Replenish

To replenish defines as:

• To nourish
• To fill
• To fill with inspiration
• To fill with power
• To build up
• To rebuild
• To make good

Have you ever felt the need to be nourished, inspired, empowered or built up? If you are empty, not only are you out of sorts, you have nothing to offer to anyone. Therefore, it is vital that you take time every day to replenish.

As Christians our meat is to do the will of the Father. However, we need daily bread (God's Word), we need fresh living waters, as well as the meat of purpose (will).

I have seen to many Christians fall by the way side as they attempt to "do the will" of God. They begin well, but soon burn out because they are burning at both ends. They work in the office all week, prepare for several weekly services, counsel, and then take service home with them, often sitting up all hours of the night praying and mulling around ways to help others. They become "World Fixers". Which I will add, is an impossible task.

God has not called us to fix people. He has called us to be ministers of reconciliation. We are to reconcile men to God. We are to direct them to the Father and his way of living and doing things. But it is up to each person whether they receive him and/or apply truth that will set them free.

I find people are often more driven than led, and when a person is driven so far, they are tired, frustrated, they become cranky and get ill. We are not to be driven, we are to be led. To drive holds the idea of control and tyranny; to be led, offers direction and leaves one free to choose whether they follow or not.

God has never driven anyone. He has spoken, shined a light and gave us his assistance toward life and abundance and empowered, but never driven. God offers us the ability to choose. He gives us free will. Anything that is driving us needs to be kept in check ... even our godly passions.

The Word of God tells us that we are to receive daily bread; that rivers of living waters should be bubbling up within us. We are also to be filled and re-filled. We do this from spending time in the presence of God. Reading the Word, praying and meditating. We are not to be left bone dry and wanting.

When a person is driven they often fail to eat, they forget to replenish. Their sleep is disrupted. They forget that Jesus came to give life and that more abundantly, and they often end up losing their own soul.

Our lives are to be lived in balance. God gave us seasons for reasons. He created us to sleep and to wake. He even shares with us how we are to live our lives unto godliness and success. So be sure to look unto the author and finisher of faith (of life) for direction. You and your family are as important as anyone else in the World.

When God tells us it is possible to win the entire World and lose our own soul. We must hear him. When he says, Woe to the man who goes to bed late and gets up early. We need to take heed. When he says that we are to use temperance in all things, he has a purpose.

God cares deeply about you, and longs to empower you to greatness. He longs for you to live a rich life without sorrows. But he will never drive you, he will however help you. Jesus sent us the Holy Spirit ... our helper, the one that will lead us into all truth; truth that will set us free and aide us in living our lives strong.

The next time you are feeling driven. Stop and regroup. Take some time out to put things into proper prospective.

• Get into the presence of God and replenish.
• Get built up.
• Get direction

and led the Holy Spirit lead you into better days!

Life is good when we live it in Balance!

Anger Management

Recently I was directly by the Holy Spirit to notice the amount of anger within the body. And it saddened me to see the ratio of people living their lives angry. Some call it righteous indignation (as an excuse to justify themselves), others use the word to excuse their wrath. I hear them say, "well even Jesus got angry". But those same people do not like to speak of not letting the sun go down upon their wrath, nor do they want to talk about handling anger effectually. They just stay mad.

Angry people are losing in life on so many levels.
They are not happy.
Their physical health is harmed.
They are emotionally unstable.
Their relationships are hurt or destroyed.
Children are emotionally scared and often physically harmed.
They financial well being is hindered, because they often lose jobs or refuse to stay with a job long term.
And as for material gain it too is often destroyed by tantrum fits of anger.

But the thing that we normally don't hear is ... As a Christian our witness is marred by refusing to deal properly with anger.

The bible has much to say about anger and we have wonderful counselors and programs that are offered to help us. As spirited Christians we also have the Holy Spirit (our helper) living within us.

The word of God tells us that "the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit". And where love abides, anger subsides.

Here a few good scriptures that the Holy Spirit leads us in line with:

Ephesians 4:31
Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:

Colossians 3:8
But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.

1 Timothy 2:8
I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.

James 1:19-20
Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:
For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.

So many Christians think that once they are saved they will just automatically be sweet and loving. But according to the Word although we take on a new nature, we also have an old one to take off. These are things that we have to do, God is not going to do it for us, yet the Holy Spirit (the one just like Jesus) to be here on planet earth with us will help US! While he is directing and aiming to help us all times, we still must listen to and heed Him. We must do what He gives us unction to do.

If you take note in every one of these areas beginning with ...

Eph . 4:31
we are told to "put away" wrath. We must put it in it's place and stay in charge of our emotions.

Col.3:8
Here we told to "put off" wrath (anger). In other words if it has came on you, recognize it and get it off of you, by dominating your flesh lust with it's appetites.

Timothy tells us to lift up Holy hands, without wrath or doubting. So surrender, to the nature of holiness. Put your hands up without the filth of anger (that often ends in blood shed). Understand that God can be trusted and He cares for you. If you have been wronged He will be be sure that justice is served if you will trust Him and not doubt.

And the last one for now is...

James 1:19-20
Here James tells us to be slow to speak and slow to anger. Watch those quick tongues and tempers. They both hold a dangerous fire that destroys. Learn to communicate properly. Many a war has been stopped by proper communication, many relationships built and strengthened the same way.

Remember wrath does not work the righteousness of God, nor construct anything good!