"Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven." (Matthew 5:3)
In life, there are times of blessing and times of testing. We don't always get to choose which season we are in! Yet both can be rich and produce good fruit if we keep our eyes on the Lord Jesus Christ and respond out of a desire to please Him.
Some time ago, I was feeling tired and drained. I had been up nights caring for our little dog during his last days of life. His passing came suddenly. We were not expecting it and were brokenhearted to lose him.
I remember saying many times that though we may not have experienced the same loss, we know how loss feels, therefore we can comfort others with the same comfort with which we have been comforted (2 Corinthians 1:4). Yet now I realize I had no idea how hard it is to lose a pet you have become close to. I know now! And I will be much more sensitive to others if they are experiencing this kind of grief.
Times of Refreshing
Immediately after experiencing our loss, we had a train of commitments scheduled. We knew we were to keep them, but I went into them wondering what I could offer, feeling so empty and tired.
However, when we returned home, though physically ready for rest, I felt revived and refreshed from our times of worship and sharing. We had been with others who also loved the Lord and were carriers of His presence. (Photo via Pxhere)
Times of refreshing in the presence of the Lord! These precious times are available to all of us when we come together in His presence to fellowship and worship Him.
I felt revived! That was the only word I could think of to explain what I was experiencing. I looked up the word "revive" once again, so I could reflect on its meaning.
The word revive comes from a Hebrew word which means "to live," "to make alive," "to keep alive"; "to give life," "quicken, recover, repair, or restore to life"; "to save, be whole."
Notice the essence of staying alive, once someone has been revived. That's very important! Another definition said, "To regain life or strength," or, "to give new strength or energy to."
"Wilt Thou not revive us again: that Thy people may rejoice in Thee?" (Psalm 85:6)
Today we are facing much stress in society and uncertainty in our nation. There is discord among the nations. May the Lord revive us and give us the stamina, strength, and tenacity needed for us to stand in the days ahead. May we find times of refreshing, whether in our prayer closet or with others, that we not grow weary or faint. May we become a place of refreshing that others can come to when they need refreshment!
"But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew (exchange) their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." (Isaiah 40:31, emphasis added)
Love That Continues to Sprout and Grow
It's true that I still experience a wave of sadness at times, missing our little dog, Jethro. Then I again ask the Lord to help turn that grief into thankfulness for the time that we had with him, and for the imprints he left in our lives.
Jethro's favorite spot in the morning was in front of a big window, lying in the sun. Right after we lost him, I was caring for a plant for my neighbor. In the very spot where Jethro used to lie, the plant was now sprouting and growing. (Photo via Freerange Stock)
So it is in our lives. When love has been expanded within us through life's experiences, it will continue to sprout and grow.
On a practical level, we were able to pass along the tangible things that had blessed one little dog in our home to bless many others at a shelter. This act brought joy to our hearts in an otherwise sad moment.
Revive us, O Lord! Let us glean from every season we find ourselves in. Let us be thankful for the way You've blessed us in the past. We ask for Your blessing now, as we move forward into what today holds.
Revive us, O Lord! Strengthen us! Let us be carriers of Your life. May we share Your life with others.
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Nancy Taylor Tate
Parousia Ministries
Email: nancy@wadetaylor.org or joanne@wadetaylorpublications.org
Websites: www.wadetaylor.org | www.wadetaylorpublications.org
Nancy Taylor Tate, serves in Parousia Ministries, carrying the vision passed on from her father, Wade Taylor. Her books, That I Might Know Him, and Walking in His Ways, are readily available on Amazon. In addition, Nancy hosts Parousia Ministries Gatherings, and travels from time to time to speak and pray with others. Nancy's special gift of relating to and loving people stems from her own love for Jesus and His Kingdom. Her spiritual life messages flow into the hearts of those to whom she ministers. Nancy has an expectation for visitation and carries a prophetic word that speaks into that which the Lord is doing today. For more deeper life teachings and to learn more about the vision of Wade Taylor Ministries / Parousia Ministries please visit www.wadetaylor.org.
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