Refreshing Our Spirits With Scripture

 2.26 I read today that when Jimmy Carter came home from the hospital to be on hospice that he said he was at peace. He had fulfilling life as a Naval Commander, The President, an advocate for democracies around the world, a Carpenter for Habitat For Humanity. He was completely at peace he said with his decision. It reminded me of Paul's feeling at the end of his life. 2 Timothy 4 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.

 2.25- My marriage to Sheila was a blessing to me in so many ways. A hard change for her was my transition from teacher to minister. Her parents were a door opener to a new vocation for me. Life teaches to go through open doors and help the best you can and don’t beat your head against closed doors. When I was teaching school in Vidor, Texas I started some substitute teaching in the church at Port Neches, Texas at the same time. It seemed to suit me better than the teaching and coaching I had been doing. Sheila’s parents, Ralph and Gladys Self were members of the congregation there. Gladys Self lived a life of order and striving to make her home as beautiful and peaceful as possible. Ralph and Gladys were known in their town as being hardworking people who paid their bills whatever the cost. Ralph once sold a nice car to be able to have the money for down payment for a house that came with a refrigerator which were hard to get at the time near the end of WWII. This caused him

 2.24- Religion that spends the majority of its time focused on raising money is not true religion. True teligion helps the fatherless and orphans and widows according to The teacher. Anyone who has two shirts should share with someone who has none. Food the same. Those in places of power must not oppress but liberate people. Never slander people. Developing a loving and peaceful people who are filled with a spirit of grace, mercy and peace is the fruit of true religion. This includes prayers and singing hymns but theatrics and smoke and mirrors is not of the next world but this one. Luke 3. 3  Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was tetrarch of Galilee and his brother Philip was tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene,   2  in the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John, the son of Zechariah, in the wilderness.   3  And he came into al

2.23- I was thinking this morning. Get away from people who suggest your life should avoid any pain, discomfort or inconvience. Love deeply those who reach out to support you in your hard times. Move a distance from people who are not peaceful when they are close to you. Move toward people going through a storm if you believe you and God might be able to help them. Do not hinder people in other groups than your own who are doing good things in the name of God. Pray a blessing on those who insult you because of your love for God. Matthew 5 43  “You have heard that it was said, ‘ You shall love your neighbor  and hate your enemy.’   44  But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,   45  so that you may prove yourselves to be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on  the  evil and  the  good, and sends rain on  the  righteous and  the  unrighteous.   46  For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Even the tax

 2.22- High standards. The teacher said that mercy, justice, clean water, food and clothing for the poor are more important than rules about giving God 10% of your dill pickles but you could do both. Matthew 23. 23  “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and  [ w ] cumin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the Law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these  are the things  you should have done without neglecting the others.   24  You blind guides, who  [ x ] strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!

 2.21- I have found that when I am going through a storm I must be very alert and undistracted. My first and best source of wisdom is the worship of Jesus the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. 1 Kings 17 17  Now Elijah the Tishbite, who was of  [ a ] the settlers of Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the  Lord , the God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall certainly be neither dew nor rain  during  these years, except by my word.”   2  Then the word of the  Lord  came to him, saying,   3  “Go  away  from here and turn eastward, and hide yourself by the brook Cherith, which is  [ b ] east of the Jordan.   4  And it shall be that you will drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to provide food for you there.”   5  So he went and did  everything  according to the word of the  Lord , for he went and lived by the brook Cherith, which is  [ c ] east of the Jordan.   6  And the ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evenin

 2.20- February is love month. God is pictured in Scripture as being married to those who love Him. He prepares a wedding reception and wants everyone to come dressed in His pure, dazzling righteous garments. He builds a house and when the mansion is perfect for us is finished He comes to pick us up and take us home. There is the garden of Eden perfection that He has planned for us forever. Hope is not wishful thinking. Hope is desire plus expectation. Psalm 35 35  Contend,  Lord , with those who contend with me; Fight against those who fight against me. 2  Take hold of  [ a ] buckler and shield And rise up as my help. 3  Draw also the spear and  [ b ] the battle-axe to meet those who pursue me; Say to my soul, “I am your salvation.” 4  Let those be ashamed and dishonored who seek my  [ c ] life; Let those be turned back and humiliated who devise evil against me. 5  Let them be like chaff before the wind, With the angel of the  Lord  driving  them  on. 6  Let their way be dark and slip