Refreshing Our Spirits With Scripture

4.8- There are many followers of Jesus who have experienced failure in doing what they hoped they could do.   Peter had told Jesus once that though others might deny him in death that he would not.   Jesus cautioned Peter not to be too overconfident.      When the pressure came during the arrest of Jesus, Peter denied that he even knew Jesus and cursed to prove that with his language.   Most all of us who have followed Jesus for any time have had our own moments of failure and disappointment to God, others and ourselves.   In those moments we think that God has no place to use us.   This is one of the amazing things about God’s grace.   It comes to us after we have failed miserably.   God’s kindness comes to us in these failure moments and He extends His mercy, kindness and grace. After Jesus resurrection and Peter’s denial of him, Jesus asks Him, “Do you love me more than these?”   Peter responds that he loves Jesus, but ...

4.7- Tough love is needed sometimes to keep us within the guardrails of a productive live. Proverbs 27.5 Better is open rebuke Than love that is concealed. 6  Faithful are the wounds of a friend, But [ a ] deceitful are the kisses of an enemy.

4.6- I understand that John was written to the church in about 96 A.D.   The followers of Jesus by this time had surely gone through some set backs in their vocational lives.   You need a job or you might feel a special calling and work hard all night and things don’t happen as you hoped they would.     Some of the guys whom Jesus called were frustrated in their pursuits also.   Jesus came near and gave them directions.   They obeyed him.   Then they succeeded.   Peter recognized it as being Jesus threw himself into the sea. If you are having some frustrations in your work, this story would remind us to cry out to Jesus for help and guidance and take time to listen to His word.   Do what He says to your through His teachings and through your reflections.   He will give blessings. John 21. 21  After these things Jesus [ a ] manifested Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, and He manifested Himself in...

4.5- James 5. 7  Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until [ o ] it gets the early and late rains. 8  You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near. 9  Do not [ p ] complain, brethren, against one another, so that you yourselves may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing [ q ] right at the [ r ] door. 10  As an example, brethren, of suffering and patience, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11  We count those blessed who endured. You have heard of the [ s ] endurance of Job and have seen the [ t ] outcome of the Lord’s dealings, that the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful. 12  But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath; but [ u ] your yes is to be yes, and your no, no, so that you may not fall under judgment. 13  Is anyone am...

4.4- Jesus is not the leader for those who are rich but who care not for the poor. Matthew 25. 31  “But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. 32  All the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; 33  and He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left. 34  “Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35  For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; 36  naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.’ 37  Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give Y...

4.3- Proverbs 27. 27  Do not boast about tomorrow, For you do not know what a day may bring forth. Luke 12. 13  Someone [ h ] in the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me.” 14  But He said to him, “Man, who appointed Me a judge or arbitrator over you?” 15  Then He said to them, “Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions.” 16  And He told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man was very productive. 17  And he began reasoning to himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no place to store my crops?’ 18  Then he said, ‘This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19  And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years to come ; take your ease, eat, drink and be merry.”’ 20...

4.2.18 In Need of a Rescue Sheila and I spoke about how we are currently praying intently for our family. Many of us are in a time of transition. In a way, it’s a crisis - a problem and an opportunity. I remember my own issues during my late teen yearsI fell into a temptation to wander into forbidden territory. I washed into a sewer of plans, thoughts and actions that were dangerous for me and others. I was scared and missing the warmth of my earlier years of school and family security. I thought I was a free thinking adult, but really I was lost and in danger. I was trapped by my own circumstances, but still searching for a way out and way to change. I was surrounded by several barriers -- my desire to leave the security of home and my mother and father and my desire to have fun exploring new things and new ideas with new people. I was emotionally removed from my loving, secure family and church for two years. I drifted into the sewage of immorally and unbelief an...