Refreshing Our Spirits With Scripture

 9.12- God of the Ordinary                      Genesis 12:1-4; 17:1-2)                       Joe Stowell     Hearing testimonies about how God did something spectacular in someone else’s life can challenge us. While we may rejoice to hear about answers to prayer, we may also wonder why God hasn’t done anything amazing for us lately.     It’s easy to think that if God showed up in astonishing ways for us like He did for Abraham, then we would be more inspired to be faithful servants of God. But then we remember that God showed up for Abraham ever 12 to 14 years, and most of Abraham’s journey was rather ordinary (See Genesis 12:1-4; 15:1-6; 16-17:12).     God’s work is usually done behind the scenes in the ordinary things of life. As our...

 9.11- Safety Net                               Matthew 5:43-48                                      Philip Yancey     For years I thought of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5–7) as a blueprint for human behavior, a standard no one could possibly meet. How could I have missed the true meaning? Jesus spoke these words not to frustrate us, but to tell us what God is like.     Why should we love our enemies? Because our merciful Father causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good. Why store up treasures in heaven? Because the Father lives there and will lavishly reward us. Why live without fear and worry? Because the same God w...

 9.10- Time. It's a vapor. My grandsons, Jared on the left and Jordan on the right have graduated from high school and moved on to fulfilling their dreams. I was with them in Atlanta on my 65th birthday sitting in the coffee corner where I would usually spend my get up meditation and writing moments. My mom and dad and Sheila's parents had worked so hard all their lives, but they gave a priority to family time. Especially birthdays and holidays. Food. Fun. Football. Forty-two. Sheila and I did the same knowing that the time they wanted to fool around with us was like a vapor. We still enjoy reliving the joy of competition and delight of brotherhood and family. I got your back. As the movie "Parenthood" we watched recently reminded us, Family is Messy, but, it is the best mess available in this life. We will not waste it with quarrels, arguments and foolish division over our opinions. 1 Corinthians 13. 13  If I speak with the tongues of mankind and of angels...

 9.9- Don't absorb other people's anger. Ephesians 4. 17  So I say this, and affirm in the Lord, that you are to no longer walk just as the  [ n ] Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their minds,   18  being darkened in their understanding,  [ o ] excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart;   19  and they, having become callous, have given themselves up to indecent behavior  [ p ] for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness.   20  But you did not learn Christ in this way,   21  if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus,   22  that, in reference to your former way of life, you are to rid yourselves of the old  [ q ] self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit,   23  and that you ...

 9.8- You have been blessed if God has added years to your life, but even more blessed if He has added life to your years. John 10. 9  I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.   10  The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came so that they would have life, and  [ b ] have  it  abundantly.

 9.7- Those who sincerely seek God are rewarded with a relationship with the creator and sustainer of the universe. If we are honest with ourselves and others He helps us be the best we can be. Wow! What a life! 2 Timothy 4. 6  For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come.   7  I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith;   8  in the future there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.

 9.6- “And He made a whip of cords, and drove them all out of the temple area, with the sheep and the oxen; and He poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables;” John 2.15 Jesus made a whip of cords and drove them all out of the temple area and poured out their coins of money and overturned their tables. Jesus. He is the lamb of God as well as lion of God. He was bold, strong and ready to die to help others. He stood up against those who oppressed people. He was clear and honest with them with His warning. He did not threaten. He warned. He carried out what he taught against. He did not come to earth to be served, but to serve and give himself as a ransom. When a person or a group stand up to ransom the oppressed it is clear that God is with them in that work. Jesus used a whip to drive out evil. Jesus encouraged His followers to remember the “sword” has its purpose. Yesterday, thirteen American soldiers were killed trying to ransom some friends of ...

 9.6- I decided today to think mostly about people I know well who had lived a happy life and finished well. They made it their ambition to live a quiet life and make a living working with their hands. They lived with joy by being honest with themselves, God and others. They were humble and asked forgiveness and extended forgiveness to themselves and others. They did not wallow in past failures but moved forward without regret. What an impact they have made on me! 2 Corinthians 7. 10  For the sorrow that is according to  the will of  God produces a repentance  [ d ] without regret,  leading  to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death.