By Barbara Dahlgren<\/em><\/p>\n I do not function well in hot weather. Growing up in the Mississippi River area, I am very familiar with hot weather. It\u2019s not so much the heat that gets me; it\u2019s the humidity. Some people perspire or glow in hot weather. Not me! I sweat! I mean really sweat.<\/p>\n Whenever it gets hot, I always think of the expression \u201chotter than hell.\u201d I don\u2019t know how hot that is, but if I can\u2019t take the 100-degree temperatures, I don\u2019t think I will function well there. So I want to avoid it at all costs.<\/p>\n When it gets really hot, nothing seems to quench my thirst like water. I don\u2019t want soda or juice. I just want refreshing cool water. I want to jump into the water. I want to pour water on my head. I want to mist a little water on my face. I want to drink water. I just want water.<\/p>\n Water is an amazing substance. We all know that it is an essential element to life. Our body mass is more than 60% water. Every cell, tissue, and organ needs it to function. We can live longer without food than water. But did you know the following? A 1% decrease in water in our body makes us thirsty. A 5% decrease will cause a fever. An 8% decrease will cause our body to turn blue and we won\u2019t be able to produce saliva. If we have a 10% decrease, we won\u2019t be able to walk. A 12% decrease results in death. Is it any wonder that the Bible is full of analogies about water?<\/p>\n Some people get ill from being dehydrated, not knowing that all they need to do is drink some water. Our souls can get dehydrated as well. Our souls need living water, and it is there for the asking.<\/p>\n When the Samaritan woman came to draw water from the well in John 4, Jesus told her that He could give her \u201cliving water.\u201d (John 4:10-14) He told her that those who drank her well water would thirst again, but those who would drink of His \u201cliving water\u201d would never thirst again.<\/p>\n She implored, \u201cSir, give me this water.\u201d (John 4:15) She was a wise woman. She recognized a good deal when she saw one. Later on Jesus said, \u201cIf any thirst, let him come to me and drink\u201d and He went on to say that if you believe in Him, He will give you this \u201cliving water!\u201d (John 7:37,38)<\/p>\n Of course, this is a spiritual analogy but we are spiritual in nature, not just physical. Our bodies have need of physical water, but our souls have need of this \u201cliving water.\u201d This \u201cliving water\u201d is ours for the asking. Just ask and believe.<\/p>\n We are told in Revelation, \u201c\u2026let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.\u201d<\/p>\n Consider this\u2026 We are probably going to have more hot days ahead \u2013 a lot more! I don\u2019t know if they will be \u201chotter than hell.\u201d I do know that there is no need to endure unbearable heat when we can easily ask for a drink of \u201cliving water.\u201d<\/p>\n One final thought\u2026 <\/strong><\/p>\n Only \u201cliving water\u201d can quench the thirst of a parched soul.<\/p>\n Yet Another Year of Choices By Barbara Dahlgren I do not function well in hot weather. Growing up in the Mississippi River area, I am very familiar with hot weather. It\u2019s not so much the heat that gets me; … Continue reading ![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.barbdahlgren.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Things-are-heating-up-church-art-sub-300x225.jpg\")
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