Refreshing Our Spirits With Scripture

 1.12.25- I have noticed that some of the most severe poverty cases are the ones who care the most for others. In one of the poorest areas of Denver there is a couple who pray for the hungry, find food banks and find a way to get food to them and they often don't have a car that works. Those us who are rich may be poor of compassion. Those who have little overflow with generous hearts. The teacher said,"Blessed are the poor, theirs is the kingdom of heaven." James 1. 9  Now the brother  or sister  of humble  circumstances  is to glory in his high position;   10  but the rich person  is to glory  in his  [ j ] humiliation, because like  [ k ] flowering grass he will pass away.   11  For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; and its flower falls off and the beauty of its appearance is destroyed; so also the rich person, in the midst of his pursuits, will die out.

1.11.25 I got reports this week of amazingly positive family meetings over the holiday season. I heard that what made them joyful was the freedom, respect and genuine appreciation the family members had for each other. If you have a family that gives you grace and space and celebrates your advances in life, then you are. Blessed. They provide a trapeze safety net without smothering you. John 2 2  On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there;   2  and both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding.   3  When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus *said to Him, “They have no wine.”   4  And Jesus *said to her,  “ [ a ] What  business  do you have with Me, woman? My hour has not yet come.”   5  His mother *said to the servants, “Whatever He tells you, do it.”   6  Now there were six stone waterpots standing there for the Jewish...

 1.10.25- Allister Begg came from Scotland to America to help The teacher who said the greatest of blessings comes to those who are "poor in spirit." He mentioned he grew up being taught to not be overly impressed with himself. As a young boy He said he went into a candy store and several adults in the line in front and behind him. One of the adults said, "Young man you are handsome. You can go far in life." As the mature woman clerk weighed, wrapped and handed the candy said to him she said, "Young man flattery is like perfume. Sniff it don't drink it." Philippians 2 2  Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any  [ a ] affection and compassion,   2  make my joy complete  [ b ] by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.   3  Do nothing  [ c ] from  [ d ] selfishness or empty conceit, but with hu...

 1.9.25- Bet your life on... You being blessed. The question we need to ask today are we willing to walk the path of God's blessing. Bet on God calling us to be salt and light in this dark world. Bet on suffering in this world. Bet on the road less traveled to be the way for us. The hard good way. The long way is the short cut to character. So be steadfast in it. God is our Father in heaven. Be careful to pray and listen to the answer and obey him. Hold God and His red letters path tightly. Hold all other things loosely. 2 Corinthians 4 4  Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we received mercy, we do not lose heart,   2  but we have renounced the things hidden because of shame, not walking in trickery nor distorting the word of God, but by the open proclamation of the truth commending ourselves to every person’s conscience in the sight of God.   3  And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled  [ a ] to...

 1.8.25- Prayer is not a substitute for doing something. It is doing something. John 15 John 15 New American Standard Bible Jesus Is the Vine—Followers Are Branches 15  “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.   2  Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every  branch  that bears fruit, He  [ a ] prunes it so that it may bear more fruit.   3  You are already  [ b ] clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.   4  Remain in Me,  [ c ] and I in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit  [ d ] of itself  [ e ] but must remain in the vine, so neither  can  you unless you remain in Me.   5  I am the vine, you are the branches; the one who remains in Me, and I in him  [ f ] bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.   6  If anyone does not remain in Me, he is thrown away like a branch and dries up; and they gather ...

 1.7.25- Worth is not set by performance, but personhood. False idenity set by this world based conditions on which we had no choice. Nationality, gender, socio economic class, skin color, True idenity is a human created in the image of God who gave his son for all. Genesis 1 26  Then God said, “ [ ai ] Let Us make mankind in Our image, according to Our likeness; and  [ aj ] let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the livestock and over all the earth, and over every crawling thing that crawls on the earth.”   27  So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.   28  God blessed them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that  [ ak ] moves on the earth.”   29  Then God said, “Behold...

1.6.25- I was given certain freedoms from birth. Freedom from worry about not having a loving family, community and school as I grew up. There so many loving people in my surroundings i wish all people could have a fun loving, kind bunch to be around growing up.. Most recently I received some "limitations" or "freedoms" depending on how you look at it. Since 10.13.23 i mostly move by scooter or wheel chair. It's in the way you sincerely describe it. It gave me secure movement without much pain. Freedom. My new close friend, Felix Stalls, was given to me about 10.1.1980. He was a very wise Christian businessman. He had survived heart attacks and cancer and many other things including service in WWII. He was not false or shallow pollyanna in any way but he said "my 'problems' are what I call 'opportunities'." It's called "reframing'. A new freedom of movement has come in the form of a new, lighter scooter made smaller and ...