Refreshing Our Spirits With Scripture

Day of Year: 123 Date: 5.3.14 Favorite Verse: Mark 2 27  Jesus said to them, “The Sabbath [ p ] was made [ q ] for man, and not man [ r ] for the Sabbath. 28  So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.” Thought for the day: God is the ultimate lover of human beings.  You could call Jesus a humanist if you defined the term correctly.  God's rules about life are for the benefit of human beings.  Rules aren't given by God to keep people from receiving mercy and compassion, but to provide mercy and compassion.  The entire Scripture "must be looked at through the lens of mercy."  Rick Atchley, Sermon, 4.26.14 Jesus Reading (Ten Minutes): Mark 2.23-28 + Rest of New Testament:1 Corinthians 4.6-13 +Psalm of the Day: Psalm 82.1-8 +Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 14.25-27 +Rest of Old Testament:1 Samuel 17,18

Day of Year: 122 Date: 5.2.14 Favorite Verse: Mark 2. 16  When the scribes of the Pharisees saw that He was eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they said to His disciples, “Why is He eating and drinking with tax collectors and [ k ] sinners?” Thought for the day: Jesus loved people. Therefore, He loved sinners.  He love tax collectors and prostitutes and wanted to reach them with the love of God.  He ate meals with them.  He listened to them.  He heard their questions and he could clearly see their handicaps.  Religious people are too often unaware that we have judged others as sinners and ourselves as righteous.  Jesus saw people as created in the image of God. Because He extended mercy to them, they were drawn to Him and they wanted to live a better life. God's desire for these sinful people is that they come to understand and receive mercy and pass it on to others. Jesus Reading (Ten Minutes): Mark 2.14-22 + Rest of New Testament:1 Corinthians 3.

Day of Year: 121 Date: 5.1.14 Favorite Verse: Mark 2. 5  And Jesus seeing their faith *said to the paralytic, “ [ c ] Son, your sins are forgiven.”   Thought for the day: As a counselor, Jesus worked with people to help them experience forgiveness of their sins.  Our world tries to get rid of sin in unsuccessful ways.  We deny there is a God.  We deny that we sin and call things "mistakes"  "poor judgment"  or "bad choices."  These don't get rid of sin. To make good progress, we must name sin what it is.  We must repent and allow Jesus to forgive and move on.  This keeps us from living in shame and guilt which are totally burdensome.  After Jesus has forgiven a sin, a person is able to make good progress in life. Jesus Reading (Ten Minutes): Mark 2.1-13 + Rest of New Testament:1 Corinthians 3.16,17 +Psalm of the Day: Psalm 80.7-19 +Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 14.19,20 +Rest of Old Testament: 1 Samuel 13,14

Day of Year: 120 Date:4.30.14 Favorite Verse: Mark 1.35 35  In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house , and went away to a secluded place, and was praying there. Thought for the day: Jesus trained His disciples in a school that was on the move.  The early morning move for Jesus was out of the house to pray.  What do we do early in the morning ?   Sleep.  Rush to shower, shave, dress, drive, eat on the road and begin and continue a stressful day.  Are we following Jesus or the mad, crazy world we live in? Jesus Reading (Ten Minutes): Mark 1.29-45 + Rest of New Testament: 1 Corinthians 3.10-15 +Psalm of the Day: Psalm 80.1-6 +Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 14.17,18 +Rest of Old Testament: 1 Samuel 11,12

Day of Year: 119 Date:4.29.14 Favorite Verse: Mark 1.17 17  And Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” Thought for the day: To be trained as a helper of souls, one must be willing to be flexible and move about in acts of service.  Follow the steps of Jesus.  He goes to the outcast and the sick to lift them up. Do this and have a great day! Jesus Reading (Ten Minutes): Mark 1.14-28 + Rest of New Testament: 1 Corinthians 3.1-9 +Psalm of the Day: Psalm 79.9-13 +Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 14.14,16 +Rest of Old Testament: 1 Samuel 9,10

Day of Year:118 Date: 4.28.14 Favorite Verse:  Mark 1.12 12  Immediately the Spirit *impelled Him to go out into the wilderness. 13  And He was in the wilderness forty days being tempted by Satan; and He was with the wild beasts, and the angels were ministering to Him. Thought for the day: Immediately after a high point in Jesus' life, in a sense, there was a low point.  He was impelled by the Holy Spirit to go through the wilderness time of temptation from the evil one. As a child of God, do not be surprised if a high point in your life is followed by a low point with tough temptations.  It does not mean you are not a child of God.  The storm is the norm. Jesus Reading (Ten Minutes): Mark 1.9-13 + Rest of New Testament:1 Corinthians 2.6-16 +Psalm of the Day: Psalm 79.1-8 +Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 14.14 +Rest of Old Testament:1 Samuel 7,8