Refreshing Our Spirits With Scripture

 4.21- Have you heard people speak of people born on first or second base? What does it mean? If you were born into a family that cherished all children regardless of their strengths and weaknesses then you were born on first. These believe children are great. They believe in angels helping to protect children. If you were born into a family that gave freedom to choose your own path without manipulation when you became an adult and yet forgave you when you came home then you were born on second base. These communities have an atmosphere of grace, mercy and peace as the air they breathe. If you we born in a country where freedom of religion and literacy was an expected norm then you were born on third base. These nations have people dying to get in the country rather than dying to get out of the country. If your community and school was filled with teachers and coaches who believed in the God of love and believed in great potential for all students then you were born on fourth base....

 4.20- Hinder. To delay impede or prevent. Today I am reminded that we should not hinder children in their trust in God. Also remove hindrances when we can. Be careful in removing hindrances that we don't create a greater problem. It's not the size of your faith in God that is important but the size of your God. Matthew 17 14  When they came to the crowd, a man approached Jesus and knelt before him.   15  “Lord, have mercy on my son,” he said. “He has seizures and is suffering greatly. He often falls into the fire or into the water.   16  I brought him to your disciples, but they could not heal him.” 17  “You unbelieving and perverse generation,”  Jesus replied,  “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me.”   18  Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed at that moment. 19  Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, “Why couldn’t we d...

 4.19- A life of compassion and mercy is a well lived life. Well done! This can be said at the end of a life of helping the sick, the poor, aliens and homeless. A life of service to others will happen only if one is unafraid of suffering for the purpose of helping others. Justice for Others Yourself totally engaged. This the life of joy. Try to save our life from suffering and pain. Miss the best kind of life. Matthew 16 21  From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. 22  Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!” 23  Jesus turned and said to Peter,  “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human c...

 4.18- Discipline. Do you like correction? The wise men of the ages have said that fools hate correction. By its nature it is unpleasant at the time, but over time it trains us to be the best we can be. I can't say I have enjoyed the trips to the woodshed, but usually I deserved more correction that I received. The people I have in my life who have been willing and able to give me strong and effective course correction are cherished friends. Proverbs 15. 10  Stern discipline awaits anyone who leaves the path;      the one who hates correction will die. 11  Death and Destruction [ a ]  lie open before the  Lord —      how much more do human hearts! 12  Mockers resent correction,      so they avoid the wise.

 4.17- I like pictures that reflect Sheila's life with our children and grandchildren. About two years ago Sheila began to experience an unusual amount of pain in her abdominal area. We went to see our doctor and began a journey into a different phase of our life. I learned so much about how to cope with pain from Sheila's life. Even her children didn't realize the extent of her pain with her ability to not grumble or complain. When you don't know some people personally you may think they have no heavy loads to bear. Get closer and you find out the peace and light heartedness are not without burdens but perhaps developed by them. Two years after that appointment I read from Oswald Chambers words. "If your burden is weighing on you just now, remember that no power on earth or in hell can defeat the Spirit of God inside a human spirit. To be born again in the Spirit is to gain an inner invincibility. Recall this to your mind whenever you find yourself beginning to gr...

 4.16- To not forgive someone is to block the flow of grace in your life. 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.

 4.15- What is true and what is right is the place to stand firm even if everyone is against us. As one of the patriots said just before the British killed him for his stance. "Do you have any regrets?" "Only that I just have one life to give for my country." This week I was honored to have a man in my home who was rejected by his family for following the ways of Jesus. His heart was filled with love for them and more than anything he wanted them to be blessed by God. Acts 4. 5  The next day the rulers, the elders and the teachers of the law met in Jerusalem.   6  Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and others of the high priest’s family.   7  They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?” 8  Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people!   9  If we are being called to account toda...