Refreshing Our Spirits With Scripture

8.2- Today, seven years ago, 7.16.13, we moved into our house here in North Richland Hills, Texas. Lifequake. Something happens and all of a sudden, you know that life will never be the same. It could be a pandemic. It could be natural disaster that you had nothing to do with. It might be a divorce that you did not want. It might be when a child you thought was doing well was hiding things from you and he/she was not doing well. You thought you were succeeding at work and you are called in and given a pink slip. It could be finding out you are pregnant or a child is pregnant. It could be a doctor says you will not be able to have children. A test has confirmed you have stage 4 cancer. A doctor comes out of the OR into the waiting room and says, “We did all we could and he didn’t make it. I’m so sorry." Lifequake. For my mother, one of these happened on the front porch of her house. She walked out of the front door saying these words, “I walked out of t...

8.1- The best teacher ever said this about 2,000 years ago, " At that [y]time Jesus said, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants." My grandson, Jordan, 19 now, but has always had an interest in reflection and deep, hard questions for me. He is quick with wit and humor, but on the bigger questions of life he has always pushed me to think deeply before I answer. On this day he had me up in the corner of his room near the toy boxes and the little library reading the good book together. I still enjoy learning with him. 1

7.30- Great parents I have known are not judgemental of their adult children and grandchildren. They do not argue about matters of opinion. They have a good time when they are together and are drawn to each other for creative joy and fun. Matthew 7. 7  “Do not judge so that you will not be judged. 2  For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and [ a ] by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. 3  Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 4  Or how [ b ] can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and behold, the log is in your own eye? 5  You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye. Romans 2. 2  Therefore you have no excuse, [ a ] everyone of you who passes judgment, for in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice ...

7.29- A Meeting of Moments Acts 2:23 Max Lucado The cross was no accident. Jesus’ death was not the result of a panicking cosmological engineer. The cross wasn’t a tragic surprise. Calvary was not a knee-jerk response to a world plummeting toward destruction. It wasn’t a patch-up job or a stop-gap measure. The death of the Son of God was anything but an unexpected peril. No it was part of an incredible plan. A calculated choice. The moment the forbidden fruit touched the lips of Eve, the shadow of a cross appeared on the horizon. And between that moment and the moment the man with the mallet placed the spike against the wrist of God, a master plan was fulfilled.

7.28- Heaven’s On Your Side Hebrews 7:25 Max Lucado Jesus is praying for us . . . Jesus has spoken and Satan has listened. The devil may land a punch or two. He may even win a few rounds, but he never wins the fight. Why? Because Jesus takes up for you . . . “He is able always to save those who come to God through Him because He always lives, asking God to help them” (Hebrews 7:25) . . . Jesus, at this very moment, is protecting you . . . Evil must pass through Christ before it can touch you. And God will “never let you be pushed past your limit; he’ll always be there to help you come through it” (I Corinthians 10:13 MSG).

7.27- Trusting God Even If Daniel 3:13-25 Xochitl Dixon Due to an injury that occurred in 1992, I suffer from chronic pain in my upper back, shoulders, and neck. During the most excruciating and disheartening moments, it’s not always easy to trust or praise the Lord. But when my situation feels unbearable, God’s constant presence comforts me. He strengthens me and reassures me of His unchanging goodness, limitless power, and sustaining grace. And when I’m tempted to doubt my Lord, I’m encouraged by the determined faith of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. They worshiped God and trusted He was with them even when their situation seemed hopeless. When King Nebuchadnezzar threatened to thrown them into a blazing furnace if they didn’t turn away from the true God to worship his golden statue (Daniel 3:13-15), these three men displayed courageous and confident faith. They never doubted the Lord was worthy of their worship (verse 17), “even if” He didn’t rescue th...