Fresh Brewed Life

So, this coming week end I will fulfill a life goal...

For years I have said, somewhat facetiously, "When I grow up I want to be a retreat speaker." And this coming week end...I'm speaking at my first retreat. My debut. (I won't quit my day job...)

The theme for the week end is Psalm 119:105, "Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path."

On Friday night our pastor's wife will do a one hour Old Testament survey, and I'll do a 30 minute intro to who am I and what's my story.

Saturday morning she will do a 45 minute New Testament survey, and I'll have three sessions on Saturday: WHY study the Bible, HOW to study the Bible and LET'S study the Bible (where we'll study a passage together)

So as I'm finalizing my list of *why* study the Bible, I think to myself...I can't imagine life without reading the Bible regularly. How do women hold themselves together without that daily dose of Truth and encouragement? It is truly the glue that holds my fragile self together.

Most of the week end will be based on Psalm 119 , and two words which are often repeated there are "revive" (vs. 25, 37, 40,50,88,93,107, 154, 156,159) and "long" and/or "longing."(vs. 20,40,82,123,131, 174,) As I tried to succinctly express this in words, I remembered my favorite book of all time, "Fresh Brewed Life."

In this book which SO speaks to me (and makes me feel more *normal*), Nicole Johnson wrote an entire chapter entitled, "Listen to your Longings." I'll be reading a lot of it on Saturday morning.

Here's my favorite paragraph of the book: Are longings one big cosmic setup for frustration? Perhaps, if we view them as something to be overcome or eradicated. If we spend more time trying to get them "filled up." But if we lean in close, and put our ears to the chest of our soul and listen to our longings - they can teach us to understand God and ourselves in a way that would not happen if we were permitted to have everything we longed for. It's true, what we don't have shapes us more than what we have. We are like Swiss cheese, and the holes in us are actually supposed to be there. The holes are the places God has reserved in us for Himself! The longings identify our real hunger. A hunger that drives us to Him to be satisfied. If...big if...we listen. (p. 45)

Nicole says it so much more succinctly than I ever could. The longings of our hearts are there to bring us to God. And the psalmist agrees. He craves God's Word out of longing. The word "delight" is also plentiful in Psalm 119, as well as "revive." Why read God's Word? To be REVIVED.

I love that thought. I love that word: REVIVE!

If you're interested in the book, see my side bar, and link to the "Fresh Brewed Life" website.

This book spoke to me unlike anything else I have read, second only to the Bible. Truly. I must have read it just at the right time in life, just at the moment of most need. Reading it was like having coffee with a friend - a very close and intimate friend. It's the only book I own two of -- my copy and a lending copy. I love it THAT much!

"I need truth in stong doses like a great cup of coffee in the morning. I need to hear from God and be changed, every day." (p. x of the introduction)

"When we offer Him the whole-bean essence of ourselves and we submit to be finely ground, it will produce character in us." (p. 12)

Yes, the whole book is full of coffee analogy, and there are facts and recipes sprinkled throughout. It's a delicious read in more ways than one.

I'm going to curl up now, with a good cup of Nescafe Decaf and Coffee Mate Black Cherry Streusel creamer*, and reread this gem of a book. It's a book to read with journal in hand. And colored pencils, highlighters and post-it flags. (My copy is VERY colorful)

May the Lord *revive* you soon through His word as well! Ciao!

* This creamer may be the reason that 600 Starbucks stores are closing...it's THAT good!! Our Starbucks has definitely seen less of me since I discovered it! It is a limited release item....I'm stocking up!