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Well, hello all! It's been awhile. I just started a new bible study (another Beth Moore) about James. So hopefully you'll be hearing a whole lot more from me now!

A visiting pastor did a sermon at our church on Sunday entitled "Dumping the Mind Trash." It really made me think about how much junk is really floating around in our heads. For example, I sleep with my cell phone on and iPod right beside it. When I wake up the first thing I do is check my phone and then my favorite apps on my iPod. Why do I really need to be reading the top news from IMDB every morning?? Think about all the negativity that comes from your own head. It is true that you are your own worst critic. Then all the things that you pick up from society and our culture. Whispers telling you what to think and feel and how to react. Let's DUMP all that. What would happen if we could forget all the voices but the one who matters. His voice. God telling us that He loves us and that we are His beautiful children.

Random thought: So, I like sleeping. I really enjoying just being all wrapped up in my bed and waking up and drowsily rolling over and going back to sleep. As we all know, you are kind of outside time when you sleep. You don't know that 8 hours are passing; it happens in the blink of an eye. (Or maybe 5 or 6 hours!!) Ok, so God is outside of time too. Because He made it. So, I wonder if heaven will kind of be like sleeping. :)

More randomness. Sorry, this blog isn't very coherent or cohesive! In Monday's video session at bible study Beth talked about bringing our joy back. James starts out his letter saying, "Consider it pure joy my brothers..." When was the last time you felt joyful? James is even speaking about joy when thinking about your trials... we can't even be joyful when we are happy. Let's try and be joyful at least once this week. I wonder what will happen.

We talk about faith a lot as Christians. About how we are saved by faith and not by works. And James is in agreement with that fact, but he speaks a lot about doing works as well. The concept that if we don't have fruit from our faith, that it is meaningless. He brings up a good point. How are we acting in our lives? We can talk the talk but are we walking the walk? When was the last time that you (or me) stepped out of our comfort zone and did some good works? I really do want to do something, so those of you in this area, let me know if you have any ideas! On the same note, my "homework" from the study talking about giving to the poor. Now we don't have to think of it in monetary terms but it is a simple comparison. Remember that the "poor" are out there and we should be giving. Whether we are giving encouragement, money, time, or knowledge.

P.S. My new favorite website is pinterest.com-- Check it out. Warning: it is going to be a girly website :)