Refreshing Our Spirits With Scripture

 10.22- Life long learners. There is a tendency  for our arrogance to tell us that we know it all and don't need to learn any more. There was a man named Apollos who had a great love for Jesus, yet he still needed to keep learning.  Those of you who are disciples of Jesus who read lessons and scriptures online are helping yourself to be more more like what God has in mind for us.  We we cease to be open to learn we begin to die spiritually. Acts 18. 18  Paul stayed on in Corinth for some time. Then he left the brothers and sisters and sailed for Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila. Before he sailed, he had his hair cut off at Cenchreae because of a vow he had taken.   19  They arrived at Ephesus, where Paul left Priscilla and Aquila. He himself went into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews.   20  When they asked him to spend more time with them, he declined.   21  But as he left, he promised, “I ...

 10.21- Forgiveness means that you treat others the say you have been treated by God.  If you are disciple of Jesus it means that you have been forgiven of your sins by God.  This releases you of a burden of guilt and shame before a Holy God. Jesus taught that the basis of a good prayer life is being a forgiving person.  Forgive our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. To forgive others is not to allow them to continue to hurt you or others.  We must stand up for justice for others and ourselves as well. With true forgiveness we release things over to God to take care of.  We do not carry resentment or bitterness which makes us an unpleasant person.  Bitterness kills us.  It is emotional poison.   Jesus told a great story to illustrate the problem. Matthew 18. 21  Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” 22  Jesus answere...

 10.20- We must have the courage to tell the truth.  This is protection for the good of all concerned.  There is a temptation to want to have our ears tickled, but it doesn't work.  Guidance and  health mean that we tell each other the truth.  We hear the truth and communicate it to each other. Then we colaborate and come to a decision there some power in the decision that is arrived at based on truth.  The end does not justify the means.  We must be people who pursue the truth and stay committed to it. Matthew 18. 15  “If your brother or sister [ b ]  sins, [ c ]  go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over.   16  But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ [ d ]   17  If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse t...

 10.19- Monday I saw a couple of little children playing in the pool where I was working out my legs.  One was about 3 and he was busy doing everything he could do that was against the rules.  He wanted to jump over the barrier from the shallow to the deep.  He wanted to slide down the slide in the wrong way.  He was quickly covering every exciting adventure he could. The other child was about eight months.  He was with an older guy whom I assumed was his grandad.  He was smiling ear to ear as this was his first outing in water.  He would hit the water and splash and laugh.  He would kick his legs to make himself into a motor boat.  The older guy was smiling from ear to ear.  It was fun to watch. When Jesus was asked who was the greatest he didn't say the kings or their soldiers.  He didn't say the religious scholars or their servants.  He didn't say the carpenters or wine makers.  Farmers, shepherds or shopkeepers. H...

 10.18- For humans to refuse to oppress others and work for freedom of self governance is not easy. Humans tend to want to yoke and force and oppress. The Jewish religion was given to this world by our Creator to tutor us to Jesus. The Jews had a yoke that they could not bear. Jesus yoke is an easy yoke because He is gentle and humble and leads with truth and grace. His yoke is easy and His burden is light at least I have found it so in my 76 years. Men Of wisdom have said that self governance is not easy and requires vigilance. Yet in another way it is the easiest yoke. Matthew 11. 28  “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.   29  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.   30  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Acts 15 10  Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of Gentiles a yoke that neithe...

 10.17- It is good to have friends who help you through life storms by getting your mind off problems by taking you fishing on a lake. It is even more simple when a friend takes you for a slow walk around a lake. Helping you to focus on your blessings instead of your burdens. It is the best to have friend who in a spiritual storm walks on the lake. Grabs you when you're sinking and carries you all the way to the shore. Matthew 14. 22  Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd.   23  After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone,   24  and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it. 25  Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake.   26  When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrif...