1. SPIRITUAL DRYNESS SFC Unit Assembly

2. When was the last time you experienced the LOVE of GOD?

3. However, along the way clouds start to cover… we are drawn away from God

4. 5 "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. (John 15:5-6)

5. How is my relationship with God now?

6. “For if you live according to your human nature, you are going to die, but if by the Spirit you put to death your sinful actions, you will live.” (Romans 8:13)

7. Apart from sin that draws us away from God… Our Busyness. Our Busyness. The demands of our work and different roles. The demands of our work and different roles. Our Fears Our Fears Our Doubts Our Doubts We became tired We became tired Uncertainties in life Uncertainties in life Our priorities Our priorities

8. We experience “dryness” in our spiritual life.

9. We can’t hear God We can’t hear God We don’t have time for Him We don’t have time for Him We are not as excited as we used to be about Him We are not as excited as we used to be about Him We are not as passionate as before We are not as passionate as before We may not see the need of Him now We may not see the need of Him now We are in the dark We are in the dark

10. At times, Jesus invites us into this state… “Let us cross to the other side of the lake..

11. Elijah “Elijah walked the whole day into the wilderness. He stopped and sat down in the shade of a tree and wished he would die. Its’ too much, Lord” (1Kings 19:4)

12. The sorrows of Jerusalem “The thought of my pain, my homelessness, is bitter poison. I think of it constantly and my spirit is depressed” (Lam 3:19)

13. Jesus in the wilderness

14. What should we do? Stop and Rest in the Lord. Listen to God in Silence. (retreat, contemplation) – “He lay down under the tree and fell asleep. Suddenly an angel touched him and said Wake up and Eat…He ate and drank, and lay down again.” (1 Kings 19:5-13)

15. Go back to His UNFAILING LOVE Go back to His UNFAILING LOVE “Yet hope returns when I remember this one thing: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercy’s never comes to an end. They are new every morning.” (Lam 3:22-23) “I have loved you with an everlasting Love” (Jer 31:3) “How can I give up on you, Israel? How can I abandon you? My heart will not let me do it! My love for you is too strong” (Hosea 11:8-9)

16. Go back to your JORDAN RIVER. Remember. Go back to the fervor of our first love with God. Memories. Moments with God.

17. Continue to be FAITHFUL. Press On. – Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies.– Mo.Teresa – Following the Lord is an everyday decision. – Spend time with HIM. (mass, rosary, confess) – Why press on? Because when we look back..we cannot see just a history of faithful people but of a FAITHFUL God.

18. Wait in HOPE Wait in HOPE – “The Lord is good to everyone who trusts in him. So its best for us to wait in patience- to wait for Him to save us.” (Lam 3:25)

19. Being in the dark, storm, wilderness, feeling spiritually dry could be a GRACE … for us to see the HAND of the LORD more. For us to see the NEED of Him in our life. “My grace is all you need, for my power is greatest when you are weak” (2 Cor 12:9)

20. In this time, we may feel we are away from God but God has never left us. He is just there with us. “For I am certain that nothing can separate us from the love of God…” (Rom 8:37)

21. Psalm 23 “The Lord is my shepherd, there is nothing I lack, In green pastures you let me gaze, in safe waters you lead me. In green pastures you let me gaze, in safe waters you lead me. you restore my strength, You guide me along he right path for the sake of your name. Even when I walk through the dark valley I feel no harm, your rod and your staff give me courage. Even when I walk through the dark valley I feel no harm, your rod and your staff give me courage. You set the table before me as my enemies watch. You anoint my head with oil, my cup overflows. You set the table before me as my enemies watch. You anoint my head with oil, my cup overflows. Only goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life. And I will dwell in the house of the Lord for years to come”

22. O D’yos Ikaw and laging hanap Loob ko’y Ikaw ang tanging hangad Nauuhaw akong parang tigang na lupa Sa tubig ng ‘Yong pag-aaruga. Ika’y pagmamasdan sa dakong banal Nang makita ko ang ‘Yong pagkarangal Dadalangin akong nakataas aking kamay Magagalak na aawit ng papuring iaalay. Refrain: Gunita ko’y ikaw habang nahihimlay Pagka’t ang tulong Mo sa t’wina’y taglay. Sa lilim ng Iyong mga pakpak, Umaawit akong buong galak. Aking kaluluwa’y kumakapit sa ‘Yo Kaligtasa’y t’yak kung hawak Mo ako. Magdiriwang ang Hari, ang D’yos S’yang dahilan Ang sa Iyo ay nangako galak yoong makakamtan. Gunita ko’y ikaw habang nahihimlay Pagka’t ang tulong Mo sa t’wina’y taglay. Sa lilim ng Iyong mga pakpak, Umaawit, umaawit, umaawit akong buong galak..