Refreshing Our Spirits With Scripture

2.24- 1 Timothy 4. 12  Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example [ e ] of those who believe. 13  Until I come, give attention to the public reading of Scripture , to exhortation and teaching. 14  Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was bestowed on you through prophetic utterance with the laying on of hands by the [ f ] presbytery. 15  Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that your progress will be evident to all. 16  Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will [ g ] ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you.

2.23- You cannot depend upon the promises of men. At worst they may be liars. At best they may not be able to do what they thought they would be able to do. You can depend upon the promises of God because He cannot lie and His love never fails. Psalm 44. 4  You are my King, O God; Command [ b ] victories for Jacob. 5  Through You we will push back our adversaries; Through Your name we will trample down those who rise up against us. 6  For I will not trust in my bow, Nor will my sword save me. 7  But You have saved us from our adversaries, And You have put to shame those who hate us. 8  In God we have boasted all day long, And we will give thanks to Your name forever. [ c Proverbs 6. Many a man proclaims his own loyalty, But who can find a trustworthy man?

2.22- From my days in high school until now I am humbled by the reality that at times I have spoken when I should have been silent and been silent when I should have spoken. God uses weak people, like myself, to accomplish positive change by His power in them. God has planned that his children would be a salt and light in the dark world around them. God has planned that through His children His wisdom would be made known to the rulers and authorities. His wisdom is to model for His children His love.   Jesus taught us how God treated His enemies by giving the same rain to His wicked enemies as He gives to His children.   This who God is.   We are rooted and established in His love. Pray for the success of the rulers and authorities that are: giving, loving, good, kind and merciful. Pray for the repentance of the rulers and authorities that are: judgmental, condemning, unforgiving and greedy. Luke 6. 27  “But I say to you who hear, love your enemie

2.21-  John 14. 6  Jesus *said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. Nothing In Between Jesus leaves us with two options. Accept him as God or reject him as a megalomaniac. There is no third alternative… Call him crazy or crown him as king. Dismiss him as a fraud or declare him to be God. Walk away from him or bow before him, But don’t play games with him. Don’t call him a great man.   Don’t list him among the decent folk…. He is either God or godless. Heaven sent or hell born. All hope or all hype. But nothing in between. Max Lucado, Everyday Blessings.  

2.11.18 If Ralph Self had lived till his birthday this year he would be 94.  I found this tribute to him today. Ralph Self 1924-2011 Those dates will be on the marker. As has been said before, the important part is not the date, but the dash between. Ralph was a good steward of resources. He grew up in the cotton fields of Red River bottom land. His dad was an immaculate farmer. He managed to raise a family as a share cropper and had money to buy a new 1929 Chevrolet. From this example, Ralph learned to be a hard worker and expected to succeed. From the farm days to his retirement from Arco in 1982 at the age of 57, his work was near the top of his list of important matters. He was called the “heel man” at work because as a manager of men, he was always at their heels. In his adult life he had two things that were more important than work. His God and His family. When Sheila started to ask questions about God, his view was that nothing was more important to