Refreshing Our Spirits With Scripture

 8.31- You can find someone to tell you what you want to hear. RIt could be a palm reader. It could be an astrologer. It could be a crooked peddler of expensive vitamins. It could be a televangist who sells you a packet of water for a $10 donation. You  will not overcome the reality that it is appointed once to man to die and then comes the judgement. How we live in this life has consequences in the next life. Jesus teaches that those who are adopted into the family of God will not be condemned in the next life. What  a promise. 8  Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,   2  because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you [ a ]  free from the law of sin and death.   3  For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, [ b ]  God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. [ c ]...

8.30- Death  The end of life on this earth seems very random at times. How is this so? Why? Once Jesus was asked about this and he said something was true of all of them.  They all needed to change.  To repent and to improve.  That is the work for all of us every day then every day we are ready for the change. Luke 13 13  Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices.   2  Jesus answered,  “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way?   3  I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.   4  Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem?   5  I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”

 8.29- Romance. Attraction. Adam is drawn to Eve. Abraham was drawn to Sarah. A man leaves his mother and father and cleaves to his wife. Attraction. Desire. These are the ways God has created men and women. Even in hard times there is this thing called marriage that keeps going on. Song of Solomon describes the intense feelings a man and a woman have for each other. Song of Solomon l7 [ a ] How beautiful your sandaled feet,      O prince’s daughter! Your graceful legs are like jewels,      the work of an artist’s hands. 2  Your navel is a rounded goblet      that never lacks blended wine. Your waist is a mound of wheat      encircled by lilies. 3  Your breasts are like two fawns,      like twin fawns of a gazelle. 4  Your neck is like an ivory tower. Your eyes are the pools of Heshbon      by the gate of Bath Rabbim. Your nose is like the...

 8.28- The kingdom of God is spiritual.  It is not something you can observe with physical eyes.  It takes the opening of the eyes of the heart to experience the kingdom of God.  I rememeber during the years that I was age 20 to age 24 I started to realize that the most important realities were spiritual.  I had a desire to teach things that would help people enjoy life in heaven forever when they left this earth.  I had people who believed that was a good goal for me and  helped me to be able to teach and write about the unseen realm of God's kingdom.  I'm so grateful for famiy and friends who have supported me in this work in spite of many misteps along this path in the last six decades. Luke 17 20  Once, on being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied,  “The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed,   21  nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’...

 8.27- When you pray it is good to be sure that you believe that is the will of God.  Can you see God wanting to bless you with this?  Can you imagine it happening? Then pray for it and believe that he is doing it.  Forgive anyone you have anything against. Thank God for giving you what you prayed for and move forward. Mark 11 12  The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry.   13  Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs.   14  Then he said to the tree,  “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.”  And his disciples heard him say it. 15  On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves,   16  and would not allow anyone to...

 8.26- God expects His children to forgive people who say they have repented and to do so over and over. He certainly is a forgiving God. He has great love and patience with His children. He is compassionate. He is gracious. he is slow to anger.  He is abounding in love. He is abounding in faithfulness.  Exodus 34 4  So Moses chiseled out two stone tablets like the first ones and went up Mount Sinai early in the morning, as the  Lord  had commanded him; and he carried the two stone tablets in his hands.   5  Then the  Lord  came down in the cloud and stood there with him and proclaimed his name, the  Lord .   6  And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The  Lord , the  Lord , the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness,   7  maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave ...

 8.25- It is not good to grow strong by destroying others.  But those who trust God and His ways. Are like an olive tree.  Flourishing in all seasons of life. Trusting in  in God's unfailing love. Those who hope in the name of God will never be disappointed.  Psalm 52 For the director of music. A  maskil [ b ]  of David. When Doeg the Edomite had gone to Saul and told him: “David has gone to the house of Ahimelek.” 1  Why do you boast of evil, you mighty hero?      Why do you boast all day long,      you who are a disgrace in the eyes of God? 2  You who practice deceit,      your tongue plots destruction;      it is like a sharpened razor. 3  You love evil rather than good,      falsehood rather than speaking the truth. [ c ] 4  You love every harmful word,      you deceitful tongue! 5  Sur...

 8.24- When you see someone who is broken how do you react? Do you walk on by to get to where you want to go? The teacher was asked once, "Who is my neighbor? He answered that a broken man was on the side of the road. Two different religious people crossed on the other side of the road getting to their religious meeting. A hated mixed race man went to him and gave first aid. Later he took him to a place for longer care and paid.money and said he would pay more. The good Samaritan. This your neighbor. The greatest healer was drawn to the crippled and lame. Those of us in this group are so needy of his help and thank God for his followers. Had six special helpers at my grocery run on Monday. Luke 10. 25  On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 26  “What is written in the Law?”  he replied.  “How do you read it?” 27  He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and...

 8.24- The difference between something or someone you like or love versus idolize. When you lose this thing are you sad over the loss? Yes thar 's normal. But if you are destroyed by a loss it may have become an idol. There no security in things, people or current circumstances. Only God can say and mean. "I will never leave you or forsake you." Hebrews 13 The difference between something or someone you like or love versus idolize. When you lose this thing are you sad over the loss? Yes thar 's normal. But if you are destroyed by a loss it may have become an idol. There no security in things, people or current circumstances. Only God can say and mean. "I will never leave you or forsake you."

 8.23- Enemies. If you stand for something, there will be opposition. They might mock or insult us. What should we do respond? We pray for them to be blessed by God. This breaks the chain of war and sets up peace in the heart and soul. Matthew 5 43  “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor [ i ]  and hate your enemy.’   44  But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,   45  that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.   46  If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?   47  And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?   48  Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

 8.22- To tell someone that they are doing something that hurts others is proper. To warn someone to "back off" is good. To speak up when someone is being oppressed is a part of working for justice. Luke 17 17  Jesus said to his disciples:  “Things that cause people to stumble are bound to come, but woe to anyone through whom they come.   2  It would be better for them to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around their neck than to cause one of these little ones to stumble.   3  So watch yourselves. “If your brother or sister [ a ]  sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them.   4  Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying ‘I repent,’ you must forgive them.” 5  The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” 6  He replied,  “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be upr...