrong things in life. Desperate for love and approval from others. Lost in worldly people, places, and things. Notice we don’t know her name. I wonder if we don’t know her name because she is you and I. For instance, her name could be Julie or Deborah.
It was in the sixth hour and the heat of the day. An uncommon time to draw water. It was no coincidence that Jesus was at the well at the same time. The Woman at the Well was the first person that Jesus told He was the Messiah! You can read the full story, John 4:7-26 NIV. What and who are you seeking today?
Let’s pray. Dear God, thank You for Your living water that never runs dry. Thank You for choosing me as Your broken vessel to share Your glory. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
Jesus said in Acts 1:8 NIV –“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
This week we have been sharing the story of The Woman at the Well from John, Chapter 4. You can read the full story in John 4:1-26 NIV.
Deborah once asked me, if I wrote the Bible, where would I start. My answer was The Woman at the Well. Jesus came into this world to save a sinner like me. I want everyone in the world to know that they too can have a personal relationship with Christ Jesus. All you need to do is ask Him to forgive your sins, live in your heart, and profess that Jesus is Lord.
Let’s look at some connecting verses. We know there was a divide between Jews and Samaritans. In today’s key verse, Luke instructs us to be a witness in Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria. We know that Jesus intentionally travels through Samaria on His way from Judea to Galilee as we read in John 4:4-6 NIV — Now he had to go through Samaria. So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon.
Take a moment to read The Great Commission in Matthew 28: 18-20 where Matthew instructs believers to do the same by going out to all the nations.The story of The Woman at the Well sets the scene for why Jesus traveled this Earth: To save and have a relationship with each of us. In turn we are to share the gospel and not discriminate against anyone.
Let’s pray. Dear God, thank You for Your word to instruct and guide us to live out the Great Commision. Give me the strength and courage to share Your love with others. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
Water Walkers 