Refreshing Our Spirits With Scripture

“A dead thing can go with the stream, but only a living thing can go against it.” – The Everlasting Man, 1925 G.K. Chesterton If you think that your family, or community or nation is going through a unique time of crisis it is especially important to be alert. Make up your mind beforehand what you are going to do during the storm. Not worry, but turn things over to God. Not to waste your energy with sloppy eating, drinking, low morals. Instead renew your commitment to exce llent spiritual, mental and physical exercise habits.  If you are like me you realize that you fail at these important principles. Turn to God and receive His grace and mercy for His children and enjoy living in His grace, mercy and peace. Pray for your family, friends, community and nation. Luke 21. 16-19  “You’ll even be turned in by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends. Some of you will be killed. There’s no telling who will hate you because of me. Even so, every detail...

9.3- Luke 19. 11  While he had their attention, and because they were getting close to Jerusalem by this time and expectation was building that God’s kingdom would appear any minute, he told this story: 12-13  “There was once a man descended from a royal house who needed to make a long trip back to headquarters to get authorization for his rule and then return. But first he called ten servants together, gave them each a sum of money, and instructed them, ‘Operate with this until I return.’ 14  “But the citizens there hated him. So they sent a commission with a signed petition to oppose his rule: ‘We don’t want this man to rule us.’ 15  “When he came back bringing the authorization of his rule, he called those ten servants to whom he had given the money to find out how they had done. 16  “The first said, ‘Master, I doubled your money.’ 17  “He said, ‘Good servant! Great work! Because you’ve been trustworthy in this small job, I’m making y...

9.2- Luke 19. 19  1-4  Then Jesus entered and walked through Jericho. There was a man there, his name Zacchaeus, the head tax man and quite rich. He wanted desperately to see Jesus, but the crowd was in his way—he was a short man and couldn’t see over the crowd. So he ran on ahead and climbed up in a sycamore tree so he could see Jesus when he came by. 5-7  When Jesus got to the tree, he looked up and said, “Zacchaeus, hurry down. Today is my day to be a guest in your home.” Zacchaeus scrambled out of the tree, hardly believing his good luck, delighted to take Jesus home with him. Everyone who saw the incident was indignant and grumped, “What business does he have getting cozy with this crook?” 8  Zacchaeus just stood there, a little stunned. He stammered apologetically, “Master, I give away half my income to the poor—and if I’m caught cheating, I pay four times the damages.” 9-10  Jesus said, “Today is salvation day in this home! Here he i...

What I wish I had remembered every day of our lives.   Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than for self. Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have. Love doesn’t strut, Doesn’t have a swelled head, Doesn’t force itself on others, Isn’t always “me first,” Doesn’t fly off the handle, Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others, Doesn’t revel when others grovel, Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth, Puts up with anything, Trusts God always, Always looks for the best, Never looks back, But keeps going to the end.

9.1- Luke 15. 15  1-3  By this time a lot of men and women of doubtful reputation were hanging around Jesus, listening intently. The Pharisees and religion scholars were not pleased, not at all pleased. They growled, “He takes in sinners and eats meals with them, treating them like old friends.” Their grumbling triggered this story. 4-7  “Suppose one of you had a hundred sheep and lost one. Wouldn’t you leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the lost one until you found it? When found, you can be sure you would put it across your shoulders, rejoicing, and when you got home call in your friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Celebrate with me! I’ve found my lost sheep!’ Count on it—there’s more joy in heaven over one sinner’s rescued life than over ninety-nine good people in no need of rescue. The Story of the Lost Coin 8-10  “Or imagine a woman who has ten coins and loses one. Won’t she light a lamp and scour the house, looking in every n...

8.31- Mark 2. 23-24  One Sabbath day he was walking through a field of ripe grain. As his disciples made a path, they pulled off heads of grain. The Pharisees told on them to Jesus: “Look, your disciples are breaking Sabbath rules!” 25-28  Jesus said, “Really? Haven’t you ever read what David did when he was hungry, along with those who were with him? How he entered the sanctuary and ate fresh bread off the altar, with the Chief Priest Abiathar right there watching—holy bread that no one but priests were allowed to eat—and handed it out to his companions?” Then Jesus said, “The Sabbath was made to serve us; we weren’t made to serve the Sabbath. The Son of Man is no lackey to the Sabbath. He’s in charge!” Psalm 89. 89  1-4  Your love, God , is my song, and I’ll sing it!      I’m forever telling everyone how faithful you are. I’ll never quit telling the story of your love—      how you built the cosmos ...

8.30 Mark 2. 18  The disciples of John and the disciples of the Pharisees made a practice of fasting. Some people confronted Jesus: “Why do the followers of John and the Pharisees take on the discipline of fasting, but your followers don’t?” 19-20  Jesus said, “When you’re celebrating a wedding, you don’t skimp on the cake and wine. You feast. Later you may need to pull in your belt, but not now. As long as the bride and groom are with you, you have a good time. No one throws cold water on a friendly bonfire. This is Kingdom Come!” 21-22  He went on, “No one cuts up a fine silk scarf to patch old work clothes; you want fabrics that match. And you don’t put your wine in cracked bottles.” Psalm 88 88  1-9  God , you’re my last chance of the day.      I spend the night on my knees before you. Put me on your salvation agenda;      take notes on the trouble I’m in. I’ve had my fill of trouble;  ...

8.29 Mark 2. 13-14  Then Jesus went again to walk alongside the lake. Again a crowd came to him, and he taught them. Strolling along, he saw Levi, son of Alphaeus, at his work collecting taxes. Jesus said, “Come along with me.” He came. 15-16  Later Jesus and his disciples were at home having supper with a collection of disreputable guests. Unlikely as it seems, more than a few of them had become followers. The religion scholars and Pharisees saw him keeping this kind of company and lit into his disciples: “What kind of example is this, acting cozy with the riffraff?” 17  Jesus, overhearing, shot back, “Who needs a doctor: the healthy or the sick? I’m here inviting the sin-sick, not the spiritually-fit.” Psalm 87 87  1-3  He founded Zion on the Holy Mountain—      and oh, how God loves his home! Loves it far better than all      the homes of Jacob put together! God’s hometown—oh!    ...

8.28 There is a human tendency to think of our fellowman in groups, “Us” and “Them”.   One group that Jews thought of as “Them” was tax collectors.   They were hated for using their position to not only collect appropriate taxes, but they used power and position to extract more than was owed.   But Jesus loved all kinds of people and this included the tax collectors.   This week’s readings will include some examples of this. Mark 2. 2  1-5  After a few days, Jesus returned to Capernaum, and word got around that he was back home. A crowd gathered, jamming the entrance so no one could get in or out. He was teaching the Word. They brought a paraplegic to him, carried by four men. When they weren’t able to get in because of the crowd, they removed part of the roof and lowered the paraplegic on his stretcher. Impressed by their bold belief, Jesus said to the paraplegic, “Son, I forgive your sins.” 6-7  Some religion scholars sitting t...