Refreshing Our Spirits With Scripture

4.27- Fourteen years ago today I had the experience of the 10th break of my ankle. I was on a weekend retreat with some guys from my church family just above Golden, CO. Gorgeous place in God’s nature. We had taken a walking devotional up a mountain trail stopping at times to read scripture of Jesus walk with the cross on His back. Along the way there was some spots of ice. I thought I “turned” or “sprained” my ankle. Walked on it home and walked on it to a youth trip to Ukra ine and finally in early fall ended up at the doctor’s office.  After Xrays he said, "This has been broken about nine other times and this 10th break and the arthritis has set up in these spots and there is no good surgery for this right now. I can give you a brace and boot and a handicap parking sticker and that is what we can do for you right now." It changed me to move from a most important part of my life, very active movements and teaching while active "doing" to

4.26- Don't worry if your family does not respect you as you might wish.  Don't worry if your hometown friends don't think you are capable of doing anything of substance.   Jesus family thought he was insane.  Jesus hometown folks discounted him.  Get your self image from God and He will lift you you.  You can do whatever you need to do if you remember where you came from and where you are going.  Matthew 13. 53  When Jesus had finished these parables, he moved on from there. 54  Coming to his hometown, he began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. “Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?” they asked. 55  “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? 56  Aren’t all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” 57  And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town

4.25-  The true church has unity, but not uniformity.  There are men and women.  There are people from every country in the world.  There are introverts and extroverts.  There are those who are quiet and those who are loud.  There are the country people and the city people.  There are the fishermen, tentmakers, carpenters, doctors, lawyers, teachers and many other occupations.  These are all the possible good fish. But in their midst there can be people who are dishonest, wicked and evil and those who take advantage of people.  There are people there who are within the physical context of the church, but in reality they are wicked, hypocrites there for their own selfish gain.  In the end God will judge the hearts of men by Jesus Christ and those who have lived under God's grace and mercy will be saved. Those who have lived lives of violence and hate and lies will be separated from the ones saved by grace. Matthew 13. 47  “Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that

4.24- What is worth more than the price of the greatest pearl in the world? One pearl weighs 15 lbs. and is said to be worth 35 million dollars. What is worth more than 35 million to me? My wife. My children. My grandchildren. I believe that if it were not for Jesus and His grace and guidance I would not have these blessings in my life.  I believe that I should be willing to surrender my whole life to the guidance of Jesus to be the best husband, father and grandfather I can be.  I need to "sell out". Matthew 13. 44  “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. 45  “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. 46  When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.

4.23- It was the prayer of Jesus that the will of heaven be done on earth.  Jesus teachings have influenced the writing of the constitution and the laws of many countries around the world for over 2,000 years. Christianity is an influence in homes, schools, businesses and it has spread around the world.  Persecution has had the effect of spreading Christianity further and faster than when nothing is being done against it. Matthew 13. 33  He told them still another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds [ b ] of flour until it worked all through the dough.”

4.22- These are difficult days. A man takes a child and throws him over a railing three floors down. Ministers, priests and teachers abusing those they are supposed to protect. A youth invited into a small group midweek Bible study tries to kill all of those who welcomed him. National leaders using hateful words toward each other. What to do? Reflect on the love that lays down one's life for others. Reflect on the people who taught you this love. Remember where they got their guidance. Focus on overcoming evil with good. 2 Timothy 3. 3  But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2  People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3  without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4  treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5  having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have

4.22- I know of lady who has produced 21 children, grandchildren and great great grandchildren. She and her husband have have 21 blood related offspring. Small grows to large. Jesus started teaching. One teacher. Today, 2 Billion people claim to be His students. Matthew 13. 31  He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. 32  Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.”

4.21- Matthew 13. 24  Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. 25  But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. 26  When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared. 27  “The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’ 28  “‘An enemy did this,’ he replied. “The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’ 29  “‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. 30  Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’” The Parable of the Weeds Explained 36  Then he left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, “Explain to us