Refreshing Our Spirits With Scripture

 11.3- We are surrounded by dark images right now. This world where we live the main thing people pursue is money, power, comfort and convenience. We like celebrity and fun, upbeat emotions. The fact is that to get money and power our eyes and ears are drawn to screens. Smart phones and television screens. Dark images of how horrible this world is. There was a man who worked in a cold, dreary, drippy wet basement. He lived and worked in times of war and death. He took his mind's eye to another place. I come to the garden alone. While the dew is still on the roses. The voice i hear falling on my ear The son of God discloses. He walks with me. He talks with me. He tells me I am his own. The joy we share as we visit there. None other has ever known. He speaks and the sound of his voice. Is so sweet that the birds hush their singing. And the melody that he gave to me Within my heart is ringing. I stayed in the garden with him. Though the night all around me is falling. But he bids me g

 11.2- Discipline. Habits. Getting up early to go slow and notice a sunrise. Linger on a walk as water reflects clouds and mountains and trees. Too busy to do all I can to cherish my spouse is too busy. No time for a breakfast to set up a day of positive thoughts and prayers for all my family is too busy. God's compassion and mercy is new every morning and I want to have that same compassion for every person who crosses my path today. I want to be still enough to notice God's love for his creatures every day. The sparrow is noticed by God and he will notice and respond to my cries for help. Help me slow down and take time to pray those three prayers. Please. Thank you. And Wow!

 11.1- Come. Four English letters. They set up such joy in my heart. Mom would get up on the first day of the week to cook fried chicken. Mashed potatoes. Gravy. Rolls. Tomatoes. Okra. Green beans. Apple or pecan pie or apple cobbler. She was going to use these four English letters. She was going to church in the summer under the tabernacle, sheet iron roofed shed or wooden church building across from the Oak Ridge cemetery for assembly, Sunday School, worship. After church she would say to a visiting preacher and other people, "Come over for lunch." In the evening service she would say her friends, "Come over for leftovers and let's play 42." Halloween. ""Come by and bring kids or grandkids I've got candy." Thanksgiving. To kids, grandkids, nephews, nieces and their friends. "When can yall come?" Christmas. Springbreak. Summer vacation. Any holiday. "Yall come when you can." Reminds me of a story of a father whose son had

 10.31- On burning bridges. When you leave a job voluntarily or you are "laid off" or "fired" and walked out of the building with security and a severance packet it would be good if you could avoid burning all the bridges it seems to me. Why? Just because someone doesn't believe in you as a business partner does not mean there is no way you might help each other in the future. Fisher men and women are very careful in catch and release situations. The hook is taken out carefully. They don't want to destroy a future of possible healthy growth. Disengaging in any kind of learning and growth partnership is delicate. I'm not perfect for all jobs and not all jobs, teams and bosses are a perfect fit for me. I'm growing and have new expectations for myself this year. My growth is too slow for some and too fast for others. In the future we might partner again. I have had the same Barber for 30 years in Denver. He went out of business once or twice. I moved t

 10.30- Clearing land. Tilling soil. Manure fertilizer. All is a part of reaping everything from peanuts to soybeans to porter tomatoes. Some do one part some the other but only God gives rain. God send your rain on the wicked and the righteous, (none of us is righteous all the time.) Thank you for your grace, mercy and peace to all of us and for peanut butter and salsa and rain we thank you in advance. Luke 13 13  Now on that very occasion there were some present who reported to Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had  [ de ] mixed with their sacrifices.   2  And Jesus responded and said to them,  “Do you think that these Galileans were  worse  sinners than all the  other  Galileans  just  because they have suffered this  fate ?   3  No, I tell you, but unless you  [ df ] repent, you will all likewise perish.   4  Or do you think that those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them were  worse   [ dg ] offenders than all the  other  people who live in Jerusalem?

 10.29- Charles Dickens in the novel, Tale of Two Cities writes of a look alike man who substituted himself to deliver another man to go and live with his family. He wanted to lay down his life for others. Certainly he wanted the man to enjoy his life. Shortly before the executions are due to begin, Carton puts his plan into effect and, with Barsad's reluctant assistance, obtains access to Darnay's prison cell. Carton intends to be executed in Darnay's place. He drugs Darnay and trades clothes with him, then has Barsad carry Darnay out to the carriage where Lorry and the family are expecting Carton. They flee to England with Darnay, who gradually regains consciousness during the journey. A quote from Dickens for the character who gave his life, "A day wasted on others is not wasted on one's self.” “There is prodigious strength in sorrow and despair.” I see a beautiful city and a brilliant people rising from this abyss. I see the lives for which I lay down my life,

 10.28- I spent Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday this week with policemen and teachers. What an honor. There is a significant minority of people who make a pledge and a vow the they will lay down their lives to serve and protect their community. Policemen and women, EMTs, and Firemen and women. Soldiers, men and women. These make a holy vow to lay down their life for yours. In addition we have teachers and coaches who invest their heart, soul and minds for their students. We need to thank God for them. Romans 13 13  Every  [ a ] person is to be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except  [ b ] from God, and those which exist are established by God.   2  Therefore  [ c ] whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves.   3  For rulers are not a cause of fear for  [ d ] good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have pra