Thinking Deeply by Lisa Burkhardt Worley
What do you do with deep thoughts?
The kind that can weigh you down or keep you up at night?
What about the deep thoughts about God? Who can you tell? Where do you go with them?
I’ve found this blog is a great way to express my cavernous thoughts. For you it could be a journal. Back when we were kids, it was a diary, locked for safe keeping. Did you have one of those?
But now I have a new outlet, music, because I just purchased a guitar. Before you wonder Why in the world would she do such a thing? I have to tell you about my history with the guitar. I played guitar as a teenager into my early twenties. I used to write songs and occasionally performed. I even won a college talent show with a couple of my original songs, but my strumming came to an end the day I moved to Tennessee. I left my guitar in an old boyfriend’s garage because I couldn’t fit it in my car. (Sounds like a country tune) The distance was too much for the relationship to withstand and I never saw my guitar again. I guess you could say that’s the day the music died.
Has the music died in your life?
Sisters and brothers, there’s hope. God promises to give us a new song (Psalm 98:1). He says he wants to do new things in our lives (Isaiah 43:19). There’s no age limit given. He also teaches us new things and gives us revelation through his active and living Word (Jeremiah 33:3).
Just this week I was reading in the book of John and saw something I’d never seen before about the healing of the man, who had been lame for thirty-eight years. In the New King James Version of the Bible, John 5:4 says: “For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had.” I’m guessing if an angel stirred the water, people were feeling good as they toweled off. However, the lame man sat by the water for almost four decades, longing to be healed and looking for a lifeguard to help him into the pool. No one ever did. People disregarded him as they took care of their own needs, post–stirring, for healing.
Then along came Jesus, and with just two statements, “Get Up! Pick up your mat and walk,” the man was immediately healed and walked away. I wonder what the Bethesda swimmers thought at that moment?
Here’s what I know. God is El Roi, the God who sees. Jesus knew the needs of this man. He knew he was desperate for healing. He saw he’d been overlooked and passed by. Jehovah Rapha, the God who heals, came along, singled this man out, and did what no one else would do, he cared. Just like he sees your hurts and cares for you.
So you guessed it. This story has prompted me to think deeply and to write lyrics for a song. Guitar chords will follow.
Stir up the Water
Verse 1
Stir up the water.
Does anyone see me lying here?
I want God’s healing,
Someone carry me, and dry up all my tears.
Verse 2
I’m down and wanting,
What can I do to change from my old ways?
Come stir the water,
So maybe this will be a bright and glorious day.
Chorus
All it takes is one word, Jesus.
You can speak and make me whole.
I’ve been waiting for your presence,
Your touch can heal my soul.
Verse 3
Stir up the water.
I’m running now Lord, cuz’ you have set me free.
There’s no more longing,
Jesus, you’re the God who knows and always sees.
Verse 4
My life is yours now.
No looking back on who I was before.
I leap for joy now.
You cared enough to give me life and soar.
Chorus
All it takes is one word, Jesus.
You can speak and make me whole.
I’ve been waiting for your presence,
Your touch can heal my soul.
Stir up the water.
Stir up the water.
Stir up the water.
Jesus—set me free.