Refreshing Our Spirits With Scripture

Day of Year: 25 Date: 1.25.14 Jesus Reading (Ten Minutes): Matthew 8.28-34 + Rest of New Testament: Acts 13.1-43 +Psalm of the Day: Psalm 20 +Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 1.33-35 +Rest of Old Testament: Exodus 3,4 Favorite Verse: Matthew 8. 28  When He came to the other side into the country of the Gadarenes, two men who were demon-possessed met Him as they were coming out of the tombs. They were so extremely violent that no one could pass by that way. Thought for the day: When people are violent they become isolated.  The more isolated we are the more extreme our actions become.  One of the parents from Newtown Conn reflected that she wondered if she or others in town had missed chances to reach out to the killer or his family.

Day of Year: 24 Date: 1.24.14 Jesus Reading (Ten Minutes): Matthew 8.18-27 + Rest of New Testament: Acts 12.20-25 +Psalm of the Day: Psalm 19.7-14 +Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 3.29-32 +Rest of Old Testament: Exodus 1,2 Favorite Verse: Matthew 8. 26  He *said to them, “Why are you [ w ] afraid, you men of little faith?” Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and [ x ] it became perfectly calm. Thought for the day: Jesus is the teacher and friend who constantly is pushing us to have faith in Him. He is in charge of all things including the storms of our life.  Because growth is normal I heard a phrase I like.  The storm is the norm.  Expect the storm to help you grow in maturity with Jesus.

Day of Year: 23 Date: 1.23.14 Jesus Reading (Ten Minutes): Matthew 8.14-17 + Rest of New Testament: Acts 12.1-19 +Psalm of the Day: Psalm 19.-6 +Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 3.27,28 +Rest of Old Testament: Genesis 49,50 Favorite Verse: Matthew 8. 15  He touched her hand, and the fever left her; and she got up and [ r ] waited on Him. 17  This was to fulfill what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet: “ He Himself took our infirmities and [ s ] carried away our diseases .” Thought for the day: Jesus is the spiritual friend who runs in when others might be afraid to come to help us.  He is unafraid of being infected by us because He is a doctor of soul and body.  His presence gives us hope to overcome our sickness.

Day of Year: 22 Date: 1.22.14 Jesus Reading (Ten Minutes): Matthew 8.1-13 + Rest of New Testament:  Acts 11.19-30 +Psalm of the Day: Psalm 18.32-50 +Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 3.25,26 +Rest of Old Testament: Genesis 47,48 Favorite Verse: Matthew 8. 3  Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. Thought for the day:  Jesus teaches that He is the perfect reflection of God.  On place He said that if you have seen Him you had seen the Father.  Jesus was willing to cleanse and heal people.  The wonderful thing about having a friendship with Jesus is that He is more willing to help us than we are willing to be helped.  He is as close as your heart to provide a turn around when you desire it.

Yosef Tulu, a follower of Jesus was killed in Garland Texas today, 1.21.14,   at a, 7-11. A woman on the radio said that she was in a down spirit one day and went into the store crying.   He went around the counter and gave her comfort and pointed her to Jesus and encouraged her to get to know Him.   This lady credited him for his witness leading her to know Jesus. Police say a masked person shot and killed a clerk at a Garland 7-Eleven during a robbery early Tuesday morning. According to police, a call came in at 3:35 a.m. after a delivery man discovered the clerk's body behind the counter of the 7-Eleven location at 2509 Firewheel Parkway. Police later identified the victim as 31-year-old Yosef Tulu, of Dallas. As seen on video recovered from store surveillance cameras, the robber was wearing a mask or bag and carrying a rifle with a scope as he or she entered the store.   The person then robbed Tulu before opening fire and fatally shooting the cle...

Day of Year: 21 Date: 1.21.14 Jesus Reading (Ten Minutes): Matthew 7.21-29 + Rest of New Testament: Acts 11.1-18 +Psalm of the Day: Psalm 18 +Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 3.19-24 +Rest of Old Testament: Genesis 45,46 Favorite Verse: Matthew 7. 24  “Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and [ o ] acts on them, [ p ] may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25  And the rain fell, and the [ q ] floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. Thought for the day: Life is build ton our actions, not our intentions.  "The road to hell is paved with good intentions".  It is our action on a daily basis that shape our lives.  What action could you take today that would transform your family?  Determine to be loving and kind to them regardless of your circumstances.  

Day of Year: 20 Date: 1.20.14 Jesus Reading (Ten Minutes): Matthew 7.13-23 + Rest of New Testament: Acts 10.34-48 +Psalm of the Day: Psalm 17. +Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 3.13-18 +Rest of Old Testament: Genesis 43,44 Favorite Verse: Matthew 7. 17  So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. 18  A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. Thought for the day: Culture eats strategy for breakfast.  Fruit comes from the root.  Do what you've always done and you'll get what you always got.  Insanity is thinking that you can keep doing the same thing and get a different result.  The heart drives the behavior.  Only God can change the heart and He does so by His amazing grace. 

Day of Year: 19 Date: 1.19.14 Jesus Reading (Ten Minutes): Matthew 7.7-12 + Rest of New Testament: Acts 10.23-33 +Psalm of the Day: Psalm 16 +Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 3.11-12 +Rest of Old Testament: Genesis 41,42 Favorite Verse: Matthew 7. 12  “In everything, therefore, [ i ] treat people the same way you want [ j ] them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets. Thought for the day: We have the power to set up the attitudes of the people around us.  We allow our hearts to be open to the grace and mercy of God and pass it on and it sets a tone to our life.  Others treat us the way we treat them.  A good ethic is to ask ourselves how would our group be if everyone did things like I do.  What if everyone came late?  What if everyone depended upon others to do the work?