Refreshing Our Spirits With Scripture

10.5- Our God God entered this world. Matthew 2. 2  1-2  After Jesus was born in Bethlehem village, Judah territory— this was during Herod’s kingship—a band of scholars arrived in Jerusalem from the East. They asked around, “Where can we find and pay homage to the newborn King of the Jews? We observed a star in the eastern sky that signaled his birth. We’re on pilgrimage to worship him.” 3-4  When word of their inquiry got to Herod, he was terrified—and not Herod alone, but most of Jerusalem as well. Herod lost no time. He gathered all the high priests and religion scholars in the city together and asked, “Where is the Messiah supposed to be born?” 5-6  They told him, “Bethlehem, Judah territory. The prophet Micah wrote it plainly: It’s you, Bethlehem, in Judah’s land,      no longer bringing up the rear. From you will come the leader      who will shepherd-rule my people, my Israel.” Our king. Our ruler. Our shepherd.

10.4- What side of the boat are you fishing on? When I'm not succeeding in my relationships with people I ask myself sometimes "What is going wrong here?" There are a couple of sides of the boat I can fish on. The take things for granted side. The judgemental side. Keep doing things the way I have been doing them with the same attitude and same zeal or I can change. The other side of the boat is available. The love side of the boat. The side of the boat where I don't take things for granted. I don't judge, but rather love. I think about what is the loving approach. What is love? Love is patient, kind, not jealous, does not brag, is not arrogant, is not easily provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in evil, rejoices in the truth, bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love is that which never fails. It never comes up empty. Every time things change for the better

10.3- The Blood of Jesus Can cleanse anyone of any sin. (Part Five) The forgiveness and grace given to us is to give us the joy and strength to get busy helping others who need help.   We live in a world in need of kindness.   Let forgiveness motivate us to be a salt and light for the good.   Let it move us to deep and honest prayer to God when we hurt.  Hosea 12. 6  Therefore, return to your God, Observe [ q ] kindness and justice, And wait for your God continually. 7  A [ r ] merchant, in whose hands are false balances, He loves to oppress. Psalm 74. 21  Let not the oppressed return dishonored; Let the afflicted and needy praise Your name. 22  Arise, O God, and plead Your own cause; Remember [ ab ] how the foolish man reproaches You all day long. 23  Do not forget the voice of Your adversaries, The uproar of those who rise against You which ascends continually.

10.2 Twelve years ago today in a Plano hospital my mother-in- law, Gladys Self, moved from earth to be with Jesus. She had a stroke a few days earlier so the family had been by her side. About 1 pm, my father-in-law, Ralph Self, and I decided we should go take a lunch break and Sheila would stay with her mom. Sheila and her Mom had a close relationship for Sheila’s whole life. While we were gone to eat, Sheila moved over to her Mom and placed her cheek on her Mom’s forehead. She held her face there for a while and all of a sudden her breathing stopped. It was a very peaceful moment according to Sheila’s description. Shocked, Sheila moved to the end of the bed and watched her chest. She called a nurse, then me and then, her brother, Stan. Yes, it was her last breath. Amazing providence from God. They were together at Sheila’s first breath and Sheila there for Gladys’ last breath. I read this morning in my devotional reading that the average human breathes about

10.2 The Blood of Jesus Can cleanse anyone of any sin. (Part Four) Let it be finished.   There is this way that Satan tries to enslave us.   God tells us we are children of His love.   Satan says we are a worm and maggot and worthless.   Jesus says we are of great value.   Satan never finishes beating us up.   Jesus said the punishment for our sins was finished.   Let us be finished with beating ourselves up over our sins. John 19. 28  After this, Jesus, knowing that all things had already been accomplished, to fulfill the Scripture, *said, “I am thirsty.” 29  A jar full of sour wine was standing there; so they put a sponge full of the sour wine upon a branch of hyssop and brought it up to His mouth. 30  Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “ It is finished!” And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit. The Scripture had said that Jesus was the lamb of God who would take away the sin of the world and now it was finished. 2 Timothy 4.