Refreshing Our Spirits With Scripture

 4.3- Muscling Through                   2 Chronicles 20:2-3, 14-22                     Kirsten Holmberg     Competitive bodybuilders put themselves through a rigorous training cycle. During the initial months, they emphasize gaining size and strength. As the competition nears, the focus shifts to losing any fat that hides the muscle. In the final days before the competition, they consume less water than normal so their muscle tissue is easily visible. Because of the reduce consumption of nourishment, the competitors are actually at their weakest on the day of competition, despite appearing strong.     In 2 Chronicles 20, we read of the opposite reality: acknowledging weakness in order to experience God’s strength. “A vast army is coming against you,” people told King Jehoshaphat. So “he proclaimed a fast for all Judah” (verse 3), depriving himself and all his people of nourishment. Then they asked God for help. When he finally mustered his military, Jehoshaphat placed singers who prai

 4.2- No Line to Love                                  Isaiah 40:3-10                                   James Banks     Sometimes when my Labrador retriever wants attention, he’ll take something of mine and parade it in front of me. One morning as I as writing at the desk with my back turned, Max snatched my wallet and ran off. But realizing I hadn’t seen him do it, he returned and nudged me with his nose—wallet in mouth, eyes dancing, tail wagging, taunting me to play.     Max’s antics made me laugh, but they also reminded me of my limitations when it comes to being attentive to others. So often I’ve intended to spend time with family or friends, but other things occupy my time and awareness; and before I know it the day slips away and love is left undone.     How comforting to know that our heavenly Father is so great that He’s able to attend to each of us in the most intimate ways—even sustaining every breath in our lungs for as long as we live. He promises His people, “Even t

 4.1-What Jesus wanted as the marker of His followers is they way they love each other and care for each other. That means we serve them by giving them the best of ourselves. As the end of a life comes there is desire to say things that matter. At the end of letters we write to those we love there is a variety of things spoken that are important. John 13.   34  I am giving you a new commandment, that you love one another; just as I have loved you, that you also love one another.   35  By this all  people  will know that you are My disciples: if you have love for one another.” 36  Simon Peter *said to Him, “Lord, where are You going?” Jesus answered,  “Where I am going, you cannot follow Me now; but you will follow later.”   37  Peter *said to Him, “Lord, why can I not follow You right now? I will lay down my life for You.”   38  Jesus *replied,  “Will you lay down your life for Me? Truly, truly I say to you, a rooster will not crow until you deny Me three times. 1 Thessalonians 5. 12 

 3.31- God is glorified in courage and sacrifice.  What we saw in America on 911 was that many firemen ran into the twin towers knowing they would probably not come out alive.  They had trained to run into fires when others were running out.  They did their duty to their God and their fellowman.  We saw the best of humanity on that day.  It was a glorious act of mercy to try to help others and to be with others in their hardest moments. John 13. 31  Therefore when he had left, Jesus *said,  “Now  [ n ] is the Son of Man glorified, and God  [ o ] is glorified in Him;   32  [ p ] if God is glorified in Him, God will also glorify Him in Himself, and will glorify Him immediately.   33  Little children, I am  still  with you a little longer. You will look for Me; and just as I said to the  [ q ] Jews, now I also say to you: ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’   34  I am giving you a new commandment, that you love one another; just as I have loved you, that you also love one another.   35 

 3.30- Our cleansing from Jesus is the key to our partnership with Him.  The more we seek Him the more we love Him.  The more we love Him the more we obey Him from the right motives. It is the grace and mercy of God that brings us peace. It is the mercy of God that motivates deep heart and soul transformation from the caterpillar of the fleshly  into the butterfly of the spiritual realm. John 13. 6  So He *came to Simon Peter. He *said to Him, “Lord, You are washing my feet?”   7  Jesus answered and said to him,  “What I am doing, you do not realize right now, but you will understand later.”   8  Peter *said to Him, “Never shall You wash my feet!” Jesus answered him,  “If I do not wash you, you have no  [ b ] place with Me.”   9  Simon Peter *said to Him, “Lord,  then wash  not only my feet, but also my hands and my head!” Romans 12. 12  Therefore I urge you, brothers  and sisters , by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice,  [ a ] acceptable to God, 

 3.29- Where you comin' from?  What does it mean?  It can mean what is your point of view.  It can mean what nation, state or town are you from?  But it can also mean that you believe that God brought you into the world and gave you a destiny. Jesus teaches His disciples where He came from and where they came from.  This informed their work that was spiritual behind their physical work.  He taught fishermen that if they followed Him that He would teach them to fish for men. Knowing who we are and were we came from and what our work it and where we are going helps us to be able to serve in any capacity that is needed. John 13. 3  Jesus , knowing that the Father had handed all things over to Him, and that He had come forth from God and was going  back  to God,   4  *got up from supper and *laid His outer garments  aside ; and He took a towel and tied it around Himself. Jesus Washes the Disciples’ Feet 5  Then He *poured water into the basin, and began washing the disciples’ feet and