Thirst consumed me.
In all my life, I’d never felt this thirsty.
There I stood in front of all those precious women,
and the only thing that stood between my glass of water and me was …
the podium.
The appendectomy
and the infection that had spread
throughout my abdomen had weakened me
the two weeks prior to this speaking engagement.
But I determined, by God’s grace,
not to give the enemy victory.
After being handed a microphone
that I would hold throughout the presentation,
my first thought was:
everyone will see my hand shaking.
Instead,
my right hip muscle decided to go spastic.
It was hilarious, really.
Had I not been advised –
“never tell people you are nervous,”
I would have shared it.
It deserved a good laugh.
Halfway through the presentation,
the thirst crept in.
I looked across the podium to see my water glass.
I gazed.
I needed.
I thirsted.
I paused.
In those moments that would lapse by,
I thought I might collapse.
I thought I might collapse.
And I wondered …
do I ask for someone to bring it to me?
Do I place this microphone down
and go get it?
Do I place this microphone down
and go get it?
I didn’t.
Why?
There are things we need and never ask for.
Why don’t we ask?
We don’t feel deserving.
I blamed myself
for not taking a water bottle to the podium with me.
I should have known better, I told myself.
We don’t want to be a bother.
Much had already been given.
Was it really important
in the big scheme of things?
Fear.
I was afraid if I stopped mid-presentation,
in my weakened condition,
I might stumble over my words …
get side-tracked.
The need feels out of reach.
It was right there in front of me …
I could see it …
But I couldn’t reach it.
When we don’t feel deserving …
When we dread being bothersome …
When we aren’t brave enough to ask …
When we think something is out of reach …
Remember:
“… your Father knows
what you need<sup class="crossreference" value="(A)”> before you ask him.”
Matthew 6:8
what you need<sup class="crossreference" value="(A)”> before you ask him.”
Matthew 6:8
Doubts, insignificance, fears, timidity –
in spite of my sundry weaknesses,
the Lord replenished my thirst.
the Lord replenished my thirst.
He knew my need.
As I poured out my heart to those precious women,
He poured in.
He poured in.
The thirst passed.
I was enabled to press on.
He made me strong.
He made me strong.
“Jesus answered,
‘Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again,
but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst.<sup class="crossreference" value="(J)”>
Indeed, the water I give them
will become in them a spring of water<sup class="crossreference" value="(K)”> welling up to eternal life.'”
John 4: 13-14
We are but a vapor in need of a downpour of Jesus.
Shelli Littleton 
Ah, the joy of public speaking!
You got the 'need' perfectly.
The first talk I gave – to an audience of 300 – the Powerpoint went down, and I tripped over the microphone cord (needless to say, the mike didn't work either).
So I was left with 'projecting' the message – “Well, if you could see the slide this is what you'd see.”
And I got a standing ovation at the end of it, along with a lot of laughter.
Yee-ha!
http://blessed-are-the-pure-of-heart.blogspot.com/2014/04/is-it-ever-too-late-for-your-marriage.html
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Andrew, that's hilarious! I love hearing people's speaking stories! I saw a guy singing the other night … the mike flew out of his hand, and he ran, grabbed it up, and continued on. Hilarious! You had the point without the electrical power! Ha! But I know you had God's power! You kept going … way to go!
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