Splashes of Living Water

By Louise L. Looney and Paul A. Looney M.D.

Is your spirit thirsty for peace or does your heart yearn for bubbling springs of joy? Splashes of Living Water invites you to stand under Gods waterfall of grace until your spiritual and emotional reservoirs overflow into the lives of others.

Stories of victory and defeat will bring laughter and tears as you relate to those who struggle in their attempts to meet basic needs. Profound insights flow from these life experiences and Gods Word when you accept His invitation to drink Living Water and quench that thirst forever.

Louise has brilliantly uncovered and revealed the original psychology book. You wont be able to put this book down. Her questions and solutions through life-examples allowed me to examine my motives and bring my hurts to Jesus for healing.
Vilet Weaver, author and marketing specialist

Louises humorous stories will surprise and delight you even as she opens your eyes to deep spiritual truths. Everything she teaches is grounded in scripture. She is fun to read, yet incredibly wise. As you turn page after page, you will feel you have made a forever friend.
Joanne Hillman, author of Counterfeit Coin

Louise engages a delightful take a friend by the hand approach to teaching in her wonderful book Splashes of Living Water. Using a storytellers approach, she imparts wisdom, instruction and wit. Highly recommended!
Janice Hanna Thompson, author of the Weddings by Bella series

• Language: English
• Publisher: Inspiring Voices
• Release date: Oct 10, 2012
• ISBN: 9781462403554

Louise L. Looney

Louise L. Looney is an author and speaker. She has taught all levels of education, including in the prison system and in an underground school in an anti-Christian nation. She directed a Christian retreat center for years. Her book, Hidden Treasures for Golden Years, won the 2011 award for the best book on Christian living.

Book preview

Copyright © 2012 Louise L. Looney

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

ISBN: 978-1-4624-0355-4 (e)

ISBN: 978-1-4624-0354-7 (sc)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2012918338

Inspiring Voices books may be ordered through booksellers or by contacting:

Inspiring Voices

1663 Liberty Drive

Bloomington, IN 47403

www.inspiringvoices.com

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

All Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible. The scripture references are as follows:

The Message (MSG) copyright 1993. Used by permission of NAV Press Publishing Group.

The King James Version of the Bible (KJV).

The New Century Version (NCV) copyright 2005 Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by Permission.

The Holy Bible, New International Version (NIV) copyright 1975, 1978, 1984. International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers.

Holy Bible, New Living Translation (NLT) copyright 1996 used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

Contemporary English Version (CEV) copyright 1995 by the American Bible Society. All rights reserved.

The New Revised Standard Version Bible (NRSV) copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ.

The Amplified Bible (AMP). The Amplified Bible Old Testament, copyright 1965, 1987, by the Zondervan Corporation. The Amplified Bible New Testament, copyright 1954, 1958, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

Illustrated by Paul A. Looney, M.D.

Inspiring Voices rev. date: 10/24/2012

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Section I —It’s Broken, Fix It

1 What Happened?

2 Bring Your Toolbox

3 Feed My Hunger, Quench My Thirst

Section II —Basic Needs

4 Don’t You Recognize Me?

5 Don’t Leave Me on the Outside Looking In

6 Safe and Secure

7 High Standards and Goals

8 The Thrill of Adventure

9 Power to Overcome

10 The Need to Succeed

Section III —Things Get in the Way

11 People and Circumstances Pull the Plug

12 Personality Poisons

13 Repress, Suppress Or Confess

Section IV —Thoughts Control Us

14 Thoughts Ignite Our Actions

15 Anxiety—The Common Cold of the Personality

16 Trembling in My Boots

Section V —Be Good to Yours elf

17 Self-Esteem Or Self-Importance

18 Personality Plus

Section VI —Dealing with Wrong Ch oices

19 Guilt—The Gangrene of the Personality

20 Spiritual Castor Oil

21 Forgive To Be Forgiven

22 Paid in Full

Section VII —Interpers onal Relationships

23 Empathy

24 The Dynamic Power of Words

25 What Were You Saying?

26 Listen to My Heart

Section VIII —Harv est Time

27 The World Needs Love

28 Abiding Joy

29 The Inheritance Jesus Left

30 The Great Physician’s Prescription for Peace

Dedication

Splashes of Living Water is dedicated to Carey, my husband of thirty-five years, who went to be with the Lord two and a half decades ago. The seeds of his ideas lay dormant for years until the Holy Spirit nudged me to get them out, plant and water them. Now, his dream has ripened into spiritual fruit that offers health and healing for the multitudes.

THE THIRST FOR SOMETHING MORE CAN ONLY BE SATISFIED WITH LIVING WATER.

Foreword

Louise Looney is one of my critique partners, but I first had the pleasure of meeting her during my visits to Hidden Manna, her retreat center in New Waverly, Texas. Though the center could only be described as a tranquil respite resonating with the peace of God, Louise was then, and is now, a fireball of energy, wit, wisdom and joy.

Her latest work, Splashes of Living Water, reflects those characteristics. But more than that, her book reflects the Word of God as told by a daughter of the King. You will find what I call zingers on every page. Like splashes of cold water on a tired face, these zingers of wisdom wake up a weary soul, and snap us back to the reality of Christ in a fallen and deceptive world. Testimonies of His grace are woven throughout the book, true stories of those who lived past their mistakes, shortcomings, and heartbreaking experiences by trusting in and relying on God and His eternal, infallible Word.

I do not hope you will enjoy—I know you will enjoy this precious book. You will tell your family, friends and neighbors to read it as well. And if you loan it out, good luck with getting it back. This is a book you will want to treasure and refer back to often, a keeper to add to your personal library.

Linda Kozar

Author

Babes With A Beatitude—Devotionals for Smart, Savvy Women of Faith, 2009, Howard/Simon & Schuster

Preface

The core of ideas for this book came from dusty notes in my closet, left there years ago by my late husband, Dr. Carey Looney, a well-known Christian psychologist. He challenged Jesus’ believers to fill their emotional and spiritual reservoirs with Living Water. He assured them that when their cups overflow, they’ll fill the lives of others.

After several unsuccessful attempts to put flesh and muscle on this skeleton of a message, I pulled out Carey’s notes once again and prayed for enough wisdom to breathe life into his dream. The Holy Spirit nudged me and whispered, Use your own voice in the book, not his. Then the ideas began to flow.

The different themes of the book are saturated with heartwarming and humorous stories wrapped with insight on how to live the abundant life Jesus intended. God did not create us to live in isolation, nor to fill our basic needs alone. These needs can best be met when we reach out in loving concern to those around us.

Each chapter sparkles with examples everyone can relate to. This gives the manuscript universal appeal. Now, after completing the task, I ask the Lord to pull back the clouds a bit and let Carey look down from heaven to find that his vision has become a reality.

Thank you, Lord, for watering my creativity in order to bring Carey’s goal to fruition. My prayer is one he would endorse. Let the message of this book change the lives of God’s children and usher them into His rich and fulfilling purpose. The goal of each chapter is to be a stepping stone toward the end of our journey where we anticipate hearing the Father’s loving approval, Welcome home, faithful child.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

My thanks and gratitude are extended to Joanne Hillman, Linda Kozar and Samuel Lanford who critiqued my writing and helped me chisel off the rough edges and polish the manuscript. Janetta Messner, you were very helpful in editing the book. Thanks to Vilet Weaver, who strongly believes in this message and stands nearby to cheer me on. Thanks to my son, Paul Looney, for your cartoons. You drew them almost thirty years ago and think they are amateurish, but I think they are great. Thank you Bette Lanahan, who came time after time to help me with computer problems.

But most of all, I thank my Heavenly Father, who gave me the insight and ideas and then prodded me until I finished the assigned task. I offer this book as a praise offering to God and ask Him to give the increase.

Thank you, loyal encouragers. You loved me enough to sand and polish my work to the point I’m ready to let it go.

Acknowledgement.tif

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Louise L. Looney, B.S. M.A.

Louise is a Bible teacher, author, speaker, teacher and mentor. She’s taught in elementary through college levels, in the prison system and in an underground Christian School in a Communist country.

Her desire to touch and change people’s lives was fulfilled in directing a Christian Retreat Center, Hidden Manna, for fifteen years. She also served as the Director of Spiritual Affairs at a psychiatric hospital.

She currently lives in Conroe, Texas and each week she teaches two Bible classes and facilitates a women’s group that deals with women’s issues.

Louise won the 2011 coveted Selah award for her book, Hidden Treasures for Golden Years. The contest was open to publishers, editors, agents and authors. It was chosen as the best book in Christian Living.

Her web site is LouiseLLooney.com

Section I

It’s Broken, Fix It

1

What Happened?

Time marches on

The lament of an Old Dutch proverb still whistles truth, Too soon I get old, too late I get smart. With the advent of instant everything, we may wake up one day to find we’re instant old. What a shock. Perhaps we should stop driving through fast food places and popping things in the microwave. Well, good grief! Just because we get our food prepared more quickly doesn’t mean we have to be in such a hurry to get through life. If we cram too many things in too little time, it’s bound to turn out to be a jumbled mess.

The term fast talker wasn’t a phrase coined to describe modern technology. However, through networking, communication is launched through time and space in a split second. It creates havoc when we spit out snippy remarks without considering what we’re saying or how it comes across to others.

There’s a danger that life in the fast lane may cause us to act as lemmings rushing over a precipice. You have given me only a short life; my lifetime is like nothing to you. Everyone’s lifetime is only a breath (Psalms 39:15 NCV).

Today we demand instant gratification. We trash many things that aren’t up-to-date or no longer suit our fancy. This mindset isn’t limited to cars and gadgets, but sad to say, it also includes marriages and other close relationships that are tossed aside because of petty differences.

Consider those who like to control—better known as control-freaks. They insist others respond immediately and do what they’re told. Seldom do they have many friends or relatives who stick around for long.

I had a friend that fit this description to a T. Jan* had one son. He was the only person she was close to in her life, and she wanted to take charge of almost everything he did. Even after he was grown, depending on how he responded to her demands, she’d write him in and out of her will. She knew they needed each other, but didn’t know how to turn him loose to become the person God created him to be.

What’s wrong when our mindset becomes so distorted we destroy the ones we’re supposed to love?

We’re taught to take care of those who’re hurting. Wise King Solomon spoke to this issue: Never walk away from someone who deserves help; your hand is God’s hand for that person. Don’t tell your neighbor, ‘Maybe some other time’ or ‘Try me tomorrow’ when the money’s right there in your pocket (Proverbs 3:27-29 MSG). Paying attention to other’s needs and reaching out to them could possibly unlock the windows of heaven for God’s blessings to flow.

Life is About Relationships

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if scientists could invent a ray gun that could zap bad attitudes and blast selfishness? I’m sure the one who obtained a patent for the idea would be a shoo-in for the Nobel Peace Prize.

But it is our responsibility to cultivate good relations with those we associate with, for their benefit and ours. This takes time and most of us need help. The book of Proverbs stresses the importance of wisdom, which is essential if we’re serious about learning how to get along with others. We could compare it to panning for gold. It’s necessary for us to slow down enough to sift through the everyday flow of life to find nuggets that will embellish our time together. It gives us a way to garnish the bond until it becomes a priceless treasure.

If we fail to recognize the need to clean up our acts, we’ll likely get dirty looks from others.

Speaking of dirt, that reminds me of laundry day. Mom washed clothes outdoors in all kinds of weather, using a gasoline powered washing machine and a hand cranked wringer. On sunshiny days, clothes were hung on lines in the backyard to dry.

Today, with almost no effort, clothes are cleaned and ready to wear again. I’d like to think we had a quick way for God to teach us how to relate to others with clean attitudes and pure lives. But it takes time and energy to scrub out the stains of self-centeredness. However, if we’re willing to put forth the effort, our lives can be hung out for the wind of the Holy Spirit to blow through. The pain and hurts we’ve heaped on others will begin to evaporate.

We Demand Good Craftsmanship

My niece and nephew, missionaries in a third world country, called for a plumber to come back for the third time to work on their toilet. They chuckled when the workman returned, threw his tools down and grumbled in disgust, That’s the trouble with you Americans. You expect everything to work. This couple was aghast when they started to close a window in their seventh story apartment and the whole window unit broke loose and crashed to the ground.

Still another time, they flew on a national airline. As their plane was landing, the seat across the aisle from them ripped loose and tumbled down the aisle—with a woman in it! For later flights, they booked on a different airline.

We expect equipment to operate smoothly, yet we don’t always take the time or put forth the effort to cultivate harmony among those we associate with. When abrasive edges of others scrape against our rough edges, the conflict often leaves us raw and irritable. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if our dealings with one another could be fixed so they always worked?

Progress?

In the last twenty years, more books have been written and scientific inventions patented than any time in history. But our quality of life hasn’t improved that much. The media is chocked full of yucky influences on morals and attitudes. Even when this information is not immoral or crude, it often puts an emphasis on me instead of we. That, no doubt, is the reason some call this the Me Generation.

Practically everything that goes on in the world—wanting your own way, wanting everything for yourself, wanting to appear important—has nothing to do with the Father …The world in all its wanting, wanting, wanting is on the way out—but whoever does what God wants is set for eternity (1 John 2:15-17 MSG).

Our generation enjoys many conveniences and we enjoy many luxuries as well as having access to incredible technology. Our computers, smart phones, iPads, and Google, with all their features, require little effort to instantly extract information that once took days or weeks to retrieve. How different it would be if we devoted half our ingenuity to discover how to make others feel loved and wanted.

Before computers, a friend of mine who’d been out of the workforce for a number of years began working as a secretary. I asked how she was doing and she replied, I’m doing great. I’ve gotten to the point I can erase thirty words a minute! Why can’t someone devise a method that would erase slips of the tongue that easily?

Using Our Resources

When I first married, my twelve-year-old brother-in-law acted as if he were enamored with me. He leaned close and grinned, If I had a thousand dollars, I’d buy me a horse with half of it and give you the rest. My husband, Carey, stood nearby listening to his brother’s attempt to impress me. He challenged him. Mickey, if you had a dollar, would you give her half of it? The boy stammered and began to crawfish as he fingered the dollar bill in his pocket.

It’s sad that many of us think in terms of a big if—IF things were different, we’d act better and give more to the Lord and others. But we’re stopped short by the question, What are we doing with what we have?

We may consider our resources small, but they’re not insignificant. When Moses stood before a burning bush and God gave him the assignment to lead His people out of Egypt, Moses made an excuse. He said he couldn’t speak well. God challenged him. What do you have in your hand?

Every shepherd carried a simple staff similar to the one Moses held. God demonstrated how the staff could be used to perform miracles. Whatever we have to offer to the Father may seem small. However, Jehovah God seems to delight in using little things in incredible ways.

Some Have Good Hearts

How encouraging when we see examples among God’s children that reflect a loving concern for others. At Christmas, a group of men from a local church decided to buy bicycles for children who lived in a poor neighborhood. When they delivered the bikes, the children jumped up and down, squealing with delight. One of the benefactors began removing the price tags and a small boy came up behind him and tugged at his sleeve. In a wee voice he begged, Please sir, don’t take the price tag off mine, I’ve never had anything new before.

Thank you, Lord! We not only see generous people reaching out to the poor, but it’s also heartwarming to see major outreaches following natural disasters. Compassionate individuals representing different ages come from all walks of life. Perhaps these are signs of changing winds.

Our Father equipped us with everything we need to enjoy our lives together, regardless of handicaps, financial ability or racial backgrounds. When we depend on God and believe He is everything we need, we’ll realize that if our lives need a tune-up, we can check with the Manufacturer.

Stay Upbeat

If we want others to be around us, we must choose to be upbeat and remain cheerful. I have a friend with health problems who’s in constant pain. However,