Refreshing Our Spirits With Scripture

 2.27- Living to be 75 gives one the memory of many times that I have had discussions with important people in my life when there was great concern for world peace. I remember the Cuban missel crisis and discussing it with my dad. He was concerned and prayerful and honest with me about his love for our nation, but his concern for citizens in other countries when national leaders were making big important decisions. Dad addressed his prayers at the table with these words, "Kind, heavenly Father." Pray for peace, work for peace and remember that one of the names for Jesus is the "Prince of Peace". Psalm 47 says that Jesus was taught that leaders of countries belonged to God as the ultimate controller of the world. 6 Sing praises to God, sing praises; Sing praises to our King, sing praises. 7 For God is the King of all the earth; Sing praises with a psalm of wisdom. 8 God reigns over the nations, God [c]sits on His holy throne. 9 The [d]princes of the people have as

 2.26- Pray for the people of Ukraine please. They are people with great courage and hope. During my work with our church youth group we were able to present outreach programs in several youth camps in Ukraine. I met once with the national director of the camps built by the government during times under the Soviet Union when propaganda against belief in God had been presented. This leader came to believe that behind good, honest government was an ethics backed up by character qualities taught in the Scriptures. Though the government wanted freedom of religion at that time, they were willing for youth groups and sponsors to come from America and teach Christian ethics from the Bible. These basic ethical principles were also taught in public schools. Thousands of students to were taught in these camps. I have heard grandparents interviewed in the last few days saying they are willing to die for the values of freedom they believe in. We are praying for the peace and freedom for Ukr

 2.25- The more we realize that God loves us and knows us and forgives us, the greater we are motivated to serve Him with passion and love. Luke 7. 36  Now one of the Pharisees was requesting Him to eat with him, and He entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined  at the table .   37  And there was a woman in the city who was a  [ w ] sinner; and when she learned that He was reclining  at the table  in the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster vial of perfume,   38  and standing behind  Him  at His feet, weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears, and she wiped them with the hair of her head, and  began  kissing His feet and anointing them with the perfume.   39  Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw  this , he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet He would know who and what sort of person this woman  is  who is touching Him, that she is a  [ x ] sinner!” Parable of Two Debtors 40  And Jesus responded and said to him,  “Simon, I have something to say to you.”  

 2.24- God's work is caring for the blind, lame, lepers and the poor. What God the Father is doing is what the Son is doing. God is in these people were created by God and sustained by God and they represent Him. Luke 7. 18  The disciples of John also reported to him about all these things.   19  And after summoning  [ i ] two of his disciples, John sent them to the Lord, saying, “Are You the Coming One, or are we to  [ j ] look for another?”   20  When the men came to Him, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to You,  [ k ] to ask, ‘Are You the Coming One, or are we to  [ l ] look for another?’”   21  At that  very   [ m ] time He cured many  people  of diseases and afflictions and evil spirits; and He gave sight to many  who were  blind.   22  And He answered and said to them,  “Go and report to John what you have seen and heard: people who were blind receive sight, people who limped walk, people with leprosy are cleansed and people who were deaf hear, dead people are raised

 2.23.22 The God the read about at Jesus' synagogue. He is all powerful.  He favored His children and they knew it. He goes out with armies standing for justice and freedom. He knows the secrets of our hearts. He redeems His children because of His character of mercy. Psalm 44 44  God, we have heard with our ears, Our fathers have told us The work that You did in their days, In the days of old. 2  You with Your own hand drove out the nations; Then You planted them; You afflicted the peoples, Then You let them go free. 3  For by their own sword they did not possess the land, And their own arm did not save them, But Your right hand and Your arm and the light of Your presence, For You favored them. 4  You are my King, God; Command  [ b ] victories for Jacob. 5  Through You we will push back our adversaries; Through Your name we will trample down those who rise up against us. 6  For I will not trust in my bow, Nor will my sword save me. 7  But You have saved us from our adversaries, An

 2.22- Complete Access                                 Ephesians 3:7-13                               Bill Crowder     A few years ago, a friend invited me to join him as a spectator at a golf tournament. Being a first-timer, I had no idea what to expect. When we arrived, I was surprised to receive gifts, information, and maps of the golf course. But what topped it all was that we gained access to a VIP tent behind the 18 th green, where we had free food and a place to sit. I couldn’t have gained entry to the hospitality tent on my own though. The key was my friend; it was only through him that I had complete access.     Left to ourselves, we would all be hopelessly separated from God. But Jesus, who took our penalty, offers us His life and access to God. The apostle Paul wrote, “[God’s] intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made know” (Ephesians 3:10). This wisdom has brought Jew and Gentile together in Christ, who has made a way for us to

 2.21- Finding Life                             John 14:5-14                                    Poh Fang Chia     The words of Ravi’s father cut deep. “You’re a complete failure. You’re an embarrassment to the family.” Compared to his talented siblings, Ravi was viewed as a disgrace. He tried excelling in sports, and he did, but he still felt like a loser. He wondered. What is going to become of me? Am I a complete failure? Can I get out of life some way, painlessly? These thoughts haunted him, but he talked to no one. That simply wasn’t done in his culture. He had been taught to “keep your private heartache private; keep your collapsing world propped up.”     So Ravi struggled alone. Then while he was recovering in the hospital after a failed suicide attempt, a visitor brought him a Bible opened to John 14. His mother read these words of Jesus to Ravi: “Because I live, you also will live” (v. 19). This may be my only hope, he thought. A new way of living. Life as defined by the A