Good Morning! I attended a wonderful retreat over the weekend and did a lot of reflecting on life at the current moment. I wanted to get back to what I call my basics. The word of God. That is right, a lot of my sharing has to do with improving ourselves and we should do that. I have a read a number of books by different life coaches and they all have great material and help in them. Guess what, almost all of the success principals are found in the word of God, they just put their own spin on them.
I realized I was spending more time reading those books than spending time with the Lord. Hmm wonder why I was having such a hard time getting on track with life. You know that irritability was rising and I just could not seem to get it all done. I have put a lot of what I have learned from all the coaches, books and the Bible into action and they have helped but something was missing. My time alone with the Lord. Really alone with just he and I and the Word. In the quiet no worship music, kids, tv or people needing me to do one more thing. So this week I have been determined to start my days with just myself, Coffee, the word and Jesus. So far so good. I count Sunday as my first day of the week.
In my Spirit, I have been led and not had time to study the Book of James. Then my friend Mike had some words for us from the book of James. I will also add that James us my Pastor Doostyn’s favorite book in the bible.
This week, before my beloved gym time I am taking the time to dive into the book of James. I would like to share with you, what is on my heart after spending time in Chapter 1 & Chapter 2. Do not worry I am not going to put all the verses in here, I pray you read them yourself and reflect perhaps you can share with me you insight as well.
Now to start with he seems a bit crazy does he not? I mean it is so easy to count it all joy when we go through trials in this life. I mean who can do that? It is not easy for any of us, however if we do make it through in hindsight we can see that the Lord was preparing us to live a life of faith.
We find that if we ask God for wisdom he will give it to us. We cannot be a divided mind or heart. Make a decision and go with it. Now you can do that without consulting God, but I have learned it is much better to go to him first, not quite so painful as doing it my own way.
God does not change he is good. His plan for us is also good, how many times in life have I endured a rough time, not because of God but because I chose to follow what was shiny and fun right now without even considering him. I am thankful he is a forgiving God!
Here is some more lovely words I am still working on,. Being quick to listen and slow to speak and slow to become angry. I wish I could say this has happened for me in an instant. I can not say that I would be a liar, which I am not. We are also as followers of Christ to get rid of all evil and filth. We must listen to the word and also do what it says. Easier said than done if you are like me in any way. I am learning to keep my tongue in check slowly, I can not say I am that great at it but I am trying. Do not misunderstand me here, I don’t gossip or lie but sometimes I am too honest or I let my irritability over load my sweet mouth. Very funny, I know sweet and me are not too often mentioned together, I believe the word is salty. So my prayer is to be lovingly salty and accept sweet may never be in my description. I can love the Lord and be a little salty.
James 2 tells us to not show favoritism. Oh is that one hard for some of us. Now I know that we will have some people we may not like, however we are instructed to love them with the love of God. We must have mercy for others if we desire God to have mercy for us. I know this world is very hard to live in at the moment for all of us. Seems like everyone wants to force their way of life on each other, Jesus gives us a choice to follow after him or not, he does not force us to believe in him or to follow him. Wish we could all be like that.
The final thoughts in James 2 are on faith and deeds, I suppose that is one thought. If we have faith and yet do nothing to prove we have faith what good is our faith. A faith without action is a dead faith.
I have learned to have faith and know it was not an easy lesson. I look at Abraham who trusted God enough to obey him by sacrificing his only son. I believe in his heart he knew that God would not have given him his son just have him sacrifice him. Look at Rahab she was not what one would have considered an honorable woman, but she put her faith in a God she did not know and her family was save.
I pray today that whatever troubles we are going through, we keep faith in our Christ. I pray we do not let the troubles of this life fill us with fear. The unknown is scary, but I pray that we can faith to trust a God we can not see and believe he only has our best interest at heart.
I will still plan my days and weeks. I will still continue to read all my books, I mean knowledge is power after all. I will make my Bible my first read of the day and make sure all the others line up with what it says above all else. I invite you to do the same. We can ask God for anything we wish, but we must be a willing participant in this thing called life. He can give us wisdom, answers and guidance but we must be the one to do what he instructs us to do.
Coffee With Ms D 