Refreshing Our Spirits With Scripture

12.16- He was looking for his keys under the machine where I was working out. I got off the machine and helped him look. He was upset as I would be if I lost my car keys. He was looking intensely. Highly focused. Once when Jesus was criticized for hanging out with sinners He answered by saying that the joy of the Father in heaven is most when a child of His is lost then found. So if you feel lost and confused in your life know that your Father in heaven is looking for you and sends some of His followers to encourage and lift you up today. Watch for those who love people, they are probably from Him. Luke 15. 15  Now all the tax collectors and the [ a ] sinners were coming near Him to listen to Him. 2  Both the Pharisees and the scribes began to grumble, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” 3  So He told them this parable, saying, 4  “What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave th...

12.15- It was common in my home for mom and dad to disagree about things whether it was an opinion of politics, religion or what should be the strategy for correcting a child. As the children grew up most of us had the opinion that we wanted to move to a different location and way of life than our parents. They chose the farm life and the rural community and none of us and our spouses chose that way of life. They didn’t change their way because of it nor tried to change us from the way of life we and our spouses had chosen. They were disciples of Jesus who had a sincere heart and a good conscience for what they were trying to do in our family. They didn’t take our preacher or elders as their ultimate authority, but they took Jesus’ words as their ultimate authority. Dad thought one of the hardest things to figure out was what to do in a case where a marriage had become “broken”. Dad would remain confident and unafraid if he had to speak up and say something diff...

12.14- This Thanksgiving was a reminder of what I am thankful for. I mentioned at one of our Thanksgiving meetings that Sheila and I knew that family life was “messy” because our family is very imperfect. Sheila and I are the leaders of our family and we are very imperfect. The family I grew up in was a family that lived by mercy and grace. At church here was one of our favorite hymns. “Amazing Grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me.” As a family we didn’t live up to the standards we espoused in our worship, but we depended upon God being a forgiving God. 1 Timothy 1. 12  I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service, 13  even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief; 14  and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus. ...

12.13- I had some early morning negative attitudes this morning. I don’t know exactly why. I think it has to do with listening to the wrong voices inside my head. There is a flesh voice in there and a spiritual voice in there. When I listen to the fleshly voice I align my thoughts with the evil one who is the great accuser of the brethren. I moved from that to reflect on several passages that seemed to change my mind about some things. They are my attitude flippers. Unless it will hurt the receiver of the gift, always be a generous giver. Matthew 5.42 42 Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you. Luke 6.38 38 Give, and it will be given to you. They will [w]pour into your lap a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.” Luke 18. 28 Peter said, “Behold, we have left [h]our own homes and followed You.” 29 And He said to ...

12.12 Today again I was reminded of the dangers of money, power and celebrity.   These will not make you into a different person, but they will reveal what kind of person you are .   There have been stories. FDR, John Kennedy, LBJ, Ted Kennedy, Bill Clinton, Donald Trump, Harvey Weinestein, Kevin Spacey, John Conyers, Charlie Rose, and Today Matt Lauer. Money, Power and Celebrity For one to get into a position of MPC, Money, Power and Celebrity one must be shrewd and use opportunity effectively.   In fact all of life is an opportunity to use or misuse situations.   When one is in a position of power and influence there are people who will offer things in order to be close to you.   These offerings can compromise your character and your reputation if taken.   These things can ruin your marriage and family life.   Then guilt can come and hardness of the soul and heart can lead to expecting women who work around you to do what your want them ...

12.11- My wife and I were talking about a friend of mine who had recently finished his work here on earth and moved to be with the Lord.   She reminded me that next to the last time I saw him was at the hospital as I was about to undergo surgery on my knee.   He took time out of a very busy family life to stop to go to be with me before the surgery and to be with my wife and son during the surgery.   It is one of the “little things” that is actually a big thing. I turned on ESPN online and there was a sportscaster who was dying of cancer but telling what the fight had taught him.  He mentioned he fought for his daughters, but there were many who fought with him and for him when he was too tired to fight.  He mentioned one of his bosses who came by his house to bring dinner for him.  He was my boss, but much more.  That seems like a little thing, but it is a big thing.  About this time I received a call from a friend in Fort Worth wh...