Session Three: Day One- Quick To Listen

My dearly loved brothers, understand this: Everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger.

James 1:19

Hmmm.  Given that I have already shared extensively that anger is an issue I have struggled with, I can tell you right now that today's lesson hit its mark upon my heart.  Beth had us list out the three things that the above verse talks about and they are 1) Quick to hear 2) Slow to speak 3) Slow to anger.  You can probably already guess that I starred number three as being the most challenging to my natural personality.  What about each of you? 

Jill.  I actually starred all three.  I gave slow to anger 3 stars, slow to speak 2 stars and 1 star with quick to listen.  I have a problem with going from content to enraged in miliseconds.

Personal Question

When I think about my own relationship with God and where anger fits upon the scale of nonissue or substantial, I am at about a 5 and while that seems high to me, especially since it is something I am so aware of and constantly working on, it has come down from being a ten in previous years.  Things like my kids not obeying or Kyle not listening to me or people cutting in line at the airport or extended family attempting to force my family to do things we don't want to....these are all items that make me angry.  

Jill:  I too am a 5.  I have recently realized that my quick temper is a direct result of my lack of personal worth.  If I ever feel like someone is making me feel "stupid, not listening to me, cutting me off in traffic, etc etc etc"  I get not just angry but enraged.  I have been able to back the enraged down to just angry.  And I also realized no one is making me feel stupid or unworthy, I put that on others.  I am sure no one thinks I am stupid or unworthy, but some how I twist into that.

 There are places in the scripture where it talks about righteous anger and where we are reminded that it is okay to be angry.  It just isn't okay to lash out in anger or make our issues a reason to verbalize anger at others.  

One of the things that makes me feel justifiably angry every time is in the leadership of our home.  I desperately want my kids to be trained in biblical things and to serve God all of their lives.  Sometimes I feel like Kyle works so hard outside of our home and has such a laid back personality, that he isn't taking this training seriously.  I get mad because I want him to be the one doing devotions, having the hard conversations, disciplining them, modeling Godly behavior.  In reality, I'm the at home parent so naturally most of that falls to me.  I think I would like to see more intentionality with Kyle, but wanting that doesn't justify me being mad about it. I need to remember that Kyle is naturally more relaxed about everything and it isn't a failure on his part if he isn't doing it the way that I would do it.

In fact, in Ephesians 4:30 - 31, it specifically says that my anger will actually prevent God from being able to act in my family.  Yikes.

My kids see the irritation and anger regarding whatever thing I'm upset about and it negates every good thing I've ever tried to instill in them.  Or at least that is the conviction that this passage is throwing at me.  I need to replace any anger I have with scriptures embedded in my heart.  The more I reflect on the Word of God, the less room for anger there will be.

Scripture is intended for us; to fill the void created to contain God.  It makes me really stop and explore what areas I am trying fill with other things, whether it is anger, things, food, control, etc., I need to be intentional about replacing them with God.  I'm embracing the challenge.  What about you?

Jill:  On page 77 when Beth says that the word in James is actually "Sozo".  I love this word.  Our pastor describes Sozo as if you are walking along minding your own business you look down and see you are stepping off of a cliff and someone comes along and grab's you before your eminite death and rescuse's you.  So I see that definiation in my mind that God is "Sozoing" me (not sure that is an actual word, but you get my meaning).  It is quite beautiful dont you think?

Session Two: Day Five- Father Of Lights

If ever you have read the book about the five languages of love you know that some people feel love by both giving and receiving gifts.  They are called Gift Givers in the book and I am not one of them.  I have a really hard time buying gifts for people because I'm just not good at it.  I want to give people gifts that they love and I want to see something randomly and get it but I always feel like what I'm giving people just wasn't quite good enough.

Which is why when I read in James that "every good and perfect gift is from above," I how important that gift from God is and how desperately He wants me to have it.  In reading James 1:13-15 and 17-18 we see that he warns us not to be deceived and then repeats the concept of birth.  My one sentence synopsis of these six verses was this:
God chooses to give us life because He wants only the best for us but we choose fleshly desires that take our lives away.
Jill:  I like your sentence Emily.  Mine was:  God NEVER tempts us, rather what ever is perfect is from God.


Then I sat and thought about how I don't always recognize the gifts that I've been given.  In fact, quite often I've been guilty of being annoyed or irritated by something that was meant for a gift (children or spouses anyone? No?  Just me?  (Jill Ditto BIG TIME) Carry on....) and yet God isn't like me, who sometimes gives the bummer gift because I'm not good at gift giving.  God is PERFECT and every single thing he gives me is PERFECT.

After thinking these thoughts I was excited to do the exercise where we divided our lives into four segments and actually wrote down the things that we have been given.  I loved seeing all of the blessings in my life take shape in one long and growing column.  It was interesting because my life hasn't always been perfect, but none of the things that were painful even crossed my mind and actually some of my gifts came out of the hurt.  And THEN I was excited because I loved how it all looped back to a few days ago when we were talking about blessings coming from the trials!

God has given me so many gifts and as I sit and think about my most current precious packages, they are as follows:

A relationship with my mom

My husband who leads our family well

Two sweet babies 

Our perfect for us home

The open space behind my house

The new car that gets Kyle to work safely

Being able to plan a vacation for my family

Dear sweet friends who love me no matter what (or at least I always think they do!)

Our kitty whose crazy behavior is exactly what I want in a cat

Honestly, I just look at my life and am overcome by how many gifts God has bestowed upon me because this is just a tiny little list. 

Jill:  Emily I love how you mentioned that you used a past hurt to show a current gift.  I sort of had the same thing happen.  I put that during my times of struggles I was taking steps to the path to find Him and love and happiness.  the other things I put where:
A GIANT (lots of aunts and uncles and cousins) family who loves and loves to show love
My Catholic Education
my braces, my glasses (which I didnt think were a gift at the time but am so happy to have straight teeth and able to see)
Met the love of my life,
Traveled and explored with him
my bible studies with you girls.

At the end of this lesson Beth admonishes us to wait on the Lord.  My goal for the foreseeable future is to try not to pick at the gifts I want God to give me, but to be patient and let Him bless me when, how and if He wants to.  I think of it like my kids bugging me to open a birthday or Christmas gift early.  It makes me want to take the gift back to the store and give them nothing!  Gifts are best when they are opened on time.

Jill:  Emily I love how you use the example of wanting to open Christmas Presents early.  I will have to remember that one.  As I have been praying for God to gift Jon and I a special present.

Session Two: Day Four- Baited By Our Desires

Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, hew will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.  

James 1:12

Baited by our desires.  Even the title today makes me stop and think.  When have I been baited by my desire?  And not just baited but reeled in and caught, sinking, flailing and lashing out at God.  Immediately from the top of my head I can think of three areas that once consumed me and because of exactly what we studied today, no longer do.  I'm sure that the Devil is currently stirring up other areas in my life to use as bait, but I feel like sharing where God has proven true and given me that crown of life.

Let me begin with the question Beth asks us:  What does Proverbs 19:3 say about temptation?

A man's own foolishness ruins his life and then he is angry at God.

During my Sophomore year of college I made a decision to stop eating.  I felt like I had very little control in my life and controlling my weight was one area that I could control.  During the first year after Ava was born I struggled with my brother's near death and severe post partum depression.  I made a decision to use retail therapy to numb emotions and control the days.  I racked up almost $12,000.00 in debt in a nine month period.  During the first 8 years of our marriage I struggled with anger to a scary degree because I needed people to do what I wanted so that I could feel in control.

Anyone seeing the pattern for control that haunts me in this?  This need for control is the exact spot where when things go bad for me they go very bad.  It was impossible in any of these situations for me to be authentically happy.  I was, in fact, miserable and as far away from God as I possibly could be.  I felt abandoned and angry that He wasn't taking care of me.  I struggled with guilt and shame over choosing destructive behaviors over and over and felt like I couldn't go back or manage it on my own. 

Jill:  Question Emily; Why the "need" to feel in control?  Personally I think if you can get a grasp on "Why" you need to feel in control, you can pray and reflect on what that is and God can help you.  
Emily:  Honestly Jill, I don't know why I need to have control.  I have exhausted all thoughts on why this is my issue...I wasn't like this as a child.  I was actually very carefree and free spirited as a kid, even through my freshman year of college.  My first memory of needing control was the day I stopped eating.  It was thought out, calculated and executed.  One day I wasn't running every day and I was eating real food, the next day I started running miles and stopped eating. I don't know if it was because school and the relationship I was in at the time overwhelmed me or what triggered it and  I'm sure that there is a core issue there but I can't get to it.  I have prayed and asked God to help me understand this issue, but I think I've come the conclusion that maybe it is just a part of my type A personality gone haywire.  Regardless, I haven't been able to get to it and because I can't get to it, I just try to dump it on God and when I start to feel like I'm losing control or have no control in a situation, I throw it at Him again.  I can feel it in the pit of my stomach all of the time, sitting there, waiting for it's opportunity to overwhelm me and the only two choices I have are to give into it (which is very destructive) or give it to God. I'm sure there is a refining going on and maybe God isn't letting me in on the core issue because He knows that I would try to "fix" it myself without relying on Him.  I don't know. But I wouldn't say no to anyone who wanted to pray about it with me :)

And then in each situation there was a point that I was forced to recognize my own "deformed desire."

About two weeks before we got married, I sat in a church pew and told God flat out, "If you help me stop obsessing about my weight, I will give this to you.  You have to take control of it because it is consuming me but God, please, please don't let me gain a ton of weight back." Anyone notice that I was trying to control even how God could answer my prayer?

Kyle graciously forgave me for hiding the debt he discovered when we moved into our current home and has put a budget into place that involves "cash only" for me I don't want to disappoint him again.  I still struggle with wanting to indulge in retail therapy when things are hard, but God is faithful and I have a husband who helps me.  While these things were being addressed and handed over to God, I was still holding onto an extreme amount of control and using anger to make my husband and kids do what I wanted.  

Until one day my four year old son told me he would no longer love God because he couldn't be perfect and so there was no point in trying.  Talk about a point of recognizing "deformed desire."  My desire had been for my kids to live perfect lives so they could go to Heaven and here the exact opposite was taking place.  I spent days on my knees begging God to help me control my temper so that my children could get a true picture of what He looked like.  It has been a process, but I can honestly say that in the past 5+ years I have not been the crazy angry person who used to steal the joy from my family.

Jill:  My struggles all revolve around my lack of self worth.  My father never wanted a 2nd child and he especially didnt want a girl.  He told my mom if I was a girl then he was leaving me at the hospital, as girls are worthless and cant do anything.  My mom wanted a girl more than anything, but for some reason I never remember that, I have always focused on the negative.  Because I let myself believe I wasnt worthy of love I grew up never wanting to get married, because no guy could love me (and only me) enough.  He WILL treat me bad, cheat on me, and leave me.  I never wanted that for myself.  Then it evolved into other areas of my life as well, I dont deserver this, or that,  God wont answer my prayers I'm not worthy of that.  This study has really opened my eyes, and I have decided to give that all to God.  I forgive my father for not wanting me, I am worthy and God WILL answer my prayers.  I have felt a huge weight has lifted off of me and I feel free.  I am sure my struggles are far from over but I now feel like I have the tools to deal with them.  

The desires that we have (mine for control) live so deep within us that it takes just a tiny seed to begin growing into a sinful behavior and then leading us to our demise.  It never starts off as something we think will overwhelm us or bury us but it always, always does.  If you are comfortable in sharing, what is your core deformed desire?  Knowing that mine is control helps me to check it every single time I want to control something.

Jill:  I kept reading page 60 over and over again.  The part where Beth reminds up that we have a choice we can give into our temptations, which leads to sin which eventually leads to death OR we can decided to be faithful and endure, endurance will bring about its perfect effect.  SOMETHING WE HAVE BEEN MISSING ALL OF OUR LIVES will be completed in us and we will mature.   That really really hit me like a baseball bat.  I have had a choice this entire time, to give in to temptations OR to be faithful.     And by being faithful God will give me the crown of life that He has promised.  I love that.

Beth asked us to list a few "deaths" that can result from full grown sin conceived out of deformed desires.  List them here:

How awesome that we serve a God whose desire for us is a relationship with Him.  Perseverance brings maturity (James 1:3-4) no matter what areas we need to address.  I hope you find the hope and the joy in today's lesson because even though it can be painful to look that deep inside of ourselves, it is awesome that we serve a God who wipes the past clean and offers us hope and redemption.  He offers us a crown of life.

Session Two: Day Three- A Wildflower In The Meadow

"The brother of humble circumstances should boast in his exaltation."

James 1:9

Perhaps it is because I feel like this is an area God has really pressed upon my heart lately, but talking today about remembering the poor brings great joy to me heart!  One of the reasons that we recently chose to attend a different church was because we want our family to be immersed in a culture that purposefully seeks out ways to take care of the poorest amongst us, both locally and over seas.

Beth begins today's lesson by talking about how much we in the West have and I'm sure we have all heard it said many times that even the poorest American is wealthier than 90% of the world.  So what does that mean for us?  It means we have a great opportunity to humble ourselves to serve others who have nothing.  And truly, that excites me!

Jill:  I couldnt help but think of my beautiful sponsored girl Jacinta while reading this.  I received a picture of her and she is beautiful I have her hanging on my desk so I can see her bright beautiful smile every day.  I need to find a way to show you her picture.  If you havent already you really should read the story about Musana and how these 3 girls from Bolder started this home for the most desolate people is the most awful conditions.  The area is mostly muslim and they started a Christian home for people.  It is the most amazing story I have ever read.

Lisa: I liked this quote on page 54: "If scarcity of goods inherently improves one's spirituality, no biblical text would ever command help for the poor!  God would never tell us to relieve people of their blessed state."  I think it's confusing to us sometimes when we read so much about the poor in Scriptures, but someone needs to help them.  God wants our obedience and our gifts.  "He who is kind to the poor LENDS to the Lord..." Proverbs 19:7
 

As she has us go through the scriptures to see what God thinks of the poor and how believers should care for them, I just kept thinking to myself how blessed financially my family has been and that it is a privilege to be able do our part to care for those who cannot care for themselves.  Our culture says to buy the bigger house, the new car, the best clothes or the latest gadget.  And those things are fine to have (says the girl who wants a farm and just bought a new car!) but if ever we are only thinking on the next purchase and not how our financial blessings can impact others, then the disconnect from God shows up.

I loved when Beth said, "We who are not presently assigned to serve those of humbler means in our workplaces must constantly tune our ears to the voices of those who are."  This is important to remember because it is so easily to become isolated in our nests of prosperity and forget there is a hurting world out there.  Jill, I loved all of the ways you discovered to connect with those who are in need during the holiday season.  Seeing your willingness to give where you could helped our family to clarify even more that we needed to be giving back more than we are.

In reading Hebrews 10:32-34, were you able to pinpoint the part that suggests why the outbreak of poverty among early converts to Christ?

Interesting that I have this underlined in my bible already for some unknown reason, but had not noticed that the early Christians had their property confiscated.  I took a few moments to stop and think about what having my home and cars and property stripped away would look like for me.  My hope is that I would rely ever more on God and trust (especially given the lesson yesterday) that he would still provide for all of my needs.


Jill:  I never knew that the early believers (which appeared to be mostly Jews) had all their possessions taken away from them, were publicly humiliated, beaten and jailed. Wow.   No wonder Paul and the others were so concerned about raising money for the poor and when James says in Acts when he was telling the others the only laws to follow and he finished up with "Remember the poor".  It all makes sense now. 

Lisa: Pretty powerful!  "...when you stood your ground in a great contest in the face of suffering.  Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated.  You sympathized with those in prison, and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions."

Isolating some of these words really helped me see how strong and amazing these early believers were, and how weak and probably pathetic I am...

• stood your ground
• great contest
• suffering
• publicly exposed
• insult
• persecution
• stood side by side
• sympathized
• those is prison
• joyfully accepted
• confiscation of property
• better and lasting possessions

I can only hope that if/when these events happen to me that I will remember these verses and respond with joy, knowing that this is only stuff and that there is so much more for me in Christ. 

Why do you think God placed such emphasis on the poor throughout His Word?

I think it is because often when a person has nothing, placing hope in God is the only option.  You can't buy security because there is no money.  Perhaps one reason God tells us over and over to help the poor is because He knows that serving others prevents us from being so self focused.  A person cannot truly serve someone else and maintain a selfish attitude.

Jill:  I agree with you Emily and have another thought as well.  I was thinking that any non believers witnessing these people loose everything they have, publicly humiliated, beaten, jailed, etc but they don't turn away from Jesus and his followers, and they are still being taken care of, it really sends a message.  If I was a witness to all this, I'd be really curious as to what this whole Jesus thing was all about.  Why would someone risk everything.  It must really be special.  


I love your perspective on this...It never even occurred to me that serving Jesus even through the worst kind of trials would have been an incredible draw for non believers.  Great point!

Lisa: It just goes to show that no matter what we are doing, people are watching our every move.  They are waiting to see how we respond and react, both to the good, but especially to the bad.  It's unfortunate that we are constantly on "display", but people are curious.  

My answer was very similar to Emily's, but I too love Jill's perspective. 
 

Share your thoughts!  The two of you always brings such great insight and I usually read your comments and go back and make notes again in my margins! 

Jill:  I really loved my NLT version of James 1:12 to paraphrase He who waits patiently enduring testing and temptation is blessed and will receive the crown of Life that God has PROMISED.  
I needed that last night after my stupid eating struggles.  Constant temptation surrounds me at work.  I am sure that isnt what the thought was, but it sure made me feel better after reading it. 

Lisa: Jill, I will continue to lift you up in prayer, and will be texting you a few times a week!  Not with condemnation, but with encouragement.

Session Two: Day Two- Just Ask

Are you writing out the book of James as we begin to go through it?

Lisa: YES!  I need to write things down to even have a chance of remembering it.  I'm pretty excited to see what knowledge (or wisdom...) I gain from truly knowing these Scriptures!


Jill:  Yes, I too learn better by constant repetition.  Every time Beth has us read a verse I read it in 3 different versions, not only for the repetition but to see if one version has a different impact on me versus the other.  

In college when I was studying for tests, I found that the best way for me to retain information was by rewriting my notes.  It meant that it took extra time to study, but it also meant I did better on tests.  I can already see where writing out the verses in James is going to help me focus my mind and retain the words.  I hope you are writing out the verses, too!

Today's portion of James starts off focusing on asking for wisdom, but really ends up talking to us about living a life that is duplicitous.  We either believe the scriptures and take God at His word to ask for what we need in our lives, or we doubt Him, whether or not we even ask.  God wants us to come to Him with all of the issues in our lives, even though He already knows what we need.  He simply wants to have a relationship with us, to have that conversation, to be intimate with us.

Lisa: When I was going through the ask, seek, and knock stuff, I was reminded of a Sunday School lesson we had years ago.  We were basically talking about this same thing, and the Lesson used Luke 11:5-10.  It is about a friend who is in need of some bread to feed an out of town friend.  He comes knocking on another man's door at night.  But because he had already locked up for the night, he was under no obligation to get up out of bed and give his friend any bread, which was a custom of the time.  He does, however, get up and does give the man some bread, but Jesus is careful to note that it is not because they are friends, but because of his boldness in asking and knocking!  It is a parallel story to the one we read in our lesson today, Matthew 7:7-8, but I just kept thinking about this lesson.  We also talked about if God already knows what we need, even when we don't know, why do we have to ask?  I did like how Beth phrased it: "The King of the universe wants a real, live relationship with us."


Jill:  I dont think it has ever really hit home with me until just now the Duplicity stuff.  I always "Wanted" to have enough faith, but deep down my old insecurities took hold (Stupid Satan always knows just how to whisper in my ear) that I am not worthy enough to get what I ask for.  So even though I KNOW God will give to those who ask, I kind of that that was for everyone else, not really for me, again I'm not worthy enough.  So learning about the duplicity of the heart and either follow or dont, was a real slap in the face for me.  Thank you James for slapping me in the face!!!!

Are there areas in your life where you are needing wisdom?  Beth brings us down the path of acknowledging that knowledge and wisdom are two different things.  We might know something but lack the wisdom to carry it out.
I always feel like I read so much about how to parent and books on advice, raising Godly children, etc., but I don't always know how to put those ideas into practice.  I spend a lot of time asking God to give me wisdom in parenting, in my marriage, my role at home and my other relationships.  

Lisa: My Bible said this about wisdom: "Wisdom enables us to face trials with "pure joy" (just looping!).  It is not just acquired information (knowledge), but practical insight with spiritual implications.

I feel like I too am constantly asking for wisdom in various areas of my life, and they're pretty much the same as Emily's.  The four I wrote down were: church, raising godly girls without losing my mind and being able to balance my "job" as homemaker and MOM, being a godly wife who understands and responds to my husband appropriately, and friendships and family. 


Jill:  I clearly need wisdom is ALL areas of my life.  I have lots of pieces of knowledge on lots of little things, but wisdom, surely lacking in wisdom.  The 4 I choose were 1) my family to be a good/godly wife for Jon and be a good daughter, sister, niece, cousin, etc  2) My work life, to try and not be jealous to try and be someone people can come to for various situations 3) My money, to try and use my money for good/godly ways and not be tempted to use it for worldly possesions. 4) My body to not succumb to unhealthy unholy things, (stupid donuts)



If we ask God for wisdom, what does He say He will do?
He says He will give it to us.  I don't know if it's because I grew up in a house where my mom truly believed that if you asked you shall receive, but I honestly do not struggle in this area.  I believe wholeheartedly that if you sincerely go to God and ask, He WILL provide.  What that provision looks is an entirely different story and it might not be quite what I had in mind, but I do know that God absolutely answers our prayers.

Lisa: I like how the verse says that God will respond "generously" and without "finding fault" or "criticizing" the one who asks.  Probably because of my dad's tendency to be a little condescending or abusive, this understanding of my heavenly Father is so comforting.  It doesn't matter what I come WHOLEHEARTEDLY to Him with.  He will not judge me or tell me that I'm stupid for asking.


Jill:  growing up I was always made to feel guilty for asking for ANYTHING.  I was a burden to the person who I asked.  Either a financial burden or just a nuisance.  So I tried to be as self reliant as possible, even to the point of ruin, finical ruin, or if I was just trying to fix something myself and couldnt I could ruin that object.  I almost got in a severe car crash once due to bad brakes, because I didnt want to ask my brother (a mechanic) to fix them as I didnt want to burden him.  So trying to learn to come to God and he will LAVISH (I loved that version the best).  HE will give LAVISHLY, and not make me feel guilty for asking.  What a concept for me.   

I had a bit of a hard time with this portion of today's lesson, only because it seems so "routine" for me, if that makes sense.  I think the sentence where Beth reminds even "seasoned believers" to pay attention was specifically for me today.  When I really started to glean something new, was when she began talking about how doubting God could be equated with a deceptive heart and all the consequences that can come with that.

Lisa: I had never really taken the time to absorb this idea either.  Our divided heart can lead to a lot more than just not following God with our whole heart.  It was pretty eye opening to think of our own physical hearts dividing and trying to beat alone, out of sync with one another.  I actually have a friend who has two systems in her body, one regular heart that pumps blood through her veins, and then another vascular system that has its own "heart" that beats by itself, pumping blood through the rogue veins.  It causes lots of problems and has resulted in many surgeries.  Obviously, her body doesn't function the way that our bodies are designed to work.  Just like when we are divided and deceptive, we do not function the way God created us to be - serving Him with our whole heart.


Jill:  Today was a big one for me, like I said I always "knew it" but was never able to put it into practice. And learning about the divide heart really hammered home the message to me.  I never thought about it that way before.  I now KNOW God WANTS me to come to Him.  He wont make me feel guilty for asking AND He will give LAVISHLY.  I almost feel as if someone stole all the breath out of my body.  I wish I could express into words what this day means to me.


As a side note:  I read The Message version and for yesterday's reading I loved the way it is worded.  This version really hit me it says James 1:3  You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors.    WOW....  it forces you to show your true colors.   Just wow.

God is and should be my constant source of stability.  Today was just a great reminder that He is my rock, He does love me so much that he wants to answer the cry of my heart and that I do choose Him, every day.

How long will you waver between to opinions? If the Lord is God then follow Him

1 Kings 18:21

Session Two: Day One- Joy Whenever

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you experience various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.

James 1:2-3

Trials are not my favorite thing.  In fact I'm sure that there are very few people who say that they just looove going through a trial.  Over the course of my life, I've had the above verse quoted to me more times than I can count, from my mother mainly.  We even had a little cross stitch drawing that hung in the living room.  I would stand in front of it and try my hardest to figure out why in the world God would tell me consider it a happy thing to be going through a hard time.

Given that was the extent of my understanding of these verses up until now, I found it incredibly comforting to read the Greek translations for the word joy.  Swapping out the word "feel" for the word "consider" also helped give me a little more perspective.  When things get difficult, to actually sit and think about what God is trying to teach me or bring to my attention is an entirely different matter than simply trying to grin and bear it.

Jill:  Emily your "grin and bear it" comment was exactly what I was thinking up until now also.  I couldn't possibly understand how I was suppose to feel "pure joy" in my troubles.  Especially when a nun tells it to you.  If you haven't guessed by now, I ended up not completely trusting the nuns and have a negative attitude towards them.  So coming from that background I just couldn't get past that feeling of animosity and understand how am I to feel joy.  Well after reading what Beth had to say about how we cant be complete until our patience grows and that cant happen until we go through our troubles.  So I guess if we "consider" being joyful knowing that once we make it out of our troubles we will be a step closer to being complete, gave me an entirely new way to look at it.  I kind of thought of it like 1st learning to ride a bike.  When you do something wrong you are going to fall, and falling hurts, but you learned that if you go to fast around a corner you will fall.  So there is some satisfaction in knowing that after our trials in helps us to be more complete.  So I felt like I was rambling there.  

I also really identified with the idea of "falling into" troubled times.  There are so many situations in life where we aren't looking for trials but they seem to find us anyway.  In fact I would say the most painful, hurtful, devastating times in my life happened when things actually seemed to be going along just fine.  

The question of the day is, What does the testing of your faith give you?

Scripture tells us right in these first four verses of James, that it brings maturity and completeness.  I have to say though, that even looking back and being able to see where God has brought me through situations and grown my faith and my maturity both, I did not enjoy those situation.I know that He always has a plan, but I don't always like walking the path


Jill:  I agree with you 100% Emily.  Looking back I'm glad I am more mature and more complete, but I hope I never have to go through all that again. 

Lisa: I was wondering today, as I pondered the question and the answer, how many times I have not responded with joy - not even "considered" the idea of joy, and was "content" to go through my trial with Bitterness, Anger, Resentment, Contentment, etc?  If that is how I chose to respond to my trial, did I grow?  Am I now more mature, more complete?  I would venture to say no.  Then, is it possible that because of the way I CHOSE to react, and did not Persevere through my trial, and did not learn anything, do you think I have to do it over, in another circumstance, that will allow me to make another choice, so that God can help me mature?  I mean, He has a plan for me, right?  He wants me to become more mature and more complete, so wouldn't I have to "suffer" until I mature?


Jill:  Lisa you have me worried.  I sure hope I learned from my past and the trails and misfortunes I went through.  No I wasnt happy about it at the time, I'm happy now looking back as I feel I gained something from it.  But you have me pondering.....

I think we are always going to have trials, because here on earth we won't ever be as mature and perfect as we will be once we are in Heaven.  Probably if we don't learn those lessons, another situation will come up and give us a chance to work on it some more.  Honestly, when I was daily dealing with my temper towards my children, it felt like every day was a trial.  Now that I have a better understanding of how God wants me to react in situations and am spending more time in His word and asking Him for some calm before I address issues (instead of lashing out) it almost seems like the kids don't push my buttons as much.  Does that even make sense?  But I think if it were still a huge struggle for me, situations for me to practice self control would still come up. 

Beth asks us to think about a situation where you feel like you are walking through a trial and list three ways that you could handle that situation.  The list in my margins looked like this:

Attending a new church 

*Resentment

-This could lead to me not serving the Lord

because of allowing hurts from our old church

to fester and become stronghold.

*Gossip

-Talking negatively about anyone or anything

in regards to the old church could lead to me

blaming others that we had to leave, keeping

me from plugging in to the new church and 

growing more in my faith

*Embrace

-Being open to what God has planned for

me and my family at our new place of worship

allows for the possibility of growth, 

servant hood and change for all of us.


Jill: My work issues with my co worker:
Anger
Becoming Rude or resentful.  This actually could make the situation worse, it could cast
a negative light on me.  In 5 years it could spiral out of control and I could just become a bitter
angry person who has alienated myself from everyone.
Jealous
I could become so jealous that I just quit my job, and in 5 years that could be terrible, who knows
what the economy could look like in 5 years and I could be in some serious financial problems.
Embrace
I could embrace what James said to consider and try to think of it as a growing process.  In 5 years

difficult situations and will be more complete.


I like the last one best.  I like how she had us do that exercise.  It really put things into perspective for me.

Lisa: Staying or Leaving the current church we attend

Leave Now
-Without God's blessing to leave, we would not be acting in His will.  We would therefore be somewhat lost and wandering around - I'm imagining a situation like the Israelites wandering for 40 years in the desert because they tried to take control.

Wait it Out and be Miserable and Complain while we Wait
-I think I'm currently guilty of this one.  Neither Anthony nor I feel like it's time to leave, although we both feel like it is right to leave.  By behaving this way, it will create a constant wear and tear on our bodies, minds, marriage, and family.  Plus, who likes a complainer (Sorry Emily for dragging you down with the Highpoint drama...)

Wait Patiently
-Obviously this is the "right" answer.  I'm excited to share this with Anthony, and I'm sure he'll be relieved to hear me say this.  I don't know that I can act joyful about remaining in our current situation, but knowing that this is where God desires us to be right now does bring a sense of peace.  By waiting on His perfect timing, we will remain in God's Will, and our faith will grow.  And, as we've learned, we will become mature, complete, and will lack nothing.
 

Of these things obviously embracing the situation God has called us to is the best choice and because we have been through enough trials to know that God always has a plan, we are choosing to attend our new place of worship with a sense of anticipation and excitement.  

Best piece of new information for Day One for me?  That James is another name for Jacob!  


Jill:  Man I kind of freaked out when I read that about the James/Jacob thing.  Reuniting the 12 tribes.  WOW.  I love how James uses word play to really hammer home his message.  And we are only up to the 4th verse!!!!!    I also think I figured out why that last day we did was so important, she was really hammering home how "Jewish" James was.  I like how she showed us that James assumed that all the Jews would become Christians, and that this letter was written to that group of people.  I can see where she was going with that.  Granted I don't have a total grasp on it, but I think I'm getting closer.  LOVE LOVE LOVE this study.  

Lisa: I thought this was pretty incredible too!  I find it fascinating that Jacob is the more "Jewish" name, and yet we refer to our author as James, even though he's the most "Jewish" of them all!  I loved how Melissa pointed out that James is named not only after the famous patriarch, but also after Joseph's father - which may have been somewhat customary of the time - to name the oldest son after a member of the family.  I know that Jesus was Mary's firstborn, but James was Joseph's first son.  Jesus came to them already named, whereas Joseph got to choose a special name for his son.  I wonder if James had a special place in his father's heart, knowing that the oldest boy in the house was not his flesh and blood?  I also thought it was interesting when Beth pointed out that both the Old Testament Jacob and our New Testament James struggled with their older sibling...

Acts 15:14

After talking with Emily, going through the lesson for Session One, Day Five, and then reading through the previous blog post, I am just going to throw a few things out and attempt to decipher whether or not I'm on board with Beth Moore on this particular area.  I will mostly be referencing the study notes in my Bible, which is the 2008 Updated NIV Study Bible, but I will also be cross-referencing other commentaries and Bible translations as well.  I really hope this does not come across as anything more than me trying to figure out what the Bible is saying, not just what Beth Moore thinks the Bible is saying, and making it fit into her lesson.

Simon has described to us how God at first showed his concern by taking from the Gentiles a people for himself.

Acts 15:14 - NIV

Simon Peter has explained to us how God first showed his concern for those who aren't Jews. He chose some of them to be his very own people. 

Acts 15:14 - NIRV (New International Readers Version)

Simon has declared how God at the first visited the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name.

Acts 15:14 NKJV (New King James Version)

James broke the silence. "Friends, listen. Simeon has told us the story of how God at the very outset made sure that racial outsiders were included. This is in perfect agreement with the words of the prophets:

   After this, I'm coming back;
      I'll rebuild David's ruined house;
   I'll put all the pieces together again;
      I'll make it look like new
   So outsiders who seek will find,
      so they'll have a place to come to,
   All the pagan peoples
      included in what I'm doing.
"God said it and now he's doing it. It's no afterthought; he's always known he would do this. 

Acts 15:13-18 The Message

It's curious, because some translations seem to line right up with what Beth Moore is saying, but listen to what my commentary said:

NOTE: a people for himself: A new community largely made up of Gentiles, but including Jews as well. (see John 10:16 and note; cf (cross-reference 1 Peter 2:9-10) - NIV Study Bible

So I did.

I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen.  I must bring them also.  They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. 

John 10:16

NOTE: other sheep: These already belonged to Christ, though they had not yet been brought to him.

not of this sheep pen: Those outside Judaism.  Here is a glimpse of the future worldwide scope of the church.

one flock: All God's people have the same Shepherd - NIV Study Bible

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.  Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

1 Peter 2:9-10

NOTE: chosen people: As Israel was called God's chosen people in the OT, so in the NT believers are designated as chosen, or elect.

people belonging to God: See Ex. 19:5 and note.  Though once not the people of God, they are now the recipients of God's mercy (cf. Hos. 1:6-10 and note on 1:10; Rom. 9:25-26 and note; 10:19).

In Hosea it is Israel who is not God's people; in Romans it is the Gentiles to whom Paul applies Hosea's words; in 1 Peter the words are applied to both. - NIV Study Bible

Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession.  Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.

Exodus 19:5-6

NOTE: out of all nations...my treasured possession: The equivalent phrases used of Christians in 1 Pet. 2:9 are "chosen people" and "people belonging to God". (see Dt. 7:6)

the whole earth is mine: The God of Israel is the Creator and Possessor of the earth and everything in it - NIV Study Bible

LISA: Of course God is the Creator and the Possessor!  Every single living thing on this earth belongs to God.

For you are a people holy to the Lord your God.  The Lord your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession.

Deuteronomy 7:6

Yet the Isrealites will be like the sand on the seashore, which cannot be measured or counted.  In the place where it was said to them, 'You are not my people; they will be called 'sons of the living God'.

Hosea 1:10

NOTE: Cited in Romans 9:26; 1 Peter 2:10 and applied to the mission to the Gentiles.  The threatened punishment (vv. 4 - 6, 9) would be for only a limited time, an a period of blessing would follow. - NIV Study Bible

As he says in Hosea:

"I will call them 'my people' who are not my people; and I will call her 'my loved one' who is not my loved one,"

and,

"It will happen that in the very place where it was said to them, 'You are not my people; they will be called 'sons of the living God.'"

Romans 9:25-26

NOTE: In the original context these passages from Hosea refer to the spiritual restoration of Israel.  And Paul finds in them the principle that God is a saving, forgiving, restoring God, who delights to take those who are "not my people" and make them "my people."  Paul then applies this principle to Gentiles, whom God makes his people by sovereignly grafting them into covenant relationship with him. - NIV Study Bible

Again I ask: Did Israel not understand?  First, Moses says:

"I will make you envious by those who are not a nation; I will make you angry by a nation that has no understanding."

Romans 10:19

NOTE: Did Israel not understand?: The quotation that follows answers this question suggesting that the Gentiles, whom the Jews considered to be spiritually unenlightened, understood.  Surely if they understood the message, the Jews could have. - NIV Study Bible

Okay, enough dancing around the Scriptures.  The Full Life Study Bible, NIV says this about Acts 15:14:

NOTE: God's program for this age is to take from among all the nations a people, separated to him for his name.  This body of Christ, gathered out of the present world system, prepares herself as the bride of Christ.

The final commentary that I will post, before ending this ridiculously long post, that has probably done absolutely nothing comes from Matthew Henry.

NOTE: He {James} refers to what Peter had said concerning the conversion of the Gentiles (v. 14): "Simeon" (that is, Simon Peter) "hath declared, and opened the matter to you—how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, in Cornelius and his friends, who were the first-fruits of the Gentiles-how, when the gospel began first to spread, presently the Gentiles were invited to come and take the benefit of it;" and James observes here, (1.) That the grace of God was the origin of it; it was God that visited the Gentiles; and it was a kind visit. Had they been left to themselves, they would never have visited him, but the acquaintance began on his part; he not only visited and redeemed his people, but visited and redeemed those that were lo ammi—not a people. (2.) that the glory of God was the end of it: it was to take out of them a people for his name, who should glorify him, and in whom he would be glorified. As of old he took the Jews, so now the Gentiles, to be to him for a name, and for a praise, and for a glory, Jer. 13:11. Let all the people of God remember that therefore they are thus dignified in God, that God may be glorified in them.

LISA: I can totally see where Beth was coming from, saying that the Jews came from the Gentiles, and I guess I might agree with her now.  God created the entire earth and all that inhabits it, and I believe that He knew the beginning and the end.  He knew that man would fall and that Jesus would need to be sacrificed in order to save His people.  He knew that He would allow both Jews and Gentiles to kneel before Him and become His People.  So I guess, in a way, it makes sense what Beth is saying, that God called out of the entire world, the Gentiles, a Chosen People (the Jews), and then out of both Jews and Gentiles, calls out the REDEEMED!

Sorry about the long diatribe!  I knew I would get to the point sooner or later....