James 1 from the message
2-4Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.
5-8If you don't know what you're doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You'll get his help, and won't be condescended to when you ask for it. Ask boldly, believingly, without a second thought. People who "worry their prayers" are like wind-whipped waves. Don't think you're going to get anything from the Master that way, adrift at sea, keeping all your options open.
James 1 from the NLT
2 Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. 5 If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. 6 But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. 7 Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.
I know I put the same set of verses up there two times. I love to read the bible from multiple sources.
About a month ago when Steph was hopping out of the van at school. She said, "mom I got the perfect Cd for you to listen to". At first I was like oh no, because if you know Steph you know she LOVES music, ALL music and has made herself praise cd's, happy cd's...my point she names her cd's and it is like a signature for her mood or train of thought. She realizes that music can be mood altering. So I wasn't sure what message she was sending me that day until she shut the door with an "I love you, mom". As the cd started I was like what is this, Ha!It was the book of James dramatized. I listened to it over and over for weeks. Then I began to read it in different versions. I have prayed that God would renew my love for His word and He has. I don't wake or sleep without reading it. It is like water to my soul.
Little did I know then that it was setting the stage for the last two weeks in my life. It truly has made my mind be undivided. I am solely single focused on what God wants in this moment. My prayer is how can I show love today? In what way can I obey and bring you glory?
I have had "a sheer gift" the last two weeks and "an opportunity for great Joy". My prayers are focused on the Lord helping me to stay undivided. Chris said either we are doing something wrong or this is a testing of our faith. (knowing full well what he believed) I said well, hun I have no control over the car breaking down, auto accidents that result in the van being totaled, chicken pox, allergic reactions or medical opinions of what is wrong with me or death of loved ones. He said correct! So stand firm knowing that the trying of your faith is working out patience in your life.
It is truly settling to know that God is in this moment with me. I know to some of you I might sound totally silly. But I HAVE TO BELIEVE. All the songs, post and comments on facebook have been my true colors coming out and I pray that not to look good for you but ONLY that God be glorified in all of this.
In the last two weeks, God has also used people to speak these verses to me. I am thankful for the "warm hugs from God" as I call it. If I have said to you - Thanks for being Jesus with skin on, its because to me in that moment you represented Christ in an authentic way. Thank you!
I am undivided and my attention is set like a flint on only one....the lover of my soul, my savior, Jesus
