Refreshing Our Spirits With Scripture

 4.24- Liberated by Jesus                               Mark 5:1-20                                 Arthur Jackson     “I lived with my mother so long that she moved out!” Those were the words of KC, whose life before sobriety and surrender to Jesus was not pretty. He candidly admits supporting his drug habit by stealing – even from loved ones. That life is behind him now and he rehearses this by noting the years, months, and days he’s been clean. When KC and I regularly sit down to study God’s Word together, I’m looking at a changed man.     Mark 5:15 speaks of a former demon possessed individual who had also been changed. Prior to his healing, helpless, hopeless, homeless, and desperate are words that fit the man (verses 3-5). But all of that changed after Jesus liberated him (verse 13). But, as with KC, his life before Jesus was far from normal. His internal turmoil that he expressed externally is unlike what people experience today. Some hurting people dwell in abandoned buildi

 4.23- Selfish ambition has led to many wars and the death of thousands of innocent children. The scenes of these things cause a callous on my soul I fear. When a culture is taught there is no such thing as evil then all kinds of evil comes forth. Then humility and sincere prayer can lead to repentance and spiritual healing. God desires mercy to be received and shared. This leads love, grace mercy and peace. James 3. 13  Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom.   14  But if you have bitter jealousy and  [ k ] selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and  so  lie against the truth.   15  This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly,  [ l ] natural, demonic.   16  For where jealousy and  [ m ] selfish ambition exist,  [ n ] there is disorder and every evil thing.   17  But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peace-loving, gentle,  [ o ] reasonable, full of mercy and good fru

 4.22- I have been guilty of theft. I remember as a teenager that I shoplifted some Fritos. My dad found out about it and demanded that I admit my wrong and take the money back to the store owner, Billy Hill. This theft made my dad angry. Billy Hill had trusted us as a family with the freedom to get groceries and pay him later. We could "sign the ticket". We could delay payment until our fall crops came in. This was to my dad a total violation of the trust built into the business relationship he had with Billy Hill. "Billy Hill bought these corn chips from the Frito man and this is his living." This little theft led to pain to the heart of my dad, and although this was not the punishment this time, there was often the pain to my rear end. I watched a trial of a shoplifter a few years later. He could have gone to jail, but mercy walked in. The youth admitted he was guilty, was very sorry and had already paid restitution to the store. The judge identified wit

 4.21- Surprise Interview                               Acts 26:9-15                                    Mart Dehaan     On a crowded London commuter train, an early morning rider shoved and insulted a fellow passenger who got in his way. It was the kind of unfortunate and mindless moment that usually remains unresolved. But later that day, the unexpected happened. A business manager sent a quick message to his social media friends, “Guess who just showed up for a job interview.” When his explanation appeared on the Internet, people all over the world winced and smiled. Imagine walking into a job interview only to discover that the person who greets you is the one you had shoved and sworn at earlier that day.     Saul also ran into someone he never expected to see. While raging against a group called the Way (Acts 9:1-2), he was stopped in his tracks by a blinding light. Then a voice said, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” (verse 4). Saul asked, “Who are you, Lord?” The One spe

 4.20- The Mud Puddle                                 Psalm 119:1-8                                  Dave Egner     My friend Ed was telling me a story about his little son. He was standing in a mud puddle, so Ed told him to get out. But instead, his son began running through the puddle. “No running through it either,” he said. So the boy began walking through the water. When Ed told him, “No walking!” the boy stood with just his toes in the water, looking defiantly at his dad. The child knew what his father wanted, but he didn’t want to do it.     Sometimes I’m like that stubborn little boy. I know that what I’m doing isn’t pleasing to the Lord, but I do it anyway. God told the children of Israel to “fully obey the Lord your God” (Deuteronomy 28:1), but they failed repeatedly. The psalmist acknowledged his struggle in Psalm 119, “Oh, that my ways were steadfast in obeying your decrees!” (verse 5).     Jealousy, hatred, rebellion – they occur all too often. But God provided for o

 4.19- Live. Pray. Love.                                  Romans 12:9-21                                Xochitl Dixon      Influenced by parents who were strong believers in Jesus, track star Jesse Owens lived as a courageous man of faith. During the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin, Germany, Owens, one of the few African Americans on the US team, received four gold medals in the presence of hate-filled Nazis and their leader, Hitler. He also befriended fellow athlete Luz Long, a German. Surrounded by Nazi propaganda, Owens’ simple act of living out his faith impacted Luz’s life. Later, Long wrote to Owens: “That hour in Berlin when I first spoke to you, when you had your knee upon the ground, I knew you were in prayer . . . I thing I might believein God.”     Owens demonstrated how believers can answer the apostle Paul’s charge to “hate what is evil” and be “devoted to one another in love” (Romans 12:9-10). Though he could have responded to the evil around him with hate, Owens chose t

 4.18- Someone asked me yesterday what was my own definition of "mindfulness". I have had a habit of detailed journaling for the last 16264 days. I have started my day by writing about what happened in my life "Yesterday". The amazing thing is that I forget so much. Yesterday I blocked out three hours of my day and only after deep reflection did I remember that three hour period of time. I sometimes forget the most important thing that happened to me "yesterday". Mindfulness means to me that I remember what I did yesterday that had a good effect on me and others. This is important because we need to choose behavior and conduct that has the most positive outcome possible. There is this famous saying that the definition of insanity is continuing to do what does not succeed in accomplishing your best goals in life. Wise men and women caution us to "Remember". That is what "Mindfulness" means to me. Matthew 5. 22  But I say to you t