Notes from my Nest

Awake

2012-01-16T14:19:00.000-08:00

Last week was crazy for me, and I never got around to doing the Five Minute Friday on time. I don't want to miss a week though, so I'm posting it a bit late.

AWAKE

I always find it disconcerting when I'm driving and suddenly realize I can't remember the last five miles. Clearly, I'm awake because I haven't crashed (yet!), but my mind has been elsewhere. I haven't been alert and focused on the task at hand.

When thinking about things from a spiritual perspective, I strive to be more than simply conscious. I want to be alert, focused, and sensitive to the Holy Spirit.

Having an active, living faith means more than simply knowing about His grace, mercy and eternity. My heart and soul needs to be alert to the quickening of the Spirit.

Am I truly:

AWAKE to His mercies that are new every morning, or after I have repented, do I carry around guilt for past mistakes and not forgive myself?

AWAKE to the all-sufficiency of His grace or do I continue to live in self-imposed bondage?

AWAKE to the gift of spending eternity with Him? Does this determine the choices I make on a daily basis in how I serve Him and spend my time?

I am reminded of the first verse to an old hymn:

Open my eyes, that I may see
glimpses of truth thou hast for me;
place in my hands the wonderful key,
that shall unclasp and set me free.
Silently now I wait for thee,
ready, my God, thy will to see.
Open my eyes, illumine me, Spirit divine!

Reader's note: I did exceed the five minute limit in order to accurately copy the words to the hymn, as accuracy is important to me when I'm quoting any other source.

One Thousand Gifts

2012-01-16T14:15:00.000-08:00

136. Glowing candles

137. Baking cookies

138. Watching the children frost cookies

139. Teaching them how to wrap presents

140. Remembering the greatest Gift of all

141. Lilac and mauve-colored sunrise on Christmas morning

142. Hearing my father read Luke 2

143. Taking a break from our crazy schedule

144. Having friends over New Year's Eve

145. Ringing in a new year with the love of my life

146. Sheep grazing in the morning mist

147. Beads of rain on the tips of barren branches

148. Surprise gift baskets in the mail

149. When she draws a picture just for me

150. Chocolate covered cherries

One Thousand Gifts

2012-01-09T13:14:00.001-08:00

121. Warm blankets

122. Pumpkin Pie blizzards at Dairy Queen (oh my!!)

123. That my eleven year old boy loves all the music in the Nutcracker

124. Road trips

125. Snacks at the mini-mart

126. Braiding her hair

127. Watching a string quartet perform live

128. Light parades

129. Stocking hats

130. Kleenex

131. Hunting for the perfect Christmas tree

132. Unexpectedly running into friends

133. Decorating the mantel

134. When he lets me unload what's on my heart for however long it takes

135. Frost-tipped grass

Five Minute Friday: Roar

2012-01-07T00:50:00.000-08:00

I'm linking with Lisa Jo at The Gypsy Mama for her Five Minute Friday series. She encourages her readers to write for five minutes on a given topic, not worrying about editing, etc. Just write what comes into your mind. The word for today is:

ROAR

One of the names for Jesus is the Lion of Judah.

Regal…Powerful…Protective

Jesus knew the moments to “roar” (when he threw the moneychangers out of the Temple).

Jesus knew the moments to remain silent (in the face of abuse and false accusations).

I can’t help but think about the lions I have seen on the Discovery channel. I have seen great power unleashed when they roar to protect their own. Their power looks different, but is just as evident, when they sit in the hot sun of the savannah and quietly observe the terrain. That is the look of power under control.

Just this week I decided to make a one word New Year’s resolution. The word I chose was “courage.”

I would love to be able to roar, but because I struggle with fear and self-doubt, it feels like my voice is more of a “mew.”

My prayer and focus for this year will be to build courage.

It takes courage to roar.

It takes courage to remain quiet.

It takes wisdom to know which response is appropriate.

I will look to the Lion of Judah as my example, and find courage in Him.

One Word

2012-01-05T00:19:00.000-08:00

I mentioned in a recent post that I am not one to make New Year’s Resolutions. It just feels like additional and unnecessary pressure in my life that I don’t need. As I have been reading through Facebook postings this past week, I have noticed a number of my friends making one word resolutions and posting a link to the One Word website (www.oneword365.com). This caught my attention, so I began to investigate. I had never heard of the website, and was intrigued with the idea of choosing one word that would define a personal goal and direction for the year ahead.

This is a kind of resolution that I am willing to make. I try to live a life that is pleasing to the Lord on a daily basis, but this idea adds an element of focus. Unfortunately, I feel scattered most of the time on all levels…physically, mentally, spiritually. I need focus, and anything that I can do to focus my attention and goals in the right direction (toward Christ) is a good thing!

After giving it some thought and prayer, I have selected my One Word for the year.

Courage

As my first step toward courage this year, I’ll just “keep it real” here. All too often, I operate out of fear. I am very guarded about how much of myself I share with others for fear of judgment, or worse, rejection. When I think about this, I feel convicted, because fear is evidence of deeper issues…pride, self-reliance, and a weaker faith in God than I would like to admit. Fear causes me to hesitate, and sometimes not act at all.

Galatians 5:13 says, “For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.”
I cannot effectively serve my brothers and sisters in Christ when I am hesitant and fearful.

1 John 4:18 says, “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love."
I need to pursue a better understanding of what it means to be perfected in love. I know that I am forgiven for my sins because I have accepted Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. Now I need to walk in that with courage (and confidence!).

2 Timothy 1:7 says, “For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline."
God is not the author of fear. He has given His children power, love, and the ability to be self-disciplined through His Spirit.

God has called us to be courageous.

Psalm 27:14 says, “Wait for the Lord; Be strong, and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the Lord.”

Psalm 31:24 says, “Be strong, and let your heart take courage, All you who hope in the Lord.”

It is interesting to note that we are called to be strong, but take courage. The Greek word for courage in these verses is a verb.

I need to be strong in the Lord and take action in my life.

With the help of my Father in heaven, and under His abundant grace, I resolve to live this year with

Courage.

One Thousand Gifts

2012-01-02T15:59:00.001-08:00

106. Home fellowships

107. Tussling his hair

108. Playing Apples to Apples with the children

109. Chickadees peeking into birdhouses

110. The last quivering leaf clinging to a barren branch

111. How she gets distracted by a V of geese when raking the leaves and races across the yard, staring at the sky, arms flapping

112. Her excitement over a new piano piece

113. Pumpkin scones fresh out of the oven

114. A reliable car

115. Tried and true recipes

116. Chocolate Mint Truffle cocoa

117. Poetry Night

118. Frosting cakes

119. The soft whooshing sound of the heat coming on

120. Finding a new recipe for dinner that everyone loves!

Book Review: The Christmas Sweater

2011-12-31T14:49:00.000-08:00

A couple of days ago I pushed everything aside and sat down and read a book. Opportunities like this rarely happen in my busy life, so I enjoyed the day of down time and getting lost in a good book.

I chose to read The Christmas Sweater, by Glenn Beck. It is a powerful story based on a personal experience from his life. It is a quick read, at only 263 pages long.

It is the story of a young boy named Eddie who endures incredible hardship and heartbreak. Near the beginning of the book, his father dies of cancer. His mother takes on multiple jobs and struggles to make ends meet. Eddie is twelve years old, and the only thing he wants for Christmas is a new, red bike. He works hard at his chores, keeps a positive attitude, and drops a lot of hints to his mom about his desire for the bike. As Christmas approaches, he is convinced that he has done everything he can to earn it. He doesn’t understand that the money simply isn’t there for such a purchase. His mom knits him a beautiful sweater, and that is his big gift for the year. He is devastated…and angry. He tells her that he wants to go upstairs and put it away. When she checks on him, she sees it crumpled in a ball on the floor. She is deeply pained by that, and in his youth, he is too angry to apologize. Tragedy strikes again. He is surrounded by love, but because of the trauma, his heart becomes cold and hard, and he begins to head down a dark and bitter road. He thinks that happiness lies in wealth and tries to break free from everything in his life that reminds him of the pain that he has endured. I don’t want to give away too much of the story, as there is a significant twist in it that I never saw coming.

In the epilogue, Mr. Beck offers his own personal reflections on the story. This particular passage caught my eye and has stuck with me ever since I closed the book:

“I guess the real lesson I learned that last Christmas with my mother was that the greatest gift is any gift that is given with love. I so clearly remember the look in her eyes as she saw my sweater rolled up in a ball on the floor of my room, and I remember realizing all that she had done for that gift. I refuse to stand at His feet and see Him with the same look in His eyes as he asks me, “Son, is that the gift I gave you.”

Pick up your redemption. Cherish it. Wear it. Share it. It has the power to transform lives. It has transformed mine.” (The Christmas Sweater, Glenn Beck, pages 271-272)

Mr. Beck is right. The greatest gift is one that is given with love. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16) God is love, and He offers redemption and eternal life to anyone who will accept His Son as atonement for his or her sin.

Regardless of whether you agree with Mr. Beck’s political views or not, I would encourage you to read this book. It is a powerful story of love and redemption, and a wonderful way to spend a wintry day.

Five Minute Friday: Open

2011-12-30T11:27:00.001-08:00

I'm linking with Lisa Jo at The Gypsy Mama for her Five Minute Friday series. She encourages her readers to write for five minutes on a given topic, not worrying about editing, etc. Just write what comes into your mind. The word for today is:

Open

Most people who know me, know that this is not my favorite time of year.

Christmas is over and a year of full of activities is coming to a close. I enjoy reflecting on all that has been accomplished and remembering the good times. It makes me sad to have to take down the twinkling lights and fun décor that add a special touch of warmth to my home.

For whatever reason, January and a new year always feels overwhelming to me. It doesn’t help matters that I live in a region of the country where it is constantly gray and rains a lot…for months on end.

I tend to close down.

That’s why when I saw today’s word, it didn’t surprise me at all that my first thought was “Closed.”

I recognize this about myself, and consciously fight it each year.

I want to be open, but open with intent and purpose.

Regardless of the time of year, I seek to be continually open to:

His abundant grace
His mercies that are new every morning
His faithfulness, day by day, moment by moment
His sovereign control over my life
His blessings

I am open, Lord.
Use me.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Surprise Cookies

2011-12-22T15:11:00.001-08:00

Every Christmas I try a new cookie recipe. Today I made Chocolate Peanut Butter Surprise cookies, and now I am wondering where these have been my whole life!! They are SO good. I got the recipe from Pennies on a Platter. For any family that loves chocolate and peanut butter, I guarantee these won't stay around long!

1 1/2 C all-purpose flour
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 C granulated sugar (plus more for dipping)
1/2 C packed brown sugar
1/2 C unsalted butter, softened
1 C creamy peanut butter, divided
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 egg
3/4 C powdered sugar

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Stir together the flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt. Set aside.

In a large mixing bowl fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the sugar, butter and 1/4 C of the peanut butter until light and smooth. Add in the vanilla and egg, beating one at a time to combine. Gradually stir in the flour mixture. Set dough aside.

To make the filling, cream together the powdered sugar and remaining 3/4 C of peanut butter until smooth.

To assemble the cookies, spoon a generous tablespoon of chocolate cookie dough and flatten into a circle in your hands. Scoop a small amount of peanut butter filling mixture and place in the center of the chocolate dough. Wrap the chocolate dough around the peanut butter filling, pinching ends together to seal. Roll the cookie in between hands to smooth into a ball. Roll into a bowl of sugar and place on the cookie sheet.

Use the bottom of a glass to slightly flatten the cookies. Bake for 7 to 9 minutes. Do not over bake. Let cool on wire rack.

********
I got two dozen cookies out of this recipe. My only comment would be that there was way too much peanut butter filling left over. You could easily get away with 1/2 a cup of peanut butter and 1/2 a cup of powdered sugar.

Overall I give this recipe a very high two thumbs up, and it is going straight into my cookie arsenal for years to come. Yes, these cookies are THAT good!!!

Out in the Fields

2011-12-22T00:47:00.000-08:00

"And in the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields, and keeping watch over their flock by night." (Luke 2:8 NASB)

Oregon has an abundance of sheep. Every Sunday on the way to church, we often see sheep grazing in the fields. It occurred to me that in all the years of travel to church, I have NEVER seen a shepherd out there! These days, most farmers rely on fences to keep their sheep safe and together. Jesus is often referred to as the Good Shepherd. He isn't trusting other things to keep us safe, He is in the field with us, keeping watch over us!!!

John 10 reveals what He does for us as our Shepherd:

"...he calls his own sheep by name, and leads them out" (John 10:3)
He knows us by name (personal, intimate)
He leads us

"When he puts forth all his own, he goes before them" (John 10:4)
He protects us

"I am the door, if anyone enters through Me, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture" (John 10:9)
He provides salvation
He gives us freedom
He provides our needs

"I came that they might have life, and might have it abundantly" (John 10:10)
He gives us eternal life

Isn't this wonderful?!?! I am rejoicing anew at the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Merry Christmas!

One Thousand Gifts

2011-12-19T00:51:00.000-08:00

91. Strands of her golden hair dancing in the wind.

92. Watching her grow in confidence.

93. Words that stir the soul.

94. When he shares his day at school with me.

95. How she spins in circles while memorizing Scripture.

96. Hand lotion.

97. Chatting with a friend.

98. Birds on a wire.

99. An afternoon nap.

100. Blanket forts.

101. Lazy Saturday mornings.

102. Music that stirs something deep within.

103. Live Internet concert feeds that make it feel like he's with me, even when he's a thousand miles away.

104. Decorated mailboxes on country roads.

105. Quaking aspens.

Five Minute Friday: Connected

2011-12-16T13:19:00.000-08:00

I'm linking with Lisa Jo at The Gypsy Mama for her Five Minute Friday series today. She encourages her readers to write for five minutes on a given topic, not worrying about editing, etc. Just write what comes into your mind. The word for today is Connected.

*****
Connected.

The phrase, “It’s all about who you know” comes to mind.

Just yesterday I received an email from my mom. She reminded me that if my grandmother (her mother) were still alive, she would be 108 years old. She wrote that she was thankful for her mother’s influence in her life.

I remember going up to Grandma’s farm in the northern panhandle of Idaho every summer when I was little. At night, after I got my jammies on, I would go into the living room and sit on the couch across the room from her. I remember her head bent over her Bible and the glow of the lamp on her face. After she had read for a bit, she would close her Bible and begin to braid her long hair. I watched this happen many nights over the years of summer visits.

I remember walking through the kitchen at home as a pre-teen and teenager. It would often be dark except for the light on the stove. My mom would be sitting at the kitchen table with a cup of tea, and the radio on the table would be tuned to a station where she could listen to sermons and meditate on the Word. Again, I remember many nights of this.

Throughout my life I have witnessed these two women connecting with their Savior.

As each year passes, I realize more and more how vital this spiritual connection is, both to maintain for myself, as well as to pass on to my children.

They led by example.

They taught me the most important thing that anyone can know…

It really is all about Who you know.

Keeping Watch

2011-12-14T06:34:00.000-08:00

When you stop trying to control your life, and instead allow your problems to bring you to God in prayer, you shift from worry to watching. (A Praying Life, Paul Miller)

I saw this quote on Facebook about a week or so ago, and it caught my attention. Specifically, it was the phrase “from worry to watching” that caught my eye. I could be a poster child for worry. It comes a little too easily and happens much too often. It isn’t something I’m proud of by any stretch of the imagination. I know the verses like Philippians 4:6, “Be anxious for nothing…” and Matthew 6:27, “And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life?” Somewhere between my head and my heart there seems to be a disconnect when it comes to this subject. Worrying is the opposite of walking in faith, which is my daily goal.

Scripture is filled with verbs like look, see, observe, and consider.

In Genesis 15:5, God is speaking to Abraham. “And He took him outside and said, “Now look toward the heavens, and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.”

Psalm 66:5 says, “Come and see the works of God, who is awesome in his deeds toward the sons of men.”

Habakkuk 1:5 says, “Look among the nations! Observe! Be astonished! Wonder! Because I am doing something in your days -- You would not believe if you were told.”

As we approach Christmas, I have been thinking about the birth of Jesus and the shepherds who were keeping watch over their flocks by night. I wonder if any of those shepherds were prone to worry? When it comes to worrying, nighttime is the worst. It is dark and quiet and I am alone with my thoughts. I ponder and pray and yes, worry over my little flock of two. I can’t even imagine what that would have been like to be awake in the still of the night, lost in thought, and be suddenly surrounded by the glory of the Lord along with an accompanying host of angels. Talk about a life-changing event!

And what was their immediate response?

“And it came about when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.” (Luke 2:15)

They sought out their Savior. Perhaps if I stop looking within and worrying about my problems, and instead seek the Lord in all things, then I too can catch a glimpse of His glory. I know it is there. I just need to look for it.

Tuesdays Unwrapped: Soft and Quiet Moments

2011-12-13T21:52:00.000-08:00

Today's gift was one of contrasts.

In the midst of rumbling dishwashers, whirring garbage disposals, blaring horns, fluorescent lights, and cheesy overhead mall music...

I noticed and enjoyed those moments, soft and quiet, woven into the fabric of my day...

Linking with Emily at Chatting at the Sky for her Tuesdays Unwrapped series.

One Thousand Gifts

2011-12-12T11:07:00.000-08:00

76. Ribbons of sunset colors, stretched along the horizon.

77. Windshield wipers.

78. Shrieks of delight welcoming me home.

79. Mom's apple crisp.

80. Learning new skills.

81. Honest conversations.

82. An extra hour of sleep.

83. Family jokes.

84. Seeing my children sing, "Yes, Lord!"

85. The ability to harmonize.

86. Hearing her tell the cat how cute he is 20 times a day.

87. Flannel sheets.

88. Squirrels scampering across the fence.

89. My crockpot.

90. His cheery voice on the other end of the line.

Five Minute Friday: Color

2011-12-09T11:31:00.000-08:00

I'm linking with Lisa-Jo at The Gypsy Mama for her Five Minute Friday series today. She encourages her readers to write for five minutes on the given topic, not worrying about editing, etc. Just write what comes into your mind. The word for today is Color.

GO.

Color is simply the reflection of light.

We see something as red because it reflects wavelength from the red end of the spectrum. White light is simply the combination of many colors of the rainbow. We are surrounded by light, and I find that comforting.

We live in a kaleidoscope world full of colors and hues that can be obtained from mixing red, yellow, and blue. I find it fascinating that centuries’ worth of all different kinds of music can be created from a combination of seven different notes. Music is intangible, and yet it powerfully affects our souls. Color is the same way. We see it, but we can’t really touch it, taste it or feel it. Music and color are some of the intangible ways in which our Creator God communicates with us.

Since color and music can powerfully move the soul on earth, I wonder what it will be like in heaven, where the source of light is Jesus himself?

STOP

Megan's Heart

2011-12-08T00:19:00.000-08:00

Two little girls named Marcy and Megan are sisters, and their favorite time of year is Christmas! Each year they look forward to sitting down with the glossy, brightly colored catalogs that come in the mailbox and looking through them. Marcy snuggles up in her favorite chair and begins to flip pages… “I want this one, and this one, and this one…” After she’s done, she hands the catalog to Megan. Slowly, Megan begins to flip through the pages. Periodically, she points and says, “I have this one, and this one, and this one…”

We recently visited a church where the pastor shared this little anecdote with the congregation. The message is obvious, and has been ringing in my ears for weeks now. The Christmas season is upon us. In a season where the world screams, “Consume!” my heart whispers, “Be content.”

“Let your character be free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5)

His name is Emmanuel…God with us.

He walked among us.

He died for us.

His IS the gift…the only gift we need.

Let us spend this season counting His blessings.

Let us have a heart like Megan.

Tuesdays Unwrapped: Through the Fog

2011-12-06T21:22:00.000-08:00

I live in the Willamette Valley in western Oregon, and every now and then a blanket of dense fog will descend down to the valley floor and hover for a few days. Today was one of those days. It is the kind of fog that delays flights and makes your stress level rise if you have to drive in it because visibility is so limited.

In addition to limited visibility, it left me feeling a little isolated and lonely. Every now and then I would see the faint shadows of birds flying in the treetops. I have no idea what kind of birds they were, but it reminded me of the hymn entitled “His Eye is on the Sparrow.”

Why should I feel discouraged, why should the shadows come,
Why should my heart be lonely, and long for heaven and home,
When Jesus is my portion? My constant friend is He:
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

Chorus:
I sing because I'm happy,
I sing because I'm free,
For His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me.

"Let not your heart be troubled," His tender word I hear,
And resting on His goodness, I lose my doubts and fears;
Though by the path He leadeth, but one step I may see;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

Whenever I am tempted, whenever clouds arise,
When songs give place to sighing, when hope within me dies,
I draw the closer to Him, from care He sets me free;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

Today’s gift was the reminder that no matter where I am, He is with me. Sometimes we can feel like we’re in a mental or emotional fog. Sometimes it is difficult to see what God is doing in our lives, and that can leave us feeling isolated and unsure. In order to navigate through my physical world today, headlights were a necessity. As long as I have His light shining on the path in front of me, I know I can trust Him to get me safely where He wants me next.

Being reminded of His constant care and love today felt like a warm, snuggly blanket on a cold, foggy night.

**Linking with Emily at Chatting at the Sky

One Thousand Gifts

2011-12-05T20:25:00.000-08:00

61. Telephone wire shadows looping lazily down the road.

62. That she gives names to the crows and makes up fanciful stories about them.

63. His tender heart.

64. Dust bunnies.

65. The rhythmic, rumbling purr of my cat.

66. That she so willingly shares with others.

67. Sisterhood in Christ.

68. The lavish love of my Father in heaven.

69. Surprise snow!

70. Crystalline snow resting on fire-colored leaves.

71. The sound of melting snow.

72. My husband, "Bug Slayer Extraordinaire."

73. Quotes that inspire.

74. A good night's sleep.

75. Safe flights.

Five Minute Friday: Tired

2011-12-02T18:42:00.000-08:00

I'm linking with Lisa-Jo at The Gypsy Mama for her Five Minute Friday series today. She encourages her readers to write for five minutes on the given topic, not worrying about editing, etc. Just write what comes into your mind. The word for today is Tired.

GO.

There are different kinds of tired.

There is “I have a newborn and a toddler, mountains of laundry and dishes piling up, and I haven’t slept in a month” kind of tired.

"Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28)

There is “I’ve been up since 6:00am, have a “to do” list a mile long, spent half my day in the car taxiing children around, have bare cupboards, and dinner is in five minutes” kind of tired.

"Yet those who wait upon the Lord will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary." (Isaiah 40:31)

There is the kind of tired you feel from battling the thoughts in your head that plague you and drain your emotions, leaving you feeling empty and exhausted.
"Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety upon Him, because He cares for you." (I Peter 5:6-7)

I find I am different kinds of tired at different times. These are some of my favorite verses that I draw on a lot during these seasons of motherhood. I love these verses because they offer promises, and I draw my strength from remembering and resting on His promises. Whenever I find verses like these in my Bible, I underline the action I need to take in red, and His promise in blue.

“Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth does not become weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable.” (Isaiah 40:28)

STOP

Note to the reader: I did exceed the five minute limit on this post. I wrote the descriptions of tired, the scripture reference, and the final four sentences while the clock was ticking. Afterwards, I went back and typed in the actual verse, because it is important to me to quote scripture accurately. I spent additional time adding color to the verses, since I mentioned it in the final sentence.

Security

2011-12-01T07:22:00.000-08:00

On “Black Friday” I hopped in the car around 10:00 a.m. (no 4:00 a.m. for this girl, no way!) and began to make my way out of the neighborhood. I turned on the car radio in hopes of finding some Christmas music. I wasn’t expecting to hear what I heard. It was on a commercial break, and since it caught me off guard and I was paying attention to the road (!), I can’t remember it exactly, but it went something along these lines…

A young man has just purchased the perfect engagement ring for his girlfriend and is so excited to give it to her for Christmas. You hear her unwrap it, there’s a pause, and then she says in a very disappointed tone, “Oh.” He asks, “Don’t you like it?” She says that it’s nice, but she was really hoping for (company name) insurance. After a brief blurb by the announcer, you hear the mother of the girlfriend say through tears and sniffling, “I just wanted her to feel secure!”

Now don’t get me wrong. I know that this scenario is contrived and over the top. It is a silly commercial meant to grab your attention (it did!) and sell a product. It was the underlying message though, that left me unsettled. Here is someone who is offered an engagement ring, a symbol of love that is supposed to last for her lifetime, and she would rather have been given insurance…something that would have to be paid for year after year, and has terms and limits.

It was a reminder to me of the incredible gift of love that we received in that manger so long ago. Our Savior was born in humble surroundings, walked among us, and loved us so much that He gave His very life so that all who believe would be eternally secure and with Him forever. I know this. I believe this. How easy it is though, to forget and look for an insurance plan…something tangible that I can see and hold on to so that I can feel secure. Two years ago this month, I was in Texas on tour with my husband and children when my purse was stolen out of our van. We suddenly entered a whirlwind of police reports, dumpster diving, viewing video surveillance cameras, and making numerous phone calls to banks and credit card companies. I felt completely vulnerable and scared. I understood the damage that could be done if your personal and financial data falls into the wrong hands, and the havoc it can wreak on your life. This happened half way through the trip. For twelve days, I could do nothing but wait…wait for the police to call, wait to get home so that I could do more necessary paperwork, and “re-build” my life on paper. I was completely reliant on my husband (he was awesome through all of this, by the way!) for everything I needed, down to asking him for money to buy a drink at a mini-mart. It felt strange and awkward not to have a purse. It was unsettling to realize how much our identity on this planet is tied up in plastic and numbers.

The Lord gently reminded me during this time that:

He knew me before He even created me.
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you.” (Jeremiah 1:5a)

He created me.
“I will give thanks to Thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Thy works, and my soul knows it very well.” (Psalm 139:14)

My identity is in Him.
“I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and delivered Himself up for me.” (Galatians 2:20)

I am secure
“And I give eternal life to them, and they shall never perish; and no one shall snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.” (John 10:28-29)

Love or insurance? For me, it is a “no brainer.”

I choose Love.
I choose eternal security.

Tuesdays Unwrapped

2011-11-29T21:18:00.000-08:00

I'm linking with Emily at Chatting with the Sky for her Tuesdays Unwrapped series. It is about finding and opening a gift in the midst of an ordinary day.
************************************************

As I stood at the sink, hands immersed in hot soapy water, I absent-mindedly watched her rake the leaves. I was proud of her for noticing that it needed to be done and taking it upon herself to help out where she could. I was mentally preoccupied with my "to do" list when I noticed that she had disappeared into the shed.

I continued to wash and rinse, wash and rinse.

She reappeared with her bright red sled and a roll of masking tape.

My hands stopped.

Sensing something special, I quickly dried my hands and grabbed the camera. I quietly slipped out of the back patio door and began to observe.

She had been raking for some time, and had come up with a creative idea to make the work easier.

I watched as she tried over and over again to secure the rake to the sled with the masking tape. She would test out her new contraption, and when the rake would separate from the sled, she would try re-taping it again. She never appeared frustrated with the failure of each test run, only intent and content on seeing if her idea would work.

After many failed attempts, she gave up and began raking again.

A huge flock of geese flew overhead, honking loudly.

Her face turned toward the sky...

...the rake dropped, and she was off....
arms flapping...
face full of joy...
feeling the wind in her hair...
enjoying the chase...

It is all too easy for me to get bogged down with schedules, to-do lists, and responsibilities. What a refreshing gift it was to observe my sweet girl just being who God created her to be and living in the moment.

She did finish raking the leaves, and look at all of the fun, creativity, and joy that she experienced in the process!

One Thousand Gifts

2011-11-28T00:09:00.000-08:00

46. Shafts of morning sunlight.

47. Piles of pumpkins.

48. The rat-a-tat of rain pelting the window.

49. Those quick "I love you, Mom's."

50. Sunset clouds rimmed in fiery salmon pink.

51. The flag rippling in the breeze.

52. Gold leaves against an October blue sky.

53. Friendly service with a smile.

54. Pumpkin spice lattes.

55. Our competent and compassionate dentist.

56. Tree-lined streets.

57. The scratchy sound of skittering leaves.

58. The stars at twilight.

59. Thick, misty fog.

60. Hundreds of geese flying overhead (I actually pulled the car over and watched them because it was such an incredible sight!)

Five Minute Friday: Grateful

2011-11-25T12:18:00.000-08:00

Grateful.

I’m tempted to start writing a list of all the things I’m grateful for, but when I think about it, what I’m most grateful for is the breath that I breathe so that I can experience the abundance of blessings that He grants to me each and every day. I’m grateful for life, both in the now and the eternal that is yet to come. Each breath that I draw is a reminder of His love, His mercy, and his overflowing extravagant grace.

Grace and Mercy.

I have been working through a lot in my inner world lately, and right now I’ve been experiencing a new and fresh understanding of God’s amazing grace.

It’s overwhelming and the tears flow…

His grace flows…

And I’m grateful…

So very grateful.

Thankful

2011-11-24T00:27:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving! These are some of the verses that I am dwelling on today.

Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the Truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me." (John 14:6)

Now may the God of Hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13)

This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which he carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and confident Access through faith in Him. (Ephesians 3:11-12)

But as for me, the Nearness of God is my good; I have made the Lord God my refuge, that I may tell of all Thy works. (Psalm 73:28)

Who is the King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. (Psalm 24:8)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort. (2 Corinthians 1:3)

The Rock! His work is perfect, for all His ways are just; a God of faithfulness and without injustice, righteous and Upright is He. (Deuteronomy 32:4)

Again therefore Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have th elight of life." (John 8:12)

May you and your family be blessed on this day of Thanksgiving.

Extravagance

2011-11-22T07:09:00.000-08:00

Extravagant, adj. 1. spending much more than is necessary or wise. 2. exceeding the bounds of reason or moderation; excessive.

There is a song that I love by Casting Crowns called "Your Love is Extravagant." As I was running around town preparing for Thanksgiving, I was listening to the CD with this song on it, and it got me thinking. I don't know how it is at your house, but at mine, dinner is not an "event." If I haven't gotten to the pile of dishes in the sink, we use paper plates. I don't transfer the chicken nuggets from the cookie sheet to a platter...the cookie sheet goes on the table, nuggets and all. Milk is poured from the jug, not a special crystal pitcher. It is a red-letter day if the dinner menu has representations from the five food groups!

A Thanksgiving meal is different. By comparison, it is extravagant. We have a fall tablecloth spread over the table. Often, we will bring out the china and silver. We have a main course, several hot and cold side dishes, a relish tray, rolls, sparkling cider, and dessert. Candles are lit. It isn't just another meal, it is an extravagant feast!

This is the kind of love that Jesus has for us on a daily basis! Think about that! His love for us is abundant, special, over-the-top, lavish! We see an example of extravagant love in Mary, who poured an entire bottle of expensive perfume (worth a year's wages) on Jesus' feet and washed them with her hair. I would definitely define that as a demonstration of extravagant love! What kind of love do we have for Him? Is it a cookie sheet love or a Thanksgiving feast sort of love? That is a sobering thought for me, mainly because an honest answer means that I must admit that I'm lacking in this department.

This season, I am grateful for so many things. I am thankful for my loving husband, my beautiful, healthy children and a circle of family and friends that I can't imagine life without. Most importantly, I am thankful for the extravagant love of my Savior!

One Thousand Gifts

2011-11-21T00:00:00.000-08:00

31. The cool mist of a waterfall.

32. A lone crane skimming the waters.

33. The simple, symmetrical lines of a praying mantis.

34. Clinking ice cubes in a tall glass of cold lemonade.

35. A lone pine tree standing tall in a meadow.

36. The rich sweet smell of soil and hay warmed by the summer sun.

37. Freckles bridging her nose.

38. Silly games of telephone.

39. Warm summer breezes.

40. Sun-sparkled lakes.

41. Her eyes, earnest and blue.

42. Burnt orange moon.

43. His reassuring hug.

44. Prayers over the phone.

45. Dramatic skies.

Five Minute Friday: Grow

2011-11-18T11:44:00.000-08:00

I recently discovered a blog called The Gypsy Mama (http://thegypsymama.com/) where she encourages her readers to write for five minutes on a certain topic every Friday...no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking. I thought I'd give it a whirl this week. The subject is "Grow."

GO.

Grow.
Growth.
Stretching.
Sometimes painful.

He's growing up. It seems like just yesterday I held him in my arms and rocked him to sleep. I have been there through it all...long nights, hospital stays, first steps, boo boos and band-aids, celebrating accomplishments, encouraging him in the rough times, teaching him how to read, teaching him about Jesus.

This year is a transition year, for him and for me. In September he began to attend a private school. I prepared myself for that day, and did pretty well with watching him walk to his classroom with a brand new notebook, freshly sharpened pencils, and a really cool backpack. We were both excited about this new stage in his life.

What I wasn't prepared for was not knowing what he does all day. Having homeschooled him from the beginning, I was so used to knowing everything about his school work and activities each day that it was kind of strange to receive this information in one line snippets through a student planner that I had to sign off on each day. It was a strange feeling, the not knowing. It was a stark realization that I am now at the point in motherhood where I need to begin the process of letting go.

That's painful.
...but it brings joy.
I want him to grow.
He is becoming a wonderful young man who loves the Lord.
I am blessed to be a part of the process of watching him spread his wings and fly.

STOP

Come join the fun!

Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies

2011-11-15T17:09:00.000-08:00

A friend of mine shared this recipe with me, and it quickly turned out to be a family favorite. I made a big batch yesterday!

1 C butter, softened (orig. calls for 1 1/4 C, but I use 1 and it's fine)
3/4 C brown sugar
1/2 C sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
1 1/2 C flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
3 C quick oats
1 1/2 C chocolate chips
3/4 C nuts (optional)

Cream butter and sugars. Mix in egg and vanilla. In separate bowl mix flour, baking soda, and salt. Mix into wet ingredients. Add quick oats one cup at a time. Add chocolate chips. Bake at 375 for 9-11 minutes.

Transparency

2011-11-14T13:36:00.001-08:00

As I was going through our pictures from this past summer, I came across this one from a hike that we took in August. I have always been fascinated by dragonflies, and was delighted when I was able to observe this one so closely. I'm drawn to the the beauty of its wings. They are so intricately designed, delicate and transparent that I can't help but marvel at how they can carry such a huge and oddly shaped body with such speed and agility. Just the beauty of this little creature alone is a testament to our amazing Creator!

Observing this dragonfly reminded me that I need to be transparent as I live my life for Christ. As we live our temporary life on earth, we encounter trials. Life sometimes leaves us bruised and hurt, and often we cope with this by putting up masks and walls to protect ourselves. If we don't surrender our hurts and hearts to the Lord and allow him to work in our lives, the mask-wearing and wall-building approach simply leaves us exhausted and broken. We have all observed people going through extreme trials. We notice when people in the depths of the darkest trials imaginable have unexplainable peace and joy. We clearly see the pain and suffering, yet their genuine response is ongoing joy and peace. The definition of transparency is: allowing light to pass through so that objects behind can be easily seen. When people who love the Lord allow others to see the pain or hardship, and the process of moving through it...when they are transparent, they are allowing the world to see Christ at work in their lives. This opens up opportunities to witness and minister to others, both believers and unbelievers.

When I first discovered this dragonfly, it was sitting on a rock. Before I could get my camera out it darted over to a log. Either one is symbolic.

The dragonfly was resting on the rock and the rock could be seen through its wings.
"The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies." (Psalm 18:2-3)

The dragonfly is resting on the wood which can be a symbol of the cross, and the wood can be seen through its wings.
"I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and delivered Himself up for me." (Galatians 2:20)

Even though they are delicate, those transparent wings are incredibly strong.
"I can do all things through Him who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:13)

Transparency in trials allows others to observe the source of our strength and the beauty of the Lord at work in our lives. When our response to pain and suffering is radically different than the world's response, it displays a compelling picture of what it means to have an active and intimate relationship with the God of all creation. People are drawn in, and He receives all the glory.

One Thousand Gifts

2011-11-13T23:07:00.000-08:00

16. A vivid rainbow arching promise over my afternoon.

17. A yellow ribbon of daffodils, stretching along five and a half miles of country road.

18. "Welcome home, Mom!" posters

19. Barren branches silhouetted like black coral against a pastel winter sunset.

20. The moon - marbled pearl in a black velvet sky.

21. Raindrops - disappearing craters on my window.

22. Sleep sounds of my children.

23. Cool spring breezes.

24. Quiet conversations about the Lord.

25. New friendships.

26. Red and yellow tulips in my kitchen window.

27. Shimmering, transparent wings of a dragonfly.

28. Moss-draped trees.

29. Wild huckleberries.

30. Seven bands of color slicing through a stormy gray sky.

Gettysburg - Part II

2011-11-09T22:18:00.000-08:00

After viewing the introductory film, we were ushered into a circular room to view the cyclorama. A cyclorama was a popular form of entertainment in the 1800's. It was a large oil painting on canvas that usually depicted epic events. The "Battle of Gettysburg" cyclorama is 359 feet long and 27 feet high and depicts the final day of battle on July 3, 1863. Some scenery such as grasses, shrubs, and cannons has been added around the base of the picture to give it a 3-D effect.

Viewing the cyclorama is a multi-sensory experience. As the story is told, you are standing in the middle of the room completely surrounded by the painting. It literally feels as if you are in the middle of the action. You ponder the chaos of war around you -- burning homes, staggering horses, fallen soldiers. You hear cannons meet their mark and feel the booming vibrations in your feet and feel the thud in your chest. Bright flashes behind the painting direct your attention to a new hit. It is a sobering experience.

Scripture tells us that living a life of faith is to experience a spiritual battle. "Put on the full armor of God, that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places." (Eph. 6:11-12) We may endure harsh words that cut like a bayonette, or feel the searing strike of betrayal. Perhaps we struggle with fear or depression that feels like a dull and constant roar of chaos in the back of our minds -- seemingly ever-present and never-ending. Remember that Jesus endured harsh words and betrayal. He felt emotions like grief and anger. He endured the cross so that those who believe could have eternal life. He understands our pain. "In the days of His flesh, He offered up both prayers and supplications with loud crying and tears to the One able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His piety. Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered." (Heb. 5:7-8)

Throughout His life and ministry on earth, Jesus never lost His focus. He was here to do the will of His Father. We need to be accomplishing His will in our lives. "Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Heb. 12:1-2) Come alongside those who are staggering and struggling on the battlefield of life and encourage them. Pray for them and with them. Remember that we are a witness for our Savior. We must teach our children what it means to be a soldier of Christ.

As the cyclorama presentation closed, the narrator read a quote by Union Colonel Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain that I found powerful and worthy of consideration:

"In great deeds, something abides. On great fields something stays. Forms change and pass; bodies disappear, but spirits linger, to consecrate the ground for the vision-place of souls. Generations that know us not and that we know not of, [are] heart-drawn to see where and by whom great things were suffered and done for them..."

Paul instructs Timothy to "pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called..." (1 Tim. 6:11-12)

When future generations hear your life story, what will your legacy look like?
Will they see a life of faith and obedience?
Will they see Jesus?

Gettysburg - Part I

2011-11-08T12:36:00.000-08:00

My husband and I recently had the opportunity to visit Gettysburg National Military Park. Before touring the battlefield, we watched the movie in the Visitor's Center to get a brief reminder of this time in U.S. history. The country was embroiled in civil war. One of the main issues dealt with freedom of the slaves. The unity of the country hung in the balance. The film was narrated by Morgan Freeman, and near the end he said, "Freedom, like power, will always be contested."

This was a reminder to me that this is true for the spiritual life as well. We see in Isaiah 14:13-14 where Satan challenges God. "But you said in your heart, 'I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God, and I will sit on the mount of assembly in the recesses of the north, I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the most High." God's response to this brazen statement is to cast him out of heaven. From the very beginning of time we see Satan asserting and inserting himself in situations where he can create confusion, cause doubt, grasp for power, and try to bind us up in the grip of sin. In the Garden of Eden, he creates doubt in Eve's mind about God's instructions and the consequences of eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. She chooses to disobey God's instructions, sin enters the world, and humanity becomes enslaved to sin.

We must remember that we have freedom in Christ. Galatians 5:1 says, "It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery." Christ died and rose again so that we could be forgiven of our sins and live a life of freedom in Him. In verses 7-9, Paul says, "You were running well; who hindered you from obeying the truth? This persuasion did not come from Him who calls you. A little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough." Satan wants nothing more than to hinder and bind up the believer as we run the race for Christ. Sin, if left unchecked, can permeate throughout our lives spreading destruction and binding us up with pain and guilt. Sin is a hindrance to a life of freedom. In verse 13 Paul says, "For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another."

We should not be surprised by Satan's constant attacks on our freedom in Christ. Jesus tells us in John 10:10 that this is the enemy's very nature, and has been since the beginning of time. In this same verse, Jesus also tells us why He came, and what His desire is for His children...

"The thief comes only to steal, and kill, and destroy. I came that they might have life, and might have it abundantly." (John 10:10)

"Walk by the Spirit..." (Galatians 5:16)
"Press on toward the goal..." (Philippians 3:14)
"Walk in the newness of life." (Romans 6:4)

Be free
Run well
Live abundantly!

One Thousand Gifts

2011-11-06T22:01:00.000-08:00

(I started this list earlier this year, but haven't gotten around to posting these until now. It is my intention to post my list every Monday, so these first few weeks will be somewhat dated...)

1. My son's eyes pausing to look up and gaze at the night sky.

2. The smell of damp soil in the breeze.

3. Sunlit birch branches scratching a charcoal sky.

4. Pink cheeks flush with excitement.

5. Husband and daughter skating hand in hand.

6. Family game nights full of laughter.

7. Eyes twinkling with mischief...

8. A flock of swans resting on rippling waters.

9. Husband and son playing duets on the piano.

10. Quiet time with You.

11. A quiet meal alone.

12. Delicate pansies clothed in regal purple and vibrant yellow.

13. Bread fresh from the oven -- warm, soft, crusty.

14. Tastebuds.

15. Distant blue mountains, covered in patchwork snow blankets.

Something Good!

2011-10-15T17:25:00.000-07:00

We recently visited some friends this summer, and as we were sitting down to dinner one night, I overheard this conversation between my children and one of their daughters:

My son: “What’s for dinner?”
Their daughter: “Something good!”
My daughter: “What is it?”
Their daughter: “I don’t know.”

This struck me as a beautiful example of contentment and gratitude. Here was a child’s expression of thankfulness for the food that would be placed before her, before she even knew what it was. Her comments represent security in knowing that her parents faithfully provide for her needs, and she doesn’t even need all of the details to know that what they provide for her will be good.

As the world continues to careen out of control, I notice an increasing level of fear, even among believers. This sweet conversation between children reminded me of the need to have childlike faith. The apostle Paul mentions in Philippians 4:11 that he has learned to be content in whatever circumstances he finds himself. Paul knew who his Father was, and lived in complete reliance on His faithfulness and goodness. Later in that same chapter (v.19), he writes, “And my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” We can trust in the faithfulness and goodness of God and live in contentment and security, knowing that He will supply all of our needs.

I recently read an excellent book on heaven, and my thoughts have been occupied with what it will be like. I can easily imagine having a similar exchange when we are seated at the marriage supper of the Lamb.

Fellow believer: “What’s for dinner?”
Me: “Something good!”

James 5:19-20

2011-04-02T00:20:00.000-07:00

James closes his book with a word to believers about restoration. We are the body of Christ, and should function as one. It seems that too often, when someone "strays from the truth" as James puts it, it is either overlooked, or the person is "written off" and people move on. We need to help restore and rebuild relationships, not in a spirit of judgment but in a spirit of love. Several verses came to mind in regards to this passage:

"Brethren, even if a man is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and thus fulfill the law of Christ." (Galatians 6:1-2)

"And if a brother sins, go and reprove him in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother. But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every fact may be confirmed." (Matthew 18:15-16)

When we seek to restore a brother or sister, it must be done in His wisdom and through much prayer. James gives us the definition of divine wisdom in chapter 3, verse 17, and we see the word gentleness mirrored in Galatians 6:1. At the end of the passage in Matthew 18, verse 20 says, "For where two or three have gathered together in My name, there I am in their midst." These last two verses in the book of James follow his words of encouragement on prayer. Christ is the head of the church, and as the body, we must fall under His Lordship. The body of Christ will be most effective when we are strong and unified, walking in faith and in our God-given gifts, and following wherever He leads.

James 5:18

2011-03-31T06:10:00.000-07:00

Prayer is one of the ways in which we can practice the presence of God in our lives. There are many different kinds of prayers. There are prayers of confession and prayers of petition. There are what I call "arrow prayers," which are quick requests for wisdom and guidance when we may find ourselves in a delicate situation or where we are unsure of ourselves, and need His immediate help to navigate through it. Another form of prayer is the one that is an ongoing conversation between us and the Lord as we move throughout the day. It is through continual communication with the Lord that we learn to recognize His voice and begin to learn how to align our will with His. James tells us near the end of his letter that prayers offered in faith and in His name are effective and can accomplish much.

Elijah - "Now Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the settlers of Gilead, said to Ahab, 'As the Lord, the God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, surely there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word." (1 Kings 17:1) Elijah was a prophet of God. As a prophet, for him to boldly state to the king that he could control the weather (which no man can do) had to mean that he was supremely confident in what God's plan was for the people of Israel. While this verse does not specifically say that Elijah prayed, I believe that his statement to Ahab was divinely inspired, and based from the kind of prayer that is a continual conversation and well-developed relationship with the Lord. He declared his statement to the king in the name of the Lord. Elijah knew how God felt about His people worshiping false gods. He recognized God's power over all things. In verse two, we see him walking in faith according to the Lord's direction. In verse seven, we begin to see evidence that the weather had been affected because the brook that he was camped by dried up and God told him to move on. In 1 Kings 18:1 we find ourselves three years later, where God tells Elijah to go tell Ahab that He is going to send rain. What follows is the story about the face off between Elijah and the prophets of Baal and Asherah. At the conclusion of the events on Mt. Carmel, we see the people's response. "And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, 'The Lord, He is God; the Lord, He is God." (1 Kings 18:39). Elijah's statement to Ahab in the beginning was specific. He could have just told the king that God would bring judgment upon the people for their sins, and left it at that. Through continual communion with God, I believe that Elijah understood God's plan and knew that He was preparing the people's hearts to see and understand His mighty power.

Jesus - "And he answered and said to them, 'Go and report to John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raise up, the poor have the gospel preached to them." (Luke 7:22) God the Creator became flesh and dwelt among us in the person of Jesus Christ. He was fully God and fully man. Jesus provides the example for believers in how to walk in faith and communion with God. We read many times throughout the gospels that Jesus removed himself from the crowds and chaos to pray. He restored people to full health and raised people from the dead through the power of His spoken word or touch. This was a demonstration of His divine power, because no man can do that. Jesus understood God's plan for salvation, and through His words and actions was preparing the people's hearts and minds to see and understand that plan.

Peter - "But Peter said, 'I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene -- walk!' And seizing him by the right hand, he raised him up; and immediately his feet and his ankles were strengthened. And with a leap, he stood upright and began to walk; and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God." (Acts 3:6-8) Here we see a man of God who had actually walked with Jesus and witnessed His incredible ministry here on earth as one of his disciples. He had many conversations with the Lord in person, and I'm sure that those conversations continued through the Holy Spirit after His return to heaven following the resurrection. Peter had witnessed first hand the divine power of Jesus Christ. Note again, the specificity of his statement and that he made it in the name of the Lord. Peter didn't just say, "Be healed." He instructed the lame man to walk. In Luke 3:2, we read that this man had been lame since birth. Even knowing that he had suddenly been given the ability to walk, you would think it would take time to train the muscles how to stand and learn the mechanics of walking. This man jumped up and immediately began walking. But it didn't stop there!! Not only did he walk, it says that he was walking and leaping! Again, we see the power of God shown through a man (Peter) who walked in faith and close communion with Him. We also see the response of the person who was affected...he praised God.

In Ephesians 3:14-21, Paul writes, "For this reason, I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man; so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fulness of God. Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen." Take special note of the phrase "exceedingly abundantly beyond all that we ask or think," and ponder that for a minute. When we walk closely with the Lord and learn to pray in accordance with His will, He is able to do far and above what we can imagine or ask for. With all of this in mind, it truly shows that the effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much!

James 5:17

2011-03-30T06:14:00.000-07:00

As human beings, we tend to compare ourselves to others. The outcome of the comparison tends to either make us look good (which leads to pride), or has us coming up short, which leaves us feeling inferior and perhaps unworthy. We look at people like Elijah, or the apostle Paul, or Billy Graham and the incredible achievements that these men accomplished over their lifetimes, and perhaps think that we could never accomplish the same. Comparison often leaves us feeling defeated before we even begin. I am in no way diminishing the life work of these men. It is truly inspiring and incredible, but according to James in today's verse, Elijah was a man with a nature like ours. He was a prophet of God, but let us remember that he was also human like we are. His life was marked by trials, and he made mistakes like we do. Elijah had a close relationship with God, and we can have the same. Rather than looking at others, we need to look to God and ask Him what it is that He would like to accomplish in our lives. He has gifted each one of us according to His purposes. If we submit our hearts and lives to Him and allow Him to work and move through us, we can accomplish great things in His name.

"I can do all things through Him who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:13)

James 5:15-16

2011-03-29T06:12:00.000-07:00

We are told in Hebrews 4:16 that we can "come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." We must approach His throne in humility though, and not arrogance. James tells us in 5:14 to pray in the name of the Lord. I believe this means that we need to lay our requests before God recognizing and desiring His sovereignty in the situation at hand. We need to pray that His will would be accomplished. Jesus said in Luke 11:2, "When ye pray, say, 'Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth." If we pray in faith for God's will to be accomplished, it will be. We must be satisfied and thankful with His answer, even if it does not match what we would desire in the situation.

In verse 16, James says that we should confess our sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that we may be healed. I don't believe that he means that we should confess our sins to one another expecting atonement for them. God alone is the only one who can forgive sin. It says in Isaiah 43:25, "I, even I, am the one who wipes out your transgressions for My own sake; and I will not remember your sins." I think James is referring to the relationship among believers, and our need to pray for each other. The NASB version uses the word "sins" in this verse, and the KJV uses the word "faults." 1 Thessalonians 5:11 says, "Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing." Hebrews 3:13 says, "But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called 'Today,' so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin." One of the privileges we have as believers is that we can approach the throne with requests, not only for ourselves, but for those whom we love. God places us within our homes, churches and communities, so that we may bless and encourage others as we all struggle through life. We know that we can go to other believers and admit that we are struggling with sin in a certain area, and ask them to pray with us and for us regarding that issue. Matthew 18:20 says, "For where two or three have gathered in My name, I am their in their midst." Again, we are assured that when we pray in the name of the Lord, He will hear.

James ends verse 16 with the wonderful statement, "The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much." (NASB) The KJV says, "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." I like the word "fervent" in the KJV because it implies passion. The Greek word used here is "energeo" which means "to be operative, be at work, put forth power." Our prayer life should be active and persistent. We should not nag God, but there should be a sincere and persistent desire to seek God's will in all the requests that we lay before Him. I know I am guilty of a lack of consistency, as well as persistence. It is very difficult to pursue something daily when we do not see results, particularly when immersed in a society that holds instant gratification in such high esteem. We obtain our righteousness through Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:21 says, "He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." When we approach God the Father in Christ, fervently seeking His will, our prayers will accomplish much. What a blessing and encouragement this should be to our hearts!

James 5:13-14

2011-03-28T06:13:00.000-07:00

As James begins to close his letter, he turns to the topic of prayer. If anyone is suffering or sick, they should pray. If they are cheerful, they should sing praises. This pretty much encompasses all of life. At any point, we could probably plug ourselves into one of these areas. This touches again on the topic of humility and submission to God. We need to view our lives through the lens of eternity, and realize anew that God loves us and is building us up for His kingdom and purposes. In times of suffering or sickness, we gain His strength and wisdom through prayer. In good times, we experience His joy through the expression of praise. This passage reminds me of Brother Lawrence, and the need to practice the presence of God. Prayer is one of the key components to maintaining a vital, intimate relationship with Him.

"Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you." (Matthew 7:7)

James 5:12

2011-03-25T06:09:00.000-07:00

This verse about the importance of not swearing or taking oaths follows James' encouragement of the brethren to remain patient under persecution and trials. Just as we must exhibit self-control of our hearts and minds in the midst of trials, James reminds his reader that this includes control of the tongue. The expression given by the tongue is a reflection of what is going on in the heart and mind. We are not to complain, swear, or call down curses upon others in difficult circumstances. Sometimes in the heat of emotion, we say too much. It is in just these sorts of circumstances that the tongue can set a forest aflame, as James says in chapter 3, verse 5. James advises our expression to be simple and straightforward, without embellishment.

There is an interesting difference in translations in regards to the last word in today's verse. The NASB uses the word judgment, and the KJV uses the word condemnation. On the surface, these words appear similar and interchangeable, but a study of the Greek reveals an interesting difference. The Greek word used for judgment is "krisis" and is defined as "judgment, sentence of condemnation, damnatory judgment, condemnation and punishment." The KJV uses the word condemnation, but in the Greek, the word is "hypokrisis" which means, "an answer, the acting of a stage player, dissimulation, hypocrisy." James has also warned his reader throughout the letter about avoiding hypocrisy. People observe us when we go through trials. They listen when we speak, and it is important that our words line up with our actions and honor our profession of faith. Otherwise we run the risk of being branded a hypocrite. The use of our tongue should never bring us condemning judgment or the appearance of hypocrisy. It should be used to bring honor and praise to the Father in all things.

"Every day I will bless You, and I will praise Your name forever and ever." (Psalm 145:2)

James 5:10-11

2011-03-24T06:06:00.000-07:00

James points to the prophets of old, who spoke out for God and endured many afflictions, and calls them blessed. We too, are called to be prophets of God, in the sense that we are to tell people the good news of Jesus Christ and model Him to the world. The gospel message is not always well received though, and this is where the need for patience and endurance enters into the life of a believer. Christ himself endured persecution, mistreatment, rejection and even death over the course of His ministry on Earth. Even in the face of that, He was always compassionate and merciful. His was a ministry of love.

Today's passage reminded me of Matthew 5 where Jesus calls those who suffer for His name's sake blessed.

"Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when men cast insults at you, and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, on account of Me. Rejoice, and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you." (Matthew 5:10-12)

Later in that same chapter, He has instructions for his disciples in how to behave in the face of persecution. We are not to lash out against our persecutors in anger and impatience, but show love.

"But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you in order that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax-gatherers do the same? And if you greet your brothers only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Matthew 5:44-48)

Several times throughout the Old Testament, and particularly in the Psalms, we read that "the Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness." (Psalm 145:8) Jesus is our example to follow in all things. 1 John 2:6 tells us "the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked."

James 5:7-9

2011-03-23T06:04:00.000-07:00

After such stern words toward the ungodly rich, James turns his attention toward speaking words of encouragement to the brethren. The Christian faith is a journey that must be marked by patience, among other things. The Greek word James uses in today's passage is different than the one used in chapter 1 within the context of trials. The difference is subtle, but there is a distinction. In chapter 1, the word used is "hypomone" which means "steadfastness, constancy, endurance." A sub-definition is "the characteristic of a man who is not swerved from his deliberate purpose and his loyalty to faith and piety by even the greatest trials and sufferings." In chapter 5 the word used is "makrothymeo" which is defined as "to be long of spirit, not to lose heart." A sub-definition is "to be patient in bearing the offenses and injuries of others; to be mild and slow in avenging; to be long-suffering, slow to anger, slow to punish." The first one seems to mean patience under circumstances, and the second one seems more focused on patience with people. James uses this term right after his rebuke of how the ungodly rich treat the righteous.

The kind of patience that God calls us to develop, whether it be under difficult circumstances or with people who treat us unjustly, is a tall order. This reminds me of many of David's psalms where we read verses such as, "How long shall the wicked, O Lord, How long shall the wicked exult? They pour forth words, they speak arrogantly; all who do wickedness vaunt themselves. They crush Thy people, O Lord, and afflict Thy heritage. They slay the widow and the stranger, and murder the orphans. And they have said, 'The Lord does not see, nor does the God of Jacob pay heed." (Psalm 94:3-7) We have all probably encountered these kinds of feelings before where we see obvious injustice that seems to continue longer than it should, and reap no obvious negative consequences to the inflicter. We must remember that God does see and is keeping an account. He does hear the outcry of the righteous, as James mentions in verse four of this chapter.

Rather than looking around us, we need to be looking up. He is the only one who can supply us with the kind of strength and endurance we need to bear up under trials and harsh circumstances. David, a man after God's own heart, is our example. He saw the injustice, but we see him taking it to the Lord in prayer. David also wrote the following:

"But know that the Lord has set apart the godly man for Himself; the Lord hears when I call to Him" (Psalm 4:3)
"The righteous cry and the Lord hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted, and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous; but the Lord delivers him out of them all." (Psalm 34:17-19)
"I love the Lord because He hears my voice and my supplications. Because He has inclined His ear to me, therefore I shall call upon Him as long as I live." (Psalm 116:1-2)

In all three verses of today's reading, James reminds us that the Lord is coming soon. Sometimes when we are weary of the battle and struggle with our emotions, it helps to keep our eye on the prize. Life on Earth is simply the training ground for eternity. The battleground isn't a pleasant place to be, and preparation for a life spent with Him means building character, which can be difficult at times. The term for patience ("makrothymeo") that James used today is the same term used by Paul in Galatians 5:22 where he lists the fruit of the Spirit. As long as we keep our focus on the Lord, He will give us the "precious produce" that James refers to in verse seven. It is the fruit of the Spirit that nourishes the soul and strengthens the heart.

James 5:4-6

2011-03-22T06:08:00.000-07:00

In these verses, James gets more specific about how the rich obtain their wealth. Their methods are aggressive and immoral, as well as self-serving. They live the high life simply because they can, and their wealth affords them the ability to do this because they don't have to answer to anyone. They do not consider that they will in fact, have to answer to God one day. Every one of their deeds are noticed by the Lord of the Sabaoth, and will cry out against them when they are called to give an account of their lives.

As believers, we need to guard against the pursuit of anything that could lure our attention and energies away from the Lord. We need to take an internal inventory of our activities and pursuits, or things that occupy our minds, and ask ourselves:

Is this worthy of my time and attention? ("Worthy art Thou, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for Thou didst create all things, and because of Thy will they existed, and were created." Rev. 4:11)
Am I pursuing this to feel secure? ("Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, yes and forever." Heb. 13:8)
Are my actions based in pride? ("But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, 'God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble." James 4:6)
Is this becoming, or has it become an idol in my life? ("You shall have no other gods before me." Exodus 20:3)

"But godliness actually is a means of great gain, when accompanied by contentment. For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. And if we have food and covering, with these we shall be content. But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith, and pierced themselves with many a pang. But flee from these things, you man of God; and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses." (1 Timothy 6:6-12)

James 5:1-3

2011-03-21T06:10:00.000-07:00

James begins chapter five with a stern warning against the rich. Putting today's verses within the context of the first six verses of the chapter, I believe this passage addresses unbelievers who amass riches through selfish and perhaps immoral (and/or hurtful) means, and then use the wealth for their own selfish pleasure. The adjectives used (rotting, moth-eaten, rust) imply hoarding.

Hebrews 11:1 says, "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." It is difficult for man to have faith in something he can't see. It follows then, that he tends to put his trust in what he can see and work hard at maintaining that, because it brings a feeling of control and security. The pursuit of money is a common choice. It can often buy power, as well as goods. The more money you have, the more secure you tend to be about the future. Money is temporal. Stock markets crash and the currency itself can quickly become devalued or even disappear altogether. In that situation, man is left with nothing and begins scrambling for control again. 1 Timothy 6:9 says, "But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction."

At the end of verse three, James tells the reader that we are in the last days. Final judgment is coming, and all men will have to answer to God for what they've done with their lives. "For it is written, 'As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God." (Romans 14:11) Jesus says in Matthew 18:3, "Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven." Riches do not buy a man entrance to heaven. "For God so loved the world, that He gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life." (John 3:16) It is the knowledge and acceptance of Jesus Christ in your heart that determines where eternity is spent.

As believers reading this passage, what should be our response? "Instruct those who are rich in this present world not be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed." (1 Timothy 6:17-19)

James 4:17

2011-03-18T06:20:00.000-07:00

When we bow the knee to God's sovereignty and allow Christ to reign in our hearts, we are called to live out His commands. "And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this, you shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these." (Mark 12:30-31) The Christian life is one of action. We have been reminded of this several times in the book of James, most notably in chapter 1, verse 22.

Today's verse comes at the end of a section where James is addressing the businessman who has no regard for God in his affairs, and arrogantly boasts of his plans and successes, even before they occur. This behavior violates the greatest commandment. Whatever success God allows that businessman, even in the face of his arrogance, must be recognized as His grace. If the businessman continues to be selfish, both in the making and spending of the money (which in reality is His money), this too flies in the face of the great commandment. Just as James states in today's verse, to violate any of God's commandments is a sin.

Part of loving the Lord and loving our neighbor is giving back what He has given to us. This includes our hearts, time, and finances. Just as His love and grace must flow through us, so must His blessings.

James 4:16

2011-03-17T06:21:00.000-07:00

To boast about anything other than God is not only foolish behavior, James calls it evil. The root of boasting is pride, which elevates man over another. This goes against everything that God teaches. James told us in a previous verse that we must humble ourselves in order to be exalted. A proud and boastful person will eventually be brought down. Proverbs 16:18 says, "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before stumbling." If we must boast, let us boast only in the Lord and the great things He has done for us.

"Thus says the Lord, 'Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who exercises lovingkindness, justice, and righteousness on earth; for I delight in the these things,' declares the Lord." (Jeremiah 9:23-24)

James 4:15

2011-03-16T06:16:00.000-07:00

"Instead, you ought to say, 'If the Lord wills, we shall live and also do this or that.'" (James 4:15)

The phrase that caught my eye in this verse was "and also." It separates "we shall live" from "do this or that." We should always keep in the forefront of our hearts and minds a recognition and thankfulness for the very life that we live. Our lives are but a vapor and we do not know what the next moment will bring, so to be drawing breath is a gift of His grace. Not only has He granted us breath in our lungs, but He has given us the opportunity to spend eternity with Him through the acceptance of His Son's sacrifice at Calvary. "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time." (1 Peter 1:3-6)

To be about our Father's business means to be accomplishing His will in our lives. We have but fleeting moments in the scope of eternity, and they should not be wasted on the pointless pursuit of temporal things. Ecclesiastes 2 and 3 show the juxtaposition of a life spent chasing the wind versus the result of one in pursuit of the Father.

"And all that my eyes desired I did not refuse them. I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure, for my heart was pleased because of all my labor and this was my reward for all my labor. Thus I considered all my activities which my hands had done and the labor which I had exerted, and behold all was vanity and striving after wind and there was no profit under the sun." (Ecclesiastes 2:10-11)

"Thus I hated all the fruit of my labor for which I had labored under the sun, for I must leave it to the man who will come after me. And who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will have control over all the fruit of my labor for which I have labored by acting wisely under the sun. This too is vanity." (Ecclesiastes 2:18-19)

"I have seen the task which God has given the sons of men with which to occupy themselves. He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also set eternity in their heart, yet so that man will not find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end. I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and to do good in one's lifetime; moreover, that every man who eats and drinks sees good in all his labor -- it is the gift of God. I know that everything God does will remain forever; there is nothing to add to it and there is nothing to take from it, for God has so worked that men should fear Him." (Ecclesiastes 3:10-14)

Everything God does will remain forever. Anything that we do or accomplish in Him is because of His grace and mercy. To live a life for Him is to lay up treasures in heaven. Let us be thankful for our lives and whatever we can accomplish through Him for the kingdom, in what little time we have.

James 4:14

2011-03-15T06:12:00.000-07:00

No one knows what tomorrow will bring. One has only to look at recent headlines to be reminded of this. Life is not linear, and yet too often we lull ourselves into thinking that it is. When death, disaster, or calamity strikes, it is a jarring experience and serves as a wake-up call to this truth. In the scope of eternity, we are but a vapor in the wind. It can leave you feeling insignificant, and yet you are significant to God and what you do with your life matters very much to Him. This verse is a reminder that we need to spend our time in the pursuit of eternal things. God is eternal. Jesus declares in Matthew 24:35, "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away." Our time on earth is fixed and temporary, and we must be careful not to waste it. We were not created merely to exist. Our life has purpose. Rather than spin our wheels in the pursuit of money, fame, power, possessions, etc., we need to be investing in relationships, first with God and then others. Jesus speaks of this in Luke 12:16-34. Beginning in verse 31, He says, "But seek for His kingdom, and these things shall be added to you. Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to charity; make yourselves purses which do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near, nor moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." (Luke 12:31-34)

"For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night. While they are saying, 'Peace and safety!' then destruction will come upon them suddenly like birth pangs upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief; for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober. For those who sleep do their sleeping at night, and those who get drunk get drunk at night. But since we are of the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation. For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with Him. Therefore encourage one another, and build up one another, just as you also are doing." (1 Thessalonians 5:1-11)

His return is near. Let us be about our Father's business.

James 4:13

2011-03-14T06:10:00.000-07:00

I'll admit it. I'm a control freak. I like to have my days, weeks, and months planned out in advance. I feel a whole lot more relaxed if I know where I'm supposed to be and what is expected of me at any given time. I have been this way from a very early age, and I see it in my children. Life has taught me that change happens, and I have learned to "roll with the punches" and allow for fluidity in plans and circumstances. I don't think that it is wrong to make plans. I believe that God wants us to be good stewards of our time, but James' point in this passage is that He needs to be the one directing its use. This verse is specifically talking about business. What is my business? I'm a mother, and it is my job (with the Lord's help and direction) to raise and mold two warriors for the Kingdom. He cares very much how I use my time and where I direct my energy in pursuit of this goal, and He needs to be at the center of every decision. Does He care if I serve breakfast at 8:30 or 8:45 a.m.? No, I doubt it. Does He care if I take on a volunteer position that may help the needy, but pulls me away from my family? Yes, and that is the sort of decision where He needs to be allowed to lead. He may very well call me to do something like that, but it needs to be in His timing.

This verse reminded me of Jeremiah 29:11-13 which says, "For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart." God has a plan for each one of our lives. God is outside of time. I've often heard the analogy of the helicopter above the parade route. He can see the beginning, the end, and everything in between. This verse specifically tells us that He gives us a future. It calls us into a close, intimate relationship with Him. He knows His plan for us, and He wants to share it with us and help us discover and achieve it! We tend to be finite creatures. We are locked inside of time, and it is very difficult to see outside of the box, and have a kingdom perspective. This is what God calls us to do though, and He promises that if we seek Him we will find Him, and if we pray He will listen.

God is sovereign over all things, and that includes our lives and our time. We must keep Him at the center of every aspect of our life. When I plan my day, my very first question should be, "What do You want me to do for You today?"

James 4:11-12

2011-03-11T20:09:00.000-08:00

Following the verse on humility, James instructs his reader not to speak against his brother. Before we open our mouths and cast our thoughtless or judgmental words against another, we should consider what God thinks of us. We may be able to practice enough self-control over our tongue not to speak evil of someone, but do we have that same control over our thought life? While our thoughts are hidden from others, they aren’t hidden from God. 1 Chronicles 28:9 says, “As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a whole heart and a willing mind; for the Lord searches all hearts, and understand every intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will let you find Him; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever.”

If we judge or criticize another for his actions, we place ourselves in the position of a judge. We are not qualified to judge, only our holy and righteous God is. “And He ordered us to preach to the people, and solemnly to testify that this is the One who has been appointed by God as Judge of the living and the dead.” (Acts 10:42) We should consider the passage in Matthew 7:1-5 which says, “Do not judge lest you be judged. For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. And why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and behold, the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.” Let us always remember that God alone has the power to save and destroy. We have enough to do in remaining obedient and walking within His will for our life, without looking for the faults in others.

“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8)

James 4:9-10

2011-03-10T06:58:00.000-08:00

Be miserable and mourn and weep - This follows the command to cleanse our hands and purify our hearts. I don’t believe that James is calling us to be sourpusses all the time. I think he is referring to what our heart attitudes should be when we acknowledge and repent of our sins. Genuine repentance brings God’s abundant grace which fills us with joy.

Let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to gloom - This is a reminder to us to walk and talk according to the faith we profess. Those worldly activities that once brought laughter and joy should grieve our hearts and bring a sense of heaviness to the heart. For the believer, sin is nothing to be laughed at or taken lightly, and we should not find joy in it. When we become believers, we continue to live in the world, but must no longer be of the world. We continue to be surrounded by sin. How do we respond to it? If someone says an off-color joke or something hurtful at another’s expense, do we laugh with the others, or do we show discomfort and perhaps even try to remove ourselves from the situation? Our actions and reactions indicate where our hearts are.

Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you - Scripture is full of opposites. Some examples include:

“But not so with you, but let him who is the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as the servant.” (Luke 22:26)

“And He has said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.’ Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may dwell in me.” (2 Corinthians 12:9)

Here we are taught that we must humble ourselves in order that God may lift us up. We must always recognize that apart from Him, we can do nothing.

“All things came into being by Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.” (John 1:3)

“I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me, and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)

He is the Creator of the universe. He is the author and finisher of our faith. He is our salvation. Anything that we have and anything that we accomplish is because of His love, grace, and mercy.

James 4:7-8

2011-03-09T06:51:00.000-08:00

Submit therefore to God- To submit to God means to acknowledge His sovereignty in all things; we must act with a heart of humility and obedience according to His will.

Resist the devil and he will flee from you - The minute we acknowledge God’s sovereignty in our lives, it is like a trigger that springs Satan into action. Satan deals in commodities like pride, deceit, and rebellion. Resist means to take a stand against. By standing strong under the full grace of God, we will be ready for attacks from the enemy.

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you - This is axiomatic to the previous command. The more we push Satan out of every aspect of our lives, the closer to God we get. More importantly, we must remain close, both to enjoy the fellowship with Him as well as to deter any future attacks from the enemy. I love that this verse comes with a promise. God always keeps His promises, and this is one that I always want to experience and enjoy!

Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded - In the Old Testament, the priests were required to wash their hands before approaching the altar to offer sacrifices. In order to draw close to God and enjoy fellowship with Him, we must cleanse our hands and purify our hearts. We must acknowledge any sin and seek repentance. Take the time to read Psalm 51:1-13 with this in mind. It is a beautiful summary of this verse.

James 4:4-6

2011-03-08T06:58:00.000-08:00

Even though we are saved by grace and given new life in Christ, we continue to battle our sin nature. James has established that the inner conflict that we experience between the flesh and the Spirit is triggered by our own selfish desires. If we cede our minds and hearts to the Lord and seek after His kingdom and will for our lives, He will give us the strength and wisdom needed to succeed in battling the flesh. James’ use of the word “adulteress” is strong and somewhat startling, but on reflection is quite appropriate. He has been talking about desire, which is a deep-seated passion that lies within. As a Christian, which do we desire more -- self-satisfaction or the will of the Father? Let us not forget that we are the bride of Christ. James likens lusting or chasing after the things of this world to adultery. Let our passion and desire be solely focused on our Savior and King.

God will not tolerate double-mindedness and hypocrisy. In the book of Joshua we read, “choose for yourselves today whom you will serve.” (Joshua 24:15) We must take a stand and not waiver or vacillate.

“Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts, which wage war against the soul.” (1 Peter 2:11)

“The world cannot hate you; but it hates Me because I testify of it, that its deeds are evil.” (John 7:7)

“Do not love the world, nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. And the world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God abides forever.” (1 John 2:15-16)

A common phrase that we hear in wedding ceremonies is, “forsaking all others, the two shall become one.” As the bride of Christ, we need to forsake the world and cleave to our Bridegroom.

James 4:1-3

2011-03-07T22:45:00.000-08:00

It is a sad fact that man seems prone to dissatisfaction and dispute. There is a constant inner desire to be right or victorious, and a sense of satisfaction felt when we achieve it. What’s worse is that this kind of behavior occurs among believers. We profess to have the love and peace of Christ within us, yet we argue and quibble with others. There is a marked difference between having an informed discussion on a specific topic with the intent to learn, versus purposely goading the opposing view into an argument with the intent of being “right” in the end. The problem is that the flesh can never be satiated. It always desires more, which continues the vicious cycle.

James is concerned with the root cause of this problem, which is the ever-raging battle inside between the flesh and the Spirit. Paul writes of this in Romans 7:15-25.

“For that which I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate. But if I do the very thing I do not wish to do, I agree with the Law, confessing that it is good. So now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin which indwells me. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the wishing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. For the good that I wish, I do not do; but I practice the very evil that I do not wish. But if I am doing the very thing I do not wish, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wishes to do good. For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man, but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind, and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin.”

Just reading this passage is dizzying to the mind. That’s the same way it can feel on the inside as we face a situation in which we must make a conscious choice to either satisfy the flesh or do what Christ would want.

James specifically mentions lust and envy in verse 2. Both emotions are based in the desire for self-satisfaction. In verse 3, he writes that we ask for things with selfish motives. It is the desire for the things of the flesh which triggers the inner battle. Our focus needs to be on seeking first the kingdom of God. Colossians 3:2 says, “Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.” Only God can satisfy the yearnings of our soul, and our rewards will be eternal.

James 3:18

2011-03-04T06:08:00.000-08:00

Man is incapable of producing anything righteous on his own. He must accept Christ's sacrifice on the cross before he can be counted as righteous before God. Once the seed of Truth has been planted within his heart, growth is expected. When we accept the Lord, we are not immediately considered to be mature Christians. Maturity takes time. If I plant an apple seed in my back yard and then check back on it the next day, I will not find a tree laden with fruit. The seed needs time to sprout and establish roots. It needs constant exposure to sun and water. Perhaps it even needs to weather a storm or two. So it is with a new believer. He needs constant exposure to the Son and Living Water. His roots in the Lord will grow deeper and stronger as he encounters trials and practices divine wisdom in dealing with them. Consider these verses about growth:

"Therefore, putting aside all malice and all guile and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, like newborn babes, long for the pure milk of the word, that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord." (1 Peter 2:1-3)

"For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus." (Philippians 1:6)

"Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing...By this is My Father glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples." (John 15:4-5, 8)

"Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him." (James 1:2-5)

As we use and apply divine wisdom in our new-found life in Christ, we are practicing righteousness. "But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy." (James 3:17) One of the fruits of the Spirit is peace. By living our lives for Christ and living peaceably with others, the world will take notice because it will be different. Through the Holy Spirit, we are to sow seeds for the kingdom. Read Christ's explanation of the parable of the sower from Luke 8:11-15, and take note of what happens to the seed in terms of growth, maturation, and the bearing of fruit.

"Now the parable is this: the seed is the word of God. And those beside the road are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their heart, so that they may not believe and be saved. And those on the rocky soil are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no firm root; they believe for a while, and in time of temptation fall away. And the seed which fell among the thorns, these are the ones who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with worries and riches and pleasure of this life, and bring no fruit to maturity. And the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance."

The whole purpose of fruit is to create more fruit. A mature fruit bears seeds within which, when sown, will yield more fruit. When we obtain righteousness through Him, live peaceably among others, and allow Him to accomplish His work in and through us, we become God's gardeners.

James 3:17

2011-03-03T06:10:00.000-08:00

Divine Wisdom is:

Pure (pure, chaste holy; I have a handwritten note in my Bible next to this that says "untainted by the flesh")

"And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure."
(1 John 3:3)
Purity is the cornerstone of wisdom. Until we accept Christ into our hearts, we will be incapable of divine wisdom.
"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9)
Once our hearts have been cleansed by the atoning blood of Christ, we must continue to work at maintaining that purity through continual confession and repentance of our daily sins.
"Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God." (2 Corinthians 7:1)

Peaceable (peaceful, bringing peace with it)

"Therefore having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." (Romans 5:1)
"And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful." (Colossians 3:15)
A heart that has been purified by Christ will be characterized by peace. Once we believe and accept Christ's sacrifice, we know that we will be able to stand justified before God and have been given eternal life through His Son. Even amidst the trials of life, we hold on to our faith, knowing that the trial is temporary but our salvation is secure.
"And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:7)
The peace that we have with God should permeate our life and be shared and extended to others.
"If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men." (Romans 12:18)
"Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord." (Hebrews 12:14)

Gentle (equitable, fair, mild, gentle)

Jesus was gentle, even in the face of the injustice of an unfair trial.
"He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth; like a lamb that is led to slaughter, and like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, so He did not open His mouth." (Isaiah 53:7)
Jesus was the embodiment of gentleness and compassion throughout his ministry.
"And so, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience;" (Colossians 3:12)
"Brethren, even if a man is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, lest you too be tempted." (Galatians 6:1)

Reasonable (easily obeying, compliant)

We must be obedient and compliant, both with God and with others. We obey God because He is holy, perfect, and worthy of worship. When it comes to our relationship with others, we are to be compliant and reasonable, but we are not called to blind (or mindless) obedience. The kind of obedience and compliance we are to display is one with a heart of deference to others. To me, this term "reasonable" could be a cousin to "peaceable." We may encounter a situation in which we are technically right or should rightfully receive something, but to insist on it may cause bitterness, envy, or division among others, so it is the better part of wisdom to keep the peace among the brethren.

Full of Mercy (kindness or good will towards the miserable and the afflicted; joined with a desire to help them)

I love the definition of the Greek word used here because it is an action word. We must do more than simply feel compassion for the miserable and afflicted. That compassion must move us to action. Christ did this for us.
"But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)" (Ephesians 2:4-5)
When we extend the mercy that Christ showed to us, we are blessed and continue to receive mercy.
"Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy." (Matthew 5:7)
"Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful." (Luke 6:36)

and Good Fruits (that which originates or comes from something, an effect, result; work, act, deed)

The definition of mercy implies action, and James' use of the phrase "good fruits" reinforces the need for action. Again, we must move beyond merely feeling compassion to actively showing compassion, whether through edifying/encouraging words, or physical assistance. After responding to Christ's call for the repentance of sin, we are called to a life of active ministry.
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law." (Galatians 5:22-23)
"Bear one another's burdens, and thus fulfill the law of Christ." (Galatians 6:2)

Unwavering, without Hypocrisy

unwavering (undistinguished, without dubiousness, ambiguity, or uncertainty)
hypocrisy (unfeigned, undisguised, sincere)
As Christians, our lives should be marked by humility and transparency. We should not live by a double-standard, nor should we apply a double-standard to any situation we encounter in life. That is a sure sign that selfishness is creeping in, and divine wisdom is not being applied.

In summary, when we accept Christ into our hearts, we have access to divine wisdom. It is not enough to merely possess this gift from God. We must use it and apply it to our lives.

"I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, entreat you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing forbearance to one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." (Ephesians 4:1-3)

James 3:16

2011-03-02T06:08:00.000-08:00

Just as God's wisdom has certain characteristics which bring certain results, so does wisdom that does not come from above. Wisdom that is earthly, natural, and demonic will create jealousy, selfish ambition, disorder and every evil thing. 1 Corinthians 14:33 says, "for God is not a God of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints." This verse lies within a passage where Paul is speaking about the use of spiritual gifts within the church. He says in verse 26 that all things should be done for edification. In verse 40 of that same chapter, Paul concludes his thoughts by saying, "But let all things be done properly and in an orderly manner." One can be sure that where selfishness, chaos and strife exist, Satan is in the middle of it. The Greek word for evil in this verse is "phaulos" which means, "easy, slight, ordinary, worthless, mean, of no account." Anything that is slight, ordinary, worthless and of no account in this world tends to blend into the woodwork and get passed over. Jesus' ministry, both in word and deed, drew the attention of multitudes of people. He stood out from the crowd. As believers, our words and actions should be special, valuable and worthy of notice. They should reflect the Savior who lives within us and bring Him glory and honor.

James 3:14-15

2011-03-01T06:11:00.000-08:00

The meaning of this passage really came out for me with a study of the Greek words. The Greek word used for "envy" is "zelos" which means zeal, which according to www.blueletterbible.org means "excitement of the mind, ardour in embracing, pursuing, or defending anything." Under the main definition are two sub-definitions. One is "zeal in behalf of, for a person or thing," and the second is, "the fierceness of indignation, punitive zeal." Another definition listed is, "an envious and contentious rivalry, jealousy." Zeal is a two-sided coin. It can be positive, or it can be harmful if it isn't reined under control. We should have a zeal for the Lord and a zeal for the truth. Getting to know our Lord and His will for our lives should excite our minds and is worthy of passionate pursuit. It is good to be in fellowship with like-minded people with whom we can share and learn from.

There comes a point though, where the horse can run away with the cart, metaphorically speaking. In a discussion with a believer over a doctrinal issue, it may escalate into a heated argument over who is right, rather than remain a discourse with the goal being to seek out the truth. This can lead to bitterness and division. In our desire for others to know the Lord and come to the knowledge of His saving grace, we may try to force things to happen in a certain way or that may be outside of His timing. It is our job to plant the seed, but it is the Lord who will cause it to grow in His perfect timing. We may encounter others who attack the Lord or our faith, and we rush to His defense. I'm reminded of Peter in the Garden of Gethsemane. When the Roman cohort came to arrest Jesus, Peter jumped in and cut off the ear of the high priest's slave. Jesus had the situation under perfect control. He was walking within the perfect will of the Father and did not need defending. There is no doubt that Peter loved the Lord very much, but his rash action caused injury to another. The lesson that lies within is that we must be careful to keep our zeal and passion under the control of His wisdom, and not step outside of His will or ahead of His timing. We need to be wary of saying or doing something that could potentially harden the very heart we are trying to reach.

James uses three specific adjectives in verse 15 to describe wisdom that does not come from above...earthly, sensual, and demonic (NKJV). Earthly is self-explanatory. The Greek word for sensual is "psychikos." Vine's Expository Dictionary defines this word as "relating perhaps more especially to the mind, a wisdom in accordance with, or springing from, the corrupt desires and affections." I visited a church once where the use of personal pronouns was so prevalent in the message from the pulpit that I began to try and count how often they were used. It was such a dizzying task that I gave up in disgust. The congregation was urged to quiet themselves, meditate, and search deep within for the answers that were already within their hearts. The sermon and service were distinctly void of any mention of the Lord, and we were never asked to open a Bible. Proverbs 3:7 cautions, "Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and turn away from evil." The Greek word for demonic is "daimoniodes" which means, "resembling or proceeding from an evil spirit, demon-like." In Isaiah 14, Satan was thrown out of heaven because he said in his heart that he would ascend to heaven, raise his throne above the stars of God, and make himself like the Most High. In the Garden of Eden, Satan told Eve "For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." (Genesis 3:5) Eve believed the lie, succumbed to temptation, and sin entered the world. The human mind and heart has a natural bent toward pride and selfishness, and will seek after its own desires. We must humble our hearts and ask God to help us remain under His guidance and direction, displaying His wisdom and not our own.

James 3:13

2011-02-28T06:11:00.000-08:00

After discussion about the power of the tongue, and that we should avoid hypocrisy in our words, James begins a discussion on wisdom. Proverbs 8 gives a description of the qualities of wisdom. Proverbs 8:6-9 says, "Listen, for I shall speak noble things; and the opening of my lips will produce right things. For my mouth will utter truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips. All the utterances of my mouth are in righteousness; There is nothing crooked or perverted in them. They are all straightforward to him who understands, and right to those who find knowledge." Several verses later it says, "I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion. The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; pride and arrogance and the evil way, and the perverted mouth, I hate. Counsel is mine and sound wisdom; I am understanding, power is mine." (Proverbs 8:12-14)

Jesus was the embodiment of wisdom. 1 Corinthians 1:24 says, "but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God." When we accept Christ into our heart and the Holy Spirit indwells us, we have access to the wisdom of God. Man's wisdom is flawed and imperfect. "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,' declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts." (Isaiah 55:8-9) As we walk through life by faith, we must train ourselves to seek after His wisdom in everything that we encounter. Whatever we do or say should be a reflection of the One who dwells within us. The NKJV of James 3:13 says, "Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom." With the use of the word "meekness" comes the understanding that there is the potential for pride. It is stated very clearly in Proverbs 8 that God hates pride, arrogance, and the perverted mouth. Our words and actions should be characterized with meekness, the meekness of Christ who lives within our hearts.

James 3:10-12

2011-02-25T06:14:00.000-08:00

This passage speaks about expectations, and the need for consistency in our lives. We don't really think about it too much, but we have a lot of expectations in life. We expect the sun to come up in the morning, the car to turn on when we twist the key, and water to come out of the faucet when we turn the knob. It is jarring, confusing, and sometimes frustrating when we don't get what we expect. Our first thoughts are, "What is going on?" or "Why isn't this working?" or "I don't have time for this." People have expectations of those who profess to know Jesus Christ. If our words and actions do not match what we profess, others will be surprised, confused, disappointed, or even disgusted. We are ambassadors for Christ, and must represent Him well. In Ephesians 6:19-20 the apostle Paul says, "and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak." Our words must be truthful and we must speak boldly, doing nothing to harm our integrity or that of Christ's, who dwells within us.

James uses the example of a fig tree or vine bearing fruit other than what was intended. If a vintner plants a grapevine, it is because he wants and needs grapes. If the vine produces oranges, he has no use for that fruit and will dispose of the vine. In John 15:5-7, Jesus tells us, "I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me, and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch, and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it shall be done for you." James also uses the example of a fountain which produces either bitter or fresh water, but cannot produce both from the same opening. Jesus tells the Samaritan woman at the well in John 4:14, "but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life." Several chapters later in John 7:38 Jesus says, "He who believe in Me, as the Scripture said, 'From his innermost being shall flow rivers of living water.'" In Jeremiah 2:13 it says, "For my people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, to hew for themselves cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water." We live in a world that is a spiritual wasteland where people's souls are thirsting for the truth. As believers, we have the Truth within us and must share it with others. We must be careful to bear His fruit, and make sure that our water is sweet.

James 3:7-9

2011-02-24T06:12:00.000-08:00

How sad is it that we can tame lions and tigers and bears (oh my!), but we cannot tame our own tongues? We cannot tame our own tongue for the same reason that we cannot save ourselves. Human nature is depraved and sinful. We can attempt to practice the strictest self-discipline possible, but the tongue is evil because of our sinful nature. The potential for its destructive use is always there. God is the only one who can tame us, and the first step in the process is to give us a new heart by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

In verse nine, James revisits the topic of hypocrisy, this time focusing on a believer's words. It is detestable that the tongue can both bless and curse. Our walk with Christ must be consistent, and this includes our speech. We would never dream of cursing God, so why do we allow ourselves to curse others who were created in His image? God detests hypocrisy, whether in word or in deed. Romans 5:8 tells us that while we were sinners, Christ died for us. According to 1 Timothy 2:4, God desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. Isaiah 53:5 says, "But he was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed." How it must pierce His heart when He hears one of His children curse another. Let us be careful to not say anything that would pain the heart of our Savior.

Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips." (Psalm 141:3)

James 3:5-6

2011-02-23T06:11:00.000-08:00

The tongue is an inseparable member of the body. It is physically connected, and its use is connected with the mind. Just as a ship needs a rudder and a horse needs a bridle, if we are to serve our purpose, we need the tongue. What is our purpose as a believer? "And He said to them, 'Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.'" (Mark 16:15) The tongue is a primary component in how we express our thoughts. We must cede control of it to God, who will grant us wisdom in its use. Without divine control and direction, the tongue is capable of mass destruction that is likened unto a forest fire.

In the state of Oregon, we are no strangers to wildfires. Every summer, fires are started by lightning or human carelessness. Whenever I drive through an area that has had one of these fires, it makes me sad. The earth is scorched black. Acres upon acres of beautiful trees have vanished, leaving a few skeletons with black, gnarled branches standing in stark contract to the blue sky. The powerful stench of smoke is in the air. There is no sign of life. It is a scene of utter devastation. Several years ago, we took a trip to eastern Oregon and in the process of trying to get home, were diverted onto other highways to remain at a safe distance from a blazing fire. Misuse of the tongue can do this in our life, and the lives of those around us. Harsh words can scorch another person's soul. Destructive rumors spread quickly. We even have a phrase in our vernacular which says that they can spread "like wildfire." People will be inclined to steer clear of the person involved or the instigator, for fear of being caught up in the middle of it. We have learned from childhood that uncontrolled fire is dangerous and destructive, and we must stay away from it.

James tells us that the tongue is a fire, "the very world of iniquity." What does this world of iniquity look like? In Matthew 15:18-19 Jesus says, "But the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and those defile the man. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders." Jeremiah 17:9 says, "The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; who can understand it?" James tells us in 3:6 that not only is the tongue a fire, it is set on fire by hell. The Greek word used for hell in this verse is "geenna." It refers to Gehenna, which was a valley southeast of Jerusalem where trash and dead bodies were disposed. Fire was always need to consume the dead bodies. Jesus used this word to describe the place of future punishment of the wicked. James is as clear as one could possibly be about what the uncontrolled tongue is capable of.

In verse 5, James mentions that the tongue "boasts of great things." Boasting can be two-sided. It can be based in pride and vanity, which is quite distasteful both to God and man. Often, a person who boasts in such a manner is seeking approval, but going about it in the wrong way. 2 Corinthians 10:17-18 says, "But he who boasts, let him boast in the Lord. For not he who commends himself is approved, but whom the Lord commends." Scripture tells us that the proper way to boast is in the Lord.

"Thus says the Lord, 'Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who exercises loving-kindness, justice, and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,' declares the Lord." (Jeremiah 9:23-24)

"I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make its boast in the Lord; the humble shall hear it and rejoice. O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together." (Psalm 34: 1-3)

"And He has said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.' Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may dwell in me." (2 Corinthians 12:9)

Whenever we open our mouths, let the words that pour forth bring glory and honor to God and reflect His presence in our lives.

James 3:3-4

2011-02-22T06:10:00.000-08:00

James compares the taming of the tongue to bridling a horse or a pilot in control of the rudder of a ship. If left on its own, a horse will satisfy itself, wandering aimlessly in pursuit of its own desires. A ship with no pilot on a stormy sea will be thrashed about and possibly overturned. Both the ship and the horse are in need of an outside force to maintain control and to bring out each vessel's maximum potential in usefulness. The tongue is such a small part of the body, and yet it has the potential to have a huge impact on the direction of our life. We need to allow the Holy Spirit to take control and grant us wisdom and self-control. To bring the tongue under control really requires that we bring our minds under control, and submit to the Spirit's leading. Under His control, we will know when to open our mouths to speak words that are edifying, encouraging, and full of blessing. We will also know when to keep our mouths closed, preventing words that are harsh, self-serving, or harmful.

I particularly liked the analogy of the ship tossed around on a stormy sea. God sometimes calls us to carry great burdens in our life. He knows the storms that we will face, and never gives us more than we can carry. All too often in the midst of a severe storm, our focus is on the howling wind and the seemingly never-ending churning of the waves. We try to grab control of the helm, desperately seeking a path to safety and calm waters. We battle the wind, and are gripped with fear as each powerful gust sends us reeling and listing about. We may even be tempted to rail against God, others, or even ourselves for being in the situation in the first place.

There are lessons to be learned in the storms of life. The kind of vessel we are talking about in this passage is a sailboat. The wind is necessary in order for it to move. The issue then becomes direction. We must remember that God is in the boat with us, and we must allow Him to take control of the rudder. Jesus demonstrated in the gospels that He has complete control over the storm. He merely speaks a word, and the wind stops. Rather than fight against the wind and be pushed to and fro, we must allow Him to steer us in such a way as to take advantage of its power. He knows the direction and force of each gust, and if we allow Him control, He will guide us on His intended course. If we assume control, we might eventually make it to shore, but it may not be where God intended for us to land. The straight course through the storm is within His perfect will. The only way to get there is to allow Him to steer.

How does all of this tie in with the tongue? People watch us as we go through the storms of life. They listen to what we say. If we are at the helm, we may be tempted to complain, cast blame, or vent careless or hurtful words. With the Lord in control, we will exhibit a peace that passes all understanding. Our words can bring glory to God, even in the midst of the storm. They can be a testimony to His sovereignty, goodness, and grace. This ties in with James 1:2-8. In the midst of the storm, we can count it all joy because we know that the Pilot is in control and working His perfect will in our lives.

James 3:1-2

2011-02-21T06:11:00.000-08:00

James begins chapter three with discussion of the tongue, and how quickly and easily it can get you into trouble. Just as our actions reflect what is going on in our hearts, so do our words. Words are an expression of your thoughts and feelings. If you are called to teach, your words and your life need to be in line with Scripture, or there is the potential for it to come across at hypocritical and/or judgmental. Those who teach must do so with a humble heart, realizing that they too must practice what they teach. James conveys this type of humility in verse one when he says, "knowing that we shall incur a stricter judgment." It doesn't say "you" will incur judgment, it says, "we." As a teacher of the Word, James recognizes that he is subject to what it says, just as his listeners are. Teaching the Word brings great responsibility, and therefore greater judgment. "Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, that it may give grace to those who hear." (Ephesians 4:29) The goal of those who teach should be to glorify God (not themselves), and to edify others.

Romans 14:11-13 says, "For it is written: 'As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God.' So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother's way." Whether we teach or not, we must all acknowledge that in the end, every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess to God. We will have to give an account for every word and every action that we have said and done. This has always been one of the most sobering verses in Scripture for me. The last thing I ever want is for anything that I have said or done to cause another to stumble. I cringe every time I think about all of the careless and thoughtless words I have let fly out of my mouth. Words are powerful. They have the power to heal, but they can also be hurtful and destructive. Once they're out there, they can't be retrieved. It is a constant mental vigil to keep the tongue in check. I'm reminded of James' words back in chapter one where he encourages us to be quick to hear and slow to speak. We need to think before we open our mouth, and when we do, we need to keep Colossians 4:6 in mind. "Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned, as it were, with salt, so that you may know how you should respond to each person."

James 2:25-26

2011-02-20T18:04:00.000-08:00

“And in the same way was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works, when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way?” (James 2:25)

James now uses the example of Rahab the harlot, who received and protected the Israelite spies in Canaan. She too, is mentioned in Hebrews 11. Coming on the heels of James’ mention of Abraham, one cannot help but see some contrasts between these two people of faith.

Abraham was a respected man, even before he was considered righteous by God. Rahab was a harlot; hardly a leading, respectable member of society. You can look at this two ways. First, every one is in need of salvation and the righteousness of God. It doesn’t matter what your background is. Romans 3:22-24 says, “even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus.” Secondly, everyone is saved the same way, by believing and accepting Christ’s redemptive work at the cross. Abraham was a Jew. Rahab was a Canaanite (Gentile). Again, both are in need of redemption through profession of faith. Romans 1:16 says, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”

Hebrews 11:31 says, “By faith, Rahab the harlot did not perish along with those who were disobedient, after she had welcomed the spies in peace.” This verse mentions her faith first, and then records her works (that of saving the Israelite spies). If Rahab did not believe in God, she would have treated the spies differently. Joshua 2:8-9 says, “Now before they lay down, she came up to them on the roof, and said to the men, “I know that the Lord has given you the land, and that the terror of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land have melted away before you.” Verse 11 says, “And when we heard it, our hearts melted and no courage remained in any man any longer because of you; for the Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath.” This demonstrates that she knew and believed God. It was her faith in Him that prompted her to take such a great risk in harboring the spies. While Rahab is identified as a harlot in Scripture, her faith transformed her life and her subsequent works were the manifestation of that heart change.

“For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.” (James 2:26)

In this final verse of chapter 2, James likens the profession of faith without works unto a dead body. Without the soul or spirit, the body is devoid of life. The body and the spirit are intertwined. In the same way, so should genuine faith produce works. Faith in Jesus Christ gives us the ability and desire to do the works that manifest the transformation of the heart. If we claim faith in Christ, we must live our lives accordingly, otherwise we are like bodies without spirits -- dead, and of no use. We dispose of a body soon after death because it is offensive. So it is with faith that doesn’t produce works. If is offensive to God and those around you because it is hypocritical. We must guard against hypocrisy. We must behave according to that which we proclaim.

James 2:23-24

2011-02-17T06:12:00.000-08:00

“and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness,” (James 2:23a)

This verse is found in Genesis 15:6. It comes directly after the Lord tells Abraham that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars. Abraham knew that his wife was well past childbearing years, but he believed that God would fulfill His promise. Because of his belief, God declared Abraham righteous, and this happened well before he took obedient steps at God’s direction to sacrifice his son Isaac on Mt. Moriah. God is outside of time. He can see our lives in their entirety. When we accept Jesus as our Savior, God counts us as righteous at that moment. Our righteousness is given to us (“reckoned”) in exchange for faith in Christ. He alone can read our hearts, and knows if a genuine transformation of the heart has occurred. We are not saved by our works, but by heart-changing faith in Jesus. Our works are simply the outward manifestation of the inner change.

“…and he was called the friend of God.” (James 2:23b)

After God declares us righteous, we are considered to be His friend. Think about that! If you believe and accept the work of His Son at the cross, he considers you His friend! The Greek word for friend that is used here is “philos” which comes from the verb “phileo,” which speaks of brotherly love, or the love between two people based on common interests or goals. Prior to being considered a “philos-friend” of God, we must accept His agape love in the person of Jesus Christ. A holy God cannot have anything in common with sinful man until his heart has been declared righteous by God. Abraham believed in God, and demonstrated his faith by being willing to sacrifice his son. God spared Abraham’s son, but not His own, for it was the only way in which we could be declared righteous before Him. Once the Holy Spirit lives within us, our aim should be to please the Father and live according to His will, accomplishing His purposes for our lives. Sometimes God asks us to sacrifice for Him and others, and it can be costly. Think about the sacrifice that God made for you. Are you a friend of God?

“You see that a man is justified by works, and not by faith alone.” (James 2:24)

James is referring back to his original point about a false profession of faith -- a faith that is proclaimed, and yet does not produce fruit. When Abraham believed God, He declared him righteous. Every obedient act that Abraham performed, including his willingness to sacrifice his son, showed the existence of his active, living faith, and provided more opportunities for the world to see evidence of it. Genuine faith bears fruitful work for the Kingdom.

James 2:20-22

2011-02-16T06:07:00.000-08:00

James uses Abraham as an example of one who demonstrated his faith through his works. He is often referred to as the father of faith, and is found in Hebrews 11 as an example of a life lived by faith.

"By faith, Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going." (Hebrews 11:8)

"Now the Lord said to Abram, 'Go forth from your country, and from your relatives and from your father's house, to the land which I will show you; and I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, and so you shall be a blessing;'" (Genesis 12:1-2)

"So Abram went forth as the Lord had spoken to him." (Genesis 12:4)

When God spoke, Abram obeyed. He did not complain, delay, or ask questions. Scripture simply says that he went forth. When God said move, he moved. Our lives should be characterized with this same sort of obedience.

"By faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise; he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God." (Hebrews 11:9)

"And Abram took Sarai his wife and Lot his nephew, and all their possessions which they had accumulated, and the persons which they had acquired in Haran, and they set out for the land of Canaan; thus they came to the land of Canaan." (Genesis 12:5)

Abram's mission on Earth (as described in Gen. 12:1) is to set out toward the land which God would show him. Again, we see Abraham in action. God asked him to move away from his home and everything comfortable, and travel to a destination that to Abram is unknown. He does this based solely on God's promises, mentioned in Gen. 12:2-3. It says in the Hebrews text that he and his family lived in tents, which are temporary shelters. It is good to be reminded that Earth is our temporary home. We sojourn through life here on Earth, and should be living our lives with our eyes on eternity. Our lives should be marked with action, and in obedience with the will of God. It is also good to note in Genesis 12:7-8 that after God promises to give the land to Abram's descendants, he built an altar. He built a second altar at Bethel and called upon the name of the Lord. We should remember the promises of God, as well as offer praise and worship throughout life's journey.

"By faith, Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac; and he who had received the promises was offering up his only begotten son; it was he to whom it was said, 'In Isaac your descendants shall be called.' He considered that God is able to raise men even from the dead; from which he also received him back as a type." (Hebrews 11:17-19)

"Now it came about after these things, that God tested Abraham, and said to him, 'Abraham!' And he said, 'Here I am.' And He said, Take now your son, your only son, whom you love Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah; and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you.' So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him and Isaac his son; and he split wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. On the third day Abraham raised his eyes and saw the place from a distance. And Abraham said to his young men, 'Stay here with the donkey, and I and the lad will go yonder; and we will worship and return to you." (Genesis 22:1-5)

There are several things to note in this passage. Abraham's response to God's calling of his name was immediate. God's direction to kill his son had to be heart-wrenching and confusing. In the paragraph above, there is one small word that explains volumes about the amount and depth of faith that Abraham had in God. Did you notice it? Can you find it? It is the word, "we." Abraham accepted the most difficult task of his life without question, and actively prepared to accomplish this task (saddled the donkey, split wood, set out for the designated location). Before he even made it to the final destination, he told his young men "we will worship and return to you." God had promised him descendants through Isaac, so while he didn't understand the plan, he acted in faith, knowing and believing that God would keep His promise. As we read on in Genesis, we know that God did provide a ram. Abraham named that altar "The Lord Will Provide."

As I have been thinking about all of this, my mind keeps coming back to Abraham's life being marked by action based on faith and obedience, and the altars that he built. I often find it helpful to have a picture in my mind of some of these lessons from Scripture. The picture I see here is that our life is like a path through the forest. Once we accept Christ, we move forward in life in faith with a desire to accomplish His will, believing in His promises. Our lives should be characterized by obedience and action. Life is not always neat and rosy, though. We encounter trials along the way. The trees are thick and we can't see around the next bend, metaphorically speaking. We often struggle with understanding what is going on or why we are being asked to do something, or endure something. James told us in Chapter 1 that the testing of our faith produces endurance, and endurance will have its perfect result. Abraham built altars throughout his life; altars to remember the promises of God, and to call upon His name. He even specifically named the altar at the site of his most difficult trial. When you head out on an unknown path in the forest, it is good to place markers along the way. Not only do those markers along the path of your life serve as a reminder to you of God's promises, and how He has faithfully brought you through previous trials; they also point the way for those who come along behind you (like your children), or for those around you who observe how you live out your life in faithful obedience to the Lord.

James 2:18-19

2011-02-15T06:10:00.000-08:00

James continues his thought from yesterday about works being evidence of true faith. It is easy to say that you have faith, but the proof of genuine faith is in the fruit (or works) of a person's life. In this morning's passage, he presents a hypothetical argument in which one person challenges another to prove his faith without evidence of works. It's as if he is asking someone to show him the invisible to prove its reality. In one sense, faith is like air. You cannot see it, yet you know it is real because you are alive and breathing, or perhaps you see evidence of it swaying the tree branches outside your window. Although it is invisible and intangible, there is irrefutable evidence of its existence.

Another example would be to use a gardening analogy. For the past few weeks we have been studying botany in homeschool. Specifically, we have been focusing on seeds...anatomy, germination, pollination, etc. A seed is planted with the expectation of growth. We do not spend a day planting seeds in the garden and then move on with life and never check back. We continue to return to the garden with expectation and anticipation of seeing those first green shoots peeking out of the ground. You can bring a person into your garden and show him the patch of dirt and say that you have planted a seed. He may or may not believe you, but when you bring him back and show him the fruit of that seed, be it plant or flower, you have proved the veracity of your words. If you continue to bring him back to a patch of dirt insisting that there is a seed there, he will recognize that there is a problem.

It says in Genesis 1:11-12, "Then God said, 'Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit after their kind, with seed in them, on the earth'; and it was so. And the earth brought forth vegetation, plants yielding seed after their kind, and trees bearing fruit, with seed in them, after their kind; and God saw that it was good." From the beginning, seeds were created to bear fruit after their own kind. A bean seed will bear a bean plant, an apple seed will bear an apple tree, and so on. When you believe in Christ's work at the cross and accept Him into your life, the Holy Spirit is given to you and dwells within your heart. Ephesians 1:13-14 says, "In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation -- having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God's own possession, to the praise of His glory." Galatians 5:22-23 says, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law." In the same chapter, verse 25 says, "If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit." If we say that we have true faith, then the fruit of the Spirit must be borne in our lives. Remember that James began chapter 2 with a warning against hypocrisy. The world is wise to hypocrisy and will not hesitate to point it out if given the chance. People don't necessarily go by what you say, they look at what you do. If you are living your life for Christ, it will show. People should be able to recognize that there is something different about you.

"Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven." (Matthew 5:16)

James 2:14-17

2011-02-14T18:15:00.000-08:00

In this passage, James is not saying that you earn salvation by or through your works. That would be contradictory to Scripture. Ephesians 2:8 says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God.” It is not by our works that we receive eternal life, it is by believing and accepting the redemptive work of Jesus Christ at the cross. Acts 16:31 says, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you shall be saved.” What James is referring to in verse 14 is a false profession of faith. Note that the verse says, “if a man says (emphasis added) he has faith.” It is very easy to say that you believe, but a genuine profession of faith means a true change in your heart. Paul addresses this in Romans 6:11-13 which says, “Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body that you should obey its lusts, and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instrument of righteousness to God.” A false profession of faith is one in which the person says all of the right words, but then continues on with their life as if nothing happened, assuming that by saying the words, they are covered. Paul says in Romans 6:15, “What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? May it never be!” To continue on in habitual sin because you are under grace is abusing the grace of God. If you are truly repentant of your sins and thankful for Christ’s sacrifice on your behalf at the cross, then why would you continue on in your sinful ways? A person who has had a genuine heart conversion will want to serve the Lord out of love and thankfulness, and turn aside from those things that the Lord finds detestable and that grieve the Holy Spirit. Their life will bear the fruit of the Spirit, because the Holy Spirit dwells within their heart. Living, active faith is more than a mental exercise and saying the right words. It involves a genuine change of the heart, and allows the Holy Spirit to work through you as you serve both God and those around you in love, with His compassion, grace and mercy.

In verse 15-17, James uses the illustration of encountering a person without clothing or in need of food and rather than directly addressing their need by giving them clothes or food, they are simply told to go in peace and be warmed and filled. This refers back to James 1:22 where James tell us we must be doers of the word, and not just hearers. Jesus’ life was one of active service. He fed and healed the people. He met them where they were at, and filled their immediate needs, both physical and spiritual. Galatians 6:10 says, “So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all men, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.” 1 John 3:17-18 says, “But whoever has the world’s goods, and beholds his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him? Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.” The Christian life requires more than just lip service. It means we are to be the heart and hands of Christ.

James 2:12-13

2011-02-11T06:09:00.000-08:00

So speak and so act,

"Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you, and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma." (Ephesians 5:1-2)

"in all things show yourself to be an example of good deeds with purity in doctrine, dignified, sound in speech which is beyond reproach, in order that the opponent may be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us." (Titus 2:7-8)

"Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned, as it were, with salt, so that you may know how you should respond to each person." (Colossians 4:5-6)

as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty. (v12)

Just as we wish to be judged by God with abounding grace, mercy and love, so should we extend that in word and deed to those around us.

"Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation." (Romans 12:16)

"Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus; that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Wherefore, accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God." (Romans 15:5-7)

For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment. (v13)

Christ's mercy is abundant and never-ending. "But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)" (Ephesians 2:4-5) "...the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful" (James 5:11) The more we allow Him to work and move through us, and extend His mercy to others, the more He will fill us. "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy." (Matthew 5:7) The world often scoffs at mercy and forgiveness. You can be seen as weak and naive for extending mercy and forgiveness in a situation where the world would deem it without warrant. We must allow His mercy to continually flow through our lives.

"And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you." (Ephesians 4:32)

James 2:8-11

2011-02-10T06:11:00.000-08:00

Showing partiality between individuals is a sin. The definition of sin is to "miss the mark" or "to wander from the law of God." What is the mark in this instance? James tells us in verse 8 that it is the royal law which says to love your neighbor as yourself. By seating a rich man in front, and asking a poor man to sit by a footstool, the usher is making a judgment call about the individuals in his heart, and acting accordingly. If the usher was truly loving his neighbor as himself, both individuals would be placed front and center in a seat of prominence. In the Greek, the root word for "transgressor" is "parabaino" which means "to go by the side of, to overstep." Our ultimate mark is perfection in Christ. Any behavior that oversteps or comes just shy of that, is considered sin.

In the beginning, God created man in His own image and likeness. There was no need for the law because God's divine nature and character was inherent within his perfect heart. After man sinned, God responded by providing the law. Now that man no longer had a perfect heart, he needed to know what God expected from him, which was nothing short of perfection. Another definition of sin is, "a violation of the divine law in thought or act." But no one can possibly be perfect, you say! Exactly. This is precisely why we need a savior. The only way for us to stand before God is under the redeeming blood of Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:21 says, "He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him."

The lesson James wishes for us to understand in this passage is that sin is sin. Man has a tendency to rank sin according to what he thinks is a righteous scale. Surely slaying a man is much worse than committing adultery, right? In God's eyes, anything in thought or deed that misses the mark of perfection is a sin. Jesus said in Matthew 5:27-28, "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery'; but I say to you, that everyone who looks on a woman to lust for her has committed adultery with her already in his heart." In 1 John 3:15 it says, "Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer; and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him." Whether you act on it or even think it, you have broken the law. Your sins can be forgiven through personal acceptance of Jesus Christ's atoning act at Calvary. Even though we are covered with His blood, we continue to battle sinful tendencies. We will stumble along the path of life. When we sin (ie. showing partiality between individuals), it is an offense to God. We must repent and restore the relationship with Him.

James 2:5-7

2011-02-09T06:11:00.000-08:00

James tells us in today's passage that God has chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom.

Compassion - The Lord has compassion for the poor.

"For he will deliver the needy when he cries for help, the afflicted also, and him who has no helper. He will have compassion on the poor and needy." (Psalm 72:12-13)

"For He stands at the right hand of the needy, to save him from those who judge his soul." (Psalm 109:31)

"...Thou didst provide in Thy goodness for the poor, O God." (Psalm 68:10)

Co-heirs in Christ - Scripture also tells us that believers are considered to be co-heirs with Christ.

"The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him in order that we may also be glorified with Him." (Romans 8:16-17)

"There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise." (Galatians 3:28-29)

"That being justified by His grace we might be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life." (Titus 3:7)

Christ-like Behavior is Required

Referring back to the actions in verse 3 of this chapter, James says in verse 6 that when a poor man is judged by his appearance, he is being despised (KJV). The Greek word for despised is "atimazo" which means, "to dishonor, insult, treat with contempt." The poor of this world struggle, and their lives can often be marked with suffering. When they come into the assembly of believers, they need to be met with compassion and treated with the heart of Christ. We must not disregard their brotherhood in Christ. Church should be a safe haven for the downtrodden. This should be the last place that they are stripped of their dignity and honor. How horrible it must be in the sight of the God to see one of His children treat another this way. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 says, "Therefore encourage one another, and build up one another, just as you also are doing."

Consequences

Showing deference to individuals based on their wealth and appearance opens the door for hypocrisy, another thing which the Lord abhors, and for which there are serious consequences. The world esteems the rich and shoves the poor off to the side. When believers exhibit the same kind of behavior within the church, it is hypocritical. In Matthew 23:13, Jesus is speaking to the Pharisees and says, "But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you shut off the kingdom of heaven from men; for you do not enter in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in." Hypocritical behavior is not only seen by God, it is also seen and recognized as such by the world, thus bringing shame upon the individual as well as the name of Christ. Let us not behave in any way that would bring shame upon ourselves or the name of the Lord.

James 2:2-4

2011-02-08T06:11:00.000-08:00

We live in a world of protocol and political correctness. We learn from a very early age that when you are around certain people, you behave a certain way. For example, you address people by their title (Mr., Mrs., Dr.), offer an elderly person your seat, and stand or bow when a dignitary enters the room. We do need to honor others, and give them the respect that they are due. Scripture instructs us to honor our fathers and mothers, respect the elderly, and be good and dutiful citizens. There is a fine line though, between honor and respect and going overboard with our attention, particularly to those who have great power, and often great wealth.

Within the church, James warns us to watch out for and avoid this kind of excessive attention. We are not to show deference to an individual based on his or her outward appearance or worldly wealth. When we gather together for worship, we need to remember that we are one body and that Christ is our common denominator. Our focus needs to be on the Lord, not those around us. Think of the ruckus it would cause within your church if you suddenly found out that the President or the Queen of England was going to attend on Sunday morning. People would turn themselves inside out to prepare for such an event and make sure that everything was perfect. The visiting dignitary would be given the very best of everything there was to offer...parking, seating, etc. Where would all of the attention be on Sunday morning? Our God is a holy and jealous God, and will not have any other gods (including people) placed ahead of Him in our hearts.

Our lives and actions should be a reflection of the character of God. We need to consider what Jesus would do in any situation, and behave accordingly. God's order does not match man's order. With man, the first are first, and the rich and powerful are exalted. With God, the first shall be last, and the humble servant will be exalted. Paul writes in Galatians 2:6, "But from those who seemed to be something -- whatever they were, it makes no difference to me; God shows personal favoritism to no man -- for those who seemed to be something added nothing to me." We must remember that we are one body under the lordship of Jesus Christ. Our attention and devotion must be placed solely on Him, and Him alone, no matter who is sitting in the pew next to us.

James 2:1

2011-02-07T06:07:00.000-08:00

Just as Jesus showed no partiality toward whom He ministered, we are to show no partiality toward others. Jesus went where the Father led Him. He encountered rich men, poor men, children, widows, and the sick. He was agapeo love in the flesh. In Mark 12:30-31, Jesus tells a scribe, "And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these." The message of Jesus Christ is one of love...love for God and love for others.

Today we start James chapter 2. There is a visual break in our Bibles between chapter 1 and chapter 2, but there is not a break in thought in the text. The transition is seamless. James 1 ended with a comparison between a man who thinks himself to be religious, but has deceived himself in his heart, and the definition of pure and undefiled religion. In comparing James 1:26-27 with the passage in Mark 12, an example of verse 26 could be the religious scribes and verse 27 could be Jesus. Throughout His ministry, Jesus was constantly encountering the religious elite who would challenge His authority and divinity. They would purposely pose questions with the intent to trip Him up with a technicality of the Law. He knew the intent of their hearts, and called them on it. He was never surprised or deceived, and always ready with a truthful answer. His ministry was pure and undefiled, and He most certainly kept Himself unstained by the world. Near the end of Mark 12, He gives a discourse on pride.

"And in His teaching He was saying, 'Beware of the scribes who like to walk around in long robes, and like respectful greetings in the market places, and chief seats in the synagogues, and places of honor at banquets, who devour widows' houses, and for appearance's sake offer long prayers; these will receive greater condemnation." (Mark 12:38-40)

He is speaking of the religious leaders. People would come to the temple to pray and offer sacrifices, and encounter people like this within its walls and courtyards. They must have seen and felt their scornful and derisive looks, and sensed the "us vs. them" separation. The leaders gave deference to each other based on outward appearance and position, always choosing the best for themselves. Their hearts were full of pride at their knowledge and practice of the Law, and the position they had gained within the temple because of it. This did not please Jesus, and He made that abundantly clear. Did you notice the last five words? "These will receive greater condemnation."

Sadly, this behavior can still be found in churches today. It can still be as overt as it was in Biblical times, but it is often more subtle. We look at people within the body of Christ and make snap judgments about them, based on their appearance or actions. These thoughts affect our behavior. We may or may not reach out to someone, based solely on what we see and think of them. Sometimes it is a conscious decision, other times it is subconscious. We tend to make choices that will position us in the middle of our comfort zone. Jesus made no distinctions. He welcomed everyone unto Himself. He didn't call us to be pious. He didn't call us to be comfortable. We are called to a ministry of love and compassion, to go wherever He leads us, and to serve in humility.

In Acts 10, we read of an encounter between Peter and Cornelius. Cornelius has gathered his family and friends, who are waiting for Peter to come and minister to them. When Peter arrives in Caesarea, Cornelius falls at his feet and worships him. Peter immediately gets him off his knees and says, "Stand up; I too am just a man." He tells the group of gathered people in verses 28-29, "You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a man who is a Jew to associate with a foreigner or to visit him; and yet God has shown me that I should not call any man unholy or unclean. That is why I came without even raising any objection when I was sent for. And so I ask for what reason you have sent for me." Did you notice that Peter came without knowing why he was being called, and that he did so without even raising any objection? The Law said that he should not associate with foreigners, but Christ came to fulfill the Law. His was a message of Love. Peter was following in the footsteps of Christ. As we continue to read in this passage, we find out that God told Cornelius to call Peter to come and preach the good news to his family and friends. Peter begins his message with the following words in verses 34-35: "And opening his mouth, Peter said: 'I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality, but in every nation the man who fears Him and does what is right, is welcome to Him."

God does not show partiality, and neither should we.

James 1:26-27

2011-02-04T06:04:00.000-08:00

This week we have been reading in James 1 about how we should be in the Word, and allowing it to penetrate our hearts and minds. God has a plan for each one of our lives, and we need to come before Him with thankfulness and in humility, allowing Him to work in and through us to achieve His divine plan. For the person who does not read with self-awareness and a heart open to change and service, we are told that they are deluding themselves. Today's passage tells us that his religion is worthless.

As we grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ, it should become more difficult for Satan to tempt us off track. The things and activities of the world that seemed so appealing prior to salvation should begin to lose their appeal. It is at this point that Satan may change his tactics and attempt to lead us astray with sins of the heart. We may begin to struggle with things like pride, self-righteousness, or seeking power. We have probably all encountered someone who is wearing a mask of righteousness. Everything on the outside may appear righteous and in order, but their lives are either not bearing any fruit, or are bearing the wrong kind of fruit. In verse 23-24, we see that if a person reads the Word but does not do so with humility and a heart to change, he is like a man who looks at himself in the mirror and then walks away without making any changes to what he has just seen. He may think he is religious, and do and say all the right things, but not only is he deceiving himself and possibly others, he isn't deceiving God. Proverbs 21:2 says, "Every man's way is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the hearts."

In 1 Samuel 16, we read the story of God telling Samuel that He will select a new king for Israel. God instructs Samuel to go to Bethlehem to make a sacrifice, and invite Jesse and his sons to come too. He tells Samuel in verse 3, "and you shall anoint for Me the one whom I designate to you." Samuel follows God's instructions, and when Jesse's first son Eliab walks into the room, it says in verse 6, "...that he looked at Eliab and thought, 'Surely the Lord's anointed is before Him.'" Did you notice the word "thought" in that verse? Notice God's immediate response to him in verse 7. "But the Lord said to Samuel, 'Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.'" God chose Jesse's youngest son David to be anointed by Samuel as king. David is often referred to as a man after God's own heart.

God can see through our masks. He is not fooled by the motives of our hearts. In Ephesians 6:5-7 it says, "Slaves, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, as to Christ; not by way of eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart. With good will render service, as to the Lord, and not to men." Whatever tasks we are given on Earth should be done as unto Him and for His glory, not in an effort to look pious in front of those around us. Others may be fooled, but God is not.

The final verse of James 1 gives us a picture of what "pure and undefiled" religion looks like in the sight of our God and Father. It is meeting the needs of others, and ministering with a heart of compassion --His compassion. We must also keep ourselves unstained by the world, and that is no easy task. Again, the lesson here is to remain in the Word daily, and in step with the Lord. James 1:25 tells that if we do this, we will be blessed.

In Psalm 24:1-5, David writes, "The earth is the Lord's, and all it contains, the world, and those who dwell in it. For He has founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the rivers. Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? And who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood, and has not sworn deceitfully. He shall receive a blessing from the Lord and righteousness from the God of his salvation."

James 1:25

2011-02-03T05:59:00.000-08:00

"But one who looks intently at the perfect law,"

Christ's redemptive work at Calvary ushered in the law of grace. The Law of Moses was now fulfilled once and for all through the perfect, spotless Lamb. "But He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God..For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified. And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after saying, 'This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws upon their heart, and upon their mind I will write them,' He then says, 'And their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.'" (Hebrews 1:12, 14-17)

"the law of liberty,"

"It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery." (Galatians 5:1)

"For you were called to freedom, brethren, only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'" (Galatians 5:13-14)

"Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty." (2 Cor. 3:17)

"and abides by it,"

"'And He who sent Me is with me; He has not left Me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to Him.' As He spoke these things, many came to believe in Him. Jesus therefore was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, 'If you abide in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.'" (John 8:29-32)

Jesus is the pattern that we should follow. Note that He has an ongoing relationship with His Father. Everything that He does is out of love, and with the intent to please the Father. If you abide (in the Greek, remain beside or continue always near) in Him, you shall be free. Many people reject Christ using the excuse that they do not want to live by so many constrictive rules. For those who believe and understand, it is quite the opposite. We live our lives pursuing righteousness because of our profound love and thankfulness for Him and what He did for us on the cross. We seek to please Him, not be because we have to, but because we want to. There is great freedom in that.

not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer,

This is a reference back to James 1:22-25, and a reminder that as believers, we need to be about the work of our Father. Our work needs to be effectual. We need to work with a purpose, not only to please Him, but to serve the body of Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:10 says, "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad." The word "bad" in the Greek can mean not only bad, but also "worthless" and "of no account."

this man shall be blessed in what he does."

The person who

believes in Christ (looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty),
abides in His Word, (and abides by it)
and
obeys the Word (becomes an effectual doer)

will be blessed, or happy. Note that believing, abiding, and obeying are all action words. Also note the little word "in." It doesn't say that the believer is blessed because of what he does, or for what he does, but in what he does. It is by living our lives after this pattern set before us that we experience true joy in Christ.

"But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. And he will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither; and in whatever he does, he prospers." (Psalm 1:2-3)

James 1:22-24

2011-02-02T06:11:00.000-08:00

"But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves." (James 1:22)

The Christian life comes with responsibilities. It should be one of visible faith and action. We are not given the free gift of salvation and then allowed to carry on with our own agenda. As we spend time in the Word, we begin to pursue righteousness, seeking to align our wills with the will of God. God never intends for us to sit idle. As in all things, we look to Jesus as our example. At an early age on Earth, he told his parents, "Did you not know that I must be about My Father's business?" (Luke 2:49) As we consider His ministry throughout the gospels, He was constantly on the move. He taught, healed, fed, and ministered to the people with a heart of compassion. When you respond to His command to "Follow Me," you are giving not only your heart but your entire life to the Lord. If you are instructed to follow someone, that implies that they are moving, and you need to keep in step with where they are going. It also means that you are allowing yourself to be led. Ephesians 2:10 says, "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." He has a specific plan for your life, and has equipped you with the ability to accomplish those good works that He has set out before you.

This passage reminded me of the parable of the talents in Matthew 25:14-30. A master is about to go on a journey, and leaves specific amounts of money with three of his servants. Two of the three take that money and double it. The other is afraid, and buries it. After a long time, the master returns to settle the accounts. To each servant who doubled the money, he says, "Well done, good and faithful servant." To the one who buried it, he rebukes him for laziness and not even putting the money in a bank where it could receive interest. There is no reward for this man. In this parable, the master represents Christ and the servants represent Christians. The talents represent those things that God entrusts us with...not just tangible things like money or children, for example, but it includes our personalities, talents, abilities, and time. Note that in verse 16 (NASB) it says, "Immediately the one who had received the five talents went and traded with them..." Verse 17 says that the one with two talents did likewise, in the same manner. The faithful servants responded with immediacy, and went out and acted upon what had been given them. They had no idea when their master would return, just as we have no idea when ours will return. We must realize that He will return to settle accounts (v 19). At the final judgment, I know that I want to hear those words, "Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you a ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord." (Matt. 25:21) I do not want to be rebuked for laziness and have my reward given to someone else.

"For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at this natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was." (James 1:23-24)

Do you remember taking those standardized tests in school, and encountering a question like "hand:glove as foot:(blank)" and among your choices of answers would be "sock"? These two verses reminded me of that. Perhaps our "test question" could be "face:mirror as heart:(blank)" and the correct answer would be "Word of God." Why do we look in a mirror? To check our appearance. If our hair is awry, makeup is smeared, or a button is unfastened, we make adjustments and fix it. As believers, we need to be in the Word (our spiritual mirror) daily. We need to be reading it with a humble and open heart, and viewing our life through the lens of Scripture, making the necessary adjustments. Hebrews 4:12-13 says, "For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do." I wasn't quite sure what the phrase "with whom we have to do" meant, so I looked it up. The Greek word used for "to do" is "logos." My heart skipped a beat when I was reading through the various definitions of "logos" based on how it is used. When used in the context of the mind (remember in verse 12, the word is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart), "logos" means "account, i.e. answer or explanation in reference to judgment" or "account, i.e. reckoning, score." This ties in with the parable of the talents! The master came back to settle the accounts with each servant. We too, will have to give an account to our Master. The footnote in my Bible says, "If our lives conform to the word of God (v12), then our word (account) in the day of judgment will be acceptable to God." (The Ryrie Study Bible, NASB, The Moody Bible Institute of Chicago, 1978).

Study His Word.
Allow the Word of God to pierce and penetrate your heart and soul.
Respond to the promptings of His Holy Spirit, whether it is a call to repentance or a call to action.

(Note: the words in bold are action words!!)

We must allow Him to move in and through us to accomplish His divine purposes for the kingdom.

James 1:21

2011-02-01T06:11:00.000-08:00

In a continuation of thoughts from yesterday, we are instructed in today's verse to "lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls." This is the course of action needed to pursue the righteousness of God.

Recognize Sin

As we pursue a life of faith and righteousness, we need to be humble and open before the Lord, asking Him to reveal both obvious and hidden sin in our lives. We live in a politically correct world where calling something for what it is, is often frowned upon. For example, something isn't a lie, it is a "half truth." Scripture does not "spin" the truth. Sin is sin. It is the filthy, wicked overflow of thought, word, and action that flows from the human heart. Salvation is necessary, and upon receiving Christ, He changes us more into the likeness of His own image; but until His return we will continue to battle with our own human nature.

Remove Sin

We cannot allow sin even a foothold in our heart. We must be diligent in repentance and removal of anything that displeases God. 2 Chronicles 7:14 says, "if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land." 1 Peter 2:1-3 says, "Therefore, putting aside all malice and all guile and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, like newborn babes, long for the pure milk of the word, that by it you may grow in respect to salvation."

Receive the Implanted Word

When we spend time in His word, we must do so in meekness and humility. We must read it with a heart and mind that is open to revelation in any area that God wishes to move and grow us up. If sin is recognized and/or revealed, we must confess. Our hearts must remain fertile soil, without toxins or poisons, where the seed of truth that was planted in us can continue to grow and produce fruit. 1 Peter 1:23-25 says, "for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and abiding word of God. For 'All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers and the flower falls off, But the word of the Lord abides forever.' And this is the word which was preached to you."

The phrase "implanted word" reminded me of the first few verses of Psalm 1, which is also applicable here. "Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper."

Finally, it is important to note in today's verse that the word "save" does not refer to salvation. The Greek word used here is "sozo" which means, "to save, keep safe and sound." Spending time in His word is necessary, and will help guard your heart against the day to day onslaught of the tempter. We need to be under the continual instruction of the Word, with a heart open to receive and accept what He has for us. Let us be like the tree, planted by the Living Water, that produces the fruit of the Spirit.

James 1:19-20

2011-01-31T06:14:00.000-08:00

So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God. (James 1:19-20)

Today's passage begins with the phrase "So then," which is an indicator that it is a continuation of the previous thought. In verse 18 we spent time considering God's greatest gift of all, salvation. Once we accept the Lord into our hearts, James instructs us to be "swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath." After recognizing our sin, the need for redemption, and accepting Christ's work at the cross, we are a "new creature." 2 Corinthinans 5:17 says, "Therefore if man is in Christ, he is a new creature, the old things passed away; behold, new things have come." We have a new heart in Christ, but we will always continue to struggle with our Adamic nature. To be swift to hear and slow to speak means that we need to be teachable. After receiving the Lord, we need to spend time in His word and learn from Him. We need to pursue righteousness. This is a logical progression. If we are swift to listen and slow to speak, then the likelihood of becoming angry should be greatly decreased.

It is important to note the definition of anger that James uses in these verses. The Greek word for wrath in both verses is "orge," a noun which means "anger, wrath, indignation, anger exhibited in punishment." The anger spoken of here isn't one of irritation (like we feel when someone cuts us off in traffic), but refers more to vengeance. This is an important distinction, because if you are angry to the point where you desire revenge, you are making a judgment call in your mind. You feel that you have been wronged in some way, and the other person must now pay for what they have done to you. In verse 20 it says that the "wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God." The Greek term for "righteouness" is "dikaiosyne," which means, "justice, or the virtue which gives each his due." God is perfect and holy, the only one who is qualified to be the Judge. Romans 12:19 says, "Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, 'Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,' says the Lord." The Greek word for wrath in the Romans passage is orge, the same one used in James.

You may be thinking "What about righteous indignation? Isn't that okay?" Jesus displayed righteous indignation when he overthrew the tables of the money changers in the temple. Remember though, that He was fully God and fully man. He could physically see what was going on, but He also knew the hearts of the people involved. We do not have the ability to see the unseen, therefore we must proceed with caution and divine wisdom. When we accept the Lord into our heart, it says in Ephesians 4:23-24 "that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth." After salvation, the righteousness of God is formed in man. We do view right and wrong from a different perspective, but we cannot forget that God is holy and perfect and the only one qualified to judge. We are not. We continue to battle our sin nature. Righteous indignation for us is possible, but it is more of a slippery slope. Note that James tells us to be "slow to wrath." This implies that righteous indignation is possible, but we must be slow in reaching it. We must seek the Lord in such a situation, and be wholly reliant on His guidance and will for our actions.

In summary, today's passage tells us that we need to be teachable, slow to wrath, and pursuing the righteousness of God in all things.

Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. (Matthew 6:33)

This I say therefore, and affirm together with the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind, being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart;...But you did not learn Christ in this way, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth." (Ephesians 4:17-18, 20-24)

James 1:18

2011-01-28T06:12:00.000-08:00

Following on the heels of verse 17 which speaks of every gift from God being good and perfect, is verse 18, today's reading.

The greatest gift of all is redemption from sin through the blood of Jesus Christ.

Let's start at the beginning:

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men." (John 1:1-4)

"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." (Genesis 1:1)

The Greek word for God in this verse is "Elohiym" which means "rulers, judges, divine ones." This is a reference to all three persons in the Godhead.

Man is created in the image of the triune God. (Genesis 1:26)

His food is to be fruit and vegetables. (Genesis 1:29)

Creation is now considered complete and "very good." (Genesis 1:31) and God rests.

God gives man complete freedom, with the only rule being that he cannot eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, or death will be the result. (Genesis 2:17)

Man is tempted and disobeys. (Genesis 3:6)

Sin enters the world and forever taints creation. (Genesis 3:7-8)

Disobedience to God has separated man from God (spiritual death), so the Lord kills an animal and covers man with its skin. (Genesis 3:21)

Physical death enters the world, as well as the need for atoning sacrifice. (I Corinthians 15:21-22)

Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of first fruits of His creatures. (James 1:18)

The Greek word used for "will" in this verse is "boulomai," a verb which means "to will deliberately, have a purpose, be minded."

Prior to the creation of Man there appears to be a conversation, if you will, among the Godhead. "Then God said, 'Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness;'" (Genesis 1:26)

After the fall of Man, another foreordained decision was made by God. His perfect creation was now tainted with sin and death. He could have chosen to leave it at that. He warned us, we disobeyed, and thus fully deserved to be left to the consequences of our action. By His great grace and mercy, He provided a way for the atonement of sin, and that was through His Son's death on the cross.

The killing of the animal covered man's outward shame, but man's heart still needed to be dealt with. Today's verse says, "Of His own will..." The triune God made a choice (exercised His will) to cleanse our hearts and to redeem us from all unrighteousness, knowing the great cost and personal sacrifice that was required.

His foreordained plan is set in motion.

Joseph is told that the child conceived in Mary is of the Holy Spirit (Matt. 1:20-23)

Jesus is also referred to as the second Adam (I Corinthians 15:45, 47)

Jesus was fully man and fully God. (John 1:14)

At the cross, he bore our inquities. (Isaiah 53:4-5, 10-12)

Atonement was completed. (John 19:30)

Jesus Christ conquers death through His resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:20-24)

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, 'The just shall live by faith.'" (Romans 1:16-17)

"But as many as received Him, to them he gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." (John 1:12)

In the Old Testament, the children of Israel are instructed over and over to bring the firstfruits of everything (land, meat, crops, etc.) to Lord as a sacrifice. Deuteronomy 26:10 says, "and now, behold, I have brought the firstfruits of the land which you, O Lord, have given me. Then you shall set it before the Lord your God, and worship before the Lord your God."

The firstfruits were the possession of God.

We were created by God, therefore we are His possession.

"For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written: As I live, says the Lord, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God.' So then each of us shall give account of himself to God." (Romans 14:10-12)

We are told that we will present ourselves to God and give an account for our life. Remember where we started. Sin put separation between God and man. Sin cannot be in the presence of God.

"For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ's at His coming." (1 Cor. 15:22-23)

"Sirs, what must I do to be saved? So they said, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household." (Acts 16:30-31)

By His grace,
By His mercy,
Through His sovereign will,
By accepting, professing, and presenting the redemptive blood of Jesus Christ to God,

We are a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.

I forgot the moon! (James 1:17b)

2011-01-27T14:22:00.000-08:00

(Note to the reader: If you have not read my previous post on James 1:16-17, I encourage you to do so. That is the basis for this post)

As I have been moving through my day, my thoughts keep returning to what I learned this morning in James 1:17. God is both light and the Creator of light. I mentioned that while the sun sets and stars twinkle brightly and then fade, He does not change. In Him there is no variation or shadow of turning. I didn't mention anything about the moon, which is also a light in the night sky. It suddenly occurred to me that perhaps this may be the most powerful example of the point I was trying to bring across near the end of my post.

Genesis 1:16 says, "And God made the two great lights, the greater light to govern the day, and the lesser light to govern the night; He made the stars also." The moon does not generate light, it is simply a reflector of the sun's light. Just as He created the moon to reflect the sunlight, so we should be reflections of Him. We can see the moon during the day, but when is it the brightest? At night. Near the end of the previous post I suggested that if you are in a dark trial that you need to spend time with Lord, dwell in His glorious presence, and seek His face. Your face may not physically shine, but the Lord's presence will be reflected in your life. The darker the night (trial), the brighter the moon.

Viewing a moonlit night is captivating. There is great beauty in its simplicity. As you reflect Christ's love and presence in your life, particularly during dark trials, you present to others a shining example of God's sustaining grace.

To God be the glory!

James 1:16-17

2011-01-27T06:11:00.000-08:00

Do not err, my beloved brethren. (James 1:16, KJV)
Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. (James 1:16, NASB)

The Greek word used for err/deceived is "planao," which means "to wander, to roam about, to stray from the subject or the right course, mental straying" Within the context of this passage in James, he is exhorting us to remain disciplined and focused in our mind, particularly in the face of trials and temptations. This brought to mind Isaiah 53:6 which says, "All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him." We all have the tendency to lose focus. Our own desires, if not continually in line with the Lord's, can cause us to be easily deceived or led astray. Note that James refers to us as beloved brethren. The Greek word for beloved in this passage is "agapetos" from the root word "agapao" which means, "to welcome, to entertain, to be fond of, to love dearly." Like the father in the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32), the Lord feels compassion for us and will embrace us with loving arms when we return to Him. Romans 5:8 says, "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." He loved us before we loved Him. What a comfort to know that even when we stray, our compassionate and merciful heavenly Father views us as beloved.

James 1:17a
"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, (KJV)
"Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, (NASB)

It is interesting to note that gift is mentioned twice, but the Greek word is not the same.

The first "gift" is "dosis" which comes from the root word "didomi" which means "to give, to bestow a gift." Note that it is a verb.
The second "gift" is "dorema" which means "a gift, bounty, benefaction." The second gift is a noun.

There is also a difference in the Greek words between the description of the gifts.

The first is gift is described as good. The Greek word is "agathos" which means "excellent, distinguished, honorable, upright."
The second gift is described as perfect. The Greek word is "teleios" which means "brought to an end, perfect, wanting nothing necessary to completeness, full grown"

Why is all of this important? Because we get a sense for the giver (God) as well as the gift itself. If you consider all of these definitions, you find that both the giving of God and what He gives is good. Everything that God in His goodness gives us has a divine goal and purpose. Remember that we have encountered the term "perfect" back in verse 4. His divine purpose is to accomplish perfection in our lives. Sometimes this is done through trials. Again, we encounter this dichotomy. It is not natural for us to describe a trial as a "good or perfect gift," but when viewed with an eternal perspective, knowing that the purpose for the trial is perfection and completion in God's purpose and plan for our life, we can begin to count it all joy.

As a parent, I know my children well enough to know that what is good for one of them may not be good for the other. I encounter this a lot as I homeschool them. They both have the same lesson to learn, but I must teach it to them in two different ways. I have to take their personalities and learning styles into account, and tailor my approach to make sure that the lesson is really learned. If I tried to force one approach on both children, neither of them would learn the lesson to its fullest extent. The first part of verse 17 also shows us the heart and nature of our Father. He treats each one of us as individuals, and always with care and compassion. He never pushes us past our limits, and everything that He does for us is for our benefit as He moves us toward perfection in Him. I find great comfort in this!

James 1:17b
"and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." (KJV)
"coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation, or shifting shadow." (NASB)

God is described as the "Father of lights." We know from other passages in Scripture that He is light. In John 8:12, Jesus says, "I am the light of the world; he who follows Me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the light of life." He also created light. The first day of creation, He said, "Let there be light, and there was light." (Genesis 1:3) On day four He created the sun, moon, and stars (Genesis 1:14-19). In Genesis 15:5, God is speaking with Abram and it says, "He took him outside and said, 'Now look toward the heavens, and count the stars, if you are able to count them' And He said to him, 'So shall your descendants be.'" On a starry night, God directed Abram's attention toward the firmament filled with innumerable points of light in the sky, and demonstrated the vast abundance of the blessings that were promised to him. We should consider nature as that which points to, and is a reflection of, the good and perfect nature of the Creator.

Unlike the sun that sets at night, and the stars that twinkle brightly at times and dimly at others, or burn out altogether, our God does not change -- ever. Malachi 3:6 says, "For I, the Lord, do not change." 1 John 1:5 says, "And this is the message we have heard from him and announce to you, that God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all." His light is so bright, it is unapproachable. "He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords; who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light; whom no man has seen or can see. To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen!" (1 Timothy 6:15-16) In Exodus 34:29 we find Moses coming down from Mt. Sinai after receiving the ten commandments from God. "And it came about when Moses was coming down from Mount Sinai (and the two tablets of the testimony were in Moses' hand as he was coming down from the mountain), that Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because of his speaking with Him." In Luke 2:9, and angel appears to the shepherds in the field. It says, "And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened." Later in Luke as we read of the resurrection of Jesus, we find in Luke 24:4 "And it happened that while they were perplexed about this, behold, two men suddenly stood near them in dazzling apparel." Note that in all of these passages, the faces or appearance of those people or beings who spent time in the Lord shone.

We have probably all read, heard, or known of someone who has endured a trial of unimaginable pain and suffering, and yet they remain steadfast and unmovable in their faith and give God the glory. They have the peace that passes all understanding (Philippians 4:7). It is because they have drawn close to the Lord and spent time in His glorious presence. In the midst of the pain, they see the blessings, experience His guidance and comfort, and cling to His promise of eternal life. What an incredible living testimony of God's abundant grace and mercy.

I couldn't help but think of the first verse and chorus of the hymn "Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus"

O soul, are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There's a light for a look at the Savior
And life more abundant and free!

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of Earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.

If you find yourself in the midst of a dark trial, remember:
1. It is a good and perfect gift given to you for the strengthening and perfection of your faith.
2. Draw close to the Lord. Spend time in His presence. Seek His face.

Your face may not physically shine, but the countenance of your life most certainly will. This is how you both give and bring God the glory in all things.

James 1:15

2011-01-26T06:17:00.000-08:00

Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death. (James 1:15, NASB)

Today's verse is a continuation of thoughts developed yesterday. We are born with sinful hearts, and while those who place their faith in the redemptive work of Jesus Christ receive eternal life, we will always battle our Adamic nature (until His return). Much of our battle here on Earth happens in our mind. This is why the promise in verse five is so wonderful. God will give us His wisdom to deal with trials and temptations when we ask for it in unwavering faith.

James uses an interesting metaphor in today's verse -- the idea of conception and birth. It takes two to conceive. This brings up an interesting question. Is it a sin when an evil thought or idea enters your mind? It is evidence and a reminder of our sinful nature, but it is what we do with the thought that determines if sin has been conceived and given the chance to live and grow in our hearts. Who do we join with? Do we immediately fling the evil thought out of our head (submit to God and repent for even thinking it, not allowing conception to occur and the sinful thought to develop life in our heart), or do we submit to Satan's enticement and our fleshly desires and allow conception and further development of that thought to occur?

Just last week I encountered a situation that illustrates this point. I went to a department store to purchase some ski pants for my son. While there, I perused some clearance racks and found several tops for my daughter. When paying for the clothes, I thought the final price was a bit low, but was distracted by the children and figured that there were additional discounts that I didn't know about. When I got home and checked the receipt, I quickly realized that the sales clerk never scanned the ski pants, therefore I had not been charged for them. I am ashamed to confess that the thought entered my mind, "You just got them for free! Now that is a deal! No one will ever know." The instant after that flashed through my head, I felt sick in my gut for even thinking it, asked God to forgive me for even thinking such a thing, and knew that I would be taking a trip back to the mall the next day to purchase the pants, which I did. The evil thought occurred, and while that was bad enough and an ugly reminder of my sinful nature, it was the decision about what to do with it that mattered the most. I chose to repent and do what was right and pay for the pants. Had I chosen to heed the voice in my head (conception), sin would have occurred (birth) because not paying for the pants is the same as theft.

As believers in Christ we must be vigilant. We must continually guard our hearts and minds to the tricks, traps, and enticements of Satan. We simply cannot allow sin to be conceived in our hearts and establish a foothold where it can grow and gain life. We should be deeply grieved in our spirit when a sinful thought or idea flashes through our mind. If we choose to submit to our fleshly desires, we run the very real risk of becoming a slave to sin. At this point in the study, I would strongly urge you to take a few moments to read Romans 6. This chapter dovetails beautifully with what we are studying today. Take particular note of verses 12-14 which say, "Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body that you should obey its lusts, and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law, but under grace." Several verses later in 17-18, it says, "But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness." Through God's work on the cross, we have freedom in Christ. Be vigilant and commit yourself daily to remain obedient from the heart in all things. Do not entertain sinful thoughts and allow them "life" in your heart.

The last part of today's verse in James says, "and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death." Isaiah 59:2 says, "But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, And your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He does not hear." The last verse in Romans 6 says, "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." As today's verse teaches us, sin is progressive and it only leads to death and separation from God. We must wear and use the full armor of God at all times. Ephesians 6:16 says, "taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming missiles of the evil one." Let those evil thoughts that flare through your mind be immediately extinguished and bounce right off of you. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 says, "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ."

Take every thought captive and live in the grace and freedom of Jesus Christ.

James 1:13-14

2011-01-25T06:08:00.000-08:00

In today's reading, we see the juxtaposition of the human heart vs. the holy heart (holiness) of God. From the very beginning, man has always had a hard time admitting to sin. Genesis 3:12-13 says, "And the man said, 'The woman whom Thou gavest to be with me, she gave me from the tree, and I ate. Then the Lord God said to the woman, 'What is this you have done?' And the woman said, 'The serpent deceived me, and I ate.'" Eve blamed the serpent. Adam's response was doubly bad because not only did he blame the woman, he blamed God.

Human Heart
(James 1:13a "Let no one say when he is tempted, 'I am being tempted by God,';)

This reminded me of the character in the old Family Circus comic strip named "Not Me." The scene is a broken toy with two children standing next to it. The mother leans in and says, "Who did this?" and both children look up innocently at her and say, "Not Me." Running out of the comic frame is a ghost-like character with a t-shirt that says, "Not Me" on it. Scripture has a lot to say about the condition of the human heart.

"The heart is more deceitful than all else And is desperately sick; Who can understand it?" (Jer. 17:9)

"as it is written, 'There is none righteous, not even one; There is none who understands, There is none who seeks for God; All have turned aside, together they have become useless; There is none good, there is not even one." (Romans 3:1-12)

"If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us." (1 John 1:8)

"If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us." (1 John 1:10)

There is no wiggle room here. It is because of the wickedness of our hearts that we need a Savior. To refer to Him as a liar is a very serious and inadvisable action.

Holy Heart (Holiness) of God
(James 1:13b for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone.)

Our God is holy. Scripture describes Him as Truth and Light.

"Jesus said to him, 'I am the Way, and the Truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me." (John 14:6)

"He who has received His witness has set his seal to this, that God is true." (John 3:33)

"who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light; whom no man has seen or can see. To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen." (1 Tim. 6:16)

"And this is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all." (1 John 1:5)

It is very clear that God is not the source of sin and deceit, as He cannot even have it in His presence. Therefore logically, He can't be tempted by evil (Jesus proved this in His encounter with Satan in Matthew 4:1-11), nor would He tempt anyone to do evil. It is simply against His nature.

James 1:14 says, "But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust." Last year, I spoke at my church's Women's Retreat on Psalm 23, which is a description of the Lord as our Shepherd. I didn't know a lot about sheep, so I read The Shepherd Trilogy by W. Phillip Keller. (highly recommended, by the way). Keller is a minister who spent a good portion of his life raising and tending sheep. Verse 14 reminded me of what Keller refers to as a "fence crawler." By nature, sheep tend to follow their eyes, nose, and stomachs. They are always searching for that lush green, choice patch of grass in which to feed. They keep their heads down and just wander around searching and nibbling, searching and nibbling. The danger in this is that they can end up way out at the fence line of the pasture. This is dangerous because they are away from the protection of the shepherd, and exposed to predators as well as noxious weeds or plants and tainted water. I'm sure you can see the metaphor here.

Man is different than an animal though. Like sheep, by nature, we tend to wander and seek after our own desires. Unlike sheep, we have heart that is aware of good and evil. We have the ability to make a conscious choice. This brings us full circle to the condition of the human heart. The road to a sinful decision begins in the heart. The original fall of man began as a decision in Eve's heart. It wasn't the tree's fault, and while Satan had a huge hand in it, it wasn't his fault either. Eve made the choice. Genesis 3:6 says, "When the woman saw that the tree was good for food and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate." Eve saw that it was good and a delight to the eyes. She was carried away and enticed by her own lusts. She chose to "crawl the fence."

There is a verse later in the book of James that just seems appropriate to mention here.

"Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you." (James 4:7)

It is difficult to avoid temptation. The world is full of it, and we face it every day. Submit your heart to Him in humility and seek Him continually. By remaining under the strength and protection of our Lord and Shepherd, the devil will (not might, will!) flee from you.

James 1:12

2011-01-24T06:08:00.000-08:00

"Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to those who love Him." (James 1:12, NASB)

"Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him." (James 1:12, NKJV)

What an incredible promise, and a promise that gives us purpose and hope in the midst of life's trials! James 1:2-4 instructs us to count it all joy when we encounter trials, because the testing of our faith produces endurance. In verse 12 we read that when we endure (bear up under) trials, we will be blessed. The Greek word for "blessed" is makarios, which means "happy." King David certainly had his fair share of trials. He battled the full range of emotions that we all may deal with in the midst of trial -- fear, anger, confusion, dismay, depression. Perhaps this is one of the reasons why people tend to turn to the Psalms in times of trouble. They bring comfort because they were written by a man after God's own heart, who walked through the fires of life. They express anguish, and yet exalt the Lord and praise Him for us goodness and faithfulness. In Psalm 30, David is praising the Lord for lifting him up, not letting his enemies rejoice over him, healing him, and keeping him alive. In verse 5 he writes, "For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for a lifetime; Weeping may last for the night, But a shout of joy comes in the morning." Please do not misunderstand. I'm not saying that God sends us trials because He is angry with us. The Lord loves us and wants to see us grow in faith and knowledge of Him. I see this as a reminder that our trials are temporary. If we train ourselves to view our trials from an eternal perspective, it isn't difficult to understand why we should be joyful and consider ourselves blessed. Not only is our faith in the Lord being strengthened, but there is a reward waiting for us in heaven -- the crown of life.

Today's verse contains the word "perseveres" or "endures," depending on the version you are reading. I like both words for different reasons. Endurance brings to mind the metaphor of training for, and running a marathon. It is about bearing up under, and pushing through the pain. How easy it is to feel crushed in spirit in a dark trial of life, lose hope, and simply want to give up. If we don't continue to move forward, we will not develop endurance. God has called us to action, and wants us to move forward. Like a marathon (a trial or life on Earth), the pain is temporary. When the race is over, there is great happiness and reward awaiting us. To me, perseverance brings in the mental aspect. It is choosing to move forward, despite your circumstances. It is disciplining your mind to keep that eternal perspective, and choosing to move toward it at every crossroads. God knows that we are weak and gives us the strength, His strength(!), to do this. Hebrews 4:15-16 says, "For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need." Philippians 4:13 says, "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me." Are you in the midst of trial? Do not lose heart! God is with you and will help you through it!

This verse says that once we have been approved, we will receive the crown of life. What does it mean to be "approved?" I think it means to be successful in our trials and complete them in a way that is pleasing to the Lord. These first twelve verses in James are about growing our faith. Hebrews 11 is often referred to has the "Hall of Faith" in the Bible. Near the end of that chapter, we read of the Lord's faithful who have gone before us and experienced mocking, scourging, stoning, imprisonment, temptation, and even being sawed in two (yikes!). It kind of puts our own trials in perspective, doesn't it? Verses 39-40 say, "And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised, because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they should not be made perfect." The men and women in this chapter, both named and unnamed, are there because they were approved through their faith. They fought the good fight, finished the course, and kept the faith (2 Tim. 4:7).

The last part of Hebrews 11:40 points to the future, just as the last part of James 1:12 does. We can look forward to receiving a crown of life. The only other place we find the specific phrase "crown of life" in Scripture is in Revelation 2:10. In the letter to the church in Smyrna, which is the persecuted church, verse 10 says, "'Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life." Both in James and in Revelation, we are told that if we remain faithful through trials and tribulation, we will receive an eternal reward -- the crown of life.

I was truly blessed and encouraged by today's reading. I hope you were too. This is the hymn that will be on my heart today:

Standing on the promises of Christ my King,
Through eternal ages let His praises ring,
Glory in the highest, I will shout and sing,
Standing on the promises of God.

Standing on the promises that cannot fail,
When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail,
By the living Word of God I shall prevail,
Standing on the promises of God.

Standing on the promises I now can see
Perfect, present cleansing in the blood for me;
Standing in the liberty where Christ makes free,
Standing on the promises of God.

Standing on the promises of Christ the Lord,
Bound to Him eternally by love's strong cord,
Overcoming daily with the Spirit's sword,
Standing on the promises of God.

Standing on the promises I cannot fall,
Listening every moment to the Spirit's call
Resting in my Savior as my all in all,
Standing on the promises of God.

Standing, standing,
Standing on the promises of God my Savior;
Standing, standing,
I'm standing on the promises of God.

James 1:9-11

2011-01-21T06:18:00.000-08:00

We have been reading about the certainty that trials will occur in our life, and how to ask for the Godly wisdom needed to navigate them. This morning, we read about a poor man and a rich man. It seemed like an odd thing to me to introduce money into the "conversation." How and why does this relate to trials and wisdom? Take the time to read the parable in Luke 12:13-21. We look at the external, but God is interested in our hearts. Trials happen to the rich and poor alike. It's how we handle them that matters.

Last year, I participated in "Project 365." The idea is to take a picture from your life every single day of the year. Participants do this for several different reasons. Some simply want to have a record of what they did for a year. Others want to improve their photography skills. I did it because I was looking for that moment each day that was a blessing -- a moment that spoke to my heart and caused me to be thankful or to consider the work of the Lord in my life. Verse 10 speaks of a flower in the field. Verse 11 speaks of the burning heat that withers the grass. These verses made me think of two pictures I took last year that illustrate this passage beautifully.

These tulips are beautiful! We are drawn to this picture because of the vibrant colors and the richness of life that they display. In the same way, we tend to be drawn to the riches of the world. We seek after them, thinking they will satisfy and provide happiness. We may delight in the simplistic beauty of a single tulip, but more delightful is a bouquet of them in a vase. And oh, what glorious beauty it is to behold and be in the midst of an entire field of them!! But as we all know, they eventually die, whether they are cut off or left to a natural death.

Look at the contrast! This picture was taken at Craters of the Moon National Park in Idaho on a hot, windy August day. This picture is black, barren, and practically devoid of life. This is not an environment that we are necessarily drawn to, or would want to be in for a long period of time. Notice the plant in the foreground, however. It is clearly green and alive. Metaphorically speaking, this poor plant is thriving in the midst of a huge trial. Its roots are deep enough to sustain it through the scorching heat of the sun and the world around it.

Whatever our circumstances, whether rich or poor, trial or "blue skies," we need to recognize and remember that life on Earth and everything in it is temporary, but our souls are eternal. Scripture tells us, "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Luke 12:34) What is important is that in all circumstances we should "draw near to God, and He will draw near to you." (James 4:8).

James 1:7-8

2011-01-20T06:13:00.000-08:00

"For let not that man expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways." (James 1:7-8, NASB)

"For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord, he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways." (James 1:7-8, KJV)

Today's reading is one sentence, separated into three sections. Each section gave me a nugget of something to think about.

Sovereignty
"For let not that man expect that he will receive anything from the Lord," (NASB)
"For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord," (KJV)

Let us never forget that God is sovereign. He alone is worthy of our praise. The difference between the two versions is one word, but either one points to an attribute of man that displeases God. In the context of this passage, to approach the throne with a divided mind and an attitude of expectancy or supposition is unacceptable and speaks of a prideful heart. The fact that God gives us life and breath is a testament to His grace and mercy. Psalm 103:14 says, "For He Himself knows our frame; He is mindful that we are but dust." God despises pride and arrogance. Proverbs 8:13 says, "The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way And the perverted mouth, I hate." Sobering words. Proverbs 11:2 dovetails beautifully with what we have been studying this week, and segues into my next point. "When pride comes, then comes dishonor, But with the humble is wisdom." When seeking wisdom, we need to do so with a humble heart.

Submission
"being a double-minded man," (NASB)
"he is a double-minded man," (KJV)

This is referring back to verse 6 which instructs us to ask in faith without doubting. I alluded to the point yesterday that sometimes when we approach God, we tend to do so with part of the problem already figured out. We then ask for wisdom and help in dealing with the areas that we don't understand or seem impossible to overcome. This points to the fact that in our minds, we have not fully submitted our hearts and minds to His will. Jesus set the example for us when He prayed, "Not my will, but Yours be done." (Luke 22:42) We think we may have the answer, but we need to be asking Him, "What is YOUR answer to each and every aspect of the trial I face?"

To be double-minded is to be divided in your mind. Our God is a God of order. 1 Corinthians 11:3 says, "But I want you to understand that Christ is the head of every man, and the man is the head of a woman, and God is the head of Christ." He arranges everything in an orderly manner, and we each have a role to play within this established order. To bring double-mindedness or division into the equation introduces chaos. Jesus says in Mark 3:25 "If a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand." Let us always approach the throne with singleness of heart and mind.

Security
"unstable in all his ways." (NASB and KJV)

Oregon is known for its beautiful and scenic coastline. I live about 90 minutes away from the beach and take every opportunity I can to go walk on the shoreline. I never get tired of listening to the roar and crash of the waves as they pound against the huge rocks and cliffs. I enjoy watching the waves foam and churn as they crash with a spectacular splash against a rock, spraying the water high into the air. I love to feel the sand under my feet.

Both water and sand are unstable. The sand shifts under your weight, and the water churns as it crashes against the immovable rocks. It is a reminder to me that God is my rock. Psalm 18:2 says, "The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge." Psalm 62:7 says, "On God my salvation and my glory rest; The rock of my strength, my refuge is in God." These verses remind me of the hymn "My Hope is Built on Nothing Less." I'll close with the first three verses of the hymn, and this will be the song my heart sings today.

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus' blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus' name.
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

When darkness veils His lovely face,
I rest on His unchanging grace;
In every high and stormy gale
My anchor holds within the veil.
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

His oath, His covenant, and blood
Support me in the whelming flood;
When every earthly prop gives way,
He then is all my Hope and Stay.
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

James 1:5-6

2011-01-19T06:07:00.000-08:00

I never tire of reading God's promises in Scripture. The first two days of this study have been focused on the first promise in this book which is, if we count it all joy when we encounter trials, we will gain endurance and our faith will be strengthened. Today, we are blessed with another promise. James tells us that if we ask God for wisdom, He will give it to us!

What is wisdom? I first tried to answer the question myself. Wisdom is using or applying what you know in a given situation. The Bible defines wisdom in Job 28:28 which says, "Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom." Psalm 111:10 says, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all those who do His commandments; His praise endures forever." Proverbs 2:2-6 says, "Make your ear attentive to wisdom, Incline your heart to understanding; For if you cry for discernment, Lift your voice for understanding; If you seek her as silver, And search for her as for hidden treasures; Then you will discern the fear of the Lord, And discover the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding." When I stopped and compared my definition to God's definition, I instantly noticed a glaring difference. In any given situation, but particularly a trial in life, it isn't about what I know, it's about what He knows. Isaiah 55:8-9 says, "'For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Neither are your ways My ways,' declares the Lord. 'For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.'" God knows that we are but dust, and that our vision, knowledge, and understanding of the world around us is finite. He doesn't tell us that trials are going to come our way, and then leave us unequipped to deal with them. All we need to do is ask Him for help and He will give us everything we need!

In verse 5, it says that when we ask, He gives to all men "generously" (in the NASB) or "liberally" (in the KJV). I love the KJV word "liberally." About eight years ago, I spent a summer building an oak bookshelf. My dad has a wood shop at his house, and walked me through the construction process step by step. After it was built and sanded, it was time to stain it. I grabbed a brush, dipped it in the stain, tapped off the excess in the can, and began to apply the stain in smooth and deliberate strokes. I remember him saying, "You need to apply it liberally." The second time, I dipped the brush in the stain, skipped the tapping part and began to deliberately apply the stain in smooth even strokes. It was better, but he asked for the brush and showed me himself. He dipped the brush into the stain, immediately transferred it to the wood and started slathering it everywhere! Stain was puddling and dripping over the sides!! It was a messy and sloppy process (all those drips and dribbles!), but I noticed that because it had been applied liberally, the color of the wood was deeper and richer. It brought out the depth and beauty of the grain of wood. I had never stained anything before. All I knew was painting, so that is the approach I took. Staining is different. There is a reason why you put a lot of newspaper around your work area! In order to bring out the depth and beauty of the inner grain of the wood, it must be applied liberally! This is what God does for us when we ask Him for wisdom! He applies it liberally, and we grow deeper and richer in the knowledge of who He is. What an incredible picture of the graciousness of our Lord!

Verse 6 says that there is a specific way in which we are supposed to ask for wisdom...in faith, without any doubting. Walking through life's trials grows our faith, but so does recognizing the need for wisdom and asking for it. When we ask for wisdom, we are admitting to God that we need help. We are actively and willingly submitting to His sovereign knowledge of the given situation. It is hard to do this without doubting, though. Over time, I have learned to go to the Lord early on in trials and ask for His wisdom. I truly believe in His sovereign control over my life. I know that He sees everything and already knows the outcome. I know that He will help me, but sometimes a situation seems so complicated and overwhelming, that it seems impossible to navigate. Mark 10:27 says, "Looking upon them, Jesus said, 'With men it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God.'" If I'm thinking that a situation is "impossible," it means that I am still viewing the situation in my own strength. I am separating things out in my mind between those areas that I feel I can handle or generate answers for, and those areas where I need God's help. It is at that point that I need to recognize that I am doubting. I need to give the entire situation over to Him. Remember....I thought I knew how to stain wood, but if my dad had allowed me to do it my way, the bookcase would have looked "okay," but not nearly as beautiful as it does. I have gone through trials and come out "okay," and I have gone through trials so deep and profound, that the only way I made it through was with full reliance on the Lord. I can feel the difference in the end result. Full reliance on the Lord deepens and strengthens your faith.

The Lord wants us to grow and mature in our faith. This process often happens through trials, and He will equip us with His divine wisdom. It is there in abundant supply, and all we have to do is ask.

"For this reason, I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, that He would grant you according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man; so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fulness of God. Now to Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen." (Ephesians 3:14-21)

James 1:3-4

2011-01-18T06:05:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, James instructed us to count it all joy when we encounter trials (temptations). In this morning's passage, we are told that the reason why we must go through trials is because it strengthens our faith, and that in the end, this process will leave us perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

Scripture tells us that we are made in the image of God (Gen. 1:27). Prior to the fall of Man, we were perfectly made, and with our existence, Creation was considered to be complete (Gen. 2:1). Shortly thereafter, Eve was deceived and sin corrupted this perfect world, thus creating the need for a Savior. When I read the phrase "perfect and complete," the verse that popped into my mind was Philippians 1:6 which says, "For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus." Life is a journey toward a perfect eternity. It is God's desire that every believer would grow and become more like his or her heavenly Father. In Matthew 5:48 Jesus says, "Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect." Jesus isn't asking the impossible of us here. I think what this means is that He is calling us to spiritual maturity in the likeness of God. Scripture tells us this over and over. 1 Thess. 5:23 says, "Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Peter 2:5 says, "you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ."

Jesus is the author and perfecter of our faith (Heb. 12:2). Romans 12:2 says, "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect." Until Christ's return, we remain in a fallen world, and therefore exposed to sin, corruption, temptation and trials. Since we do not know the day nor the hour of our Savior's return (Matt. 25:13), we must develop endurance. We develop endurance and are transformed back into the likeness of God through trials. Today's verses tell us that every trial has a purpose. James 1:3 in the KJV says, "knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience." Trials are not meant to crush us, but to produce spiritual fruit. Two of the fruits of the Spirit are joy and patience.

We often hear of the Christian life referred to as a battle or race. Both of these require endurance. Physical endurance can only be developed through resistance or strength training. If we do not exercise, our muscles become stiff and we remain weak. I think this is true of the spiritual world as well. If we never encounter trials, we tend to become stiff and set in our ways. God does not call us to be "set in our ways." He wants to reshape us into His image and use us for His purposes. Philippians 2:13 says, "for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure." We need to view our trials and persevere through them with an eye on eternity. Each step forward in our faith brings us that much closer to eternal life with our Lord. With this in mind, I'll close with the words of Paul who encourages us to "press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." (Phil. 3:14)

James 1:1-2

2011-01-17T06:24:00.000-08:00

Our church has small groups that meet once a month for fellowship and time spent in the Word. At our meeting last month, a discussion ensued about Bible translations. Our discussion leader selected different verses for us to read from the various Bible translations represented in the room. I remember being surprised to hear all of the different ways in which one verse could be translated. My Bible is an NASB translation, but this morning I read this passage in the King James Version as well. There is a noticeable difference in translation for verse 2. In the NASB, it reads, "Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials,". The KJV reads, "My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into divers temptations;".

The phrase that caught my eye was "divers temptations." I mentioned in a recent blog that one of my goals for this year is to read through the Bible. I am currently in Genesis and Matthew. I remember reading in Genesis 3 and Matthew 4, and being struck by the juxtaposition between Satan's temptation of Eve and Satan's temptation of the Lord. In Genesis 3:1, Satan tries to twist the words of the Lord when he asks Eve, "Indeed, has God said, 'You shall not eat from any tree of the garden?'" In verse 2, Eve correctly responds, "From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat;". Her mistake comes when she tells Satan in 3:3 "but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, "You shall not eat from it or touch it, lest you die." If you look at what God told Adam and Eve in Genesis 2:17, He never said they couldn't touch it, just that they couldn't eat it. Satan seized upon his opportunity, and the fall of Man ensued.

In Matthew 4, we read of Satan's temptation of Christ. The Lord had been fasting for forty days and forty nights, and was hungry. Satan first tempted Him to use His divinity to turn stones into bread to feed His hunger. Jesus responded, "It is written, Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God." Next, Satan tempts the Lord to throw himself down from the pinnacle of the temple, quoting Psalm 91:11-12, however he conveniently leaves out a phrase in that passage. Jesus responds, "On the other hand, it is written, 'You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.'" Finally, Satan tries to promise Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory in exchange for His worship, and the Lord responds, "Begone Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only."

The reason why I think all of this is significant to today's reading is because the Lord shows us by His example how to walk faithfully with Him. When tempted, all three times He used Scripture to combat Satan. Eve had it right for the most part, but she added an instruction that wasn't there, and that is where she tripped up and Satan took advantage of it. The phrase in James 1:2 is "divers temptations." Temptation can come in many shapes and forms, and can be obvious or subtle. Often, it is the subtle approaches that catch us off guard. The Holy Spirit dwells within the heart of the believer and will bring Scripture to mind when we encounter trials and temptations. We must do our part and spend time with the Lord. We must be in His word daily. Whether it is encountering trials or diverse temptations, it is our knowledge of His Word that will help us get through each experience.

When He brings us through each trial and helps us fight temptation, it strengthens our faith and that most certainly is a reason to "count it all joy."!

GMG, the Book of James, and an Open Invitation

2011-01-17T00:35:00.000-08:00

I have made a few goals for myself this year, and they mostly center around my health, both physical and spiritual. I am also aiming to blog on a more consistent basis, as well. I recently came across this blog http://www.goodmorninggirls.org/ and was intrigued and encouraged by what I found. They are beginning a twelve week study of the book of James today, and I have decided to join along. Since I found this site recently, I have not had time to search for a group to join, or try to drum up a group of my own. I don't want that little detail to stop me though, from delving into the Word.

If you would like to join me in my study of the book of James, I wholeheartedly welcome you! You can find a daily reading schedule on their site that you can print off and keep handy. I will do my best to post about each day's reading on my blog. Usually when I blog, I have had a thought or idea percolating for several days or weeks in my head. A daily study will not necessarily always allow for well-crafted writing, but I think there is merit to sharing "first blush" thoughts and reactions to each day's reading. Feel free to leave a comment on my post, if you feel led to. If you follow me on Facebook, I welcome you to post your comments and/or reactions about each day's reading assignment. If you are not on Facebook, email me!

Let's join together and "grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen." (2 Peter 3:18)

Without Hesitation

2011-01-16T23:43:00.000-08:00

During the last week of December, my mom forwarded an email to me from my uncle inviting all those in the family who were interested to join him in reading through the Bible this year. While I do not make new year's resolutions, this was something that I decided to add to my personal list of goals for 2011.

As I was reading along in Genesis 19, which is the story about two angels meeting with Lot in Sodom and encouraging him to leave the city prior to its imminent destruction, I read verse 16 which begins, "But he hesitated."

...and my eyes stopped their forward progress.

What an incredible statement. I believe that every word included in Scripture is there for a purpose (2 Tim. 3:16). Lot's hesitant response to the angels was significant enough to where it warranted a place in Scripture to be read for generations to follow.

I began to consider this statement. What makes me hesitate? For every reason that I came up with, the Holy Spirit instantly brought a verse to my mind to show me that there is never a need to hesitate when you place your faith in the Lord.

I hesitate when:

I am unsure of myself or have low self-confidence
"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope." (Jeremiah 29:11)

"For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus." (Philippians 1:6)

I am afraid or perceive danger
"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil; for Thou art with me; They rod and Thy staff, they comfort me." (Psalm 23:4)

"Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear; you are of more value than many sparrows." (Luke 12:7)

I'm not sure which way to go (in terms of decision-making)
"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light to my path." (Psalm 119:105)

"Lead me in Thy truth and teach me, For Thou art the God of my salvation; For Thee I wait all the day." (Psalm 25:5)

I want to cling to the "known" or what is comfortable
"Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you. (Matthew 6:33)

"Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth." (Colossians 3:2)

The rest of Genesis 19:16 reads, "So the men seized his hand and the hand of his wife and the hands of his daughters, for the compassion of the Lord was upon him; and they brought him out, and put him outside the city."

Again...what an amazing and encouraging verse that shows the absolute mercy of our Lord! It shows me that the Lord does understand that we are frail human beings who struggle with our emotions and living a life of faith. "The Lord's lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, For His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great is Thy faithfulness." (Lamentations 3:22-23)

I was reminded again this week that I am forever safe in the arms of my gracious and compassionate Father. I am inspired anew to live my life "all out" for the Lord...

...without hesitation.

Heartfelt Gifts

2010-12-19T08:05:00.000-08:00

Each year as I enter the Christmas season, I ask the Lord to show me something new about the story of His birth. This year, He revealed to me a new light on the gifts from the wise men. The wise men presented gold, frankincense and myrrh to Jesus. These gifts were precious and of great value, certainly fit for a king, but I have always wondered why these particular items were chosen. In pondering this, I found a correlation between each gift and the heart of a believer.

Gold represents a purified heart. Scripture says that our hearts are desperately wicked (Jer. 17:9), but by accepting Jesus as our Savior, He cleanses us from all unrighteousness. We are washed clean by the blood of the Lamb. As a new creation in Christ, we begin to walk a life of faith. We begin to learn more about the attributes and characteristics of our God, and our hearts are transformed in the process. We learn that:

His wisdom is more valuable than gold (Job 28:12-28; Prov. 16:16)
His judgments are more desirable than gold (Psalm 19:9-11)
His commandments are more precious than gold (Psalm 119:127)
His knowledge is more precious than gold (Prov. 8:10)
His fruit is more valuable than gold (Prov 8:19)

The Lord takes our worthless hearts of clay and refines them. By the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, our hearts and lives are transformed into something very precious in His sight.

Frankincense represents a heart afflicted by trials. In order for frankincense to release its sweet aroma, it must be burned. James 1:2-5 says, “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him as of God, who gives to all men generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” Later in that same chapter, it says “Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.” (James 1:12) When we go to Him in the midst of trials, not only does he impart His wisdom and knowledge, but we begin to see the fruit of the Spirit borne in our lives. There was an altar of incense placed before the mercy seat in the tabernacle where God dwelt (Heb. 9:3-5) and there is an altar of incense before His throne in heaven (Rev. 8:3). Revelation 5:8 says, “And when He had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, having each one a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.” Often, it is in the midst of trials that our prayer life intensifies. Scripture tells us that our prayers go before the very throne of God and are sweet to Him. They are mingled with the scent of the incense (Rev 8:4) Psalm 34:17-19 says, “The righteous cry and the Lord hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted, and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous; but the Lord delivers him out of them all.” What an incredible promise, blessing, and gift from our Lord!

Myrrh represents a heart that has died to self. There are many references to myrrh in the Bible, but the two most common areas where we read of it are at Christ’s birth and at His death, when Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea prepare Jesus’ body for burial. Myrrh isn’t a common spice that we encounter, so I looked it up on Wikipedia. It was interesting to learn that like frankincense, myrrh is produced as a reaction to a purposeful wound through the bark and into the sapwood in certain species of Commiphora trees . Isaiah 53:5 says, “He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed.” 2 Corinthians 5:15 says, “and He died for all, that they who live should no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.” Verse 17 says, “Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.” Myrrh has been used throughout history as a perfume, incense and medicine. Psalm 147:3 says that “He heals the broken-hearted and binds up their wounds.” By humbling our hearts and allowing Him to be Lord of our lives, we receive restoration and healing. Our lives begin to exude the sweet fragrance of the fruit of the Spirit.

Viewing these three gifts in this light has been a blessing to me. By giving our hearts to Him, He blesses us with gifts more valuable than the symbolic gifts that were presented to Him in the manger. Ephesians 2:8 says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God.” Salvation and eternal life are gifts from God! Like the wise men so long ago, won’t you bend your knee and offer Him your heart?

"Cheap, Cheap" Chicken

2010-09-07T19:24:00.000-07:00

For all of you frugal-minded foodies out there, I just thought I'd share my latest discovery on saving money and time in the kitchen! If you cook a whole chicken in a crockpot and then shred the meat, it will yield approximately 3 quart-sized ziploc bags of shredded chicken. Each bag is the perfect amount of chicken to add to a casserole, soup, etc. The process is so simple, I can't believe I haven't been doing it for years! Here's what I do:

Purchase a whole young chicken. Note that this was a double pack for $9.03. That means that each chicken cost me $4.50. Knowing that each chicken will yield 3 quart-sized baggies of shredded meat, that means that a meal's worth of chicken for a family of four is only $1.50!!!

I remove the innards (the only part of this process that I hate!), rinse the chicken, and place it in the crockpot. I pour half of a 32 oz. container of organic, low-sodium chicken broth over the chicken. Cover and cook on low for 8 hours.

After the chicken is cooked, I lift it out onto a foil-lined cookie sheet and let it cool for at least a half hour until it is comfortable to handle. I shred the chicken into a big bowl. I usually do this while having a conversation with my hubby or watching tv. Depending on how old your children are, they can even be involved in the process!

Spoon shredded chicken into baggies, label, and freeze! Voila!

If you do this process four times a month, that gives you 12 meals' worth of pre-cooked, slow roasted chicken to add to whatever is on the menu for any given night! That averages out to three meals a week! It usually only takes me about 30 minutes to fully shred the chicken. Give it a try!

Weathering the Storm

2010-09-06T17:04:00.000-07:00

I recently heard a sermon on Mark 4 which tells the story of Jesus calming the storm. Jesus said to His disciples in v. 35, "Let us go over to the other side." On the way over, a fierce storm arose...it was so bad that the waves were breaking over the bow and the boat was beginning to sink. Who did the disciples turn to? Jesus. Have you ever thought about the reason behind why they woke Him up? Even though the gospels indicate that the disciples didn't always fully understand His teaching and who He was, they knew enough to know that in a life-threatening situation where the circumstances are dire, He was the only one who could help. They could have tried to bail out the boat in their own strength or left Him sleeping, but they woke Him up because of their faith in Him. They knew that if anyone could help, it would be Jesus.

In verse 40, after Jesus calms the storm, He says to the disciples, "Why are you so timid? How is it that you have no faith?" I understand this to mean that He is questioning their lack of faith that He would get them to the other side. I think that anyone in that kind of a situation would panic. We react to what we can immediately perceive through our senses. When the waves are crashing over the bow, all we see is a sinking boat and we click into survival mode. It is a normal human response. While the disciples may have panicked in the midst of the situation and had a temporary lapse in faith regarding the final outcome, the fact that they woke Jesus up shows that they truly believed that He could help them.

Jesus told them that they would go to the other side....and in Chapter 5, verse 1 it says, "And they came to the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gerasenes." He kept His promise...He always does. He told them that they would go to the other side, but He didn't say what the trip would be like before they got there. It was a terrifying and life-threatening experience for them, I'm sure....BUT, Jesus was in the boat with them the whole time. The entire situation was under His complete control.

Are you currently in one of life’s storms? Are you experiencing crushing and relentless stress, pain or emotions akin to the waves of a stormy sea? Read this story and remember....

1. He is in the boat with you (4:38)

2. Go to Him as often as you need and let your heart’s cry be heard (Mark 4:38 -- if this isn't a brutally honest cry of real anguish and fear, I don't know what is.) By going to Him, you are practicing and strengthening your faith.

3. Everything is under His complete control (4:39)

4. God always keeps His promises. (5:1)

This passage of scripture has been on my heart and mind a lot lately. I have read it numerous times and always seen it as a lesson in faith and dealing with the individual trials of life. Several weeks ago, I realized that you can look at this story not only in the light of dealing with individual trials, but that it could be applied to the span of one's life as a whole. Jesus looks at each one of our lives in its entirety (He is outside of time, so He sees it all at once). He invites us into the boat (our spiritual birth) and says, "Come, let's go to the other side." The rest of our life is the trip in between shorelines, with "the other side" being eternity spent with Him. We spend our whole lives on Earth "in the boat." Some storms are worse and/or longer than others, but we must cling to Him and to His promises. He WANTS us to come to Him. It isn't a sign of weakness to cry out to Him, it is an admission that we can't do it on our own. It is believing in faith that we can do all things through Him who strengthens us.

Renewed Strength

2010-07-06T00:11:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago I went out to dinner with some girlfriends. We had an enjoyable evening of yummy food, great conversation, and lots of laughs. Our conversations covered a wide variety of topics, but as the evening progressed, the subject matter deepened. We began to share what was on our hearts...our frustrations, our worries, our hopes and our dreams, and how that all connected with our walks with the Lord. We talked about our struggles with living in a fallen world and trying to be salt and light for the Lord, as Scripture commands.

When it comes to blogging and social networking, I have a personal policy not to discuss my political views. I intend to abide by my policy, but I will say that I have grave concerns about the direction our nation is headed. I worry about what our nation and the world will be like when my children reach adulthood. I feel the pressure as a mother to do my best to instill Godly values and a biblical worldview in my children. I will even admit that at times, I battle with the feelings of losing hope. The spiritual battle is so big and so constant. As an adult who has walked with the Lord for many years, I have learned to identify and do battle with the enemy...and that is only through the strength, grace, and mercy of the Lord. My heart struggles when I look at the tender, innocent hearts of my precious children. I know how brutal and relentless the battle can be. How can I adequately prepare them to deal with what I do know is coming, let alone deal with the unexpected that I can't even imagine or predict they may have to face?

The Lord is faithful, and He gave me a few verses of encouragement two days after that dinner with my girlfriends. Acts 1:7-9 says, "He said to them, It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority; but you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall by My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth." This passage reminded me that God is in control. He is outside of time and sees all things. Nothing surprises Him. It is not my place to worry about the future. I have no control over it, therefore it is pointless for me to worry (Phil. 4:6). The word "power" in Acts 1:8 means "the ability or capacity to do." What am I to do? I am to raise the children that He has given me in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. I am to prepare them to be His witnesses. I can only do this through His strength, which He promises to give me through the Holy Spirit. I need to focus on instilling scriptural truth in my children and teach them how to wield the sword of Truth and have an ongoing and vibrant relationship with their Lord and Savior. I am tasked with preparing two more of His warriors.

Another verse that has been of comfort to me lately is the second half of Esther 4:14 which says, "And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?" God holds time and everything within it in His hands. He placed me precisely where He wanted me in history, and He did the same with my children. I know that I can walk with confidence under the protection of His sovereign hand. This leads me to the another passage in Scripture that carries an incredible promise and provides hope and comfort in these troubling times: "...for He Himself has said, 'I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,' so that we confidently say, 'The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What shall man do to me?" (Hebrews 13:5-6)

The battle rages on, but I march forward with hope and renewed strength.

Open My Eyes

2010-03-29T20:53:00.000-07:00

Scripture defines a man who does not know God as being spiritually blind. Those who accept Christ's sacrifice and walk according to His commands are said to walk in the light. For those who walk in the light, how often do we pause to consider what we look at? We have been given spiritual eyes to see, but do we make choices in how we spend our time based on investing in the Kingdom, or just to fritter away our days? We have been given spiritual sight, and yet we often make choices in our temporal life as if we were still in the dark. 1 John 2:16-17 says, “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. And the world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God abides forever.”

God has placed us here on Earth for His purposes. He calls us to live in the world, but not be of the world. He calls us to be separate…to set our minds on things above, not on earthly things. This line of thought has been very heavy on my heart lately. It is hard to be continually Kingdom-minded in all things. Sometimes life can feel like a rat race, and I battle with complacency and selfishness. Even though I have spiritual sight, I think my understanding of Heaven and spending eternity with my Savior is still quite dim. I wonder to myself, “If I really understood the magnitude of living with Christ in His kingdom forever, shouldn’t it be easier to consistently make the right choices now?” I am so thankful for God’s grace, patience and mercy with me. I continue to press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

There is an old hymn that has been my current prayer lately:

Open my eyes, that I may see
Glimpses of truth Thou hast for me;
Place in my hands the wonderful key
That shall unclasp, and set me free.
Silently now I wait for Thee,
Ready, my God, Thy will to see;
Open my eyes, illumine me,
Spirit divine!

Smooth Sailing (from the Archives, Oct. 2006)

2010-03-15T00:53:00.000-07:00

Our local rollerskating rink has a Christian Music night every Tuesday night. We took our kids there this past Tuesday to have some fun family time together. Our schedule gets insanely busy during this time of year, so we covet those evenings when we can spend time together as a family and have fun!

This was Noelle's first experience on skates. She is a fiercely independent three year old, and after several laps in the practice area, she wanted to come out on the main floor with Papa and Mama. Thus began a long evening for David and me, as we went through the process of teaching her how to skate. As we repeatedly picked her up, encouraged her to stand on her skates (rather than hang from our arms), and coached her to keep her feet together, I began to get a picture in my head of my walk with the Lord. Sometimes my walk looks like my little three year old girl's attempts to skate. Every now and then I trip, or my feet may flail wildly about (metaphorically speaking) as I try and figure out how to get through certain circumstances. I quickly learn, as my daughter did that night, that if I simply stand strong and hold my Father's hand tight, He will guide me through! It was so much easier when she would just stand on her skates between us and let us do all the work!

God wants to work through us! He doesn't just drop us into a new situation and say, "Good luck, I'll be back in a couple of hours." We need to remember to hold His hand in everything and let Him guide us. All He requires of us is a willing and obedient heart that listens to, and heeds His commands.

Billboards (from the Archives)

2010-03-08T00:19:00.000-08:00

I live in Springfield, Oregon about seven miles east of I-5, which is the main interstate that runs north and south through Oregon. On the way home from worship team rehearsal this evening, I made a note of every single billboard along that seven mile stretch between the freeway and my house. Here are the results:

1. Bank (advertising business loans)
2. Bank (advertising savings accounts)
3. Local coffee shop/restaurant
4. Chiropractic clinic (advertising chronic back pain relief)
5. “Lost” (advertising something about college loans, it wasn’t clear)
6. Blank yellow background with bold capital letters that said, “Advertise Here.”
7. Homes & Land (Real Estate)
8. Chiropractic clinic
9. Cell phone service provider
10. Homes & Land (Real Estate)
11. Casino
12. Local Home Improvement store
13. Another (different) Home Improvement store
14. Little Caesar’s Pizza (slogan: “Hot-n-Ready”, $5)
15. Clearwire (slogan: “Speed, but don’t pay the price!”)
16. Homes & Land (TV Channel)
17. DUII warning/info (slogan: “You don’t have to blow .08 to get a DUI”)
18. Budweiser (slogan: “This is beer.”)

Billboards. They are something that we see every day. We see them so often, we don’t notice how prevalent they really are. If someone had asked me to guess how many billboards were on that stretch of highway, I probably would have said about seven or eight. I certainly wouldn’t have guessed eighteen!

The main purpose of a billboard is to advertise something, but what is the message behind the message? While all billboards provide information, I think the message behind the message for most billboards (and advertising in general) is dissatisfaction. We want bigger homes, faster service, and more exciting lives. Are we happy with what God has provided for us, or do we want to borrow more and/or gamble with what we have?

What does the testimony of your life advertise to others?
Is your message clear or nebulous, like #5?
Are you a blank slate, willing to accept and reflect whatever is around you, like #6?
Does your message have mixed meaning and set a dual standard, like #15?
Do people see pervasive dissatisfaction in your life?
Do you offer them a consistent, positive message of Truth?

What does your billboard say?