Refreshing Our Spirits With Scripture

 6.4- Taking the credit. Taking the blame. In a Manhattan church where they focus on outreach to non believers, the minister noticed a lady slipping in unnoticed just after the service began. She was dressed up like an executive. She would slip out just before service ended but one day the minister wanted meet her and he succeeded. He asked her how she had to this church. "I'm not a Christian and I don't really understand much of what's going on here. I am an executive with a major media company. I made a big mistake at work that should have gotten me fired. When the matter came before the board my boss told them it was his fault for his lack of training and supervision. Because of his credibility and integrity he was not fired because the social capital he had with them. I went into his office to thank him for taking this blame. He said forget it because it was nothing. Later i brought it up a couple of times and he did the same. I peristed with my inquiry. 'Why...

 6.3- Escape keys. Have you ever had a child or workman or even yourself who accidently locked a bathroom door and closed it. I usually stash an escape key over the door. When we catch ourselves having made a mistake in our moral standards we are given several different important escape keys. The Dallas Stars ice hockey team had their team leader make such an major violation only 3 minutes into the game that he was bounced from the game and suspended for two more games. He took an opponent's hockey stick and pressed it into his neck. He hurt himself and his team for three games. Unfortunately he didn't own it and do a mesa culpa. He tried to cover it up and made an excuse. The keys to recovery have been taught by wise men for 2,000 years plus. Admit you are a human who messed up. Blessed to not have seriously hurt the guy. Ask forgiveness of God, the player, your team and be humble and seek forgivess. Get on to receive forgiveness, enjoy it and forgive others as you have bee...

 6.2- Kindness sets up positive movement. Many of us have experienced kindness from God. Loving family of origin. Good health. Plenty of good food, clean water. Good Skills to use on a good job. Excellent schooling. Citizenship in a rich, free nation. Literacy. Our house. Our car. Our communication tools. Telephone. Carry in our pocket a library full of information. Do we notice the kindness of God? "Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.." Romans 2. Or do you show contempt for  the  riches  of  his  kindness , forbearance and patience, not realizing that  God ’s  kindness  is intended to lead you to repentance?

 6.1- My heart hurts today for all the lost children and adults who were killed in Uvalde, Texas a year ago today. Could the killer have been touched in a positive way in the prior day, week or month by someone? Restoring a broken relationship is like resetting a broken bone. It must be done with gentleness, care and sensitivity. I have noticed doctors and nurses are constantly asking us to tell them if the pain gets too intense and they will slow down or take a break. Our creator teaches us over the last 2,000 years to be gentle and humble with each other as we work to restore the best kind of bonds among our family and friends. Looking down on someone with pride and a judgemental spirit makes walls not doors. So often I have fallen short in this area and learned to go back and try in a different way. Galations 6. 6  Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also...

 5.31- There are people who are so broken and insecure that they try to make themselves look better by making others look worse. There are others who look for the good in others, even their enemies. They do not pass along slander and gossip. They do not say about others what they would not want said about themselves. They limit the public exposure of negative and embarrassing things. They believe that those who are not against us are for us. These are peacemakers and bridgebuilders. Thank God for these special people. Luke 9. While everyone was marveling at all that Jesus did, he said to his disciples,   44  “Listen carefully to what I am about to tell you: The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men.”   45  But they did not understand what this meant. It was hidden from them, so that they did not grasp it, and they were afraid to ask him about it. 46  An argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the greates...

 5,30- Very often the best response to friends in hard spots is prayer and silence and more silence and more prayer. Job 2. 11  When Job’s three friends, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite, heard about all the troubles that had come upon him, they set out from their homes and met together by agreement to go and sympathize with him and comfort him.   12  When they saw him from a distance, they could hardly recognize him; they began to weep aloud, and they tore their robes and sprinkled dust on their heads.   13  Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights. No one said a word to him, because they saw how great his suffering was.

 5.29- Precious in the sight of God is the strong finish of His children in the race of life. Larger than life people do unsual things in a memorable way. How many people have you met who could ride a bike backwards at age 75? I knew of one. Bill Luttrell. Here he showing my grandson, Jared, and other bike experts how to do it. All reactions: 9 Carol Wishard, Gail Phillips Newman and 7 others Psalm 116.15 15  Precious in the sight of the  Lord      is the death of his faithful servants.