Wednesday Night Bible Study 4-27-11

Last nights Bible Study was eye opening for me and I just wanted to share my notes.

James 1 (BOLD is my translations for better understanding)
 1 James, a bond-servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,
      To the twelve tribes who are dispersed abroad: Greetings.

      2 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, (count it as a positive thing even though it's a negative experience) 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

      5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord,8 being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

      9 But the brother of humble circumstances is to glory in his high position (position of being a child of God); 10 and the rich man is to glory in his humiliation, because like flowering grass he will pass away.11 For the sun rises with a scorching wind and withers the grass; and its flower falls off and the beauty of its appearance is destroyed; so too the rich man in the midst of his pursuits will fade away.

      12 Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.


FROM CRISIS TO THE CROWN


James 1:2 - Trials in the will of God are to be celebrated, your faith is being tested.
James 1:3-4 - Finish the exam. (I've wondered all this time why I keep getting the same issues to arise in my life.  Could it be that before I completed the exam I gave up?
James 1:5 - Ask for wisdom (the skill to apply Biblical truths to practical life).  Look for wisdom and expect it!!!
Wisdom is not given to deliver you from the trials, but to navigate you through the trials.
Ask for wisdom in faith, no doubting. (Now all this time I thought this was pertaining to the "feeling" of doubt.  I was so overwhelmed with peace as Pastor Evans shared a nugget with us last night.)  In this context, doubting is referring to questioning God's Character and WHO HE IS!


Don't weight your view or others views and opinions with God's view or opinion.


James 1:9-10 - Praise for what God is doing.  Move yourself mentally out of your circumstances and praise for the spiritual growth during this time.  Don't look at your circumstances or lack, but glory in the fact that you are a child of God.  Take your eyes off of stuff and put your identity in Christ.  


Know that when you are going through a trial, God is showing you special attention.  He is developing something in you that you lack.  (Thank you God for all this special attention you have been giving me!!!!!!!)


James 1:12 - In the end, after you have persevered and endured under trials, after your faith has been tested and you have grown in that area that God was stretching you in spiritually, know that God has a promise of a crown of life waiting for you!!!!






I pray this blesses someone else.  I know I was literally sitting on the edge of my seat last night, as I felt God was speaking directly to me.  So today has been filled with praise.  I've been praising Him through these various trials, but I've also asked many questions too.  I think I'll set the questions to the side for a while and rejoice in that fact that I AM HIS CHILD and in WHO HE IS!!!!  Because as I look through His Word....if God said it, I believe it, and that settles it!!!!!  Listen to this video, but please pay close attention to the words towards the end!!!!!  Be Blessed

Can I Just Tell You About HIS Goodness and HIS Mercy?????

On April 4th, our water and lights were to be disconnected.  Each day we awoke with the blessing of them both still being on.  We were grateful for each days provision and we've learned never to take ANYTHING for granted.  We awoke on the 12th and had water until noon.  Thankfully we had filled all of our 5 gallon jugs with water the day before....remember each day we prepared because we had no idea when we would not have either.  I began to understand something through my prayer times, that this was going to happen for a purpose.  On the 13th, well after noon, the guy came to disconnect the lights.  He was VERY friendly and compassionate.  He wanted to make sure we had done everything we needed to do before he cut the power.  He continued to ask if we would be ok.  After assuring him we would be just fine, he cut the power.
This was our "camping" trip at home and our encounter with God.
Each morning and afternoon, we ate fruit and veggies.  Dinner we cooked on the grill each night.  Let me tell you, we had to get creative because we only had one cooler filled with ice as our fridge.  No freezer in sight, we ate lots of grilled veggies, veggie sandwiches, and occasionally we had meat.  Grilled veggie pizzas; humus, alfalfa sprout sandwiches; grilled egg plants with mozzarella cheese; sauted green beans; grilled loaded baked potatoes; roasted corn on the cob;  and for Easter, we enjoyed grilled leg of lamb, roasted corn on the cob, and roasted rosemary potatoes.
We filled our lanterns with oil and read by lantern, we laughed and we laughed some more.  We were busy by day and went to bed early each night.  We really had a great time for those 12 days.  God did an amazing surgery on my heart and faith.

Over the last few years, I've learned to take NOTHING for granted.  This would have literally killed someone else, but the enemy had no clue what God would do.  What satan meant to use to break me, God used to strengthen my walk and faith in Him!!!

The water was only off for 2 days, so we didn't have to worry about hauling water to and fro.  I'm a firm believer we can make it without electricity, but water is another thing.  Not many knew of our situation and once again, it was just as God wanted it.  Much prayer and trusting that God would provide and take care of me and my children....and HE DID!!!!

Thursday I got a text from a dear, sweet friend.  She said her husband had gotten a larger than expected commission check and they wanted to tithe to us.  This tithe allowed me to pay our water bill thru June, car insurance, car note, purchase items we needed in the home, AND get our lights back on and paid up to June!!!!!!  Not only did we get out lights back on, but our hot water tank was not heating our water even though we put in new heating elements TWICE.  However, when the power came back on, WE HAVE HOT WATER!!!!  Can I tell you how we rejoiced because we no longer have to boil water!!!  I jumped and shouted and jumped some more.  We clapped, we danced, we totally rejoiced!  God truly is an awesomely, amazing God!
We are believing that He will also provide for our mortgage.  We have learned He is MORE than ABLE.
There is no God like my God!!!!!!!!!
Now, to continue in my growth with Him and to get busy with some sewing!

Maple Syrup Giveaway!!!! YUM

Joyful Chaos is hosting a neat give away.  I myself have just started using Maple syrup in just the last 6 months and I didn't know what I was missing out on!!!!  Check it out...

He's ALWAYS able!!!!

Well, Monday, April 4th has come and gone.  The lights and water were to be cut off on that day.  However, here it is Friday, April 8th and we still have lights and water!!!!!!  Praise Be To God!  I don't know HOW He's done it, but I'm ever grateful and in awe.

Keep praying for us!!! He's not done yet, this I do know.

I've been staying busy sewing and trying to come up with new things to put in my shop.
I've also been spending more time with my Savior and in worship.



Now I'm off to bake some homemade biscuits!!!!

God IS able and re-learning how to trust Him has been/is a journey, but one I will be able to pass on to my children's children!!!

Season of Growth

This morning as I was driving the little yellow school bus...is it really yellow or orange yellow????

Oh, sorry, I digress...I distinctly heard the Lord speak to me that this would be a season of growth for me and my children.  That we are not to fear or worry.  

How long will this season last?  Only God knows.  However, for the first time in days, maybe even weeks, I felt a smile reach my heart.  

He knows, He cares, and we will be ok.  Now, let the "camping" begin!!!!!! 

Surrender

I KNOW what I want, but ONLY YOU KNOW what is best for me. I surrender my dreams, desires, and will to You. Whatever You would have me to do, I will be obedient to walk it out!


This is my prayer and my heart. 


I know I want to finish homeschooling my children.  I want to continue living in the country.  I want to continue living off the land and raising animals for our food.  I want my marriage and family restored.  I want to be home with my children and work a job that is flexible enough to allow that.  I want to live in a nice home.  I have certain dreams for my children. 


However, I have come to realize that what I want and what God wants may very well be two different things.  I've been praying for God to deliver me from my hardships, but God just may want to deliver me IN my hardships.  Do I want to go through more trials, tribulations, or suffering?  NO, yet He's building my faith and character through them all.  


This by no means is easy.  It hurts.  It's a bit scary.  Yet I am weary of it all.  His will, guidance, direction, and protection is all I seek at this point.  So please pray with/for me as I humble myself to His will.  I earnestly want Him to show me what my steps should be and when I should take them and help me to make those steps.

Perspective

As I sat here contemplating what to do after our lights, water, and internet are disconnected, I grew heavy with worry and fear.  Then I began reading some of the news about Japan.  Mind you I don't watch tv but about once a week, if that, so reading what I was reading sounded daunting.  It also changed my perspective.  

Yes, we will be without lights and water, but there will be many that lose their lives with those nuclear reactors failing.  God will make a way for us, but I'm pushed more to pray for them.  Pray that they know Jesus, so when the time comes for them to leave this earth, they will have an eternity with HIM!!!!  It also makes you think what about us????  Many in the USA have the mentality that this won't really effect us, but in reality, they are already finding increased numbers of radiation in some of the milk supplies.  

So if YOU don't know Jesus, I pray you take the time to learn of Him and accept Him and if you have do know Jesus, take time to minister to someone and bring them to Jesus.  Only He knows the number of our days!!!