James 2 from Amy

The first few verses were very poignant. Especially about looking at everyone the same. I did not get to watch it, but I know Michael Moore was on Oprah today and talking about be willing to pay more and wait extra to see a dr if everyone could have healthcare. While I would not love paying more for insurance, I fully believe that someone working a service job should have the same coverage as some big wig. We are all the same. And we should think of people the same. I know what it means to have plenty and I know what it means to barely makes the bills. Regardless, I am still the same person.

Oh how I pray I will always strive to be rich in the faith. May I always strive to seek only the things that bring glory to Him and not to myself.

Faith without works is dead. I always like the saying that says, "Preach the gospel...if necessary, use words." I have always found that when I am working toward a good cause, I always get ministered to while doing the ministry!

Ok, I have one more day of my real estate broker transition course and I think my brain is tired. Love you guys and pray you have a blessed weekend. Remember whose you are. :)

Beth Moore bible study

Hey girls. I am also doing the Beth Moore bible study on the tabernacle. This morning we were talking about how the Israelites were complaining when they were in the wilderness. They were missing the food they had in Egypt and wanted to go back and so God provided them with quail and manna.
It made me think of when we are in our version of wilderness and we want to go back to something just because it was familiar - good or bad - it was familiar. When you are going through so many new things and just want something that we know! I was thinking about all of us and how all of us are in new territories. Whether it be in jobs, school, having children, wondering what the future holds. Take confidence and gain peace in knowing that God can be the familiar thing to which you cling. Nothing that happens in your life is a surprise to Him. He knew the day I walked into that meeting room that I would be laid off. He knew that Dara would be trying to figure out what to write her dissertation on. He knows!
Also, we can take comfort in knowing that we have each other as a support system and the source of friendship and love. Be ASSURED my dear sisters that when you are going through the battles of life, we are here for you. Just like when Moses had to keep his arms raised in order for the Israelites to keep winning. He was so tired and Aaron and Hur came along side him and lifted his arms for him.
:) Love you girlies! Heading to the mountains this weekend for Molly's wedding!

Future "Doctor" Prayer Requests

In the very near future -- i.e., next week -- I have to determine a project on which to work during my internship this school year. I will be working with one of Harnett County Schools' Assistant Superintendents on the project. Related to this, I also have to determine a topic for my dissertation (which I will be working on this time next year!). Ideally, my internship project will align with my dissertation topic. In addition, I need to quickly identify the chair of my dissertation committee. These decisions are critical as I must live with both my topic and my chair for a long time and both have a direct impact on my ability to complete my dissertation in a reasonable amount of time.

So, the short story is I am asking you to please agree with me in prayer for guidance in selecting an internship topic, a dissertation topic, and a dissertation committee chair and for doing so in the right time frame.

Thanks for your prayers!

Prayer Request

Hey guys. Some great comments about James 1!

Prayer request: I am starting a study tomorrow or the effects of ginger in treating IBS. Hopefully I have been given real pills, not placebo. So, they have a few side effects, nothing major, but I would like to pray against any of them. I would love to hear that this is effective!
Also, for those of you who know Molly Tyson, she is getting married this weekend and we are going up for the wedding, so pray for calm nerves for her. Love you guys and I am praying for you!

Slow to speak, etc.

One more thing. I try to remember the "quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger." I think I'm slow to show anger but inside it can be a raging inferno especially at work. I have a lot of "holes in my tongue." So, I think I quote this verse everyday. It becomes challenging too b/c when a friend asks for your advice, you want to be slow to speak, yet, they are looking at you like "well, what do you say?" Not the popular response to say, let me think about it and get back to you. Although, this should probably be the case many times b/c it forces both parties to think on it and pray about it to get the right perspective and you know to ask for wisdom (see other posting hee hee). I'm rambling....

Wisdom and then some

When I read this a few days ago, I was remembering what I read months ago about wisdom. Although this skips ahead, I want to bring it up here. When I thought of wisdom, I always thought of understanding/intelligence/tools to make good decisions. In James 3:17 (I know we aren't there yet), it says wisdom that comes from heaven is pure, peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy & good fruit, impartial & sincere. This just adds to what you're asking for and it brings in to the notion that how much more will God give if you have His work in the forefront of the asking. In other words, yeah, it's okay to ask God for wisdom to make a decision on what to do here or there personally, but taking it a step further on going larger than personal gain from wisdom given. I feel like I'm not capturing in typed words what I'm trying to say and maybe you need wisdom just to understand what I've typed. It just put a new look on wisdom.
-In terms of Christina/Dara about believe you receive it and wondering. I hear ya. I think it's interesting that perseverence is before the asking/believing verse. Doubt will try to creep in and we have to persevere in faith and believe God is going to answer our prayers. We also have to persevere big time in keeping our ears open and "being still before God." It is hard when you pray about making a decision and you feel that you can't hear something for sure...at that point, it's continually seeking and taking that step of faith. I just put up a quote on the mirror "God stretches those who are willing to take the step of faith." I have been in a spot where I'm like "Lord if I'm stepping wrong, then I know and trust that you will bring me back/catch me."

Doubting whether or not I'll hear God

So, back to James 1:5-8. As I replied to Christina, I often wonder whether or not God will answer my prayer as I want Him to. But even more frequently than that, I wonder if I will hear God when he does answer my prayer. I so often feel like that "wave in the sea" when I trying to make a tough decision and I "cannot decide about anything". I ask God for wisdom, and I ask Him for clarity, but then I doubt my ability to hear Him. I think part of the problem is not taking time to "be still" before God. But even when I'm still, I still doubt.

What do you see in the mirror?

"...because he who doubts is like a a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind." (Jm 1:7)
I never doubt that God can do it, but I do wonder if he will do it. Is that doubt?

"but, each one is tempted when, by his won evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death." (Jm 1: 14-15)
So many times when I have found myself caught up in sin, I wish these steps (temptation, dragged away, enticed, conceive sin, birth sin, sin, death) would be as long and drawn out as this verse almost makes them sound. Unfortunately, these steps usually take about 30 seconds, if that.

Are any of your mirrors broke? I think mine is. Let me explain. In my head, I often think that I am much smaller than I really am. Then I look into the mirror and I get a puzzled look as if to say, "Are you sure, 'cuz I thought I was a size 9?"
James calls us to look into the mirror. What reflection do you see? Do you see a woman who knows what the word says or are you a woman who knows and does what the word says?

Amere's musings on James 1

Verse 2 is such a tough one for me...consider it pure joy when you face trials of many kinds. I find it difficult to initially consider it anything positive, much less pure joy! I feel like it has been awhile since I have felt true joy - except when I am with Josh and Karie. :) But I do relate to the next few verses about perseverance. I have had to work hard for everything I have gotten. I think if a lot of things came easy, I would not place as much value in them and the lessons learned would not have stuck with me.
Verse 19: man, that always steps on my toes - especially the slow to speak part - and not necessarily because I am going to say something bad. I feel like I should process what people say to me more before I offer back a comment.
James is so chock full of good stuff. I could take two verses and chew on them for a few days!
Love you ladies.

Hi Ladies! I'm just testing it out like Christina. This is new for me but I'm very excited. Love you all!

Testing, testing. Just trying to figure out how to post correctly. By the way, does anyone know the address for the fruit of the spirit verse?

In His Arms

So, I was laying in bed on Tuesday night picturin myself in the arms of Jesus. I looked into His eyes and realized that the only thing I could do was say, "I love you Lord" over and over.
So, then the words to this poem came...may they be a reminder to you of whose your are and who has you always in His arms of love.

In His lap I sit and I am calmed by His presence and awed by His grace.
And the only thing I can do is gaze into His lifegiving eyes and say over and over, "I love you Lord, I love you Lord, I love you Lord."
And He hears me and He smiles and He wraps His arms around me tighter still.
Arms that were stretched out in sacrifice for me.
Arms that were open wide to welcome me home.
Arms that say, " I know, I care, I see, I feel, I hear, I answer, I forgive, I love."
Arms scarred by nail pierced wounds envelope me and my life scarred wounds.
His love pours out and heals me, but the scars remain; not to torture, but to remind me that I'm just sinner saved by His arms of love and filled by His grace.


Love you girls.

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