Refreshing Our Spirits With Scripture

7.29- If you are a follower of Jesus and have a day when you feel forsaken by God then know that He understands. Psalm 22. 22 My God, my God, why have You forsaken me? [b]Far from my deliverance are the words of my [c]groaning. 2 O my God, I cry by day, but You do not answer; And by night, but [d]I have no rest. 3 Yet You are holy, O You who [e]are enthroned upon the praises of Israel. 4 In You our fathers trusted; They trusted and You delivered them. 5 To You they cried out and were delivered; In You they trusted and were not [f]disappointed.

7.28- Our mouth can get us into a heap of trouble.  Let us pray for wisdom. Proverbs 26. 21  Like charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire, So is a contentious man to kindle strife. 22  The words of a whisperer are like dainty morsels, And they go down into the [ k ] innermost parts of the body. 23  Like an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross Are burning lips and a wicked heart. 24  He who hates disguises it with his lips, But he lays up deceit in his [ l ] heart. 25  When [ m ] he speaks graciously, do not believe him, For there are seven abominations in his heart. 26  Though his hatred covers itself with guile, His wickedness will be revealed before the assembly. 27  He who digs a pit will fall into it, And he who rolls a stone, it will come back on him. 28  A lying tongue hates [ n ] those it crushes, And a flattering mouth works ruin.

7.27-How to treat your enemy. Proverbs 25. 21  If [ p ] your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; 22  For you will [ q ] heap burning coals on his head, And the Lord will reward you. Matthew 5. 43  “You have heard that it was said, ‘ You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44  But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45  so that you may [ ap ] be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46  For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47  If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others ? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48  Therefore [ aq ] you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Romans 12. 20  “ But if your enemy is hungr...

7.26- A prayer for my children and grandchildren as we approach a new school year. Psalm 20. 20  May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble! May the name of the God of Jacob set you securely on high! 2  May He send you help from the sanctuary And support you from Zion! 3  May He remember all your meal offerings And find your burnt offering [ a ] acceptable! [ b ] Selah. 4  May He grant you your heart’s desire And fulfill all your [ c ] counsel! 5  [ d ] We will sing for joy over your [ e ] victory, And in the name of our God we will set up our banners. May the Lord fulfill all your petitions. 6  Now I know that the Lord saves His anointed; He will answer him from His holy heaven With the [ f ] saving strength of His right hand. 7  Some [ g ] boast in chariots and some in horses, But we [ h ] will boast in the name of the Lord , our God. 8  They have bowed down and fallen, But we have risen and stood upright. 9  [ i ] ...

7.25-If we have respect for God and learn His ways we learn He is love. There is always a place for the fear of God.  Jesus taught this and it is true.  God our Father is to be treated with reverance and respect.  Through the Scripture and Jesus life we are taught to operate our daily lives based on love.  One of Jesus disciples taught that perfect, or mature, love throws out fear as a basic motivator. 1 John 4. 18  There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear [ ad ] involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.  2 Chronicles 20. ‘Do not fear or be dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours but God’s. 17  You need not fight in this battle ; station yourselves, stand and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.’ Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out to face them, for the Lord is with you.” 32  He walked in the way of his fa...

7.24- What is the best age? Stephen J Cole, Minister in Scottsdale, AZ wrote in his blog Bishop John Reed of Sydney, Australia, was preaching in Christ Church Cathedral one Sunday when a 75-year-old woman named Ethel Hatfield got saved. Mrs. Hatfield had attended that Anglican church for decades, but the message had never gotten through to her until that day. The following day she came to see Bishop Reed and said, “I could hardly sleep last night I was so excited about what happened. I want to do something to serve God with the few years I have left. I was wondering if I could teach Sunday School.” Bishop Reed looked at this 75-year-old, white-haired lady and just couldn’t picture her controlling the rambunctious third or fourth grade kids. So he said, “I’m sorry, but we don’t have an opening in our Sunday School.” Her face fell. Bishop Reed said, “You mean business, don’t you? I don’t know what kind of service God may have for you, but let’s pray.” So they pr...

7.23- What is love? Matthew 22. 34  But when the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered themselves together. 35  One of them, [ n ] a lawyer, asked Him a question , testing Him, 36  “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37  And He said to him, “‘ You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind .’ 38  This is the great and [ o ] foremost commandment. 39  The second is like it, ‘ You shall love your neighbor as yourself .’ 40  On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.” 1.        We know that all the commands of God hang on a couple.   Love God 100% and love your neighbor as yourself.   God is love.   Those who love God must love their brothers and sisters. It is to avoid fornication and adultery.   But it is also hospitality to strangers.   It is a visit to ...