Refreshing Our Spirits With Scripture

 6.16- Great teachers have said that the way you treat the handicapped, widows. the poor is how you treat God. For three thousand years there have been stories of widows staying close to God during lean times and God providing an abundant supply because they gave generously and trusted God to provide. These women teach us so much. My grandmother Wishard became a widow with seven children and one on the way. She has become a mentor to 100's. Greatly loved by kids and grandkids. 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 p

 6.15- Strange thing happened to me on this date in 1966. My summer job was selling health books and Bibles, big family Bibles, and other kinds. Towns passed laws that you needed and license. My company said they were unconstutional so disregard. That was a mistake so I spent six hours in jail in Nakatish (sp). LA. When I checked in there were two men there. They asked why I was here. "Selling Bibles" got a laugh. Fortunately my brother in law, Bill Luttrell, had a friend who was the leader of a large company in town. He came and got me out. I re- learned a important lesson that day. Obey the law. Romans 13 13  Every  [ a ] person is to be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except  [ b ] from God, and those which exist are established by God.   2  Therefore  [ c ] whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves.   3  For rulers are not a cause of fear for  [ d ] good

 6.14- The teacher and his group. There is a word I am not going to use in this writing. C-H-U-R-C-H. That word miscommunicates. I am going to refer to this group with these words. The teacher and his group. I am not referring to a physical building whether it be old or new or large or small with a steeple or without one. I am referring to a group of people. The teacher made a huge sacrifice of mercy to start the group. He left the perfectly comfortable and pain free surroundings he was in to come out to touch and help the pain of others. The whole group has been in existence for about 2024 years. It might be two or three ladies working on a quilt for a young lady who has experienced a surprising event in her life which will help God to create a new life. It might be twenty ladies who throw a bridle shower for a young couple getting married and wanting to dedicated their marriage and life helping others through teaching. It might be 40 people going to a golden wedding anniversary. It m

 6.13- The value of freedom is not realized until it is lost. John 8 31  So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him,  “If you continue in My word,  then  you are truly My disciples;   32  and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”   33  They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been enslaved to anyone; how  is it that  You say,  ‘You will become free’ ?” 34  Jesus answered them,  “Truly, truly I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin.   35  Now the slave does not remain in the house forever; the son does remain forever.   36  So if the Son sets you free, you really will be free.   37  I know that you are Abraham’s descendants; yet you are seeking to kill Me, because My word  [ l ] has no place in you.   38  I speak of the things which I have seen  [ m ] with  My  Father; therefore you also do the things which you heard from  your  father.” 39  They answered and said to Him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus *said to the

 6.12- The teacher and his group. There is a word I am not going to use in this writing. C-H-U-R-C-H. That word miscommunicates. I am going to refer to this group with these words. The teacher and his group. I am not referring to a physical building whether it be old or new or large or small with a steeple or without one. I am referring to a group of people. The teacher made a huge sacrifice of mercy to start the group. He left the perfectly comfortable and pain free surroundings he was in to come out to touch and help the pain of others. The whole group has been in existence for about 2024 years. It might be two or three ladies working on a quilt for a young lady who has experienced a surprising event in her life which will help God to create a new life. It might be twenty ladies who throw a bridle shower for a young couple getting married and wanting to dedicated their marriage and life helping others through teaching. It might be 40 people going to a golden wedding anniversary. It m

 6.11- Home is family. Mom, dad, my sibs. Then later Sheila, Jeff, Amy, Jared, Jordan and Donna. Our family home where I grew up was surrounded by cotton fields. The ground preparation and planting season. The days walking up and down cotton rows ten hours a day to hoe out the weeds. Eventually, with a good balance of sunshine and rain big green boles would load down the plant. They would pop open with white cotton to be picked and later pulled. Cotton sacks filled, weighed and emptied. Ginned and baled with checks big enough to pay off the Farmer's And Merchants State Bank with hopes that Mr. Eastman would approve the crop loans for next year. Family is hard work and hopes year after year with love and sorrow and joy that overcomes all things with God's help. Psalm 127 127  Unless the  Lord  builds a house, They who build it labor in vain; Unless the  Lord  guards a city, The watchman stays awake in vain. 2  It is futile for you to rise up early, To  [ a ] stay up late, To eat

 6.10- The Power of Keeping a Confidence I have a close friend who started listening to my confidential words 46 years ago. He guards his lips and preserves secrets and deep friendship. He does not speak rashly. He doesn't add shame to the bad things l have experienced. He reduces my burdens by his grace. He has good judgement regarding when to speak and when to remain silent. This gives him good long term friends and deep joy. Proverbs 13 3  A wise son  accepts his  father’s discipline, But a scoffer does not listen to rebuke. 2  From the fruit of a person’s mouth he  [ a ] enjoys good, But the  [ b ] desire of the treacherous is violence. 3  One who guards his mouth protects his life; One who opens wide his lips  [ c ] comes to ruin. 4  The soul of the  [ d ] lazy one craves and  gets  nothing, But the soul of the diligent is made  [ e ] prosperous. 5  A righteous person hates a false statement, But a wicked person  [ f ] acts disgustingly and shamefully. 6  Righteousness guards