Sunday, October 30, 2011

James 1:7-8, For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;

For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. NKJV
A doubting heart should not expect answer to prayer from the Lord. How can one who doubts expect an answer? God may still answer, but when we do not fully believe that God will answer, how can we be surprised when He does not?

In my prayers by God's grace I will continually crush all doubt and I ask God to work in me as the master surgeon, cutting away all of those things which hinder my relationship with Him and produce doubt, which so often make my prayers weak and flimsy, hollow and without substance, 'safe' and 'small'.

I pray that God brings my heart to want what He wants for the reasons He wants it.

James 1:5-6, But let him ask in faith, with no doubting,

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. NKJV

God wants His children to act with wisdom, and to the best of my understanding would be quite happy with our asking for it. However, a doubting heart has no place asking, and no promise of receiving its request.

I have a two fold application from these verses, which I suppose follows nicely with their being two verses.

The first is that, while previously I had been keeping a small prayer notebook with me and asking the prayers I've written in it everyday, lately I have not been asking them after first grabbing it in the morning and forgetting about it later in the day because I switched to keeping it in my back pocket. The very first prayer I have written is, "Lord grant me your wisdom in action and thought. Let me bring glory to Your name." It makes me feel uncomfortable forgetting to ask for His wisdom beyond my own, and using my prayer notebook had been helping me remember to pray for other things as well and build up a stronger discipline of prayer.

I will be moving my prayer notebook into my front pocket again, even if the space is getting a little cramped with my wallet, passport and anything that would be a considerable problem to have stolen, so that I will be more likely to think of it later in the day and make sure to go over my prayers before sticking them in my pocket and thinking to ask them later.

The second thing I need to take from these verses is an exhortation to faith.

I began really praying for some of my friends a short time ago, and while doing so felt like I should try speaking with one of them about Christianity and what it really means to have a faith in God and Christ because some time after meeting her I found out that she 'used to be a Christian', but had since converted to Wicca. However, I was uncomfortable with it because I have never been very good at sharing the faith with my friends in the past, doubly so at the thought of our talk possibly coming to the subject of magic (of which, if I understand correctly, she does have tangible experience with), and the reality of her magic versus my God.

I asked God to help me, to use me in somehow opening her heart to a real relationship with Him and to trust and have faith in His guidance and support with or without some sort of 'go ahead' or 'confirmation' that I should speak with her. However, I was going to do that in the morning because it was late and I was getting ready for bed. At the same time, part of me was afraid that our schedule might delay my speaking with her and I was afraid of how time would affect my feelings and assurance.

Turning to my Bible I opened to Psalms 17, the first Psalm I was going to read that night (I have a nightly schedule for reading through Psalms in a month), and immediately looked at the words "Heed a just cause, O Lord, // Attend to my cry; // Give ear to my prayer which is not from deceitful lips. // . . . Let Your eyes look on the things that are upright."

I was still nervous, but resolving myself I unpacked my laptop and sent her a brief and unapologetic message asking about her change of beliefs.

I need to keep praying for God to give me the right words to say as our conversation continues and to trust in Him without doubting as time goes by, that He will answer my prayers and reach out to her heart.

Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling,
And to present you faultless
Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,
To God our Savior,
Who alone is wise,
Be glory and majesty,
Dominion and power,
Both now and forever.
Amen.

Saturday, October 29, 2011

James 1:4, let patience have its perfect work,

But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. NKJV
Well, I am already getting impatient. We helped Trevor and Erika move today which was really good, but we had planned to go to a children's hospital after lunch. The problem is that on our way home the streets were crazy with all the rain and it was decided that because of how difficult it is to drive our giant van in the rain and traffic we would need to cancel this first trip to the hospital.

At first it was really disappointing, but while writing my journal earlier today I realized that thanks to our plethora of free time today I had finally been able to finish unpacking and get everything organized without stress or rush as well as spend some time on Rossetta Stone to work on my Spanish and even get some cleaning done around the house.

I need to keep trusting God that He has a plan and purpose for our time, whether that means our doing something big and obvious or feeling unproductive and unhelpful (regardless of if it is actually true or not), and keep praying for His hand to be upon our work.

Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling,
And to present you faultless
Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,
To God our Savior,
Who alone is wise,
Be glory and majesty,
Dominion and power,
Both now and forever.
Amen.

James 1:2-3, My bretheren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,

My bretheren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. NKJV
We're having a rather easy time of it right now all things considered. I'm utterly exhausted, but the storm has in many ways shut down the city and the people we are working with have had to put the initial schedule they had planned for us on hold.

It is a hidden blessing for us; the roads are easier to get through because fewer people are out, the stores are less busy allowing us to get the hang of wondering around as a group without losing people, the work is much less physically tiring than was planned and because there is much less work the days are shorter and we can figure out how to buy the food we need and things needed around the house. This storm is a disaster striking Central America and I pray for the eternal safety of those affected by it, but I must also thank God for allowing us the time to adjust and settle in and become accustomed to some of the basics of Spanish before being swamped.

I need to remember that "all things work to the good of those who love God and are the called according to His purpose". Not only that, but also how God has often worked through disasters to bring in the lost sheep and light fires in the souls of the saved for His work.

When I am faced with "disasters" that seem to stretch me to my limits I must remember that God in His perfection has a purpose even for the pains of a sinful and broken world and will pray for a peaceful and prayerful heart that can face those times with eyes turned towards God and a mind that is receptive of the things He desires, both for me to do and for me to learn.

Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling,
And to present you faultless
Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,
To God our Savior,
Who alone is wise,
Be glory and majesty,
Dominion and power,
Both now and forever.
Amen.

I'm back!

Apologies to all for my long blog absence. We were so busy that I had trouble finding the time (or more accurately, 'making the time') to actually upload my Bible studies after doing them.

Lo Siento, I'll admit that in all the busyness I got lazy about sharing them. I will be uploading slowly to catch up so that those of you who read on a regular basis will not have a large number appear all at once, likely at a rate of two a day, starting today, for the next few days until the blog is caught up.

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

James 1:1, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,

James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,
To the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad:

Greetings.
I am gladly reminded of my position as a bondservant of my God and Savior. I will face trials and tribulations, attacks from the enemy and accidents on my part and on the part of others; some will be simple and some will appear more monstrous; some will give me very little trouble while others rub everyone and everything the wrong way.

I wish to focus on His blessings instead and be a willing vessel to be used for whatever He wants of me, regardless of how difficult of uncomfortable it appears.

At times I will be tired, or hungry, or even hurt, but I want to pray and remember what it means to be a bondservant; to work as a bondservant with a good and joyful heart of love and thankfulness.

I will also be going over my previous blogs that relate to being a bondservant as well as the notes I took during our time at Potter's Field Ranch as a reminder of what it means to willingly give all of myself to God, body, heart and soul.

Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling,
And to present you faultless
Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,
To God our Savior,
Who alone is wise,
Be glory and majesty,
Dominion and power,
Both now and forever.
Amen.

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Mark 1:2, I send My messenger

As it is written in the Prophets:
"Behold, I send My messenger before Your face,
Who will prepare Your way before You." NKJV
Although we are not a prophesied John the baptist preparing the way for the Messiah's coming, we are all messengers called to prepare the way into the hearts, minds and souls of unbelievers. Of course, it is the Holy Spirit who calls them to Christ, but by God's choice we are used to open the way for Him to enter into their lives.

I am going to be more mindful to watch for an opportunity to share the gospel in some way today, praying that God would make known an opportunity and give me His words to speak that, even if I can't see the fruit today, I might in heaven come to know that I was picked to play some small role in leading them to a relationship with Christ.

Lord give me courage. God willing, amen.

Now to His who is able to keep you from stumbling,
And to present you faultless
Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,
To God our Savior,
Who alone is wise,
Be glory and majesty,
Dominion and power,
Both now and forever.
Amen.

Monday, October 3, 2011

Mark 1:1, the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. NKJV
The beginning of the good message of Jesus Christ, the son of God.

It's only been one full day, but I can already feel how easy it would be to fall back into old habits for this week that I'm home.

Jesus is my Christ, my redeemer and my savior, He is the Son of God and God Himself in all His glory, majesty and power. I will pray continually for His guidance and influence in this time that I am home and all the days of my life, for His hedge of protection to keep all of us who are participating in the IGNITE360 program safe from the attacks of the enemy and that we would have a good times with our friends and family, being well exhorted by their words and love, and as fully prepared to leave as the Lord would have us as a part of His good work.

The message of my Savior is good, and I will be faithful and trust in Him who is great, beautiful, merciful, just and abounding with perfect love.

Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling,
And to present you faultless
Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,
To God our Savior,
Who alone is wise,
Be glory and majesty,
Dominion and power,
Both now and forever.
Amen.