Refreshing Our Spirits With Scripture

 1.23- Everything I need to know about life, I learned from Noah’s Ark . . . Don’t miss the boat. Remember that we are all in the same boat. Plan ahead. It wasn’t raining when Noah built the ark. Stay fit. When you’re 600 years old, someone may ask you to do something really big. Don’t listen to critics, just get on with the job that needs to be done. Build your future on high ground. For safety sake, travel in pairs. Speed isn’t always an advantage. The snails were on board with the cheetahs. When you’re stressed, float a while.   Remember the Ark was built by amateurs; the Titantic by professionals.   No matter the storm, when you are with God, there’s always a rainbow waiting.

 1.23- An Ordinary Day                       Matthew 24:36-44                            David McCasland     While exploring a museum exhibit titled “A Day in Pompeii,” I was struck by the repeated theme that August 24, AD 79 began as an ordinary day. People were going about their daily business in homes, markets, and at the port of this prosperous Roman town of 20,000 people. At 8 a.m. a series of small emissions were seen coming from nearby Mount Vesuvius, followed by a violent eruption in the afternoon. In less than 24 hours, Pompeii and many of its people lay buried under a thick layer of volcanic ash. Unexpected.     Jesus told His followers that He would return on a day when people were going about their business, sharing meals, and having weddings, with no idea of what was about to happen. “As the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be”            (Matthew 24:37).     The Lord’s purpose was to urge the disciples to be watchful and prepared: “The

 1.22- There is a phrase in Jesus model prayer, "Our Father in heaven." Our, not "My" This reminds me that we are a family. We are not alone. All humans are our brothers and sisters in "Adam". "Father" in heaven. Our Father in heaven is perfect in love and I am not. Yet, we are given grace and mercy from God and from our children so that we can be close to each other in spiritual closeness even if we are separated physically. Some times tears come to my eyes when I think of the joy God has given to me in my children and grandchildren and their gracious love toward me after making many mistakes in "raising them" though really I am starting to think they were and are "raising me". I was able to enjoy time with my son and daughter in law and daughter in the last month and this has made me full of joy in God. My family is a very diverse bunch as my profile picture shows, but what today, MLK Day, reminds me of that I am thankful

 1.21- God's word when spoken to powerful people will have an impact.  It may be received in a way that causes them to think and change their ways.  It may cause them to imprison or kill the speaker. Matthew 14. 14  [ a ] At that time  [ b ] Herod  [ c ] the tetrarch heard the news about Jesus,   2  and said to his servants, “This is John the Baptist; he himself has been raised from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him.” 3  For when Herod had John arrested, he bound him and put him in prison because of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip.   4  For John had been saying to him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.”   5  Although Herod wanted to put him to death, he feared the crowd, because they regarded  [ d ] John as a prophet. 6  But when Herod’s birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced  [ e ] before  them  and pleased Herod,   7  so  much  that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked.   8  And after being prompted by her moth

 1.20- 75 years on earth has taught me this. 1. Every good and perfect gift comes down from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights. 2. All human beings have a choice to do good or to do evil. 3. There is a devil who tempts humans to lie instead of tell the truth and tempts men to hate instead of love. 4. If we are children of God, we can be secure that He will keep us close to Him and not drive us away.  The evil one cannot steal us away from Him.  We are secure in our relationship with Him. 5. Our Father in heaven does not want our hearts to be troubled about death.  When our work and training down here on earth is finished He will come and move us to heaven to live with Him and all of His children. 6. When we say we are children of God we are not saying that we do not mess up and make mistakes and do wrong.  We are saying that we believe we can get up when we fall down and get back on track and be forgiven by God and those who know Him. 7. We live in a universe tha

 1.19- 16174 People learn best using stories that illustrate well.  Being productive and fruitful is important, but comparing your fruit to the kind or amount others can be deceitful.  You are you and you cannot be someone else and they cannot be you.  Be careful about comparisons that can be a put down.  Jealousy regarding the effectiveness of other people can be very dangerous. Those who use things in a way that multiply them for the benefit of themselves and others will be given more and more opportunities.  Those who waste resources will be more and more limited. God has given free will choice to people.  If they desire to learn and know about God and His ways they can hear, understand, learn and practice His ways.  If they don't desire to learn, they can hear the words, but they don't hear spiritually.  That is their choice.  The blessing comes to those who hunger for the things of God. Some hear, but the evil one snatches away the word of God from their hearts very quickl

 1.18- There is something beautiful about the way God created good relationships between people and their pets. I saw this week where a dog had summoned a policeman to the car wreck where his master was injured. Here a dog is enjoying a trip to the pharmacy with his friend. Psalm 8. 8  O  Lord , our Lord, How majestic is Your name in all the earth, Who have  [ a ] displayed Your splendor above the heavens! 2  From the mouth of infants and nursing babes You have established  [ b ] strength Because of Your adversaries, To make the enemy and the revengeful cease. 3  When I  [ c ] consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have  [ d ] ordained; 4  What is man that You  [ e ] take thought of him, And the son of man that You care for him? 5  Yet You have made him a little lower than  [ f ] God, And You crown him with glory and majesty! 6  You make him to rule over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet, 7  All sheep and oxen,

 1.17- I've noticed human beings everywhere are seekers. From the poor lady standing in the cold wind with her daughter with a cardboard sign yesterday to the billionaire owner of the Dallas Cowboys people are seekers. Jesus understood this and said if you seek God's kingdom first He will provide for you one way or another. Focus and relax. Your creator has this covered. Matthew 6. 25  “For this reason I say to you,  [ n ] do not be worried about your  [ o ] life,  as to  what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body,  as to  what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?   26  Look at the birds of the  [ p ] air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and  yet  your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?   27  And who of you by being worried can add a  single   [ q ] hour to his  [ r ] life?   28  And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they d