Refreshing Our Spirits With Scripture

Day of Year: 32 Date: 2.1.14 Favorite Verse: Matthew 11.4,5 4  Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and report to John what you hear and see: 5  the blind receive sight and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the [ e ] gospel preached to them . 6  And blessed is he [ f ] who does not [ g ] take offense at Me.” Thought for the day:  Jesus does not just talk about showing compassion.  He does things that make a difference.  Intentions are no substitute for us doing what we can to help people.  Love does.  The best witnesses for Jesus simply report on what is being done. Jesus Reading (Ten Minutes): Matthew 11.1-6 + Rest of New Testament: Acts 16.22-30 +Psalm of the Day: Psalm 26 +Proverb of the Day: 5.1-6 +Rest of Old Testament: Exodus 17, 18  

Day of Year: 31 Date: 1.31.14 Jesus Reading (Ten Minutes): Matthew 10.24-42 + Rest of New Testament: Acts 16.14-21 +Psalm of the Day: Psalm 25 +Proverb of the Day: Proverb 4.20-27 +Rest of Old Testament: Exodus 15,16 Favorite Verse: Matthew 10. 39  He who has found his [ ad ] life will lose it, and he who has lost his [ ae ] life for My sake will find it. Thought for the day:  We find our life accelerates with joy when we are absorbed in a great cause that is larger than our own life.  Invest in others and we can find great results.  Focus on yourself and your little world and your world gets smaller.

Day of Year: 30 Date: 1.30.14 Jesus Reading (Ten Minutes): Matthew 10.16-23 + Rest of New Testament: Acts 16.1-13 +Psalm of the Day: Psalm 24. +Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 4.18,19 +Rest of Old Testament: Exodus 11,12 Favorite Verse: Matthew 10. 22  You will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved. Thought for the day: If we have decided to follow Jesus then there will be moments that we can be as kind as possible and yet the beliefs of Jesus that we have contradict what others believe and they react with hate against Jesus' ideas.  Now Jesus teaches us that we should not be surprised by in other people hating us, but we should pray for them and love them and break the chain of hate by Jesus' love.

Day of Year: 29 Date: 1.29.14 Jesus Reading (Ten Minutes): Matthew 10.1-15 + Rest of New Testament:  Acts 15.36-41 +Psalm of the Day: Psalm 23. +Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 4.13-17 +Rest of Old Testament: Exodus 11,12 Favorite Verse: Matthew 10. 13  If the house is worthy, [ p ] give it your blessing of peace. But if it is not worthy, [ q ] take back your blessing of peace. 14  Whoever does not receive you, nor heed your words, as you go out of that house or that city, shake the dust off your feet. Thought for the day: Do not be a carrier of bad things.  Sometimes we plan to start the day and have a great attitude.  Then something happens and we extend peace to others and they give us a cold shoulder or act unkind.  It could be something had happened the  them earlier or it could be their negative attitude, but whatever it was, shake it off.  Do not let the unpeaceful and unkind attitude stay with you.  Shake it off.  Perhaps you can pray a prayer for t

Day of Year: 28 Date: 1.28.14 Jesus Reading (Ten Minutes): Matthew 9.18-38 + Rest of New Testament: Acts 15.1-35 +Psalm of the Day: Psalm 22.19-31 +Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 4.10-12 +Rest of Old Testament: Exodus 9,10 Favorite Verse: Matthew 9. 27  As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed Him, crying out, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!” 28  When He entered the house, the blind men came up to Him, and Jesus *said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They *said to Him, “Yes, Lord.” 2 Thought for the day: Do you believe?  If we would overcome any bad situation we must believe that Jesus is able to help us overcome.  If we believe we will reach out to people who have demonstrated amazing grace accomplishments that are undeniable.  I see many people each week who have overcome and done the impossible, because they believed that God plus them was a majority.

Day of Year: 27 Date: 1.27.14 Jesus Reading (Ten Minutes): Matthew 9.9-17 + Rest of New Testament: Acts 14-1-28 +Psalm of the Day: Psalm 22.1-18 +Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 4.7-9 +Rest of Old Testament: Exodus 7,8 Favorite Verse: Matthew 9. “ Why is your Teacher eating with the tax collectors and sinners?” 12  But when Jesus heard this , He said, “ It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick. 13  But go and learn [ g ] what this means: ‘ I desire [ h ] compassion , [ i ] and not sacrifice ,’ for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” Thought for the day: Jesus spent time eating with sinner in order to help them to receive forgiveness of their sins and a fresh start every day.  His work was not sacrifice to ritual for sacrifice sake.  His life was expressing compassion every day.  That is what God the Father is doing and so Jesus is following whatever He sees the Father doing.  We find joy when we fill our d

Day of Year: 26 Date: 1.26.14 Jesus Reading (Ten Minutes): Matthew 9.1-8 + Rest of New Testament:  Acts 13-44-52 +Psalm of the Day: Psalm 21. +Proverb of the Day: Proverb 3.33-35 +Rest of Old Testament: Exodus 5,6 Favorite Verse: Matthew 9. 3  And some of the scribes said [ b ] to themselves, “This fellow blasphemes.” 4  And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, “ Why are you thinking evil in your hearts? 5  Which is easier, to say, ‘ Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, and walk’? Thought for the day: To believe that Jesus cannot forgive you and help you to move on is an evil thought.  I find myself at times rebellious and unwilling to do what is in my own best interest.  What is the source of this resistance?  I am not sure but it might be just our human nature.  It needs to be overcome so that we can enjoy the greatest life that we can have.  Let Jesus forgive you and allow Him to help you move instead of being stuck.