Refreshing Our Spirits With Scripture

January 12- . Just 12 days into the year. Have you failed in a resolution? Does it make you fear being close to God? Jesus knew His Father and our Father in heaven so well that in storms He slept. Mark 4. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” God is love. He extends grace, mercy, and peace to us daily not because of our perfection, but because of who He is. Allow all failure to deepen your love for your Father in heaven and His mercy will take you to higher ground.

1.11- Lessons from The Storms of Life Here is what you can control, your mental focus, your mind, your body and your attitude. These are some words people have remembered that were given to them by those they love in times of a storm. Your problem is you. “We have met the enemy and he is us.” Pogo We are not creatures of instinct but rather creatures of choices made over and over. What we think. Who we choose to hang out with. Bad things happen to us. We have some lack that hits us. Maybe several things we lack. Loyal friends. Money. Healthy parents. When we lack these kind of things and several together it is a storm. Waves hit our boat. Strong winds. Rough waters. The more we strain at the oars the worse things get. Our lives are buffeted by one big wave after another. We can be sure that Jesus sees this in our lives. At the right time He comes to help is in one form or another. It is not

1.10- When the thief on the cross was next to Jesus as they were both dying Jesus could have said to him,  You would only be converting now out of fear.   You can’t do that. You must have read your Bible through. You must have gone to church regularly. You must make amends to those you wronged. He said none of those things. The thief said, “Remember be when you come.” Jesus said, “Today you will be with me in paradise.” Amazing Grace How Sweet the Sound that Saved a Wretch Like me. Luke 23. 39  One of the criminals who were hanged there was [ l ] hurling abuse at Him, saying, “Are You not the [ m ] Christ? Save Yourself and us!” 40  But the other answered, and rebuking him said, “Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41  And we indeed are suffering justly, for we are receiving [ n ] what we deserve for our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42  And he was saying, “Jesus, remember me when You come

1.9- God does not desire sacrifice as much as He desires mercy. Jesus showed the Father in heaven to be a God of compassion.  He saw hungry people and He wanted to be gracious to them. When we don't care about the hungry, poor and sick we are not being like Jesus who perfectly reflected our Father in heaven. Matthew 9:13 But go and learn what this means: ‘ I desire compassion , and not sacrifice ,’ for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” Matthew 12:7 But i f you had known what this means, ‘ I desire compassion, and not a sacrifice ,’ you would not have condemned the i nnocent. Hebrews 10:5 Therefore, when He comes i nto the world, He says, “ Sacrifice and offering You have not desire d , But a body You have prepared for Me ; Hebrews 10:8 After saying above, “ Sacrifice s and offerings and whole burnt offerings and sacrifice s for sin You have not desire d, nor have You taken pleasure i n them ”

1.8- You are not the foremost of sinners. 1 Timothy 1. 12  I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service, 13  even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief; 14  and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus. 15  It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all . 16  Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those [ l ] who would believe in Him for eternal life. 17  Now to the King [ m ] eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory [ n ] forever and ever. Amen.

1.7- How can you know if someone's actions toward you are loving? 1 Corinthians 13. 4  Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, 5  does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered , 6  does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; 7  [ b ] bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

1.6- Does Jesus want weak people around Him? Matthew 11. 28  “Come to Me, all [ z ] who are weary and heavy-laden, 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 [ aa ] easy and My burden is light.”