Refreshing Our Spirits With Scripture

3.11- I serve a God who wanted the Nation of Israel to care for the poor and made it very clear to them. My nation has been very active in caring for the hungry since the depression days and the government help kept my own family going at times. I remember as a youngster hearing a tune, "They've got a nest egg just for me and its my social security." During the days of my teaching and ministry years the contributions to my retirement were made by me and the places where I worked. It is about to be the fourth anniversary of my major fall on March 22, 2013 when I broke my knee cap loose from my quad muscle and since that happened I have been able to walk slowly and rehab, but the pace of my movement had do change drastically. Once I asked my dad about the difference between the two parties in America.  This was during my early teens so maybe 1960 time frame.  Sam Rayburn, (D) speaker of the house for many years, was from Fannin county, my home county and most all...

3.10- I can't help but wonder how He raised Jesus from the dead. Luke 24. 24  On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. 2  They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3  but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4  While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. 5  In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? 6  He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 7  ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ” 8  Then they remembered his words. 9  When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the other...

3.9- Jesus turned the values of the world upside down. Luke 22. 24  A dispute also arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest. 25  Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. 26  But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. 27  For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.

3.8- People have problems with getting past their regrets over sin.  Guilt and shame can overwhelm them and be a ball and chain.  God's answer has always been the blood of a lamb for His Jewish children.  For Christians, Jesus is the Passover lamb that takes away the guilt of our sin.  One of the benefits of becoming a Christian is freedom from sin and guilt and shame.  The fellowship with Jesus and His disciples is a joyful dinner together accomplished by the grace and mercy of God. Luke 22. 13  They left and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover. 14  When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. 15  And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 16  For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.” 17  After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you. 18...

3.7- The path to a great life. 1 Thessalonians 5. 12  Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. 13  Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. 14  And we urge you, brothers and sisters,  warn those who are idle and disruptive,  encourage the disheartened,  help the weak,  be patient with everyone.   15  Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else. 16  Rejoice always,   17  pray continually,   18  give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 19  Do not quench the Spirit.   20  Do not treat prophecies with contempt 21  but test them all;  hold on to what is good,   22  reject every kind of evil.

3.6- If we learn to be broken and cry out to God for mercy we can have a life of amazing grace.  If we resist the truth we will be crushed in this life and the next by the hypocrisy and lies. Luke 20. 17  Jesus looked directly at them and asked, “Then what is the meaning of that which is written: “‘The stone the builders rejected      has become the cornerstone’ [ a ] ? 18  Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces; anyone on whom it falls will be crushed.”

3.5- 19  Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. 2  A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. 3  He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. 4  So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. 5  When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” 6  So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. 7  All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.” 8  But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.” 9  Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. 10  For the Son ...