James 4:11-12

"My sisters, do not slander one another..."

"Only speak words that make souls stronger."

I had to apologize to someone for this just yesterday. I was speaking with a friend with a particular struggle, and I divulged to her that I have a friend who is also struggling in that way. I gave her name. Now even though these people will probably never meet, there is a chance that they could. It is good to be in the habit of not giving names when speaking of these things, unless the person has given us explicit permission. Though this doesn't seem like slander in the highest degree, it is not a way of building someone up, and, therefore, it is not right. We shouldn't talk about other people's struggles to others. It is not a way to defend their name. If they ask us to tell others that they might pray, too ,then that is a different matter, but we are not to say even the least unsavory thing of someone unless there is a perfectly loving reason for it. My intentions weren't wholly evil (I wanted my friend to know that she isn't alone and that I wish I could bear her burdens better), but I should have known better than to share my friend's name. I was not living up to what I knew was right. Once again, another chance to humble myself. I find this Christian life leaves room for a lot of asking for forgiveness!! Thank you God, that you do not forsake me when I fail you so often. Help me to live better for you...

James 4:9-10

I needed this weeks readings this week! Monday was not good for me - it was the not so friendly and happy time of the month for this girl, and unfortunately I let it get the best of my emotions. I depended on others around me to make me happy and make things better. Sometimes it's just easier to stay in the negative, feel-sorry-for-myself kind of mood than it is to make an effort to be happier and to turn to God's word. And it's ridiculous too, because I KNOW that turning to my Heavenly Father is the answer. He tells us that in so many ways...

"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. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded."

Reading this last verse was one of those times where you know you've read it before, but it feels like you're reading it for the first time... It just hits you, and makes you realize that God speaks to us more than we know, and more than we probably listen.

On Monday nights I have a night religion class. After everything that made my day hard, I went to class and the very first thing we did in class was listen to a presentation about what I was going through. It almost made me tear up because I know that God planned it exactly that way. I needed to be humbled, and be in God's word, and He showed me just that. After class I went to Compline, and once again was just what I needed. We sang Chief of Sinners Though I Be, and I feel like it goes well with today's reading about repenting to our Savior.

Chief of sinners though I be,
Jesus shed his blood for me,
died that I might live on high,
Lives that I might never die.
As the branch is to the vine,
I am his and he is mine!

Only Jesus can impart
Comfort to a wounded heart:
Peace that flows from sin forgiven,
Joy that lifts the soul to Heaven,
Faith and hope to walk with God
In the way that Enoch trod.

Strengthen me, O gracious Lord,
By your Spirit and your word.
When my wayward heart would stray,
Keep me in the narrow way;
Grace in time of need supply
While I live and when I die.

Jesus' love is the most comforting thing that we have. Praying that you all have a nice end to this week, and remember or Savior's love for each of us! :)

James 4:9-10

"Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. ¹⁰ Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up."

This verse reminds me of the underlying theme of Lent--repenting in humility to the Savior that did so much for us. There is a kind of paradox in being a Christian. The more we know about God, the more we realize how deeply we have failed him. It is a continually humbling experience. But he continues to cup our chin and "lift [our faces] up" again. He says, "You are my daughter whom I love..."

Hi girls,

I just wanted to say that I have been thinking and praying for you all! It's been quite the last few weeks, and I'm hoping to post tomorrow after one of my morning classes. Have a wonderful night everyone :)

James 4:7-8

Submit to God
Resist the devil
Come near to God
Wash your hands
Purify your hearts

The above is a short version of our verses for today that I want to keep at the forefront of my heart and mind this week - and always! Each phrase is a simple but effective instruction that leads to our remaining close to our Lord and being Christians of real, living faith. It is a tireless battle, a constant denial of ourselves - over and over and over - but rewards are found in doing so. God will be near to us, He will empower us and overflow our hearts with joy!!

Tonight, after a Lenten service, and soup and sandwiches around the table with hubby and my mama who came to visit short-notice yesterday :)...I am praying for more humility, and more grace. I need to wash my hands and purify my ever-soiled heart. Today's verses are quite appropriate for a mid-Lenten reading, how it reminds us of our short-comings and our serious need for our Savior Love.

Praying you girls let God's Word for today cut to the quick and speak to you where you need it most.
Love in Him!
~Cait

Vlog

Once again Courtney - from the original GMG website - hit the nail on the head in a way that I only wish I could! This video/post summarizes today's reading plain as day:

James 3:17-4:6 ...on Wisdom, Peace, and Contentment

Good morning!
I hope you don't mind I combine the last few days' readings into one post! Pete and I were gone from Thursday until last night in Wisconsin - I already explained a bit of what went on there. haha Thankfully our ugly car-towing situation is resolved and God brought us home safely! It was a weekend unexpectedly stressful and fun, like a roller coaster. I was given multiple opportunities to be fretful and worrisome and angry. I was also given many a chance to be grateful for the good bestowed on us by family and cheerful encounters with strangers. It was a bittersweet weekend; but after a 6 hour long drive home yesterday and recapping the previous three days with hubby, we came to the conclusion that all is still well and we are still so blessed. We realized the sad loss of many inward fights this weekend against anger and discontentment, but were brought up by the comfort of God's forgiving grace and love. Today we're tired but joyful at seeing what the Lord has in store for us in the coming weeks, and our trust is renewed that he will provide what we need in the way we need it.
Reading today's and yesterday's verses definitely reminded me of God's providence! James says that the Holy Spirit envies intensely any god we give more attention and love to than our Maker God. The commentary I keep close at hand said it well: "The Lord watches over the behavior of Christians with jealous envy..." He is not pleased when he sees us giving our devotion and love to worldly things and behaviors. He desires our humility and contentment with what he's given us, and doesn't leave us hanging there! He promises MORE grace to the humble, he assures us he'll equip us to live a godly life, even as we battle our selfish, proud desires for more and more for ourself, more to sinfully satisfy ourselves.
That's really where it all begins, in the proud, dissatisfied caverns of our Old Man's heart. That is where envy blooms, and hatred for those with more and better begins. It stinks up our heart and wells up and over into our lifestyles, our character. It shows itself in preoccupation with image, popularity, excessive shopping; it shows in how important entertainment, toys, social busy-ness is to us. It shows in how we try and try to keep up with the Joneses...after all, our treasure is where our heart is. There's no hiding that proof.
Last week, we finished up with the characteristic of wisdom. Those 7 character gems lead to a peaceful life, which, when I think of true peace, I think of contentment, joy, and humbly loving behavior. When I think peace, I think beautiful...calm...repose. A woman at peace is a remarkable thing! So am I wrong to assume that asking God for more of those 7 characteristics in my life that then I will begin to become more of that remarkable woman of peace?
I think it's a quite fair assumption. :) And consequently, God will use us women of peace for his glory - which is our desire and purpose in the first place! It's all so amazing how God sets out a list of standards that we ought to pray and strive for, and he'll in turn bless us with a quite beautiful and fantastic life of peace. His standards are set on the narrow, less-taken way, so naturally we should not expect to fit the mold of most of the women in the world around us...nor should that ever be our goal either! Just like we cannot serve both God and money - two masters - we cannot serve both God and the world. It might be easy for us to conclude that of course we don't serve money or the world! But I realize that is Satan whispering in my ear. I pray that God would help me dig into the very corners of my life and choices and help me to see where and how and when I am not completely serving only Him. Sin is seriously good at creeping in and hiding in little crevices, in subtle spots in our lives.
We need a magnifying glass on our lives. God thankfully will supply the strength and will help us do this!!

These were some loaded verses in the last few days! I am praying for God's kind of wisdom (those 7 qualities) this week, because I need that peace, I greatly desire that calm content that only flows out of a life fully connected to the Vine.

Praying the same for you girls this week! Please let us know what you're learning from James and any insight or encouragement you can give regarding wisdom and contentment. :) That's what we're here for, to help each other along the way of godly womanhood!

Love you all,
and hoping you steal a moment or two of this rainy Tuesday to spend with our Lord who loves you even more!
~Cait

James 4:1-3

"...your desires that battle within you...you cannot have what you want...you ask with wrong motives"

This section in James stood out to me, because it was the theme of a chapter I recently read called, "Conflict starts in the heart" from a book called The Peacemaker. It really hit me hard, this chapter in James and in the book, because it described anything that we think we deserve or must have as being an idol in our lives...things we want for ourselves, solely. It gave the example of desiring something good, even like an orderly home at the end of a hard work day (or orderly dorm room or apartment), not getting it, and getting upset and grumpy with the people that are not giving us what we want and think we deserve. It is not bad to desire things like an orderly home or appreciation for going out of your way for someone, but if we grumble and complain or treat others badly because we don't receive those things, then that is a sign of an idol in our lives. Do you have something like that? I feel that I deserve to be heard. When someone interrupts me or shows they aren't listening or just want to get their thoughts in and not try to understand, I get hurt and upset. But I don't have a right to do that. Firstly, I don't deserve anything. I am a sinner. And secondly, if that person does not listen, I am to use this turn in the conversation as an opportunity to love them and to listen, despite anything. When our hearts are selfish, when we think of what we want and deserve, instead of ways that we can best love others, we are prone to create conflicts or to fuel ones that have already begun. If we were only wanting to serve the Lord, without expecting him to give us nice things, credit or any other thing we think we should have in return, then we would not be disappointed or upset when they don't come through others or from Him. We could then be happy just to try to do his will and in all the wonderful things that he does give.

I pray that God would show me these idols that may creep up, and heal my heart that so often gives in to selfish desires, that he would help me to view conflicts that arise as opportunities to love, and that I would not expect things in return for loving. That's his awesome love for us. We cannot repay him ever!! But he lavishes his love on you and me anyway. I can't understand that.

...and Perspective

God is enough for our every trial. For some of us, an untimely towed car can feel like the end of the world. Some, though, are actually dealing with the actual loss of someone's life, someone dear to them. It's good to remember that "it could always be worse", but that in spite of that, God is the same God to the disappointed towing victim as he is to the widow grieving. He helps us in trials large and small, and helps us to see the blessing in the darkness. Truly, to God be the glory!
Here's something that brought me a healthy dose of perspective and I am in awe of such strong faith..

To God Be the Glory In Life and In Death

To be honest, I just cried and cried watching these two videos. It's a bittersweet, beautiful story. Again, HAD to share with you girls!

"Food" for Thought... :)

I found this shortly after posting my prayer request and it's interestingly comforting. Thought I'd share!

Prayer Request :)

Hi girls!
So when life gives us lemons, we're supposed to make lemonade, right?! haha Well this weekend has been a whirlwind and my faith has been tested and I'm trying to trust God with it all and I'm tired!
On Saturday morning (early, like 1 a.m.) our car was towed from the parking lot at Courtney and Clay's apartment, where we're staying this weekend in Milwaukee. We didn't realize it was gone until Clay looked outside the patio doors and said, "Um, guys, where's your car?" It was 11:30, most of us were still in PJ's and drinking coffee. Pete had to be to SEM by 2pm -the very main reason we took this trip - and the towing company was to close at noon. We all scrambled into Clay's car and raced downtown trying to find where this place was...we could see the parking lot where they were keeping our car when we turned down the street and then there was a train, crossing long and deliberately right in front of our very desired destination! It was 12:15 when we drove up to the building, and the not-so-kind lady inside informed us they were closed and would not open until Monday morning (when I work and of course Pete has school). But this lovely towing company made sure we knew it would cost us an additional $60 a night after the original $265 towing charge. So, $400 later and an unplanned extra-long weekend at my sister's house, here I am...struggling with trust and patience...and a bit perplexed - searching for the hard thanks in this situation.

Please keep us in your prayers as we take care of this in the wisest way possible and as we start a new week a bit haphazardly. Courtney and Clay have been so kind and giving to let us stay with them and to drive all over the Milwaukee area to help us accomplish what we came here for this weekend!! For that, I am so grateful. :-) To have a loving and understanding family is priceless!

Please pray that God would provide our needs, financially -specifically- and spiritually also, because mostly we're in need of peace and strong trust this weekend and in the weeks to come. Alot of changes and important decisions are in our near future, and while it is very exciting, it is also tempting to allow fear to rule the day and fill our hearts. God is in control and has a plan. I know this but it resonates faintly in my heart sometimes.
Thank you for any prayers you whisper as you go about your busy days; thank you girls, for being in my life and sharing my burdens!
Love you all - and I'll see you this week as soon as I can possibly escape with my Bible and laptop at home!! :)

In Him,
~Cait