About M&O

The poor and needy seek water, but there is none,
Their tongues fail for thirst.
I, the Lord, will hear them;
I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them.
I will open rivers in desolate heights,
And fountains in the midst of the valleys;
I will make the wilderness a pool of water,
And the dry land springs of water.
I will plant in the wilderness the cedar and the acacia tree,
The myrtle and the oil tree;
I will set in the desert the cypress tree and the pine
And the box tree together,
That they may see and know,
And consider and understand together,
That the hand of the Lord has done this,
And the Holy One of Israel has created it.
(Isaiah 41:17–20)

My story begins in the midst of the desolate heights of the arid desert. Wounded, parched, poor, and needy is the land of my soul. My tongue fails for thirst, no water to be found in the wilderness. All around are deceptive streams flowing from the world and its prince—each presenting a different mirage of satisfaction. It is the story of every soul of mankind.

O God, You are my God;
Early will I seek You;
My soul thirsts for You;
My flesh longs for You
In a dry and thirsty land
Where there is no water.
(Psalm 63:1)

Do not be deceived, poor and needy one, these streams contain no water. There is something else—Someone else—for whom the soul thirsts and who alone can satisfy. Atop the mountains of Lebanon, the voice of Someone else is calling out, speaking of a different water—one that is living and actually satisfies:

Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life. (John 4:13–14)

If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water. (John 7:37–38)

How my heart yearns within me! (Job 19:25–27)

who is Living Water Himself stands atop the highest mountain and calls out to me:

You are all fair, my love,
And there is no spot in you.
Come with me from Lebanon, my spouse,
With me from Lebanon.
Look from the top of Amana,
From the top of Senir and Hermon,
From the lions’ dens,
From the mountains of the leopards.
You have ravished my heart,
My sister, my spouse;
You have ravished my heart
With one look of your eyes,
With one link of your necklace.
(Song of Songs 4:7–9)

I respond:

How my heart yearns within me!
(Job 19:25–27)

Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth—
For your love is better than wine.
Because of the fragrance of your good ointments,
Your name is ointment poured forth;
Therefore the virgins love you.
Draw me away!
(Song of Songs 1:2–4)

Here there exists a mystery: Thirst.

As much as I thirst is as much as I’ll be quenched or given to drink. Where thirst is scarce, water is scarce. Where thirst is abundant, water is abundant. Oh how I thirst for You, Jesus!

He not only wants to give me water for the land of my soul, but wants the water to be rich and abundant in me such that it would overflow to others through my ministry—to become in me a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life (John 4:14).

He has much water prepared. Do you thirst for it?

Myrtle & Oil

(Hebrew: Hadassah & Shemen)

Planted by the rivers of my Savior and Bridegroom Jesus, who is Himself the abundant Living Water, I am here to leave my waterpot behind and cry out to all who will hear, “Come! See the Christ who alone satisfies!” (John 4:28–29). I pray that this little abode may bless you in your journey in pursuit of increasing nearness to the most beloved Savior.

Yes, He is altogether lovely.
This is my beloved,
And this is my friend,
O daughters of Jerusalem!
(Song of Songs 5:16)