Refreshing Our Spirits With Scripture

 1.10- An Alternative to Anger Proverbs 20:1-15 Jennifer Benson Schuldt One morning in Perth, Australia, Fionn Mulholland discovered his car was missing. That’s when he realized he had mistakenly parked in a restricted zone and his car had been towed away. After considering the situation – even the $600 towing and parking fine – Mulholland was frustrated, but he decided not to be angry with the person he would work with to retrieve his car. Instead of venting his feelings, Mulholland wrote a humorous poem about the situation and read it to the worker he met at the tow yard. The worker liked the poem, and a possible ugly confrontation never took place. The book of Proverbs teaches, “It is to one’s honor to avoid strife” (20:3). Strife is that friction that either simmers under the surface or explodes in the open between people who disagree about something. God has given us the resources to live peacefully with other people. His Word assures us that it’s ...

 1.9- Slowing Down Time Psalm 90:4, 12-15 Patricia Raybon A lot has changed since the electric clock was invented in the 1840’s. We now keep time on smart watches, smart phones and laptops. The entire pace of life seems faster – with even our “leisurely” walking speeding up. This is especially true in cities and can have a negative effect on health, scholars say. “We’re just moving faster and faster and getting back to people as quickly as we can,” Professor Richard Wiseman observed. “That’s driving us to think everything has to happen now.” Moses, the writer of one of the oldest of the Bible’s psalms, reflected on time. He reminds us that God controls life’s pace. “A thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night,” he wrote (Psalm 90:4) The secret of time management, therefore, isn’t to go faster or slower. It’s to abide in God, spending more time with Him. Then we get in step with each other, but firs...

 1.8-   At a worship service or sporting event live or on video.. The empty seats are a reminder. Space that reminds us to be thankful many are free and able to come together. Space to remind us of those who have blessed us and now have been moved home with Jesus. Space to remind us to pray for hospital staff. Space to remind us to pray for the ill.   1 Samuel 20. 18  Then Jonathan said to him, “Tomorrow is the new moon, and you will be missed since your seat will be empty.    

 1.7.21-   We may have to...Buckle down. Bow up. Put our big boy (girl) pants on. I hear its gonna be a rough ride for a while. I believe our hardest days can be our best days if we learn to rely on God instead of ourselves. Romans 5. 5  Therefore, having been justified by faith, [ a ] we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2  through whom we also have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and [ b ] we celebrate in hope of the glory of God. 3  And not only this , but [ c ] we also celebrate in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; 4  and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; 5  and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.  

 1.6.21-   The upside down kingdom. The least is the greatest. The last is first with Jesus. Little gifts made a big impact with Him. The back row is the front row. When we serve the poor we serve Jesus. We must decrease. He must increase.   Matthew 16. 25  For whoever wants to save his [ a ] life will lose it; but whoever loses his [ b ] life for My sake will find it.  

 1.5.21-   This is not the first time that a preventive from death has been available, yet the distribution is too slow. God has felt that with the gospel for 2,000 years.   Matthew 9. 35  Jesus was going through all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every sickness. 36  Seeing the crowds, He felt compassion for them, because they were [ ab ] distressed and downcast, like sheep [ ac ] without a shepherd. 37  Then He *said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. 38  Therefore, plead with the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.”  

 1.4.21  We can only have one ultimate guide in our lives.  It is either God or someone or something else.  This is a free will choice we all have as human beings who were created in the image of God.  We are not creatures of instinct.  We can think.  We can control our thoughts and our decision and behaviors.  We learn that all of our choices have consequences and outcomes.  If we accept God as our guide then we will resist the evil one and he will flee from us  When we draw near to God it is clear that He is ready to welcome us into fellowship with Him. Matthew 4. 8  Again, the devil *took Him along to a very high mountain and *showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory; 9  and he said to Him, “All these things I will give You, if You fall down and [ c ] worship me.” 10  Then Jesus *said to him, “Go away, Satan! For it is written: ‘ You shall worship the Lord your God, and [ d ] serve Him only .’” 11...

 1.3.21-    When we have decided to follow Jesus it is normal for us to be baptized as He was.  When we have committed ourselves to God we start to think of Jesus as the ultimate model in our life and the one whose love we want to imitate. Matthew 3. 13  Then Jesus *arrived from Galilee at the Jordan, coming to John to be baptized by him. 14  But John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I have the need to be baptized by You, and yet You are coming to me?” 15  But Jesus, answering, said to him, “Allow it at this time; for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he *allowed Him. 16  After He was baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and [ l ] he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and [ m ] settling on Him, 17  and behold, a voice from the heavens said, “This is [ n ] My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”  

 1.2.21-    Sorry about being a day late with this post.  It should have gone up yesterday.  It was to remind us all that we have the kind of leader we need and His name is Jesus.  He is our shepherd and because He is our shepherd we will not be in want of anything. If you are a child of God and a follower of Jesus then you know His promises to meet you needs. Matthew 2. 6  ‘ And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah , Are by no means least among the leaders of Judah ; For from you will come forth a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel .’”   Psalm 23. The Lord , the Psalmist’s Shepherd. A Psalm of David. 23  The Lord is my shepherd, I will not be in need. 2  He lets me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside [ a ] quiet waters. 3  He restores my soul; He guides me in the [ b ] paths of righteousness For the sake of His name. 4  Even though I walk through the [ c ] valley of the shadow of death, I fear no [ d ] evil, for ...