Vacation’s All I’ve Ever Wanted!

Posted on March 1, 2016 by America's Keswick in Freedom Fighters

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MS EUROPA 2

“I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come?” ~Psalm 121:1

“Wanna get away?” I did a search for “vacation” in the concordance on a web site I use to do my Bible study, there were no places in the Bible in all the translations that have the word “vacation”. I did this on the heels of a two week cruise I took with my wife. First of all I would not recommend a cruise to someone who would struggle with alcohol or gambling and would definitely have some accountability with you, (there’s my disclaimer).

As I pondered our time away I became a spectator of my fellow passengers and the way they do “vacation”. We love to cruise and have been cruising for many years but for some reason this time was different. I wondered as I watched people consume massive amounts of alcohol and spend countless hours in a smoked filled casino, “is this what a vacation is”? This lead me to search out what God would have us do for “vacation” and found through a series of meanings for the word I fell upon the meaning of rest or refresh. I determined that we were seeking to break our normal routine, get away and enjoy each other and recharge for another year of work.

In Psalm 121 the Psalmist ask the question of “From where does my help come from?” The same question I asked myself as I thought about how blessed I was to have this opportunity. I asked God to give me a vision of what I was experiencing. He showed me that we are prone to wonder, tricked to thinking we can somehow please ourselves, trying desperately to fill an unfillable hole with pleasure and self-gratification. Talk about perspective, I began to realize that this time away was not my ultimate sustainer but a vehicle to seek where my true help comes from. “My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth. He will not let your foot be moved, He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD is your keeper, the LORD is your shade on your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night” (verses 2-6).

I became burdened with compassion and wanted to scream but could “only” pray and share with a few who, when I told my story either ignored me or had a brief encounter with a truth they may know and are only hiding behind their temporary cover. There was one man on a sailing excursion we did, he was the captain from here in the states, he told me he drinks heavily every night, says there is nothing else to do. He looked at me with saddened eyes when I told him “it doesn’t have to be that way”, and said, “I wish it were true”, please continue to pray for him.

So, today, if you’re looking for rest and think “if only I had….”, know that true help comes from the Lord, Amen!

Written by Rob Russomano: Rob is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy and full time staff member at America’s Keswick.

The Daily Bible Reading: Psalm 61; Proverbs 30

Click Here to Download our 2016 Daily Bible Reading Plan

Daily Quote: “Abide in Jesus, the sinless One – which means, give up all of self and its life, and dwell in God’s will and rest in His strength. This is what brings the power that does not commit sin.” ~ Andrew Murray

This Week’s Verse to Memorize: In the fear of the Lord there is strong confidence,
And His children will have a place of refuge. ~Proverbs 14:26 (NKJV)

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