When Was the Last Time You Took a Bath? (Spring Cleaning Series- Part 1 of 4)

Growing up a lonely only, my Mom would sometimes ask a tell-tale question: “Young lady, when was the last time you took a bath?”

Uncertain of her reasoning, it never ever occurred to me I may have shown a petite resemblance to Pig Pen from Charles Schulz’ Peanuts comic. Could there have possibly been a veritable, odorous cloud hovering over my universe?

Fast forward many moons to today’s world, when there’s hardly time for a quick shower: Taking a bath is a huge luxury. Are you a bath person? I have a handful of friends who take a bath every night to relax. Never occurred to me. (Am I repeating myself????)

In our current home, we have the biggest bathtub you’ve ever seen. In the six years we’ve lived there, I’ve only used it about four times. Well, that is about to change…

The newest Bible study our Tuesday group has started, this very week, actually suggests soaking in a tub for part of our homework. I kid you not. And, I have so much respect for this excellent author, I’m not about to disobey.

The book? Refresh! A Spa for Your Soul by Lucinda Secrest McDowell (Better known as “Cindy”.) The end of Chapter One suggests we take a hot bath, perhaps with some scented bath oil, listen to soothing instrumental music, light a scented candle, and “soak up the serenity”. Ahhhh…Sign me up.

In the Prologue, Cindy tells us her book is “part of my journey which I offer to you as a tool for examining areas of balance in your own life…

My prayer for both of us is that we drink deeply of that living water Jesus offers. You, too, can experience a refreshing – SPA– as you walk thru’ each chapter and do your own Spiritual Personal Assessment activities.”

You can bet I’ll be talking about this book more in the future as our group dives in. Stay tuned…

While we’re on the subject of water, let’s look more at this living water. There’s a hugely upbeat song out right now by Jordan Feliz. I heard him interviewed on the radio recently about his song, The River.

He said he wrote it around John 7:38. Look how The Message expounds on this in verses 37-38: “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Rivers of living water will brim and spill out of the depths of anyone who believes in me this way, just as the Scripture says.” Here’s the NIV:

I pray we’ll all be blessed by the below lyrics, and take the three minutes to listen to the song ( Just click on the YouTube link.) and let the words wash over you, soaking them up:

Lyrics to The River by Jordan Feliz:

“I know a place
where we can go
to lay the troubles down eating your soul.
I know a place
Where mercy flowsTake the stains make you whiter than snow

Like a tide it is rising up
Deep inside
A current that moves and make you come aliveLiving waterThat brings the dead to life

(chorus)

We’re going down to the riverDown to the river
Down to the river to prayLet’s get washed by the waterWashed by the waterAnd rise up in amazing graceLet’s go down, down, down to the river
You will leave changedLet’s go down, down, down the the river
Never the same

I’ve seen it move
In my own lifeTook me from dusty roads into ParadiseAll of my dirtAll of my shameDrowned in the streams that have made me born again…”

This beautiful, grace-filled living water, from Jesus, and flowing water, from our soothing soak in a tub are Part One of our Spring Cleaning Series. The whole overwhelming concept of “Spring Cleaning” usually causes me to groan…Take heart, it’s my goal over the next few weeks to give you some ideas to make you smile.

Now, GO TAKE A BATH….

‘Til next time!