Refreshing Our Spirits With Scripture

 12.31- In the places where the prince of this world is in control the poor are charged high interest rates and taken advantage of. In the places where the prince of peace reigns the poor are protected from high interest rates. James 5. 5  Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming on you.   2  Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes.   3  Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days.   4  Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty.   5  You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter. [ a ]   6  You have condemned and murdered the innocent one, who was...

 12.30- The invisible, heavenly helpers are not requested and received as long as the visible means are available. John 16. 16  Jesus went on to say,  “In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me.” 17  At this, some of his disciples said to one another, “What does he mean by saying,  ‘In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me,’  and  ‘Because I am going to the Father’ ?”   18  They kept asking, “What does he mean by  ‘a little while’ ? We don’t understand what he is saying.” 19  Jesus saw that they wanted to ask him about this, so he said to them,  “Are you asking one another what I meant when I said, ‘In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me’?   20  Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy...

 12.29= For nearly 2,000 Christmas days it remains true that great people like Mary and Joseph are called by life to the greatest of joys and fulfillment and the deepest suffering. Matthew 16. 21  From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. 22  Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!” 23  Jesus turned and said to Peter,  “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.” 24  Then Jesus said to his disciples,  “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.   25  For whoever wants to save their life [ f ]  will lose it, bu...

 12.28- Joseph and Mary were not rebels or insurrectionists. They cooperated with the government's desire have a census. This moved them to the little town of Bethlehem. I have many family and friends who are followers of Jesus who live in nations where governments are doing bad things. Russia, Ukraine, Canada, Mexico and the USA. Jesus followers whom I know are standing for justice on their good days. Sheila and I felt a call to work in ministry in Colorado in 1977 and 1983. Justice takes time. In 1982 in Park County CO. Frisco, Breckenridge and Fairplay area two blonde young ladies were murdered. The murderer was not convicted until March of 2022. He was found through DNA methods that didn't exist at the time. The killer had gotten stuck in a snowbank and flashed an S.O.S with his headlights. A passenger on a commercial aircraft flying over, saw it and told the pilot. He called his dispatcher who called the local sheriff with coordinates. The murderer was rescued by a law off...

 12.27- Pop the lock from anxiety into joy. I know that I am in control of nothing except my own heart. Today I choose to believe in hope. My home will be a dwelling where abundant life is a goal every day. I will open my eyes to the beauty of each month. Today is the shortest day of the year here in the DFW area. 10 hours and 11 minutes of sunlight. I can choose to make it 24 hours of extending the grace, mercy and peace of God to myself and others around me. I can be full of laughter or anxiety about what happened to me yesterday. I lost things and I found things. Yesterday, I lost some important financial papers that I had seen in one of my desks in the last few weeks. I had a need of these specific papers. I called my son Jeff, who has helped me to organize some things in the last few months. No, he hadn’t seen exactly those specific papers. I could have gotten troubled in my heart, but I was working with people who could be patient with me until I found those papers. ...

12.26- Faith, family and friends. If we have these we are rich indeed. My deepest love is for those who have refused to give up on me when I was at my worst. It was on bad days in my life and they gave me a word of both grace and truth. They were put in place in my life at the right time to make a point that I didn't want hear but I needed to hear. "Larry Or Dad, Or Brother Maybe your intentions were good but your words were off track. You hurt me and others and yourself." At other times it was, a look at me with a hard question. The deepest discipline has been a look without words, which brought me to tears. These are dear family members and long term close friends who are "family". They do the hard, exhausting work of unfailing love and believing the best in me without signs of positive impact. These humble me when I need it. These lift me up when I am down. They refresh my spirit. When I am with them an hour feels like a moment. Thank you God for faith, fami...

 12.25- Christmas. Jesus was born into this world in very humble, common circumstances without any earthly wealth or power evident. This is the entrance into the world that the maker of the universe chose to make. All are welcome to come to Him. Joy to the world. Luke 2. 2  In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.   2  (This was the first census that took place while [ a ]  Quirinius was governor of Syria.)   3  And everyone went to their own town to register. 4  So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.   5  He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.   6  While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born,   7  and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapp...

 1.24- Today it is Christmas Eve, the first in 56 years that I have been without Sheila. The gift I want to give myself is to write a few words about Sheila Lynn Self Wishard. She passed on 9.4.22. I started by reflecting on things that the friends and family and children and grandchildren said about her that I knew to be true, 24/7/365 for 56 years. She was one who spoke the truth or nothing at all. She was an excellent editor with high standards for things being done right when it came to writing and especially writing about spiritual things. She loved to use good writing that she found to build up the down and out. I was blessed to meet a man at our church whose life was preserved by well written materials that our church sent to him during months of solitary confinement. He especially mentioned the material that Sheila had helped put together to give the prisoners joy and laughter though mail. She could make you think deeper about what you just said with an “eye roll”. Thre...

 12.24- I was watching a program showing a couple being used in an elephant restoration an health clinic. It said that there were only some things a human could train them in. For some training it required elephants to train each other. In order for man to learn to love deep and with infinite mercy.God had to be made into human flesh. He came and they named Him Immanuel, God with us. He shows us the perfect way to love all people, even our enemies. If humans could become elephants it would not be as big a step as God to human. The shepherds heard the good news.and rejoiced. Do we? Merry Christmas. Phillippians 2. 2  Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion,   2  then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.   3  Do nothing out of selfish ambiti...

 12.23- Bethlehem is the place of the big event 2022 years ago. He grew up to be a reliable teacher. Two billion people call Him their leader. Those things that were not actually so He said so. He said let not your heart be troubled. Today we will celebrate the life of my wonderful sister in law, Gene Wishard. Her old worn out Bible by her chair includes words from the bread of our life. Let not your heart be troubled. If this were not so I would have told you. In my Father's house there are many rooms. I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you I will come back and take you to be with me. Luke 2. 2  In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.   2  (This was the first census that took place while [ a ]  Quirinius was governor of Syria.)   3  And everyone went to their own town to register. 4  So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Ju...

 12.22- Today I returned to have breakfast with a group of guys I have had breakfast with since 2013. They are good friends and doing what they can to help their companies succeed.  They also want to keep their heart, mind and soul focused on helping their family and friends in any way they can.  The group is only five guys for the last few years and some of us have been out of pocket quite a bit since March of 2020 when COVID 19 hit, but the friendship and fellowship and fun of the Thursday Men’s Group remains.  Enjoyed the fun time together this morning and much laughter about being follower of Jesus in this crazy year. 2022.  Finding a good way to finish the year.  One of the guys brought us a beautiful coffee mug. When it was over about 7am they had to go to work but I remained to stay put and reflect.  Watched a Keller Texas sunrise from 7.24AM to 7.34Am.  It was brilliant and glorious. Justin, the helper at the Chic Fila offered to help me c...

 12.21- I'm thankful for great teachers and coaches at this time of year. When many people are taking a holiday to travel and rest with family there are teachers and coaches involved in basketball tournaments. They might get a day off, but their passion is for building up kids. They go to practice and push for the best in attitude and actions. The reality is that these people get tired and broken also. These people according to their own words are tempted to be workaholics. Egomaniac. Alcoholics, overdrink, overeat misplace their priorities. We all, coaches, teachers, Preachers, writers need grace and space. We need a God who is merciful to all us broken people who on a good day are trying to help each other get up and try again. When I think of what I need is someone like a friend who reminded me yesterday to not be overly self-righteous and judging people by mere appearances. Jesus reminded Peter when he thought he was stronger than others that after he fell and the rooster cr...