The Prayer of Faith
13 Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
17 Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. 18 Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.
19 My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, 20 remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.
The power of PRAYER! I know it, I've lived it! There is no greater power on earth than that of a person praying.
So why don't we do it more often? I am not innocent in this. I find myself at the end of the day going to bed and realize I haven't talked to God today! I will be in a situation where someone has asked me to pray for something or one of my children are sick and need prayer, only to realize that I am asking God for a miracle but haven't talked to Him or thanked Him in days. How come? I can't go a single day without talking to my best friend. Why is it that I don't talk to God as much? It's because I am lazy and treating God like a genie in a bottle!
Today that changes! I want to wake up praising His name and go to bed doing the same thing. I know the power of prayer (I have two miracle children that the doctors said I couldn't have!) I have been prayed over the way this passage talks about! Now it's my turn to go pray over others.
I have been trying to change the way I answer the call for prayer. I used to just say, "Yes I'll pray for you". Do you know how often I forgot? Too many times. Now, I try to immediately pray for the person and situation. Talking to God is an awesome thing to do!
Turn off your TV, Computer, Phone, etc and get on your knees in front of God and see what He can do in your life!
Father, Thank you that you hear me even when I don't deserve it. Thank you for always answering prayers even if the answer is not what I want to hear! I am sorry for the times I have ignored you. Please forgive me! Amen
Monday, February 28, 2011
Friday, February 25, 2011
James 5: 7-12
7 Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. 8 You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near. 9 Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!
10 Brothers and sisters, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11 As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.
12 Above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear—not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. All you need to say is a simple “Yes” or “No.” Otherwise you will be condemned.
Patience, something most people would say they need more of. I know I repeatedly pray for more patience. Why is it so hard to be patient? I believe it's b/c we want to be in control and when we are having to wait on something we lose control.
Have you had to perservere through anything? I have. Sometime life seems so hard and unfair. That is when the patience comes in. Life will be full of storms...and we have to know how to handle them. The only thing that seems to help me is going to God. When I try to pull away during a storm everything looks gray and I can't see the end. When I try to draw nearer, things still look gray sometimes but you know there is an end
Finally, just don't swear!
Father, today I pray for that I would be more dependent on you. I want to give you control of my entire life so that when I face the storms I never face them alone. My desire is to have the patience that comes from not worrying about my life but resting in your assurances. Amen.
10 Brothers and sisters, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11 As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.
12 Above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear—not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. All you need to say is a simple “Yes” or “No.” Otherwise you will be condemned.
Patience, something most people would say they need more of. I know I repeatedly pray for more patience. Why is it so hard to be patient? I believe it's b/c we want to be in control and when we are having to wait on something we lose control.
Have you had to perservere through anything? I have. Sometime life seems so hard and unfair. That is when the patience comes in. Life will be full of storms...and we have to know how to handle them. The only thing that seems to help me is going to God. When I try to pull away during a storm everything looks gray and I can't see the end. When I try to draw nearer, things still look gray sometimes but you know there is an end
Finally, just don't swear!
Father, today I pray for that I would be more dependent on you. I want to give you control of my entire life so that when I face the storms I never face them alone. My desire is to have the patience that comes from not worrying about my life but resting in your assurances. Amen.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
James 5: 1-6
Warning to Rich Oppressors
1 Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming on you. 2 Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. 3 Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. 4 Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. 5 You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter.[a] 6 You have condemned and murdered the innocent one, who was not opposing you.
What does this mean? Does it mean that anyone who has a lot of money is condemned? NO! It means that anyone who has a lot of money and holds on to it and never gives back needs to check themselves!
What do we do with our money? Do we tithe? Do we give to the poor? Or do we keep putting it in the bank and holding on to it all for a future day? I know that having a savings account is an important thing for everyone but if you have one that's filled with money and never give back to God that's not right. God gives us all we have! We need to give back. We need to help clothe, feed, shelter His people!
Can we get someone to listen to us about their spiritual needs if we are not helping meet their physical needs. Imagine you are hungry and thirsty...would you listen?
Use the money you have WISELY! The more you give joyfully to God, the more He blesses you with in return.
Father, Help me to remember that apart from you I am nothing and I have nothing. Give me wisdom about where to use my money. Thankyou for all you give! Amen.
1 Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming on you. 2 Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. 3 Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. 4 Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. 5 You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter.[a] 6 You have condemned and murdered the innocent one, who was not opposing you.
What does this mean? Does it mean that anyone who has a lot of money is condemned? NO! It means that anyone who has a lot of money and holds on to it and never gives back needs to check themselves!
What do we do with our money? Do we tithe? Do we give to the poor? Or do we keep putting it in the bank and holding on to it all for a future day? I know that having a savings account is an important thing for everyone but if you have one that's filled with money and never give back to God that's not right. God gives us all we have! We need to give back. We need to help clothe, feed, shelter His people!
Can we get someone to listen to us about their spiritual needs if we are not helping meet their physical needs. Imagine you are hungry and thirsty...would you listen?
Use the money you have WISELY! The more you give joyfully to God, the more He blesses you with in return.
Father, Help me to remember that apart from you I am nothing and I have nothing. Give me wisdom about where to use my money. Thankyou for all you give! Amen.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
James 4:13-17
Boasting About Tomorrow
13 Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” 14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. 15 Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” 16 As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil. 17 If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.
This passage is short and to the point! You don't know what tomorrow will bring! We are not in control!!!! This passage really doesn't get to you until you lose someone your age. I think when we are kids we feel invincible, when we are teens we feel entitled to a long life, when we are adults we are expectant, and when we are senior adults (well I am not sure how they feel yet).
This scripture became very real to me when I was in college. One of the other nursing students, who was in most of my groups, died in a car wreck over the Christmas holiday our senior year. It crushed me. What really affected me was that I had never asked him if he was a Christian. A simpe question and thousands of oppurtunities and I never asked!!!! I never even considered that he or any of my other classmates would die. We were all looking forward to graduating and getting jobs...getting married (I already was)...having children! I never once thought...I could die.
I have now learned to pray for God's will to be done in every situation of my life. It's not easy to give it all to Him. When I do give it all to Him, things may not go the way I envisioned, but they end up a whole lot better!
13 Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” 14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. 15 Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” 16 As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil. 17 If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.
This passage is short and to the point! You don't know what tomorrow will bring! We are not in control!!!! This passage really doesn't get to you until you lose someone your age. I think when we are kids we feel invincible, when we are teens we feel entitled to a long life, when we are adults we are expectant, and when we are senior adults (well I am not sure how they feel yet).
This scripture became very real to me when I was in college. One of the other nursing students, who was in most of my groups, died in a car wreck over the Christmas holiday our senior year. It crushed me. What really affected me was that I had never asked him if he was a Christian. A simpe question and thousands of oppurtunities and I never asked!!!! I never even considered that he or any of my other classmates would die. We were all looking forward to graduating and getting jobs...getting married (I already was)...having children! I never once thought...I could die.
I have now learned to pray for God's will to be done in every situation of my life. It's not easy to give it all to Him. When I do give it all to Him, things may not go the way I envisioned, but they end up a whole lot better!
Friday, February 18, 2011
James 4:1-1
James 4
Submit Yourselves to God
1 What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? 2 You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. 3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.
4 You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. 5 Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us? 6 But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:
“God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”
7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.
11 Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. 12 There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?
Wow! This section of scripture is packed with things that just jump right out and get me in the heart!
"You do not have because you do not ask God. 3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures."
Does this not answer so many peoples question about why they ask for something and it doesn't happen???? What are the motives behind your asking God for something? I think we all need to step back and think about that. I think so many times the scripture, " You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. " out of context! This is why I have to tell students and others so often that you cannot look at one scripture and not look at the rest. To truly understand what God is saying you have to look at His whole Word not just a piece of it.
Ahhh, the word submission, aint it grand! How we hate that word. Don't you hate it! I know a lot of people who leave it out of wedding vows now because they despise it so much. When it comes to a relationship with God there is no option to remove it! This scripture is just one in many that say, "Submit yourselves, then, to God." When we try to live our christian life without submitting to Him we let the world become our friend and the world will ALWAYS let you down! God will ALWAYS pick you up!
11 Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. 12 There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor? This is another set of scriptures that really speaks to me. It is also a very misunderstood scripture. Please understand that to my understanding someone is not judging you if they come to out of love and say they notice a sin in your life that they want to pray with you about. However, I think to many times out brothers and sisters in Christ tear each other apart over some wrongdoing! Why do we do that? We are all sinners and need to help each other through this life!
There is so much more that I get out of these scriptures! Please read and study them.
Father, you are speaking to my heart. Please help me with the selfish desires. I long to know Your Will for my life and not my own. Help me to love with your love! Thank you for loving this sinful creature! Amen.
Submit Yourselves to God
1 What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? 2 You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. 3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.
4 You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. 5 Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us? 6 But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:
“God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”
7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.
11 Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. 12 There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?
Wow! This section of scripture is packed with things that just jump right out and get me in the heart!
"You do not have because you do not ask God. 3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures."
Does this not answer so many peoples question about why they ask for something and it doesn't happen???? What are the motives behind your asking God for something? I think we all need to step back and think about that. I think so many times the scripture, " You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. " out of context! This is why I have to tell students and others so often that you cannot look at one scripture and not look at the rest. To truly understand what God is saying you have to look at His whole Word not just a piece of it.
Ahhh, the word submission, aint it grand! How we hate that word. Don't you hate it! I know a lot of people who leave it out of wedding vows now because they despise it so much. When it comes to a relationship with God there is no option to remove it! This scripture is just one in many that say, "Submit yourselves, then, to God." When we try to live our christian life without submitting to Him we let the world become our friend and the world will ALWAYS let you down! God will ALWAYS pick you up!
11 Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. 12 There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor? This is another set of scriptures that really speaks to me. It is also a very misunderstood scripture. Please understand that to my understanding someone is not judging you if they come to out of love and say they notice a sin in your life that they want to pray with you about. However, I think to many times out brothers and sisters in Christ tear each other apart over some wrongdoing! Why do we do that? We are all sinners and need to help each other through this life!
There is so much more that I get out of these scriptures! Please read and study them.
Father, you are speaking to my heart. Please help me with the selfish desires. I long to know Your Will for my life and not my own. Help me to love with your love! Thank you for loving this sinful creature! Amen.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
James 3:13-18
Two Kinds of Wisdom
13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15 Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.
17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18 Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.
"Deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom"....wow! How many of us do deeds out of selfish ambition and not humility??? I know I am guilty of that. Everyone, including me, loves to hear someone sing their praises for whatever they have done and do things just for that praise. That's not really serving unless you consider it serving yourself.
When we do something we should ask ourselves, "Am I doing this for my God or for myself?" Use the wisdom that comes from God to determine the answer.
"Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness"-I can be a peacemaker at times but at other times I can be a fighter. I guess that could describe a lot of people. What makes us a fighter? Is it anger, saddness, or what? I think in some instances being a fighter can be a good thing but that again we shoud use God's wisdom to determine what should we do.
I think that is the key here...Wisdom from Heaven! You aren't gonna get that wisdom if you don't spend time with God! Get in His Word and spend time talking to Him!!!!!
13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15 Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.
17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18 Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.
"Deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom"....wow! How many of us do deeds out of selfish ambition and not humility??? I know I am guilty of that. Everyone, including me, loves to hear someone sing their praises for whatever they have done and do things just for that praise. That's not really serving unless you consider it serving yourself.
When we do something we should ask ourselves, "Am I doing this for my God or for myself?" Use the wisdom that comes from God to determine the answer.
"Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness"-I can be a peacemaker at times but at other times I can be a fighter. I guess that could describe a lot of people. What makes us a fighter? Is it anger, saddness, or what? I think in some instances being a fighter can be a good thing but that again we shoud use God's wisdom to determine what should we do.
I think that is the key here...Wisdom from Heaven! You aren't gonna get that wisdom if you don't spend time with God! Get in His Word and spend time talking to Him!!!!!
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
James 3: 1-12
James 3
Taming the Tongue
1 Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2 We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check.
3 When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4 Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 5 Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.
7 All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. 11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12 My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.
The TONGUE!!!! One of the things that I hate most for my students is when I hear them praise God and talk about how much they love Him and then they curse or gossip.
If James were alive today I think he would not only write tongue but also fingers! We use our fingers to deliver the message of our tongues all to often these days with email, facebook, twitter, and text. the things I read on facebook upset me so many times. For some reason we think it's okay to use acronyms for the things we shouldn't be using. That's okay, right? WRONG!!!!!!
Do we forget that God sees into our hearts and knows what our intentions are?????
I know I need to work on the way I talk to my husband and my daughters. I can definitely turn my tongue into a sword when I want to. I need to start taming it more.
The things we say and type have a HUGE effect on people! Words can make you laugh or they can make you cry. I hope to start making people smile and laugh more!
Father, Please help me tame my tongue and fingers. I want your words to pour from me and not the words of a sinful woman. Amen.
Taming the Tongue
1 Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2 We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check.
3 When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4 Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 5 Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.
7 All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. 11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12 My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.
The TONGUE!!!! One of the things that I hate most for my students is when I hear them praise God and talk about how much they love Him and then they curse or gossip.
If James were alive today I think he would not only write tongue but also fingers! We use our fingers to deliver the message of our tongues all to often these days with email, facebook, twitter, and text. the things I read on facebook upset me so many times. For some reason we think it's okay to use acronyms for the things we shouldn't be using. That's okay, right? WRONG!!!!!!
Do we forget that God sees into our hearts and knows what our intentions are?????
I know I need to work on the way I talk to my husband and my daughters. I can definitely turn my tongue into a sword when I want to. I need to start taming it more.
The things we say and type have a HUGE effect on people! Words can make you laugh or they can make you cry. I hope to start making people smile and laugh more!
Father, Please help me tame my tongue and fingers. I want your words to pour from me and not the words of a sinful woman. Amen.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
James 2: 14-26
Faith and Deeds
14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? 15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
18 But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”
Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. 19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.
20 You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? 21 Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. 23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,”and he was called God’s friend. 24 You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.
25 In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? 26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.
This scripture is one of those that I believe people misinterpret a lot. I have heard people give really interesting accounts of what they believe this is saying, such as that you can lose your salvation if you believe but don't act.
I more so, in a very humble unschooled mind, think it is showing you that once you truly believe and have faith that you will see action!!!! I mean how you think that once you become a Christian that your life doesn't change???? A person who has true faith will want to act on God's behalf in some way.
Now I am not saying that once you become a Christian you can't have moments in life where you get angry or depressed and don't want/feel like acting. I think we all go through those periods.
What I am saying is that once you give your life to Christ and let the Holy Spirit in; some part of you should want to do as much as possible for God.
In the Middle School Sunday School class Sunday we discussed how there should be a change after we become a Christian and where would we be if there wasn't a change. Now I can't tell you where I would be but I can tell you where I wouldn't be. I probably never would have married my husband (b/c he's a christian), I wouldn't have two beautiful girls and wouldn't be in Texas!
My life is forever changed b/c I surrendered to God and have faith. Doing works for Him to me is just a plus. (My love language does happen to be service so I know it's easier for me.)
Father God, help me see all the ways I can serve you in this life. Give me a servants heart and the means to serve. Thank you for the opputunites you have given me. Amen.
14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? 15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
18 But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”
Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. 19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.
20 You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? 21 Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. 23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,”and he was called God’s friend. 24 You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.
25 In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? 26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.
This scripture is one of those that I believe people misinterpret a lot. I have heard people give really interesting accounts of what they believe this is saying, such as that you can lose your salvation if you believe but don't act.
I more so, in a very humble unschooled mind, think it is showing you that once you truly believe and have faith that you will see action!!!! I mean how you think that once you become a Christian that your life doesn't change???? A person who has true faith will want to act on God's behalf in some way.
Now I am not saying that once you become a Christian you can't have moments in life where you get angry or depressed and don't want/feel like acting. I think we all go through those periods.
What I am saying is that once you give your life to Christ and let the Holy Spirit in; some part of you should want to do as much as possible for God.
In the Middle School Sunday School class Sunday we discussed how there should be a change after we become a Christian and where would we be if there wasn't a change. Now I can't tell you where I would be but I can tell you where I wouldn't be. I probably never would have married my husband (b/c he's a christian), I wouldn't have two beautiful girls and wouldn't be in Texas!
My life is forever changed b/c I surrendered to God and have faith. Doing works for Him to me is just a plus. (My love language does happen to be service so I know it's easier for me.)
Father God, help me see all the ways I can serve you in this life. Give me a servants heart and the means to serve. Thank you for the opputunites you have given me. Amen.
Monday, February 14, 2011
James 2: 1-13
James 2
Favoritism Forbidden
1 My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. 2 Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. 3 If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” 4 have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
5 Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? 7 Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong?
8 If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,”[a] you are doing right. 9 But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. 10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. 11 For he who said, “You shall not commit adultery,”[b] also said, “You shall not murder.”[c] If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.
12 Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, 13 because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment
How many times have you walked into a church a gotten stared at until it made you totally uncomfortable? How many times have you gone into church and immediately realized that people had "their seats" and were scared to sit b/c you didn't want to take one of them? Have you ever been asked to move or have your stuff moved? Have you ever noticed people whispering b/c of the clothing you or someone else wore to church? Have you ever been made to feel like you were unwelcome or unloved at a church?
Sadly I can answer yes to all of the above questions. Why is it that churchs have become a place of immediate judgement and a place where others are made to feel unwanted? Shouldn't we (the church body) be the ones who open the doors and say come on in no matter who you are or what you look like? We are supposed to follow Jesus's example and he didn't discriminate who He loved or where He went! When He was on the cross He didn't ask God to forgive the ones who knew who He was and believed, He didn't say don't forgive the these but forgive those. He asked for forgiveness of everyone.
Are we not all sinners? YES!!!!!!!!!!!! I am a sinner! The difference is I am REDEEMED! My goal is to make everyone feel welcome at church, my home, in my presence so that I can show the AWESOME LOVE of CHRIST to them! If I don't show them love what example do they have?????
Father God, I ask today that you let me see through your eyes and not my own. That I would see people not as clean or dirty, rich or poor but that I would see bent and broken people who need you! Let your awesome love shine through me to everyone I know and will know!
Favoritism Forbidden
1 My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. 2 Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. 3 If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” 4 have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
5 Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? 7 Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong?
8 If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,”[a] you are doing right. 9 But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. 10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. 11 For he who said, “You shall not commit adultery,”[b] also said, “You shall not murder.”[c] If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.
12 Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, 13 because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment
How many times have you walked into a church a gotten stared at until it made you totally uncomfortable? How many times have you gone into church and immediately realized that people had "their seats" and were scared to sit b/c you didn't want to take one of them? Have you ever been asked to move or have your stuff moved? Have you ever noticed people whispering b/c of the clothing you or someone else wore to church? Have you ever been made to feel like you were unwelcome or unloved at a church?
Sadly I can answer yes to all of the above questions. Why is it that churchs have become a place of immediate judgement and a place where others are made to feel unwanted? Shouldn't we (the church body) be the ones who open the doors and say come on in no matter who you are or what you look like? We are supposed to follow Jesus's example and he didn't discriminate who He loved or where He went! When He was on the cross He didn't ask God to forgive the ones who knew who He was and believed, He didn't say don't forgive the these but forgive those. He asked for forgiveness of everyone.
Are we not all sinners? YES!!!!!!!!!!!! I am a sinner! The difference is I am REDEEMED! My goal is to make everyone feel welcome at church, my home, in my presence so that I can show the AWESOME LOVE of CHRIST to them! If I don't show them love what example do they have?????
Father God, I ask today that you let me see through your eyes and not my own. That I would see people not as clean or dirty, rich or poor but that I would see bent and broken people who need you! Let your awesome love shine through me to everyone I know and will know!
Thursday, February 10, 2011
James 1: 19-27
"19 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. 21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.
22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.
26 Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. 27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
This passage is a tough one for me. "Slow to anger"???? I don't think that has ever described me. especially lately. I am dealing with a 3 almost 4 year old who has gone through too many changes in the last 6 months and is now testing us every chance she can. Talk about ANGER!!!!! I try to sit down with her and listen but I think I expect her to express herself as I would and when she doesn't I get very angry. Isn't it funny how God gives you a scripture you need to hear right when you need to hear it!
Be a doer not just a listener. That is simple and to the point. Why is it so hard for so many Christians to understand and obey?
There is a part in there that I have heard quit often, "look after orphans and widows in their distress" but I don't think I have ever heard the last part put quite like it is. If I have, I haven't paid attention, "and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. " How often are we polluted by the world we live in? I know I am way too often. Think of what you watch, listen to, see... Everyday pollutants are thrown at us. What do we do with them? Do we allow them to stick where everyone can see them or do we immediately clean it out and walk away?
I mean think about the sides of the road...everyday people throw trash out on the sides of the road. If someone never cleaned it up it would be overtaken by pollutants. We would be able to see all the trash. Soon it would be in the road too. It would effect our driving as we dodged trash. It would start to smell. Think of everything it would affect. Now thinkof your life. Do you allow the trash that comes at you to stay and start to overpower our lives? It will start to have an effect on everything! Our trash wll start to spill over into other lives. Is that what we want?
Heavenly Father, Today I ask you to help me clean up the trash in my life. I know that there are pollutants out there that are thrown my way every day. The choice is mine, whether to let them stay with me or whether I free myself of them to stay clean. Give me the strength and wisdom to know what is trash and get rid of it. I also ask Father, that you would help me become slow to anger. I want to love as you do! Please bless us this day. Amen.
22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.
26 Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. 27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
This passage is a tough one for me. "Slow to anger"???? I don't think that has ever described me. especially lately. I am dealing with a 3 almost 4 year old who has gone through too many changes in the last 6 months and is now testing us every chance she can. Talk about ANGER!!!!! I try to sit down with her and listen but I think I expect her to express herself as I would and when she doesn't I get very angry. Isn't it funny how God gives you a scripture you need to hear right when you need to hear it!
Be a doer not just a listener. That is simple and to the point. Why is it so hard for so many Christians to understand and obey?
There is a part in there that I have heard quit often, "look after orphans and widows in their distress" but I don't think I have ever heard the last part put quite like it is. If I have, I haven't paid attention, "and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. " How often are we polluted by the world we live in? I know I am way too often. Think of what you watch, listen to, see... Everyday pollutants are thrown at us. What do we do with them? Do we allow them to stick where everyone can see them or do we immediately clean it out and walk away?
I mean think about the sides of the road...everyday people throw trash out on the sides of the road. If someone never cleaned it up it would be overtaken by pollutants. We would be able to see all the trash. Soon it would be in the road too. It would effect our driving as we dodged trash. It would start to smell. Think of everything it would affect. Now thinkof your life. Do you allow the trash that comes at you to stay and start to overpower our lives? It will start to have an effect on everything! Our trash wll start to spill over into other lives. Is that what we want?
Heavenly Father, Today I ask you to help me clean up the trash in my life. I know that there are pollutants out there that are thrown my way every day. The choice is mine, whether to let them stay with me or whether I free myself of them to stay clean. Give me the strength and wisdom to know what is trash and get rid of it. I also ask Father, that you would help me become slow to anger. I want to love as you do! Please bless us this day. Amen.
Monday, February 7, 2011
James 1:1-18
James 1
1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,
To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations:
Greetings.
Trials and Temptations
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. 6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.
9 Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position. 10 But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they will pass away like a wild flower. 11 For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business.
12 Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.
13 When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
16 Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. 17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. 18 He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created."
Every time I read this passage I find that something else really sticks out to me. A lot of times I focus only on the "consider it joy" part or the "every good and perfect gift" part. This time the part that is really sticking out is vs 13-15. That part about us being tempted b/c of our evil desire. I don't think I truly understood "sin nature" until I was a parent. Until the first time my little girl wilfully disobeyed me. It wasn't that she didn't understand she just CHOSE to do the opposite of what I told her to do.
How often do I let MY evil desire drag me away? More often than I like to admit. It pains me to consider that I am hurting my Father in Heaven even more than my child is hurting me. He is the giver of "every good and perfect gift" (okay so I am focusing on it some ;)) and I still choose to look Him in the eye and disobey Him.
I have been through many trials in my life. More than some and less than others. I wonder how many of those trials were birthed from letting my sin desire breed until it overtook me? How many times did I walk in the opposite direction of God but expect Him to keep my life cheery. Don't get me wrong, I don't think God is in Heaven punishing me by giving me trials. It says He's not in those verses above. But that doesn't mean that He's not letting me fend for myself in a way. The thing I have always found is He's right there beside me, just waiting for me to call out Abba Father, save me! When I choose that, things start to look different.
What would happen if I never walked away? No matter the trial I faced, nothing would seem impossible. I believe that I could be joyous in my trials. I believe I would always focus on what He is giving me and not what has been taken away.
Thank you Father for all you do. Thank you for loving this wicked, bent person. Thank you for all my good and perfect gifts. Thank you for the joy you can give. Please give me wisdom and strength. Amen.
1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,
To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations:
Greetings.
Trials and Temptations
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. 6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.
9 Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position. 10 But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they will pass away like a wild flower. 11 For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business.
12 Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.
13 When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
16 Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. 17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. 18 He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created."
Every time I read this passage I find that something else really sticks out to me. A lot of times I focus only on the "consider it joy" part or the "every good and perfect gift" part. This time the part that is really sticking out is vs 13-15. That part about us being tempted b/c of our evil desire. I don't think I truly understood "sin nature" until I was a parent. Until the first time my little girl wilfully disobeyed me. It wasn't that she didn't understand she just CHOSE to do the opposite of what I told her to do.
How often do I let MY evil desire drag me away? More often than I like to admit. It pains me to consider that I am hurting my Father in Heaven even more than my child is hurting me. He is the giver of "every good and perfect gift" (okay so I am focusing on it some ;)) and I still choose to look Him in the eye and disobey Him.
I have been through many trials in my life. More than some and less than others. I wonder how many of those trials were birthed from letting my sin desire breed until it overtook me? How many times did I walk in the opposite direction of God but expect Him to keep my life cheery. Don't get me wrong, I don't think God is in Heaven punishing me by giving me trials. It says He's not in those verses above. But that doesn't mean that He's not letting me fend for myself in a way. The thing I have always found is He's right there beside me, just waiting for me to call out Abba Father, save me! When I choose that, things start to look different.
What would happen if I never walked away? No matter the trial I faced, nothing would seem impossible. I believe that I could be joyous in my trials. I believe I would always focus on what He is giving me and not what has been taken away.
Thank you Father for all you do. Thank you for loving this wicked, bent person. Thank you for all my good and perfect gifts. Thank you for the joy you can give. Please give me wisdom and strength. Amen.
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