Refreshing Our Spirits With Scripture

10.29- Wednesday I met Louis at the North Richland Hills Centre where Sheila and I work out.  After my walk against the river current I went to the hot tub.  After 15 minutes I was getting out and Louis came to sit on the edge of the tub and stretch before getting in.  I had seen him come to the river in a walker, but now he only uses a cane. As I got out he wanted to tell me his story.  "I should be dead except for prayer and God.  I had diabetes so bad that I couldn't move.  Finally, my family took me to the ER then the hospital.  The doctors examined me and I was so bad they gave me three to six months to live in 2015.  They then sent me to a therapy place and a man came to a gathering for people who needed prayer.  He said there was somone there who had been given 3 to 6 months to live.  He turned his head looking over his shoulder to see if it was someone else.  Finally he stood up.  The man said, we will pray and perh...

10.28- I think tomorrow, 10.28.17, is the 13th year since my brother, Reed, moved to be with the Lord in heaven. I still miss him. He could see the inconsistencies in life in the real world and yet continued to live a life of love and integrity. He handled the mistakes in those around him with forgiveness, grace and mercy. I have experienced him constantly overlooking some of my own personality rough edges and at other times knock them off when he could and keep on being close to me. He had a strong respect for good Christian leaders. My grandfather Woods, Dad, Gene’s dad, My Uncle Bob Wishard and Alan Sowders as well as other men in our family and Gene’s family. These were some of his men of example, yet he did not follow them in their weak areas. He was a faithful worker with Dallas Power and Light for many years and retired from there. This required for him to learn that the boss was not always right, but he was always the boss. He felt joy in his ...

10.27 Limit the Damage of Difficult Days By Receiving Mercy Each Day Practice what you preach. As a person who is supposed to be an example to your family we fail.   We receive the mercy of God and start over each day.   This mercy can transform us over time into habits that are actually quite attractive.   Then moments of difficulty those we love will think about who they could speak to who might be able to help.   They will call us.   We will tell them of the mercy of God that has helped us in difficult days and they will be turned to the mercy of God to help them. Matthew 23. 23  Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: 2  “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. 3  So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. 4  They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people’s shoulders, but they themselve...

10.25- "The most important thing I learned is not to second guess myself. I started with idea, then followed through on it. I had to learn to let my mistakes be setbacks, not defeats. The setbacks then became stepping stones." Jeff Wishard, Domestic, P. 117 Hebrews 5. 8  Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered .

10.26. Life with God is a banquet.   He wants us all to come and enjoy life with Him.   He keeps inviting.   Some who are prideful, arrogant and conceited reject the invitation of God’s son, Jesus.   They might be too committed to their own religion.   They might be too rich and powerful to submit to God.   Does God limit Himself to the people who are religious? No. The invitation goes out to the street people, the tax collectors and prostitutes.   Some of them believe the good news that God loves them and has provided a way for their repentance and forgiveness.   They too come to the banquet of God’s mercy and its transforming power. There are some who are too self-righteousness and arrogant to accept these.   These are dressed in their own self pride and they are not dressed in His righteousness alone.   These must be thrown out of the banquet because it is only for those who want to focus on Jesus righteousness. God inv...

10.25- Those who are precious to God are important to Satan. (Bill Alexander) I was tempted by Satan this week and got off mission. I was focusing too much on what I had done or could do compared to what God has done and can do. This is off track and has kept me from my best joy in God. I am thankful for God’s mercy and a fresh start every day. Matthew 4. 4  Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted [ a ] by the devil. 2  After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3  The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” 4  Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ [ b ] ” 5  Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6  “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: “‘He will comm...