Refreshing Our Spirits With Scripture

 8.27- Remember. Who helped me yesterday? What were the principles successful people live by? How are they different from unsuccessful people? Do I need to get and keep more things or should I share more generously with those in need? Can I push forward for more quality in my work? Do I receive gracious words and pass them along? Do I keep joy as my core attitude in all circumstances? Remember that human beings don't get to choose our circumstances but we can choose our reaction to circumstances. Proverbs 16 24  Pleasant words are a honeycomb, Sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.

 8.26- Intimacy. Intimacy with your creator. Great writers have always had the ability to connect with the deepest realities of life. David who wrote out his pain was like that. (Psalm 38,39) A part of that life is that you can see the valley of the shadow of death before you. Your days fly by and God says His life is that a day is as a thousand years. Days and life has flown by. Where did those 77 years go? You go into that Doctor’s office and you suspect after a couple of months of testing and pain that the news is not good. You have had pain in your guts and pain in your back. You want to be able to dress and go to the grocery store and when you get dressed you are out of strength. You haven’t eaten in a week and you haven’t had a glass of water in a day. You have always been delivered through every crisis and come out on the other side feeling closer to God than you did before. But this is different. The Dr.normally says, “We will do this or that and we will overcome this or...

 8.25- Work. Hard jobs. They help people. They protect people from the elements like rain, wind and hunger. They heal the broken and provide rest for body and soul. Once we get in mid career we start dreaming of "retirement". Most of our heros didn't do their greatest work in "retirement". The best view of "retirement" might be that now we can be free to serve our family and friends more effectively. This includes a great focus on good nutrition and exercise for our own self care. I was reminded yesterday that I needed to be careful about a few things that are traps. Lack of excellence, sloth (lazines) (apathy) and poor health discipline. I am thankful for this stage of life and family and friends who push me to be the best I can be. That is the way to be free of all regrets. 2 Timothy 4. 6  For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come.   7  I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have...

 8.24- For years wise men have noticed that people weren't really finished when they had been defeated. It's not how many times you get knocked down but how many times you get back up. Get up one more time and you win. Who is the most resilient? Abraham Lincoln is our number one or two greatest presidents. Defeated many times in many elections. Do you have a goal to be the best neighbor you can be? Best teacher. Student. Parent. Spouse.Best encourager. Try again this week. Saying from 3,000 years ago. "A righteous person falls seven times and rises again." Proverbs 24. 16  For a righteous person falls seven times and rises again, But the wicked stumble in  time of  disaster.

8,23- There is a time to be silent and a time to speak. As my dad got into his eighties he seemed to be a bit quieter than in earlier days. He always had a funny story to give into any discussion. I would bring an impossible situation to him later in his life and he would be much slower with an answer. Maye an "I don't know." He was especially this way regarding the answer to family life problems. If you want good answers about how to have a perfect marriage ask a single person. If you want to know how to raise kids asks someone who has none. None is so blind as someone who thinks they can see everything. Lord help us to be humble and slow to speak and quick to hear. Ecclesiastes 3. 3  There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every matter under heaven— 2  A time to give birth and a time to die; A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted. 3  A time to kill and a time to heal; A time to tear down and a time to build up. ...

 8.22- Mother's tough love. Once when Sheila and I had decided to move to Denver and I thought it was a door of opportunity opened by God. My mom said." I wish you would work here in Texas. We have just as much need of preachers and ministers here as in Denver." There is a saying, "You don't have to get seasick to be a missionary." Who needs to hear about the mercy of God." Maybe the person across the breakfast table. Maybe the man you shave. Maybe the lady whose face you put make up on. Maybe the person at your Cafe or coffee shop. Mom was right good can be done right where you are. Bloom where you are planted. Matthew 23 15  “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you travel around on sea and land to make one  [ h ] proselyte; and when he becomes  one , you  [ i ] make him twice as much a son of  [ j ] hell as yourselves.

 8.21 What is it? It flows from the God of love. It is aligned with a forgiving heart. It is the core trait of the best co-workers. It heals. It soothes. It makes people, families and companies great. What is it? Gentleness. Galations 6. 6  Brothers  and sisters , even if a person is caught in any wrongdoing, you who are spiritual are to restore such a person in a spirit of gentleness;  each one  looking to yourself, so that you are not tempted as well.   2  Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.   3  For if anyone thinks that he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.