Session Seven: Day Three- Not One Stone

"Not one stone will be left here on another that will not be thrown down!"

Matthew 24:2

As someone who loves history, today's lesson really helped me to solidify exactly when certain events took place, and I loved it! My timeline looks like this:

.AD62________AD64________AD66________AD68________AD70

James' Death     Roman Fire      Jewish Rebel    Nero Suicide    

                                                     against Rome    Paul and Peter Die

What does Galatians 3:29 mean to you about your identity?

It says that if you belong to Christ you are Abrahams seed and heirs according to His promise.
Jill:  Mine said something very similar.  I like how we are heirs and receive the full benefits of His promise.

The Jewish rebellion during AD66 sparked a war that lasted four years, culminating with a Roman victory.  Jewish prisoners were put to death in public places, the temple was looted and by AD 70 only John remained of the original "Three pillars" who had extended the hand of friendship to Paul.  

What did Jesus specifically prophesy in Luke 19:43-44?

That enemies wiould encircle on every side of Jeruselem and no stone would be left.
Jill: Before long your enemies will build ramparts against your walls and encircle you and close in on you from every side. ⁴⁴They will crush you into the ground, and your children with you. Your enemies will not leave a single stone in place, because you did not accept your opportunity for salvation.”  This is a bit daunting isnt it. 

But John writes in Revelation that the city would be rebuilt and Jesus says in Matthew 16:18 the following words:

I will build My church and the forces of Hades will not overpower it.


Jill that quote makes me feel better, 

Session Seven: Day Two- Precious In His Sight

You have condemned- you murdered- the righteous man, he does not resist you.

James 5:6

Yesterday we left Paul being dragged from the temple.  For two years he remained a captive, through Porcius Festus taking the place of the governor named Felix and still he remained in prison.    Shortly thereafter, James was seized, a formal trial called against him and he was charged with "offenses against the law."

It is thought that the Jewish high priest sought to silence the man who has spoken so often about peace but who also had encouraged a belief in Christ.  Perhaps it was retribution for what happened with Paul.  One has to believe that whatever the reason for his being put to death, that at the end he saw Christ in all his glory.

Look up Acts 7:56 and record what another martyr, Stephen, said.

Look, I see Heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.

What would you most like to ask James should you one day meet him in Heaven?

Session Seven: Day One- Scripture's Last Glimpse

When we reached Jerusalem, the brothers welcomed us gladly.  The following day Paul went in with us to James, and all the elders were present.

Acts 21:17-18

James was in Jerusalem because he was the the bishop of the Jerusalem church.  When Paul arrived James took him into a house to stay, along with up to 70 other elders who were there.  The struggle for James, given the prophetic warning that Paul received, must have been how to stay faithful as a witness to his nation while still helping Paul.

In what ways do you feel a struggle between remaining faithful while still reaching out in our society?

For me I have to constantly remember that although I am friends with the "world" and trying to reach them, if I am not careful to be in God's Word and in prayer, I can be swayed into acting and speaking like the unsaved.  I want to be the one impacting them, not the other way around.

Jill:  It is so amazing to me how on every commercial we are tempted to become friends to the world by needing to purchase this shiny thing or that cool gadget, etc.  But it is socially unacceptable to have any Christianity reminders out in public.  So it is difficult to be constantly tempted.  It is a fine line to be in the world with out becoming tempted by the world.

During this early time of Christianity, the Gentiles had nothing they needed to give up and yet the Jews held the law very dear to them.  This conflict of believing seemed to take all of that away from them.  Enter Paul, a Gentile, coming to their city and being received by James.

Jill:  I was under the impression Paul WAS a Jew, and such a jew that he had a very high position with in the Jewish Faith, even a Roman Citizen.  That was why he Hated the followers of Christ so much and persecuted them.  

What happened in Acts 21:20-25?  What did James and the elders request of Paul?

They asked him to purify himself according to the Jewish custom.
Jill:  and to pay for the 4 men to have their heads ritually shaved.

Paul did as they asked and 1 Corinthians 9:20 explains why.  What was his perspective?
Jill:  James lived under the law to bring others to Christ, it seemed  his way of appeasing people.

James then gets the news that Paul has been dragged from the temple (Acts 21:30-36).  Can you imagine if something you said or did caused such a drastic outcome?  How do you think you would have responded to this news?

I would have been devastated and wondered why I didn't trust God to take care of Paul without my intervention.

James probably hoped that God could use this incident for good.  Sometimes we mean well and things just don't turn out well.  Thank goodness God can use even our biggest blunders for His purpose and scripture is full of examples of Him doing just that.

Jill:  AMEN to that

Session Six: Day Five- To Pray and To Be Prayed For

The urgent request of a righteous person is very powerful in its effect.

James 5:16

Perhaps the most important lesson in Session Six, today we talk about prayer.  Given how powerful our time together was on this day, there isn't much that I can say to do justice to this portion of James.  In that line, today I am just going to lay forth the questions asked of us throughout the lesson.  Know that I am still praying daily for each of you and I am blessed to know that you also pray for me.  Truely you are a gift in my life.

Could you use a reminder right about now that prayer is never a waste of time?  If so, why?

Reread James 5:14.  What are the conditions and instructions?

Pray and anoint with oil.

Exactly what did Asa do to displease the Lord?

He did not seek the Lord.

What does James 5:15 say?

If you pray in faith and in trust God will hear your prayer and heal, raise up and forgive.

What do you honestly think about healing?

Fill in the blanks:

If he has SINNED he will be forgiven

Therefore CONFESS to one another.

 

Session Six: Day Four- Something We Can Do

Is anyone among you suffering? He should pray. Is anyone cheerful? He should sing praises.
James 5:13

I don't know about you guys, but in my life, there have been multiple times where I life circumstances were so overwhelming that I actually thought that there was nothing else that I could do.  I said out loud,  "By this time next year things will be different.  If I can just make it through the next twelve months."  Essentially I was saying there is nothing else I can pray, no other action I can take no other thing I can do to survive what I was going through.

In verses 13-14 James talks about three conditions and the prescriptions for them.  They are:

1. In trouble - then pray
2. Happy- then sing songs of praise
3. Sick- then call the elders and have them pray and anoint with oil

Even when we desperately feel there is nothing else we can do, we can pray with and for one another.  The prayers of my beloved friends is what carried me through my darkest days and sometimes my own prayer was a simple, "Please God...."

Name a few reasons why we can't be healthy believers if we disassociate all of our good feelings or merriment from God.
Because God gives us the ability to be happy.  It isn't something that He takes away from us.  He wants us to rejoice in the good things, no matter how simple or profound they are.  Joy lifts our spirit and allows us to hold on to the hope of good things to come.  


Complete the following:

Is anyone cheerful? He should sing songs of praise.

Can you think of any reason for this particular prescription for Be the glad hearted?
It's important to spend time with God in prayer when things are hard, but equally important to spend time with Him when things are good.  It's the give and take of the relationship.

Session Six: Day Three- A Yes Kind Of Yes

Above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath.  Your yes must be yes and your no must be no, so that you won't fall under judgment.

James 5:12

One of the things that I love the most about studying one book of the bible, is the ability to focus on just one scripture and have it pulled apart, dissected and explained to me.  The issue of this one verse that we are studying today appears to be an issue of simply staying true to our word.  

In Hebrews 6:13, how does it say God is unique regarding oaths?

He has to swear to Himself because there is no one greater than Him.

Deuteronomy 23:21-23 says that if you make a vow to the Lord and are slow to pay it, then you are guilty of SIN.  Whatever you vow, you are to do it fully and quickly and only make vows you willingly intend to keep.

That is a pretty powerful scripture.  Especially when it is considered sin to break a vow.  This causes me to think about whether I have made promises I haven't been able to keep. Perhaps it is because I have children who often ask for things and my standard answer is "We'll see," but I cannot think of any.  I try very hard not to say yes to something I cannot follow through on.  

Satan gets great joy out of seeing us go back on word, even when it seems to be something insignificant to us.  Why do you suppose that is?

Because it gives him a toe hold and keeps us on the spectrum away from God.

In Matthew 23:16-22, Jesus tells us to forgo swearing all together and James echos the same thing.  We simply need to let our word be our truth and do the things we say we will do. 

Session Six: Day Two- To Prove The Lord's Boasts

You have heard of Job's endurance.

James 5:11

Patience.  

Quite possibly one of the things that I have the most difficult time with.  It is not something that comes easily to me and it is not something I enjoy having to work through.

List three reasons why patience might be infinitely more challenging in our current culture:

1. We live in a culture of immediate gratification
2. Everything happens at lightening speed.  No waiting for anything
3. Our culture gives us immediate control over everything  

In learning to be patient, we learn that we cannot rush God.  We cannot make Him do things any more quickly than His perfect plan for us calls for.  We can want what we want and we can pray and tell Him so.  But being patient requires us to take a deep breath and remember:  God has a plan and His timing is always perfect.  Without waiting for it, we might not even begin to understand the blessing that He has planned to give us.

When we live patiently under the blessing and plan of our Heavenly Father, we give Him cause to boast of us.  After reading the portions of Job, we begin to see that God does not put us to tests that He knows in advance we don't have the ability to pass.  Read Job 42:1-6.
I know you can do all things.  Once I had heard, now I see.  Again in Job 42:5 it says My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you.  Being patient and walking through the trials of life give us an opportunity to not just read the word of God and hear it, but to look back after our trials and testing and actually see where He held us, blessed us and brought us through.


What was the outcome from the Lord according to Job 42:12?  
The Lord blessed the latter part of Job's life more than the first.   He went through trials and came out the other side with more than he had lost.  Isaiah 61:7 tells us that God's people will receive a double portion and because we are His children, as believers, that includes us.

Whatever trial you, my dear friends, are struggling with today, know this deep in your hearts.  This lesson is for all of us.  God loves us so much and His plan is perfect.  We don't know what the other side will look like but He promises us a double portion of blessing.   

Session Six: Day One- Getting and Giving

Of all the things that people do not like to talk about in churches across America, money is probably one of the biggest.  Today's lesson calls us out on our culture of more! more! more! and forces us to stop and think about our own habits when it comes to acquiring and giving back.

Look!  The pay that you withheld from the workers who reaped your fields cries out and the outcry of the harvesters has reached the ears of the Lord of Hosts.  

James 5:4

What are the two inanimate objects that James gives human like attributes to?

The wages are crying out against you and the corroded gold and silver will testify against you.

Do the same for the following verses:

Genesis 4:10

Blood cries out

Job 31:38-40

Land cries out

Mark 4:39-41 

The wind and waves obey Him.

Beth goes on to talk about the idea of the hoarded wealth, paying for the trial against the hoarder.  At first glance this seems to not apply to us, unless we've recently hired someone to do work and not paid for the services, which I don't think applies to any of us. Even after reading Leviticus 19:13 and how it talks about not defrauding your neighbor or holding back wages, I still couldn't make the connection Beth wanted me to make.

It wasn't until she began talking about hoarding our treasure and the difference between saving and spending for life's necessities and where the line begins to blur with hoarding that I began to understand what she was getting at.  How much of the money God has blessed us with do we (I) blow through for things I think we need (versus actual needs) and how much have I not set aside to bless others with.  

The conviction that I felt during this part of the reading was simply that I, as the bill payer, shopper in our home, need to do a much, much better job at managing our finances.  Yes, we tithe.  Yes, we save.  Yes, we give to other organizations.  But also, Yes.  I do get caught up in a world view that begs me to have the newest, latest, cutest, best est thing. 

Towards the end of the lesson, the the idea that having more than we need could be considered hoarding and not just hoarding but sinful hoarding really stopped me cold.  In loving my neighbors as I love myself, I want to work towards the ideal of if I get something I give something and eliminate the idea of "the accursed love of getting."  Please, discuss if you feel comfortable sharing.

Session Five: Day Five- What Is Your Life

Girls this lesson today was God's gift to me.  With the unexpected death of a loved one this week, I found myself asking why God would take this man home right now.  How would this impact those in our family who aren't believers and how could I hold on to my belief that what James says in 4:13-17 is true?  I know that we are not promised tomorrow and everything we do is God willing.  It's just so hard sometimes to understand how His plan plays out for eternity.  All of this to say that these were words I needed to hear today.

Of course we make plans and of course we hope our tomorrows are filled with the dreams we dream and the schedules we want to keep.  Reading James, do you think he is saying that making plans of any kind or jotting notes on the calendar is wrong?  If not, what do you think he is saying?  Or, if so, what are his grounds?
As someone who is a BIG planner, I don't think that is what James is saying at all.  I think he is saying that we need to prayerfully consider what we are doing and understand God gives us our days to use.  He just wants to make sure we know that these days come from Him and He is in charge.

I love to plan.  I organize, schedule, color code my calendar and then check it all twice.  I can spend hours researching things for trips we plan to take and activities for my kids to participate in.  I sit in the car at practices and rush home to do homework and over see piano practice.  I am the person who has to take a hard look at James 4:14 "What is your life like?"  Am I doing all that is important in this world or am I simply breezing through, checking off my list, failing to live intentionally.

Read Psalm 39:4-8.  In the margin and underline every similarity in this Old Testament segment to James 4:13-17.  When was the last time you were reminded that you don't know what a day might bring?
 In the past week we have received news of a nephew who was in a car accident and an uncle who passed away.  I would say this has been a time when I need the daily reminder that only God knows our days and I have to live each day for God as if it could be my last.

If anyone has anything to add about the idea of consumerism and what Jesus has to say about it, please go ahead and discuss.  For me this week, the lesson didn't impact me too much in this area.

Let's go over our immediate reactions to the scriptures Beth had us go through:
Psalm 139:16
God knew me before I was formed
Acts 17:26-28
God made all of us
Ephesians 2:10
I am a masterpiece to God
Psalm 33:10-12 
Gods plans come to fruition


What difference, if any, might these thoughts make in your present struggle?
It's the reminder I need right now regarding everything.  God is in control and He loves us so much .  I don't know what the bigger picture looks like, but God's plan is perfect.
 

Session Five: Day Four- Only One Judge

There is one lawgiver and judge who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?

James 4:12

I am created in the image of God----> I represent God----> I am Junior God----> I am like God

It seems to be a slippery slope to reach a place of judgement and condemnation, doesn't it.  Or maybe it's just me.  God created us in His image and so it's very easy for us to get an overinflated sense of self.  I really like how Beth laid it out in a very clear path just how easy it is to get there.

How are you most prone to play judge?

When I see other Christians talking about how holy they are or spouting off about their faith and then acting completely opposite to what the bible says, I have a very, very hard time not judging them.  I can look at things non-Christians do with sympathy, empathy, grace and forgiveness, but give me a Christian who hides behind their faith and the judgey side of me cannot be contained.

Lisa: Me too!  I know we've talked about this before, but I struggle with the same thing.  Maybe it's because I have lived on the "unsaved" side of the fence and know what it's like to be totally turned off of the Christians around me, but I can love the lost all day long, but a hypocritical "Christian" playing church instead of actually being the church makes my blood boil with judgement.

What again is the Royal Law in James 2:8?
To Love your neighbor. as yourself

Lisa: I made a note in the margin here: Do I really like/love myself when I behave "bad".  When I have been convicted by the Holy Spirit about something and continue to live a certain way...am I really loving myself for the things that I am doing?  Maybe I'm just looking for a loophole here, but, just thought I'd throw it out there.

Read Matthew 7:1-2.  Does it make you squirm a little?
It does because God clearly says that we will be judged just as harshly for judging others.  

Lisa: Yep!  I'm squirming!  We will be judged in the way that we judge others.  Yikes!

To make sure we get the major point from Romans 2:2, what do we know about God's judgment?
That Gods judgment is the only judgment that is based on TRUTH.

Lisa: Nothing really to add here: God's judgement is based on the truth.

I was really glad to see Beth talk about the difference in and the right of a Godly community holding believers accountable, too.  Especially when she reiterates that the difference is in the spirit conviction versus the human state of judgment.  People who walk in the Spirit judge things.  Not people.  

Lisa: Favorite quote: "Humanly speaking, a fine line can squiggle between wise discernment and sinful judging.  We need discernment in the worst way and we also need to know when to distance ourselves from the spiritually dangerous people."

This and the next paragraph which is a quote by Dr. Douglas Moo, really made me think about the decisions regarding our church, and also the way that your brother in-law runs his church.  Lots to talk about tomorrow!

Session Five: Day Three- One Life Under God

"Submit to God."

James 4:7

Short and sweet today, isn't it.  Submit.  It's a tricky word in our culture.  Most of us aren't raised to submit to anything, let alone a God who might not always give us what we want.  But before we can submit, we have to hear the words from the preceding verse.  "He gives greater grace."  How often do I feel like I give and give and there is little left over for myself.  I end up feeling empty and used up.  To sit in the knowledge that He gives me the grace I need to be restored is refreshing.  I want to remember to sit every day and let Him fill me up, so that I can pour into others.

Beth asked us to list in the margins the five things James tells us.  They are:

1. Submit to God
2. Resist the Devil
3. Come near to God
4. Wash your hands
5. Purify your hearts.

She admonishes us to be deliberate in what we resist and what we draw near to.  We can't have it both ways.  Something always gets pushed and something else gets pulled.  What Satan hopes is that we will get worn down from pouring out or from the trials of this world and then he can sneak in and turn our hearts hard towards God.  But if we stay in Christ, in his Word, in prayer, in active conversation with Him, there is no room for Satan to sneak in.  I love the picture Beth paints when she says, "He (the Devil) doesn't flee from us.  He runs from God who is standing right there over us every time we submit."   I picture Him standing with His arms crossed shaking his head no.  And the Devil is terrified and runs away.

Pretty.  Awesome.

What light does Matthew 16:23 shed on Satan's schemes to frustrate our walk with Christ?
Satan only has lies and deceit and trials in store for us.  He calls him a stumbling block.

Lisa: Satan strategically places himself between us and God as a stumbling block.  He throws worldly things at us, and then waits...

If you feel comfortable share which Submit to God encouragement most spoke to you.  
I think this would be a great one to go over when we are next together.

Lisa: Agreed.  I really liked this lesson a lot.  And I mean Uh Lot!  I can't wait to go over it with my FRIENDS FACE TO FACE!!!  So glad we're meeting on Friday!
  
Love you girls and look forward to seeing you on Friday!

Session Five: Day Two- The World's Best Friend

Whoever wants to be the world's friend becomes God's enemy. 

James 4:4

Before I get into today's lesson, I just have to take a moment to tell you both how very, very important you are to me.  You both know that this has been a somewhat dramatic last week for our family and knowing that you were praying for us and our loved ones means more than I can tell you.  You are honestly two of the biggest gifts God has ever given me.

Okay.  On to the lesson.  Given that two of us recently took a Facebook hiatus, I loved that Beth began today talking about the difference between "befriending" someone and "friending" someone.  Girls you both have befriended me and there is a total and complete difference from just being friends on social media.  Moving on to the scriptures of today, how did you compare James 2:23 to James 4:4?  I had trouble with this so I didn't have anything.  I'm hoping you do!

Lisa: The last phrase of 2:23 is "and he was called God's friend".  4:4 says, "...Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God."

My spectrum looked like this:

friendship with the world______________________________________________friendship with God

What really struck me about this is that there's really nothing in the middle.  We really do need to choose.  It's too hard to spread ourselves across the vast open space and attempt to be both friends with the world and friends with God.  NOTE: I will always believe that we can have friends IN the world.  If we don't, then how can we possibly fulfill Christ's command to go and produce fruit?  If we constantly surround ourselves only with other Christians, then what good are we?  Or to quote our new friend in the Scriptures, "What good is it?"

One of the things Beth does that I love most about her studies is giving us the Greek word and it's meaning.  If only I could read the bible in its original language!  I think it would read completely different.  She tells us the word for world used in this passage refers to the system of evil controlled by Satan.  Um...that's a totally different world than one referenced in John 3:16.  Wow.  I also really liked when she talked about how once we receive Christ we are His Bride, destined for Heaven, but friendship comes by practicing elements of our relationship.

Faith and actions must work together.  How can we parallel Abraham's faithfulness as we follow Christ?
By doing what He asks us in full, to believe in Him and to produce fruit.  I really like how this idea ties works and belief together because so many people and churches get hung up on one or the other (including myself at times!)

Lisa: I like how she had us circle the word PRACTICE!  We must put feet to our faith (yep, I threw out a little Christianese for us today!)  I've always been drawn to the Bible's If/Then statements, and believe me, there are MANY!  Jesus states in John 15:14 - "You are my friends IF you do what I command you."  Then he does a lot of talking and finally gets back to business, "...you should go out and produce fruit...".  We have been called to do many things, and we must be mindful that some of these things require us to move.

Close friendships are built on face time.  It's one reason we plan to get together or meet friends for coffee.  In the same way, God wants that with us.  What is the distinguishing mark of friendship between Christ and His disciples according to John 15:15?
He called them friend because He made known to them the things of His Father.  They shared intimate details of their lives.  More details than He shared with anyone else.

Lisa: What an honor.  I love how Jesus reminds his friends that they did not choose him, but rather he chose them!  I love it!
 
What an honor to be able to call Him friend.  

I Am Above All Things

I read this devotional today and I just found it fitting.  I hope you don't mind if I share with my girls:

I am above all things: your problems, your pain, and the swirling events in this ever-changing world.  When you behold My Face, you rise above circumstances and rest with Me in heavenly realms.  This is the way of Peace, living in the Light of My Presence.  I guarantee that you will always have problems in this life, but they must not become your focus.  When you feel yourself sinking in the sea of circumstances, say "Help me, Jesus!" and I will draw you back to Me.  If you have to say that thousands of times daily, don't be discouraged.  I know your weakness, and I meet you in that very place.

Ephesians 2:6

And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus

Matthew 14:28-32

“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 

**This is all from the devotional book Jesus Calling by Sarah Young.**

Session Five: Day One- Consider The Source

What is the source of wars and fights among?

James 4:1

Sitting at my desk reading carefully through the "interview" questions today will I think be a life changing moment.  The questions were hard and because I actually took the time to really look inside my heart and answer them honestly, I discovered some things about myself that aren't all that fun to face.  But I know that it is totally worth it to search my motives and to clarify what is going on inside.  I hope you also took the time to really search your hearts today.

When I look at my life and from the outside look at yours, it seems like we have all been so very blessed and yet no matter how much we have, Beth is right when she says that we will always desire something we don't have, whether that is honor, material things, respect, etc.  That is a powerful statement and backed up with the scriptures from Matthew 5:21 and 1John 3:15, it is packs an overwhelming punch.  Loosely paraphrase those two verses:

Anger and hate bring about the same judgement as murder, which leads to eternal hellfire and the absence of eternal life.


Jill: I had a difficult time trying to come up with a paraphrase, as i felt as if all the breath had been taken out of me.  Those two passages she had us read really hit home with me.  I sat there reading them over and over, and my jaw dropped.  I'm the same as a murderer.  CREEPY.  Please Lord takes this anger and jealousy from me.

I would never look at myself in the mirror and call myself a murderer and yet things that I harbor in my heart and refuse to take to God and ask him for absolutely qualify me for the same eternal fate as someone who actually takes a life.  Thinking about this makes me stop for a moment and ask what I have been "killing" because of what is going on inside myself.  That is a sobering thought. James says murder is dead wrong regardless of whether it comes from the heart or the hand. 

Write out the verse for Psalm 38:9.

All my longings lie open before you O Lord; my sighing is not hidden from you.


Jill:  NLT: You know what I long for Lord, you hear my every sigh.

According to James 4:3, what is another reason we might harbor an unmet desire?

He says we ask with wrong motives that what we get will be squandered on self.  I also find that I don't ask because because I want to hang on to my resentment and I don't truly believe that anything will change.  So even if I do ask, my motives are not good.  


Jill:  Our motives are all wrong.  I love that James is stating this, and I love how Beth had us do those 9 questions interview.  (I only have 1 thing I want most know, but in my recent past it was respect) In my work life #8 is directly related to the person I am most prone to quarrel with. That statement again knocked me on my back side and really look at things different.  This was a very thought provoking study day for me.  

The biggest impact of today's lesson is that I really need to go deeper with this thought and truly deal with some stuff that I have been holding on to.  The time is now and while I know it means a process, I am excited to ask God for every true and perfect gift and hand Him back the ones that aren't from Him.

   

Session Four: Day Five- Wisdom Below, Wisdom Above

 The wisdom from above is first pure, then peace-loving, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, without favoritism and hypocrisy. James 3:17

This is a day when I wish that we could sit together and talk about our families.  They are so much a part of who we become and I always love to hear stories from your childhoods, both good, bad and funny.  I was trying to think of something quirky or weird or interesting about my family and realized that my side of the family was very logical, very rigid and very routine.  Perhaps that is why I tend to be the same.  In my little family I am easily the serious one.  I would love to hear what you have to share about your own families!


Jill:  My mom has 11 siblings.  So I have LOTS of cousins, aunts, and uncles.  There are so many crazy kookie stories from them.  I love them dearly.  Funny enough out of all my cousins, I can only think of 2 that have sisters.  So my girl cousins that are closest in age were like my sisters.  We were always together, every weekend, and during summers we would sometimes live at someone else's house.  I am about in the middle age wise.  Too many stories to share but the one thing that I think interesting about my mom's siblings is that they grew up very very poor.  So poor it is difficult to imagine living like that.  Well in order to get out, the boys joined the military and the girls got married, essentially to the 1st boy that came along.  Most were just out of high school when they got married.  As much as I love all my aunts husbands, they were terrible choices for them, they are ALL now divorced.  But something I always found odd was how much my aunts pushed all of us girls to get married and have babies (not even in that order), the men where there for the baby making,  they all wanted us to have babies, and lots of them.  I think that is why I rebelled so much about not getting married, I had no good roll models and I didnt want to end up in divorce.

                             Wisdom from above:                      

• good life
• humility
• pure
• peace loving
• considerate
• submissive
• mercy
• impartial
• sincere

Wisdom from below:

• bitter envy
• selfish ambition

Beth reminds us that this letter is written for Christians. I think sometimes we forget that the bible is for us.  Not just the unsaved or those who are searching for Christ.  For us.  Complacent, set in our ways, believers.  Sometimes it's hard to hear because we think we have it all together, but I know I am a better person when I am reminded (often) that I am still sinful.  One of the areas that I struggle with is an area Beth talks about.  Jealousy.

Why does being jealous make us so miserable?
For me it brings up feelings of dissatisfaction.  Like somehow what I am doing isn't enough.  I know that my family has been blessed beyond measure, but I still get twinges of jealousy over the dumbest things. Most recently I found myself feeling jealous because a friend of mine is planning a Hawaiian vacation, with her kids, for this fall.  We were JUST there.  I should be excited for her but instead I wish that we could go back and take our kids.  It's a sneaky feeling, but being aware that I am susceptible to that allows me to nip it in the bud before it gets out of hand.


Jill:  For me it is low self esteem.  I get jealous because I dont think I deserve what that other person has that I want.  

My favorite quote from this week:  Wisdom often knows what to do, what is right or what is awry.  Understanding often knows why.  Who in your life would you characterize as wise?
The wisest person I know is Donna Hill, a women just a season of life ahead of me.  She has a gentle spirit, caution with her words and Godly wisdom that convicts me and lifts me up both.


Jill:  sadly the 1st person that popped into my head is not spiritually wise but rather academically wise, and her next question of "are they harsh"  why YES this person is very harsh.  Then I love how she says "Harsh people are never wise they may be smart, they may even be right but they are not what the bible calls wise".  Working in an environment of all physicians are are in research trying to unlock medical mysteries can be difficult, as I will never be as academically smart as they are, but this reminder that just because they are smarter than me, doesnt mean they are wiser than me.  Thank you Beth for that little nugget.  


My favorite part of today was "Braggers are liars, period".  Again I work with people who brag and boast ALL DAY EVERY DAY.  It is so difficult to listen to at times, so now I just sort of smile to myself and thing braggers are liars, aaaaahhhhh what sweet music to my ears.

Session Four: Day Four- Fire and Water

"Praising and cursing come out of the same mouth.  My brothers, these things should not be this way."  James 3:10

How is everyone doing on writing out the scriptures?  I am a little behind but intend to get caught up over the weekend.  There is something incredibly satisfying about writing down an entire book from the bible.

Beth begins this lesson by showing us how James begins to use the word we.  It is used six times (that's what I counted so please correct me if you counted more!) in just a few verses.  For myself, I loved that James jumped right in next to me in admitting that we all stumble in many ways.  It's refreshing to be reminded via the bible that even as a believer I will not be perfect.  This seems to be the theme of my life lately and I am embracing every opportunity to take those reminders to heart.

Having a mouth that is prone to speak inappropriately verse 6 hits me hard.  My tongue is capable of setting my whole course of life on fire.    Did anyone else feel struck by this?

This past week has been a very emotional, spiritually busy week for our family.  Along with my nephew's accident, Kyle's uncle is in the hospital following heart surgery and not doing very well.  Added to that is my answer for the personal question:  

When was the last time you were aware of the tongue's capacity to blister and scar?

This week at school a parent of the boy who broke his arm has been very verbal and aggressive towards another child who she is claiming is responsible for breaking her sons arm.  The truth is that the TA's and the principal believe it to be an accident.  The boy with the broken arm even admitted originally that he simply tripped and fell.  The issue then becomes one of the mom wanting some type of vindication for the fact that her child won't be able to finish basketball playoffs or participate in spring baseball.  So the boy and his mom are both saying awful, untrue things about another child.  It has become such an issue that the other child is being harassed by other kids and made to feel like he is a horrible child.  It's hard to watch because I can see him feeling awful that other kids and a parent are saying such things about him.  He will probably never forget this time in his life.

 Beth goes on to have us look up Acts 2 and discusses how the tongue can be used for good or evil but that we have a choice each day on how we use it.  It made me think about how the parent I was talking about could have called the other boy and simply said they knew it was an accident.  How different would the situation be.  It's so important that we take just a few moments to remember that every word that comes out of our mouth will have an impact.  What that impact will be is up to us.

Has there been a time in your life when your bitterness turned sweet because of  the redemptive power of Jesus?  Please share if you feel comfortable.

Early in marriage we had a lot of issues that we needed to work out and doing so left me incredibly bitter.  I had gone from an abusive relationship to a wonderful one, but even wonderful has its pitfalls.  Sadly I wasn't able to get over some of the disappointment and hurt that come with simply being human and having failures.  I held on to my bitterness for years and when I had to give up getting my Masters Degree because I got pregnant, I counted that another bitterness to hold against my husband.  Yes, I know it takes two to make babies, it was just easier to blame him for me not being able to do what I wanted to do.  It took me several years, lots of time on my knees and some great Christian friends for me to begin to realize that I was the one destroying our marriage by living in the well of bitterness.  Thankfully God is merciful and he has changed my heart and in doing so my relationship with my husband has been restored.

 

Session Four: Day Three- Calling All Teachers

Lisa: Emily, you're not alone.  We're still here!
 
Anyone who has spent any amount of time attending church has already or will probably at some point teach a class to someone on something.  The first class I ever taught was to middle school girls.  After that I taught in the youth group, then in the preschool classes and then bible studies.  James 3:1 rolls around in my head every time I become responsible for teaching anyone so when Beth asks us:

Why would a new teacher feel shaken by the first sight of James 3:1, my answer is this:
It feels overwhelming to be responsible for teaching others about Jesus to begin with.  Reading this verse rains down ever more doubt and insecurity and begs the question, "What happens if I don't get it right?"  It's a little scary to me.

Lisa: Also, because maybe for the first time, they realize that they will be judged more strictly because of the influence that they have on others.  It is scary and overwhelming when this verse is isolated, but then realizing that the kingdom needs teachers, and some are called to teach, and that by ignoring the calling you are being disobedient to the Lord and not walking in His Will.

Jill:  Yes this is a bit daunting to read.  But I think James is making sure to remind us, dont stray from the truth, dont teach for your own personal interest.  I think it needed to be said, exactly the way he said it.  I have only taught in matters of health care, not nearly the same but it is still scary to have someone come to you excepting you to know all about thier personal situation and have all the answers.  I love how our Pastor reminds us frequently by saying "I dont have all the answers, I dont understand everything in the bible and I am NOT your Holy Spirit".  I think it is important for biblical teachers/preachers etc to remind us that they dont know everything, but they can help us, guide us, pray with us. 


As she goes through the lesson, some of my favorite parts are when she talks about Jesus being the only one to ever master teaching.  I love that she takes us to Timothy and talks about attempting to teach on more than we know and the ability to mislead others with our teaching.  These are things I worry about.  Especially when she brings us to 2 Peter and talks about the false prophets who are among the people as well as teachers leading others astray.  

Thank goodness for 2 Timothy 4:5, which says:
You, keep your head in all situations and endure hardships, do the work of the evangelist , discharge all the duties of your ministry.

It reminds me that being a position of teaching means that I need to be talking with God and in the Word, making sure that all that comes from my mouth is biblical and sound.  Teaching is a gift and to be honest, it doesn't show up on my list of Spiritual Gifting.  Perhaps that is why I struggle being in a position where what I am saying impacts others.  I do it and have done it because sometimes a class has just needed a body to fill a spot.  Reflecting on today's topic, I'm not so sure that is a good thing.  

Lisa: It's interesting too, Emily, because we were taught that filling those empty spaces with warm bodies IS necessary.  Perhaps, that is some false teaching in and of itself.  Especially since the Scriptures plainly state that one is NOT to teach if they are NOT a teacher.  Hmmm....

Jill:  Good point Ladies.  I have to agree with you, James says not everyone is meant to teach and not everyone should teach, Yes it is good to have a body fill a spot, but that is not what God wants,  Personally I fell it better to skip a class if there isnt a teacher  until you find someone who IS a teacher.  THink of it this way, would you take an English teacher to fill in for a Physics teacher in college?  No they cancel the class until they can find the right teacher for the class.


Not all of us are called to teach but for those who are, Beth does an incredible job of laying out self reflection questions.  Are we trying to please people or please God?  Much is required of those who teach and while it doesn't change our eternal salvation, it does speak to the quality of our works and whether or not we are letting God lead us and teach us.

Lisa: I starred a few spots:

Under The Temptation to use the platform for personal agendas and opinions I starred this thought:

Keep check on your motives, stick to the Scriptures, and ask God to give you the supernatural capacity to love those listeners more than you love your own skin.

Not so sure this is what we see in front of us...

And then shortly after that, under The demand for self-discipline:

A decent teacher has to study.  Hard.  One of the signs of a teaching gift is an unexplainable thirst to study followed by the difficulty of keeping to yourself what you learned.

The greater self-discipline is fighting ferociously to hang on to your intimate relationship with Jesus.  God will never call you to sacrifice your intimacy with Him on the altar of ministry.  We have to zealously maintain our prayer lives and our love lives and teach out of the overflow of what Christ is teaching us.

This area just spoke so much to me.  It was a great reminder that teaching is one of my gifts, and the fact that I am not operating within my gift is so frustrating and discouraging.  Sometimes, however, I need to keep myself in check when I am teaching.  Often times I get so excited about learning and researching and planning and preparing that I do neglect my personal time with God. 

My favorite nugget from today?  The reminder that no matter what area of service God calls me to be a part of, He will never call me sacrifice my intimacy with Him on the altar of ministry.  To that I say "Amen!"

Jill: Amen indeed

Session Four: Day Two- Faith Perfected

You see that faith was active together with his works and by works, faith was perfected.

James 2:22

"Foolish man!  Are you willing to learn that faith without works is useless?"  James throws this out there and it sticks in my heart.  Am I willing to learn that even though I have faith, am I living a life that acts on it?  Being immersed in the scriptures as I do this study, another reading plan and a smaller devotional means that every day I have an opportunity to hear what God wants to teach me and to do the work he asks of me. 

James takes us by the hand and shows us the evidence of two very specific people in the bible who were willing to learn that faith without works is dead.  First he shows us Abraham and then Rahab, two very different people.  One the father of Israel the other a prostitute.  What things did you list under each person name in the margins?

Lisa:
     ABRAHAM:

• Ancestor of the Israelites
• considered righteous
• offered his son as a sacrifce
• faith and actions worked together
• faith was made complete by action
• believed God
• called God's friend

     RAHAB: 

• a prostitute (a porn star...)
• considered righteous
• gave lodging to spies

Jill:  Abraham

• God's Friend
• Righteous
• Father of Isreal

     Rahab

• Prostitute
• Righteous
• Helped the spies

James sees faith and works as being absolutely intertwined with one another.  After reading Genesis and James, list everything works accomplishes according to James 2:24

Lisa: I wasn't exactly sure what she was looking for, but I wrote: "We are justified by what we do."

Jill "You see the person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone"

In your own life, do you struggle more with superficial faith or with legalism?  Why?

For me it is superficial faith.  I believe 100% that once you are saved you are saved.  My struggle is always in getting complacent and not doing the things that God asks me to do.  I need to always be aware of whether or not I am living a life consistent with what scripture tells me to be doing.

Lisa: Me too.  Legalism is such a dirty word to me, and I am utterly repulsed by it.  I am really praying hard against both of these ways of living.  I want to be the real thing, inside and out.  I also liked the quote from Beth leading up to this question that talks about Paul and James:

...but they (Paul and James) had two different objectives.  "James was combating a superficial faith that had no wholesome effect in the life of the professed believer.  Paul, on the other hand, was combating legalism - the belief that one may earn saving merit before God by his good deeds."

 Jill I stuggle with both equally.  Growing up Catholic clearly I have issues with legalism, but along with that I have seen my share of superficial faith.  And stuggling with the Catholic faith as I did both were very difficult for me to try and find my way.  Lisa I underlined that section as well.  It really made me understand who Paul and James' audiance was and why they needed to write what they did.

My favorite part of today's study was reading the genealogy of Jesus in Matthew.  While I have read this passage many times before, it was the first time that I was made aware of the women listed in the lineage.  How awesome that in the line of David leading up to Jesus, there was a woman named Rahab, who was able to change the course of her life from broken to healed and from healed to being an ancestor of the Savior.  Talk about God knowing who we are to become!  

Lisa:  I loved that too!  How many times have I read the lineage of Jesus, and this is the first time that I really realized how close she was to King David.  Without her decision to do something HUGE for the Lord (that wasn't even her God at the time) and something that endangered both her and her family, she CHANGED the course of history.  Of course, we know, that if she hadn't, that God would have someone else, but how AWESOME that SHE DID!!!  Then, thinking about Boaz, and why he was so willing to accept Ruth for who she was!  "If you know anything about the story of Boaz, maybe his compassion for Ruth and his willingness to see her as more than a foreigner makes perfect sense.  After all, he was his mother's son.  Rahab's boy grew up and became Ruth's kinsman redeemer, taking her as his bride."

Jill:  Dont you just love the way God works.  Jesus has a prostitue as a grandmother how many generations back, and his mother was unwed.  I love how God can use ANYONE at ANYTIME in their life, even in the period that you feel you have hit rock bottom.  He is there with us and He uses us even during those periods of greatest dispair when we may feel the furthest from him.  I LOVE THAT. As for Ruth, I used Ruth in part of our wedding (Ruth 1: 16-17).  I love the story of Ruth, again I just love the way God uses us in ways we cant even imagine.

FAVORITE QUOTE FROM TODAY:

When He who was, who is, and who is to come sees each one of us, He sees who we were, who we are, and who we will become!

Amen and Amen!!!  I love you Father.  Thank you for loving me in spite of who I have been, who I am, and who I might be.  Thank you for sending your precious Son to redeem us.  YOU are so good.

One more thing.  I read this on a friend's Facebook status, and I almost thought she snatched it from this lesson:

  

Who I used to be is a big part of who I am to become. Who sacrificed for me is responsible for what has changed in me. No matter where I have been, or where I am going, I am who I am and who He has created me to be. Good or bad, win or lose, right or wrong, worst or best. It is what it is, I am who I am, He is who He is.

~Julie Liston

 

Jill:  Wow

Session Four: Day One- Dead By Itself

"...If a person keeps on saying he or she has faith but keeps on having no works," then the person may not be saved.

Word Biblical Commentary

In the same way faith, if it doesn't have works, is dead by itself.

James 2:17

Throughout church history the above scripture has brought about controversy among theologians.  What do you think makes this segment so controversial?

There are people who believe Faith is all that matters since Christ died on the cross for our sins and believing in that is the way to Heaven.  Then of course there are those who think that His death wasn't enough and so doing good works is a way to ensure access to Heaven.  I love that this is today's lesson because this argument is something that I think turns many people off to Christianity.  There are those who think that since they are saved they can do whatever they want because no matter what they are going to Heaven and those who forget that their relationship with Christ comes before any good works.  The way that Beth explains that the Holy Spirit convicts us after our salvation to be better people and do more is exactly how I always want to explain it and hear this verse but just am never sure I'm getting it right.  I could have just written a big giant "AMEN!" over all of this days lesson.

Lisa: I'll second your AMEN, Emily!  It was reassuring as a brand new Christian that there was nothing I could do except accept Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior and recognize that He died to save me.  However, as I've now been saved for almost 15 years (at the end of February!!!), I realize that through my faith, people should see good works.  I love how Beth brought us to Ephesians 2:8-10, where it lays it out pretty clearly.  Yes, we are saved by grace through our faith in Jesus, but we are also created to do good works in Christ.  It is sometimes interesting to me that the two can be separated.

Jill:  I love how James states "What good is it" more than once.  And he is absolutely correct.  What good is it if we say we have faith, but our actions speak differently. 

The first major point that Beth makes today is this:  Faith is meant to do some good.  It isn't enough to just believe in God (although she is clear that that IS enough for salvation) because we should be moved to make a difference.  We should be full of compassion, loving our neighbors and taking care of those less fortunate.  We should want everyone we come in contact with to know that God is God and He is so very good.

According to the apostle Paul in Ephesians 2:8-10, what is the relationship between faith and works?

That we have been saved by Grace through faith and it is a gift from God.  We aren't saved by works so that no one can boast.

Lisa: I already wrote my answer in the previous comment, but I'll write it again: We are saved by grace through our faith in Jesus, but we are also created to do good works in Christ.

Jill: Growing up poor I love how God saves by grace through faith so none can boast.  As someone growing up with little it is good to know that even having nothing we can be saved.  No one can boast about what they did or what they bought, none of that matters if you dont have faith in Grace.

In Matthew 12:33 Jesus Himself tells us that a tree is known by its fruit.  James is simply making the point that as believers we are free from the law but if we are living absent of all signs of Christ's Spirit in us, something is wrong.  James says in 2:19 that even the demons are aware of who Christ is.  So even those who know God can have Him not be present inside.  I think that is a pretty powerful statement.  Anyone want to talk about how reading that hits you?

Having read this a few years back, this is probably the one scripture that drives me to constantly be talking to God about what I need to be doing and where I am lacking.  I do not want to be like a demon, knowing God and all that He is capable of but living completely outside of the Holy Spirit guidance and manifestation.  I want to hear what God is calling me to do (whether that be minding my temper, offering grace to those around me, helping in a shelter or food bank, loving on other peoples kiddos, etc.) and be bearing the fruit of my belief.  I know that I am saved by Grace, but I also don't ever want to be complacent and forget that my behavior draws other to or pushes others away from God.

Lisa: I think what struck me here is that so often people will insist that they, or someone they know, are Christians, like the really amazing ones.  You know, the kind that can recite all kinds of Scriptures, but THIS is the Scripture that I am reminded of.  Just because someone recognizes the ONE true God, just because they can recite the Scriptures word for word, does not mean that they are Christians or are saved, or are on my side.  The Jehovah's Witness and Mormons can recite scriptures all day long, but they do not believe anything close to what I know to be true.  Be careful and really pray for a discerning heart.

James is making sure that we understand that being complacent isn't enough.  Any additional thoughts?

Lisa: I'm pretty sure I'm saved and still moldable and shapable, but I always get a little nervous that I'm not really where I think I am, which is how I know the Spirit is still moving in and through me, but, nevertheless, here was the prayer I wrote:
Jesus, I pray with every ounce of my being that I would not be hardened to your voice, your Spirit, and to your will.  Soften my heart and my will so that I will know what you need from me.  I long to bear fruit for your kingdom.  Give me strength to stand on what I know to be true, even if I stand alone.

I also named the bullet points at the end The Believer's Creed.

The Believer's Creed 

• We believe that God "gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16).
• We believe that He bore all of our sins so that we could become His righteousness.
• We believe that we are who He says we are and not the numbing sum of Satan's accusations.
• We believe that to find ourselves, we lose ourselves in all that is glory and grace.
• We believe that we are loved and not despised, held and not forsaken, cherished and not rejected, enjoyed and not just endured.
• We believe that "at the name of Jesus every knee will bow - of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth - and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord" (Phil. 2:10-11).

Session Three: Day Five- The Royal Law

Because we were able to get together and discuss Day Five, I'm not going to go into too much detail other than answering the questions just to have this day on the blog.  It would just bother me too much not to include it!

Throughout scripture when God says "I am THE LORD" what does that mean to us?
We all agreed it meant "non-negotiable."

The "Royal Law" is to love God with all your heart and your neighbor as yourself.  We had great discussion regarding how difficult this can be, particularly if one actually has trouble loving oneself.  Or if those neighbors are other Christians behaving badly without remorse.

After reading James 2:12, how are we to act?
Speak and act according to how we will be judged.  It's important to be able to listen carefully and speak slowly.  If we loved others in this way, how might it change our interactions with those we come in contact with, including those closest to us, like friends, husbands and children.

We also talked about how important reconciliation is and in doing what the Royal Law commands, how loving others allows us to let go of hurts and reach for healing.

Not too much else for me to add, but please feel free to add on or discuss anything I left out!

Session Three: Day Four- The Folly Of Favoritism

"You can safely assume that you have created God in your own image when it turns out that God hates all the same people you do" Anne Lamott

Oh how accurate is Beth as she takes us through a day that forces us to look into the mirror of our hearts and acknowledge that our tendencies are to treat people differently.  Whether that is our intent or not, it seeps out of our very pores, spilling over into areas of our life where me might not even notice.

Humans are naturally drawn towards others in the same spot in life.  I tend to spend time with other women in my same economic status, with kids about the same age or have friends with the same interests and beliefs as I do.  So it's very interesting to go through the scriptures on page 88 and see over and over what God has to say about justice, judging and favoritism.  And to be clear, having friends who share the same interest or are like me isn't necessarily the same as judging others for not being like me.  However, I think if we aren't careful, those lines could easily be blurred.

When we read James 2:4, if we discriminate what do we become?

Judges with evil thoughts.  This is where that caution has to come into play.  I love the people who I call dear friends right now.  I now that God placed them into my life for me and me into their lives for them.  BUT, daily I need to make sure that I am open to others that He might bring into my life for a season or forever especially and even if it seems we have nothing in common or if they have habits or hygiene or children who rub me the wrong way.  My goal as an authentic believer is to be open to impacting their lives but also for them to be able to impact my life.

Jill:  Guided by evil motives (NLT).  This is interesting to me.  I guess I never thought of myself as having evil motives before by judges people.  But I guess it is true, I am constantly comparing myself to others, which also included judging them.  Why are you wearing this or that, it is totally inappropriate to wear this or that to work, to church, walking down colfax, etc etc etc.  When someone comes up to me begging for money, I assume all of them are faking it and just wanting free money, I judge them.  I realize now that it is evil, I dont know what is going on in their lives, I think I put them down to lift myself up.  Sad really, that I need to do that.

God promises the poor that they will be blessed more than anyone. 1 Corinthians 1:26-29 explains that this is the promise God gave so that those who have more cannot boast it over anyone.  Throughout scripture God tells us over and over that the meek will inherit the earth, the poor will be made rich, etc.  It's incredibly important that we be open and available to serve those humbly who have less than us in whatever capacity God calls us to do so.  I don't want to be a part of a "Spiritually Elite" group who has forgotten all that scripture says about reaching the poor and lost.

What feelings surface when you somehow feel dishonored?  How might those feelings translate to those dishonored over their poverty? 
I feel angry, embarrassed and a need to run and hide.  Walls immediately go up and I turn my back on whomever has made me feel that way.  It's incredibly hard to get over.  Thinking about this made me go back over the folders in my mind and interactions that I have had with those I know who live in poverty or with a lower standard than I have been blessed with.  While there are many people I can pat myself on the back for because I cared for them or welcomed them into my home, there are just as many that I said the stiff hello to in the halls of church and walked away from as quickly as I could.  It isn't something I'm proud of at all, but the reason I'm doing this study is to take that hard look in the mirror and make those changes (Anyone else now have the Man in the Mirror lyrics in their head?)


Jill: I get angry immediately.  I too am not proud of my past interactions with people.  I get annoyed easily with others.  I feel really bad about that.   When I think about how my angry feels might translate to those dishonored over their poverty, it reminds me of being young.  I grew up poor,  luckily in my neighborhood we were all in the same boat, same as others in my family.  Then when I went to high school (Catholic high schools let you choose any catholic school you want to go to no matter where in the city it is from your house).  So in high school I was for the 1st time around kids with money.  They looked down at the kids from my grade school, as they knew were from the poor part of town.  So I can relate to those feeling, but I pushed them back in the corners of my mind.  

Your turn.  How did today's lesson impact you?

Jill:  I love how God chooses the less fortunate of people so no one can boast.  LOVE that

Session Three: Day Three- Pure Religion

Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

James 1:27

Religion.  It seems like such a yucky word to me, especially since of late this has been a very real area of struggle for me.  I don't want to be religious.  I don't want to be around religious people.  I don't want to follow the laws and rules that religious people throw down and require people of faith to follow.  Those feelings of 'I don't' made today's lesson very real to me and I absolutely loved it.

Before we go further, answer the question Beth posed:  How would YOU define religious?

I said that religious applies to people who call themselves Christians but pick and choose which bible texts to use in trying to force people to behave in a way that is comfortable to them.  Religion requires people to follow certain man enforced rules rather than be spiritually convicted by God.


Jill:  Religion: practicing a faith.  And by that I meant following the "rules" associated with practicing that faith.

It really hit me that I am in fact, religious, when Beth asked us to list out all of the religious manifestations that would show up in my life over the course of the month.  My list is below and I hope you'll add yours, too.  I wrote mine down and then thought about why I do these things.  I'm not trying to be religious, but I do want to model Godly behavior for my children and those I come in contact with.  But I also want to be authentic and real and I want people to understand that I'm imperfect but working through Grace.  How does one reconcile that?  Scripture tell us, and it's what we studied yesterday, that once we are saved, our lives begin to change and manifestations of that Faith begin to show up through our works.  I think it is a tricky balance to not become complacent in doing works - and prideful of those works - but to still do the things scripture asks us to do.  Rambling thoughts, but any insight would be appreciated.

Read the bible, pray at meals and bedtime, devotions, bible studies, acts of service, talk about God, explore ways to be more faithful, tithe, church, worship music, etc.


Jill: Prayer, church, bible study, Giving monthly to Musana.org Writing letters to my sponsored child Jacinta, giving money to the homeless people that approach me by my work. 

Because as women I think the tongue is an especially powerful weapon, the next part really hit home.  "If anyone thinks he is religious yet does not keep a tight reign on his tongue then his religion is worthless." James 1:26.

Hello.  

Worthless.  None of the things I do, NONE OF THEM, are worth anything if I cannot control my mouth.  Gossip.  Sarcasm. Swearing.  Those are just a few of mine and if I am honest they show up  more often then I would like.  So praying with my kids, going to church, doing this study - it all means nothing if I cannot control my mouth.  Anyone else feels knocked over by this verse and the things Beth had to say about it? 

Jill:  I was really struggling with what James meant by "control the tongue"  I assumed he meant gossiping, swearing, being two-faced, talking bad behind someone's back.  But it wasnt clarified so I am glad I assumed correctly.  So since that was the case my bad mouth is swearing, and talking bad of others (again I think I do that to feel better about myself as I have low self esteem). 

After James tells us what true religion is not, he gives us a quick image of what it is.  Describe his idea of "pure and undefiled" religion from verse 27.

We are to look after the orphans and the widows and to keep from being polluted by the world.


Jill: To look after the people who have nothing, "the 2 classes of people in his culture with the least rights, the least hope, and the greatest vulnerability".   I love the way Beth describes the widows and orphans it really paints a picture to me as to why James and others in the Bible kept saying widows and orphans.  

What images come to your mind after reading this?

Homeless on the streets, abused and neglected children and starving people.  I'm struck by how often caring for the poor is talked about in scripture and yet so very many religious people are not involved at all.  And I'm looking at myself in the mirror.  We tithe and it goes to missions and a few times a year we get involved in a service or outreach program, but daily caring for those less fortunate has not been a priority.  One of our family goals this year is to do more and this really challenges me to make sure that is a priority.

  

Jill:  The imagine that comes to my mind is Musana.  The orphanage in Uganda that I give to.  If you have ever read the reason why those 3 girls started that Children's home it is exactly what James is talking about.  The people with the least hope and most vulnerable.  The most horrible living circumstances ever.  These 3 girls took the widows and orphans and created a wonderful loving Christ filled home.  And I just had to be apart of it.  Even in some small way. 

One of my favorite things that Beth said today is this:  You don't live this kind of life accidentally.  You make up your mind who you want to be and daily die to the rest.  This has already been written out and taped to my fridge because I want to be intentional about doing what God stirs up as passion in my heart.  I want to jump in and be a light to this broken world.  I want to do exactly as the Scripture tells us to do and my heart hurts for the children of abusive and broken homes and for those overcome by drugs and addiction. Where is God stirring up your passions?

Jill:  Clearly Musana is my passion.  I love how Beth says on page 86 "So how on earth do we serve in ti without smelling like it?  With serious discipline and determination and then we run to the One who can wash us"  I paraphrased, but I love that.