Refreshing Our Spirits With Scripture

 10.2- Jesus Christ died for our sins.  Sin causes spiritual death, spiritual separation and hiding from a close relationship with our Father in heaven.  When Adam and Eve sinned they felt shame and guilt and started running away from God.  God loves His creation.  He pursued them and spoke to them. God loves the world.  He sent Jesus into the world, not to judge and condemn the world, but to save the world.  Jesus lived a perfect life.  He had no sin debt of death to pay.  He died as a ransom to take our place there on that cruel and ugly cross. When He died on that cross He was reaching out to those there.  The thief on the cross was told that, "Today you will be with me in paradise."  He said, "Father forgive them for they know not what they do." His followers like Stephen said the same in their own death. "Do not lay this sin to their account." Paul said they same,  People deserted Paul and he said he didn't want it held against them. Bad things ha

 10.1- If you had someone killing those you loved what would you do to them if you had unlimited power? Saul of Tarsus was killing Jesus' best people. Jesus answer was show love and grace to him and he became the hardest working worker for Jesus. Abraham Lincoln said the best way to get rid of enemies was to make them friends. What if Hitler or other leaders followed the way of love instead of hate? Matthew 5. 43  “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor [ i ]  and hate your enemy.’   44  But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,   45  that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.   46  If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?   47  And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?   48  Be perfect, therefore, as you

 9.30- When I was between 20 and 30 years old found a deep need to understand God’s word. My life had problems that I could not imagine being solved in any way except crying out to God in prayer. I was in some kind of crisis of transition. I was struggling with a relatively new marriage, new fatherhood and vocational lostness. I wanted to get to know God better to know how to live and how to pray. I read what Jesus taught: Do not pray with any thought of being seen by others. Speak with God and to God with only God as your focus. Make the prayer short and to the point. Remember God knows what you need, but you need to discover and remember what you need. What we should seek is that there is an increasing number of people who have God as their ultimate Leader. As followers of Jesus we want heavenly joy, peace and order to flow out into our world. What do we want God to give us? What do we want and need? Name it. We need forgiveness. In deep crisis we need to feel that there is no

 9.29- The promises of Jesus to His brothers and sisters I can promise that when your work is finished I will come and take you home to the perfect place for you. I can promise we will be with each other forever. I can promise that my way of life is the way to that place. The hymns of worship and the fellowship of God’s children will reveal to you the way of life that pleases our Father in heaven. Simple enough for a child to understand and in fact they understand it better than many adults. This way of life is the thing I learned from the Father before I came to earth. I can promise you that I love big audacious plans that bring glory to our Father. I can promise that I will give you the Spirit of truth to get your through this world of lies. I cannot promise that the world will not accept you. I can promise I will be with you and in you and you in me. I can promise I will not leave you. I can promise you will be more alive than ever as you do what I led you into. I can promise you

 9.28- Just a little while. How long is that? When Sheila was carrying Jeff for nine months is "Just a little while" Toward the end, 1 month, last two weeks, Sheils told me it seemed like forever. Jesus was with His guys training them for three years. Then He said He was leaving for heaven to be with His Father and they would not see Him for "for a little while" then they "would see Him." Jesus said that His death would be like the loud cries of pain at child birth then the joy of the child. I have had a great time lately singing this old hymn Just a Little While to Stay Here Music and Lyrics by Eugene Monroe Bartlett Soon this life will all be over, and our pilgrimage will end. Soon we'll take our heav'nly journey, be at home again with friends. Heaven's gates are standing open, waiting for our entrance there. Some sweet day we're going over all the beauties there to share. Chorus: Just a Little while to stay here, just a little while to w

 9.27- The neat thing about modern technology is that Jesus, who teaches that grace, mercy and peace is God's will for all nations, can be shared over the internet. I have a lady from Iran at our church in North Richland Hills who was converted from the Muslim faith to following Jesus. She said she sent her family and friends there a New Testament in their own language. She is doing all she can to get the good news of hope in Jesus into their minds and hearts. She says there are thousands of young people in Iran seeking for a way of freedom and hope. 2022 years and Jesus' love still growing. Jesus said, "You will know the truth and the truth will set you free." John 8. 42  Jesus said to them,  “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on my own; God sent me.   43  Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say.   44  You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out you