"Times of Refreshing", February 2012                              

“Would you like a deep tissue massage, Mrs. Takayoshi?”  “YES, please!” I quickly responded with a HUGE smile on my face.  This is how a very memorable day began for me earlier this month when I had the privilege of being pampered at the Burke Williams spa.  You see, like most women, I love going to spas.  It is just so physically and mentally relaxing.  But I just never get the chance to go for many reasons…two of them being Kazuki and Kenji.  So, this visit to the spa was the first in a very long time.             

But let me backtrack a bit and explain to you how I even got there.  Last summer, I was incredibly busy with various large-scale activities all within a couple of months, one of them being the hosting director for our denomination’s General Assembly.  Since our church hosted the event, it was a joy for me to serve in this capacity with the rest of my brothers and sisters at LA Holiness.  But, it was busy heading up these different projects while also being mom to my two young boys.  I think those closest to me were able to see hints of tiredness in my eyes on occasion, because one day a good friend of mine surprised me with a sealed envelope and said with a grin, “You need this more than I do.”  I had no idea what she meant.  Could it be some practical joke?  What in the world is in this envelope?  I was almost hesitant to open it, but I did.  And lo and behold, there it was, almost glowing in my hand.  I could practically hear the angelic voices singing in the background, “Aaaaaaah!” when I pulled out the Burke Williams spa gift card.  My jaw literally dropped.  For those of you who are unfamiliar with Burke Williams, it is a very luxurious spa where one can get away to relax and rejuvenate themselves by enjoying their many amenities including whirlpools, saunas, showers, cool mist rooms, as well as schedule massages with a massage therapist.  For a young mother, this gift card is as valuable as gold, if not more.  What an amazing and incredibly generous gift from my friend!  I immediately went to her to say that this gift was just too much (I did mean it at the time).  But she responded, “No, God told me to give it to you.  Please, take it.  He’s already spoken to my heart about it.”  How do you say ‘no’ to God?  I surely won’t, especially if the words ‘Burke Williams spa’ are in it.  So I thanked and hugged my friend and left amazed at God and her graciousness.             

So, seven months later, in February 2012, I finally used the gift card.  My husband, Seigo, told me he’d watch the boys so I could enjoy a half day personal retreat, not merely to enjoy the spa but to also spend that much needed extended time with the Lord.  I don’t think I fully heard him, because all my mind thought about was the massage I was going to get.  Like a kid going to Disneyland, I went to Burke Williams with great anticipation.  I enjoyed relaxing in the whirlpool and getting a deep tissue massage.  As the massage therapist was working on my back, I could feel her putting pressure on the knots trying to get rid of them.  It was so relaxing. 

Later, I spent some time in what they call ‘The Quiet Room’ to listen to worship songs on my iPod and pray.  After praying for my family, the church, and individuals the Lord brought to mind, I spent time in silence before Him to listen to His voice and discern what He has to say to me that day.  Very quickly, I felt the Lord saying, “times of refreshing.”  I probed this feeling and asked the Lord, “What does that mean?”  And then I felt Him saying to me, “Look up ‘times of refreshing’ in the Bible.”  Thankfully, Seigo had a Bible application installed on our iPod, so I typed in the phrase ‘times of refreshing’ and came across Acts 3:19-20 which says, “Repent therefore, and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,…”  It didn’t take long before I realized what the Lord was saying to me.  This day at the spa was a gift to not only get physically and mentally refreshed, but God also wanted me to get spiritually refreshed.  I may have thought in coming that I needed a massage for the knots in my back, but the Lord also saw some knots on my heart that needed His ironing out.  I came to the spa to ‘get away’ and be alone, but the Lord wanted me to get away and be alone with Him, totally attentive to His voice.  I realized that I totally overlooked God’s purpose in this experience.  He wants to spend this extended, uninterrupted time with me.  He wants to refresh my soul and rejuvenate my tired heart with more of Himself.  He wants to love on me and speak His powerful, guiding word to my life.   And He did.  I left Burke Williams refreshed more than what I anticipated.  But isn’t that just like God?  Doesn’t He give us more than what we ask or imagine? 

So, my encouragement to you is to make it a priority some time very soon, to spend an extended, uninterrupted time with the Lord in worship and prayer.  If you don’t know where to begin, feel free to contact one of our staff members, Seigo Takayoshi, Jaime Nakasuji, or myself; we will be happy to walk you through it.  And I guarantee while you sit in His presence, you will experience times of refreshing. 

In His grace,                                                                                    

Chiyeko Takayoshi