Refreshing Our Spirits With Scripture

Day of Year: 67 Date:  3.8.14 Favorite Verse: Matthew 17.27 27  “ But so that we may not cause offense , go to the lake and throw out your line. Take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours.” Thought for the day:  True followers of Jesus make good citizens for many reasons.  They are taught that God the Father in heaven will provide a way for them to pay their proper taxes.  On more than one occasion Jesus taught people to pay taxes.  The Roman government probably did things more repugnant to early Christians than is done in America today.  Jesus said, "Pay your taxes and God will provide a way for you to do it." Jesus Reading (Ten Minutes): Matthew 17.24-27 + Rest of New Testament: Acts 28.16 +Psalm of the Day: Psalm 50 +Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 11-4-6 +Rest of Old Testament: Numbers 21,22

Day of Year: 66 Date: 3.7.14 Favorite Verse: Matthew 17.33 23  They will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised to life.” And the disciples were filled with grief. Thought for the day:  We should live in such a way that when we enter a room, we bring joy to those around us. And when we leave, they will feel sadness.  Some people bring happiness wherever they go and some bring happiness whenever they go. Jesus Reading (Ten Minutes): Matthew 17.14-23 + Rest of New Testament: Acts 28.11-15 +Psalm of the Day: Psalm 49 +Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 11.1-3 +Rest of Old Testament: Numbers 19,20

Day of Year: 66 Date: 3.7.14 Favorite Verse: Matthew 17.5 5  While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “ This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” Thought for the day: Do we listen to the television and movie voices more than Jesus?  Do we listen to popular culture more than Jesus?  Do we listen to what is politically correct more than Jesus?  If we do, we probably will be confused and schizophrenic.  Some reading this will say to themselves, "Thank God I read the Bible more than watch television or movies."  This might be better, but it also can be off course.  How can I read the Bible and be off course?  If you follow Moses more than the maker of Moses, you will still be off course.  If you are deep into your religious opinions, you mind might be harder to change than a pagan's mind would be to change.  I still struggle with listening to Jesus rather than other voices.  I wan

Day of Year: 64 Date: 2.5.14 Favorite Verse: Matthew 16. 25  For whoever wants to save their life [ f ] will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. Thought for the day: Ask someone about the favorite time in their life. Often it is a time of tremendous stress in the support of a great cause.  At times we sacrifice ourselves to succeed at a mission.  It could be a pregnant woman carrying a child through a difficult pregnancy.  It could be man helping his company through the very hardest days, but he and his company succeeded.  He was totally absorbed and gave himself to it. It was a pleasant memory because he lost himself in something bigger than himself.  It is in these moments that we recognize the power of God that is greater than ourselves.  It is in those days that we did the impossible because God was carrying us through it.  Thank God for hard times which lift our eyes beyond ourselves. Jesus Reading (Ten Minutes): Matthew 16.24-28 + Res

  Family safe travel,  love and unity Prayers answered yes. My brother, Bill and wife, Helen, Jeff, Donna, Sheila, Jordan, Amy and Jared home for Christmas 2013. At home in North Richland Hills with Christmas tree and Sheila's mom and dad's grandfather clock.  47 Christmas days together with Sheila  Thank you God.      

Day of Year: 63 Date:  3.4.14 Favorite Verse: Matthew 16. 23  Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.” Thought for the day: Those who tell you that your highest goals can be reached without sacrifice are not your friends.  Your friends are honest and tell you that the best things in life can be accomplished with focus and persistence.  God is a Spirit who is anxious to help those who show up to do what needs to be done. That includes suffering that comes with any worthwhile task. Jesus Reading (Ten Minutes): Matthew 16.21-23 + Rest of New Testament: Acts 27.14-26 +Psalm of the Day: Psalm 46 +Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 10.26 +Rest of Old Testament: Numbers 13,14

Day of Year: 62 Date:  3.3.14 Favorite Verse: Matthew 16.18 18  And I tell you that you are Peter, [ b ] and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades [ c ] will not overcome it. Thought for the day:  Jesus looked into the eyes of Peter and saw the man he was to become.   Anne Lamott tells of being lost as a five year old child at a national rodeo in San Francisco.    "I was found by some friendly strangers--this was before all strangers were assumed to be homicidal pedophiles--and turned over to the care of a Grand National Rodeo girl. She stayed with me while an announcement went up over the PA system, that a five-year-old child would love for her daddy to come to livestock Pavilion. But I swear on my soul, I remember two things. I was not afraid. I did not know yet that if you were lost, you should be afraid. And I believed with every ounce of my being that when I grew up, I could be a Grand National Rodeo Girl. I could

Day of Year: 61 Date: 3.2.14 Favorite Verse: Matthew 16.4  4  A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.” Jesus then left them and went away. Thought for the day: What kind of signs and wonders are you looking for?  Do you want miracles mostly for you and yours?  Can we pray a prayer of blessing for our enemies?  These are hard questions for me.  The fact is that I want God to show up and give me a sign of His blessings for my own desires. Some of my desires are wicked.  That desire for my enemy not to be blessed is from my flesh and not from my Lord Jesus.  If you look around and think you are in a wicked generation, remember you are not the first.  Jesus lived in a wicked and adulterous generation.  He loved His neighbors and helped them even though they were sinful people.  The people Jesus saves and takes to heaven are people who are very imperfect. Otherwise heaven would be empty.  Lord, help me to pra