REFRESH

BEING REFRESHED BY THE SPIRIT

I had the wonderful privilege to be part of our church's day of refreshing.  It was only for the women, but I know of a couple of guys that was a bit green after hearing our testimonies... ;)

While it is still very fresh in my memory, I would love to share a couple of things:

First of all, Jurie and I were chatting the one evening about our concerns, dreams, plans, hopes... for the year, and the conversation drifted towards the Day of Refresh for the ladies, and he asked me whether I would like to go.  Of course I wanted to, but true to my nature, I didn't want my wants to become a burden on our financial needs. So I said I'll think about it for a while and let him know.  My parents and parents-in-law came to visit one weekend, and my mother-in-law out of the blue said she wanted to pay for me to go to this day.  Father bless her awesome heart and willingness to bless me!

God is amazing.  I know I've said it before, but I can't stop saying it.  Psalm 37 says that He will give you the desires and secret petitions of your heart (amplified).  I think that is what makes this all so amazing for me, is to experience God's goodness so intense.  

To come back to the Day of Refreshing...

It is hosted by a group of women from His People Potch (and Klerksdorp).  What was really good about it being a group of women, they all have a different story (testimony) and thus giving a wider range of women who can identify/relate to them. 

SInce I was part of the organising of the event, I couldn't be fully part of the whole day, but this is what stuck with me:

John 4:10-14

The well known passage about Jesus and woman at the well.  

Jesus was talking to the Samaritan woman and said to her that the water He gives, not only refreshes, but it will also become a spring of water in him.  

This woman as constantly thirsty, she had already her fifth husband, and the man she had then wasn't her husband.  Same with us, we don't feel completely refreshed or satisfied.  Only Jesus can fully refresh us, make us satisfied.

Someone else spoke about Ezekiel 47.

Ezekiel was standing at the door of the temple, and there was water running under the door of the temple towards the East.  Then he was lead a little further away from the temple and the water was ankle deep.  They went further on and the water was hip-high.  Then further on it was a river that he couldn't pass through, and he was lead back to the bank and he saw there were many trees on both sides.  The Angel of the Lord said to Ezekiel that the waters are going towards the Easter Region and into the Dead Sea.  And when it reaches the Dead Sea, the waters will be healed and made fresh (verse 8).  And he goes on talking about fish and fruit that will come forth from the Dead Sea.  We all know NOTHING can grow in or from the Dead Sea, but here the Angel of the Lord is showing Ezekiel so much life that came forth from the river and the Dead Sea.

Lets say we are the small puddle of water that started at the temple, Jesus started this fountain in you, and He sent you to a "dead sea", how awesomely can He use you to bring life and to bear fruit.  When we are in a "Dead Sea", maybe your work situation or you have lots of unsaved friends, it so easy to think that there is nothing you can do to bring life.  But Jesus said He will give us a spring, a fountain in us, he needs just a small amount of water which by His Spirit can turn into a river so strong that you cannot swim through it, to bring life to that which is dead.

But how?

Remember when the Israelites where in the dessert and Moses had to build the Tent of Meeting for God?  In Exodus 31 God said to Moses he called Uri, and..."I filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom and ability, in understanding and intelligence, and in knowledge, and in all kinds of craftsmanship, to devise skillful works, to work in gold, and in silver, in bronze, and in cutting of stone for setting, and in carving of wood, to work in all kinds of craftsmanship..." (Ex31:3-5).

God equips all of us with special abilities so that He can use us in different areas.

Whatever God has equipped us with, whether you are a kindergarten teacher or a business man, we are all called to bring the Living Waters to a "dead sea" world.

People can either leave your presence feeling drained.  Or feeling refreshed.  What will it be.

I know the day was called "refresh", but I couldn't help thinking the day after, "I feel so refreshed".

It's my prayer that God will take you, fill you with His Living Water and make you a force to reckon with!  May He bring you to waters where there is rest, may He refresh and restore your soul.

   -  Lilli