Refreshed

Proverbs 25:13
As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to them that send him: for he refresheth the soul of his masters.

Acts 3:19
Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.

2 Timothy 1:16
The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus; for he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain:

to refresh: to take refreshment, to become fresh again, to revive.

Today five ladies and I went to the "big city" for a little time of refreshment. First we went to the brand new Lojas Americanas in Juazeiro da Bahia and walked around in pairs for about an hour. What can possibly be more refreshing for women than shopping! Then we all made a few purchases and left for our next destination - a mini mall - where we were to have a snack time.

During our snack I talked just a little about the word "refresh" in the Bible. It's one of my favorite words in the Bible. I love to hunt for new verses that have "refresh." Early this morning, I looked up some of the verses that use some form of the same root word in my Portuguese Bible. It seems there are three word roots that are used to translate what is found as "refresh" in my Women's Study Bible: recrear, refrescar, and refrigerar.

Recrear gives the idea of recess time, time to have some good old fun and enjoy yourself.

Refrescar has the idea of renewing or refreshing, or washing up and getting rid of the dirt and sweat.

Refrigerar is the root word from which Brazilians get their word for soda pop - refrigerante. It's a word that means to cool off or quench your thirst.

As I drank my Coke Zero and we ate our little salgadinhos, I told the ladies that it was my desire for us to have a time of refreshing together, to enjoy each other's Christian company, and to go happy and content for having been together. I also reminded them of how each one of us needs to be a refreshment to the others in our group all the time. Lastly I asked them to consider the words of Acts 3:19 and to think on what each one might need to do on a private level with our Lord God to renew our own hearts and to allow ourselves to be more of that thirst-quenching source to those around us.

Thanks to the five that went along with me today for our little time of refreshment! Rosa, Francisca, Janilde, Celia, and Socorro!