Refreshing Our Spirits With Scripture

 3.12- These two ladies, Sheila Wishard and Peggy Arnwine are in heaven now but in 1976 they were women of faith helping their husband's, Jerry Arnwine and me help the church reach out to spread the love of God to Mesquite, Texas.(Thanks to Ray and Sandy Wallace for this pic.) Self talk. My family are those who love God and love people and love me. I think this because I choose be thoughtful and discerning about who I refer to as family. If someone does evil to me I will think of them as a danger to my mental, spiritual and emotional well being. "They" not "we." My words shape my destiny. If I think of strangers as dangers instead of potential helpers or future business partners this shapes my choices, consequences and outcomes. Jesus said, "I will judge you by your own words." If you say your master is harsh, unfair and reaping where he has not sown then life will go that way for you. If you say my life involves my boss and ultimately even God as empo...

 3.11- God created humans to need to have productive work. When you have a good job then it good to be thankful for it and never give up on being the best you can be. Pray about each big challenge. As we give each project to prayer and listening for God's best answer, He often solves the problem in ways we would not have imagined. Genesis 2. 15  Then the  Lord  God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to cultivate it and tend it.   Luke 5. 5  Now it happened that while the crowd was pressing around Him and listening to the word of God, He was standing by the lake of Gennesaret;   2  and He saw two boats lying at the edge of the lake; but the fishermen had gotten out of them and were washing their nets.   3  And He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little  distance  from the land. And He sat down and  continued  teaching the crowds from the boat.   4 ...

 3.10- It is not healthy to dwell on hate and bitterness regarding what someone has done to us. It is better to move on and help someone who is ready to work with us to partner and cooperate for the benefit of both. This releases us to dwell on thoughts of overcoming with God's help and the joy beyond the intense challenge. Luke 17 17  Now He said to His disciples,  “It is inevitable that  [ a ] stumbling blocks come, but woe to one through whom they come!   2  It is better for him if a millstone is hung around his neck and he  [ b ] is thrown into the sea, than that he may cause one of these little ones to  [ c ] sin.   3  [ d ] Be on your guard! If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.   4  And if he sins against you seven times a day, and returns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.” 5  The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!”   6  B...

 3.10- Momma Woods, my grandmother, would swing and rock for hours in silence. Not reading. Not watching TV, or listening to radio or holding a smart phone. Not knitting, Just a faraway look. Papa had been gone a long time. Be still and know...(that you and I are not God) God is God. Reflect... Live a heavenly lifestyle as Jesus did. Best life for here and hereafter. Sitting in that swind she could see fruit trees from the front porch. Papa had harvested peaches, but had beehives there also.. 90 year old John wrote of the future for a 90 year old child of God. "On each side of the river stood the tree of life bearing twelve crops of fruit bearing fruit every month and the leaves are for the healing of the nations." She had see the hurt of nations at war. WWI and WW2 and the hurt of the loss of a baby. She knew of worship hymns about heaven. "This world is not my home I'm just passing through." Revelation 22. 22  And he showed me a river of the water of life,...

 3.9- Kissing over and over. Hugging with joy. Celebration. Fancy dinner. What is the context? There must be the smell of flowers. Must be love and marriage. Big wedding. No. The smell is pig manure. A young Jewish boy ran away from home and sqandered 1/3 rd of the family estate so fed hogs and finally he came to his senses and returned home. Quick, Get the best clothing, shoes, ring and feast for my boy came home. We got to party. My son was dead and is alive. This why God eats and drinks with us sinners. This is Jesus explanation of why he hangs out with any and all sinners who will have him over. When foolish wasteful sinners and stingy, judgemental elder brothers do a 180 and get in step with The Son and the Father. This makes the angels in heaven happy and Father and Son and Spirit are laughing out loud and so am I on my good days. Luke 15 15  Now all the tax collectors and  [ a ] sinners were coming near  [ b ] Jesus to listen to Him.   2  And bo...

 3.8- Better is a friend who is near than a brother far away. When you need help proximity is important for some jobs. I was at Walmart and my battery finally died after seven years. Since I use a walker or a cane it is critical to have a plan A, B, C, D and F. Now realize this is a first world problem. Over half the world does not have a car. Plan A call Jeff and get his suggestions. Plan B see if customers at Walmart would show kindness to a handicapped stranger. The first couple out the door did so. Jumped and crank. -get frozen food home leaving the car running. -go to brand X, they couldn't -go to Auto Zone, they could, old battery out, new in while sitting in my car. (20 minutes) -by lunch place -home safely. My son would have come from downtown Fort Worth if needed. I had many family members, friends and brothers and sisters who would have helped rescue me. My tow service would have come in an hour. But the love and concern from strangers was so beautiful and Auto Zone'...