Refreshing Our Spirits With Scripture

 4.2- When God created humans did He know the cost of creating them with freedom of choice? Yes. He knew. Love forced is not love. Robotic relationship is no relationship. Adam and Eve had a perfect parent, God. Yet their son murdered his brother. The rescue planned before the foundation of world would be for Jesus to be born and to be the Savior of the world. We will soon celebrate the reality that the cross is not the end. Easter hope is communicated to me by thess roses. 1 Peter 2. 19  For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God.   20  But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God.   21  To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. 22  “He committed no sin,  ...

 4.1- My business partners have become friends. My financial advisors have worked for me and with me before I ever paid them, after I paid them and some never let me pay them. It was not about the money but about friends helping friends and God provided the support when needed and beyond the need. Matthew 24. 36  “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, [ f ]  but only the Father.   37  As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.   38  For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark;   39  and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.   40  Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left.   41  Two women will be grinding with a hand...

 3.31= It's the little things that make a big difference. I remember when I would visit my sister in Abilene and I was driving home to Denver I would of a little practice she had of giving us a little "treat of the week" as we left her home. It might be special color markers or a colorful set of sticky notes. I left the home of The Snyders and four boys washed my feet. Used foot cream on my feet. One was in my home three weeks ago and I remembered it with such joy. That was 40 years ago. Jesus said "Love each other. This the sign we are His. It's the little things. John 13. 13  It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. 2  The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus.   3  Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under ...

 3.30- Every year I live come to believe even more that one of the most important qualities of a good family life is "trust". When people make promises they don't keep there is a loss of trust. All of us fail, so we must then confess that we dropped the ball and honesty and openess and some measure of trust can be regained. When someone in the family will not take responsibility for their failures and mistakes and disloyalty there can be little to no trust. Openess and being upfront and staying with the truth builds trust stronger in our relationships if we are genuinely sorry and make concrete changes. The only way God can work with any of us is by helping us to get up from any failure and try again. Trust isn't build by fake and phony, but be starting again to be more trustworthy in the future. Tomorrow I hope to trust God's grace and mercy and be more trustworthy with my family and friends than I have ever been before. 2 Corinthians 4 4  This is the way  ...

 3.29 Happy 90 th Birthday to my amazing brother in law and love, Bill Luttrell. I have chosen certain men to be example for me in how to live my life.   Bill Luttrell is one of those men who has shown me the way.   From the time I was about eight years old he was a fun force of energy.   When I was 19 he invited me to live with him while I was in college. From the day he conducted my wedding ceremony until today he has been a steady example of what a man can be for the good of his family, community and himself. He sees the good in those around him and brings they best out in them. He is competitive and loves winning, but can lose graciously. He can play hard and work hard without being obsessed with either. He can cook up a meal on the cut barrel homemade grill and top it off with homemade ice cream. He runs with wise, competent men. He uplifts broken men. He supports and honors his parents without making them his ultimate guide in life. He is a...

 3.28- There are friends I have who keep my heart from being troubled because they are secure and make me feel secure. I was conversing with one of them yesterday. He has survived cancer and many other ups and downs in his life. He seems completely at peace with his medical condition being dealt with in some way that is a positive outcome for him. He doesn't give the ultimate choices in his life to other people. They advise him but he prays to God then goes his own way. He expects something new and important to happen every week of his life. He simply refuses to give in to the negative news in the world. He makes time to help those who want his help regardless if they are a clerk in a retail store or an engineer with several degrees. He depends upon the maker of the universe to make a way for him. So glad he's been a steady learning partner for 46 years.. John 14. 14  “Do not let your heart be troubled;  [ a ] believe in God, believe also in Me.   2  In My Fathe...

 3.27- I saw a man on Utube saying that he had gone through a change in his heart. He had for years been trying to argue with people so they would see things his way. He described visiting a revival service he attended. He walked in and there were people from all parts of the country,all races, all socio economic levels who were worshipping God together in love for God and each other. He came home and decided to shut down his argumentative web site. Wow! The power of love. I saw two boys about four who were friends running to meet each other and hugging each other. This video makes me weep at the possibility of love to transform our world. John 13 31  Therefore when he had left, Jesus *said,  “Now  [ n ] is the Son of Man glorified, and God  [ o ] is glorified in Him;   32  [ p ] if God is glorified in Him, God will also glorify Him in Himself, and will glorify Him immediately.   33  Little children, I am  still ...