Refreshing Our Spirits With Scripture

Prisons produce deep and lasting thoughts.  F. M. Lehman was a disciple of Jesus who lost his business.  He worked packing oranges into crates and meditated on God's love for him.  He wrote a song about God's love and two verses came to him easily.  For a song to be published in those days three verses were needed. After prayer and waiting on God's timing, a friend bought him these words written on a wall of a prison cell. "Could we with ink the ocean fill And we're the skies of parchment made We're every stalk a quill And everyone a scribe by trade To write the love of God above Would drain the ocean dry Nor could the scroll contain the whole Tho stretched from sky to sky." God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that those who believe in Him would not perish but have everlasting life. John 3.16

It doesn't matter what country you are from, humans should be treated humanely. Without regard for race, color, religion or faith, sex, birth, wealth or any other similar criteria. Borders make no difference in this regard.    Certain acts are prohibited at any time, at any place.  The Genva Conventions Article 3 recognizes this in international law. No murder, no mutilation, no cruel treatment. and no torture.  These are recognized as indispensable to civilized people.  I watched a policeman kneel on a man's neck until he choked to death. This year I watched on television as some of my fellow citizens tried to storm the Capital and a policeman was killed.  Zones of my country have been blocked off and no police and firemen allowed. What are we becoming? Once Jesus was asked by a rich leader what he must do to receive eternal life. Jesus said that he must obey God's commands. The rich leader asked which ones? Jesus said, "No murder, no adultery, no stealing...

Things that you do to support and comfort people who are suffering is a blessing from God and will never be forgotten.

We teach our children that certain things are wrong.  Stealing is wrong. Judging people by mere appearance is wrong. Skin color, body type, language or dialect, where they live and the type or age of their clothing.  What country they come from.   Asians are being attacked just for their ethnic background. Blacks have been discounted, abused and killed for their skin color. This topic is difficult because in teaching this we can so easily come off as "holier than thou". Or "self righteous". Jesus said we are too often eye doctor's trying to remove a splinter from someone's eye with a plank in our own eye.  We must treat others the way we want to be treated. We must teach what is right and wrong to our children. We make judgements. James Merritt said that if we want to be Jesus like we must be humble, honest and helpful. I agree.

We look at perfect pictures on social media and compare ourselves to these and we feel that are without value.  Hidden in a book written 2,000 years ago are these words:  The Lord does not look at things people look at. People look at the outward appearance but the Lord looks at the heart. Jesus said you're blessed when you're content with just who you are, no more no less, that's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought.

What guides your life?  Is it fear?  Jesus taught that it is better for our lives to be powered by love than fear.  "Fear not"  in is 365 places in the Bible. One for each day.  Mature love overcomes our fear. God does not give us a spirit of fear but a spirit of power, love and self-discipline.  There is only one fear in the heart of wise people. "The beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord." Jesus teaches us that this fear is like our feelings for a loving Father. It is honor and respect feelings.

A sermon without words.  My mother's favorite preacher, outside our physical family, was Mark.  Her favorite compliment to him was that his sermons were short.  The end was close to the beginning. Very few wasted words.  He focused on Jesus without pointing to himself as the hero.   I would say this about the best mothers with a timeless impact. They have the ability teach without words. Happy Mother's day to Sheila, Amy and my Mom in heaven.  Sheila really appreciated these lovely flowers from Jeff and Donna. Jesus showed His love to His mother in many ways. He helped her with a wedding reception.  He told John to take of her as He was dying.