Refreshing Our Spirits With Scripture

 1.9- I recognize that I am special to God and that He has chosen me for a special purpose in His world. Because He loves me and has a wonderful plan for my life, I am able to live joyfully with gratitude. “Long before He laid down earth’s foundations, He had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of His love, to be made whole and holy by His love.”   Ephesians 1:4 The Message Version

 1.8- Beyond the Stars                                Psalm 8:1-9                                      Xochitl Dixon      In 2011, the National Aeronautics and Space Association celebrated thirty years of space research. In those three decades, shuttles carried more than 355 people into space and helped construct the International Space Station. After retiring five shuttles, NASA has now shifted its focus to deep-space exploration.      The human race has invested massive amounts of time and money, with some astronauts even sacrificing their lives, to study the immensity of the universe. Yet the evidence of God’s majesty stretches far beyond what we can measure.     When we consider the Sculptor and Sustainer of the universe who knows each star by name (Isaiah 40:26), we can understand why the psalmist David praises His greatness (Psalm 8:1). The Lord’s fingerprints are on “the moon and the stars, which He set in place” (verse 3). The Maker of the heavens and the earth rei

 1.7- Building Bridges                        John 4:7-14, 39-42                          Lawrence Darmani     In our neighborhood, high concrete walls surround our homes. Many of these walls are enhanced with electric barbed wires lining the top. The purpose? To ward off robbers.     Frequent power outages are also a problem in our community. These outages render the front gate-bell useless. Because of the wall, a visitor may be kept out in the scorching sun or torrential rain during these outages. Yet even when the gate-bell works, to admit the visitor might depend on who they are. Our fence-walls serve a good purpose, but they can become walls of discrimination – even when the visitor is obviously not an intruder.     The Samaritan woman whom Jesus met at the well had a similar difficulty with discrimination. The Jews had nothing to do with the Samaritans. When Jesus asked her for a drink, she said, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (J

 1.6.22- On this day, 1.6.22, I remember where was a year ago today. Let me make this clear. I am not a Democrat. I am not a Republican. I am a Christian. I am supposed to be a salt and light to my family, community, nation and the world wherever I may be. I grew up in a family and community that was generally democratic at the time and gave great honor to the house speaker, Sam Rayburn. He was from Fannin County and was widely known and respected in our county. I know he build bridges to people in the other party. As I watched my television news on 1.6.21 I was shocked to see what was happening. After a hard fought election results being certified by the congress and the Vice President of our nation there was an attack to break into the building and stop the “Peaceful transfer of power” that I had boasted that we had spoken of in our country for all of my 74 years. All of a sudden there was a rush of the house and a person was shot and killed who was trying to break in. The memb

 1.6- Strength for Your Journey                   Habakkuk 3:16-19                              Lisa Samra     Hinds Feet on High Places, a classic allegory of the Christian life, is based on         Habakkuk 3:19. The story follows the character Much-Afraid as she goes on a journey with the Shepherd. But, Much Afraid is scared so she asks the Shepherd to carry her.     The Shepherd kindly replies, “I could carry you all the way up to the High Places myself, instead of leaving you to climb there. But if I did, you would never be able to develop hinds’ feet, and become my companion and go where I go.”     Much-Afraid echoes the questions of the Old Testament prophet Habakkuk (and if I’m honest, my questions too): “Why is my journey difficult?”     Habakkuk lived in Judah in the late seventh century BC before the Israelites were taken into exile. The prophet found himself in a society that overlooked social injustice and was immobilized by the fear of imminent invasion by the B

 1.5-Confession when done with honesty and sincerity always works to help. Today I was visiting with man at my health club and he told about a woman in  Africa who was very ill and needed prayer.  He called together some other men to come and pray over her and in the meeting they not only wanted to pray for her but anoint her with oil.  They also confessed their sins to each other and prayed for the entire group.  He told about how powerful the open honesty in the group had been for spiritual healing for all that were present.  The next morning he found out that the woman who had asked for prayer had been moved to heaven by Jesus the next morning.  His point was that regardless of the outcome being different from what they had hoped that there was spiritual healing for all in the meeting. James 5. 13  Is anyone among you suffering?  Then  he must pray. Is anyone cheerful? He is to sing praises.   14  Is anyone among you sick?  Then  he must call for the elders of the church and they ar

 1.4- My mom and dad maintained an account at the F. & M. State Bank in Ladonia Texas for many years. The bank President for years was Mr. Eastman. Dad told him that any check on his account could be signed by his children and dad would stand good for it. We could sign Wayne Wishard and under his name write by (Larry Wishard) and I could pay for any necessity. This made me feel totally secure in my dad's name. Jesus told His disciples that we could ask our Father in heaven for anything we need "in His name" and we would receive it. So we ask for our needs and wants in Jesus name and we receive what we need or something even better. Christmas was a time I would ask for a ball glove and with help of mom's Sears and Roebuck catalog i would get what i asked for. Merry Christmas. John 15. 7  If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.  

 1.3- Mary was engaged to Joseph but was a pure maiden or virgin. She became pregnant even though as she said that the had not known a man. It was revealed to her that the Holy Spirit would come upon her and the power of the Highest God would overshadow her and the Holy One would be born from her womb would be called the Son of God. How could this be? A maiden who had not known a man would be pregnant and bear a child. How could this be? Nothing is impossible with God. And so He was born 2021 years ago and his body laid in a manger. Merry Christmas. Luke 1. 26  Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth,   27  to a virgin  [ r ] engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the  [ s ] descendants of David; and the virgin’s name was  [ t ] Mary.   28  And coming in, he said to her, “Greetings,  [ u ] favored one! The Lord  [ v ] is  with you.”   29  But she was very perplexed at  this  statement, and kept pondering what kind of salutati

 1.2 We enjoyed a special time during Christmas day to be with our daughter, Amy. We were able to talk to several other family members who came by and checked in by phone. It is common to refer to "my kids" or "my grandkids" and in reality they are not mine. They belong to God and they belong to themselves as adults and I should have no "ownership" of them except their love and respect for me leads them to partner with me as much as possible. The next major story after Jesus birth is when he decided to separate from the family and engage in discussion with the teachers in the temple. When they found him it is interesting that Mary said to him, "Why have you treated us this way?" Letting a twelve year old separate from his parents for learning may seem irresponsible to some, but this is the family that God chose for his own son. The fact is that my children are not mine to own and possess and smother with my engagement. They are to be train