Refreshing Our Spirits With Scripture

7.28- Life with God is  celebration.  Even in the shadow of the cross Jesus celebrated the Passover. Matthew 26. 20  Now when evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the twelve disciples. 21  As they were eating, He said, “Truly I say to you that one of you will betray Me.” 22  Being deeply grieved, they [ f ] each one began to say to Him, “Surely not I, Lord?” 23  And He answered, “He who dipped his hand with Me in the bowl is the one who will betray Me. 24  The Son of Man is to go, just as it is written of Him; but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good [ g ] for that man if he had not been born.” 25  And Judas, who was betraying Him, said, “Surely it is not I, Rabbi?” Jesus *said to him, “You have said it yourself.” The Lord’s Supper Instituted 26  While they were eating, Jesus took some bread, and [ h ] after a blessing, He broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said...

7.27- "We don't necessarily doubt that God will do the best for us. We are wondering how painful the best will turn out to be." C. S. Lewis Romans 8. 28  And we know that [ k ] God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. Jeremiah 29. 11  For I know the plans that I [ h ] have for you,’ declares the Lord , ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope  

7.26- There were three times that I remember my father in law, Ralph Self, had an outstanding amount of self-control over his tongue. There was that time when I left my house late in the evening because I was upset and didn’t tell Sheila where I was going or when I would be back.   I drove over to a friend’s house for some counsel.   Sheila got worried and called her dad.   When I did get home Sheila told me she had called her dad because she was very concerned.   I felt I deserved to be yelled at by him.   I called him.   He said,   “Larry, this is a problem between you and Sheila and you guys must solve it.”   I never heard him mention it again. Ralph did a good job keeping his cars looking nice inside and out.   He parked his new Blue Buick next to my car in my garage.   I opened my door too widely.   When he found out that I had put the first dent in it he said nothing to me about it.   Nothing. He had lo...

7.25- There is a tendency in us as humans to compare ourselves with others who are worse people than we are and we congratulate ourselves that we are okay without any need for growth and change for the better.  It seems to me that God is trying to get His servants to be honest and humble about who they really are.  Their power comes from God.  There are several ways that great teachers would teach to stop the problem of arrogance and conceit.  We thank God for being His children by grace, but look for opportunities to improve our lives with God's help. 2 Chronicles 6. 36  “ When they sin against You (for there is no man who does not sin) and You are angry with them and deliver them to an enemy, so that [ s ] they take them away captive to a land far off or near, 37  if they [ t ] take thought in the land where they are taken captive, and repent and make supplication to You in the land of their captivity, saying, ‘ We have sinned, we have committed...

7.24- What kind of lovingkindness does your God have? Everlasting. 2 Chronicles 7.3 3  All the sons of Israel, seeing the fire come down and the glory of the Lord upon the house, bowed down on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave praise to the Lord , saying , “Truly He is good, truly His lovingkindness is everlasting.”

7.23- Work at times is symbolized by a yoke.  A heavy yoke represents an oppressive, abusive leader but an easy yoke represents a leadership that fits your work to you so that it is good for the workplace and good for you. 2 Chronicles 11. 10  The young men who grew up with him spoke to him, saying, “Thus you shall say to the people who spoke to you, saying, ‘Your father made our yoke heavy, but you make it lighter for us.’ Thus you shall say to them, ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s loins! 11  Whereas my father loaded you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke; my father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions.’” Matthew 11. 28  “Come to Me, all [ z ] who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. 29  Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls . 30  For My yoke is [ aa ] easy and My burden is light.”

7.22- Good leaders are servants. 2 Chronicles 10. 6  Then King Rehoboam consulted with the elders who had [ a ] served his father Solomon while he was still alive, saying, “How do you counsel me to answer this people?” 7  They spoke to him, saying, “If you will be kind to this people and please them and speak good words to them, then they will be your servants forever.” Matthew 20. 25  But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. 26  It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, 27  and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave; 28  just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His [ n ] life a ransom for many.”