Refreshing Our Spirits With Scripture

 5.21- are warned to stay clear of people who like quarrels and division in order to accumulate more money and power. We are warned that there are those who seem very religious and like long prayers who are busy devouring the very life of widows and other oppressed people. Stay away from these toxic people. Romans 16. 17  I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them.   18  For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people.   19  Everyone has heard abo

 5.20- Happy mothers day to Amy Wishard Goggins. Sheila, Happy mothers day to you in heaven. These two ladies have been enriching my life for twenty five years as moms. They tried to believe the best about each hard situation. They looked for open doors beyond any closed door. They both have supported the work of getting the message of the love of God spread around the world. Pushed me forward to travel to Russia and Ukraine. One has now left her legacy in our hearts and moved to heaven. Both are here with me today in my heart. Proverbs 31. 28  Her children arise and call her blessed;      her husband also, and he praises her: 29  “Many women do noble things,      but you surpass them all.” 30  Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;      but a woman who fears the  Lord  is to be praised. 31  Honor her for all that her hands have done, All reactions: 29 Gail Phillips Newman, Larry Wilterdink and 27 others

 5.19- In Scriptures written over 3,000 years ago they write of special love that a man has for a woman. He noticed her eyes. She was beautiful of form and face. For the opportunity to marry her he had to serve for many years and it seemed to him but a few days. Today I think of the inner beauty of the heart when women sacrifice to be excellent moms. (Sheila, Amy, Gladys, Suzanne, Hazanne, Sheila) Genesis 29 said to him, “Just because you are a relative of mine, should you work for me for nothing? Tell me what your wages should be.” 16  Now Laban had two daughters; the name of the older was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.   17  Leah had weak [ a ]  eyes, but Rachel had a lovely figure and was beautiful.   18  Jacob was in love with Rachel and said, “I’ll work for you seven years in return for your younger daughter Rachel.” 19  Laban said, “It’s better that I give her to you than to some other man. Stay here with me.”   20  So Jacob served seven years to get Rachel, but t

 5.18- There are people I have met who appear to not have any pains and problems. That is an illusion. Humans have days when they want their cup of suffering to pass. If they cry out to God and ask for relief and keep living by faith in Him. They keep their peace. They live in the house with God. They have hope as the anchor of their souls. They see perseverance develop along with character and more hope that never disappoints because God's love is being poured into their souls. Romans 5. 5  Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we [ a ]  have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,   2  through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we [ b ]  boast in the hope of the glory of God.   3  Not only so, but we [ c ]  also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;   4  perseverance, character; and character, hope.   5  And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poure

 5.17- What can I do today to be a salt and light influence for good in my community today? About 2,000 years ago a young influencer was counseled. Don't let anyone look down on you because of your age, Watch your speech, Conduct, Love, Faith, Purity, Teach by example. In doing so you will benefit your community. 1 Timothy 4. 12  Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.   13  Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching.   14  Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you. 15  Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress.   16  Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.

 5.16- Thoughts and prayers. The widows of those who protect our country are broken while we gather for more prayer meetings about what do do in addition to pray. Yes. Pray, but also repent and move out to give and serve and love instead of hate. Refuse to support hate toward groups based on their mere appearance. All humans are created in the image of God. Let's have more open minded conversations to learn from each other and with each other. God is love. He commands us to love God and each other 100%. Mark 12 28  One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” 29  “The most important one,”  answered Jesus,  “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. [ e ]   30  Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ [ f ]   31  The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor

 5.15 North Texas wild flowers. White. Yellow. Red. Blue. Do life events ever cause you to worry? How will I live? Where do I get the money for my rent? What will happen if I don’t have the money to get new tires? What if I can’t pay my utility bills? Jesus said to look at the flowers. They are dressed with more beauty than anyone and they don’t worry, they just trust God to provide and He does provide. I suppose all of us have days when we are a bit concerned about the future. All we have to do is to trust God and cast all our care on Him because He cares for us His children. He gives us wildflowers to remind us of His ability to provide whatever we need. Matthew 6. 28  “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin.   29  Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.   30  If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire,