Refreshing Our Spirits With Scripture

 4.19- "God can achieve His purpose either through the absence of human power and resources, or abandonment of reliance on them. All through history God has chosen and used nobodies, because their unusual dependence on Him made possible the unique display of His power and grace. He chose and used somebodies only when they renounced dependence on their natural abilities and resources." Oswald Chambers Romans 16 16  I recommend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a  [ a ] servant of the church which is at Cenchrea,   2  that you receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the  [ b ] saints, and that you help her in whatever matter she may have need of you; for she herself has also been a helper of many,  [ c ] and of myself as well. 3  Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus,   4  who risked their own necks for my life, to whom not only do I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Genti...

 4.18- Birthday of Ruth Ann Milton Jones. Teachers and coaches shape the future. It is hard, dangerous work when done with passion and compassion. Superteacher. Super person. 45 years in a classroom. Leader of Beta students for most of those years. Mathematics, STEM, teacher to athletes going on to D1 college and those not going to college. Superstar teacher. Volunteer teacher from babies to preschool at church. Intensive care in suffering mom, dad, husband and beloved brother. Teacher of math at Honey Grove High Scool. Today is her birthday. The birthday of Ruth Ann Milton Jones, second generation super public school teacher and inspiration to 100's of teachers and coaches. She doesn't talk about doing it. She does it. Matthew 7 21  “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of My Father who is in heaven  will enter .   22  Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in...

4.17- What can you cut and nothing comes back but beauty? Roses. When a wise friend corrects us in love and humility, then we are truly blessed. Having friends who help train us to live the abundant and good life are friends indeed. John 15 15  “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.   2  Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every  branch  that bears fruit, He  [ a ] prunes it so that it may bear more fruit.   3  You are already  [ b ] clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.   4  Remain in Me,  [ c ] and I in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit  [ d ] of itself  [ e ] but must remain in the vine, so neither  can  you unless you remain in Me.   5  I am the vine, you are the branches; the one who remains in Me, and I in him  [ f ] bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.   6  If anyone does not remain in...

 4.16- Gentle king on a donkey "If you come to Jesus and say, 'I would like some help. I would like some inspiration. I would like you to be my consultant. I would like you to be my partner.' You know what Jesus Christ says? Jesus says 'Oh, I could be more than that. I could be your shepherd. I could be your brother. I could be your guide. I can be your friend. But I won't be anything unless I'm king. Either i will be king. Or I will be nothing. I want all of you or none of. Crown me or kill me. Throw everything over and make me Supreme Monarch of your life or Despise me. But I will not be liked." Tim Keller John 12 12  On the next day, when the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem,   13  they took the branches of the palm trees and went out to meet Him, and  began  shouting, “Hosanna!  Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord , indeed, the King of Israel!”   14  Jesus, finding ...

 4.15- There is quiet joy that flows into the heart of those who are merciful with themselves and others. The teacher heard a bunch of long winded repetitions prayers and then heard a broken down sinner pray a short prayer. "God be merciful to me, a sinner." The teacher said, "This guy receives mercy from God." A short, honest prayer. Luke 18 9  Now He also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt:   10  “Two men went up into the  [ e ] temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.   11  The Pharisee stood and  began  praying this in regard to himself: ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, crooked, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.   12  I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.’   13  But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even un...

4.14-   Such unusual connection with my Savior this morning. There is no Savior like ours.king on a donkey. Alone feelings. My God, my God why have you forsaken me? 100% human. 100% divine. I thirst. I sin. No I need forgiveness. Forgive them for they don't know what they are doing. I now need the help of my children and grandchildren. They are still living thank God. But Jesus. John, here is your mother. Mother, here John is your son. Is it ever too late to repent and turn to God. If you have you heart, mind, and soul, you can turn. To the thief who died with him who expressed true confession of faith in Jesus, Today you will be with me in paradise. My Savoir released his spirit into the hands of his father. Someday so will each of us who read this if he tarries. That cup of what. A holy, just, righteous God must have consequences of all the evil of all time paid for the forgiveness of my sins and yours. The cup of wrath was drunk by Jesus. The earth turned dark for three hours. ...