When a drink offering is given, it is poured out until the pitcher is empty. As humans, our pitchers can be emptied. However, as Christians, the Holy Spirit lives in us and gives us access to the river of life than never runs dry.
17 But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. 18 So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.
19 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. 20 I have no one else like him, who will show genuine concern for your welfare. 21 For everyone looks out for their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. 22 But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel. 23 I hope, therefore, to send him as soon as I see how things go with me. 24 And I am confident in the Lord that I myself will come soon.
25 But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, co-worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs. 26 For he longs for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was ill. 27 Indeed he was ill, and almost died. But God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow. 28 Therefore I am all the more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you may be glad and I may have less anxiety. 29 So then, welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor people like him, 30 because he almost died for the work of Christ. He risked his life to make up for the help you yourselves could not give me.
Doing something creative is my favorite! And I love visuals—not only do they help me learn, but they take me places in my mind. I also use them to meditate on scripture or doodle a picture of what I hear from God through scripture.
When I am studying deeply, I often draw. You’ll see pictures on all the notes I took in classes at school, sermons notes, interviews, and even Zoom meetings. It’s how my brain works. When I am writing a Bible study or fiction based on a Bible story, my research includes pictures: those that I draw and historical scenes. It gives me context.
Kathleen S Evenhouse 