January 22 “Feeling Empty…” Acts 3:19-20
** Due to Inclement Weather, the Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting & other BTC Activities are Cancelled for tonight! Please Stay Safe! **
Good morning from Pastor Glen Brock, Baptist Tabernacle Church, Wendell, North Carolina… “Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before…” (Acts 3:19-20)
Have you ever felt “jaded,” or “empty?” I was in a conversation with a pastor friend, and he was sharing that he was going through the motions, and that he was feeling isolated and alone! He continued to share that he was still preaching and visiting and doing those things that were required, yet he didn’t have the energy or enthusiasm that he once enjoyed. With tears in his eyes, he asked me how I did it! My response was quick… “Do What?” He said that he observed me interacting with others and always smiling and always with a quick word and an encouraging thought, and I stopped him, and I informed him that I have times of feeling empty and alone and isolated and weary and challenged and “down-right tired,” but when these times come, I know that I need some “ALONE TIME” with my Lord! Many years ago, my parents would play host to a traveling evangelist, and Mama would “spoil” him with all of her amazing ways! He would have the best sheets on the bed, and our best pillows, and she would put out the thickest towels, washcloths and she would make his stay with us as comfortable and refreshing as she could! I recall one young man, in particular, that told my folks that he felt so comfortable and blessed and refreshed! You can imagine that Mama was beaming her beautiful smile! The last morning that he was with us, he confessed that he came into our home, empty, weary, and borderline discouraged, and that he felt a bit guilty when he wasn’t “Doing” something for the Lord, however, he had been blessed to have been pampered and to have experienced the “Brock” warmhearted hospitality, and an opportunity for some “Down-Time! (Some Guilt-Free, Refreshing Down Time) … Friends, we all get weary in our daily service, and we get challenged and we have a sense of emptiness, yet we have a solution to this human condition! When I begin to feel this emptiness and weariness, I know that it is time to go into the presence of God and spend time with my Lord! I am talking about being with my Lord, even more than my normal prayer and study time. I am talking about some Alone Time, just me and Him, praying and listening and reading His word and blocking out all the distractions of this world, and allow Him to refresh me, empower me, and allow me to grow, and stay in His Presence as long as it takes to be refreshed! Dear Friends, when you feel empty, and you will, COME into the presence of the Lord, and spend time with Him, and allow Him to touch you and heal you and lift you up, then you will leave “FILLED!” THANK YOU, GOD FOR YOUR SALVATION AND YOUR SUSTAINING AND REFRESHING POWER! Stay Strong, Stay Focused…THE BEST IS YET TO BE!