Refreshing Our Spirits With Scripture

5.26 Psalm 124 A song of ascents. Of David. 1  If the Lord had not been on our side—      let Israel say— 2  if the Lord had not been on our side      when people attacked us, 3  they would have swallowed us alive      when their anger flared against us; 4  the flood would have engulfed us,      the torrent would have swept over us, 5  the raging waters      would have swept us away. 6  Praise be to the Lord ,      who has not let us be torn by their teeth. 7  We have escaped like a bird      from the fowler’s snare; the snare has been broken,      and we have escaped. 8  Our help is in the name of the Lord ,      the Maker of heaven and earth.

5.25- My parents experienced the explosions that destroyed a comfortable life for them. My dad lost his dad when he was twelve. My mother had come from a family that had some smart, hard working people, a cousin who was a doctor, her grandfather was a bank stock holder and director. Then the depression and the bank went broke and the stock holders lost all their money. Mother’s family had hard financial loss and also lost a child in death who was her little brother. Mother and dad experienced spiritual explosions when family set backs happened in the community. They were well acquainted with sorrow and grief from an early age. But they kept the idea that life was a banquet of joy if you kept your faith in Jesus Christ. I am sad for our world this morning to see the death of 22 people in London who were out doing something joyful with their family and friends. My family enjoys sporting events together as a part of our joyful experiences. Crowds gather in plac...

5.24- Jesus is instructing His disciples, I need this instruction as much or more than any I know, to be humble.  He does not want His students to be conceited.  God help us.  Luke 14. 7  When he noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table, he told them this parable: 8  “When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. 9  If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, ‘Give this person your seat.’ Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place. 10  But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all the other guests. 11  For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” 2 Corinthians 12. 7  or b...

5.23.17 Stay full of joy in God. Keep your tanks full. Stay hungry. Proverbs 18. 14  The human spirit can endure in sickness,      but a crushed spirit who can bear? Fear only God and nothing or no one else.   God is righteous.   Get direction from God and not from men’s traditions and religions.   God doesn’t look at things the way men do.   What is insane to men is great wisdom to God in some cases.   God has placed certain people in certain cities and certain places to help us out when needed.   Take time to reflect on the way you have overcome obstacles in the past and do it again when needed. Speak good news always. Work with the people who have trust and faith in you. Choose to think good thoughts and drive bad thoughts out of your mind.   The goal of God’s work is not division and arguments and quarrels, but love from a pure, sincere heart.   Align your life with the cornerstone of Jesus Chri...

5.23- Principles 22 We have a great family.   It is not a big family, but is a great family.   We have been blessed that our family members are all followers of Jesus.   The reality is that even though we are followers of Jesus we at times take each other for granted or discount each other or even take advantage of each other.   When we recognize this we repent, confess, apologize and receive forgiveness and move on. We have a deep desire that our family be unified and gathered close together.   We know there is good joy and protection in that. We try not to argue and quarrel with each other. One of the signs that we have had a good experience in our life together is that our family is very loving. We are blessed with good health and it seems to us that our family is unified and close and this makes us happy.   We have good friends in our church and our relationships with our siblings and nephews and nieces and cousins is very good.  ...