Happy Saturday! Happy first day of November! I have so many feelings this morning. It has been a good week though. My guys made it back from Texas and they had a great time visiting my father-in-law, but I am glad they are back close and my housemate has returned, lol. I had some challenges at work this week but got them all accomplished even though I am probably going to be at the office a while today; it's that time of year so that is nothing different than the past at least 10 years. I would rather work a bit on Saturday than start Monday behind. Robert starts his new job at 7 am our time Monday morning, he is taking his tools over today, which means my Irene the car gets to sleep in her garage tonight, lol. Life is good. God is great.
Today we are going to delve into James 13-16. I know verse 17 is the last verse in the chapter but it is either going to have a study all it's own or go with the first couple of verses of Chapter 5, I haven't decided that yet but I think 13-16 is enough for today and one topic.
So, here we go.
Verse 13-14
Highlight= What is your life? Explain= One of my favorite lines out of a show called Seventh Heaven was when Mary, one of the teenage daughters said, "We make plans and God laughs". That being said, I am a planaholic. Seriously. Ever since I was a little girl, my mom would say I would make lists of my lists, and ironically, I have the To Do app on my phone, and what is it? It is a list of my lists. This verse isn't telling us it is wrong to plan, it is telling us we need to stop thinking more about the future and what we can do then instead of what we are doing today. This also applies to those who are so busy planning a future, they forget to live life. I think of the parent that misses every ballgame and band competition because they have to work to pay for the future and as they get older, their kids don't know them. This is also a little reminder about what is truly important. I have been in positions where money was flowing fine and I have been in positions where I would be worried about having enough gas to make it to payday. I always made it to payday, but the thing is, we must remember, God always provides and He always will. I think it is important to see that part of the verse that says we are going to go to the city, spend a year and make money. What is the old saying? You can't take it with you? Let me tell you, sitting at my computer screen each morning, looking over my budget, I can't wait to live in a world where money doesn't exist. Apply= Do you remember Round Tuits? Little wooden coins that was handed out so you no longer had to "wait until you got around to it"? Another old saying, why put off for tomorrow what can be done today. Our time here on earth is short, and the older we get, the more we realize this, I mean, wasn't it JUST January? or Easter? or seriously the 4th of July? but we are heading quickly into Thanksgiving and Christmas. This is really only half the equation, the rest is in the next verse but the thing is, we need to live each day two ways, first and foremost, we need to live our days to glorify God, and then we need to live each day as if it were our last. If you knew today was your last day on earth, would making sure you got that one last deal in instead of watching the last time you ever see your kid play ball really be the most important thing to you? I always think back to when we had a big youth group at our church. Wednesday evenings in the Fall, it was harvest time and the way our youth group was set up, we needed men in leadership. Our men would get out of their tractors and be there for those kids. Sometimes that was a huge sacrifice, but it was doing the Lord's work and they saw that as the most important thing they had to do that night. It is 5:37 am and here in Illinois alone, 86 people have died since midnight. Before the day is over, that number is likely to rise to around 300- just in Illinois. That means that the odds that someone sitting at their computer screen just like you are doing, will not be alive to tell you about it by midnight tonight. Sobering huh? It is time to make every day count and there is no greater thing to do than to live a life for God's glory. Respond= Lord, help me truly understand the gift of life you have given us. When I have these overwhelming moments of gratitude, I praise you and thank you for everything you have brought me through. I know it is okay to plan but more important to be present today, for my family, for myself, but most importantly, for You.
Verse 15
Highlight= If it is the Lord's will. Explain= Ah, the rest of the story. This has been my son's big awaking this year, and of course, it has make me more aware as well. I have grown up with the assumption of what I am asking be in the Lord's will, but Robert says it often. When he first started saying it, I could hear some of the folks from times past using the exact phrase I titled this study, The Good Lord willing and the creeks don't rise, reminding us that if our plans are in God's will, we will move forward with them. I believe that came from these verses. I have caught myself using this phrase lately and I think it is because of Robert making sure we remember that it really is God's will, not ours, that is important. Apply= We want to always make sure that what our plans are aligns with what God wants us to be doing. I think this is hard to distinguished because the Devil is a very real and present danger and unfortunately can talk to us too, I am going to tell you about one way I believe you are secure in knowing you are doing God's will. Read the Bible. When in doubt about what you are doing, pick up your Bible. I am a strong believer in God leading us to the passage He wants us to see when we don't know where to go. Personal experience and for those of you wondering, spoiler alert. I guess we will see if any of the 35-40 people that read my blog each week works with me, lol. My boss is stepping down as Executive Director. I have been with our agency over 25 years and I have been asked by a lot of people, including my boss, if it was something I was interested in. My answer is a strong no. I have prayed about it, read the job description and I know there are things about her job that I just don't want to do but more importantly, I feel there are things about my own job that I have now that I don't want to leave. My heart is with the programs, I am not as good with money as I would like to be but I want to be there to help the program side of things work, and not have to deal with more admin stuff, like insurance, 401K's, just not for me. The morning I really had the heart to heart with God about it, making sure I wasn't being selfish, he pointed me to Romans 12:4. "For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. Having the gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us.....". This told me God wants me to stay doing what I am doing. I know how to advocate for my energy insecure families, I am working to help make life more affordable and though I love my agency with all my heart, this is where I know I will do the most good. I have had a peace with this beyond words. And I am praying over those who are applying for this job and those who are going to decide who gets it. I pray that everyone applying is doing it for the right reasons and not personal gain, and everyone who is deciding will have the discernment to know who is genuine and who is looking out for themselves and their pocket. Respond= Lord, help me remember, "Thy Will Be Done". Let me always ask because we know You say we do not have because we do not ask, but let us also always remember that it is Your Will that is most important, and that the rest of asking is that, if it be Your will, it will be given to us. I know Your timing and Your ways are perfect and if You lead me in another direction, even though I know my flesh will question, I know You are right.
And then, on to verse 16
Highlight = All such boasting is evil. Explain= Do you ever get around someone that all they want to do is tell you how great they are? It isn't fun, is it? I think about that county song, about we talk about you all the time, sometimes I wanna talk about me. Yep. Been there, done that, wouldn't even have to buy the t-shirt, whoever that was would probably gladly have one made saying, "I got to spend an hour with _______________ who is such a great person" fill in the blank with said person, lol. Do you know everything you do, everything you say, and basically very honestly, you being able to take your next breath is thanks to God? There are the people that tells you everything they are going to do and then it never happens, big dreams, no steam. In my bariatrics doctor's waiting room there is a sign. Don't tell me what you are going to do, show me what you did. I love that and have used that for myself ever since the first time I read it. The thing is, if we are boasting anything other than what God has done for us, we are wrong. I work with people and the general idea is to make families "self-sufficient" and I get what that means, wholeheartedly, but sometimes it brings on the thought that everyone has to do everything by themselves and I don't want them to think that. Apply= Every "self-made man" had people that helped him along the way, even if they don't see it. They had parents that raised him well, or someone that believed in him, someone that gave him that first job even with no experience, nobody is truly "self-made". Yesterday, we had families right here in our little town who even though both are working the fact that gas is almost $3 a gallon, there are more jobs out of town than in town, milk is over $3.00 a gallon, they are struggling with so many insecurities and at least they had the assurance of food. Today, they don't have that with the Government Shutdown, SNAP benefits did not go out. I have watched our town step up, even our grocery store is offering assistance but we can't any of us afford to do that forever, and yes, it takes tax money to do it, but I would rather pay a small percent each paycheck to make sure others have than to be paying that percentage anyway and see others have not and me buying stuff to help stock the local food box so they can. Sorry, I will get back to business. Again, God will provide, but today is the day He may be telling you He needs you to be the one to fill in the gap. Listen. Respond= Lord, help me today and everyday make sure that You are who is seen in me. Let people know not only by my words, but more so, by my actions that the glory of my life is You and that my hope and prayer everyday is to do my best for You.
I hope you have a lovely weekend, find time to do the things that are important. Show Jesus to others, and make sure you put your priorities where they need to be and live today, live Jesus.
💔 ~Mindy
Comments
Post a Comment