Refreshing Our Spirits With Scripture

 10.9 There is a difference between being sorry you did something and sorry that you got caught. Genuine sorrow has these elements that can be seen. Earnestness and eagerness to clear something up. Indignation at how this has hurt people and dishonored God. Alarm that this happened and its impact on more people if not corrected. Longing to rebuild the relationship. Concern for how the hurt person is recovering. Readiness to see justice done. This is what true change of heart looks like. 2 Cor. 7 10  Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.   11  See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done. At every point you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter.   12  So even though I wrote to you, it was neither on account of...

 10.8- Here are principles that can give comfort to us from God. I admire people who are excellent at doing righteous acts that are done to honor Jesus and help people, but are done in secret so that no one knows who did it. Pray with a focus on “Our Father in heaven.” Pray short prayers that are not repetitious. Forgive everyone of anything as soon as possible. Let it not be obvious when you are fasting. Don’t store your treasures on earth. Have healthy eyes and a healthy heart and soul. Your can only have one master. Choose God not money as your master. Do not worry about food and clothing God provides for the birds and the flowers and you are more valuable than they are to Him. Worrying cannot add a single hour to your life. The pagans run after things but we seek first the Kingdom of God. One day at a time sweet Jesus since each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6. 25  “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will ...

 10.7- Mom raised me in a hyper-love environment. That has a lot of good built into it. I was the fourth and last in my family. A bonus baby they had not exactly planned and maybe that is why she focused on making me feel loved. She worked with me in the summer when I was out of school. She worked in the garden and I worked in the field and lunch was spent together, As the World Turns and then a nap and back to the field. Dad was away at grocery during the day and so we spent many hours working together. Early on his direction for me was tough love and discipline. Mom was so full of love and joy for her abundant life of love with family and friends. Later in life I adopted the kind of strong love from male role models. I admired my brother in law, Bill Luttrell, who knew how to work hard and play hard. My boss at the grocery store in college was Bill Agnew who was an athlete and tall and lanky and loved to have fun with me as we worked together. He showed me how to do thing...

 10.6- There is a joy I see in some people that blesses my life. They have it steadily each and every day. These people can have decay in their bones, yet rejoice. Facing national attacks and frustration. Their pantry may be empty. Their refrigeration have nothing there. Their job may not be going well. Their favorite pets may be ill. Their car on its last leg. Yet they rejoice that God is their Father in heaven. He is with them and they know it without a doubt. There is a verse written about 2500 years ago that I like. Habakkuk 3 7ff I heard and my heart pounded, my lips quivered at the sound; decay crept into my bones, and my legs trembled. Yet I will wait patiently for the day of calamity to come on the nation invading us. Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, ...

 10.5- What you focus on determines where you go, what you do and who you become. I was taught to get up each day and before you eat your breakfast you thank Your Father in heaven for your daily bread. This habit transforms your attitude about worry and anxiety. Jesus said look at the flowers, God clothes them and He will clothe you. When Peter was in a storm and looking at Jesus he could walk on the storm. When he looked at the wind he started to sink. If you fix your eyes on Jesus you will be drawn to imitate Him. He was busy each day helping the sick, discouraged, downcast, lame, blind and those being judged and condemned by the self righteous. On Wednesday of this week I went to my health club to help myself get stronger. As I was getting my walker out of car a lady said, "Can I help you?" I said, "I think I have it, but your offer means a lot." On Friday on the way into the club I was on the phone with a friend telling him how God had been helping our fami...

 10.4- My birthday. I was taught by my parents to be a person who loves your family and friends.  They taught this by their own example.  I am thankful I was born into my family.  They followed Jesus and did all they could to get us to imitate Him in the way He cared for people.  He reached out to sinful people who were lost and needed help.  He found people being judged and condemned by others and He forgave them their sins and gave them a fresh start.  This is the love of God I was taught at the church where I was taken when I was one month old and one of the congregations I still attend online or in person when I can. As we live in this world and reach to help people lost in this world it is true that we need protection from the evil one because their is danger. Thank God if you were born into a family that was following Jesus. Luke 15. 15  Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus.   2  But the P...

 10.3- The most powerful workers for God are quick to say that it was not really them working, but the grace of God working in them. 1 Corinthians 15. 15  Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand.   2  By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. 3  For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance [ a ] : that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,   4  that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,   5  and that he appeared to Cephas, [ b ]  and then to the Twelve.   6  After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.   7  Then...