Refreshing Our Spirits With Scripture

7.20- 1Thessalonians 4. 11  and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, 12  so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.

7.19 Ephesians 6. 5  Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. 6  Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. 7  Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, 8  because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free. 9  And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him. Colossians 3. 22  Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. 23  Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, 24  since you know that you will receive an inheritan

7.18- Good work ethics My dad was my first work boss. He cared. He worked six days a week at least 12 hours per day at two jobs.  He was a farmer and rancher and he was butcher or grocery store worker.  Some work was hard and intense and some was enjoyable, even fun. His motto was treat co-workers and customers they way you want to be treated.  Co-workers were family and customers were to be treated fairly. Here are some good Scriptures for workers: Matthew 11. 28  “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, 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 easy and my burden is light.”

7.17- Noon and tired.  It does happen.  40 minutes in the current against the river and I'm tired at 11.01am.  Still there are opportunities.  I met Lisa there with Sheila today.  She said she had bad back problems and had surgery to fix the back, but the surgeon cut something else.  Now she can't feel her feet.  That causes other problems and she is tired of this struggle, but with some exchanged smiles we tried to encourage her. Jesus is a friend who understands tired.  Are you ever sick and tired of being sick and tired?  Jesus is the best friend we could have. John 4. 4  Now he had to go through Samaria. 5  So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph. 6  Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon. 2 Corinthians 4. 16  Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.

7.16- Avoid Immorality Immorality kills. Turn to Jesus for a fresh start anytime you feel overcome with the wrong kind of thoughts and actions.  Turn to Him for a fresh start. Matthew 5. 8  Blessed are the pure in heart,      for they will see God. 27  “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ [ e ] 28  But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29  If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30  And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.   Proverbs 9. 13  Folly is an unruly woman;      she is simple and knows nothing. 14  She sits at the door of her house,      on a seat at the highest point of the city, 15  callin

7.15- When someone has done something bad to us there is a tendency to take our own revenge and this is a great danger to any Jesus follower.  We don't know all that God knows about the case.  He knows the beginning the middle and the possible outcome.  We don't.  We must be careful to stand for justice through the government systems given to us by God for such purposes. Romans 13. 13  Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2  Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3  For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. 4  For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you

7.14- Travel light.  Don't carry a bunch of extra stuff. Six years ago today my wife slept in her Denver bed for the last time before our move.  She worked all night the night of the ninth of July and on the 10th at 5pm we walked out of the house we had called home for 30 years. We drove to Los Vegas New Mexico and crashed into the motel bed. She had given so much of herself to get everything ready for the move.  She had to help me with a broken knee cap for six weeks after my fall on 3.22.13.  Then she had my surgery to cope with.  On top of this was the disposition of everything we didn't want to move. Some given away to charity. Some give to neighbors and friends. Some sold at a garage sale. Some became trash. Then the remainder to be packed in boxes for the move to Texas.  Much hard work and mostly done by Sheila with a little help from our grandsons, Jared and Jordan and then on July 9 and 10th.  One long day for Sheila it all wrapped up. Jesus reminded us