Refreshing Our Spirits With Scripture

9.16- Make sure everyone in your boat is rowing and not drilling holes when you're not looking. I wish I had been able to simplify and notice things like this when I was younger.     When I was 16 there were many people in my circle of friends who were willing to help me move forward and were rowing with me.   I cannot tell you of any until I was older who were secretly drilling holes into the boat.   Some of my high school friends were extremely mature and knew what they wanted and how to get there.   Most were like me, but just didn’t know where they wanted to go or how to get there. At the age of 16 I was taught that people around me were the good guys and people at the other schools were the opponents.   The bad guys.   We played football and basketball and within our district were the Celeste Blue Devils, The Wolf City Wolves, the Honey Grove Warriors, the Leonard Tigers so in my simple minded ways of thought my team and school were all good guys and the opponents

9.15- How to members of your family who are going through a time of weakness. Romans 15. 15  We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. 2  Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up. 3  For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.” [ a ] 4  For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope. 5  May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, 6  so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7  Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.

9.14- There is something very powerful about working out the body with others.  The military has shown that during boot camp and beyond troops grow as a "band of brothers".  This bonding comes through going through hard times together.  Crossfit and Gladiators and other programs have used this to be a part of the benefits of the workout experience.  We were not meant to live isolated lives.  We were created to enjoy life in groups. Ecclesiastes 4. Two are better than one,      because they have a good return for their labor: 10  If either of them falls down,      one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls      and has no one to help them up. Mark 1. 16  As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 17  “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” 18  At once they left their nets and followed him. 19  When he had gone a little farther

9.13- Although I spend some time on the wrong path, The way of Jesus is a hard path, but not as hard as the path without Him. Some who had joy following His path will leave Him when things get tough. As for me, I have no other place to go. I’ve tried other paths and on bad days spend some time on the wrong path, but for me the Jesus’ path is definitely the one. Why? He is the one who has given me hard words, but kept loving me. He is the one who gave me my best times in life. He is the one who has taught me where people go when they leave this earth. He is the one who has taught me to believe in the truth of my life and go with it. To speak the truth to myself or nothing at all. He is the one who has stilled the storms in my life. He is the one who reminds me that journey is the destination. The time for contentment is now. Today. He is the one who is teaching me not to waste anything. Especially trials. He reminds me to take stock of what I have inst