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.