Refreshing Our Spirits With Scripture

7.13- At the cross we face the pain and the gain. Jesus Keep Me Near the Cross Fanny Crosby was blind but she had insight to write these words. Jesus, keep me near the cross,   This song filled my heart today as I walked around the water therapy river at my health club.  I was thinking about my encounter with Horace Couch at the club yesterday and today.   There a precious fountain— Free to all, a healing stream— Flows from Calv’ry’s mountain. Refrain: In the cross, in the cross, Be my glory ever; Till my raptured soul shall find Rest beyond the river. Near the cross, a trembling soul, Love and Mercy found me; There the bright and morning star Sheds its beams around me. Near the cross! O Lamb of God, Bring its scenes before me; Help me walk from day to day, With its shadows o’er me. Near the cross I’ll watch and wait Hoping, trusting ever, Till I reach the golden strand, Just beyond the river. Another cross song says,    At the...

7.12- How long have you been at your job? How long have you had your close friends? How long have you been active in a local service group? If there are answers of only a short time, could it be because you are not truthful.  Endurance in service for many years speaks of verbal integrity.  Job hopping is sometimes because someone has not learned to be truthful. When you are trying to establish a person's integrity and credibility ask the question, "How long have you....?" Proverbs 12. 19  Truthful lips endure forever,      but a lying tongue lasts only a moment.

7.11- Jesus is either Lord or a Liar.  He is not just a good moral teacher.  God raises the dead.  This is the basic claim of Jesus.  He called followers telling them that they would be persecuted and they might suffer and die for following Him.  Some of them did.  Stephen and James are killed for following Him.  Now if Jesus is the Son of God as He said He was then that is no problem because in the resurrection Jesus will give them Eternal Life with Him in heaven.  If He was not the Son of God, then he is a liar that cost them their life.  Jesus is not just a good moral teacher if He was not who He claimed to be.  The fact is that we stake our lives on this reality.  The Holy Spirit has the power to raise people from the dead. Matthew 9. 18  While he was saying this, a synagogue leader came and knelt before him and said, “My daughter has just died. But come and put your hand on her, and she will live.” 19  Jesus g...

7.10- God teaches in the Bible that if you are walking with Jesus then you have a right to celebrate and enjoy your life with Him.  When Jesus was here on earth they accused Him of being a glutton and a drunkard.  He was not.  He enjoyed the blessings of life in moderation and drew all kinds of people to himself including tax collectors and prostitutes.  For this He was criticized.  Even the only perfect person to ever walk on earth could not avoid negative comments.  Enjoy your life.  Don't let the nay sayers ruin your joy in life. Matthew 9. 14  Then John’s disciples came and asked him, “How is it that we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples do not fast?” 15  Jesus answered, “How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast. 16  “No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch will pull away...

7.9- God forgives sin.  Jesus presented the good news that nothing is impossible for God including saving the greatest of sinners.  How?  Forgiveness.  It was hard for God to forgive sins because it cost Him the life of His Son.  Jesus could release a paralyzed man from immobility but even harder job could be done by Him, the forgiveness of sins. There are things that are hard for me to forgive.  Things that are against innocent children.  There was a very wise, blameless servant of God named Stephen.  His killer was some people who laid their coats at the feet of Saul of Tarsus.  God forgave him.  He became Paul and He used him as an instrument to save others.  Matthew 9. 9  Jesus stepped into a boat, crossed over and came to his own town. 2  Some men brought to him a paralyzed man, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.” 3  At this, some ...

7.8- Do not judge people especially your wife, kids, in laws and grandkids.   Instead focus on teaching these beloved by example and no words unless asked.   Do not give things to others that they don’t want, like advice. You will probably not be asked between 12 and 50.   Remember that you know you are stubborn and difficult to work with at times.    For example, listen more and speak less. Never give up praying for God’s best for your life. Go where few people go because they see the path as too narrow and long. Be observant of the outcome of people’s lives. Open your heart to God and people. Walk out your view of life a day at a time. Practice yourself what you desire in others. Matthew 7. 7  “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2  For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. 3  “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in y...

7.7- About 2019 years ago there was a birth that became the hinge of history. Jesus gave us ideas of what heaven is going to be like. Human words are glimpses into the mystery of God. Jesus revealed God to us. He said, “If you have seen me, you have seen the Father”. Jesus is the living Word that is the exact reflection of God in a human body. In Jesus the shepherds met their Shepherd and kings came to worship their King. G. K. Chesterton said, “Man stands apart from all other animals and Jesus stands apart from all other men.” Matthew 2. 2  After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi [ h ] from the east came to Jerusalem 2  and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” 3  When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4  When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the la...