Refreshing Our Spirits With Scripture

Day of Year: 25 Date: 1.25.14 Jesus Reading (Ten Minutes): Matthew 8.28-34 + Rest of New Testament: Acts 13.1-43 +Psalm of the Day: Psalm 20 +Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 1.33-35 +Rest of Old Testament: Exodus 3,4 Favorite Verse: Matthew 8. 28  When He came to the other side into the country of the Gadarenes, two men who were demon-possessed met Him as they were coming out of the tombs. They were so extremely violent that no one could pass by that way. Thought for the day: When people are violent they become isolated.  The more isolated we are the more extreme our actions become.  One of the parents from Newtown Conn reflected that she wondered if she or others in town had missed chances to reach out to the killer or his family.

Day of Year: 24 Date: 1.24.14 Jesus Reading (Ten Minutes): Matthew 8.18-27 + Rest of New Testament: Acts 12.20-25 +Psalm of the Day: Psalm 19.7-14 +Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 3.29-32 +Rest of Old Testament: Exodus 1,2 Favorite Verse: Matthew 8. 26  He *said to them, “Why are you [ w ] afraid, you men of little faith?” Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and [ x ] it became perfectly calm. Thought for the day: Jesus is the teacher and friend who constantly is pushing us to have faith in Him. He is in charge of all things including the storms of our life.  Because growth is normal I heard a phrase I like.  The storm is the norm.  Expect the storm to help you grow in maturity with Jesus.

Day of Year: 23 Date: 1.23.14 Jesus Reading (Ten Minutes): Matthew 8.14-17 + Rest of New Testament: Acts 12.1-19 +Psalm of the Day: Psalm 19.-6 +Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 3.27,28 +Rest of Old Testament: Genesis 49,50 Favorite Verse: Matthew 8. 15  He touched her hand, and the fever left her; and she got up and [ r ] waited on Him. 17  This was to fulfill what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet: “ He Himself took our infirmities and [ s ] carried away our diseases .” Thought for the day: Jesus is the spiritual friend who runs in when others might be afraid to come to help us.  He is unafraid of being infected by us because He is a doctor of soul and body.  His presence gives us hope to overcome our sickness.

Day of Year: 22 Date: 1.22.14 Jesus Reading (Ten Minutes): Matthew 8.1-13 + Rest of New Testament:  Acts 11.19-30 +Psalm of the Day: Psalm 18.32-50 +Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 3.25,26 +Rest of Old Testament: Genesis 47,48 Favorite Verse: Matthew 8. 3  Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. Thought for the day:  Jesus teaches that He is the perfect reflection of God.  On place He said that if you have seen Him you had seen the Father.  Jesus was willing to cleanse and heal people.  The wonderful thing about having a friendship with Jesus is that He is more willing to help us than we are willing to be helped.  He is as close as your heart to provide a turn around when you desire it.

Yosef Tulu, a follower of Jesus was killed in Garland Texas today, 1.21.14,   at a, 7-11. A woman on the radio said that she was in a down spirit one day and went into the store crying.   He went around the counter and gave her comfort and pointed her to Jesus and encouraged her to get to know Him.   This lady credited him for his witness leading her to know Jesus. Police say a masked person shot and killed a clerk at a Garland 7-Eleven during a robbery early Tuesday morning. According to police, a call came in at 3:35 a.m. after a delivery man discovered the clerk's body behind the counter of the 7-Eleven location at 2509 Firewheel Parkway. Police later identified the victim as 31-year-old Yosef Tulu, of Dallas. As seen on video recovered from store surveillance cameras, the robber was wearing a mask or bag and carrying a rifle with a scope as he or she entered the store.   The person then robbed Tulu before opening fire and fatally shooting the cle...

Day of Year: 21 Date: 1.21.14 Jesus Reading (Ten Minutes): Matthew 7.21-29 + Rest of New Testament: Acts 11.1-18 +Psalm of the Day: Psalm 18 +Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 3.19-24 +Rest of Old Testament: Genesis 45,46 Favorite Verse: Matthew 7. 24  “Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and [ o ] acts on them, [ p ] may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25  And the rain fell, and the [ q ] floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. Thought for the day: Life is build ton our actions, not our intentions.  "The road to hell is paved with good intentions".  It is our action on a daily basis that shape our lives.  What action could you take today that would transform your family?  Determine to be loving and kind to them regardless of your circumstances.  

Day of Year: 20 Date: 1.20.14 Jesus Reading (Ten Minutes): Matthew 7.13-23 + Rest of New Testament: Acts 10.34-48 +Psalm of the Day: Psalm 17. +Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 3.13-18 +Rest of Old Testament: Genesis 43,44 Favorite Verse: Matthew 7. 17  So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. 18  A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. Thought for the day: Culture eats strategy for breakfast.  Fruit comes from the root.  Do what you've always done and you'll get what you always got.  Insanity is thinking that you can keep doing the same thing and get a different result.  The heart drives the behavior.  Only God can change the heart and He does so by His amazing grace. 

Day of Year: 19 Date: 1.19.14 Jesus Reading (Ten Minutes): Matthew 7.7-12 + Rest of New Testament: Acts 10.23-33 +Psalm of the Day: Psalm 16 +Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 3.11-12 +Rest of Old Testament: Genesis 41,42 Favorite Verse: Matthew 7. 12  “In everything, therefore, [ i ] treat people the same way you want [ j ] them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets. Thought for the day: We have the power to set up the attitudes of the people around us.  We allow our hearts to be open to the grace and mercy of God and pass it on and it sets a tone to our life.  Others treat us the way we treat them.  A good ethic is to ask ourselves how would our group be if everyone did things like I do.  What if everyone came late?  What if everyone depended upon others to do the work?    

Day of Year: 18 Date: 1.18.14 Jesus Reading (Ten Minutes): Matthew 7.1-6 + Rest of New Testament: Acts 10.1-23 +Psalm of the Day: Psalm 15 +Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 3.9,10 +Rest of Old Testament: Genesis 39,40 Favorite Verse: Matthew 7. 7  “ Do not judge so that you will not be judged. Thought for the day:  God knows the past challenges we have been through.  Others do not.  God knows the secrets of our hearts.  Others do not.  Jesus says strongly and clearly for us to not make final judgments about people.  He instructed us earlier not to call people names such as "fool" or "brainless"  or "Idiot".  All people are made in the image of God.  How we treat others is how they will treat us.

Day of Year: 17 Date: 1.17.14 Jesus Reading (Ten Minutes): Matthew 6.25-34 + Rest of New Testament: Acts 9.32-43 +Psalm of the Day: Psalm 14 +Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 3.9,10 +Rest of Old Testament: Genesis 37, 38 Favorite Verse: Matthew 6. 25  “ For this reason I say to you, [ n ] do not be worried about your [ o ] life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Thought for the day:  Do not be worried.  That's a clear command of Jesus.  Do not be anxious.  Entrust everything to God every day and let Him take care of it.  

Day of Year: 16 Date: 1.16.14 Jesus Reading (Ten Minutes): Matthew 6.16-24 + Rest of New Testament: Acts 9.19b-31 +Psalm of the Day: Psalm 16 +Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 3.5,6 +Rest of Old Testament: Genesis 33,34 Favorite Verse: Matthew 6. 21  for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Thought for the day:  Where your treasure is there is much thought.  Much thought can lead the attitude.  The attitude can lead the body.  The body will lead the heart.  What is your priority in life?  Is it your God?  Is it your family?  Is it money?  These will be seen and known by the reflective person.  Jesus said put your treasure where you want your heart to be.

Day of Year: 15 Date: 1.15.14 Jesus Reading (Ten Minutes): Matthew 6.1-15 + Rest of New Testament:  Acts 9.1-19 +Psalm of the Day: Psalm 12 +Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 3.1-4 +Rest of Old Testament: Genesis 31,32 Favorite Verse: Matthew 6.12-15 12  ‘And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13  ‘And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from [ f ] evil. [ g ] [ For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.’ ] 14  For if you forgive [ h ] others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15  But if you do not forgive [ i ] others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions. Thought for the day: Each day I need a ton of forgiveness from God for I fall far short of the mark of being all I can be.  I ask for forgiveness with a sincere heart. God gives it to me.  On a good day I pass it on to others as I have received it.  The nex...

Day of Year: 14 Date: 1.14.14 Jesus Reading (Ten Minutes): Matthew 5.21-48 + Rest of New Testament: Acts 8.25-40 +Psalm of the Day: Psalm 11. +Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 2.21-22 +Rest of Old Testament: Genesis 29,30 Favorite Verse: Matthew 5.43-48 43  “ You have heard that it was said, ‘ You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44  But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45  so that you may [ ap ] be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46  For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47  If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others ? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48  Therefore [ aq ] you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Thought for the day:  I saw...

Day of Year: 13 Date: 1.13.14 Jesus Reading (Ten Minutes): Matthew 5.13-20 + Rest of New Testament: Acts 8.4-24 +Psalm of the Day: Psalm 10.12-18 +Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 2.16-20 +Rest of Old Testament: Genesis 26, 27 Favorite Verse: Matthew 5.13 13  “ You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how [ e ] can it be made salty again ? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men. Thought for the day:  Want to know the person who can make your year a year of amazing impact and success?  It is yourself filled with the spirit of Jesus.  You.  That word in the greek I am told has double emphasis by its tense and position in the sentence and the context.  

“Too often when a discussion is dominated by questions of How? We risk overvaluing what is practical and doable and postpone the questions of purpose and collective well-being ?” ACU Today, Fall/Winter, P. 25, Quoting Peter Block, The Answer to How is Yes: Acting on What Matters

“Never miss a good chance to shut up.” Robert Gates on CBS Sunday Morning

Day of Year: 12 Date: 1.12.14 Jesus Reading (Ten Minutes): Matthew 5.1-12 + Rest of New Testament: Acts 8.1-3 +Psalm of the Day: Psalm 10.1-11 +Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 2.12-15 +Rest of Old Testament: Genesis 24, 25 Favorite Verse: Matthew 5.8 8  “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Thought for the day:  Many years ago a Russian astronaut who was reputed to be an atheist said that he looked for God on a space walk and didn't see him.  Billy Graham responded, "Take of that space suit and you will see him."   Another man said the man didn't see God because he didn't have the right equipment, a pure heart.

Day of Year: 11 Date: 1.11.14 Jesus Reading (Ten Minutes): Matthew 4.23-25 + Rest of New Testament: Acts 7.59-60 +Psalm of the Day: Psalm 9.7-20 +Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 2.9-11 +Rest of Old Testament: Genesis 22, 23 Favorite Verse: Matthew 4.24 24  The news about Him spread throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all who were ill, those suffering with various diseases and pains, demoniacs, [ l ] epileptics, paralytics; and He healed them. Thought for the day: When the student is ready the teacher will appear.  As long as we think we are healthy and okay and don't need Jesus, then we don't seek Him with desperation.  If we recognize our blindness and spiritual need, then Jesus is all over the place.  I have been blessed to travel 14 time zones from North Richland Hills and find that people there were worshipping Jesus with the same love for healing that the sincere people are here in my town.

Day of Year: 10 Date: 1.10.14 Jesus Reading (Ten Minutes): Matthew 4.18-22 + Rest of New Testament: Acts 7 +Psalm of the Day: Psalm 9.1-6 +Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 2.6-8 +Rest of Old Testament: Genesis 20,21 Favorite Verse: Matthew 4.19 19  And He *said to them, “ [ h ] Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Thought for the day:  Jesus never met a person He didn't love.

There are things in this world that can make us very weary: Giving instructions to people. Teaching. Preaching. Hard questions. Helping blind, lame, hearing deficient people. Helping the marginalized of society. Giving good news to poor people. Being strong-minded in the face of a weak-minded culture. Having no security in our home environment. Marching to the beat of Jesus’ rather than the world. Being criticized when standing with Jesus’ way.  Fierce conversations are necessary . Working out of our own sin struggles. Staying friendly with tax collectors. Denouncing sin.  Fierce conversations are necessary . Challenging people to change before it is too late.  Fierce conversations are necessary . These are some things that disciples of Jesus will be doing with Him and for Him. We get weary. What to do? Praise God as our Father and Lord of heaven and earth. Thank God that the wise and intelligent people ...