Dying of Thirst ~ a Guest post by @SundiJo

I became acquainted with Sundi Jo Graham through mutual friends and knew from the start that I had been introduced to someone special. Sundi Jo has a powerful story to tell and I am so thrilled that she has been given the opportunity to do so in her new book, "Dear Dad...Did you know I was a Princess?" We at Church 4 Chicks are honored to have her writing for us today and we are confident you'll be blessed by this post.

Because He First Loved me,
Shelley
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Photo By Amelia Grace Photography

Dying of Thirst

By

Sundi Jo 

“Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” - John 4:13-14

From Dear Dad... 

As I walked back to the wine department, I got a text message from my friend Jennifer. It was John 4:13-14. 

Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” 

How did she know? Was it God? He was finally reaching out. Now what? I could have put it up, turned around, and gone home, and no one would have known, but I didn’t. 

As I walked up to the counter to pay, she sent another text. Ecclesiastes 2:3 flashed across the screen, “The king tried everything, including intoxicating drink, to see if it satisfied. It did not.” 

What was I to do with that? He is enough to satisfy. Even kings cannot be satisfied. Was I doing it for satisfaction? Had I tried everything? I certainly wasn’t doing it because I was thirsty. It was too late. I couldn’t turn around now; I would embarrass myself. 

More... 

Isn't so easy to satisfy ourselves? To indulge our flesh with the "things of this world." We convince ourselves in moments of despair that God can't help us. We've screwed up too much for Him to come to our rescue now.  

That's so far from the truth. He's right there, waiting. Waiting for us to call on him, cry out for his help, and admit we can't do life without him. 

I remember that day as if it just happened. I remember the cold chill traveling down my spine as I gripped the frosty wine bottle in my hand. In a few hours I would be thirsty again, seeking something other than the only one who could fill me up - Jesus. He was enough to satisfy.  

He is enough to satisfy. 

Do you believe that today?  

Sundi Jo is an author and speaker. Her first book Dear Dad, a memoir of gritty redemption, offering hope to the broken, is available now. You can find her on Twitter and Facebook.  

Sundi Jo 
Writer, Speaker, Lover of Life
www.sundijo.com

"A memoir of gritty redemption, offering hope to the broken." - deardadthebook.com

Finding Radiance in a World of Shame #Shine

I remember walking into church one Sunday two years ago and someone looked at me and said, "You are glowing." I thought he was crazy really! 

He said, "No, there's something different about you. There's light in your eyes." 

I didn't feel different. My clothes weren't new. My hair was the same. But the inside had changed. 

It was Jesus. 

Though I had been a Christian for a few years, something was missing. I had darkness inside me that I kept tucked away for safekeeping. Even though the darkness was destroying me, it was safe. 

Shame was safe. Brokenness was comfortable. Distrust of others had become routine. Though everything in me wanted to change, wanted to let go, I had created a feeling of being content with the crazy safety net I had built around my heart. 

God was calling me for something bigger. I drowned out His voice with negative self-talk, followed by food, and then added another dose of hurtful words to my wounds. You're not good enough for that job. She doesn't really want to be your friend. You'll never amount to anything. Why don't you just give up now? 

I didn't deserve to be called by God.  

Somehow being sexually abused was my fault. No one, not even God, could love me. My father's choice to be an alcoholic was my fault. What if I could have done something different? If only I could have been better, men wouldn't have hurt me. If only I could have tried harder to make everyone happy. 

When you reach a level of brokenness and the only way you can go is up, you're right where you need to be. Right where God can finally get you to listen. That's how it was for me anyway. 

I reached a bottom and the things that had protected me, or so I thought, had literally destroyed me. But only temporarily. 

I came to a point of surrender. I unclenched my fists, waved the white flag and said, "God, you win! I'm yours."  

He gave me these words: 

Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame." Psalm 34:5

Shame. Guilt. Pride. Day by day God stripped those things away. Layer by layer He removed the pieces of brokenness. 

Radiance. That's what my friend saw that day. It was God's radiant light shining in me from knowing who I am in Christ. From the confidence of knowing I am the apple of His eye. From the assurance of knowing that He will never leave me. 

What are you holding onto today that God is reaching out for? What fear is keeping you from surrendering to His call for you? 

Let it go. Trust. Look up. Radiance is waiting for you. 

Sundi Jo is a writer, speaker, and social media consultant, making her home in Branson, Missouri. You’ll either find her engulfed in the social media world, spending time with family and friends, running, hanging out in a pair of jeans, t-shirt, and flip flops, or writing for the Kingdom. You can also find her on Twitter and Facebook.