Pondering On...

What Scripture are You currently pondering on?

For me, James Chapter 1 has been what I have been reading nightly.  Most likely because I am working through Beth Moore's study on James.  What marvelous and hard-hitting words are there!  I want to leave you with a few of the power-packed words that have resonnated wtihin my spirit over the past few weeks, and yet He is still using them to teach me daily.

 James 1:19-25

"This you already know, my loved brothers and sisters. 

Everyone must be

quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger;

for the anger of aman does not achieve the righteousness of God. 

Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness,

 in humiility receive the word implanted,

which is able to save your souls. 

But prove yourselves doers of the word,

and not merely hearers who fool themselves. 

For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer,

he is like aman who looks at his natural face in a mirror;

for once he has looked at himself and gone away,

he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. 

But one who looks intently at the perfect law,

 the law of liberty and abides by it,

not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer,

this man will be blessed in what he does."

I challenge you to chew on these verses for a few days....I am still chewing!!!  Have a very blessed day!

Learning and Studying

What are you currently studying?  

This may seem like a loaded question...

or possibly you may see it as a vague question....

can you specify the question please!

The bottom line is that we are all continuously in the state of learning...what you are learning makes up many different elements.  For example, just the other day I 'relearned' some history as I assisted my children in studying for their 9-weeks tests.   I am learning that just because potty training for my first five children went fairly smoothly, my circumstances are totally different with little number six...and pull-ups (that I used to fuss about people using) have become one of my best friends!  And I am learning about about my children, as individuals, daily.  As my girls and I played with the Mary Kay Virtual Makeover, I learned that my oldest is much like me - stays pretty safe in the zone of appearance...but Whoa, baby, my spunky little 7 year old...she is the one who will most likely want to dye her hair black (or silver!) with purple streaks when she's a teenager!

 I am in school at Liberty University, studying for my Masters in Management and Leadership, I have been learning about international business, organizational behavior...and a whole lot about myself as I have had to do nearly 50 personality assessments and write papers on the results of those assessments! (Leave a comment if you would like me to send you the link!) Now that was learning I didn't really want to do - but through that, God showed me the strengths He gave me, as well as those corresponding weaknesses He wants to work IN me.  Remember, He is in the process of making us perfect...He will not just leave us where we are!  :-) But, as I am learning in the Beth Moore study on James, of course we will not ever be perfect until we are with Him. 

Now...of those objectives above I am currently learning about...which ones am I studying?  Your first response may bed regarding my schooling and the Beth Moore study...but look deeper...

I am studying my girls when we spend quality time together, I am studying myself when I realize inconsistencies with 'how I used to do things', I am studying along with my children as I help them prepare for things in life - both for educational school and the school of life.

As we grow up, we aren't supposed to stop learning, yet many have that mentality.  The same is so true for our Spiritual life.  We should always be growing, learning....intentionally studying something new!  READ A BOOK, read a friend's blog, be proactive...what goes in those eyes and ears will affect you,  wouldn't it be wise to be intentional about what goes in then?

I pray you have a blessed day, and I would LOVE to hear what you've been studying and learning lately!  Maybe it's something someone else need to know as well!

Joy in the Midst of Anguish

Behold, all things become new....a refreshing look at the recent past - how good is our God?

(Feb 2012) - I am currently studying the Book of James via Beth Moore, this last week she encouraged 'me' to look on my life and evaluate any times in my life when joy and anguish resided in my heart at the same time... Or when the source of my anguish turned into joy?

My mind has been so overly filled lately with praise for all of those times-those situations He allowed me to go through. I finally see the Bigger picture as James says:

Count it ALL joy when you endure trials of any kind

knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.

Let endurance have it's perfect work making you MATURE and

COMPLETE lacking NOTHING.

James 1:2-3

He isn't saying we will literally BE perfect, He is allowing the PERFECT situations infiltrate our lives to make us who He desires us to be...so He can use us in more ways.

Read James 1 today and see what He reveals to you. Have a blessed day!