A CALL TO GRACE

Before we start our next book I wanted to share with you a book I am reading right now. It is written by David Nasser and is titled A Call to Grace (a 39 day look at how the grace-filled life is not about doing but about being...). My friend Lisa gave it to me years ago. We were supposed to go through it together, but stuff happened and we didn't. God's timing is perfect and I have picked it up again. It is a very interactive book. Questions, journaling, FASTING! Nasser asks the reader to fast from some "unnecessary daily activity". Facebook was on the chopping block. So for 2 days I have not logged onto facebook, and hopefully for 37 more I won't. I still get emails so if someone sends me a message that requires attention I can, but for the normal stuff I am not responding. It will 2010 before I log back on...w.o.w.
As someone who battles "being good enough" and "following all the rules" I am pretty sure this book is going to rock my world. I hope it does. I hope it draws me closer to the Lord and helps me cast off the "sin which so easily ensnares" me.(Hebrews 12:1 NKJV)
The first line of Day 1 really has me thinking. Four little words... Become who you are. Nasser says it is pretty much the point of the book. Become who you are in Christ Jesus. Become the person God has created you to be. Become the person He has called you to be. Become. Ever changing, alive, growing. Present tense. Now.
I am working on it. Becoming the wife I am created to be. Becoming the mama I am meant to be. Becoming the sister, friend, daughter, and woman God desires for me to be.
So, I will let you know occasionally how it goes.
Hope you have a great weekend. Fellowship with your church family. Don't have one...go find one.

JAMES 5

Anyone else find it ironic after yesterday's talk about the "mula", James 5 would open with a warning to "rich oppressors"?
Anyone?
Anyone?
Bueller?
Bueller?

1. DON'T BECOME A RICH OPPRESSOR!
2. Guard my mouth against grumbling (especially at home for me)
3. If I have a need... tell people. Prideful sin is what keeps me from doing so.
No... everything is great.
Oh sure... I got this....
Nope I am super...
If I have a need, tell them!
4. I have a responsibility to the Truth. However, that does not make me the Truth police. I don't get to or need to run around checking if everyone is living according to the Truth of God's Word, but if the Truth is compromised or challenged then I have a responsibility to speak out on that.

ASKING

I am going to stay on James 4 today. #1 from yesterday is still rolling around in my head. There have been things that I have asked for that I have not gotten. Now I know God knows all and there are things I ask for that would only hurt me. However, this phrase has me wondering if I have been asking for the wrong reasons. Searching my heart for the motivations as to why I was asking. Pride? Selfishness? Flesh serving reasons that I had hoped I had grown out of. Take money for instance. Like so many of you, times are tight. Partly due to my decision to stay home, partly due to factors out of my control. I have prayed and asked God for wisdom, for doors to be opened and closed, and honestly for money. Not so we can live lavishly, but so we can have some breathing room. Is that wrong? Is that selfish? Does it say more about me than I want it to? Or am I simply in a disciplining period where He is growing and maturing me. Maybe it is not even me. Maybe it is my kids getting used to the word "no" or maybe He is maturing my husband and we are along for the ride. Maybe they are going along this ride for me. I am not sure, but I am asking Him today. To reveal any wrong motives in me so that when I ask I may receive.

JAMES 4

Hope you had a great weekend. We will pick back up today in chapter 4 of James.
1. Verses 2 & 3 -..."Yet you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures." My question is are we wrong when we do ask for ourselves? Are we wrong when we ask for things we want and we desire? Or should we only be asking for things to bless others?
2. Can't have my feet in both camps. It is Christ or the world, can't play both sides. It is a choice in the big and the small things, every single day.
3. I only have today to make that choice.
4. If I know the right choice to make and I don't, either by default or on purpose, then it is sin. The decision separates me from God and my fellowship with Him.

#1 is a flipping around in my head a good deal. I am not sure what to do with that. Any thoughts?

JAMES 3 REPLAY

I went back to James 3 again last night and am going to throw out what I came up with.

1. Verse 13 " Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom."
I am thinking I need to be wise in the "works" that I do. There are lots of good things out there, but they may not be the wisest choice for me. Godly wisdom will point me to the works I am to do and recognizing that it is by God's design I am there should keep me humble.

2. Self -seeking & bitter envy = confusion and evil.
How true have I found this to be. Both in myself and in others. When I seek to serve myself, I do get confused and loose my way. I have been under others who were self-seeking and confusion was rampant under them as well.

3. Wisdom from above is full of good fruit. (vs. 17). What fruit do I have in my life? Am I being wise? Is it showing itself strong? Is it growing the good fruit?

Hope you have a great weekend. Be blessed. Go to church!

JAMES 3

I am going to have to re-read James 3. I read it a couple of times yesterday, but I feel there is more than what I am seeing. Yesterday, I got this-
1. When I become mature in Christ, I can bridle my whole body (mouth and all). By His strength and my willingness it can be done. My willingness is a big part. I know there have been times when I knew to keep my mouth shut, and forged ahead anyway. There have also been times when I needed to speak and fear kept me silent. Willingness to obey, regardless of the cost.

A side note, unity of the body is on my mind today. Not uniformity, but unity. That we can agree to disagree and still love and respect one another. Heavy on my heart today. What thoughts do you have on the topic?
Have a great Thursday!

JAMES 2

On a completely irrelevant note and totally a tad bit prideful, I was so pleased when watching this video from Priscilla Shirer where Kay Arthur was talking about Hebrews and I KNEW WHAT SHE WAS REFERRING TO. It completely made my day.
Now back to our regularly scheduled program.
James 2:
1. No partiality, to those I deem above me or below me.
2. Back the Smack (I have been waiting to type that)
Walk the Talk
Practice What You Preach