Refreshing Our Spirits With Scripture

 4.23- The deepest healing we get from God is a fear based life. God’s son Jesus often said to those in a storm, “Don’t fear.” “Come to me.” When he interacted with people with all kind of problems He started by healing their inner spiritual and emotional problems. “I forgive you” came before “Rise up and walk.” Physical progress must be preceded by spiritual and emotional progress. The greatest fear people have is the fear of death and the evil one uses that fear to limit what people will do to stand up for those who are not free to stand up for themselves. I heard a story that Abraham Lincoln once visited a slave auction and decided he would try to set one slave free by buying her. When she was bought he told her, "You are free. You can go where you want and say what you want to and do what you want." She said to him, “If I am free to go where I want, I want to go with you.” Here is where love motivation comes forth because fear motivation has been overcome by l...

 4.22- The beginning documents of our nation refer to a ""Creator." He created the universe and He can create a path forward for each of His children He created. We are tempted to get distracted with our interests rather than God's purposes. His plan for us is to stretch us and restore us to our "best we can be selves". When we first connect with God He orders our lives. Then we move into chaos and disorder and we move into a desert of being tempted by the evil one. Then we cry out to our Father in heaven and He re-orders our lives for higher purposes. A pilot who nearly died of a heart attack said of his pride, "Brokeness of the old you is the key to the new you."Once Jesus had a friend who got off track and Jesus said to him "get out of my sight Satan because you are not setting your mind on God's purposes but man's interest". I receive God's sweet sounding grace for a fresh start. Today I am stretched and restored to my ...

 4.21- There is a right way to get things done. How do you get a big furnace through a narrow attic opening? Very carefully. My new furnace was installed on Tuesday and Wednesday. New A/C also. House 30 years old and this needed to be done. I have conversations with the salesman/ crew chief. Me:"That furnace gas. I want it installed 100% Correctly." Some jobs have no place for sloppy thinking sloppy work. A gas furnace install in my house is a narrow path. Yesterday morning I had a strong self, narrow way conversation with the I'm too tired to do this weak self. The narrow way. Get up. Go to the men's fellowship group at 6am. Come home by grocery store. Unload and welcome the inspector. Rest a bit go the dentist. Once I got rolling it worked great. Good fun with friends. Good report from the dentist. Furnace and A/C are smelly but no explosions. Lord help me with narrow road. Choosing the road less traveled has made all the difference. Matthew 7. 13  “Enter through...

 4.20- I'm a part of a group that I like to think of as overcomers. These people know that the joy of the Lord is their strength. They don't say to themselves and others "we have to" ,but "we get to". This is not a word game and it isn't Pollyanna. As we think we speak and as we speak we do. As we do a lifestyle is built. The first person who comes to mind in this group is my aunt Doodie Phillips. I rejoice in thinking of her today. Lost her husband at 57. Major surgery at 60. Passed at 90 laughing all the way home. A total joy. Gratefulness is the key to a life full of genuine friends. What do you have to be thankful for today? Philippians 4. 4  Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!   5  Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.   6  Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.   7  And the peace of God, which transce...

 4.19- All worthwhile work has moments of chaos. With God's help we try to bring order and honor to our business partnerships. 2 Thesalonians 3. 6  In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers and sisters, to keep away from every believer who is idle and disruptive and does not live according to the teaching [ a ]  you received from us.   7  For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you,   8  nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you.   9  We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you to imitate.   10  For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.” 11  We hear that some among...

 4.18- I heard and I agree that apathy is our number one addiction. It keeps us from being sober and alert enough for effective prayer and work. It reminds me of the old joke. A business owner was interviewing an old, bored employee. "I'm not sure what our greatest problem is here ignorance or apathy, what do you think?" He replied quickly, "I don't know and I don't care." 2 Timothy 3 3  But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days.   2  People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,   3  without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good,   4  treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—   5  having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people. 6  They are the kind who worm their way into h...

 4.17- Careless words have negative consequences. Loving, kind words build people up. None preachs better than the ant and she says nothing. Matthew 12. 36  But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken.   37  For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”