Gushing Springs

By Deborah Lovett

35 daily devotionals/7 week study on the Woman at the Well. The only world she knew was a world of broken promises, hidden agendas, and disappointments. Her heart was broken in pieces. Her struggle, though, wasn’t against memories. Her real adversary was the “enemy of her soul,” who had stolen from her, lied to her, and tried to destroy her life. He had to be overcome. The tables, though, were about to be turned. She was going to be changed from the inside out. By God’s gracious power, she would be given a purpose and stop being a victim. Instead, she was about to become restored and victorious!
As she approached the well, she was subtly interrupted. A stranger with a kind face asked her, “Ma’am, excuse me. Could you give me a drink please?” This is how our story begins. It will continue through the winding and turning of conversation, with abrupt detours in dialogue that will leave you hanging on the edge of your seat!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Deborah Lovett
• Release date: May 1, 2012
• ISBN: 9780983462477

Deborah Lovett

Deborah Lovett is an international author and speaker. She speaks for women’s conferences, events, and retreats. Deborah is the author of Gushing Springs and 22 Days in the County Jail, and Arise out of the Ashes. She has aired on several talk radio shows. Deborah’s mission is to empower women with hope and without judgement. Deborah and her husband Tim live in Dayton, Ohio and have two children. Contact Deborah at www.DeborahLovett.org

Book preview

Acknowledgements

Preface

Before You Begin

Week 1: The Place and the Plan

Day 1: Games People Play

Day 2: The Facts

Day 3: Learned and Left

Day 4: Had to Go

Day 5: God is a Giver

Week 2: The Woman and the Well

Day 1: Well Rest

Day 2: Get the Ball Rolling

Day 3: In-To-Me-See

Day 4: Putting God in a Box

Day 5: Personalized Prayer

Week 3: The Water and the Invitation

Day 1: Go Deep!

Day 2: Where?

Day 3: Who?

Day 4: Why?

Day 5: But What?

Week 4: The Honesty and the Acceptance

Day 1: Bring It On!

Day 2: Letting Go

Day 3: Receiving the Truth of Forgiveness

Day 4: Forgiveness then Healing

Day 5: Do You See What I See?

Week 5: The Worship and the Declaration

Day 1: Believe Me, Woman!

Day 2: The Decision

Day 3: The Appointed Time

Day 4: Faith Explained

Day 5: The Declaration

Week 6: The Advance and the Testimony

Day 1: Just Listen

Day 2: Advance!

Day 3: The Hope

Day 4: The Testimony

Day 5: Women in Ministry

Week 7: The Harvest and the Workers

Day 1: Springboarding Truths

Day 2: Our Slice of Life

Day 3: Field of Wheat

Day 4: Sowing and Reaping

Day 5: Kingdom Building

Revelation 22

Epilogue

Appendix A – Plan For Salvation

About the Author

About Women of the Well Ministries

Endorsements

Acknowledgements

Above all, I thank my God, through whom my cup runneth over!

Of course, many, many thanks to my cowboy husband, Tim, who disguises himself each day in business attire. I love you darling. You are the best of the best! I could never have done this without your support, your patience, and your love. Let’s ride off into the sunset together. You captivate me!

For my precious children: Cristahl and Timmy ~ thanks for all the times you wanted to talk, and I wanted to type! For being understanding, and all the times you gave me up, out of selflessness to God. May He bless you with a purpose and a passion for Him. Hugs, kisses and all the motherly love I can muster up in Christ. I am so proud of you both.

To my parents, Pat and Jim Carr, thanks for giving birth to me on Easter Sunday, (like you really planned it that way, right?), for giving me a biblical name and for loving me. I love you both so much. And to my sisters Colleen, Vicki and Sherri, I can only imagine what it will be like…

I am deeply indebted to my friends, mentors, disciplers, and prayer warriors who have been faithful to pour into me from the gushing springs of their own love for Jesus for the months or years God asked of them: Nona Anderson, Connie Ange, Nancy Caverlee, Emma Fisco, Ruth George, Lucy Grice, Candi Honaker, Sarah Liu, Melissa Zimmer, Karen Fenstemaker, and all the devoted women on my prayer team. You are living proof that our wells can be full and overflowing in Christ Jesus!

Deepest gratitude to Dr. Kenneth Mahanes, Vice President, Religious Life; Dean, School of Ministry, Palm Beach Atlantic University- who led me to the Lord, baptized me and married me! Bless you!

Thanks to the flower power mother daughter duo, Jane and Katie Smith, for their valuable input and love for the Lord. I don’t know what I would have done without your encouragement and friendship Jane! How many years have we been praying every Tuesday morning now?

Last but not least, thanks to my great grandmother, Evangelist to the Salvation Army, Edna Frankenburger, who wrote the first Gushing Springs in 1925 and left the legacy of writing and evangelism to me.

Preface

The hot noonday sun beat down in torturous waves as she made her way through the quiet and lonely streets of Sychar toward the well. She carried more than the burden of her water pots. She also shouldered an oppressive sense of shame, rejection, and guilt as her mind replayed scenes of all the lovers that had turned her away, abused and abandoned her. As hard as she tried, she couldn’t forget those images. She heard the stinging memories of people’s harsh, condemning words:

You aren’t good enough.

You’re unlovable.

No one cares about you.

You’ll never amount to anything.

No one needs you.

Everyone thinks you’re a whore.

You’ve messed up your life forever.

She wanted to yell, scream, and wail so someone would hear her cries for help, Love me, look at me, touch me, just say something to me, p-l-e-a-s-e, anybody!

The only world she knew was a world of broken promises, hidden agendas, and disappointments. It felt as if her words went nowhere. Her heart was broken in pieces.

Her struggle, though, wasn’t against memories. Her real adversary was the enemy of her soul, who had stolen from her, lied to her, and tried to destroy her life. He had to be overcome. The tables, though, were about to be turned. She was going to be changed from the inside out. The deceiver’s plan to destroy her was going to be overwhelmed by God’s gracious power and purpose. She was going to stop being a victim. Instead, she was about to become restored and victorious!

As she approached the well, she was subtly interrupted. A stranger with a kind face asked her, Ma’am, excuse me. Could you give me a drink, please?

That’s how our story begins. It will continue through the winding and turning of conversation, with abrupt detours in dialogue that will leave you hanging on the edge of your seat! This woman’s story is like many of us today who are broken, lost, hopeless, despairing, and limping along, following religious ceremony without ever encountering the real intimacy of a relationship with Jesus. But He desires us to drink of the waters of His delight! Drink up—Jesus is coming back, and He wants to prepare His Bride, the church, the people, you and me, His women!

Before You Begin

It has been my privilege to write this book. It has also been quite a journey. I’ve found that doing the will of God often conflicts with our worldly desires. Daily pressures, or what our Lord referred to as the cares of the world, are continuous: the deceitfulness of riches and our lust for things that can steal our hearts. It’s becoming harder and harder to be passionate for Christ in our society. Many Christians are lukewarm, withering, no longer drawing life from the Well of Living Water, the Gushing Spring of Jesus Christ.

It’s no secret that we are in the end times. Jesus Himself told us to prepare for the evils of the world because life would grow increasingly difficult as the end draws near. At this crucial time in history, we are being called back to our first love, Jesus Christ. We thirst for Him and His return, and we need to meet Him at the Well, on a daily basis in order to be restored, to be transformed into His image, and to share intimacy with Him. Drinking in Christ’s love and strength helps us handle this difficult world, and it prepares us for the next! Jesus yearns to come back and meet His Bride, but first He wants to purify her. On your journey to the Well, I pray that you will allow God’s Spirit to inundate you with His Power, His purpose, His perspective, and His plentiful love and perseverance as you make Him your priority.

This book offers many different ways to journey through it. You can read it like a novel, use it to motivate your walk with Jesus by using it as a devotional with prayer guide, or drink even more deeply by completing the reflections. These questions and exercises at the end of each day’s lesson are designed for personal Bible Study or for group discussion. I certainly hope you’ll use this book to stimulate wonderful discussions with other women who thirst for Christ!

God's Word needs to be read, prayed, pondered, studied, and applied to our lives. By utilizing all the various functions of Gushing Springs, your life will be transformed through God's amazing Holy Spirit. However you choose to use this book, God will honor your efforts to seek Him. No one knows your circumstances better than God does. He knows how much time you need to put into this study in order to receive His greatest peace, blessing, protection, and other tangible benefits. Proverbs 3:4-5 says, Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. Consider these three paths, or ways to journey through the book, and trust God to lead you as you trust in Him!

Path #1: Reading the Book as a Novel

Dear reader, please don't rush your reading. Soak it in and apply what you learn. Enjoy a cup of tea, your favorite latte, or hot apple cider and a delicious chocolate chip scone for me while you’re reading! You may want to light a fire, curl up in a comfy chair, sunbathe, go to your favorite spot in the woods, or maybe even sit near a gushing spring! Regardless of the place you choose, your goal is not to just complete the book, but rather to experience the intimacy and restoration that comes from your own encounter with Jesus as His Gushing Springs from the fountain of Living Water wash over you. It’s best to have one spot rather than searching for a new location each day, and try and set aside the same time each day. Keep distractions to a minimum. Apply your entire heart, soul, body, and mind to the journey—listening and obeying the Holy Spirit's still, small voice along the way. If you choose this route, you probably won’t complete the questions at the end of each day. (Drink the Living Water, Deeper Reflections, and Drenched in Prayer.)

Path #2: Reading to Enhance Devotional Quiet Times and Prayer

If you want to dig a little deeper, study all thirty-five days consecutively with no days off. This way, you’ll begin a habit that will fulfill more dreams than you have ever imagined. Allow God’s grace to flow over you in abundance!

This book is designed so you can use it in your daily quiet time with God. That way, the study doesn’t add anything extra to your already busy schedule! (Unless, of course, you aren’t having a daily quiet time. In that case you will find by simply reading the motivational and praying the suggested prayers, you’ll also add time and energy to your day.) It’s a win/win situation. Our only real defense in the battles we encounter are found in Scripture and in prayer, so at the end of each day’s lesson, you’ll find Scriptures for reflection (Drink the Living Water) and an opportunity for prayer (Drenched in Prayer). If you’ve never meditated on Scripture, let me give you a few pointers:

1. Before you begin, sit silently for a minute, asking God to touch your heart and awaken it to an understanding of the truths you are about to read.

2. Read a brief passage slowly. When you are struck by a phrase, note it or mark it. You may even want to look it up in your Bible or a different version and read the few verses before or after to understand the context of the passage.

3. When you finish the passage, focus on the insight or truth that caught your attention. Close your eyes. Ask God to reveal His thoughts to you about a particular word or phrase. You’ll have to learn to hear and discern His voice, because at the beginning, you might think you’re just hearing your own thoughts.

4. As you perceive what the Spirit is saying to you, consider if it is consistent with Scripture and God’s character. If the answer is yes, you’ve heard from God.

5. Write out (or journal) God’s message to you and how you plan to apply it to your life. Make it short but sweet.

6. Pray for wisdom and help to carry out the revelation. *

* Thanks to Christine Wyrtzen, Founder of Daughters of Promise Ministry, for these insights about meditating on Scripture!

Now let me summarize for you: Sit and ask; read and mark; meditate and hear; journal and pray; then; apply. Not bad, huh?

Path #3: Deeper Reflections-Study Guide

Do you remember the movie, Lion King, when Simba looks into a pond and sees the reflection of His father? I enjoy the whole movie, but I adore that part! This is what the Deeper Reflections in each lesson are all about. As we look into the reflection of the Gushing Springs of Living Water—as we try on the Word of God—how does it look on us?

In 2 Corinthians 3:18, Paul wrote, And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. When people look at us, do we reflect our Father? This is the point of the Deeper Reflections. My hope is that you will reflect on the questions in a group format with several other women over the course of seven to nine weeks. You can write in this book or use a separate notebook. I’ve found 8 to 12 ladies makes an intimate group, but so does 5 or 6! I’ve led classes with 4 women, and I’ve led groups up to 80 women. The key for large gatherings is to break down into smaller groups for prayer and discussion. If you’re venturing in your journey without a group, fear not, you’re not alone. As I mentioned before, I’m praying for you and God is with you.

This book is user friendly because you can actually take it with you to your children's soccer or football games, piano practices or dance classes—you name it—with no need to take your Bible along. Every verse is provided for you. Yes, I spoiled you! But the Scriptures are still the inspired Word of God, whether they come directly off the pages of the Bible or from this book. So I guess you could say this is an all inclusive journey to the Well!

I encourage leaders or facilitators of group studies to include props, music, demonstrations, personal stories, dramas, and whatever else the Holy Spirit may lead you to do. Be creative! After all, God is the Creator of the universe. Make your class alive and drenched in the inspiring Spirit of God! Invite your women to start binders and to journal or cut out anything that pertains to what they are learning and share it in class. Oh yes, if you’ve never led or facilitated a class before, now is the time to begin!

I have one more suggestion to share with you before you begin: No matter which path you are taking, expect God's best for yourself. Look, listen, touch, taste, and smell your way through this book, experiencing all God has for you. Allow Him direct access to your heart, and ask Him