Day 40 – Water carriers

Prayer for the week

Start you day with this prayer

Symbol: Shoe

 

Prayer

Lord, we have been aware for weeks that our freedom of movement has been restricted, and that we can only leave our homes for essential things and under the strictest regulations. Help us to remember that a restriction on physical movement does not mean a restriction of our discipleship. Show us how and where we can still wander in the Gospel – the Good News for all people. 

We pray for each essential worker during this time, and for each person who has the opportunity to work. We pray for each individual and each family who has been affected by income loss and have lost their jobs. We pray for everyone who feels uncertain and is scared about what the future has in store. 

We pray for president Cyril Ramaphosa, for all ministers and government leaders who need to show the way in this time. May You give them strength to work under tremendous pressure and still make informed and good decisions. Bless their families and loved ones who are supporting them. 

Thank You for remembering us. Thank You for continuing to support and encourage us. Thank You for creating hope in a time of chaos and uncertainty.

Amen.

Reflection

Read this reflection on the text for the day. 

Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither – whatever they do prospers – Psalm 1:1-3.

God gives us spiritual manna each day. And more than enough. We receive streams of living water from the inside, yes, not a little bit in sealed containers. We receive too much goodness from God to use it for ourselves only. We should give away this heavenly grace, pass it on, let it flow further to others.

But, it would not help to pass on last year’s spiritual food. Faith is a living relationship with God, not a historic one. It is part of our lives now and we should live according to this relationship, otherwise our faith will die. We will become tired very quickly if we continually try to give away yesterday’s faith today. And this happens when you don’t make time every day to spend time in God’s treasure chambers.

Of course you can retrieve old as well as new treasures from the riches of the Lord. But you need to retrieve it today. You need to have received it this morning as part of your spiritual manna. You cannot pass along what you have not newly received. Living water is only living as long as it keeps on flowing. As soon as it becomes stagnant, it dies.

The golden rule of living for us as Christians is: Only give away what you have received from the Lord today. Do not do more than that, otherwise you will be far too busy. Do not try to change the world all by yourself. Look at the spiritual manna in front of your life’s door this morning and share that today with someone close to you. Then you have done more than enough. Then you were a water carrier for God.

Lord, help me to sit quietly by your feet each day to receive my daily living water. Let this living water stream from my heart to others. Amen.

Liturgy for life

See the ordinary things you do in and around the house as signs of God’s care.

This week: Clean your cupboards!

 

Why? Firstly it is a sign of gratitude for the abundance that you have received. Secondly, to share from your abundance with other people during this time. And lastly, to realize that you can simplify your life. As Elizabeth Ann Seton said: “Live simply so that others may simply live.”

How? Start with your wardrobe. Look at all the items you have and choose 10 usable items that you still use, but don’t use as often or don’t really need. Donate it to charity. When you are finished going through your wardrobe, look at your other cupboards. Are there any everyday items that you can give away, things that may not be affordable to others in this time? In our community we’re going to sell all these items for R20. Something has more worth when you contribute towards it. We want to make it as affordable as possible. 

What do we want to achieve? We want to help people to receive good, useful items at an affordable donation, while we journey to a deeper self-realisation of how blessed we are. We want to include the broader community by working with other churches, businesses, and the local government. 

Have a look at this video, and organize your cupboards this week:

Children’s activity

Play with your children.

Wow! 21 Days of isolation. 21 Days in which we’re only allowed to be in our homes (or gardens) and can only go out for the most essential things like food and medicine. It can be a little rough! All the things we usually do during the day, like school, sport, church … are not happening anymore. It can really confuse you and maybe even bore you a little. These daily readings will help you to spend some time with Jesus every day in a creative and fun way. You can do these readings and activities by yourself, with your siblings, or with your entire family. Ask one of the grownups to post your activity on Facebook so that others can enjoy it with you. Tag it with #solitudecalendar #churchtogether

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Have you ever seen a plant that did not get enough water? The leaves are dry and it does not look healthy. You cannot give a plant water only once and hope that water will be enough for the plant to last. A plant can only grow if it is cared for and fed regularly. This is exactly how our relationship with God works: We cannot grow if we are not fed spiritually regularly.

– In what ways can we be fed spiritually?

– In what ways do you like to worship God?

Activity

 

Plant a seed today. Every time you care for and feed the seed, and later the plant, remember to spend time with God so you may be fed spiritually.

Picture this

Look at this week’s illustration. 

Talk to the people in your home or with your friends on WhatsApp about the illustration. 

– What stands out to you? 

– Take note of the things you see, but also of the things that aren’t present in the illustration.

– What would you like to add?

– How does this illustration connect with today’s Scripture, and how not?

Create your own interpretation of the illustration through any medium: dance, photography, videography, music, poetry, drawing, painting or short stories. 

Record it and share it with us on social media with the hashtag #countdowndoodles