Refreshing Our Spirits With Scripture

 7.6- Texas has experienced tragedy and death.  The key word everyone has spoken is prayer.  Prayer works.  Once when the teacher was trying to help people in the context of 18 people dying all at once.  He used this time to remind the people that what everyone needs to do when things like this happen is to focus on their own need for being the people they were meant to be.  Humans can be prayerful.  Humans can look out for each other.  They can rescue each other and some can even give their lives for others.   Once the teacher was speaking about the end of the world as we know it.  He said people should reflect on the end of the world with thoughts of going about doing your job.  Carry your share of the load.  Don't waste your time and life by overindulging in selfish pursuits but to serve others.

 7.5- Want to make a positive impact for the benefit of those who you are around? Stay with pure motives. Never trick or manipulate. Don't try to please people.  Never wear a mask.  Be real. Be chlld like, but not childish. Be gentle. Be encouraging and comforting.  Imitate the love of God.  1 Thessalonians 2 2  You know, brothers and sisters, that our visit to you was not without results.   2  We had previously suffered and been treated outrageously in Philippi, as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in the face of strong opposition.   3  For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you.   4  On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts.   5  You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask t...

 When we try to pretend and give something we don't have it becomes a disaster.  At times we buy things to impress people we don't like with money we don't have it causes all kinds of problems.  This is how we get into debt that is a pure waste.  Often we can give people our presence and it is more helpful that we would imagine. Acts 3 3  One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon.   2  Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts.   3  When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money.   4  Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!”   5  So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them. 6  Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do ...

 7.3- It is important not to think of ourselves more highly than we should.  We need to lift others up as being very critical to help us to fulfill God's plan for our life.  When someone called Jesus good he said there is none good but God.  The Bible tells us that there are no people who are perfect.  All of us have problems.  So we humble ourselves and be more in line with the reality of things. Matthew 3 13  Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John.   14  But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15  Jesus replied,  “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.”  Then John consented. 16  As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him.   17  And a voice from heaven said, ...

 7.2- What is needed for us to enjoy and healthy life is the willingness to be challenged to improve and be all we can be.  Sometimes we don't want to think that can improve our must improve.  Great teachers push us to stretch ourselves and be more. Matthew 3 3  In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea   2  and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”   3  This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord,      make straight paths for him.’” [ a ] 4  John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.   5  People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan.   6  Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. 7  B...

 7.1- Magnetic love transforms. Went to church online in London this morning and heard some powerful words. Gani grew up in a Muslim family in Nigeria. Later due to family problems her father moved to London where she moved. She became a school teacher. A fellow teacher started to show great kindness to her. She invited her to church and she saw the "hugging" everyone. She wondered if this could be real. Later she was invited to a home gathering and was surprised at the love and warmth. She had been given a small Gideon Bible which she didn't understand but she kept learning to understand the reason for the love. After study became a follower of Jesus.now for 30 years with kids and grandkids in church. She was drawn to the genuine love. Love never fails. 1 Cor. 13 13  If I speak in the tongues [ a ]  of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.   2  If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries...

 6.30- Don't overlook the joy of little things. I found a journal entry in June of 1993 where Sheila recorded my visit with mom and dad and mom had noted the same visit. She wrote how much joy the visit had given her. It reminded me of one of my favorite stories. A man kept a journal and he noted that his father had taken him fishing. He noted it was one of the greatest days he could remember with his father. His Father also kept a journal. He wrote. My son wanted to go fishing. He added a note, "Completely wanted day.". Once the apostle Paul wrote that a friend had looked for him in jail and visited. He had refreshed him because he was not ashamed of his chains. Don't overlook the power of small common things. They can transform us. The teacher said a cup of cold water will not lose its reward. 2 Timothy 1 16  May the Lord show mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains.   17  On the contrary, whe...