Refreshing Our Spirits With Scripture

I like what Mark Batterson wrote regarding the research that says 80% of our medical problems could be solved with stopping, overeating, overdrinking, smoking, stress and not enough excercise. "We could solve most of our major health problems.  But we don't want to...it takes more than a wish or a whim to experience lasting change.... Here's my working definition of want; the sanctified desire and matching discipline to do what needs to be done, no matter how hard it is or how long it takes.  No matter what goal you're trying to achieve or problem you're trying to solve, you have to want it more than the pain that will be inflicted upon you in the process of trying to attain it." The Grave Robber P. 113 Jesus in John 5.6 to a man who hadn't been able to move in thirty eight years "Do you want to get well?" Larry Wishard

Mark 8. 3  If I send them away hungry to their homes, they will faint on the way; and some of them have come from a great distance.” 4  And His disciples answered Him, “Where will anyone be able to find enough [ b ] bread here in this desolate place to satisfy these people?” 5  And He was asking them, “How many loaves do you have?” And they said, “Seven.” 6  And He *directed the [ c ] people to [ d ] sit down on the ground; and taking the seven loaves, He gave thanks and broke them, and started giving them to His disciples to [ e ] serve to them, and they served them to the [ f ] people. 7  They also had a few small fish; and after He had blessed them, He ordered these to be [ g ] served as well. 8  And they ate and were satisfied; and they picked up seven large baskets full of what was left over of the broken pieces. 9  About four thousand were there ; and He sent them away. 10  And immediately He entered the boat with His disciples and came to the district of Dalmanutha.

Wayne Wishard's birthday is today. Had he lived he would be 100 today.  I loved working with him although he worked very hard and hardly ever worked less than twelve hours a day when you combined his work on the farm and the grocery store.  For the first years of my life I thought of him as a farmer, but when I was beginning my teen years he became a butcher working for Wasson meats in Wolfe City Texas, Union Produce in Ladonia, Piggly Wiggly in Honey Grove, Woody's in Wolfe City and Jesse Smith's in Honey Grove. He had a big smile at work and loved to find good cuts of meat and sell them at a good price in these stores.  He enjoyed the people and the funny stories passed along as he sold beef.  On the farm he raised beef and loved the farm and ranch business because of its connection with nature and the independence of owning his own farm. In a way he had the best of both world's.  He loved to interact with people and the air conditioning in the store was better th

Mark 8. 8  In those days, when there was again a large crowd and they had nothing to eat, Jesus called His disciples and *said to them, 2  “I feel compassion for the [ a ] people because they have remained with Me now three days and have nothing to eat. 3  If I send them away hungry to their homes, they will faint on the way; and some of them have come from a great distance.”

Mark 7. 21  For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, [ h ] fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, 22  deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, [ i ] envy, slander, [ j ] pride and foolishness. 23  All these evil things proceed from within and defile the man.”

Mark7. 10  For Moses said, ‘ Honor your father and your mother ’; and, ‘ He who speaks evil of father or mother, is to [ d ] be put to death ’;

Mark 6. 53  When they had crossed over they came to land at Gennesaret, and moored to the shore. 54  When they got out of the boat, immediately the people recognized Him, 55  and ran about that whole country and began to carry here and there on their pallets those who were sick, to [ ab ] the place they heard He was. 56  Wherever He entered villages, or cities, or countryside, they were laying the sick in the market places, and imploring Him that they might just touch the fringe of His cloak; and as many as touched it were being cured.

Mark 6. 51  Then He got into the boat with them, and the wind stopped; and they were utterly astonished, 52  for they [ z ] had not gained any insight from the incident of the loaves, but [ aa ] their heart was hardened.

Mark 6. 47  When it was evening, the boat was in the middle of the sea, and He was alone on the land. 48  Seeing them [ w ] straining at the oars, for the wind was against them, at about the [ x ] fourth watch of the night He *came to them, walking on the sea; and He intended to pass by them. 49  But when they saw Him walking on the sea, they supposed that it was a ghost, and cried out; 50  for they all saw Him and were [ y ] terrified. But immediately He spoke with them and *said to them, “Take courage; it is I, do not be afraid.”