Refreshing Our Spirits With Scripture

7.20- 1Thessalonians 4. 11  and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, 12  so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.

7.19 Ephesians 6. 5  Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. 6  Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. 7  Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, 8  because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free. 9  And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him. Colossians 3. 22  Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. 23  Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, 24  since you ...

7.18- Good work ethics My dad was my first work boss. He cared. He worked six days a week at least 12 hours per day at two jobs.  He was a farmer and rancher and he was butcher or grocery store worker.  Some work was hard and intense and some was enjoyable, even fun. His motto was treat co-workers and customers they way you want to be treated.  Co-workers were family and customers were to be treated fairly. Here are some good Scriptures for workers: Matthew 11. 28  “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

7.17- Noon and tired.  It does happen.  40 minutes in the current against the river and I'm tired at 11.01am.  Still there are opportunities.  I met Lisa there with Sheila today.  She said she had bad back problems and had surgery to fix the back, but the surgeon cut something else.  Now she can't feel her feet.  That causes other problems and she is tired of this struggle, but with some exchanged smiles we tried to encourage her. Jesus is a friend who understands tired.  Are you ever sick and tired of being sick and tired?  Jesus is the best friend we could have. John 4. 4  Now he had to go through Samaria. 5  So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph. 6  Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon. 2 Corinthians 4. 16  Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasti...

7.16- Avoid Immorality Immorality kills. Turn to Jesus for a fresh start anytime you feel overcome with the wrong kind of thoughts and actions.  Turn to Him for a fresh start. Matthew 5. 8  Blessed are the pure in heart,      for they will see God. 27  “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ [ e ] 28  But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29  If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30  And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.   Proverbs 9. 13  Folly is an unruly woman;      she is simple and knows nothing. 14  She sits a...

7.15- When someone has done something bad to us there is a tendency to take our own revenge and this is a great danger to any Jesus follower.  We don't know all that God knows about the case.  He knows the beginning the middle and the possible outcome.  We don't.  We must be careful to stand for justice through the government systems given to us by God for such purposes. Romans 13. 13  Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2  Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3  For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. 4  For the one in authority is God’s ser...

7.14- Travel light.  Don't carry a bunch of extra stuff. Six years ago today my wife slept in her Denver bed for the last time before our move.  She worked all night the night of the ninth of July and on the 10th at 5pm we walked out of the house we had called home for 30 years. We drove to Los Vegas New Mexico and crashed into the motel bed. She had given so much of herself to get everything ready for the move.  She had to help me with a broken knee cap for six weeks after my fall on 3.22.13.  Then she had my surgery to cope with.  On top of this was the disposition of everything we didn't want to move. Some given away to charity. Some give to neighbors and friends. Some sold at a garage sale. Some became trash. Then the remainder to be packed in boxes for the move to Texas.  Much hard work and mostly done by Sheila with a little help from our grandsons, Jared and Jordan and then on July 9 and 10th.  One long day for Sheila it all wrapp...

7.13- At the cross we face the pain and the gain. Jesus Keep Me Near the Cross Fanny Crosby was blind but she had insight to write these words. Jesus, keep me near the cross,   This song filled my heart today as I walked around the water therapy river at my health club.  I was thinking about my encounter with Horace Couch at the club yesterday and today.   There a precious fountain— Free to all, a healing stream— Flows from Calv’ry’s mountain. Refrain: In the cross, in the cross, Be my glory ever; Till my raptured soul shall find Rest beyond the river. Near the cross, a trembling soul, Love and Mercy found me; There the bright and morning star Sheds its beams around me. Near the cross! O Lamb of God, Bring its scenes before me; Help me walk from day to day, With its shadows o’er me. Near the cross I’ll watch and wait Hoping, trusting ever, Till I reach the golden strand, Just beyond the river. Another cross song says,    At the...

7.12- How long have you been at your job? How long have you had your close friends? How long have you been active in a local service group? If there are answers of only a short time, could it be because you are not truthful.  Endurance in service for many years speaks of verbal integrity.  Job hopping is sometimes because someone has not learned to be truthful. When you are trying to establish a person's integrity and credibility ask the question, "How long have you....?" Proverbs 12. 19  Truthful lips endure forever,      but a lying tongue lasts only a moment.

7.11- Jesus is either Lord or a Liar.  He is not just a good moral teacher.  God raises the dead.  This is the basic claim of Jesus.  He called followers telling them that they would be persecuted and they might suffer and die for following Him.  Some of them did.  Stephen and James are killed for following Him.  Now if Jesus is the Son of God as He said He was then that is no problem because in the resurrection Jesus will give them Eternal Life with Him in heaven.  If He was not the Son of God, then he is a liar that cost them their life.  Jesus is not just a good moral teacher if He was not who He claimed to be.  The fact is that we stake our lives on this reality.  The Holy Spirit has the power to raise people from the dead. Matthew 9. 18  While he was saying this, a synagogue leader came and knelt before him and said, “My daughter has just died. But come and put your hand on her, and she will live.” 19  Jesus g...

7.10- God teaches in the Bible that if you are walking with Jesus then you have a right to celebrate and enjoy your life with Him.  When Jesus was here on earth they accused Him of being a glutton and a drunkard.  He was not.  He enjoyed the blessings of life in moderation and drew all kinds of people to himself including tax collectors and prostitutes.  For this He was criticized.  Even the only perfect person to ever walk on earth could not avoid negative comments.  Enjoy your life.  Don't let the nay sayers ruin your joy in life. Matthew 9. 14  Then John’s disciples came and asked him, “How is it that we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples do not fast?” 15  Jesus answered, “How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast. 16  “No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch will pull away...

7.9- God forgives sin.  Jesus presented the good news that nothing is impossible for God including saving the greatest of sinners.  How?  Forgiveness.  It was hard for God to forgive sins because it cost Him the life of His Son.  Jesus could release a paralyzed man from immobility but even harder job could be done by Him, the forgiveness of sins. There are things that are hard for me to forgive.  Things that are against innocent children.  There was a very wise, blameless servant of God named Stephen.  His killer was some people who laid their coats at the feet of Saul of Tarsus.  God forgave him.  He became Paul and He used him as an instrument to save others.  Matthew 9. 9  Jesus stepped into a boat, crossed over and came to his own town. 2  Some men brought to him a paralyzed man, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.” 3  At this, some ...

7.8- Do not judge people especially your wife, kids, in laws and grandkids.   Instead focus on teaching these beloved by example and no words unless asked.   Do not give things to others that they don’t want, like advice. You will probably not be asked between 12 and 50.   Remember that you know you are stubborn and difficult to work with at times.    For example, listen more and speak less. Never give up praying for God’s best for your life. Go where few people go because they see the path as too narrow and long. Be observant of the outcome of people’s lives. Open your heart to God and people. Walk out your view of life a day at a time. Practice yourself what you desire in others. Matthew 7. 7  “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2  For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. 3  “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in y...

7.7- About 2019 years ago there was a birth that became the hinge of history. Jesus gave us ideas of what heaven is going to be like. Human words are glimpses into the mystery of God. Jesus revealed God to us. He said, “If you have seen me, you have seen the Father”. Jesus is the living Word that is the exact reflection of God in a human body. In Jesus the shepherds met their Shepherd and kings came to worship their King. G. K. Chesterton said, “Man stands apart from all other animals and Jesus stands apart from all other men.” Matthew 2. 2  After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi [ h ] from the east came to Jerusalem 2  and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” 3  When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4  When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the la...

7.6-Chaplain to a King or a Senator, Remember. I have read that my great, great grandfather, George Wishart, was a chaplain to the king of England in 1748. I don't know if this is true or not. I do know that by God's Amazing Grace I have been a chaplain/supporter in times of crisis to some unusual people. A senator, a police chief in city of 300,000 people, a couple of school leaders in charge of 30,000 students. Even today I get to be supported by and a supporter of 40 working men who are out on the field of life call ed the "NFL" National Family Leaders, in our family lingo. Big league teachers, family leaders and church leaders who are up for criticism every day. A good chaplain is -A person of joy. -A reminder to the person of their best values. -One who stands and resists bad religion and bad poltitics. -A well read, growing person. -Comfortable in their own skin. -Forgetful of pas failures and successes. -Seeking maturity for all knowing it...