Refreshing Our Spirits With Scripture

 11.27- When you are weary and tired and burdened turn to Jesus and if you don't know Him yet then turn to the most loving person you know well. Michael Gerson died yesterday. He was a gifted thinker and writer and worker with George W. Bush as a speech writer. He helped write the words of comfort for our country after the 911 tragedy. He dealt with Parkinson and cancer and deep depression. He said that one person truly caring about you can bless a deeply depressed person. He knew Jesus as His guide in life. Near the end he said he hoped his life and writings would cause someone to give that man Jesus another chance. If you are able to run to Jesus run If you are able to walk to Jesus walk If you are able to crawl to Jesus crawl If you can only fall on Jesus fall on Him. I seen this close up and I am sure just like Michael Gerson you will not be disappointed. Isaiah 40 28  Do you not know?      Have you not heard? The  Lord  is the everlasting...

 11.26- Providence. It's a cemetery where my maternal grandparents are buried in the Bartley Woods community. "Providence" When I got to the health club this morning I received an encouraging call from a beloved cousin just checking on me. During that a minister friend who was willing to work with me on training some new ministers. In the aquatic river a friend talks and listens regarding how his wonderful wife is "providing" guidance and support during his 84th year. He said we need to stay as healthy as we can but ultimately when our work is finished we must leave our worn bodies here at a cemetery and God provides a place in paradise for our souls to go and be with Jesus. Not a bad name for a respectful place for the Graves of our beloved family. Thank God for one those burials that didn't have a body. The circumstances at that burial place has changed everything.. At the burial place of Jesus on Sunday morning His tomb was empty. This is good news and...

 11.25- This week i reading a story that mindfulness and meditation is more effective at relieving anxiety than the anxiety prescriptions being given by doctors. If you have faith in our Father heaven then reading Psalm 118 will pour peace into your heart. It reminds us of who He is. Good. Has unfailing love for His children Hears our cries Allows us to live in a spacious place Is with us so there is no need to fear Wins over those who attack his children He lives forever but His enemies don't He Is our helper To praise Him brings peace. For about five thousand years men and women have been speaking about God and some of these things have been written down. I have known that many children of God don't read the Psalms. Some tell me the Bible is just too boring. There once was a man who was quite cynical and critical who was touring an art museum with an experienced guide. The critical man said, "These paintings don't look like classic paintings to me." The guide re...

 11.24- A North Texas Thanksgiving Thanksgiving 22 is coming together for us with one big change being that Sheila is directing the tradition from heaven now with our friend Jesus making sure everything is okay. Our kids, grandkids and cousins are coming together to celebrate our new normal life. Life without a family of love sounds extremely painful to me. I have had times when I was rebellious and didn’t want to live according to our family standards of grace, mercy and forgiveness. I would just run away and live my own life without being bothered by their opinions. Something would come into my mind that I would miss the love of my family that I absorbed on our best days together. Thanksgiving had the effect of drawing me back into love instead of isolation. Mom and dad worked at raising, chickens, hogs and cattle along with a big garden with potatoes, onions, radishes, tomatoes, purple hull peas, green beans, pickles, watermelons and cantaloupe to name a few. Mom and dad bot...

 11.24- Generally, bad things in my mouth do not disappear without the grace and mercy of God. I got into problem this morning that almost messed up my day. I was near my 'frigerator and had some things come out that I didn't want to come out. I have needed to carry a bag of bread or a bag of chips and my hands are full and I might carry something light in my mouth. I have been cautioned don't use you mouth that way. When I read Jesus He says the same. Speak up when you should. Never be ashamed of the words of Jesus. Stand up for the powerless. Be careful with your words. This stuff that came out of my refrigerator was trying to mess up my fridge and my floor so I grabbed these hard items and stuck them in my mouth. I moved these items from the kitchen to a table and this afternoon they had disappeared. It was hardened water. I wanted 20 cubes and the fridge spit out 22. Soon the extra two in my mouth disappeared. Late in the afternoon the 20 also had been transformed. ...

 11.23- Do not fear trying new things. I read that Thomas Edison said he had learned not to fear failure. He said he failed his way to inventing the light bulb. On this cold morning I resisted getting out to do some shopping. Once I got going I had one thing after another to keep me going. Plenty of carts, well stocked shelves, three women from a church shopping for poor children having joyful time. One customer was getting something I hadn't bought before. I asked her about it and she highly recommended it. Everyone seemed happy and helpful. As I checked out, the customer in front of me insisted on helping me unload my cart. Everything since I rolled out of bed and got on all my winter clothing pushed me to not shrink back. Those who work with people to coach them forward are refreshed to know that one of the favorite phrases of Jesus is "fear not." The blessings of growth in service go to those who don't shrink back. Trust God and leave the outcome with Him. Luk...

 11.22- Thankful today for trust and freedom given to me in my work. On the farm and ranch work dad allowed me to work alone driving pickups and tractors with confidence I could do things without his direct involvement. In the grocery store work the store owner, Bill Agnew, trusted me to run the store and take care of thousands of dollars of cash. In being a teacher, coach and school bus driver I was trusted by parents with their children. I had freedom to come up with teaching the whole student. Heart. Soul. Mind. Body. Nothing honored my heart more than God entrusting me to teach His children by teaching and writing. He wrote through James that those who taught His word to His children would be under heavy consequences if they didn't do it responsibly. In the last ten years i have tried to write a daily devotional thought for my social media friends. This a great trust also. It is only by the grace and mercy of God that I have been given this freedom, trust and opportunity and o...

 11.21- Children are the greatest. They should be protected from harm. If they are hurt or abused or even ignored by their parents they will not be all they could have been if they had been protected and cherished. Jesus was very loving toward them. This led him to say that for those who would harm them, it would better if they were thrown into the sea with a big weight tied to their neck. Why this extreme statement? Because it sets up a chain of horrible pain and destruction in that person and others they are responsible for protecting. How can this be overcome? Jesus also taught that his followers are to overcome evil with good. Grace, mercy and peace flows from God to the worst of people. Then they become ambassadors for forgiveness and reconciliation between people who have hurt each other. This good work has been going on for 2022 years. Matthew 18. 18  At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2  ...