Refreshing Our Spirits With Scripture

11.25- The holiday season is a great reminder to be thankful and content with the blessings we have been given. The company parties and family gatherings remind us all of what is truly important in life.  Greed and family division over things is not worth the losses of love. The best life is to go to work and do you part to serve well those around you there.  To waste your life and make excuses for bad behavior is to have regrets. I thank God for the reminders to notice the neighbors and servants who have helped us during the year. Luke 12. 13  Now someone  [ j ] in the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the  family  inheritance with me.”   14  But He said to him,  “ [ k ] You there—who appointed Me a judge or arbitrator over  the two of  you?”   15  But He said to them,  “Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not  even  when one is affluent does his life consist o...

 11.24- A key theme in the Lord's Prayer is forgiveness.  This time of the year there are many reunions of families and it is good that we have been taught to be forgiving with each other by Jesus. Regarding prayer we are reminded in this reading also to be persistent and focused. Remember that God our Father in heaven is a loving Father and wants to give us good things that bless us now and forever. Luke 11. 11  It happened that while  [ a ] Jesus was praying in a certain place, when He had finished, one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John also taught his disciples.”   2  And He said to them,  “When you pray, say: ‘ [ b ] Father,  [ c ] hallowed be Your name. [ d ] Your kingdom come. 3  Give us each day our  [ e ] daily bread. 4  And forgive us our sins, For we ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And do not lead us into temptation.’” 5  And He said to them,  “ [...

 11.23- There has never been an ungrateful person on speaking terms with true happiness. Being spiritually alive includes being grateful. I have seen people who willing to put up with multiple set backs and remain contented and happy because they made up their mind to be that way. Our crew for Thanksgiving this year included the memories of recent loses of Sheila, Gene Wishard and Bill Luttrell but we had much to be grateful for. Alan, Charmaine, Austin Wishard joined our crew. Jeff, Donna, Amy, Jared and his friend, Sharon. We missed Jordan who was working in Atlanta. All reactions: 27 Tom Wishard, Candy Gilmore and 25 others

 11.22 I heard about a man who move into a new house and the first interaction he had with the neighbor was a bit rugged. The neighbor said, "Are you the new homeowner?" "Yes, the bank and myself." "Good. I will see you in court because the fence is over on my property three feet." "No problem the man said, I will move the fence an extra three feet over to my side and that will be good for you." "Okay, he said." The man said they had been good neighbors ever since. “He drew a circle that shut me out- Heretic, rebel, a thing to flout. But love and I had the wit to win: We drew a circle and took him In!” ― Edwin Markham Like Comment Share Luke 6. 27  “But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,   28  bless those who curse you, pray for those who are abusive to you.   29  Whoever hits you on the cheek, offer him the other also; and whoever takes away your  [ r ] cloak, do not withhold your  [ s ] tunic fro...

 11.21- Grateful for old friends. 1967 was when I first met a couple of my best friends as a married couple. Marion and Ann Lewis. They have worked hard to help people in their community in a variety of ways. Lew is an expert with eye glasses. Ann is an expert teacher. Both are expert friends of Sheila and me. 56 years of friendship. We lived in Abilene, Greenville,Texas and they came to visit us. We lived in Denver and Noth Richland Hills Texas. They visited us in our home. We visited their home in Stephenville, Texas. We did have great fun watching the Cowboys and playing 42. During that time I can say they were gracious and extended mercy to me when I was too busy to be the best kind of friend. It is mercy and grace and peace shared that makes a good long friendship. For this I am thankful this year for long term friends. 2 Timothy 1. 15  You are aware of the fact that all who are in  [ j ] Asia turned away from me, among whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes.  ...

 11.20- Family love. Our designer placed a hunger in our hearts for family love. I'm 77 now and 70+ of my Thanksgiving days have been experienced in three houses in North Texas. All three houses have smelled intense smells of turkey, ham or BBQ. There was also the fragrance of family love as a gift from our Father in heaven. Grateful for health and jobs and food produced by sunshine, rain and hard working people from farm to table. Psalm 68 Psalm 68:6 God makes a home for  the   lonely ; He leads out  the  prisoners into prosperity, Only  the  rebellious live in parched lands. Acts 14 8  In Lystra a man was sitting whose feet were incapacitated.  He had been  disabled from his mother’s womb, and had never walked.   9  This man was listening to Paul as he spoke.  Paul  looked at him intently and saw that he had faith to be  [ f ] made well,   10  and he said with a loud voice, “Stand uprig...