Refreshing Our Spirits With Scripture

2.9- Jesus was totally filled with the confidence of His Father in heaven.  He was affirmed by Him over and over.  He encouraged all to not be afraid.  Acts 4. 13  Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed, and began to recognize them [ k ] as having been with Jesus.

2.8- Jesus encountered people who were very religious and knew all the rules about how to remain politically and religiously correct, but their hearts were unclean.  He gave a list about what makes a person really dirty inside the heart. -Evil thoughts -fornication -theft -murder -adultery -coveting -wickedness -deceit -sensuality -envy -slander -pride -foolishness Do devout religious people think about these things and do them.  Does their ability to keep this from being known by their local church or congregation make them pure?  God is the most important audience of one. Mark 7. 14  After He called the crowd to Him again, He began saying to them, “Listen to Me, all of you, and understand: 15  there is nothing outside the man which can defile him if it goes into him; but the things which proceed out of the man are what defile the man. 16  [ [ f ] If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.” ] 17  When he had left the crowd and entered the house, His disciples q

2.7- Leadership assumes uncertainty and risk. It does not eliminate it. Andy Stanley Matthew 25. 14  “For it is just like a man about to go on a journey, who called his own slaves and entrusted his possessions to them. 15  To one he gave five [ a ] talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he went on his journey. 16  Immediately the one who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and gained five more talents. 17  In the same manner the one who had received the two talents gained two more. 18  But he who received the one talent went away, and dug a hole in the ground and hid his [ b ] master’s money. 19  “Now after a long time the master of those slaves *came and *settled accounts with them. 20  The one who had received the five talents came up and brought five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you entrusted five talents to me. See, I have gained five more talents.’ 21  His

2.6- In the storms of life I am finding it is critical to keep my eyes on Jesus. If I look at my strength, I sink. If I look at the boat I just left. I sink. If I look at other guys who are sinking slower or faster than I am. I still sink. If I look at the rain. I sink. If I look at the winds. I sink. As long as I look at Jesus I am fine because He is fine. His gaze into my eyes with their locked vision from His love into my need causes everything to be okay regardless of the surprises that happened to me. It is well with my soul. Matthew 15. 22  Immediately He [ gt ] made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side, while He sent the crowds away. 23  After He had sent the crowds away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray; and when it was evening, He was there alone. 24  But the boat was already [ gu ] a long distance from the land, [ gv ] battered by the waves; for the wind was [ gw ] contrary. 25  And in the [ gx ] fourth w

2.5- I have struggled to reach my goal of going to the gym for workout therapy five days a week. This week it appears I will make if God wills later today we go for our walk against the current in the exercise river. There is this principle from my doctors "move it or lose it." A bonus is to meet 20 or so of my friends doing it. So glad God pours out grace, mercy and peace for us. Mark 4.25 For to the one who has, more will be given and from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.”

2.4- In my years of ministry I was honored to be invited into the private and holy space of a person's last hours and moments on earth. It is usually low lighting and very quiet space. The person is their deepest affliction. These carry excessive burdens beyond anyone's strength. I have watched these people despair even of life itself. Then at some point they seem to quit trusting anyone or anything. They give up on the doctors or drugs to deliver them from their situation and release their trust over to God to be their deliverer. There is a peace in this person who has that submitted their deliverance to their creator. He who had delivered them into this world would deliver them through all burdens. The last phrase of the Lord's prayer is for the Father in heaven to keep us safe as His children. He always does. 2 Corinthians 1. 8  For we do not want you to be unaware, brethren, of our affliction which came to us in [ d ] Asia, that we were burdened

2.3- According to the Scriptures, God’s children have the task of teaching the world, the powerless and the powerful.   Jesus said His students were the salt of the earth and the light of the world.   When asked if they were to pay taxes to Caesar Jesus said to give Caesar what is his.   One of the most important leaders for Jesus described a Christian’s relationship to government in the following way. Romans 13. 13  Every [ a ] person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except [ b ] from God, and those which exist are established by God. 2  Therefore [ c ] whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves. 3  For rulers are not a cause of fear for [ d ] good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same; 4  for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, b