Refreshing Our Spirits With Scripture

Luke 3 7  John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8  Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. 9  The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.” 10  “What should we do then?” the crowd asked. 11  John answered, “Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same.” 12  Even tax collectors came to be baptized. “Teacher,” they asked, “what should we do?” 13  “Don’t collect any more than you are required to,” he told them. 14  Then some soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?” He replied, “Don’t extort money and don’t accuse people falsely—be content with your pay.”

Baltimore Thoughts I had some hard introduction to the problem of police being tied too closely to the district attorney office. A young man in our church was killed by an off duty police officer.  His body laid in the street for hours while the police met with the D.A. office in his home.  Finally, after a long time they went to his mother's house across the street to inform her that her son was dead.  Nothing came of the case.  I spent the next ten years working with clergy and city people in Denver to try to improve the conditions related to deaths at the hands of police officers.  I am personally thankful that the DA in Baltimore has come out  with a full report and an indictment. She reminded everyone that justice requires peace. Jesus teaches that taxes should be paid to your government. The followers of Jesus Peter and Paul reiterated that governments are established by God for the purpose of "justice" which is to punish the disobedient and to reward with freedom t

Jesus showed the character of the Father in heaven as one who wants to give you the very best gifts. Luke 11. 11  One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.” 2  He said to them, “ When you pray, say: “‘Father, [ a ] hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. [ b ] 3  Give us each day our daily bread. 4  Forgive us our sins,      for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. [ c ] And lead us not into temptation. [ d ] ’” 5  Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; 6  a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.’ 7  And suppose the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’ 8  I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you t

Matthew 11 28  “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Luke 2. 41  Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. 42  When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom. 43  After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. 44  Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. 45  When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. 46  After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47  Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48  When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.” 49  “Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to b

Luke 2. 39  When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. 40  And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.

Luke 2. 25  Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. 26  It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27  Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, 28  Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: 29  “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,      you may now dismiss [ d ] your servant in peace. 30  For my eyes have seen your salvation, 31       which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: 32  a light for revelation to the Gentiles,      and the glory of your people Israel.” 33  The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. 34  Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and

Luke 2. 13  Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14  “Glory to God in the highest heaven,      and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” 15  When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” 16  So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17  When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18  and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19  But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20  The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. 21  On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel

July 20, 2012 Details of this long day in Aurora, Colorado. Probably many of us get up in the morning to workout on exercise bikes and watch the news. Usually nothing much on a normal day. I watch business news. Big news, market up. Big news, market down. Not really anything big, just a distraction from my workout. Today at 4:00 am, it was different. Aurora Theatre shooting, 50 shot 14 killed. I'm ashamed to admit my thought, “I hope it’s not my town, hopefully Aurora, Ill?” No. It’s my town.                                                                                                                                                                                          After emailing my friends and prayer partners, I got dressed and went to Aurora Medical Center. Prayer at times like these seems more listening than speaking to God.   "Larry don't worry. Just go and be available." "Okay." To the people at the ER desk, "I am with th

Matthew 6.5-15, Luke 11.1-13 Get in a secret, private place and pray a short focused prayer. Praising God for who He is.  Agreeing with Him about the logical consequences of my choices that help give me direction. Asking that His will be done on earth and especially in my life. Asking for what I need and want. Asking for forgiveness equal to what I give to others. Asking for leadership away from temptations. Asking for deliverance from evil in my life. Matthew 7.7-12 Ask with confidence in our Father giving us what we need and want and more. Matthew 11.25-30 Asking the Father's help and Jesus' help with being weary and burdened and expecting His relief. Mark 11.20-26 When there is something fruitless in our lives it helps to name it and agree with God that this is not "fruitful".  Expect God to desire to bless us with changing the situation for our benefit.  Do not doubt. Ask, believe and receive.  Forgive all people that we might hold anything ag

Luke 2. 6  While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7  and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. 8  And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9  An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10  But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11  Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12  This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”