Refreshing Our Spirits With Scripture

7.26- Loved this great story from a wonderful story teller Ron Rose Wrapped in a Mower Ron Rose We visited John’s church about a year ago. There were fingerprints of God in John...God is all over him. John fills the room the moment he walks in and he was definitely doing his thing that morning. In his sermon he told about his neighborhood. "The young boy from three doors down, got my attention on my driveway. He seems to be a nice, respectful youngster... he even talks about church with me every now and then. "Mr. John," he called out, "I got a question." When, he got closer, he continued, "I've been mowing three yards in the neighborhood and my mower broke, I need a new mower. Can I use yours, please?" "Son, you may use any lawn tools I have, the mower is fairly new. Just promise me one thing." "What's that?" he replied "Just remember, it's my stuff, and when I go to hea...

7.25- Found, Called, and Adopted Max Lucado God didn’t look at our frazzled lives and say, “I’ll die for you when you deserve it.” No, despite our sin, in the face of our rebellion, He chose to adopt us. And for God, there’s no going back. His grace is a come-as-you-are promise from a one-of-a-kind King. You’ve been found, called, and adopted; so trust your Father and claim this verse as your own: “God showed His love for us in this way: Christ died for us while we were still sinners” (Romans 5:8). And you never again have to wonder who your father is – you’ve been adopted by God and are therefore an “heir of God through Christ” (Galatians 4:7). “Jesus didn’t come to change God’s mind about us. He came to change our minds about God.” Rick Atchley

7.24- Standing in the Fire Daniel 3:10-25 Randy Kilgore Wrapped in blankets in my grandparents’ pickup, I watched as fire consumed our home. My father says I slept soundly as he carried my brother and me and our puppies out to safety. When I woke up and saw the huge blaze, I was already safe. I was too curious and too young to be scared. I remember several things from that night. Even inside the truck, the heat was intense and the fire was mesmerizing. I remember too the fear on the faces of everyone else, checking and re-checking to see if loved ones were safe. Later I learned that in the chaos my father raced into the fire to look for my grandfather, which prompted my grandfather (who was not inside the house) to race in to get my father. Their courage affected all who saw it that night. I’m reminded of that fire every time I read the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. When challenged with the decree to bow to the king or face execution (...

7.23- Each Day Matthew 6:5-15 David McCasland In 1924, a boy named Johnny, who loved to play basketball, completed the eighth grade in a small rural school. His father, rich in love but short on money for a graduation gift, gave Johnny a card on which he had written his own 7-point creed, which he encouraged his son to start following daily. Three of the points were: Drink deeply from good books, especially the Bible. Make each day your masterpiece. Pray for guidance, and give thanks for your blessings every day. Jesus, in what we often call the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9-1 3), taught us to approach our heavenly Father each day; it’s not something to be said once and forgotten. Through it we offer God praise (verse 9); seek His kingdom and His will (verse 10); trust His provision (v. 11); and ask for His forgiveness, power, and deliverance (vv. 12-13). Throughout his life, Johnny sought the Lord’s strength to live each day for Him. He became...

7.22- Not Abandoned Psalm 13 Marvin Williams As Karissa Smith was browsing in a local library with her babbling 4-month-old daughter, and older man rudely told her to quiet her baby or he would. Smith responded, “I am very sorry for whatever in your life caused you to be so disturbed by a happy baby, but I will not tell my baby to shut up, and I will not let you do so either.” The man put his head down and apologized, and told her the story of how his son died of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome over 50 years ago. He had repressed his grief and anger all those years. In Psalm 13, David expressed his grief. He addressed God with raw and honest language: “How long, O Lord? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me?” (verse 1). These questions reflected fears of abandonment. David’s language of distress gave way to a plea for help and reaffirmation of his faith in God’s love for him (verses 3-6). Confidence and firm resolve came alongs...

7.21- It is now day 115 of the pandemic. We have watched on our televisions a black man go from very alive to dead in an eight minute video while a policeman relaxed and watched himself be filmed. We have seen Americans of all races and colors go to the streets in protest to say, "We don't want to be this kind of country." Some of us react all this by deciding to not see, feel and love anymore. We wander about into various kinds of unproductive activities, brain dead televisi on, lukewarm religious activities, more treadmill travel, more shopping for things we don't need to impress the people we don't like. I struggle with these things and my friends tell me that they do also. If you are one of these I remind you to not worry. Yesterday I saw three birds, a tiny sparrow, a elegant red cardinal, a black bird and all were pointing me to get back to thinking about God. He will provide. He provides grace to all of us who seek it. And breath a...

7.20- The Cure for Disappointment Jeremiah 32:27 Max Lucado We need to hear that God is still in control. We need to hear that it’s not over until he says so. We need to hear that life’s mishaps and tragedies are not a reason to bail out. They are simply a reason to sit tight. Corrie ten Boom used to say, “When the train goes through a tunnel and the world gets dark, do you jump out? Of course not. You sit still and trust the engineer to get you through.” . . . The way to deal with discouragement? The cure for disappointment? Go back and read the story of God. Read it again and again. Be reminded that you aren’t the first person to weep. And you aren’t the first person to be helped. Read the story and remember, the story is yours! 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 fi...