‭‭Luke‬ ‭3‬:‭23‬ ‭NIV‬‬ — Now Jesus himself was about thirty years old when he began his ministry. He was the son, so it was thought, of Joseph, the son of Heli.

Several weeks ago, Deborah asked some challenging questions: Did your revelation of Jesus Christ spark a new beginning for you? Reflect on your journey and your responses. Is it time for a new beginning? Have you met Jesus Christ?

Let’s take a moment to look at Jesus’ new beginning. When Jesus was about 12, He traveled to Jerusalem for the Festival of Passover. Jesus went missing for three days. When Mary and Joseph found Jesus, He acknowledged God as His father. Jesus responded to Mary and Joseph in ‭‭Luke‬ ‭2‬:‭49‬ ‭NIV‬‬ by saying — Why were you searching for me? he asked. Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?

In reading today’s key verse, Jesus’ actual ministry didn’t begin until after age 30. His ministry would last just three short years. Take a moment to think about all that Jesus accomplished with His time on Earth. Now think about your ministry. Just like Jesus knew where to find His Heavenly Father, we should desire the same for everyone. We are never too old to start a new ministry. 

Let’s pray. Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for Your son, who walked this Earth. Thank You for teaching us about ministry through the life of Jesus. Help me to walk in the ministry You have called me to do. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

Take a moment to meditate on this week’s scripture verses. 

‭‭Luke‬ ‭2‬:‭49‬ ‭NIV‬‬ by saying — Why were you searching for me? he asked. Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?

‭‭Luke‬ ‭3‬:‭23‬ ‭NIV‬‬ — Now Jesus himself was about thirty years old when he began his ministry. He was the son, so it was thought, of Joseph, the son of Heli.

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭14‬:‭27‬-‭28‬ ‭NIV — But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.””

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭16‬:‭17‬-‭19‬ ‭ESV‬‬ — And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭16‬:‭24‬-‭26‬ ‭ESV‬‬ — Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?”

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This week we will be sharing Jesus’ ministry. Take a moment to worship with Found A Love by 7 Hills Worship.

Some of the lyrics sing, “I found a love that would make me believe that beauty is found even in broken things. And every praise is a song I can sing, How you love me.”

@7hillworship

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.

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‭‭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.

@biblegateway @youversion

‭‭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.”

@biblegateway @youversion

‭‭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.

@biblegateway @youversion