Refreshing Our Spirits With Scripture

3.10- The world desperately needs more truth tellers who know how to pray. Luke 11. 11  It happened that while [ a ] Jesus was praying in a certain place, after He had finished, one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray just as John also taught his disciples.” 2  And He said to them, “When you pray, say: ‘ [ b ] Father, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. 3  ‘Give us each day our [ c ] daily bread. 4  ‘And forgive us our sins, For we ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation.’” 5  Then He said to them, “ [ d ] Suppose one of you has a friend, and goes to him at midnight and says to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves; 6  for a friend of mine has come to me from a journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; 7  and from inside he answers and says, ‘Do not bother me; the door has already been shut and my children [ e ] and I are in bed; I cannot get up and give you anyt...

3.9- Pecan pie.  I like it bought and brought home from a store, but I like it best when made at home with a personal touch of someone whom you dearly love and then eat it with someone you enjoy being with.  Reed was a man who loved a good piece of pecan pie. I remember visiting with him once regarding how the death of a Christian should be thought of and he said it should be a celebration of life and hope for the next life.  He mentioned pecan pie as one of the favorite foods he loved to eat at times of celebration. I remember him saying something to me like this, "When I'm gone and you think of me I hope you think of pecan pie.  How many times mother would bake this pie and we would sit around the table and enjoy this desert to end a special meal." Reed believed in the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  He lived his life in service to his fellow man.  He served as a house parent at a children's home for many years.  Many of them looked to him for...

3.9- Christian Gentlemen who coach They take care of their wives and families with excellence. They admit their failures and get up and try again to help others. They know what’s permanent and what’s not. They take the energy of violent, testosterone-statured young men and channel them into becoming men who can be strong and gentle. They are persistent, focused self-disciplined, but able to understand the weakness of those they lead. They don’t prepare a path for the students, they prepare the students for the path. Matthew 7. 12  “In everything, therefore, [ bw ] treat people the same way you want [ bx ] them to treat you, Larry Wishard 3.6.18

3.8-Do we have to change? Why? For all of our 51 years of marriage Sheila and I have been changing.     I saw a television piece about how the number one restaurant in the entire world stopped and completely remodeled the New York restaurant.   The owner was asked about it.   “What about the idea, ‘Don’t fix it unless it is broke.’" He replied with this quote from the artist, Willem de Kooning “ I have to change to stay the same. ” He further said, “If we were to stop changing we would lose who we are.” This month is the fifth anniversary of the fall breaking my knee which began the move in my life from 30 years of joy with the SE church in Denver, CO.   Between March and July of 2013 we wrapped up our work, sold our home, got rid of many things we didn’t want and need and few that we miss.   What we miss most is our beloved friends from Denver.   We moved to North Richland Hills Texas. Given a freedom to choos...

3.7- What is family Love? Supporting each other’s dreams even if they might seem foolish to the world outside the family. Accepting and supporting the elderly, suffering and dying.   Being with them when they cannot hear you our see you or cooperate with you.    Accepting them, not their bad behavior, when they desire to make choices to dull or kill their pain that are not good for them long term. Holding them close and speaking nothing but the truth. Helping them through times of mental health crisis. Carrying them through times of loss and disappointment. Enjoying and celebrating children who are full of trust, truth and hope. Seeing the times of chaos and madness as times of fun when you look back on them. Eating and drinking with them in a spirit of celebration and joy regardless of the price or quality of the food. Acts  2. ‘ And it shall be in the last days ,’ God says, ‘ That I will pour forth of My Spirit on all [ q ] manki...