So this was the message that I spoke at the Spa Ladies Brunch. Spa Ladies are groups of ladies who meet to encourage each other in their walks with Christ. When I refer to "the spa" I'm refering to a physical spa as well as a small group of Bible believing women who meet regularly. These could be called care groups, life cell groups, Bible study's, small groups, etc.
If you are not apart of one I encourage you to find one. Read on and see why.
Life and the Spa.
Imagine : Waking up to soft music, surrounded by natural rock and next door to a mineral pool. You get up to have breakfast served while you are in a white robe and towel twisted on your head. Then you sit back while your nails are done. You lounge while reading a book and then in the afternoon you have your feet attended to. Lovely hey? Too bad that wasn’t our everyday!
Hand gestures Life One hand Spa other hand.
We’re going to look at Life and the Spa.
Role of the Spa
A spa helps us look good and sets us up to face the world.
We should look good and be attractive.
You look good ladies!
If we look good we often feel better. The main reason we should look good is to bring glory to God.
I said we should be attractive. How do we “be attractive”?
In the book Femanine Appeal Carolyn Mahaney says
Although our daily actions might not be covered on the evening news, our lifestyle speaks loudly to those around us. How sobering it is to realize that our behavior has the potential to discredit the gospel. But how exciting it is to think that we can actually commend the gospel! …..
Several years ago while we were on a family outing, a gentleman approached my husband and said, “Sir, I’ve been observing you for some time, and I have never seen a family relate like yours. How do you do it?”
My husband explained that we are simply a family of sinners – but sinners whose lives have been transformed by the power of the gospel. And that was the reason for the difference this man observed.
Although we might not always be aware, people are watching our lives. If we exhibit the qualities from Titus 2 such as love for our families or purity or kindness, we are promoting the gospel. And the unbelievers who see us – be they family member, friend, neighbor, or stranger – may actually be drawn to the gospel by the way we live. How extraordinary!
How their family interacted was attractive to an onlooker, in the same way what we do speaks loudly to those around us. By living life as God wants us to it is attractive to those around us.
What should a spa do for us?
1. Relaxing,
2. Detoxifying,
3. Rejuvenating,
4. Polish,
5. Takes us away from the world in order to ready us for the World.
Christ often took time and went away to spend time with God. When he went to pray it was like having a spiritual spa. He went away from the world.
Christ made it a “holy habit” to spend time with his Father. When he was not “at the spa” he was ready to go. He was ready to preach, pray and prophesy. He didn’t say to those who needed to be healed, Can you wait here for 20 minutes I need to go seek my dad’s advice. He was ready to go! He was prepared to face the world.
When Christ had “spiritual spa” time He had direct access to the Father.
Ephesians 2:18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.
We have the ability to do what Christ did and just as he did we have direct access to the Father.
When we take spiritual spa time we can approach God directly and He listens.
1John 5:14This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15And if we know that he heards us - whatever we ask - we know that we have what we asked of him.
We have access and we can approach God. That thought continues to blow me away.
Spa Ladies is here to help you
1. Relax
2. Detoxify,
3. Rejuvenate,
4. Polish – Not always comfortable….
5. Takes us away from the world in order to ready us for the World.
How important is the spa? Why is it important to come together to talk about the things of God.
Jean Fleming in her book A Mother’s Heart says
God is honored when those who fear God, not evil, talk with each other. (QUOTING SCRIPTURE SHE WRITES) “Then those who feared the Lord talked with each other, and the Lord listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared the Lord and honored his name.” (Malachi 3:16). I see the Lord looking down on a scene that delights Him. Those who take Him seriously are talking with each other about His faithfulness, His promises, His tender mercies and loving kindness. They may be enjoying tea together or suffering in a dreary dungeon; they may be mothers rejoicing over the robust spiritual health of their children or looking to God in faith for wayward children. The situation is immaterial. The spirit and content of the meeting is everything: God is taken seriously.
The scene is so pleasing to God that He calls in heavenly scribes to record the conversation, to capture permanently this high point in humanity. For after all, in God’s eyes aren’t the high points of history those times when His people count on His character and His Word?
When we gather together to encourage one another in our daily lives, it makes high points in history!
Someone needs to get that in their spirit today. You make history.
When you gather together to talk of the things of God it is high points in humanity.
What needs to happen at home before and after a spa?
Maintenance - we need to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
1. Drink plenty of water
2. Get lots of rest
3. Eat a balanced diet
4. Exercise
5. Spend time with God
6. Proper Hygiene
7. And like my mom says about make up “If an old barn needs painting by all means paint it.”
What we do at home sets the stage for success.
Rev Les Markham says “Everything is to the glory of God, there is no distinction between secular duty and spiritual service. Everything is to the glory of God.”
Whatever you do in a day is to the glory of God. Say again.
Lets look at our maintenance duties a little closer.
1. Drink plenty of water.
Experts tell us that we are suppose to consume 8 or more glasses of water per day.
Make a plan to do this. Perhaps fill a container with 8 glasses and make sure it’s gone everyday. I wouldn’t suggest you drink it all before bed.
So point number 1 Drink plenty of water.
2. Get plenty of Rest
Sleep is a gift from God. Psalm 127: 2 In vain you rise early
and stay up late,
toiling for food to eat—
for he grants sleep to [a] those he loves.
I just started setting for myself a bed time and trying to keep it.
What time do you need to go to bed in order to serve your family and do all God has for you in a day?
Set a time and work on going to bed then.
Get plenty of rest.
3. Eat a balanced diet.
Do we need to go here? Yes. I just recently read an article on fasting and wow how much extra our bodies have to work on digesting when we eat more than what we need It explained how when the body has focus so much on digesting, how much less energy etc your body has to properly function and “heal” itself. Blew my mind.
Food is fuel for our bodies. Eat what you need and if you’re going to have a treat make sure it’s worth it!
4. Exercise.
Yes we need to go here to. Exercise will look different for everyone. Do something that works for you to get your heart rate up. Take a walk. Join the gym, take a class, borrow my taebo video’s. Exercise is great for the body and we just need to do it. Again set a time and a schedule that would work for you.
5. Spend time with God
Notice that spending time with God is simply part of the “maintenance” we must do everyday.
We need to spend time with God in order to prepare us for the day.
I can’t tell you how many times I have done my quiet time in the morning and it related to something that happens that day.
Fill your mind with things of God.
On your own ….
A. Be in the Word, - This is what I refer to as my quiet time. (but it doesn’t have to be quiet)
B. Pray – conversations all day. Everything we do is to the glory of God.
C. Surround yourself with books, magazine and music that bringing glory to God.
Side note – Bible needs to be our foundation. Not just “great books”
Philipians 4: 8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
I want to play a song. I want us to take a moment and listen to the words and think on the things of Christ.
Song “Again” - by Jessica McLean
Point number 5 spend time with God everyday.
6. Proper Hygiene
Take time in the mornings to maintain a good look.
Take care of your skin.
Smell fresh or don’t smell.
Always have an emergency supply of breath mints on hand.
A friend of mine shared something she learned “Be prepared to preach pray and prophesy at any moment” It’s quite distracting if the person praying for you has bad breath. – So chew and mint. J
7. Paint the Barn?
I’ll leave the make up thing up to you. My only thought is don’t overdo it. Enhance your natural beauty.
Conclusion
The spa is amazing. We need to make time to go there.
Remembering though we don’t live at the spa. Your daily maintenance is to be done at home.
Let your spa know how to help prepare you.
You will need to look much different going to a wedding than to the mall.
Share where you are at and where you want to go. – Prepare yourself to grow. Get ready to face the day everyday.
Let’s pray.