Refreshing Our Spirits With Scripture

 9.20- Faith is the courage to accept our acceptance by a God of grace, mercy and peace. Romans 5 5  Therefore, having been justified by faith,  [ a ] we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,   2  through whom we also have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and  [ b ] we celebrate in hope of the glory of God.   3  And not only  this , but  [ c ] we also celebrate in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance;   4  and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope;   5  and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. 6  For while we were still helpless, at  the  right time Christ died for the ungodly.   7  For one will hardly die for a righteous person;  [ d ] though perhaps for the good person someone would even dare to die.   8  But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Ch

 9.19- Today if I feel alone, overwhelmed and discouraged about all the violence and hate in this world I will remember the best prayer to God. Our father in heaven Hallowed is your name. Your kingdom come Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation. And deliver us from all evil. Thank you for you helping me on a daily basis. Amen. Matthew 6 9  “Pray, then, in this way: ‘Our Father, who is in heaven, [ d ] Hallowed be Your name. 10  [ e ] Your kingdom come. Your will be done, [ f ] On earth as it is in heaven. 11  Give us this day  [ g ] our daily bread. 12  And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13  And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from  [ h ] evil. [ i ] ’

 9.19- Some my older mentors show me the road to choosing the best things over the good things. For example older people don't always sleep well. It could be for various reasons. It could be that their mobility issues mean that their exercise level is much less than it was when they was younger. They are wide awake at 2.30am. What to do? Being a "freelance worker" (some call it "retirement"), They are free to go to "work" anytime and quit anytime. They can have a morning nap and an afternoon nap. They can have a .morning coffee break and an afternoon tea. I had household chores and so I got busy doing my "housework". Empty dishwasher. Empty trash cans. Take trash out to the garage. Organize my desk to appear "organized". Get into proper attitude of "Be still and know that I am God." I am blessed. Great food, drink, house, good relations with family and friends and even better things are hoped for in the future, short, medi

 9.18- This week I have noticed that leaders who have humility and the ability to receive course correction build unified teams of effective workers. They don't stop leading to complain and pout. They correct and get back to the task. Philippians 2 2  Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any  [ a ] affection and compassion,   2  make my joy complete  [ b ] by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.   3  Do nothing  [ c ] from  [ d ] selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility consider one another as more important than yourselves;   4  do not  merely  look out for your own personal  interests , but also for the  interests  of others.   5  Have this attitude  [ e ] in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus,   6  who, as He  already  existed in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be  [ f ] grasped,   7  but  [ g ] emptie

 9.17- Arrogance sniffles spiritual growth and creativity. If one of our goals for ourselves and our adult children is friendship with them, then I think we must allow ourselves to be challenged by them without taking offense. This also requires reducing or own arrogance and fear of self examination. Mark 7 17  And when He  later  entered a house, away from the crowd, His disciples asked Him about the parable.   18  And He *said to them,  “Are you so lacking in understanding as well? Do you not understand that whatever goes into the person from outside cannot defile him,   19  because it does not go into his heart, but into his stomach, and  [ i ] is eliminated?”  ( Thereby  He declared all foods clean.)   20  And He was saying,  “That which comes out of the person, that  is what  defiles the person.   21  For from within, out of the  [ j ] hearts of people, come the evil thoughts,  acts of  sexual immorality, thefts, murders,  acts of  adultery,   22  deeds of greed, wickedness, dece

 9.16- Boxing is one of the ancient sports mentioned in scripture that teaches lessons by Paul. He said he didn't play at boxing by "shadow boxing". He wrote, "We should run the race of life with excellent discipline." About Olympic racers he said they execute high levels of discipline for the purpose of an earthly honor. We who have.been chosen for honor from our heavenly Father and made children of God by his grace and mercy should be motivated much more than Olypmic athletes. One lesson from athletics is to know when to quit. For professional athletes that is difficult. Some say their total identity becomes the sport. Demar Hamlin is a safety for Buffalo who nearly died on the field two years ago. He virtually died but was revived by the training staff. Last night he was a starter who made a clean tackle on Tua Tungaloa, Miami's Q.B. who a cross on his cheeks. His neck was bent radically. Tua didn't get up at first. He been out of football earlier