I get up early so my morning isn't disrupted, but this isn't one of those mornings. I has already received 4 disruptions and its 6:53. So whatever message was discovered during "shower prayer and revelation" went down the drain.

Ahh. Wait a second. I had a dream during the night about being drained. T'is the season for being drained. Why? Because I let it more than it happens. And I was thinking about David and the psalms he wrote regarding the life that is in the Word of God. And I had this thought about being on a desert and straining towards that drink of water and feeling like someone was holding me back. Like someone had my leg and was dragging me, restraining me from the refreshing of the water.

Well(no pun intended), I want to drink and situations, circumstances and most of all, ME, prevent times of refreshing. I have been planning to get out of here for weeks and it hasn't happened. There are valid worldly excuses; money, people, time, vehicle, but most of all a choice.

So I have to be satisfied with the little sips here and there that I accomplish when I have been pushed into overdrive. I find it hard to say no to anyone. Some on the list here attend church and know that I do this. I am "available". Personally, I like it. It is no more than a soulish response to a beckoning of the Lord Jesus.

He wants us to drink from Him and we have a daily choice. How many have felt "condemned" for not meeting with the Lord? (How many wives or husbands on this list have to write in appointments just to see their spouse??) I know that my times with the Lord are not as much nor as long as I would like. Given the choice, I would choose to be in communion with the Lord 24 hours a day. When we had the building, I would go up and lie on the floor for hours with the Lord just speaking to my heart. Sometimes I prayed, sometimes I listened, my Bible always at hand.

When I first received the Lord, I would get home at 6 or so and study until 10-11 each night. Do I need Him now less than 8 years ago? I think not, in fact I probably need Him more!

This is a season where it is easy to be drained. Why? Because many of us are battling our own memories of this season, some good and some bad. And often we attempt to measure by our old standards and not by the Word of God. And then there are those of us who do this day in and day out, who feel even more of the strain as others lives are in despair. And then there is that group who feel "compelled" to do everything. May I make some observations that may cause me readership? Church, don't get involved with something that you won't carry out through the year. If you are going to visit elderly in nursing homes, COMMIT to it for the year. Going to give tows and clothing to children, COMMIT to it for a year, not just a week. Ever wonder why so many elderly leave the earth shortly after the holidays? In part they have waited for the end of the holidays and now they are looking at a year of no visitors. I know, because I have visited the elderly.

The world needs Jesus. And Jesus dwells in you and how much you shield Him from the world by your flesh is a choice. I believe in ministering to the children, to the elderly, to the street people, to the homeless. (Tonight one group gets together to pray while the other group goes to the streets to bring Jesus-but its not just a Christmas thing!) But what about you? You need the Word of God swirling in your heart. You need that time of refreshing with the Lord. So don't let the devil tell you the five minutes you spent with Him won't get you anywhere. And as you pray in the Spirit, feel the power of God, (Jude 20) build within. And when you do go to give, its from overflow. You can not minister from an empty vessel, or even less than full. And when you are operating in the power of the Lord and not the power of man you will see the results that the apostles saw. Signs, wonders and the furthering of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

So what am I going to do? Meet with Him of course and be filled with His Spirit once again. That there is freshness and life that flows from the words I minister because I abide in Him

Today, take a drink from the water that gives life. Even if it is a Scripture you walk around with all day and just keep saying, thinking on. Watch! There is a power that comes, an anointing on HIS WORD.