James 1:18-27
Today was wonderful. We had the privilege of having an internet member and dear friend, Joy Ward, with us. We have prayed for her this past year as she was responding to God's call on her life and has been ministering in India, Malaysia and Singapore. I asked her to come share with us what she had learned about perserving in trials even when you know that you are exactly where God wants you to be. She shared straight from her heart and out of the scripture that we are looking at today.
She had three very important points to share with us about what God had shown her even when days were not going exactly as she had planned.
First from James 1:12 Joy talked about the blessed man that perseveres. She told us that at one point she did not feel very appreciated or feel that she was accepted to make much of a contributions where she was assigned. She realized that she was looking for man's approval and not God's. One day in prayer she said it was if the Lord said to her, " Joy, as long as your work is approved by Me that is all that matters." She quickly learned the important lesson of do all that you do as unto the Lord rather than man.
Secondly, she said she has learned to keep her eyes open to the little things. She called these, "this is why you are here moments." She said she had found that it is easy when you don't feel your gifts are being used to just shut down. What a tragedy it would be to just give in to these moment. Joy used examples of having the opportunity to witness to a taxi driver and then a girl that talked about the scales and balances that will get us into heaven. The girl thought if the good in her life outweighed the bad then she would get in. Joy took this perfect opportunity to share about God's grace. The girl responded by saying, "so I don't have to be afraid any more." The little things are big in God's eyes if we are proclaiming His Son Jesus.
Thirdly, Joy used the exact scripture that is in our lesson today. James 1:27 She said you have to keep doing and not sit down. God does not want us to be lukewarm. She has found as she keeps moving even when she does not feel like it that the Lord opens unimaginable door. She said staying in the Word is also vitally imporant.
That is what I wanted to talk about today, the Word and the power in it and how important it is to our every day life.
I am finding that even in the Christian community so little emphasis is put on the reading and study of scripture.
For as long as I can remember, I can not start my day without reading the Word very first thing in the morning. It is like breathing.
James talks about being quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger. He encourages us to put away all the oldness and wickedness of our old life. It is much easier to do these things if we have embraced and are rooted in the Word. The scripture backs up scripture so let us take some time and look at what these scriptures say about the Word.
I Peter 2: 1,2
John 8: 30-32
Jeremiah 15:16
Psalms 12:6
Psalms 119: 105
Colossians 3:16
Hebrews 4:12
I John 1:1-3
Look at these and pray that God show you what He wants you to see.
I love you all and will see you in blog world next week.
She had three very important points to share with us about what God had shown her even when days were not going exactly as she had planned.
First from James 1:12 Joy talked about the blessed man that perseveres. She told us that at one point she did not feel very appreciated or feel that she was accepted to make much of a contributions where she was assigned. She realized that she was looking for man's approval and not God's. One day in prayer she said it was if the Lord said to her, " Joy, as long as your work is approved by Me that is all that matters." She quickly learned the important lesson of do all that you do as unto the Lord rather than man.
Secondly, she said she has learned to keep her eyes open to the little things. She called these, "this is why you are here moments." She said she had found that it is easy when you don't feel your gifts are being used to just shut down. What a tragedy it would be to just give in to these moment. Joy used examples of having the opportunity to witness to a taxi driver and then a girl that talked about the scales and balances that will get us into heaven. The girl thought if the good in her life outweighed the bad then she would get in. Joy took this perfect opportunity to share about God's grace. The girl responded by saying, "so I don't have to be afraid any more." The little things are big in God's eyes if we are proclaiming His Son Jesus.
Thirdly, Joy used the exact scripture that is in our lesson today. James 1:27 She said you have to keep doing and not sit down. God does not want us to be lukewarm. She has found as she keeps moving even when she does not feel like it that the Lord opens unimaginable door. She said staying in the Word is also vitally imporant.
That is what I wanted to talk about today, the Word and the power in it and how important it is to our every day life.
I am finding that even in the Christian community so little emphasis is put on the reading and study of scripture.
For as long as I can remember, I can not start my day without reading the Word very first thing in the morning. It is like breathing.
James talks about being quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger. He encourages us to put away all the oldness and wickedness of our old life. It is much easier to do these things if we have embraced and are rooted in the Word. The scripture backs up scripture so let us take some time and look at what these scriptures say about the Word.
I Peter 2: 1,2
John 8: 30-32
Jeremiah 15:16
Psalms 12:6
Psalms 119: 105
Colossians 3:16
Hebrews 4:12
I John 1:1-3
Look at these and pray that God show you what He wants you to see.
I love you all and will see you in blog world next week.
posted by Glenda at
2:33 PM
4 Comments:
What a great study today! I am loving the book of James. and I loved seeing Joy! An added surprise today! What a sweet spirit. See you tonight at the smock sale!
Somebody was quick getting the notes up! It was a great time today and as always, I can't wait for next week. I especially enjoyed talking today about the POWER of the word!!!! Get some rest after your middle school madness. Love you!
That's so nice that Joy was there and able to share with everyone. I'm sure she had some good stories to share. Thanks for posting the update Glenda.
Girls, thank for letting me join in on your Bible Study! What an honor! Glenda, you have so much wisdom to share, and you never fail to share it in love, humility and gentleness. so thankful for you and your heart for Him.
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