Daily living

I feel like this James bible study is very hard hitting. James writes about life issues in very black and white terms. There doesn't seem to be a lot of gray issues with him. It's been difficult for me to look at my faith and choices under James' microscope and evaluate myself. But who am I to judge, even myself? I can say that doing this has prompted me to take action. I am trying *key word trying* to live out my faith like James describes. Although, I feel like I mess up everytime. But, Jesus still loves me!

Some of the points from the study over the last few weeks:

Ya know how when you have a scab and it's healing, but you have to go and pick at it until you break it open again? Isn't temptation like that? We all have temptations and we keep returning to them and ripping them open a little more, and when we do, we are screwing it up by ripping it open. I do believe that temptation is a process. Maybe you think about it once, then return to it again, then imagine, then act, act again, pretty soon it's a habit. It's a slippery slope no matter if your temptation is food, a person, drugs, you name it.

But, a silver lining in my pessimistic rant today, ALL GOOD THINGS ARE FROM GOD! Think of all the good things that have happened in your life. Maybe just all the good things from today. You woke up. You have your health. You have a home and a family and friends. I petted my dog. All good things. And God gave them to me. I can tell you that I definitely haven't earned them! What good things can you think of? On the same hand, don't we feel that sometimes God is holding out on us? We feel that we aren't living up to our full potential or that we need something and we will just take what we want? I have A, B, and C, but I want D and I want it now. Trying to force a situation that isn't in God's timing can have heart wrenching consequences. Waiting on God's timing can seem like the hardest thing in the world, but won't it be worth it when our D does happen?

I had a moment 2 Sundays ago where I really felt angry at Satan. Our laypastor went in for a major surgery for her colon cancer on Thursday and they announced it on Sunday. I thought, this is an attack from the enemy! Can't anyone be cancer free anymore? I feel like pretty soon everyone will have it. But you know what. He cannot break us. No matter what he does, we are God's children. He cannot take us from God's hand. In our earthly terms what is the worst case scenario? Death. Well guess what, where are we then? HEAVEN. Forever. An eternity with God. Satan cannot win.

It is easy for me to say these words when I am not close to the situation. I would hope that my words would remain the same if it was my situation. ( And I pray that it won't be.) But what simple thing can we do when we feel hopeless and angry at God? We can ASK for an increase of faith. That has never really occurred to me. I thought of faith as something you have that is given to you at a certain level, but no, we can change it. God wants to give us all these great things, and all we have to do is ask!

God, increase our faith.

Full

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 :)

Forgiveness is divine

Can you imagine if we could forgive like God does? When God forgives I believe He forgets as well. Like the incident never happened. You are white as snow again.

I know I have trouble doing this. We like to say, forget about it, but I don't think we really do. Oh, here, Sally, here's $100 bucks, don't worry about it. BUT the next time you and Sally do something, you think, oh well lets do this because I forgot that last time I loaned her a 100 bucks and maybe if we do A, B, or C she will remember, or pay for me or something.

We are all humans. We make mistakes. We forgive but we usually don't forget. Is that a bad thing? Sometimes yes, but we also learn from our mistakes. I forgive you for cheating on me this time, but I know to be wary in the future. We don't want to be a carpet that gets walked all over either.

So, let's try something. Let's actually try to forgive and forget the next time someone wrongs you. Think, What would Jesus do?

Hello, stranger!

Sorry, it's been awhile! Disclaimer to any male readers: This is aimed more for my readers of the girl persuasion! (But I'm sure you can appreciate it too)

Recently, this verse from Proverbs 31:30 has been bouncing around in my head.

Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

Now, let's think about this. Charm. If you are trying to "charm" someone aren't you putting on an act? Aren't you pretending to be something you aren't? So, I can see how charm is deceptive.

Beauty. Some have it, some don't. We all want to increase it and hold on to it, but we can't. Our actual physical beauty will fade. Not to be crude, but I don't think any of us look at a 90 year old woman and think she is physically beautiful. Although, I'm sure she is beautiful in other ways :)

Well, where does that leave us? We are ugly and not charming. I guess we are useless now.

Unless we have different priorities in life than beauty and grace! Now I am definitely not saying that I have never spent any of my time trying to be beautiful :) And, honestly, I'm not going to stop. But, I am going to try to see past all these worldly notions and focus on what I should be all along: My walk with God. I believe that if I am concentrating on the right things I can feel beautiful and charming even by being myself! Not that my life will become a cake walk, but because my focus will be on the one who will help me through anything.

Maybe in the next couple days I will receive some more insight on this verse, but I wanted to share it since I haven't been able to get it out of my head.

Time Out

Let's all take a second, shall we? I have a mission for you. I want you to take a moment and stop to breathe. I don't care what you believe about Christmas or the holiday season. I want you (and me) to pause for a moment and contemplate what Christmas really means to you this year. It might mean faith, presents, family, or love. Whatever it means to you, let's take a second and remember that this year.

Comfortable

The guest speaker at church today had a really great point I'd like to share with all of you. Staying in a place where you are comfortable isn't going to invite change. He pointed out that doing the same things over and over again and expecting a different result is defined as insanity! So rather than being insane, let's pull some focus. Being comfortable isn't a bad thing. But staying in your comfort zone isn't going to allow you to grow. He was speaking spiritually, but this could be applied in your relationships or professional life. Taking that jump and doing something different can reward you in so many ways. I encourage you (and myself) to apply this! I know that I am creature of habit (and like it that way!), but if I can bring myself to change my routine, God could have the surprise of my life waiting just around the corner! (or "just around the river bend" if you prefer!)

Am I _________?

This question dawned on me last night. Who are you asking your question too? It can be any question, but I was thinking in the terms of questions about yourself. How many of you ask yourself these types of questions?

Am I good enough? Am I pretty? Am I going to be OK? Am I going to get thorough this? Am I physically fit?

I ask myself these questions. And, I think, sometimes we take these questions to men. (not males, but people in general- well in my case, males might be appropriate sometimes) Why are we looking for verification from the world. Whatever answer you get you aren't going to be satisfied with it. Because deep down you know that no matter how many times the answer stays the same, or even is an answer you like, your question isn't truly answered. The only person you need to take your "me" questions to is God. The world can tell you that you are OK, but only God can really start to truly make you believe His answers.