I am so thankful that I am a work in progress.  I am thankful that God has not left me where I was yesterday, or last month, or last year.  I am thankful that He continues to work in my heart to mold me into a better person.

The other day I parked in a parking garage and was trying to find the quickest and easiest way out to the road.  The closest exit to my parking spot led to an outdoor stairway and I was only on the second floor, so I thought I would just use that exit.  Well… I don’t think that exit is used very often.  Especially since it leads outside and it was pouring down rain.  When I opened the door, it was as if someone had put a bucket of water over the door jam as a booby trap.  Immediately a load of cold, smelly, stagnant water was dumped on my head.  Gross!  I literally gasped.

Once I got my bearings, I thanked God that my phone and my folder with important documents did not get drenched.  Then I did my best to wipe, dry, and shake the water off the rest of my body.  Of course, after a while I began to dry, and it wasn’t that big of a deal.  However, even as I dried, I stunk.  It was clear to me that the water had been stagnant above that door jamb for a while because it had a very bad stench, which was now in my hair and covering the right side of my sweater. 

It was dirty water because it hadn’t been refilled, purified, refined, or moved.

I never want to be like a puddle of the same old water day in and day out.  I want fresh, clean water to refill me each day.  Living water.

I never want to be like sewage, stinky water full of grime and disease.  I want to be purified and refined.  That doesn’t just happen.  It is a process.

I don’t want to be like a stagnant bucket of water that remains unmoved and unused.  I want to be moved and changed daily to be more usable and purposeful.

Thank you, Lord, for pouring your rain down and reminding me that you are still working on me.

Create in me a clean heart, Lord, and renew a right spirit within me. — Psalm 51:10

He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, “From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.” — John 7:38

Jill Thompson didn’t give much thought to intentional living until her best friend, Kristen Milligan, was diagnosed with terminal liver cancer at age 30.  She had a front row seat as Kristen planned and prepared for her death and was inspired to be as intentional with each day.  Kristen rarely missed a single moment to speak truth to her children and to teach, inspire, and encourage others.  Because of her intentionality, her life and legacy are still greatly impacting others even 4 years after her death.  Jill lives in Florida with her husband and four children and tries to make the most of each and every day, living intentionally as a wife and mom.