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TIMES
O f R e f r e
What do you think of when you think REFRESHING? A cold drink on a hot afternoon? An long nap? Listening to music? A leisurely walk along the beach or in a park? There are several biblical references to refreshing, of physical and spiritual bodies. In Scripture we read of refreshment by resting on the Sabbath (Ex. 23:12), with cool water after physical activity (Judg. 15:18-19), by soothing music (1 Sam. 16:23), and with encouraging fellowship (2 Tim. 1:16). The apostle Peter describes a time of spiritual refreshment that took place on the Day of Pentecost. He exhorted his
listeners to repent and respond to the gospel that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord (Acts 3:19).
School, activities, extra-curricular, hobbies, friends, church, ministry, work, deadlines, managing, family, extended family, kids activities, the house, cooking, cleaning, maintaining, responsibilities unceasing. As a kid watching the a variety TV show, I remember seeing a man on the stage spinning plates. Each plate was on top of a narrow stick which was standing from a base on the stage. He would place plates on each one and spin them. As he added on plate he would spin both that one and the previous one. He continued to add more and more plates till the stage had about 10. With each new additional plate, the earlier ones started to wobble, and so he would run back over to it and slap it into a fast spin. It was amazing to see him dart across the stage ever aware of the plates that were starting to teeter and near falling off. He was able to keep them all up on the sticks until he finally removed them all at his will. Recently, I realized I am much like that man on the stage, I am always spinning plates. Whether I am speaking at an
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Ever Notice How much time is consumed at the computer just looking things up, checking things out, or trying to connect with someone. Who has and I-phone, pod? I-pad or a I-
Do we realize how much these types of devices I-solate us from what is happening around us; Instead of having true eye-2-eye contact? How actually, though we have the world wide webs connectivity at our fingertips, we are less connected to the moment, the people we are with. We have become addicted to the internets activity and the virtual experience of the short bursts of pleasure received from phone messages, snap chats, tweets and instagrams. We have lost the power of true connectivity and settled for a counterfeit and it is robbing us of valuable relationships, and time!
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event, leading a retreat, practicing with my band, recording, writing a message, leading worship at church, traveling to minister, tending to my family or working. I dont know about you but there are plenty of times I am juggling more than my share of chores, activities and even responsibilities. Too often, being someone who does have the ability to excel under pressure, I take on too much. I dont say no and take on something I had no business considering. I too get caught up, distracted by the seemingly urgent while forgetting to take care of priorities. Which is probably why I burn a lot of dinners.
What causes us to need refreshing, what saps us of energy, what depletes us of strength, what distracts us causing us to exert more energy than needed in areas that dont meet the needs we have?
I can get caught up and allow the tail to wag the dog... I must take authority over my life, and I search the scriptures to find out where and how to do that. The Bible warns of us loosing, heart, strength and resolve, love growing cold and chasing after the sensory rather than the eternal!
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To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven: A time to be born, And a time to die; A time to plant, And a time to pluck what is planted; A time to kill, And a time to heal; A time to break down, And a time to build up; A time to weep, And a time to laugh; A time to mourn, And a time to BUT HOW can we if we ourselves are dance; exhausted, too busy to get involved and A time to cast away stones, And a put our hand to the plow? time to gather stones; A time to embrace, And a time to refrain from embracing; FIRST we need to prioritize! YES Put things in perspective, A time to gain, And a time to lose; putting first things first! A time to keep, And a time to throw away; A time to tear, And a time to sew; WE NEED to be REFRESHED BY THE SPIRIT, and that A time to keep silence, And a time starts with repenting of putting other things first before God! to speak; A time to love, And a time to hate; A time of war, And a time of peace.
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Being thirsty is an awful feeling. What a relief to drink a wonderful glass of cold water when you feel parched. It may come as a surprise that water is referenced 482 times in the Bible. Without water we couldnt live. Without living water , our soul cant thrive. 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 4:14
I equate being thirsty to searching and not being satisfied. So many people are searching for love, happiness, fulfillment, success, security, and peace and a sense of their
purpose. The process is exhausting. The problem is searching for other things to satisfy that thirst. The results may work, but only temporarily. Ultimately, our souls cry out.
If you Spend NO PERSONAL TIME with God, then you cannot say that you KNOW GOD PERSONALLY!
Jesus said, Those who drink of the water that I will give them will never be thirsty . Through Him, we never need to thirst again.
If your soul is parched and you need the healing power and satisfaction of living water, renew your commitment to draw closer to your Creator. Take time to
be still and allow Christs peace and presence to refresh your dried up places. Enjoy the peace and satisfaction that only Gods love can bring.
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I will pour water upon him that is thirsty (Isa. 44:3). The whole Bible shows that God has a peculiar tenderness for those who are thirsty. Christ, who is the express image of God, had compassion on those who were weak: Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest (Matt. 11:28). If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink (John 7:37). Many of Jesus cures were intended to win the hearts of burdened souls. The woman who had spent everything she had upon other physicians, and who was worse rather than
better, no sooner touched the hem of His garment than she was made whole (Luke 8:43-44). Another was bowed down 18 years but Jesus laid His hands on her, and immediately she was made straight (Luke 13:13). Weary sinner, this is what Jesus wants to do for you! Only learn that it must come from His
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Matter of Identity
God wants us to have an identity that is immovable, unshakeable and will not be crushed when situations rise to beat against us. Knowing who we are called to serve, who we are called to be, and what manner there is in which to live helps us to live condently, even when things are somewhat confusing around us. Knowing What Jesus calls us to and how to live within the boundaries of His Calling in our lives, makes us bold and daring, willing to walk on water, because we Trust His calling us out on it, and His ability to sustain us and uphold us as we walk in areas unknown. There we enjoy the liberty of the spirit.
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Things to Do:
Beat back the distractions Focus on the Important Dont allow someone elses chaos to rule Dont permit urgency to overrule Keep priorities in line recognize that relationships are more important yet, dont seek to be a people pleaser
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