James 1:18

We are God's prized possession. He chose us... undeserving, deceitful, corrupt sinners to be His everything. To love, bless, and to never walk away from us. His love is unending... and it is incomprehensible.

A little while ago I started thinking about my sin in a different way. Obviously because of God's gift of a conscience, we feel guilty about our sins, but when I started thinking about how I act towards others, it gave me feel so much more guilty. Would I ever act the way towards those close with me the same way I act towards God? If I did any of the millions of hurtful sins I commit in a day to a someone close to me, do you think that they would think I care about them? I feel like I treat those around me much better than I treat God sometimes... and it's sad to think about, because God is the reason we are all here. He should be first in our lives, just like we are in His.

Since we are God's prized possession, we are forgiven. No matter what we did to Him, we are still His children. What a wonderful and loving God we have. :) Thank you Lord!!!

Have a blessed weekend!

James 1:16-17

When Life Presents Itself As Ugly

I'm linking you to this beautiful reading this morning after thinking on today's verses...I believe God can send us no ugly, imperfect, sinful thing. Sin in our hearts, Satan, and our world create such things...
However, I believe that God equips us to search for his blessings in what might appear to be curses, or little annoyances, or ugliness. He has purified our hearts to see with his eyes a fallen, disgusting world in a new light.
I am absolutely positive God's good and perfect gifts are not only often small and seemingly imperceptible, but given daily, slipped into moments and unexpecteds, and that he fully intends to show his unfailing good nature through them. every. time.

I change and flicker like a little star in the sky. He never, never even turns a degree to cast a new shadow. He stays solid and still in his loving goodness...In our forgiven pasts, in our holy now, and in our promising futures.

Praise God for this!!!

I pray today for you, sweet women of the Lord, to keep your eyes wide open to the little (and magnificent!) ways he loves you. Look creatively, and live in grateful awe. :)

Love in Him,
Cait

James 1:15

I find it interesting that this verse reminds me we can so easily relate to Eve in the garden. She had a desire, the desire was more than just the fruit...the devil made her desire to be like God. She persued her desire, with the help of the devil of course, and gave birth to sin. We know God told Adam and Eve they would no longer live forever.

I think about my own life....EVERY DAY I desire something. Sometimes its something emotional, like when I desire to vent my anger about something when I really have no right to be angry. Sometimes its only to be justified in my wrong-doing. Other times its worldly things I desire to get (as we all do). Over and over I strive to get what bad things I desire! And with the help of the evil one I persue these things! Im ashamed! ...wasn't Eve? These desires, almost immediately after I realize I desire something, give birth to sin!

I pray that I stop this sin dead in its tracks before it has the chance to grow, because as this verse tells us, it leads to eternal death for our souls. It was just a piece of fruit for Eve! It was just "fill in the blank" for me! All it takes is some very little desire, before it can grow and grow....into death.

Thank our Heavenly Father that we have gained the wisdom from Him to know when our desires are evil. I pray more and more for the strength to stand up against to the devil who pushes my desires on me and says its ok, even when I know its not. Strenghth against this is a wise thing to pray for, and I know my Father will arm me with all I need to defend myself against those evil desires that live in me.

May God equip you today and everyday with all you need to live for Him!

Every good and perfect gift is from above.

After watching a brief video by a woman who is explaining the chapters of a book she wrote, I was convicted about a more recurring thought that dwells in my mind. Sometimes I'm not even aware of it, or I just brush it off, but sometimes I let it linger and fester. It is the voice of people who have or do expect things from me. It's that liar voice that says, "You're not good enough. Why don't you have your degree yet? You have wasted time. You are a loser. You failed again today at being a godly wife, daughter, or friend." I listen to these lies. Instead of meditating on "whatever is true," at times I allow these garbage thoughts to pervade.

When it comes down to it, they are selfish thoughts! They are about me, and what I think others think about me. I am feeling sorry for myself, and sorry for those people who supposedly expected more, needed more.

The truth is, though I may not immediately accept it--I am a success. Jesus makes me perfect. When he sees me going about what I'm doing--successful in the world's eyes or not, with a heart that knows he's with me and helps me--he smiles, and when he sees me berating myself with these other lies, he cries. I'm sorry, God! Change me.

I really am getting to today's verse. haha. When I read that every gift is from above, I am reminded that I have something to be thankful every second of this day. I have limbs that function, an opportunity to learn, a brain that is not inhibited by major problems, eyes that can see sunsets and winter glitter that God is continually splashing before me, people who love me, the freedom to worship, a warm apartment to shelter me from the cold we've been getting, but better yet--peace in knowing that I am reconciled with God, a home in heaven (as Jess reminded us:), no fear in death. And sometimes there are other gifts--trials that are carefully orchestrated to shape and mold me. They are not to break, but to build. And to point me toward the one who has sent them.

When I think about every gift being sent from my loving Lord, it makes my lense a little different. Things start to look different, maybe not rosier at times, maybe darker, but clear in the sense that I realize that each one is a gift. Whether it be an opportunity to love or solve a problem in love, or just to wonder at the beauty of this moment, the sun that is lighting up my ugly lampshade, for instance. It comes from my unchanging God who promises to work all these things--these gifts--for my good and for your good.

I want to have a thankful heart that praises God for the daily gifts he sends. I don't think there will be much time to dwell on the negative lies if I am thinking on the truths of how God is working for me--to save me, to use me (though I will fail him at times), and to show me his grace in small, beautiful ways, in a hug of forgiveness (they are his arms! of love), in the glitter of some windy snow (it is his crystal mirage!), in the daily provision of food and warmth, in the trial that makes me cling in prayer. He's there.

editing note

I didn't mean to end my prior post with "He's sneaky." lol...that was a typo that I had written before and forgot to delete. sorry

James 1:15

Thinking on the verse from Peter that Caitlin ended with and the verse for today, (though it is much more fun and comforting to think on what God is like), I am reminded about the nature of Satan, and this is important, too, to know what we are up against.

I am reminded that he's not looking for a 180-degree turn-around from us. He doesn't whisper in my ear, "Paula, come and serve me," and I'm like, "Yeah, sure thing, Satan. I'll turn my back on my Savior and be your servant for eternity." But he does whisper in my ear, "Don't start your day with the Word. You should tend to your e-mails first. Routine is over-rated." Or, "Good, job, Paula, you got through the day rather well." Funny thing is though, God gave me any ability in this day that helped me to succeed in small ways or make it through it (every gift is from above...). He deserves my thanks and adoration. He whispers, "Don't you think you should take some time for yourself? You've earned it." Or, "Wow, what do you think of that woman? She's pretty rude." For all I know, that woman might be going through some pretty tough things right now, and I ought to think the best and graciously understand her and be there for her.

God, please arm us for his attacks. He may be a furtive, conniving beast, but you are our strong refuge, a mighty compassionate warrior of love who has and will continue to best that old devil.

He's sneaky.

James 1:15

I would like to share with you what my commentary says on today's verse:

"The carnal part of man, his evil nature, the tendency and desire for all that is wrong which he has inherited from his parents, is continually beguiling, alluring, enticing, deceiving him, trying to lead also the Christians into various sins against all the commandments of the Lord.

If this lustful condition of the heart succeeds in making an impression on the mind, in overcoming any objections which the new man or conscience may have to offer, then it will break forth in actual sins. And if this sin is not hindered in time, if it is not overcome and suppressed, if it takes possession of the body with all its members, and works its own will in the person concerned, and thus reaches its full maturity, then the end will be death, eternal death, unless such a sinner returns to the Lord in true repentance.

(The picture of alluring to sensual sin, of attracting as with the wiles of a prostitute, is maintained throughout, in order to show the insidious nastiness of sin.)"

~Kretzmann

Serious stuff to think through and pray about. I am aware of those sins that over and over entice ME, that drag me down and out relentlessly. I am aware that I am not exempt from being overcome by them to the point of dying from them and losing my faith! For this reason, I pray all the more for a sharp and alert conscience, and to stay close to the Lord, because without Him I am too easily swayed.

"Be self-controlled and alert; your enemy the Devil prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith....And the God of all grace...after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you, and make you strong, firm, and steadfast."  1 Peter 5: 8-10

Sleep sweet, girls :) 
~Cait

James 1:15

Being a creative writer, I love the imagery that the Bible uses. I think metaphors and word pictures are so incredibly effective when put in just the right place. They help us really grasp the meaing of a concept and spin it in a new light. This particular verse evokes quite a startling image of sin as a fetus being conceived. After reading some commentary on the subject, I found a certain point that I thought I'd share.

This whole first chapter of James focuses on trials, what they mean and how to deal with them. The outcome of a trial can go one of two ways.

Trial --> testing --> perseverance --> maturity

Trial --> temptation --> sin --> death

Now obviously our Father wishes that we choose the first route, because that ultimately leads to our faith being strengthened and drawing us closer to Him. So often, though, we take the second option. Not necessarily because we consciously choose to disobey God, but because we are sinful and our nature instinctively does what is contrary to God's will. When I read this verse, sin and its effects are broken down into very vivid terms, making me want to avoid it at all costs.

Sometimes it pays to look at life's word pictures. They can make all the difference.
Have a wonderful day, my chicas. It's Wednesday. We're on the downhill! :)

James 1: 12

Verse 12 is one of my favorite verses. When we are in the middle of a bad day or week, and things are NOT going how we thought they would go or how we would want them to, God's promise of salvation makes everything better. I read this verse before going to evening chapel yesterday, and the theme of chapel was perfect for these verses. During the message the speaker said, "When I think of Heaven, I can't help but smile." He went on to say that everything we go through on earth is absolutely nothing compared to when we finally get to Heaven. When we get there, we won't remember how bad certain days were and how many tough situations we went through. After listening to him talk about Heaven, it reminded me of the hymn "I'm But a Stranger Here." Countless times God has thrown this hymn my way on a day I needed it. When we sing this hymn in church and in chapel, the words almost never fail to bring tears to my eyes.

"There at my Savior's side - Heaven is my home.
I shall be glorified; Heaven is my home.
There are the good and blest, those I love most and best, and there I, too, shall rest; Heaven is my home.

Therefore I murmur not; Heaven is my home.
Whatever my earthly lot, Heaven is my home.
And I shall surely stand there at my Lord's right hand.
Heaven is my fatherland; Heaven is my home."

Today in my fine arts class we had to listen to a 20 minute cantata... The English translation was on the screen, and while I was doodling in my planner I looked up to see

"My heart, compose yourself, God is faithful."

God speaks to comfort us in a gentle whisper sometimes. :)

Blessings on your week ladies!

James 1:13-14

When we fail, it seems to be natural for us to blame someone else. We don't want to be responsible for our own failure. We like to think that we aren't the ones to blame. Therefore, it must be God who is allowing this temptation. But in truth, God can't be the cause of the terrible things we do. God is all good and can have no contact with evil things. He has no desire that any person should do wrong things.

BUT... God does test his children. He tests to prove us genuine, not to make us purposely fail. That is the sole reason behind the trials we go through, to strengthen our faith and give us more ammunition to use against the Devil's ploys. God's tests are not only to prove our genuineness, but also to draw out something that is not yet present in us.

This is why our trials can be a time for rejoicing. How many people today suffer in trials of many kinds, thinking that the issue is whether they have the faith to pass the test? The amazing reality is that God will use the trial to develop something that they don't possess yet. James says, Be happy about that! You are learning :)

The source of the temptation is in ourselves. The fault is in the desires and the weakness of our human nature. We sin and we have no excuse for that sin. It's our own choice and we are responsible for it. Our desires tempt us. They make us want to do what we know to be absolutely wrong. And it is our weakness that traps us, again and again, and again.

Grace, enter stage right. The completely wonderful and unbelievable thing about sin is that it won't ruin us. We've been given a way out, a get-out-of-Hell-free card, called Jesus. He came and lived our sin for us, so we wouldn't have to do it for eternity. Now, ladies, I know we all know this. It's been drilled into us since Sunday School. But sometimes, at least for me, reading it like this, in the context of a close-knit and supportive sisterly blog, makes a lot of impact. And I pray that God gives me the right words when the opportunity comes to say these very same truths to someone who has never once heard them.

James 1:12

This verse is great encouragement to me today. After a restless sleep, waking up to Monday morning looked quite bleak. I said a prayer as I got ready, asking God to bring me joy despite everything that is crowding my plate today. Then I read this passage and took a deep breath. My Lord says, Courtney, you are blessed when you push through these hard things called trials. I give them to you for a reason, because I know you are strong and can learn from them.

Does it not seem that only in retrospect do our problems and miseries seem positive somehow? After we've weathered the storm, we look back and remark, wow, that really DID help me! I see the lesson now! Just once, I'd like to have that clarity in the midst of my suffering. I would love to be able to endure the pain, while smiling and thinking, this is for a reason, this is for a reason, and God still loves me. After all, isn't that what He asks of us?

No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. (Hebrews 12:11)

Thus, this is my plea and my hope...that God will strengthen me by His grace and unfailing faithfulness to see th light in the middle of the storm. To keep my eyes on that light above all else, and have the courage to smile and be happy in my heart, because I know it is for a reason, for an ultimate good.

James 1:13-14

Good morning!
The sun is shining here for us, and it's a gorgeous new day. I have my coffee and a quiet place in the office this morning to take my time on today's study. I don't work today; it's so nice to not have a time limit some days!! :) I hope you're all enjoying the start of the day as well.

Verses 13-14 are very familiar to me, as they probably are to all of you. But for the first time today I found an interesting word there. "Dragged". To me, being dragged away symbolizes an unwillingness to go. Being unwilling to go with your own sinful desire...?
Once again this reminds me of the massive battle going on every minute between our Old and our New Selves. Barren, dark, loneliness in who we used to be, fighting the Christ, light and freedom in our New Person.

In a sense, we've ALL got split-personality disorders. haha

But really, to live like that, constantly arguing with yourself, shoving that "little (really not so little!) devil" off your shoulder every other second, can be exhausting! I've thought in the past that going through this means I'm weak in my faith. But it's important to remember that we're weak in our faith if we're NOT fighting our Old Self. If we're NOT harnessing God's almighty power to fight it.

Rather, it symbolizes strength of faith and desire to be close to the Lord when a serious war is taking place regularly.

Our lust, our discontent will put us in this situation our entire lives. I am so excited for the peace that will be experienced in heaven just from having the battle over with. Thankfully, the real battle is won already, even now. That's why, when I may lose in the daily fight against Old Self, I am still considered His daughter and dearly loved. Where would we be without that???

So girls, be encouraged: The fight, the constant convincing yourself back to what you KNOW by faith is better and right, is not in vain. In fact, it proves that you are ALIVE. It proves that you are growing, and that, by Christ in you, you are becoming a fruitful, blossoming tree of beauty.

"Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine."  John 15:4

Have a lovely day, everyone! :-)
Stay warm in His love,
~Cait

James 1:13-14

God cannot tempt us--it is Satan who is the evil enticer.

Just as Jesus was tempted in the desert, so Satan has and will continue to tempt us. But just as Jesus had a way out, so too, do we. Jesus could have summoned his divine strength, but he chose to combat Satan's attacks with the word of God, the same word that is at our fingertips (I Corinthians 10:13...But when you are tempted, he will...provide a way out...). For me, many times it is at my fingertips, but not at my lips. I pray God will write his words on my heart so that I can be better prepared for Satan's attacks. One of the reasons I like this study is that I feel I will really know the contents of James better when we are done. There are so many verses that are on my heart, but many times, I don't remember where they come from in the Bible. I think studies like this will help. Better yet, why have I stopped my Catechism memorizing? I have always been convicted to be memorizing some Scripture, but I have never succeeded to make it a pattern in my life. This verse from James has renewed my desire.

When we give in to our evil desires, we are not serving God. We are serving Satan's desires. It's kind of scary to think of it that way. I'll never forget the time I read The Screwtape Letters. I didn't even finish the whole book because it was so true! the way the Satan works to skew our thoughts, and it was scary. But we have no need to fear, because God has him on a chain. Coming up in James 3 is a verse reminding us how Satan is flees at the name of Jesus:

"Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you." No, God is not our tempter, he is our all-powerful, ever-present helper, and he will win the battle for us.

James 1:12

Our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. (2 Corinthians 4:17)

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. (Galatians 6:9)

...let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."

There are so many people that don't have this prize to look forward to, and when the run gets rough, they seek temporal things to soothe their aching souls--someone or something to blame, music or another medium to numb them, some worldly cause to help to make them feel better, approval from men, etc.

Though I have this prize, I sometimes fail to live in gratitude of it. God has given it to me, and I cannot do anything in this short life to measure to attaining to it, but I can live in thanksgiving for it--thanking God for whatever gift he sends--be it mundane circumstances, light, persistent troubles, a heavy burden, easy leisurely days, or difficult decisions. He sends them that I might keep sight of the prize and the one who has won it for me.

I do not want to seek temporal things--food or approval from men or the other weaknesses I am inclined to. When I thank God and live, racing by the light of his love, others may see it and wonder at the hope I have. We are so blessed! Praying that we can live in thanks for the one who suffered that we might have the crown of life.

James 1:12

When I read today's verse, I looked into the word "crown" a bit more, and found in the footnotes that this word in Greek was used to describe the victory wreath that was placed on the head of a winning athlete or military leader. In other words, it was their trophy, their honorable mention. Reading the part about the athlete brought to mind competing in a race. There's the one person who will possibly burst out at the start and then her energy will disappear and she'll just give in and rest or walk to recover, and maybe go in spurts like that. There's the other that will half-run without giving it much thought. Then there is the one that knows that there is a very important, beautiful trophy at the end and purposes to run with a plan and persevere despite the burning muscles and the aching feet and arms. This one knows that the reward will be that much sweeter if she goes all out and does her best every minute, not once giving up to the "weakness" associated with walking.
When I ran a half-marathon last year, I can distinctly remember seeing these sorts of competitors. Unfortunately, I was part of the first description. I wasn't fully prepared for it, and I fearfully gave into my pain and soreness towards the end, wondering if I would make it otherwise. And I have to admit, when I crossed the finish line with all the cheering around me and with someone immediately there to put a medal around my neck, I felt a bit undeserving. I still felt joy and accomplishment, but it wasn't the same, I imagined, as the joy I would have felt from pushing myself more through the times of pain.
This is a way I understand today's reading.
A person who calls herself a Christian may go halfheartedly through her faith life or go in erratic spurts of strength and weakness of faith, giving into the world and it's trials often. When God calls her home, she'll repent and I'm sure she'll be in heaven.
Then there is a Christian that perseveres, that lets trials test her mettle, that faces them with joy because she understands the quality of her reward for doing so. When God calls her home, I just wonder if her joy and reward will seem all the more wonderful?
I see verse 12 as God holding out for us our inspiration, if you will, to persevere in our earthly, difficult lives of faith. He knows that we are weak-willed humans without his strength, so he offers it like armor for the battle.
I pray today that God would give me a better daily vision of this crown of life, our reward, so that I may claim it with exuberance and joy on the day he calls me home.

Like they say, live today like it could be your last. :)
By his power, girls, I pray you do!!

Have a beautiful new week!
Cait

Spent

It's Sunday night, and well...I'm completely spent. It's been a trying day, trying week. I've worked hard to do what I'm supposed to do and be the woman I want to be, and yet I've fallen short. Again. And I cry tonight... I cry in frustration and sadness and almost hopelessness. I cry to a God that I know understands my tears. So tonight, as my eyes grow heavy and my heart still heavier, I search for healing, because I am in desperate need of it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFUHrXfuNU4