Refreshing Our Spirits With Scripture

8.24- I have found lately that it helps me to see each person I encounter as a potential neighbor in heaven someday.  We are on a journey and each day we draw closer to the transition from over here to over there.  This may seem morbid to my younger readers, but most of the people I cross paths with are civil.  A few are especially joyous, upbeat and positive.  I encounter some that are difficult people and I'm quite sure I'm a difficult person for some people as well.  I have started carrying a piece of paper in my pocket and in my down times I write down the name of the person and think of why they might be nice neighbors in heaven.  That an easy thing to imagine for some and not for others.  Still, at the end of the day I usually have a list of about 10 people. 3 John 2  Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers.

8.23- O great heavenly Teacher, school has started. This year help the students to be filled with knowledge of the subjects they are studying, but also filled with spiritual wisdom and understanding. We pray they will work together in a manner worthy of human dignity and respect. Protect them by the power of love for their lives and the lives of others. Help them to learn how to be fruitful to provide for themselves. How to make a living and life. May they learn how to balance their emotions and how to balance a checkbook. Help them to find their gifts and use them to gain satisfaction in life. Help them to grow in steadfastness, patience and joy. Open their heart to the transformation that happens when they decide to live in gratitude every day. Amen. Colossians 1. 9  For this reason also, since the day we heard of it , we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the [ k ] knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and under...

8.22- Often it is easier to define good religion by what it is not. James 1. 26  If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not [ ab ] bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless. 27  Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained [ ac ] by the world. Isaiah 1 Hear the word of the Lord , You rulers of Sodom; Give ear to the instruction of our God, You people of Gomorrah. 11  “What are your multiplied sacrifices to Me?” Says the Lord . “I [ d ] have had enough of burnt offerings of rams And the fat of fed cattle; And I take no pleasure in the blood of bulls, lambs or goats. 12  “When you come to appear before Me, Who requires [ e ] of you this trampling of My courts? 13  “Bring your worthless offerings no longer, Incense is an abomination to Me. New moon and sabbath, the calling of assemblies— I cannot en...

8.21- The opposite of scarcity is not abundance, but contentment. People can feel very discontent regardless of whether rich or poor, but when they feel loved and accepted they can be content. They can live wholeheartedly. 1 Timothy 6. 6  But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment. 7  For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. 8  If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content. 9  But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. 10  For the love of money is a root of all [ g ] sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

8.20 I was with my extended family for the last few days. It was a visitation and memorial for my oldest cousin’s wife, Patsy Milton, who passed on Monday. She had lived an amazing Christian life as was well known by all who knew her. She had been through some rough times lately. Since her life was beautiful, her memorial service was beautiful. Cards. Flowers. Amazing memories. There must have been a couple of hundred people at her visitation and memorial. Very encouraging. The remarks from her son, Robert and grandson, Justin were most uplifting. According to my count, on both sides of my family from my dad and my mom I have a group of 27 who are in my “first cousin group”. Ten have moved on from this life to be with the Lord. Most of the remaining 17 are Christians. Many of their children and grandchildren are also Christians. H. L. Milton, my oldest first cousin married Pasty Yarbrough in 1956 and she became my cousin by marriage but much more. She ...

8.19- When someone is doing something beautiful for you, let them know you appreciate it, thank God for it For several years, yes years, Ruth Ann Milton Jones visited my mother and father in the nursing home on a daily basis. Patsy Milton also visited regularly to comfort and encourage them. They brought smiles, hugs, ice cream and flowers and cards and pictures. I was far away in Colorado and visited only twice year normally. They did a beautiful thing for mother and dad and also it was beautiful for me as well. God bless both of these women. Mark 14. 14  Now the Passover and Unleavened Bread were two days away; and the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to seize Him by stealth and kill Him ; 2  for they were saying, “Not during the festival, otherwise there might be a riot of the people.” 3  While He was in Bethany at the home of Simon the leper, and reclining at the table , there came a woman with an alabaster vial of very costly perfume...

8.18- God's vision for His family is that all nations would come together in it.  I have been blessed to travel to Russia, Ukraine and Czech Republic for special outreaches with the good news of Jesus.  What I found there was that with the help of translators the good news of God's love would make an immediate bond that superceded all national boundaries.  Our citizenship is in heaven.  Jesus was a teacher that reached beyond all national and ethnic and racial boundaries. John 4. 4  Therefore when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John 2  (although Jesus Himself was not baptizing, but His disciples were), 3  He left Judea and went away again into Galilee. 4  And He had to pass through Samaria . 5  So He *came to a city of Samaria called Sychar, near the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph; 6  and Jacob’s well was there. So Jesus, being wearied from...