Refreshing Our Spirits With Scripture

 5.7- Bethany places are places are outposts of a heaven. There you find friends who have chosen you and you chose them back. This is a place of peace and hyper-encouragement. Here is a taste of heaven and a lanch point toward heaven. All here have real scars of real life that have been healed by the grace of God. Acts 1. 10  They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them.   11  “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”

 5.6- Presence. Connection. Encouragement. These set up a healing relationship that overcomes the brokeness in this world. Ephesians 4. 29  Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.   30  And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.   31  Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.   32  Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

 5.5 I like to think of heaven as a perfect banquet. All things are ready and the guests can come and enjoy a great feast without anything to interrupt the joy and the party is never over. Those present are dressed in the clothing that is comfortable and appropriate. They have been invited by the greatest teacher who ever lived. He has prepared everything to make it possible for anyone who wants to come and enjoy His grace, mercy and peace to be there with Him forever. Those present are hoping that others who cannot come just now will be there later. Good music. Good food. No pain and regrets of anything. In the last few days I have had on my mind the subject of the table. The teacher said that heaven was like a banquet and we should invite any and all who want to come. Sheila and my brother in law Bill believed this was next for them and I do too. This picture reminded me of that this morning. John 14 14  “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God...

 5.4- In the back right of this picture is a table that was the place where Bill Luttrell taught me about how to live a life of joy. Sheila and I sat at this table and and started our relationship and celebrated our 50th Anniversary with he and Hazanne. Eating food from barrel cooked chicken to green, turtle shaped pancakes to eggs and bacon and homemade ice cream. Sitting here he told stories that were so funny and so true. I’m 76 and he’s been making me laugh for at least 66 of those years. Bill was moved to heaven early this morning according to a post by his son Mike on Facebook. I rejoice in Bill’s victory. His place at the table will be missed, but he has another table in heaven now which is a better place. Thank God for Bill Luttrell and his 90 plus years of blessing all of his family and friends. ! Cor. 13 13  If I speak in the tongues [ a ]  of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.   2  If I have th...

 5.3- Joyfully prepared and always ready to share whatever to meet the need. In 97 or 98 Sheila and I were graced with a fun visit from Bill and Hazanne Luttrell, my brother in law and sister, to our home in Denver. It was always time to plan some special food. Sheila planned to get our the waffle iron and whip up some waffles. Everything out and ready to mix and suddenly a problem. Half the milk we needed was not there. Sheila said, “Larry, would you run to the store and get some milk.” Hazanne quickly said, “No need, we have a gallon of cold milk in our car.” They had driven up from Abilene and I was surprised she carried these cold supplies. She went to the car and added her milk to our eggs and flour and we had good waffles, syrup, butter, eggs and bacon. We played 42 and told stories and laughed at life together. We had hard things we had gone through together and more difficult moments would come, but these two knew that the “Joy of the Lord” is our strength. On a l...

 5.2- I love the effects of all good schools, Home. Private and Public. Through the years I have been blessed to know some amazing school teachers, coaches and administrators that work in the public schools. The good ones are teaching students before they are teaching subjects. The past two weeks I had contact with people from five school districts and the problems are all the same. Without the involvement of good school workers our society simply will not be glued together as it should. Last week I spoke with an administrator who had gone to a home with children who were dealing with lice. He went there because he cares asbout children. Then he helps a staff member get into rehab then he goes and buys some food for a child who is nearly homeless. Where do we get these heroes.? Some religious folks want to deal only with middle class, insured, hermetically sealed "normal" families where there appears to be no "mess". Jesus was a teacher who came for the poor,...

 5.1- I find myself tempted to get overinvolved in regrets and guilt. A friend cautioned me recently that it is good to remember the good times you have had with family members in the past, but be careful when you have some regrets about how imperfect something was done. He said that can bring you down and that is not good. He reminded me that great men and women have said that they forget what is behind and move forward into that important work that is before them. The prayer of Reinhold Neibuhr can be a good help to us. God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, The courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. Philippans 3 12  Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.   13  Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is be...