Refreshing Our Spirits With Scripture

3.19- Have you ever had a parent say to you very loudly, "Did you hear me?" The implication was that I had some noise going out of mouth in the range of my ears, but it didn't get into my brain and carried out in my body. The word "hear" in some languages includes moving to do what the words say because of the relationship of love between the leader and the follower. To refuse to act on good words given to us by our leader is a way to develop and rebellious callous over our mind, heart and soul and get ourselves into some hard trouble. Most of us don't want to learn from even our loving, Godly parents so we choose to learn the hard way. They were probably trying to guide us to avoid some scars. I was reminded by several different voices this week that I need to listen better. I received some correction this week that I have heard at least two times and I said to the person trying to help me. "I know you are right and I will try to do better."...

 3.18- We are happy to wade into the shallow end of the pool where life is a bit more controllable, convenient easy, but usually it is suffering and affliction where God allows us to be heaved kicking and screaming into the deep end of the pool. We see that our most precious moments are not by the shore line when life a was under control and we didn't cry out for help from God and close friends, relying on God day by day. We can have big part in helping someone as they help us. Josh, about 16, is the cart guy at my Walmart. Brings my electric store cart to my car door. I shop. Then I check out and he unloads it for me. I drive my electric cart back to my car. I tell him sincerely that he is good at his job and he tells me as he flashes this smile a mile wide that he also is learning to weld working for his uncle. James 1. 2  Consider it all joy, my brothers  and sisters , when you encounter various  [ c ] trials,   3  knowing that the testing of y...

3.17- When you are spiritually tired it's good to remember: God has made some promises to His children and He cannot lie. Stay honest and curious and you will receive Jesus inside your heart help like a fountain that does not run dry, but becomes a fountain and resource for others. Ask God earnestly to forgive you of anything and He has promised to forgive and forget and He will do so. He might leave a scar to remind you of who you are and what you have survived. Trust Jesus rather than putting your ultimate trust anywhere else. He is the only one to promise to be with us forever and live up to the promise. Focus on future work to help others rather than dwelling on past mistakes. Don't worry about pleasing everyone with your choices. Please God and move forward the best you can. John 4. 7  A woman of Samaria *came to draw water. Jesus *said to her,  “Give Me a drink.”   8  For His disciples had gone away to the city to buy food.   9  So the ...

 3.16- The people who can restore .my spiritual energy are people who are humble and gentle. What leads to the most permanent changes for my good is to remember the kindness of God. Romans 2. 2  Therefore you have no excuse,  [ a ] you  foolish  person, everyone  of you  who passes judgment; for  [ b ] in that  matter in  which you judge someone else, you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things.   2  And we know that the judgment of God  [ c ] rightly falls upon those who practice such things.   3  But do you suppose this,  [ d ] you  foolish  person who passes judgment on those who practice such things, and  yet  does them  as well , that you will escape the judgment of God?   4  Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and  [ e ] restraint and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to r...

 3.15- There are people who are bold enough to ask us the hard questions? There was a man who had been unable to walk for 38 years. The master teacher asked him an important question, "Do you want to get well?" Is the answer obvious? No. Are there some people who had rather be disabled than able. These people cannot be helped unless they want to be helped. These hard questions are alive and penetrating and push us to examine ourselves at the level of heart and soul. Some us welcome being challenged and pushed by spouses. Kids, co workers, but others resist. Are we teachable? Much growth feels painful at the moment. John 5 5  After these things there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 2  Now in Jerusalem, by the Sheep  Gate , there is a pool which in  [ a ] Hebrew is called  [ b ] Bethesda, having five  [ c ] porticoes.   3  In these  porticoes  lay a multitude of those who were sick, blind, limp...

 3.14= There is something so earthshatteringly beautiful about a mother willing go through travail and near death to help God bring a baby into the world. Luke 2. 2  Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all  [ a ] the inhabited earth.   2  [ b ] This was the first census taken while  [ c ] Quirinius was governor of Syria.   3  And all  the people  were on their way to register for the census, each to his own city.   4  Now Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David,   5  in order to register along with Mary, who was  [ d ] betrothed to him, and was pregnant.   6  While they were there, the  [ e ] time came for her to give birth.   7  And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in...

 3.13- 3.13.1915 Arthur Wayne Wishard was born. He had childhood of hard work on the farm and lost his dad when he was twelve. In his youth he played baseball and the mandolin. He had to go to work full time at 12. He dropped out of school and never learned to read until he was an adult. He read true detective magazine and the Bible to learn to read. He was self educated by reading the Sherman Democrat, The Bonham Daily Favorite and sometime the Dallas Morning news and listening to the the Texas Farm report on KFYN, Bonham. He loved to work or play with his children. He really flourished in his third act after the kids left home and he retired, Age 70 to 90. He took trips with mom to see the kids and grandkids. First and only flight was to Denver to visit us. He made a good joke about the little tractor that pulled the plane out of Dallas looked like same one that met us in Denver and he would liked to have watched that tractor take off. He was fun almost all the time to most ev...