Can you believe it.
I am back studying James again.
I studied it for over a year.
We did a study on it from the Bible.
Then, Beth Moore did a study on James
We did that one.
Then one by Kay Arthur.
I spend months memorizing most of it.
I see verses from it all over the place
Now, our Sunday School lessons
are based on the Book of James.
This time the theme will be:
Pressure points.
Does any one out there
besides me
feel pressured by:
time
temptation
partiality
words
conflicts
retaliation.
Maybe, we all need to study
James
one more time.
I know that I am slow
God knows, I must still
have some lessons
to learn from the
step-brother of Jesus Christ.
When I get to heaven
I am want to look him up
and talk to him
or maybe just listen to him.
Saturday, September 7, 2013
Tuesday, September 3, 2013
The Shack
Several years ago when this book came out, it cause quite a stir. A friend gave it to me to read and warned me that some people hated it and others loved it. When I finished the book, I was not sure and about it tucked it away on my book shelf.
I found the book while I was going through and giving away a lot of books during our move. This labor day weekend was kind of quiet. So, I picked it up and re-read this thought provoking book. I decided to get past the tragedy that set the story in motion and the way it described God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit and Wisdom.
This time I was looking for lessons to be found . Of course the Bible is my primary source for learning, but I like to read things that make me think.
When Mack said that he would go talk to God because he felt obligated, this was the response.
"Don't go because you feel obligated. That will not give you points around here. Go because it is what you want to do."
How often do we read the Bible, go to church and pray or even give or serve because we feel obligated ?
Words spoken to Mack by God to think about when tragedy strikes
" I want to heal the wound that has grown inside of you and has come between us...There is no easy answer that will take your pain away. Life takes a bit of time and a lot of relationship."
"I often find that getting head issues put out of the way first, makes the heart stuff easier to work on.......later... when you are ready"
"Only I can set you free. But freedom can never be forced. The truth shall set you free and truth has a name and it is Jesus. Every thing is about Him and freedom is a process that happens inside a relationship with Him."
Trying to describe God
"I am holy and wholly other than you The problem is man tries to take the best version of themselves and project that to the nth degree, add all the goodness they can perceive and call that God. " I am above and beyond all you can ask or think." Even though we can not grasp God, He still wants to be known by us. So, He sent Jesus. You still can not grasp His nature. That is a good thing. Who wants to worship a God who can be fully comprehended?.... Not much mystery there. "
Love and Relationship
God is the great( I am who I am) and can not act apart from Love
Relationships are never about power. One way to avoid the will to assert power over another is to limit oneself - to serve -a choice to facilitate a relationship and to honor it. We often do his when dealing with the infirm, sick, the very young or very old.
True Devotion
Love expressed - good - simple - warm - intimate - genuine
Jesus loves the Father and wants to please Him and praise Him and really enjoys spending time with Him...Holy and Pure
relationship with the trinity
Jesus is living in us and us in Him through His Spirit
Jesus created the world as the Word before He ( the Word) became flesh
Mankind is intended to be in the very center of God's love and purpose.
The Trinity wants to share with us the Love, Joy, and Freedom and Light that they already know.
The real underlying flaw in our life is that ,.....We don't believe that God is good and we don't trust Him
Trust is the fruit of a relationship in which you know that you are loved.
God IS good and desires only what is best form us. We can only believe that in a relationship of love.
Freedom
Freedom involves trust and obedience inside a relationship of love.
God does not justify pain and lost, but redeems it.
We must give up our right to decided what is good and evil on our own terms. Choose to live in Him..to do that, you must know, God is enough and trust Him and learn to rest in His inherit goodness.
God = I am good Evil = absent of good
I am light Darkness= absent of light
I am life Death = absent of life
Results: apart from God = evil - darkness - death
We must give up our rights
after all
Jesus gave up His right and willingly became a servant
HE gave up everything so that He could open the door
that would allow us to live free enough to give up our rights
and to learn to serve Him by serving others
Live in the present
God is in the present
We are to live in the present.....not the past
.although we can remember and learn by looking back
(but don't get stuck there)
for sure, don't dwell in the future with fear
Because you rarely picture Jesus when you are worrying about the future
The person living in fear will not find freedom in His love
Because they do not believe that He really loves them
they do not trust Him with their future.
Submission
Submission is not about authority or obedience
it is all about relationships of love and respect
Eden
In Eden we abandoned relationship with God to assert our own independence
men and women
most men find fulfillment in achievement
most women find fulfillment in relationships
Jesus loves the church
My church is all about people
and Life is about relationship
We can not build it
only Jesus can build the church
You don't have to figure it all out
Just be with Jesus
Jesus is not fond of the trinity of
terrors that ravage the earth and
deceive those He cares about
Religion - politics - economics
Abundant Life
Jesus came to give life to the fullest..
the simplicity and purity of enjoying a
growing friendship and relationship
with Him
sinking in sin
It is extremely hard
to save a drowning person
unless they are willing to trust you.
When you start to sink
lets Jesus save you
do not worry
even if you do not'
understand
Just trust Him and
grow in your love.
God's purpose
His purposes are always
an expression of love
God's purpose is:
to work life out of death
to bring freedom out of brokenness
to turn darkness into light
It is all about Jesus
He is the center of purpose
through His death and resurrection
God is fully reconciled to the world
reconciliation is a 2 way street
God has done His part
totally, completely, finally
It is not the nature of love
to force a relationship
But it is the nature of love
to open the way
God is a verb
I am that I am
I am alive
dynamic
ever active
always moving
Holy Spirit verbs
confession, repenting,
living, loving,
responding, reaping
changing, sowing
sunning, dancing, singing
We have a knack for taking a verb
that is alive and full of grace
and turning it into a dead noun
verb: ability to respond and expectancy
alive and dynamic full of life
noun: responsibility and expectation
dead, full of law and fear and judgement
Respond not react
to every situation
under the power of
Holy Spirit
Priority list
Jesus does not want to be first on your list
He wants to center in all that you do
Find Holy Spirit in the Bible
Don't look for rules and principle
Look for relationship
Please help me live in truth.
As you can see, the book gave me a lot to think about.
There is much more, but I am tired and going to bed.
Read " The Shack" and see if it makes you think about
God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit and Wisdom
and relationship
and love.
Good night.
I found the book while I was going through and giving away a lot of books during our move. This labor day weekend was kind of quiet. So, I picked it up and re-read this thought provoking book. I decided to get past the tragedy that set the story in motion and the way it described God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit and Wisdom.
This time I was looking for lessons to be found . Of course the Bible is my primary source for learning, but I like to read things that make me think.
When Mack said that he would go talk to God because he felt obligated, this was the response.
"Don't go because you feel obligated. That will not give you points around here. Go because it is what you want to do."
How often do we read the Bible, go to church and pray or even give or serve because we feel obligated ?
Words spoken to Mack by God to think about when tragedy strikes
" I want to heal the wound that has grown inside of you and has come between us...There is no easy answer that will take your pain away. Life takes a bit of time and a lot of relationship."
"I often find that getting head issues put out of the way first, makes the heart stuff easier to work on.......later... when you are ready"
"Only I can set you free. But freedom can never be forced. The truth shall set you free and truth has a name and it is Jesus. Every thing is about Him and freedom is a process that happens inside a relationship with Him."
Trying to describe God
"I am holy and wholly other than you The problem is man tries to take the best version of themselves and project that to the nth degree, add all the goodness they can perceive and call that God. " I am above and beyond all you can ask or think." Even though we can not grasp God, He still wants to be known by us. So, He sent Jesus. You still can not grasp His nature. That is a good thing. Who wants to worship a God who can be fully comprehended?.... Not much mystery there. "
Love and Relationship
God is the great( I am who I am) and can not act apart from Love
Relationships are never about power. One way to avoid the will to assert power over another is to limit oneself - to serve -a choice to facilitate a relationship and to honor it. We often do his when dealing with the infirm, sick, the very young or very old.
True Devotion
Love expressed - good - simple - warm - intimate - genuine
Jesus loves the Father and wants to please Him and praise Him and really enjoys spending time with Him...Holy and Pure
relationship with the trinity
Jesus is living in us and us in Him through His Spirit
Jesus created the world as the Word before He ( the Word) became flesh
Mankind is intended to be in the very center of God's love and purpose.
The Trinity wants to share with us the Love, Joy, and Freedom and Light that they already know.
The real underlying flaw in our life is that ,.....We don't believe that God is good and we don't trust Him
Trust is the fruit of a relationship in which you know that you are loved.
God IS good and desires only what is best form us. We can only believe that in a relationship of love.
Freedom
Freedom involves trust and obedience inside a relationship of love.
God does not justify pain and lost, but redeems it.
We must give up our right to decided what is good and evil on our own terms. Choose to live in Him..to do that, you must know, God is enough and trust Him and learn to rest in His inherit goodness.
God = I am good Evil = absent of good
I am light Darkness= absent of light
I am life Death = absent of life
Results: apart from God = evil - darkness - death
We must give up our rights
after all
Jesus gave up His right and willingly became a servant
HE gave up everything so that He could open the door
that would allow us to live free enough to give up our rights
and to learn to serve Him by serving others
Live in the present
God is in the present
We are to live in the present.....not the past
.although we can remember and learn by looking back
(but don't get stuck there)
for sure, don't dwell in the future with fear
Because you rarely picture Jesus when you are worrying about the future
The person living in fear will not find freedom in His love
Because they do not believe that He really loves them
they do not trust Him with their future.
Submission
Submission is not about authority or obedience
it is all about relationships of love and respect
Eden
In Eden we abandoned relationship with God to assert our own independence
men and women
most men find fulfillment in achievement
most women find fulfillment in relationships
Jesus loves the church
My church is all about people
and Life is about relationship
We can not build it
only Jesus can build the church
You don't have to figure it all out
Just be with Jesus
Jesus is not fond of the trinity of
terrors that ravage the earth and
deceive those He cares about
Religion - politics - economics
Abundant Life
Jesus came to give life to the fullest..
the simplicity and purity of enjoying a
growing friendship and relationship
with Him
sinking in sin
It is extremely hard
to save a drowning person
unless they are willing to trust you.
When you start to sink
lets Jesus save you
do not worry
even if you do not'
understand
Just trust Him and
grow in your love.
God's purpose
His purposes are always
an expression of love
God's purpose is:
to work life out of death
to bring freedom out of brokenness
to turn darkness into light
It is all about Jesus
He is the center of purpose
through His death and resurrection
God is fully reconciled to the world
reconciliation is a 2 way street
God has done His part
totally, completely, finally
It is not the nature of love
to force a relationship
But it is the nature of love
to open the way
God is a verb
I am that I am
I am alive
dynamic
ever active
always moving
Holy Spirit verbs
confession, repenting,
living, loving,
responding, reaping
changing, sowing
sunning, dancing, singing
We have a knack for taking a verb
that is alive and full of grace
and turning it into a dead noun
verb: ability to respond and expectancy
alive and dynamic full of life
noun: responsibility and expectation
dead, full of law and fear and judgement
Respond not react
to every situation
under the power of
Holy Spirit
Priority list
Jesus does not want to be first on your list
He wants to center in all that you do
Find Holy Spirit in the Bible
Don't look for rules and principle
Look for relationship
Please help me live in truth.
As you can see, the book gave me a lot to think about.
There is much more, but I am tired and going to bed.
Read " The Shack" and see if it makes you think about
God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit and Wisdom
and relationship
and love.
Good night.
Monday, September 2, 2013
Words from Monday devotion. Gideon study and The Shack
"Lord, I rejoice in the living and loving relationship that I enjoy with You . Thank you so much for freedom and life in Christ. Empower me to walk in your power and to bear lasting fruit for you"
Fruit:
1) winning souls for Christ
2) manifestation of God's Spirit of God in us
3) Spiritual growth in character
4) productive service and ministry for Jesus
All of the above + completeness in Christ = Fruit
Gideon study
Empowerment by God's Spirit is a necessary for success
Our Goal:
1) see truth in God's word
2) open our selves to His activity daily
3) learn from good examples
4) seek to inspire by being a good example
We have two roles:
student ..to learn from others
teacher..others learn from us
Notes from The Shack
"Everything is about Jesus and freedom is a process that
happens inside a relationship with Him.
The God who is the great "I AM" can not act apart from Love.
God is love
Love and Relationship
Have a wonderful Labor Day and drive careful.
Fruit:
1) winning souls for Christ
2) manifestation of God's Spirit of God in us
3) Spiritual growth in character
4) productive service and ministry for Jesus
All of the above + completeness in Christ = Fruit
Gideon study
Empowerment by God's Spirit is a necessary for success
Our Goal:
1) see truth in God's word
2) open our selves to His activity daily
3) learn from good examples
4) seek to inspire by being a good example
We have two roles:
student ..to learn from others
teacher..others learn from us
Notes from The Shack
"Everything is about Jesus and freedom is a process that
happens inside a relationship with Him.
The God who is the great "I AM" can not act apart from Love.
God is love
Love and Relationship
Have a wonderful Labor Day and drive careful.
Friday, August 30, 2013
Friday Bible study and devotional
I struggle with health issues, so I was blessed when the bible study and today"s devotion came together with a word for me and maybe for you.
"Thank you lord for another day....to live for You. I am Your servant. Help me this day to be a healthy, responsible follower of Christ"
I am responsible for making wise healthy choices, until they become healthy habits. So, that I can serve Christ by serving others.
"We will not be perfect here on earth, but should be consistent in our service and obedience to God."
"God is still searching, ( not for perfect people), but for individuals who are passionate about Him and committed to His call on their lives.
A call to Love Him and love others.
Martin Luther can still inspire this generation with this quote.
"My conscience is captive to the word of God"
The Word is where we get our instructions.
He states that he has two days on his calender,,,This day and that day.
This day....To live for Christ and bear fruit
That day....To appear before Christ and give an account
Live this day to be ready to give an account on that day.
"Thank you lord for another day....to live for You. I am Your servant. Help me this day to be a healthy, responsible follower of Christ"
I am responsible for making wise healthy choices, until they become healthy habits. So, that I can serve Christ by serving others.
"We will not be perfect here on earth, but should be consistent in our service and obedience to God."
"God is still searching, ( not for perfect people), but for individuals who are passionate about Him and committed to His call on their lives.
A call to Love Him and love others.
Martin Luther can still inspire this generation with this quote.
"My conscience is captive to the word of God"
The Word is where we get our instructions.
He states that he has two days on his calender,,,This day and that day.
This day....To live for Christ and bear fruit
That day....To appear before Christ and give an account
Live this day to be ready to give an account on that day.
Friday, July 12, 2013
I want to see Jesus
We were on the road all day today, So, I had a lot of time to study. I am reading Anne Graham Lotz book "I Saw the Lord." My Bible chart has me reading in Luke and Ephesians and they all tie together.
Her book is a wake up call for the heart based on Chapter six of Isaiah. In Chapters 1-5, Isaiah is a preacher pointing all the ways his nation sins against God and what they should do. Chapter 1:16-19 gives these instructions: Wash yourselves
Make yourself clean
Cease to do evil
Learn to do good
Seek Justice
Reprove the Ruthless
Help the oppressed
Defend the Orphans
Plead for widows
Isaiah was a good preacher and moral man who knew the problem facing his nation SIN
and urged them to repent and get right with God. But something was missing and He did
not realized it until Chapter 6
When He Saw the Almighty Lord sitting on
His Throne and His robe filling the temple
In the light of The Holiness of the Almighty God, he saw himself and was destroyed and undone,
Job did the same thing when he was confronted by God
Moses face shine so much after an encounter with God that He had to wear a veil.
Just reading chapters 7 and 8 of Luke we find these encounters with Jesus. The Bible is full of them
The faith of the centurion caused him to see Jesus for who He was and realized that he was unworthy
He trusted Him to heal with just a word and Jesus praised him for his faith.
When Jesus brought a widows son back to life, the city was gripped with fear, and they glorified God.
There was a group of ladies who recognized who Jesus was and ministered to Him
Jesus stopped a storm causing his disciples to wonder who was this man
He brought Jairus daughter back to life
He healed a woman with a 12 year disease with just a touch of his hem and her faith
Jesus sent demons out of a man and into pigs causing the city to come out and ask Him to leave
AND the King of the universe, got into a boat and left ( I hope that we are not rejecting Him)
Then there is the sinful woman who wept tears all over his feet and poured perfume and wiped
his feet with her hair. Such humility..Do you think that she realized who He was?
This story made me think of one of my favorite songs that I had not heard it a long time.
"I can only imagine"
A little later that song came on the radio (God's timing)......a few verses I like
"Surrounded by His glory
What will my heart feel
Will I dance for you Jesus
or in awe of you be still
Will I sing for you Jesus
or on my knees will I fall
Will I sing _H_______
or be able to to speak at all
I can only imagine"
Saul saw the light of Jesus and it changed the course of his life forever. Even changed his name
to Paul and he wrote most of the new testament. In the first chapter of Ephesians we see the redemption story of salvation through Jesus Christ by the will of the Father. His grace freely bestowed on His beloved...us. Sealed by the Holy Spirit that He promised to send.
In verse 18, He prays that the eyes of our heart may be enlightened so that we can know.
Let's move from head knowledge to heart knowledge.
I know that this is a lot, but I guess, I am just trying to say is, we need to really see God through Jesus and the word and have what Ann Lotz calls a personal revival.
Be still and know that I am God Psalms 46:10
She suggest we make two list and to mediate on them
List 1)
Examine our self against this list of Sin and be honest and add more as needed
In gratitude
neglecting Bible study
Envy
critical spirit
unbelief
unconcern for lost
hypocrisy
pride
family neglect
slander
lying
cheating
robbing God
anger
Jealousy
gossip
worry
doubt
immorality
Then all the things we should do that we do not do
List 2)
make a praise list of every characteristics of Jesus
This should help us see Jesus and self
I want to see Jesus.
"
Her book is a wake up call for the heart based on Chapter six of Isaiah. In Chapters 1-5, Isaiah is a preacher pointing all the ways his nation sins against God and what they should do. Chapter 1:16-19 gives these instructions: Wash yourselves
Make yourself clean
Cease to do evil
Learn to do good
Seek Justice
Reprove the Ruthless
Help the oppressed
Defend the Orphans
Plead for widows
Isaiah was a good preacher and moral man who knew the problem facing his nation SIN
and urged them to repent and get right with God. But something was missing and He did
not realized it until Chapter 6
When He Saw the Almighty Lord sitting on
His Throne and His robe filling the temple
In the light of The Holiness of the Almighty God, he saw himself and was destroyed and undone,
Job did the same thing when he was confronted by God
Moses face shine so much after an encounter with God that He had to wear a veil.
Just reading chapters 7 and 8 of Luke we find these encounters with Jesus. The Bible is full of them
The faith of the centurion caused him to see Jesus for who He was and realized that he was unworthy
He trusted Him to heal with just a word and Jesus praised him for his faith.
When Jesus brought a widows son back to life, the city was gripped with fear, and they glorified God.
There was a group of ladies who recognized who Jesus was and ministered to Him
Jesus stopped a storm causing his disciples to wonder who was this man
He brought Jairus daughter back to life
He healed a woman with a 12 year disease with just a touch of his hem and her faith
Jesus sent demons out of a man and into pigs causing the city to come out and ask Him to leave
AND the King of the universe, got into a boat and left ( I hope that we are not rejecting Him)
Then there is the sinful woman who wept tears all over his feet and poured perfume and wiped
his feet with her hair. Such humility..Do you think that she realized who He was?
This story made me think of one of my favorite songs that I had not heard it a long time.
"I can only imagine"
A little later that song came on the radio (God's timing)......a few verses I like
"Surrounded by His glory
What will my heart feel
Will I dance for you Jesus
or in awe of you be still
Will I sing for you Jesus
or on my knees will I fall
Will I sing _H_______
or be able to to speak at all
I can only imagine"
Saul saw the light of Jesus and it changed the course of his life forever. Even changed his name
to Paul and he wrote most of the new testament. In the first chapter of Ephesians we see the redemption story of salvation through Jesus Christ by the will of the Father. His grace freely bestowed on His beloved...us. Sealed by the Holy Spirit that He promised to send.
In verse 18, He prays that the eyes of our heart may be enlightened so that we can know.
Let's move from head knowledge to heart knowledge.
I know that this is a lot, but I guess, I am just trying to say is, we need to really see God through Jesus and the word and have what Ann Lotz calls a personal revival.
Be still and know that I am God Psalms 46:10
She suggest we make two list and to mediate on them
List 1)
Examine our self against this list of Sin and be honest and add more as needed
In gratitude
neglecting Bible study
Envy
critical spirit
unbelief
unconcern for lost
hypocrisy
pride
family neglect
slander
lying
cheating
robbing God
anger
Jealousy
gossip
worry
doubt
immorality
Then all the things we should do that we do not do
List 2)
make a praise list of every characteristics of Jesus
This should help us see Jesus and self
I want to see Jesus.
"
Spiritual food....the word
Christians today have the potential for two problems when it come to Spiritual food which is the Word of God.
1) Spiritual starvation
Never spending time feasting on the word of God. Which makes one complacent and stunts their growth.
2) Spiritually fat
The second one may surprise you. With all the access to materials for Bible study we are in danger of becoming fat and sassy in the word. Making us self-righteous, judgmental, prideful, and unkind with lots and lots of head knowledge.....too full of ourself..
To those who much is given, much is required. When we eat too much, we can become overweight with no energy. The remedy is to exercise.
God gives us many resources and it is His will that we use them to move from head knowledge twelve inches south to heart knowledge. He feeds us His word so that we have the energy to run the race of His kingdoms work. We can exercise our faith by building a relationship with Him and others.
STUDY_PRAY_APPLY
1) Spiritual starvation
Never spending time feasting on the word of God. Which makes one complacent and stunts their growth.
2) Spiritually fat
The second one may surprise you. With all the access to materials for Bible study we are in danger of becoming fat and sassy in the word. Making us self-righteous, judgmental, prideful, and unkind with lots and lots of head knowledge.....too full of ourself..
To those who much is given, much is required. When we eat too much, we can become overweight with no energy. The remedy is to exercise.
God gives us many resources and it is His will that we use them to move from head knowledge twelve inches south to heart knowledge. He feeds us His word so that we have the energy to run the race of His kingdoms work. We can exercise our faith by building a relationship with Him and others.
STUDY_PRAY_APPLY
Thursday, July 11, 2013
Day 1 Workcation
We were suppose to leave town around 11:30 after Doctor appointment. But things happen and we ran around town until 4:30 ( that's another story). Today was suppose to be one of the work days of these Workcation. I made up this word to describe this trip.
We only made it 295 miles to Cartersville. When we get close, I go online and look for hotels and call. The Howard Johnson had a great price and a good review about the hotel clerk. When I told her that she was the reason we choose this hotel, she almost teared up. When some one does a good job, it never hurts to let the know. Kind words never hurt.
We hiked on a country road behind hotel with loud cicadas and lots of lightning bugs. Tomorrow, we need to go to Tennessee, pick up trailer and stuff out of storage and take it to Kentucky, drop it off and head west. The adventure begins.
We only made it 295 miles to Cartersville. When we get close, I go online and look for hotels and call. The Howard Johnson had a great price and a good review about the hotel clerk. When I told her that she was the reason we choose this hotel, she almost teared up. When some one does a good job, it never hurts to let the know. Kind words never hurt.
We hiked on a country road behind hotel with loud cicadas and lots of lightning bugs. Tomorrow, we need to go to Tennessee, pick up trailer and stuff out of storage and take it to Kentucky, drop it off and head west. The adventure begins.
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