Refreshing Our Spirits With Scripture

6.8- You must do the thing which you think you cannot do. Eleanor Roosevelt Luke 9. 23  Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. 24  For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it.

6.7-Would you live with ease? Do what you ought and not what you please. Benjamin Franklin Luke 9. 23  Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves  Philippians 2. 3  Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4  not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

6.6-I have nothing to offer but blood, sweat and tears. Winston Churchill Luke 9. 21  Jesus strictly warned them not to tell this to anyone. 22  And he said, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.”

6.5- Why do Christians believe that Jesus is the Son of God? Because He said so. C. S. Lewis John 4. 25  The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” 26  Then Jesus declared, “I, the one speaking to you—I am he.” Luke 9. 18  Once when Jesus was praying in private and his disciples were with him, he asked them, “Who do the crowds say I am?” 19  They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, that one of the prophets of long ago has come back to life.” 20  “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “God’s Messiah.”

6.4-Though you live near a forest.  Do not waste firewood. Chinese Proverb Luke 9. 17  They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.

6.3-Organization is a means of multiplying the strength of an individual. Peter Drucker Luke 9. But he said to his disciples, “Have them sit down in groups of about fifty each.” Exodus 18. 13  The next day Moses took his seat to serve as judge for the people, and they stood around him from morning till evening. 14  When his father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he said, “What is this you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit as judge, while all these people stand around you from morning till evening?” 15  Moses answered him, “Because the people come to me to seek God’s will. 16  Whenever they have a dispute, it is brought to me, and I decide between the parties and inform them of God’s decrees and instructions.” 17  Moses’ father-in-law replied, “What you are doing is not good. 18  You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone. 19...

6.2-Don't be surprised if I give to the undeserving sinner for that is what God has done for me. Luke 9. 12  Late in the afternoon the Twelve came to him and said, “Send the crowd away so they can go to the surrounding villages and countryside and find food and lodging, because we are in a remote place here.” 13  He replied, “You give them something to eat.”

6.1- True compassion is more than feeding the hungry. It is teaching thankfulness and gratitude. It is organizing so that none are left out of opportunity. It is being an example of picking up the leftover after everyone is satisfied so there is food for tomorrow. "True compassion is more than flinging a coin to a beggar: it understands that an edifice that produces beggars needs restructuring." Martin Luther King Luke 9. 10  When the apostles returned, they reported to Jesus what they had done. Then he took them with him and they withdrew by themselves to a town called Bethsaida, 11  but the crowds learned about it and followed him. He welcomed them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who needed healing. 12  Late in the afternoon the Twelve came to him and said, “Send the crowd away so they can go to the surrounding villages and countryside and find food and lodging, because we are in a remote place here.” 13  He replie...

5.31- That stranger in the fire with you is God. Peter Gomes Luke 9. 18  Once when Jesus was praying in private and his disciples were with him, he asked them, “Who do the crowds say I am?” 19  They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, that one of the prophets of long ago has come back to life.” 20  “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “God’s Messiah.”

5.30-To have many friends you must have them think you love them.  The best way to have them to think this is to love them. Jeremy Bentham Luke 9. 10  When the apostles returned, they reported to Jesus what they had done. Then he took them with him and they withdrew by themselves to a town called Bethsaida, 11  but the crowds learned about it and followed him. He welcomed them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who needed healing. 12  Late in the afternoon the Twelve came to him and said, “Send the crowd away so they can go to the surrounding villages and countryside and find food and lodging, because we are in a remote place here.” 13  He replied, “You give them something to eat.” They answered, “We have only five loaves of bread and two fish—unless we go and buy food for all this crowd.” 14  (About five thousand men were there.) But he said to his disciples, “Have them sit down in groups of about fifty each.” 15...

5.29-Death is the ultimate disgrace and our ultimate victory. Luke 9. 7  Now Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was going on. And he was perplexed because some were saying that John had been raised from the dead, 8  others that Elijah had appeared, and still others that one of the prophets of long ago had come back to life. 9  But Herod said, “I beheaded John. Who, then, is this I hear such things about?” And he tried to see him.

5.28- Falsehood is a scorpion that will sting itself to death. Percy Shelly Luke 9. 5  If people do not welcome you, leave their town and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.” 6  So they set out and went from village to village, proclaiming the good news and healing people everywhere.

5.27- What it lies in our power to do, it lies in our power not to do. Aristotle Proverbs 23. 13  Do not withhold discipline from a child;      if you punish them with the rod, they will not die.   Hebrews 12. 4  In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5  And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says, “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline,      and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, 6  because the Lord disciplines the one he loves,      and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.” [ a ]

5.26- The final stage of healing is to get busy helping and healing others. Luke 9. 9  When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, 2  and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. 3  He told them: “Take nothing for the journey—no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra shirt. 4  Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that town. 5  If people do not welcome you, leave their town and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.” 6  So they set out and went from village to village, proclaiming the good news and healing people everywhere.

5.25- Is it possible for a hungry human to turn down food? Yes. 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 ] ” Yes, humans are not creatures of instinct.  They can say, "No" to food for a certain purpose.  Proverbs 23. When you sit to dine with a ruler,      note well what [ a ] is before you, 2  and put a knife to your throat      if you are given to gluttony. 3  Do not crave his delicacies,      for that food is deceptive.

5.24- Your Kingdom come, Your will be done. Jesus sets up a prayer which reminds us that we want God to be our King, but also that others would come to know God, not only as a Father, but the King of our lives.  The ultimate leader of our lives.  He created us and He knows how our life can work best.   It is not a place to be observed.  It is a heart. It is a heart totally surrendered to God. Matthew 6. 9  “This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10  your kingdom come, your will be done,      on earth as it is in heaven. 11  Give us today our daily bread. 12  And forgive us our debts,      as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13  And lead us not into temptation, [ a ]      but deliver us from the evil one. [ b ] ’

5.23- We want You name O God to be honored. I believe that Great prayer life comes out of desperation more than out of discipline. Psalm 42. Psalm 42 [ a ] [ b ] For the director of music. A maskil [ c ] of the Sons of Korah. 1  As the deer pants for streams of water,      so my soul pants for you, my God. 2  My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.      When can I go and meet with God? 3  My tears have been my food      day and night, while people say to me all day long,      “Where is your God?” 4  These things I remember      as I pour out my soul: how I used to go to the house of God      under the protection of the Mighty One [ d ] with shouts of joy and praise      among the festive throng. 5  Why, my soul, are you downcast?      Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God,...

5.22- Our Father in heaven. Jesus revealed that God is our Father.  If you are a follower of Jesus then you can be comforted in the thought of God as a Father. Matthew 6. 5  “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 6  But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7  And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8  Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 9  “This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10  your kingdom come, your will be done,      on earth as it is in heaven. 11  Give us toda...

5.21- The effect of receiving God's comfort. I feel so sorry for my friends who have lost a spouse after many years of a great marriage. I have been told by those who know that If you have deep grief and pain from a loss, spouse or child you have more than one option. You can do nothing and help no one and get worse or You can get up and use your remaining life on earth to get to know God and help comfort and encourage others. 3000 years ago a wise man said after losing a beloved son But now he is dead. Why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me.” 2 Corinthians 1. 3  Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4  who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 5  For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds thr...

5.20- Lord, At times today I have felt you were standing far away from me and my nation. I see arrogant politicians making laws that let the rich off lightly and imprison the oppressed. I see people proud of their lives instead of broken before you throne of grace. I see television ministers raising funds for their second Private Jet after a “talk with God.” I hear late night comedians blaspheme your name and get more and more prosperous. But the poor, honest, single parent mom holds down two jobs and her car breaks down. Our places of education must teach kids what is right and wrong without mentioning God. What is wrong is not politically correct. What is right is “hate speech”. Those who give money to elect representatives get tax relief. Those who try to vote meet impossible demands at the ballot box. Those of us who pray for you to show up feel you are far away. We are surrounded by people who laugh at us and say, “No one will ever do us harm.” Me...