Refreshing Our Spirits With Scripture

 3.26- Contentment Contentment is valuing the simple things in life more than success, riches, or fame. It is resting in God’s daily provision and in His control over the circumstances of my life. 1 Timothy 6. 3  If anyone advocates a different doctrine and does not  [ d ] agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to godliness,   4  he is conceited  and  understands nothing; but he  [ e ] has a morbid interest in controversial questions and disputes about words, out of which arise envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions,   5  and constant friction between men of depraved mind and deprived of the truth, who suppose that  [ f ] godliness is a means of gain.   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...

 3.25- Hide and Seek Ezekiel 8 James Banks “You can’t see me!” When small children play “hide and seek,” they sometimes believe they’re hiding just by covering their eyes. If they can’t see you, they assume you can’t see them. Naïve as that may seem to adults, we sometimes do something similar with God. When we find ourselves desiring to do something we know is wrong, our tendency may be to shut God out as we willfully go our own way. The prophet Ezekiel discovered this truth in the vision God gave him for his people, exiled to Babylon. The Lord told him, “Have you seen what the elders of Israel are doing in the darkness, each at the shrine of his own idol? They say, “The Lord does not see us’” (Ezekiel 8:12). But God misses nothing, and Ezekiel’s vision was proof of it. Yet even though they had sinned, God offered His repentant people hope through a new promise: “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you” (Ezekiel 36:26). For us, God met the brokenness, and rebellion...

 3.24- Our Powerful God Amos 4:12-13 Amy Boucher Pye One day by the seaside, I delighted in watching some kite surfers as they bounced along the water, moved by the force of the wind. When one came to shore, I asked him if the experience was as difficult as it looked. “No,” he said, “It’s actually easier than regular surfing because you harness the power of the wind.” Afterward as I walked by the sea, thinking about the wind’s ability not only to propel the surfers but also to whip my hair into my face, I paused to wonder at our God the Creator. As we see in the Old Testament book of Amos, He who “forms the mountains” and “creates the wind” can turn “dawn to darkness” (verse 13). Through this prophet, the Lord reminded His people of His power as He called them back to Himself. Because they had not obeyed Him, He said He would reveal Himself to them (verse 13). Although we see His judgment here, we know from elsewhere in the Bible of His sacrificial love in sending His Son to save u...

 3.23- Are We There Yet? Deuteronomy 8 Julie Ackerman Link If there is any such thing as a universal question, it may be this: Are we there yet? Generations of children have asked it. They have grown into adults who have to answer the same question when their children ask. Whenever I read the books of Moses, I wonder how many times he heard that question from the Israelites. Before rescuing them from slavery and leading them out of Egypt, Moses told them that the Lord would lead them to “a land flowing with milk and honey>” (Exodus 3:8). He did, but first they spent 40 years wandering in the wilderness. This was no ordinary wandering, however. They were not lost; they were wandering for a purpose. After 400 years of slavery, the children of Israel needed to have their hearts, souls, and minds reoriented toward God. This was accomplished in the wilderness (Deuteronomy 8:2, 15-18), but not before an entire generation died because of their disobedience (Numbers 32:13). In life, it ...

 3.22- Human beings are not creatures of instinct with no powers of self control. The murder of eight in Atlanta is evil, sinful and wrong. Our enlightened society never uses the word that something is sinful. Why? Because they want to structure a world without any judgements of wrong or right. We want our chatter to be morally neutral so our chatter and talk shows are godless gobbledygook good and goofy. Jesus said He didn't come to condemn us but save us. But He said "Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you." John 5. 5  After these things there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 2  Now there is in Jerusalem by the sheep  gate  a pool, which is called in  [ a ] Hebrew  [ b ] Bethesda, having five porticoes.   3  In these lay a multitude of those who were sick, blind, lame, and withered, [ [ c ] waiting for the moving of the waters;   4  for an angel of the Lord went down at certai...

3.21- Building bridges over fences or making gates in them is more costly and uncomfortable than leaving things the same and let others do the painful work of trailblazing. Righteous people stand up for the poor and oppressed. Ephesians 2. 11  Therefore remember that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “Uncircumcision” by the so-called “Circumcision,”  which is  performed in the flesh by human hands—   12  remember  that you were at that time separate from Christ,  [ i ] excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.   13  But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off  [ j ] have been brought near  [ k ] by the blood of Christ.   14  For He Himself is our peace, who made both  groups into  one and broke down the  [ l ] barrier of the dividing wa...

 3.20- Try to imagine having a 24/7/365 job of always being on call. Add to this visiting every patient that went to the hospital from your church of 1,000 members for 50 years. Now add doing half of the funerals. Never missing a major event of five children, eleven grandchildren, nine great, greats, mentoring many ministers in over 50 years near major Christian University. Leading a family through all the normal mess of life on this earth. Did I mention directing summer church camp for 25 plus years? Did I overlook caring for his aged parents alone as an only child? I might have overlooked crisis phone calls from his brother in law Minister, me? Bill Luttrell had a heart Stent procedure in Abilene Texas on Wednesday morning and last I heard is recovering at home. My sister, Hazanne, and their five kids are doing well helping them. God bless and heal Bill Luttrell. On the left in this picture. 2 Timothy 4. 4  I solemnly charge  you  in the presence of God and o...