I will spend a good portion of next week at Freed-Hardeman for their annual lectureship. This is a time and event that I always look forward to. For me, it is a time of refreshing – a time to spend in a place and with people that I hold dear, being fed (spiritually), encouraged, strengthened and taught. It is amazing to me how refreshed and revitalized I always am when I return from the lectureship.

Could you use a time of refreshing? Many times, the hectic schedules we maintain, the hardships and challenges we face, the discouragement we often experience, and the temptation that we constantly struggle with all come together to drain us of our enthusiasm, strength and spiritual resolve. We find ourselves trying simply to exist with no real purpose and no motivation to grow or serve in our Christian lives. We need to be refreshed, renewed, re-vived. But how? When? Where?

One answer to these questions is very simple. Each time, we come together for worship or Bible study, the opportunity exists for refreshing. Through our activities together and through the encouragement that we re-ceive from one another, we can receive strength and encouragement. But we must make the effort. It’s not enough just to be present; we must engage, in-teract, be involved. By our involvement with and encouraging of one another, we can find the strength and refreshing that we need. It is one of the beautiful benefits of being part of God’s wonderful family. I look forward to seeing you here.

I Hope You Have A Wonderful Day!

Rusty