Refreshing Our Spirits With Scripture

 2.12- Beautiful women. I have watched many women who have learned that God and agape love is not ultimately found in perfect protection from their parents. They can't protect their beautiful daughters from being attacked and used and abused by evil men and women 100% of the time. Their hometown school and town is not always 100% affirming. These can be critics and cynics and competitors waiting and watching for failure and remembering a girl's worst day. Storms come for smart, winsome lovely women. In some countries they are murdered for wearing their scarf wrong. In my country they are abused, attacked, laughed at, mocked and slammed against walls and thrown down stairs. They are turned into sex objects and jokes by a male dominated culture. This causes spiritual, emotional and psychological storms. There are women who find that agape love, not Eros love is the real answer. God is agape. He is Spirit. Those who worship Him don't worship in just one location, but in a spi

 2.11- People you may respect in some ways are very broken, flawed people. Their core relationship with family will have messy parts. They know the real truth about themselves. The most famous follower of Jesus said of himself that he believed he was the worst of sinners so that if God could save him he could save anyone. The apostle Paul. I enjoyed the lessons I learned from watching Tom Brady play football. He retired again today. Maybe the only thing he is not good at is retiring. I pray for him today as I pray for myself today to turn to God and follow closely the greatest of all time. Jesus Christ. Luke 18. 9  To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable:   10  “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.   11  The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector.   12  I

2.10- One step at a time. One moment at a time. One hour at a time. One day at a time. If I am walking step with the Spirit of Jesus in this world that is the necessary strategy for me. Sam Keen wrote that two of the most important questions are 1. Where am I going? 2. Who will go with me? Many of our problems come when we get these two out of proper sequence. One moment at a time. One hour at a time. One day at a time. If I am walking step with the Spirit of Jesus in this world that is the necessary strategy for me. Sam Keen wrote that two of the most important questions are 1. Where am I going? 2. Who will go with me? Many of our problems come when we get these two out of proper sequence. Matthew 6 One step at a time. One moment at a time. One hour at a time. One day at a time. If I am walking step with the Spirit of Jesus in this world that is the necessary strategy for me. Sam Keen wrote that two of the most important questions are 1. Where am I going? 2. Who will go with me? Many

 2.9- Group A. Be alert. There are people in our lives who are super helpers. They get done what you need done and more. You can send them on a mission and it will be done. Group B There are people who are useful. They will do what you ask to be done. Group C There are people who have helped in the past but are not available to help anymore. They may have moved or lost capacity. Group D Lost people ready to change and improve. Group F Then there are people who have harmed you or done great harm to you and others. When people show you what they are believe them. Wise older teachers remind us to be alert. Notice each type and respond the best you can. Enjoy and partner with group A,B, C. Group D may be a part of your work in this world. On any given day all of us have some D days and others have helped us. Help them if you can without them drowning you emotionally or spiritually. Be ready to warn these group F types and protect others from them. Pray for them. Turn them over to God. 2 Ti

 2.18-   Priorities. I interviewed "a dedicated to God" guy yesterday. I asked what the key was to his dedication. He said that His parents were a main earthly influence. They were willing for themselves to have less that their sons could have more. More time and freedom resources to go on educational, spiritual mission trips and things that developed their souls. Mark 9. 42  “Whoever causes one of these  [ z ] little ones who believe in Me to  [ aa ] sin, it is better for him if a heavy millstone is hung around his neck and he  [ ab ] is thrown into the sea.   43  And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life maimed, than, having your two hands, to go into  [ ac ] hell, into the unquenchable fire. [ ad ]   45  And if your foot is causing you to sin, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life without a foot, than, having your two feet, to be thrown into  [ ae ] hell. [ af ]   47  And if your eye is causing you to sin, throw it away;

 2.8- Seller. Fisherman. Far.er. Soldier. Doctor. Tentmaker. Tax collector. Carpenter. Shepherd. Tutor. These are some vocations of the disciples of Jesus. He said to them that he would show the fishermen how to fish for men. He shows us to see the men and women. See them. Really see them. IMG is a company that manages high level athletes. The leader of that company wrote "see them as one big needy ego." I think Jesus teaches us to see all as a valuable souls. So much opportunity to treat people with respect and dignity. Mark 1. 16  As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen.   17  “Come, follow me,”  Jesus said,  “and I will send you out to fish for people.”   18  At once they left their nets and followed him. 19  When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets.   20  Without delay he called them, and they left their fa

 2.7- I was reminded this morning that this world is a mess, but I will never let anyone steal my joy, my smile or my soul. Matthew 16. 21  From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. 22  Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!” 23  Jesus turned and said to Peter,  “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.” 24  Then Jesus said to his disciples,  “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.   25  For whoever wants to save their life [ f ]  will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.   26  What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?

 2.6- Successful people know how to control their thoughts. They deliberately and intentionally think on these things. True things. Noble things. Right things. Pure things. Lovely things. Admirable things. Excellent things. Praiseworthy things. Philippians 4. 4  Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!   5  Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.   6  Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.   7  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8  Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.   9  Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.