Bible Study - James

 
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.  Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” –James 1:2-4

I can’t do it she said as she buried her head in her hands and wept. “I just don’t have the energy to take one more step, and then they asked me to take on a whole new project at work.  This is not the life I signed up for”, she said to no-one in particular, but whoever might be listening.  Just then a little girl, no more than 4 years old walked up to the woman seated on the park bench and handed her a small yellow dandelion.  “It’s going to be okay.  Maybe they’ll still let you sign up for a new one at church.  Mommy just signed me up for soccer, it’s really easy.”


This life is not easy, and no-one promised us that it would be.  The complications, fears, sorrows, and disappointments we face on a daily basis are all part of a process of making us stronger.  The challenge comes in how we react to the challenges that we face each day.  Through focusing on God and His perspective, it is easy to reduce the complexities into manageable simple steps.  God’s strengthening your faith in Him by allowing these complexities to happen in your life.  He doesn’t create them, but He does allow them, because He knows exactly who He created you to be.  With this knowledge, He knows exactly what you need to become all that He desires for you in this life.

Acknowledge His presence in your problem and realize that He will see you through it, but you have to allow Him too.  This means that sometimes you do things you don’t want to do, simply because it’s the right thing to do.  This means that sometimes you have to work a little harder and push yourself a little farther than you have ever pushed yourself before.  What is waiting for you on the other side though is the joy, peace and courage found only by following God’s plan.

ACTION for Growth: Take 10 minutes to sit quietly and tell the Lord the things that are pressing down upon your heart and soul right now.  Then, thank Him for helping you grow and become stronger through these trials.  Ask God to help you become the person He created you to be.


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A Solid Investment

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“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes out of the mouth of God.”  – Matthew 4:4
 
What is more important than God?
 

We have created a comfortable life in which God often times is pushed to the backburner in many of our daily interactions.  Think about your daily habits, it might look something like this. 
Every morning you wake up and you start with habitual actions. 

• Go to the bathroomBrush your teethBet a cup of coffeePerhaps have your first cigarette of the dayLet the dog outPull out your smartphone to see who sent you messages or what they posted in Facebook or Twitter or Instagram since you last checked at midnight when you went to bedCheck your email to see if your boss sent you anything criticalCheck your daytimer / calendar to see the meetings ahead of youShower, shave, get dressed for the dayTake the same route to the same office for another day of work
• 
  This is typical of a very large percentage of the population, regardless of where you are at.  We don’t think about whether we should brush our teeth, or go to the bathroom, or let the dog out, we just do it.  These things have become second nature in life, almost like breathing or blinking.  We are creatures of habit and are comforted by repetition in life.
  
  Scientists have said that repetition of an act for 2 weeks straight will create the beginnings of a habit.  Continuing that act for an additional 2 weeks and the habit is engrained in the human psyche.  If you are looking to deepen your relationship with Christ, creating a habit of reading and studying His word will help you in this area.
  
  Think about your strongest relationship, your spouse, your parents, your children.  You know so much about them because you have engaged with them and learned from and about them over years.  Yet, many of you believe you can go to a church building once a week and have a deep relationship with the Creator of the world.  In all honesty, your relationship with Christ should be the strongest relationship you have.  Stronger than your spouse, parents or children relationships.
  
  This relationship has eternal implications, as well as joy, comfort, peace and fulfillment here on this earth.  Every other relationship you have is terminal and will end at some given point.  Investing in a relationship with God the Father should be your focus every single day, and soon enough, you won’t even have to remind yourself to do it, it will just happen.

 
 
 
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The Key

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"It is better to trust the Lord than to put confidence in people." – Psalm 118:8

I sat on the rocking chair looking out at the God’s perfect ocean.  It was late in the evening and the sun was just above the horizon, casting brilliant hues of pink, orange, yellow and red over the dark blue, purple and aqua of the water.  White crested waves crashed against the sand and rocks of the jagged Pacific coastline.  The day had been filled with stressful meetings and the disappointing news that we had not won the deal.  The others that I traveled with on this particular trip had gone back to their rooms to dwell in the missed opportunity.  I could have done the same, Lord knows there were 100’s of e-mails waiting for me in my Inbox.  But, I needed to be reassured that everything was still okay, and there was not one single e-mail that would have convinced me of that.

As always, I knew I would find God at the ocean’s edge.  I could find Him in the beauty, magnificence and power of the Sun disappearing beyond the edge of the vastness of the water.  It calmed my spirit to just realize that I am a part of His day, and that regardless of what occurs during the day, He has control of it all.  The world is still rotating, the sun is still in the sky and God still hovers over the ocean just as He did on day one.  When I’m at the oceans edge at sunset I observe the originality of God’s creation:

1. Depths of Waters in darkness and God created light, separating darkness from light
2. God created the sky to separate the waters above and below
3. God created land amidst the waters below, and vegetation on that land
4. God created lights in the skies – to give light to the earth, and to determine time.  The greatest light for the day and the lesser light for the night
5. God created animals in the sea and in the air
6. God created animals on the land and then God created mankind in His image to rule over the animals and the vegetation of the land.
7. God rested in all of His goodness having created perfection

All of this is captured in the stillness, quietness and majesty of sitting and looking out over the ocean.  It brings me back to a place where I am not depending on what happens in a day’s activities.  It brings me to a place where I can remember that God created all of this and controls it all.  I am but just one part of His amazing plan, and I must not forget that my trust lies in Him, not in mankind.

When I am not near a beach or ocean or majestic mountain though, I can always turn to the exact center of the bible and find a reminder that God is in control, not mankind.  Psalm 118:8 is the very center of God’s word and the key scripture to understanding God. I suggest you put a marker there in your bible, so you can always find a quiet place and quickly reflect on this scripture when the world is closing in.  Be blessed. 



Prayer:
Loving Father,
You are my amazing creator.  You fill my mind with righteousness and my heart with love.  You have created this world perfectly for us to live in and serve You.  Let us not lose sight of that as we are attacked daily by life’s problems.  We rest in knowing that you are in control of all things and know us very well.  Bless me Lord, that I might live long in Your service and praise You throughout my life.  In Your name we pray – Amen



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I am Strong

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“That's why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”  – 2 Corinthians 12:10

 

You Say (click Youtube) – Lauren Daigle (2018)

I keep fighting voices in my mind that say I’m not enough
Every single lie that tells me I will never measure up
Am I more than just the sum of every high and every low?
Remind me once again just who I am, because I need to know

You say I am loved when I can’t feel a thing
You say I am strong when I think I am weak
You say I am held when I am falling short
When I don’t belong, oh You say that I am Yours
And I believe, oh I believe
What You say of me
I believe

 

 

The path that we walk each day is going to be filled with individuals that don’t believe in you, and your purpose.  The reality is that each of us have an opinion of yourself that is known to us and our Creator.  That opinion is flawed though.  It is flawed in the understanding that we are using our most comprehensive knowledge of everything we have done, we have thought and we have said to form this opinion.  That leads us to an opinion that is open to the weakness of our flesh, our worldly perspective, and shame.  You must agree with me then that this opinion and perspective indeed is the most complete representation that anyone could have about you, because you know yourself better than anyone else.

With this opinion of yourself, good and bad, you will struggle, at times, to view yourself as deserving of the love of our Father in heaven.  But, you see, although your opinion is the most comprehensive opinion on the earth, it doesn’t compare to the opinion and perspective of your Father.  God’s perspective of you is void of your shortcomings, mistakes and misgivings.  He knows you through and through, deeper than you know yourself.  In Psalm 139, we learn that God knew us before we were born, He formed us in our Mother’s womb, He knows us and everything about us. 

In the Gospels, we learn that God sent His Son, Jesus Christ to be the propitiation, the sacrifice for our transgressions.  By His death and resurrection, and through God’s grace, we are forgiven of our unrighteousness and given eternal life with Him in heaven.  God provided a way for sanctification because He so deeply loves us.  With this knowledge, that surpasses the knowledge of any man or woman, He knows you, better than you know you.  He decided that you were worth dying for, worth salvation.  He gives you value and worth, even when you don’t see it.

As the song above says: “you say I am loved, when I don’t feel a thing.  You say I am strong, when I think I am weak.  You say I am held, when I am falling short”  God is your strength and power when you are at your weakness.  He holds you high above anything mankind will say, because it is not based on your actions, but based on the you that He created.  Don’t misjudge the love of the Father, for it is unchanging, and forever there for you.

 

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Just Cruisin’

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'Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you' - Psalm 63:3
 

Remember when you were young (some of you still are) and you would slide the cassette or 8 track into the car radio. There was no Sirius XM, no Bluetooth, no USB, no MP3.  You would turn the radio up as loud as you could, roll your windows down and just cruise up and down Main street. No destination, but it was all about the experience and who saw you, right?

Remember when your favorite song came on the radio and you would begin shouting out, singing along with the lyrics. Was it "City of the Angels"; "Satisfaction"; "Up Around the Bend"; "Don't Stop Believing"; "Lil Deuce Coupe"; "Come Together"; “Stairway to Heaven”; “Juke Box Hero” ... the list goes on. Why was it so simple to sing along with the music?

Basically, it goes back to the principle of what goes in, must come out. Music continues to be a very impactful method of reaching our youth. They hear the beat of the drums, the screaming guitars and the lyrics seem to stick; at least when they mean something to the listener. It makes it easy for them to memorize, because they listen to it over and over again. I remember tucking my lil’ ones in and they would sing along with me at nighttime.  ‘Awesome God’, ‘Here We are to Worship’, ‘Jesus loves Me’ and ‘Twinkle, twinkle little star’ are all part of her concert series now.  Now, I’m cruising with these same kids, and though their playlist and mine don’t always match up, we’ll still do our best to sing along in the car with each other.  My point here is that we remember what we spend time focusing on. This in turn, results in an increased confidence and comfort level in sharing or singing out the words.

This is the same as with God's word. Reading it, studying it on a more frequent basis will result in your memorization. Just as you cruised the streets in your "ride" back then singing out your favorite tunes, it brings much pleasure to God to hear you singing out worship and praises to Him. I recommend beginning tomorrow morning. Find a scripture verse, two or three and write them on a 3x5 index card. Carry this card with you for the week. Refer to it often throughout each day and think of how it might apply to your daily walk. Tape it to your dashboard while you drive, recite it out loud as you come to stop lights/signs. Let these scriptures become comfortable with you. As your confidence and comfort level build, feel free to share your verses when God puts opportunities in your path, and He will. Give Him the praise and glory for everything you are learning and how it is impacting your life. I've even heard of some who put scripture to music and sing it out to God with their windows down cruisin' down Main street. The only difference is you now have a destination for your cruisin', and Main Street is paved with gold..



Prayer:
Loving Father,
You have placed a passion for music and worship in my heart for a reason, to glorify You.  Thank You for creating in me a love for music and art.  Help me to build on this desire and in doing so bring glory to You.  Fill me with knowledge and passion to grow in this area of my life.  Help me to discover more of Your truth in Your word each day, that I might share it with others.  In Your name I pray – Amen



© Sondove Enterprises, 2019
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Make it Count

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“What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” – James 2:14-17

The Motions
  by: Matthew West  (link on Youtube)

This might hurt, it's not safe
But I know that I've gotta make a change
I don't care if I break,
At least I'll be feeling something
'Cause just okay is not enough
Help me fight through the nothingness of life

I don't wanna go through the motions
I don't wanna go one more day
without Your all consuming passion inside of me
I don't wanna spend my whole life asking,
"What if I had given everything,
instead of going through the motions?"

No regrets, not this time
I'm gonna let my heart defeat my mind
Let Your love make me whole
I think I'm finally feeling something
'Cause just okay is not enough
Help me fight through the nothingness of this life

'Cause I don't wanna go through the motions
I don't wanna go one more day
without Your all consuming passion inside of me
I don't wanna spend my whole life asking,
"What if I had given everything,
instead of going through the motions?"
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 

These are the lyrics from Matthew West, a contemporary Christian artist, who writes deeply inspirational songs from the heart.  As I find myself working through the struggles in life, trying to find a way to more completely serve the Lord, this song has weighed heavily on my heart.  Stop for a moment, listen to this song (click the link above) and then let it sink in.  God has given you unbelievable opportunities to serve Him with all that you have.  The responsibility is yours to do something with what He has given you to impact those around you for Him.  These actions don’t get you to heaven, the blood of Christ has already done that.  These actions on your part help to expand His Kingdom and bring His grace and love to others that they in turn might come to know Him.  Don’t waste another moment, stop going through the Motions of being a Christian and start living / serving others, with the only life you have.



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Matter of the Mind

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“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will. “ – Romans 12:2

Walk in peace today; all of you who happen to be on the receiving end of this message this morning.  Allow your heart to be filled with His love today, and share that love with those that you meet throughout the day.  The opportunity to reach the world is present whenever you and I allow the Holy Spirit to reach within our heart and transform us to think differently. 

The world’s message is one of self indulgence, personal gratification, “It’s all about me”, succeed at any cost and then help others.  When we choose to walk within this attitude we deceive ourselves to believe that we are in control of our destiny.  We separate ourselves from the Creator, the farther down this path we walk.

Do you remember the story of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32)?  The son takes all of his inheritance and pursues life’s pleasures.  He chases the self indulgent lifestyle that appears so attractive on the surface.  Eventually, as it will with every one of us, it is discovered to be empty of any real substance, for the pleasures are temporary.  Upon return his father spares no expense to welcoming him home.  Likewise, your Father in heaven will spare no expense in welcoming you home; even to the point of sacrificing His own Son for your redemption. 

The world’s view on life is to get as much as you can before you die.
God’s view of life is to give as much grace and love to others as possible before you die.

In either case, the end will come, and when it does our eternal fate will have been set.  Shift your thinking from focusing on the patterns of the world to focusing your mind on the spirit of God and rest in the joys that will last forever with Him in eternity.





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