Refreshing Our Spirits With Scripture

 1.7- The best teachers point us to following our own well trained conscience instead of trying to please other people. People can be so subject to change, but our creator is the same yesterday, today and forever. People can be swayed by shallow performance but such actions are not Transformational to our own heart and soul. Do not do good things to impress people. It is wasted energy. Matthew 6. 6  “Take care not to practice your righteousness in the sight of people, to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven. 2  “So when you  [ a ] give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, so that they will be praised by people. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.   3  But when you  [ b ] give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,   4  so that your charitable giving will be in s...

1.6- The greatest gift given during the Christmas season. Reconciliation. Seeking forgiveness. Apologizing. Saying and meaning it. "I am sorry." There are discussions of differences which could be improved with these words "Let me listen better to how you want it to be and why? I will think and pray for you to have this or something better. Okay?" Christmas reminds me that God gave his best for me. I hope to give him more in 2024. Matthew 5. 23  Therefore, if you are presenting your  [ n ] offering at the altar, and there you remember that your brother has something against you,   24  leave your  [ o ] offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your  [ p ] offering.   25  [ q ] Come to good terms with your accuser quickly, while you are with him on the way  to court , so that your accuser will not hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and you will not b...

 1.5- The writer of some words written about 4,000 years ago said that he was cherished by his mother. That is a great feeling. Some who read this post will have a memory of being cherished by their spouse. It builds up the feeling of well being like nothing else. It gives courage for our battles in life. It is more than being accepted or liked, much more. It is to be celebrated as a completely unique human being. It is a part of unstoppable resilience. It a wonderful gift you can give to a few people. Proverbs 4. 3  When I was a son to my father, Tender and the only son in the sight of my mother,

1.4- The work of teaching a better way of life to the Huaorani Indians in Equador was expensive. Five missionaries were killed in the attempt to teach them a better way of life than killing outsiders and even their own. Later a couple of the wives of the men killed went back to them and taught them a better way. Life can be improved. Children can learn from their parents and be even better parents in many ways than their own parents. If you were raised by loving parents you can build on this. You can build on love to more love. You can also overcome evil with good. The choice is ours to choose the narrow way and the road less travel. I hope to spread new ways of love to each person I meet today and I hope you do as well. Joseph said to his brothers who did bad things to him. "You meant it for evil but God meant it for good." Gensis 50 18  Then his brothers also came and fell down before him and said, “Behold, we are your servants.”   19  But Joseph said to them, “...

 1.3- There is a book called tears, lamentatations. That may sound sad but there are tears of joy. There is the blessing of God wiping away the tears of his children. In the book of lamentations there is the promise not just each year getting a new dose of mercy better each month. Better each week better still each day. God's mercy is new every morning. So today I receive again a new dose of mercy, grace and peace from God and thankful we do not have to hide from God but rather run to him and receive new mercy.daily. May his mercy overflow your heart today and bless others. Lamentations 3. 22  [ k ] The  Lord ’ s  acts of mercy indeed do not end, For His compassions do not fail. 23  They  are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. 24  “The  Lord  is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I  [ l ] wait for Him.” 25  The  Lord  is good to those who  [ m ] await Him, To the  [ n ] person  ...

2.2- Women and men who lead large families or organizations are people who know how to handle setbacks They take ownership of their part in the failure. They bring it with humility and honesty move forward to have a fresh start and do better next time. I like the phrase, “Relax God’s got this.” If you are going through something you would call a set back and you are a child of God, “Relax.” Yesterday, as I was at the place that cuts my hair I was reading some sports stories on my phone that the Baltimore Ravens had lost to the Kansas City chiefs because the high pressure game that they didn’t perform as they had during the regular season. I’m approaching some skin surgery on Monday, 2.5/24 and my experienced friends tell me to “Relax, God is the great healer and he will use the Doctors and nurses to help you and fix your basal skill cancer in ear.” I was helped yesterday by my barber to my chair because my legs weren’t working real well. The clients, all over 70, made me laugh at...

 1.2- Today is the 50th Anniversary of the blessing that Sheila and I enjoyed in being involved in full time ministry of writing and teaching starting at Mesquite Texas in 1974. What a delight this has been and still is. People from teens and earlier have questions about what happens to human beings after death. Because of God's grace and the support of family and friends I have been able to think and write about a way of life that includes our counselor telling us that we should not let our heart be troubled. Over 5,000 years ago a man's death was described this way, He taught his last lessons to his sons. He drew up his feet into his bed. He breathed his last and was gathered to his people. Jews and Christians have the hope and promise that for the children of God we move from here on earth to a "better place." We who teach in the church have good news that always give hope to everyone regardless of their age. If you are spreading this hope in your family, communi...

 1.1- My hopes for the New Year are that we who believe that the design of the universe speaks of a designer. Our designer has built human beings with eternity their hearts. The human imagination includes a place for belief that the cirlce of life continues each year. Last year a number of my friends moved from this old earth, but also this year some of my family and friends welcomed new babies into their families. There were people who got married and started families. There were people who were engaged to be married and start a family in the future. I had people close to me who started new jobs and new companies and began new books and screenplays. The new year contains that longing in the human heart to expand the joy and love that is possible on this planet. When the love of God is spread in the family day after day great things can happen. Yes, my hope is living and placed in God being a good God. I plan to look for good things happening every day and spread the message i...

 12.31- 1947 first on old earth. 1952 first back to school, many still with me on social media 1965 first as high school grad. 1967 first with Sheila on old earth with me. 1968 first with my 100% belief in Jesus promise of new earth someday. 1968 first married to Sheila. 1969 first as a teacher and coach and college grad. 1970 first as a "minister" Dodd City, Greenville, Waxachie, Mesquite, Abilene, North Richland Hills Texas. Denver, Colorado. 1970 first as a dad. 1994 first home computer. 1999 first as grandad. 2012 first with all four of our parents taken from old earth. 2012 first with daily positive post online. 2021 first with meetings conducted by Zoom. 2023 first with Sheila taken from old earth. 2024 first with mobility scooter as main way to move about.my home. All my new years I have been surrounded by and supported by the love of family and friends. Loved to laugh, play, work, learn, teach, counsel and encourages. Of online social media supporters and encouragers....