Refreshing Our Spirits With Scripture

Matthew 26. 47  While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people. 48  Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him.” 49  Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him. 50  Jesus replied, “Do what you came for, friend.” [ d ] Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him. 51  With that, one of Jesus’ companions reached for his sword, drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear. 52  “Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him, “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. 53  Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? 54  But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?” 55...

Matthew 26. 20-21  After sunset, he and the Twelve were sitting around the table. During the meal, he said, “I have something hard but important to say to you: One of you is going to hand me over to the conspirators.” 22  They were stunned, and then began to ask, one after another, “It isn’t me, is it, Master?” 23-24  Jesus answered, “The one who hands me over is someone I eat with daily, one who passes me food at the table. In one sense the Son of Man is entering into a way of treachery well-marked by the Scriptures—no surprises here. In another sense that man who turns him in, turns traitor to the Son of Man—better never to have been born than do this!” 25  Then Judas, already turned traitor, said, “It isn’t me, is it, Rabbi?” Jesus said, “Don’t play games with me, Judas.” Psalm 71. 71  1-3  I run for dear life to God ,      I’ll never live to regret it. Do what you do so well:      get me out o...

Matthew 26. 6-9  When Jesus was at Bethany, a guest of Simon the Leper, a woman came up to him as he was eating dinner and anointed him with a bottle of very expensive perfume. When the disciples saw what was happening, they were furious. “That’s criminal! This could have been sold for a lot and the money handed out to the poor.” 10-13  When Jesus realized what was going on, he intervened. “Why are you giving this woman a hard time? She has just done something wonderfully significant for me. You will have the poor with you every day for the rest of your lives, but not me. When she poured this perfume on my body, what she really did was anoint me for burial. You can be sure that wherever in the whole world the Message is preached, what she has just done is going to be remembered and admired.” Psalm 69. 18  Come close, God; get me out of here. Rescue me from this deathtrap. 19  You know how they kick me around— Pin on me the donkey’s ears, the d...

Matthew 26. 26  1-2  When Jesus finished saying these things, he told his disciples, “You know that Passover comes in two days. That’s when the Son of Man will be betrayed and handed over for crucifixion.” 3-5  At that very moment, the party of high priests and religious leaders was meeting in the chambers of the Chief Priest named Caiaphas, conspiring to seize Jesus by stealth and kill him. They agreed that it should not be done during Passover Week. “We don’t want a riot on our hands,” they said. Psalm 69. 69  God, God, save me! I’m in over my head, 2  Quicksand under me, swamp water over me; I’m going down for the third time. 3  I’m hoarse from calling for help, Bleary-eyed from searching the sky for God. 4  I’ve got more enemies than hairs on my head; Sneaks and liars are out to knife me in the back. What I never stole Must I now give back? 5  God, you know every sin I’ve committed; My life’s a wide-open boo...

Matthew 25. 31-33  “When he finally arrives, blazing in beauty and all his angels with him, the Son of Man will take his place on his glorious throne. Then all the nations will be arranged before him and he will sort the people out, much as a shepherd sorts out sheep and goats, putting sheep to his right and goats to his left. 34-36  “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Enter, you who are blessed by my Father! Take what’s coming to you in this kingdom. It’s been ready for you since the world’s foundation. And here’s why: I was hungry and you fed me, I was thirsty and you gave me a drink, I was homeless and you gave me a room, I was shivering and you gave me clothes, I was sick and you stopped to visit, I was in prison and you came to me.’ 37-40  “Then those ‘sheep’ are going to say, ‘Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a drink? And when did we ever see you sick or in prison a...

Matthew 25. 14  “For it is just like a man about to go on a journey, who called his own slaves and entrusted his possessions to them. 15  To one he gave five [ a ] talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he went on his journey. 16  Immediately the one who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and gained five more talents. 17  In the same manner the one who had received the two talents gained two more. 18  But he who received the one talent went away, and dug a hole in the ground and hid his [ b ] master’s money. 19  “Now after a long time the master of those slaves *came and *settled accounts with them. 20  The one who had received the five talents came up and brought five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you entrusted five talents to me. See, I have gained five more talents.’ 21  His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few ...

How my grandsons have changed my life for the better. They want to be active and in good health and condition. I am lazy and want to sit in my recliner. I must leave behind my old ways to get better results. So the good news is that I can start over with a new day and a new way and new mercy and new motivation. That is good news. So much of my illness is rooted in my attitudes. For me to get better physically I have to get out of my recliner and move out. When I go to the health club good things happen. I meet people who want to help me get more happy and healthy. I meet people who know how to "coach me up". All of my coaches and trainers in weight lifting and weight machines have been volunteers in my life. Most were friends, but some have been complete strangers. One lady watched me working a machine and came over to show me how this execercise is supposed to be done. I changed and did it the way she said and things we better fast. I have met new ...

Matthew 25. 25  “Then the kingdom of heaven will be comparable to ten virgins, who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2  Five of them were foolish, and five were prudent. 3  For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, 4  but the prudent took oil in flasks along with their lamps. 5  Now while the bridegroom was delaying, they all got drowsy and began to sleep. 6  But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him .’ 7  Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. 8  The foolish said to the prudent, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9  But the prudent answered, ‘No, there will not be enough for us and you too ; go instead to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’ 10  And while they were going away to make the purchase, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast; and the door was shu...