tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246874322024-03-12T19:47:52.255-07:00Abiding Love, Abounding GraceWritings on the Abiding Enduring Love of Christ & His Amazing Abounding Grace towards us! A place to learn & remember how to Speak Life. Be Love. Shine On.
(Website includes the Abiding Love, Abounding Grace Blog + The Changing Our Minds Podcast!)~Karrilee~ from Abiding Love, Abounding Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06698176066735604032noreply@blogger.comBlogger1034125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24687432.post-51283277287367646522023-07-03T16:14:00.003-07:002023-07-03T16:14:14.775-07:00MUSIC - A Five Minute Friday post<br /><div class="post-header" style="background-color: white; color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><div class="post-header-line-1"></div></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-3792972600514893507" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><h3 class="post-title entry-title" style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 22.4px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0.25em 0px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px;"><b style="color: #134f5c; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">***</span></i></b></h3><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8224729198696399871" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-2762133847099488483" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-2504036818998041434" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8522841488703482155" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-5576419933994363330" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-4482879725388629576" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-7510089016879300257" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-5241062014499945178" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-4492690261735878951" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-96356580094704565" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8857992301946162048" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0.25em 0px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: medium;">Welcome to Five Minute Friday! It is a community of writers who write for five minutes flat, using a One Word prompt --a Flashmob of writers all leaning in and seeing what spills out as the timer ticks away! </span></div><div style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0.25em 0px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: medium;">This is a</span><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #783f04;"><i style="color: #52a0b3;"> Five Minute Friday</i><span style="color: #52a0b3;"> post</span><i style="color: #52a0b3;">...</i>and our Word Prompt this week is: <b><i>MUSIC!</i></b></span></span></span></div><div style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0.25em 0px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div></div></div><h3 class="post-title entry-title" style="font-size: 22.4px; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0.25em 0px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px;"><div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><b style="color: #134f5c;"><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">{GO!} </span></i></b></span><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><b style="color: #134f5c;"><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Op4e3X_6WvR74t2ngQefz_3Zzkw4IT_CsOn_Po1FXZQD9569Anu13A1C9vEfSFjRawiJbYE2MbfUKioAsp9fP_5iWeaBtxG-okW_QlVJ4G_RUm2lE40G0Gf3sq1MdVeRNBR5zebCUTegHqdcZuL55DNd-HTlDB9o2JtnC1IgF379dLsdWcEf/s940/IGNORE%20-%20FMF%20post.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="940" height="536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Op4e3X_6WvR74t2ngQefz_3Zzkw4IT_CsOn_Po1FXZQD9569Anu13A1C9vEfSFjRawiJbYE2MbfUKioAsp9fP_5iWeaBtxG-okW_QlVJ4G_RUm2lE40G0Gf3sq1MdVeRNBR5zebCUTegHqdcZuL55DNd-HTlDB9o2JtnC1IgF379dLsdWcEf/w640-h536/IGNORE%20-%20FMF%20post.png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div></i></b></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">I see the prompt and I can't help it! I am a lover of music and I am well aware of the power it has in my life! My first thought goes to how so many songs have the power to draw you back to a moment or a memory and what a gift that is/can be! </span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">While I love all kinds of music, it comes as a shock to no one that worship is my favorite! I'm married to a gifted and anointed musician... a worship leader who is intentional in creating space for the Holy Spirit to come... to interrupt... to take over. </span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-weight: normal;"><span><a name='more'></a></span><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">We long for those moments!<br /><br />All kinds of music can impact us, teach us, remind us, and recenter us... on a recent road trip to just get out of town and up in the hills, we listened to a playlist by Hollow Coves. #Swoon! Their music is so dreamy and beachy somehow... it begs to be the soundtrack of summer and it is so full of rest, too, that I think it will be on repeat for at least a month or two! </span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-weight: normal;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7rW4Dkpv-NkXrrITkv_srLCmBuqyKRJUlesFt3N4grGquQ6_L3YPrfCFcSowkCjHgcbotu6iYtSkje9jE9fuHemILUAmJnsILoXqLj2PU3LApgZ683cxF-myCgJbFk6sldtUfAyH2hHWLnOGL3SyI131T0PIG5rH75NKxxDiiC42HlQQcbQAU/s940/MUSIC%202%20-%20FMF%20post.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="940" height="536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7rW4Dkpv-NkXrrITkv_srLCmBuqyKRJUlesFt3N4grGquQ6_L3YPrfCFcSowkCjHgcbotu6iYtSkje9jE9fuHemILUAmJnsILoXqLj2PU3LApgZ683cxF-myCgJbFk6sldtUfAyH2hHWLnOGL3SyI131T0PIG5rH75NKxxDiiC42HlQQcbQAU/w640-h536/MUSIC%202%20-%20FMF%20post.png" width="640" /></a></div><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">I've been feeling the need and hearing the whisper to Come Away with Him again... I believe God is desiring to give the Body a season of Rest and I believe it is for a purpose. Not only does He see and know how exhausted and tapped out many are feeling, but He also sees the Season just ahead, around the bend, and He knows... He knows, you guys, that we need Rest and refreshing before we go straight (back?) into battle!</span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, times new roman, serif;">This thought, of course, leads me to the verse in 2 Chronicles where we learn that the worshipers were put out front, leading the way... </span></div><div style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, times new roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, times new roman, serif;">Music, man. </span></div><div><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, times new roman, serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span><i style="font-weight: normal;">You guys?</i><span style="font-weight: normal;"> It's </span><i>so</i><span style="font-weight: normal;"> powerful! </span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: normal;">We would do well to pay attention to the words and the message each song is sowing into our hearts and minds and spirits... and to intentionally seek out songs that build you up, encourage you, arm you with Truth and the Word and Love overflowing...*</span></span></div></div></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-weight: normal;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div><div><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><i style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18.72px; font-weight: 700;"><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></i></span></div><div><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><i style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18.72px; font-weight: 700;"><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">{STOP!}</span></i></span></div><div><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">As I used to preach to our Girlie in her growing-up years to pay attention to what the lyrics say! It matters! It <i>matters</i> what is getting in and influencing our thought life... music is a powerful tool! Let's be intentional about using it for good! </span></div><div><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrDwyG96ga33mxOfAogXAVJvmO2ZEkT9RcxNO-p2MaEWZaqXWWgq9Q7MESlTUf59R7N4RFtsrFDZzo0U1FBNsUFdlaK1Be7CEOiCBMm6-JgqABcMFdeDnveDuFftvDkjnajUIY5k_1WAsYBVSzeAImAMIfDyw-4t8ENGPgjERaiJ6gZEoTWHf5/s940/MUSIC%203%20-%20FMF%20post.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="940" height="536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrDwyG96ga33mxOfAogXAVJvmO2ZEkT9RcxNO-p2MaEWZaqXWWgq9Q7MESlTUf59R7N4RFtsrFDZzo0U1FBNsUFdlaK1Be7CEOiCBMm6-JgqABcMFdeDnveDuFftvDkjnajUIY5k_1WAsYBVSzeAImAMIfDyw-4t8ENGPgjERaiJ6gZEoTWHf5/w640-h536/MUSIC%203%20-%20FMF%20post.png" width="640" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">I encourage you all to pray into a summer playlist that stirs up peace and rest, joy and adventure... and listen to it on repeat as the summer unwinds!</span></div><div><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"><br />***</span></div><div><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"><br />What are some songs/albums/artists you love that speak life and hope and faith into you? Share in the comments below! Maybe we can create a playlist with some of the suggestions - or at least learn of some new to us artists/songs to add to the mix!</span></div></div><div><br /></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><a href="http://imageshack.com/i/neonf0j" style="color: #52a0b3; display: inline; font-family: merriweather; font-size: medium; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank" title="ImageShack - Image And Video Hosting"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEiLFgMaJyc1FCFWF1-rbi2WaWdIbSwgthHC6Fj7_EUykj5bBQwEC2VZshMfNOaT8OSgQTzmK1Obkaq_nA1WbRjiGyAoPXg-9kz8EwsrYfmc9F7bLQWheHNaDiFIMXFB2TwGidSJVomX=s16000" style="border: 0px solid transparent; padding: 4px;" /></a></div></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></div></h3></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="post-body entry-content" style="font-family: Merriweather; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><h3 class="post-title entry-title" style="font-size: 22.4px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0.25em 0px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="font-family: merriweather;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #45818e; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i0.wp.com/fiveminutefriday.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/FMF-Square-Images-Round-6-2023-06-29T202908.331.png?resize=400%2C400&ssl=1" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="400" height="400" src="https://i0.wp.com/fiveminutefriday.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/FMF-Square-Images-Round-6-2023-06-29T202908.331.png?resize=400%2C400&ssl=1" width="400" /></a></div><br /><a href="https://i0.wp.com/fiveminutefriday.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/FMF-Square-Images-Round-6-2023-06-01T192756.040.png?resize=400%2C400&ssl=1" imageanchor="1" style="color: #52a0b3; display: block; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><br /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #45818e; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i0.wp.com/fiveminutefriday.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/FMF-Square-Images-Round-6-2023-02-02T141456.006.png?resize=400%2C400&ssl=1" style="clear: left; color: #52a0b3; display: inline !important; font-family: merriweather; font-size: 22.4px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-size: large; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="color: #45818e;">Linking up with </span><span style="color: #45818e;">Kate Motaung and the #fmfparty Community today.</span></span></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #45818e; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i0.wp.com/fiveminutefriday.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/FMF-Square-Images-Round-6-2023-02-02T141456.006.png?resize=400%2C400&ssl=1" style="clear: left; color: #52a0b3; display: inline !important; font-family: merriweather; font-size: 22.4px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-size: large; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="color: #45818e;">Five Minute Fridays give us the chance to dive right in</span></span></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #45818e; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i0.wp.com/fiveminutefriday.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/FMF-Square-Images-Round-6-2023-02-02T141456.006.png?resize=400%2C400&ssl=1" style="clear: left; color: #52a0b3; display: inline !important; font-family: merriweather; font-size: 22.4px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-size: large; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="color: #45818e;">and share what He puts on our hearts!</span></span></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i0.wp.com/fiveminutefriday.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/FMF-Square-Images-Round-6-2023-02-02T141456.006.png?resize=400%2C400&ssl=1" style="clear: left; color: #52a0b3; display: inline !important; font-family: merriweather; font-size: 22.4px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-size: large; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><i>Click </i></span></span><span style="color: #134f5c;"></span></span></a><span style="color: #52a0b3; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><a href="https://fiveminutefriday.com/2023/06/29/fmf-writing-prompt-link-up-music/" style="color: #52a0b3; display: inline; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">HERE</a> <i>to read what others have to say about </i></span></span><a href="https://fiveminutefriday.com/2023/02/02/fmf-writing-prompt-link-up-ignore/" style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><i><span style="color: #783f04;">"</span></i><span style="color: #783f04;"><i>MUSIC</i><i>"</i></span></a><span style="color: #52a0b3; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">!</span></span></div></span></span></span></div></span></div></div></div></div></h3></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="post-body entry-content" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><h3 class="post-title entry-title" style="color: #52a0b3; font-size: 22.4px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0.25em 0px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: merriweather;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: merriweather;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: merriweather;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: merriweather;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;">*</span><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;"><i> -<span style="color: #783f04;"> This marks my Five Minutes. Grace, please, as I finished my thought!</span></i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #783f04;"><br /></span></i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #783f04;"><br /></span></i></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #783f04;"><br /></span></i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #783f04;"><br /></span></i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #783f04;"><br /></span></i></span></div></div></h3></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>~Karrilee~ from Abiding Love, Abounding Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06698176066735604032noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24687432.post-37929726005148935072023-06-02T17:13:00.002-07:002023-06-02T17:13:56.718-07:00QUICK - A Five Minute Friday post<h3 class="post-title entry-title" style="background-color: white; color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 22.4px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0.25em 0px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px;"><b style="color: #134f5c; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">***</span></i></b></h3><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8224729198696399871" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-2762133847099488483" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-2504036818998041434" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8522841488703482155" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-5576419933994363330" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-4482879725388629576" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-7510089016879300257" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-5241062014499945178" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-4492690261735878951" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-96356580094704565" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8857992301946162048" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0.25em 0px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: medium;">It has, yet again, accidentally been a while! But I found myself with an unexpected day off today - on a Friday, no less... so I'm back, joining in with the community of writers who write for five minutes flat, using a One Word prompt --a Flashmob of writers all leaning in and seeing what spills out as the timer ticks away! This is a</span><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #783f04;"><i style="color: #52a0b3;"> Five Minute Friday</i><span style="color: #52a0b3;"> post</span><i style="color: #52a0b3;">...</i>and our Word Prompt is: <b><i>QUICK!</i></b></span></span></span></div><div style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0.25em 0px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div></div></div><h3 class="post-title entry-title" style="line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0.25em 0px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px;"><div style="font-family: Merriweather;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-size: 22.4px; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><b style="color: #134f5c;"><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">{GO!} </span></i></b></span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-size: 22.4px; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><b style="color: #134f5c;"><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmBNKu2scLFFd4obhC9dMxt9hAJSX2yqwj1Rr0moGhICSouQ1k38zh6c0KD_fEt215ZjutJ9Opvmo-d4sPNwW0U047znh7Uvfma-umsdpmB4MOqfFMqng3XaO35D0RdPF3fr7OiVgY7eKtcYDUYBOUedtHEN67kUo8jXN3gg9Rgi0mDmyebQ/s940/QUICK%20-%20FMF%20post.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="940" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmBNKu2scLFFd4obhC9dMxt9hAJSX2yqwj1Rr0moGhICSouQ1k38zh6c0KD_fEt215ZjutJ9Opvmo-d4sPNwW0U047znh7Uvfma-umsdpmB4MOqfFMqng3XaO35D0RdPF3fr7OiVgY7eKtcYDUYBOUedtHEN67kUo8jXN3gg9Rgi0mDmyebQ/w400-h335/QUICK%20-%20FMF%20post.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div></i></b></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-size: 22.4px; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">It happens so quickly... Life passing by... Days turning into years... we Blink and milestones have come and gone.</span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-size: 22.4px; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-size: 22.4px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">We want to </span><i>slow. down. time.</i><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-size: 22.4px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-size: 22.4px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Just take a breath and give us a minute... </span></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-size: 22.4px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-size: 22.4px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Honestly, I can't wait until we are no longer bound to it --- this clock and this system that keeps us busy and distracted and pulls us down like Gravity when what our souls were <i>made for</i> -- what they <i>long for</i> is an escape into Eternity... longing for all the time in heaven, for all the good things (read: NOT 'things'!) that await us!</span></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-size: 22.4px; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-size: 22.4px; font-weight: normal;"><a name='more'></a><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">My Honey got a text the other night to help lead worship at a 55+ Small Group event at church and he grabbed his guitar and thought out loud, <i>"Hmm... what is the playlist for that set?" </i>and I literally laughed out loud! <br /><br />"Don't forget, Honey, --that is us! <i>WE</i> are 55+!"</span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-size: 22.4px; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">(Well - He is... not me! </span><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">Not yet anyway... but I'm getting closer!)</span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-size: 22.4px; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-size: 22.4px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">It's true though... we </span><i>DO </i><span style="font-weight: normal;">forget. Time marches on - and so often it feels cruel - either because we forgot to notice, or because we feel robbed of enough of it!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: normal;">Our Girlie is now in her late 20s and our Grand will be in school full-time next Fall. We blinked!? </span></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-size: 22.4px; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-size: 22.4px; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">(And I even know better!)</span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-size: 22.4px; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-size: 22.4px; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">Here is the truth that we can sometimes lose sight of: </span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-size: 22.4px; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><i><span style="color: #45818e; font-size: x-large;">Time is a gift. </span></i></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-size: 22.4px; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-size: 22.4px; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">Yes - it goes by quickly... but only if we let it! Only if we let ourselves get too busy, too overwhelmed, too rushed! If we stay fully present, we can slow time. That is what Ann Voskamp taught us, right? </span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-size: 22.4px; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: 22.4px; font-weight: normal;">Weigh it down... stay in the moment... drink it in!</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> *</span></span></div></div></div><div style="font-size: 22.4px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><i style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18.72px; font-weight: 700;"><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></i></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><i style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18.72px; font-weight: 700;"><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">{STOP!}</span></i></span><br /><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><i style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18.72px; font-weight: 700;"><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></i></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><i style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18.72px; font-weight: 700;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNqJiQl78GQpbeeesaesHEfPOM9imtTCtOYmO3p91k2Dd7-JN9fr6nzAo8ADTp5gluqSTHRitPjqUhBBX1kGonPgV5An1G8fS501LTSgiIXWc4KCBWJMuCG1406YxNgDxiLbYDJiloBIcuqnVByGmvthaRw7SbKqun-b9ahANK4l7D6xYBGQ/s940/QUICK%20-%20FMF%20post%20(1).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="940" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNqJiQl78GQpbeeesaesHEfPOM9imtTCtOYmO3p91k2Dd7-JN9fr6nzAo8ADTp5gluqSTHRitPjqUhBBX1kGonPgV5An1G8fS501LTSgiIXWc4KCBWJMuCG1406YxNgDxiLbYDJiloBIcuqnVByGmvthaRw7SbKqun-b9ahANK4l7D6xYBGQ/w400-h335/QUICK%20-%20FMF%20post%20(1).png" width="400" /></a></div></i></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-weight: normal;"><br /></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">May we remind ourselves to stay present, to intentionally slow, and to open our eyes and ears, hearts and hands to all the gifts God is placing in our path!<br /><br />May we see them, receive them, put them on, and put them to use! </span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Merriweather;"><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #783f04;">I was reading a devotional by John Mark Comer the other day and he wrote, </span><i><span style="color: #45818e;"><blockquote>"All we have is the present. The here and now. This moment, this pain, this joy, this gratitude, this surrender. And the more moments we slowly and gratefully turn over to God, the more we tap into his joy."</blockquote></span></i></span><span style="color: #783f04; font-weight: normal;">And couldn't we </span><i style="color: #783f04;">all</i><span style="color: #783f04; font-weight: normal;"> use a little more Joy?</span></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"><br />***</span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"><br />Holy Spirit, we're so grateful for the gift of You!</span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">Remind us to slow and to savor...</span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">to be fully present in the moment</span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">& ever thankful for the gift of Time. </span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">We long for Heaven & for freedom from</span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">the slavery of the ticking clocks & ticking bombs</span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">& all the rush & rambling that fills up the space</span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">& crowds out the quiet! </span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">May we breathe You in, </span><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">& hold You close,</span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">& hear your Love singing over us. </span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">Help us to slow time,</span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">to be mindful & protective of it. </span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">And to give it away...</span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">knowing how Quickly</span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">it slips through our fingers! </span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">Knowing that You alone are</span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">the One who gives it out...</span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">until You call us Home!</span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">In Jesus' Name,</span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">Amen!</span></div></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #783f04;">Friends, until next time (whenever that may be!), let's remember to:</span></span></div></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px;"><a href="http://imageshack.com/i/neonf0j" style="color: #52a0b3; display: inline; font-family: merriweather; font-size: medium; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank" title="ImageShack - Image And Video Hosting"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEiLFgMaJyc1FCFWF1-rbi2WaWdIbSwgthHC6Fj7_EUykj5bBQwEC2VZshMfNOaT8OSgQTzmK1Obkaq_nA1WbRjiGyAoPXg-9kz8EwsrYfmc9F7bLQWheHNaDiFIMXFB2TwGidSJVomX=s16000" style="border: 0px solid transparent; padding: 4px;" /></a></div></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 22.4px; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></div></h3></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="post-body entry-content" style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><h3 class="post-title entry-title" style="font-size: 22.4px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0.25em 0px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="font-family: merriweather;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #45818e; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i0.wp.com/fiveminutefriday.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/FMF-Square-Images-Round-6-2023-06-01T192756.040.png?resize=400%2C400&ssl=1" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://i0.wp.com/fiveminutefriday.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/FMF-Square-Images-Round-6-2023-06-01T192756.040.png?resize=400%2C400&ssl=1" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #45818e; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i0.wp.com/fiveminutefriday.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/FMF-Square-Images-Round-6-2023-02-02T141456.006.png?resize=400%2C400&ssl=1" style="clear: left; color: #52a0b3; display: inline !important; font-family: merriweather; font-size: 22.4px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-size: large; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="color: #45818e;">Linking up with </span><span style="color: #45818e;">Kate Motaung and the #fmfparty Community today.</span></span></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #45818e; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i0.wp.com/fiveminutefriday.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/FMF-Square-Images-Round-6-2023-02-02T141456.006.png?resize=400%2C400&ssl=1" style="clear: left; color: #52a0b3; display: inline !important; font-family: merriweather; font-size: 22.4px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-size: large; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="color: #45818e;">Five Minute Fridays give us the chance to dive right in</span></span></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #45818e; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i0.wp.com/fiveminutefriday.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/FMF-Square-Images-Round-6-2023-02-02T141456.006.png?resize=400%2C400&ssl=1" style="clear: left; color: #52a0b3; display: inline !important; font-family: merriweather; font-size: 22.4px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-size: large; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="color: #45818e;">and share what He puts on our hearts!</span></span></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i0.wp.com/fiveminutefriday.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/FMF-Square-Images-Round-6-2023-02-02T141456.006.png?resize=400%2C400&ssl=1" style="clear: left; color: #52a0b3; display: inline !important; font-family: merriweather; font-size: 22.4px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-size: large; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><i>Click </i></span></span><span style="color: #134f5c;"></span></span></a><span style="color: #52a0b3; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><a href="https://fiveminutefriday.com/" style="color: #52a0b3; display: inline; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">HERE</a> <i>to read what others have to say about </i></span></span><a href="https://fiveminutefriday.com/2023/02/02/fmf-writing-prompt-link-up-ignore/" style="display: inline !important; text-align: justify; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><i style="color: #52a0b3;">"</i><span style="color: #783f04;"><i>QUICK</i><i>"</i></span></a><span style="color: #52a0b3; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">!</span></span></div></span></span></span></div></span></div></div></div></div></h3></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="post-body entry-content" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><h3 class="post-title entry-title" style="color: #52a0b3; font-size: 22.4px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0.25em 0px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: merriweather;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: merriweather;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: merriweather;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: merriweather;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;">*</span><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;"><i> -<span style="color: #783f04;"> This marks my Five Minutes. Grace, please, as I finished my thought!</span></i></span></div></div></h3></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>~Karrilee~ from Abiding Love, Abounding Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06698176066735604032noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24687432.post-82247291986963998712023-02-26T21:07:00.000-08:002023-02-26T21:07:29.886-08:00ASSUME - A Five Minute Friday post<h3 class="post-title entry-title" style="background-color: white; color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 22.4px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0.25em 0px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px;"><b style="color: #134f5c; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">***</span></i></b></h3><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-2762133847099488483" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-2504036818998041434" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8522841488703482155" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-5576419933994363330" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-4482879725388629576" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-7510089016879300257" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-5241062014499945178" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-4492690261735878951" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-96356580094704565" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8857992301946162048" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div style="line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0.25em 0px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: medium;">I have missed this practice and community of writing for five minutes flat off of a One Word prompt --a Flashmob of writers all leaning in and seeing what spills out as the timer ticks away! This is a</span><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #783f04;"><i style="color: #52a0b3;"> Five Minute Friday</i><span style="color: #52a0b3;"> post</span><i style="color: #52a0b3;">...</i>and our One Word Prompt is: <b><i>ASSUME!</i></b></span></span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Merriweather; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0.25em 0px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px;"><div style="color: #664a29; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div></div></div><h3 class="post-title entry-title" style="line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0.25em 0px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px;"><div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 22.4px;"><b style="color: #134f5c;"><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">{GO!} </span></i></b></span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 22.4px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 22.4px;"><b style="color: #134f5c;"><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIac2lk36CSd70sjTMBeiQHO3VzWQK_Ga0Ge99TJcp91Ikq-MzwM8IwJ_eo84O0kaZxKBO9tT8R4e9AuTE2flVHaW3pytA78mPuUUM7L5gwyd7UafyyLRBrWADzFG5pJ7jnm4eFwskGuTasa3duFkaHz8m-18fdxr0Ng_65EJSTyMEeeFHlg/s940/ASSUME%20-%20FMF%20Post%201.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="940" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIac2lk36CSd70sjTMBeiQHO3VzWQK_Ga0Ge99TJcp91Ikq-MzwM8IwJ_eo84O0kaZxKBO9tT8R4e9AuTE2flVHaW3pytA78mPuUUM7L5gwyd7UafyyLRBrWADzFG5pJ7jnm4eFwskGuTasa3duFkaHz8m-18fdxr0Ng_65EJSTyMEeeFHlg/w400-h335/ASSUME%20-%20FMF%20Post%201.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div></i></b></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: 22.4px;"><span><span style="font-weight: normal;">My eyes see the One Word Prompt and my heart is already mid-sentence before I even open the screen to write. </span></span></span></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: 22.4px;"><span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: 22.4px;"><span><span><span style="font-weight: normal;">Oh -</span><i> Assumptions</i><span style="font-weight: normal;">... how they can boss us around!</span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: 22.4px;"><span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: 22.4px;"><span><span style="font-weight: normal;">I believe Assumptions and Ascribing Intent are two of the biggest tools of our enemy. </span></span></span></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: 22.4px;"><span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: 22.4px;"><span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><i>I know?!</i> I feel the hugeness of that statement too and I wonder for just a moment if I am being dramatic... if I am overstating this thought.</span></span></span></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: 22.4px;"><span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: 22.4px;"><span><span style="font-weight: normal;">So I slow... even as the timer ticks away... and I ask the Lord if I am on the right track here... </span></span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Merriweather;"><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: 22.4px;"><span><span style="color: #45818e; font-weight: normal;"><i><br /></i></span></span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Merriweather;"><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: 22.4px;"><span><span style="color: #45818e; font-weight: normal;"><i>"Lord, what happens when we assume... when we write a story in our own mind in a flash with absolutely no facts or background... what is it that happens in our hearts?"</i></span></span></span></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: 22.4px;"><span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: 22.4px;"><span><span style="font-weight: normal;">Immediately I felt His answer... </span></span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Merriweather;"><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: 22.4px;"><span><span style="color: #52a0b3;"><a name='more'></a></span><span style="color: #45818e; font-weight: normal;"><i><br /></i></span></span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Merriweather;"><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: 22.4px;"><span><span style="color: #45818e; font-weight: normal;"><i>"You are not wrong, Daughter. The enemy LOVES to use these as tools that BACK you into a CORNER!"</i></span></span></span></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: 22.4px;"><span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: 22.4px;"><span><span style="font-weight: normal;">{Insert Heavy Sigh here.}<br /><br />I mean, <i>--right? </i></span></span></span></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: 22.4px;"><span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: 22.4px;"><span><span style="font-weight: normal;">We've <i>all </i>done it! <br /><br />We assume the worst about others... their motivations... their intent... their choices or habits or beliefs. </span></span></span></span><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 22.4px;">We ascribe intent and write a story in our hearts about them before we have fleshed out any kind of actual conversation! We jump to conclusions on our own </span><i><span style="font-size: medium;">(with the enemy's help!)</span></i><span style="font-size: 22.4px;"> and we don't even notice we're doing it!</span></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: 22.4px;"><span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br />It's not even always in a negative light. Sometimes we assume the 'best' - we write a story and paint a picture and - well, before we know it, we have placed someone on a pedestal that there is <i>no way</i> they'll be able to stay up on, standing steady. </span></span></span></span><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 22.4px; font-weight: normal;">There's not enough foundation... not enough Truth. </span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather;"><br /></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: 22.4px;"><span><span><span style="font-weight: normal;">Whether we are doing it in a way that tears them down, or we're doing it in a way that lifts them up... - Man -</span><i style="font-weight: normal;"> you guys? -</i><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span>we must stop doing it!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: normal;">These tools not only back </span><i>US</i><span style="font-weight: normal;"> into a Corner, </span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: 22.4px;"><span><span><span style="font-weight: normal;">but they separate... they divide... they isolate, and lie. </span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: 22.4px;"><span><span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Merriweather;"><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: 22.4px;"><span><span><span style="color: #783f04; font-weight: normal;">None of these things sound like what the Lord would have us do... these are not the stories <i>HE</i> desires to write with our lives!</span><br /><br /><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span><span><span>When we jump to conclusions and make assumptions without giving the benefit of the doubt, we cut ourselves off from blessings unaware!</span></span></span></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span><div style="text-align: center;"><br style="color: black; font-weight: 700;" /></div></span></span></div><span style="color: #783f04; font-weight: normal;">He desires that we actually give grace and expect the best, while being willing to wait... to sow </span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 22.4px;">*</span><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 22.4px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-weight: normal;"> into the relationship and grow a friendship and allow the story </span></span><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 22.4px;"><span><i>HE </i></span><span style="font-weight: normal;">is writing to unfold and intertwine with our own. </span></span></div><div style="font-family: Merriweather;"><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: 22.4px;"><span><span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Merriweather; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVNZtZ05YbVnQ1jr2diSP0cV8ZIsjAdcA45Xb_S9-g6Q2jGUJP33koEDIMqbf4p2b_AICopFQ9Ng2dY97ork6FuoOp1Nu7RbWaQCHe-EMGzhqVSAVaIndxOX01cza2VOjlmnkUiTBQZVKObSAL7MyP1mGhfN951tu5cdVQlJ6UiIx2uaexiA/s940/ASSUME%20-%20FMF%20Post%202.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="940" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVNZtZ05YbVnQ1jr2diSP0cV8ZIsjAdcA45Xb_S9-g6Q2jGUJP33koEDIMqbf4p2b_AICopFQ9Ng2dY97ork6FuoOp1Nu7RbWaQCHe-EMGzhqVSAVaIndxOX01cza2VOjlmnkUiTBQZVKObSAL7MyP1mGhfN951tu5cdVQlJ6UiIx2uaexiA/w400-h335/ASSUME%20-%20FMF%20Post%202.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="font-family: Merriweather;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 22.4px; font-weight: normal;">We were made for Community and grafted into the Family... </span><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 22.4px; font-weight: normal;">Rather than Assuming things... let's learn to ask better questions and be willing to wait and actually listen to the answers!</span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: 22.4px;"><span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br />May we be willing to learn new things - slowly - over time, as we grow together in the Kingdom of God!</span></span></span></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: 22.4px;"><span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: 22.4px;"><span><span style="font-weight: normal;">Something about, <i>"One Lord, One God, One Faith..."</i></span></span></span></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: 22.4px;"><span><span style="font-weight: normal;">Something about, <i>"They will know us by our Love!"</i></span></span></span></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-weight: normal;"><br /></div></div></div><div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div><div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 22.4px; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><i style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18.72px; font-weight: 700;"><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">{STOP!}</span></i></span><br /><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, times new roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 22.4px; font-weight: 400;">Don't you just LOVE people who ask great questions? People who are curious and open and who love well? </span></span></div><div><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, times new roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 22.4px; font-weight: 400;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, times new roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 22.4px; font-weight: 400;">I'm sure you have been in the company of people who make assumptions and ascribe intent and it can feel very closed off and segregated... and I'm sure you have also met new people who are kind and curious and open to learning your story along the way... </span></span></div><div><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, times new roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 22.4px; font-weight: 400;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, times new roman, serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht9PAz_7TxeCSaqPET7YzHtbwvhVROwtsl1tArWYE6f8fZO0JiTOs0QPRZ7As4IL_1FUvrwsitVNt9KUJTSnl5bNuZJSwtaiu8qhBq-33lm8FXM85K8RsD399bGP9qxfU0fWQgIZwK4aNZkhu4X26r7K0SbBoYgy_T1ud4ZXmuISd4mnwfUw/s940/ASSUME%20-%20FMF%20Post%203.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="940" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht9PAz_7TxeCSaqPET7YzHtbwvhVROwtsl1tArWYE6f8fZO0JiTOs0QPRZ7As4IL_1FUvrwsitVNt9KUJTSnl5bNuZJSwtaiu8qhBq-33lm8FXM85K8RsD399bGP9qxfU0fWQgIZwK4aNZkhu4X26r7K0SbBoYgy_T1ud4ZXmuISd4mnwfUw/w400-h335/ASSUME%20-%20FMF%20Post%203.png" width="400" /></a></div></span></div><div><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, times new roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 22.4px; font-weight: 400;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, times new roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 22.4px; font-weight: 400;">May we be people who Hope and Expect the Best... who give the Benefit of the Doubt... and who ask great questions that lead us toward friendship, rather than wall us up away from it! May we be Brave & be willing to wait and learn the stories of people along the road as we help walk each other Home!</span></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 22.4px;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large; font-weight: normal;"><br />***<br /><br /></span></div></div><div style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 22.4px;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Speaking of Brave, one of the people who I think asks the best questions with honor and openness is Jennie Allen. Jennie asks the </span><i>BEST</i><span style="font-weight: normal;"> questions! She teaches us how to NOT ascribe intent or make assumptions that divide... She encourages us to not just let our thoughts or the stories we make up in our heads go unchecked, but to find out people and stick it out. To be real, to love, and to know and be known!</span></span></div><div style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 22.4px;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 22.4px;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">In case you didn't know, Jennie Allen is the founder of IF, and the </span></span><a href="https://www.ifgathering.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #45818e;">IF:Gathering</span></a><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #45818e;"> </span><span style="color: #783f04;">is happening next weekend worldwide. (March 3rd and 4th). </span></span></div><div style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 22.4px;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 22.4px;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #783f04;">It's always great to participate with friends or other women, but you are welcome to live stream it wherever you are on your own as well. I highly encourage you to watch it! Gather some friends, or brave an IF:Local. </span></span></div><div style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 22.4px;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 22.4px;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #783f04;">Avoid making assumptions - but show up expecting God...<i> you won't be disappointed!</i><br /><br /><br /></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 22.4px; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #783f04;">Friends, until next time, let's remember to:</span></span></div></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 22.4px; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px;"><a href="http://imageshack.com/i/neonf0j" style="color: #52a0b3; display: inline; font-family: merriweather; font-size: medium; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank" title="ImageShack - Image And Video Hosting"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEiLFgMaJyc1FCFWF1-rbi2WaWdIbSwgthHC6Fj7_EUykj5bBQwEC2VZshMfNOaT8OSgQTzmK1Obkaq_nA1WbRjiGyAoPXg-9kz8EwsrYfmc9F7bLQWheHNaDiFIMXFB2TwGidSJVomX=s16000" style="border: 0px solid transparent; padding: 4px;" /></a></div></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 22.4px; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></div></h3></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="post-body entry-content" style="background-color: white; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><h3 class="post-title entry-title" style="font-size: 22.4px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0.25em 0px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="font-family: merriweather;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #52a0b3; font-size: large; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-style: italic;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i0.wp.com/fiveminutefriday.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/FMF-Square-Images-Round-6-2023-02-22T133405.215.png?resize=400%2C400&ssl=1" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://i0.wp.com/fiveminutefriday.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/FMF-Square-Images-Round-6-2023-02-22T133405.215.png?resize=400%2C400&ssl=1" width="320" /></a><a href="https://i0.wp.com/fiveminutefriday.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/FMF-Square-Images-Round-6-2023-02-02T141456.006.png?resize=400%2C400&ssl=1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://i0.wp.com/fiveminutefriday.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/FMF-Square-Images-Round-6-2023-02-02T141456.006.png?resize=400%2C400&ssl=1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; font-family: merriweather; font-size: 22.4px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="color: #52a0b3; font-size: large; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="color: #45818e;">Linking up with </span><span style="color: #45818e;">Kate Motaung and the #fmfparty Community today. Five Minute Fridays give us the chance to dive right in and share what He puts on our hearts!</span><span style="color: #134f5c;"><span> </span><i>Click </i></span></span><span style="color: #134f5c;"></span></span></a><span style="color: #52a0b3; font-size: large; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><a href="https://fiveminutefriday.com/" style="color: #52a0b3; display: inline; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;" target="_blank">HERE</a> <span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><i>to read what others have to say about </i></span></span></span><a href="https://fiveminutefriday.com/2023/02/02/fmf-writing-prompt-link-up-ignore/" style="text-align: justify;" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #52a0b3;">"</span></i></span></a><a href="https://fiveminutefriday.com/2023/02/23/fmf-writing-prompt-link-up-assume/" style="text-align: justify;" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #660000;">ASSUME</span></i></span><span style="color: #52a0b3; font-size: large;"><i>"</i></span></a><span style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>!</i></span></span></span></div></span></span></span></div></span></div></div></div></div></h3></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="post-body entry-content" style="background-color: white; font-family: Merriweather; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><h3 class="post-title entry-title" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0.25em 0px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-size: 22.4px;"><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: merriweather;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-size: 22.4px;"><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: merriweather;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-size: 22.4px;"><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: merriweather;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-size: 22.4px;"><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: merriweather;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="font-size: 22.4px;"><span style="color: #76a5af; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;">*</span><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;"><i><span><span style="color: #52a0b3;"> -</span><span style="color: #783f04;"> This marks my Five Minutes. Grace, please, as I finished my thought!</span></span></i></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-size: 22.4px;"><br /></div></div></h3></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>~Karrilee~ from Abiding Love, Abounding Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06698176066735604032noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24687432.post-90447167873732562662023-02-04T14:59:00.000-08:002023-02-04T14:59:35.406-08:00May He be Harder to Ignore... a Five Minute Friday post<h3 class="post-title entry-title" style="background-color: white; color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 22.4px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0.25em 0px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px;"><b style="color: #134f5c; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">***</span></i></b></h3><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-2762133847099488483" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-2504036818998041434" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8522841488703482155" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-5576419933994363330" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-4482879725388629576" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-7510089016879300257" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-5241062014499945178" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-4492690261735878951" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-96356580094704565" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8857992301946162048" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div style="line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0.25em 0px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: medium;">This is a</span><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #52a0b3;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #783f04;"><i> Five Minute Friday</i> post<i>...</i></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #783f04; font-style: italic;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #45818e;">Five Minute Friday posts are when</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #45818e;"> I set a timer </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent;"><span><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-size: large;">and free-write for five minutes flat. Then I add graphics and format a bit, but the </span><i style="font-size: large;">actual writing </i><span style="font-size: large;">stops</span></span><span style="color: #664a29; font-size: large;"> </span><i><span style="color: #783f04;">(or at least is given an asterisk!)</span></i><span style="color: #664a29; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="color: #45818e; font-size: large;">when my timer goes off! I am a bit out of practice but I'm back again... leaning in, and listening closely to what the Spirit is saying... let's go!</span></span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Merriweather; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0.25em 0px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px;"><div style="color: #664a29; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div></div></div><h3 class="post-title entry-title" style="line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0.25em 0px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px;"><div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 22.4px;"><b style="color: #134f5c;"><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">{GO!} </span></i></b></span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 22.4px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-weight: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 22.4px;"><b style="color: #134f5c;"><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1kUc1PAM0T9zC4arRrbjA4loqJIZV3ojq9y70AxliL80KiUhTnKOFZIvJ5FZT1U3Q2j__uTTRPt713O45t3DrpCiSp0HMotizd8WThzYE_Tnfz93uezS51Lp0rbv0eb8RWxheo1GUTWffGisRXYcTOM_X3KN6weh9YYruerDy9fPXTBz9WQ/s940/IGNORE%20-%20FMF%20post.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="940" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1kUc1PAM0T9zC4arRrbjA4loqJIZV3ojq9y70AxliL80KiUhTnKOFZIvJ5FZT1U3Q2j__uTTRPt713O45t3DrpCiSp0HMotizd8WThzYE_Tnfz93uezS51Lp0rbv0eb8RWxheo1GUTWffGisRXYcTOM_X3KN6weh9YYruerDy9fPXTBz9WQ/w400-h335/IGNORE%20-%20FMF%20post.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /></i></b></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: 22.4px;"><span><span style="font-weight: normal;">My practice in the old days was to see the One Word Prompt and immediately ask the Lord what He wanted to say. That is something I am most definitely </span><i>NOT</i><span style="font-weight: normal;"> out of practice in doing. I ask Him these things all the time, and normally He is quick to speak! </span></span></span></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: 22.4px;"><span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: 22.4px;"><span><span style="font-weight: normal;">He has opinions, friends... and He's not shy about them if we will only ask! </span></span></span></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: 22.4px;"><span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: 22.4px;"><span><span style="font-weight: normal;">And that is when it hits me: We have heard it countless times - how Jesus is a gentleman and He will not push Himself on us. He pursues us with a passion and focus that should take our breath away. It should leave us weak in the knees and stunned at His selfless, all-encompassing love for us. </span></span></span></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: 22.4px;"><span><span></span><span><a name='more'></a></span></span></span></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: 22.4px;"><span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: 22.4px;"><span><span style="font-weight: normal;">However the vastness of it seems overwhelming and instead of processing the inconceivableness of it, we often ignore Him instead. </span></span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Merriweather;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: 22.4px;"><span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Merriweather;"><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: 22.4px;"><span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #783f04;">We tend to forget that He is ALWAYS pressing in, longing for us to ask Him about His opinions... His plans... His Hopes and Dreams for us. We forget that He is wanting a relationship... He wants a friend, a Bride! Do we serve Him? Yes... but He is after more than just a servant!</span></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #52a0b3; font-weight: normal;">And suddenly, my prayer becomes,</span></div></span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Merriweather; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: 22.4px;"><span><i><span style="color: #45818e;">"Lord, May You be harder for me to Ignore!</span></i></span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Merriweather; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: 22.4px;"><span><i><span style="color: #45818e;">--for US to ignore!"</span></i></span></span></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: 22.4px;"><span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 22.4px;">I won't speak for you, sweet Listeners - but I know for me, </span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 22.4px;">-I have felt a stirring, a calling once again to hear Him ever so clearly in this day and hour! I believe He never slows down, never backs up, never loses the drive in His pursuit of us! He longs for ALL of our hearts... ALL of us - not just a portion. He wants to hold our gaze and our attention --you know, more than our PHONES?! <i>(Ouch! I know... me, too, friends! Me, too!)</i></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 22.4px;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 22.4px;">He is so good and His plans are so much better, so much bigger... and I think it's safe to say that for most of us - we have known this fact... this Truth. And we have reveled in it... soaked it in and submitted to it. But then - when maybe those plans didn't unfold the way we anticipated or didn't pan out the way we'd hoped, and we slowed our pace a bit... we hit Pause in our pursuit of Him... and we allowed Hesitation to sneak in and Doubt and Fear are never far behind. </span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 22.4px;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 22.4px;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">We allow ourselves to get distracted... and I'm not even saying that all of the distractions are bad. Some of them are good... are godly. Some of them are ministry... serving... loving...</span></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 22.4px;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 22.4px;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Some of them are within the Plans He has for us - but guys:</span></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 22.4px;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 22.4px;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">We must not <i>lose focus</i> of </span><i>Him!</i></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 22.4px;"><i><u>HE</u></i><span style="font-weight: normal;"> must be our <i>main Pursuit...</i></span></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 22.4px;"><i><u>HE</u></i><span style="font-weight: normal;"> must be our <i>Goal</i></span></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 22.4px;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">and our <i>Dream Come True!</i></span></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 22.4px;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 22.4px; font-weight: normal;">It's Him... it's </span><i style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 22.4px;">ALL. HIM!</i></span></div><div><span><span style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather;"><span style="font-size: 22.4px;"><i><br /></i></span></span><div style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht7hWWcvmPbaOFMhabdpyGZ57gbpyU51njO-rVFaSzvMMyE3zQWVhdt0MFJpTgHWovx9GyQ2C-dBPOWqinq9-JgqDhRNaTiNJOXz1Q_25BIOt6_H1uNyICCfpUi0fQev4nQN7sWb2nk8UYxrTVQjRdxV-7OI6Z-ENG3HWU8wbYTDVBlBy3JA/s940/IGNORE%20-%20FMF%20post%20(2).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="940" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht7hWWcvmPbaOFMhabdpyGZ57gbpyU51njO-rVFaSzvMMyE3zQWVhdt0MFJpTgHWovx9GyQ2C-dBPOWqinq9-JgqDhRNaTiNJOXz1Q_25BIOt6_H1uNyICCfpUi0fQev4nQN7sWb2nk8UYxrTVQjRdxV-7OI6Z-ENG3HWU8wbYTDVBlBy3JA/w400-h335/IGNORE%20-%20FMF%20post%20(2).png" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-size: 22.4px;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 22.4px; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #783f04;">May we find we hear His voice more clearly...</span></span></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 22.4px;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">and follow His Lead</span></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 22.4px;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">without Hesitation *</span></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 22.4px;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">into this new season!</span><br /></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-weight: normal;"><br /></div></div></div><div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div><div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 22.4px; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><i style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18.72px; font-weight: 700;"><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">{STOP!}</span></i></span><br /><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 22.4px; font-weight: 400;">May we find He is harder to ignore!</span><br style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 22.4px; font-weight: 400;" /><br style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 22.4px; font-weight: 400;" /><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 22.4px; font-weight: 400;">In Jesus' Name!</span><br style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 22.4px; font-weight: 400;" /><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 22.4px; font-weight: 400;">Amen!</span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 22.4px;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large; font-weight: normal;"><br />***<br /><br /></span></div></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 22.4px; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;">I don't know about you but the thought (admission, really!) that sometimes I ignore the Lord is not so easy to shake off. (Thank God, right?) I believe He is calling many to come back to that Intimacy with Him and He is reawakening His Bride. I'm here for it. What about you?</span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 22.4px; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 22.4px; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #783f04;">In Monday's episode of our</span><span style="color: #52a0b3;"> </span><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/made-to-pray-podcast/id1609961955" target="_blank"><span style="color: #45818e;">Made to Pray podcast</span></a><span style="color: #52a0b3;">, </span><span style="color: #783f04;">we press in and pray about Pursuing His Presence! I'd love to invite you to join us in prayer as you listen!</span><br /><br /><span style="color: #783f04;">Friends, until next time, let's remember to:</span></span></div></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 22.4px; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px;"><a href="http://imageshack.com/i/neonf0j" style="color: #52a0b3; display: inline; font-family: merriweather; font-size: medium; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank" title="ImageShack - Image And Video Hosting"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEiLFgMaJyc1FCFWF1-rbi2WaWdIbSwgthHC6Fj7_EUykj5bBQwEC2VZshMfNOaT8OSgQTzmK1Obkaq_nA1WbRjiGyAoPXg-9kz8EwsrYfmc9F7bLQWheHNaDiFIMXFB2TwGidSJVomX=s16000" style="border: 0px solid transparent; padding: 4px;" /></a></div></div></h3></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div class="post-body entry-content" style="background-color: white; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><h3 class="post-title entry-title" style="font-size: 22.4px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0.25em 0px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="font-family: merriweather;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #52a0b3; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-style: italic;"></span></span></span></span></div></div></div></div></h3></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></blockquote><div class="post-body entry-content" style="background-color: white; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><h3 class="post-title entry-title" style="font-size: 22.4px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0.25em 0px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="font-family: merriweather;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i0.wp.com/fiveminutefriday.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/FMF-Square-Images-Round-6-2023-02-02T141456.006.png?resize=400%2C400&ssl=1" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="400" height="400" src="https://i0.wp.com/fiveminutefriday.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/FMF-Square-Images-Round-6-2023-02-02T141456.006.png?resize=400%2C400&ssl=1" width="400" /></a></div><span style="color: #52a0b3; font-size: large;"></span><span style="color: #52a0b3; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-style: italic;">Linking up with </span><span style="color: #45818e; font-style: italic;">Kate Motaung and the #fmfparty Community today. Five Minute Fridays give us the chance to dive right in and share what He puts on our hearts!</span><span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span><i>Click </i></span></span><span style="color: #134f5c;"><a href="https://fiveminutefriday.com/" style="color: #52a0b3; display: inline; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;" target="_blank">HERE</a> <span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><i>to read what others have to say about </i></span></span></span><a href="https://fiveminutefriday.com/2023/02/02/fmf-writing-prompt-link-up-ignore/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #52a0b3;">"</span><span style="color: #660000;">IGNORE</span></i></span><span style="color: #52a0b3; font-size: large;"><i>"</i></span></a><span style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>!</i></span></span></span></span><span style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: left;"><br /></span><span style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: left;"><br /></span><span style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></i></span></span></div></div></div></div></h3></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="post-body entry-content" style="background-color: white; font-family: Merriweather; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><h3 class="post-title entry-title" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0.25em 0px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px;"><div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-size: 22.4px;"><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: merriweather;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-size: 22.4px;"><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: merriweather;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-size: 22.4px;"><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: merriweather;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-size: 22.4px;"><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: merriweather;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-size: 22.4px;"><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: merriweather;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-size: 22.4px;"><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: merriweather;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-size: 22.4px;"><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: merriweather;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-size: 22.4px;"><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: merriweather;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-size: 22.4px;"><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: merriweather;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-size: 22.4px;"><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: merriweather;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-size: 22.4px;"><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: merriweather;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">*</span><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><i><span> - This marks my Five Minutes. Grace, please, as I finished my thought!</span></i></span></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-size: 22.4px;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></i></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-size: 22.4px;"><b style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: medium;"><i><span style="color: #783f04;"><u>The FMF lowdown:</u></span></i></b></div></div></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: merriweather;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: xx-small;"><i style="color: #45818e;">We write our hearts out around One Word for </i></span><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: xx-small;"><i>five minutes flat, --a flash mob of </i></span><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: xx-small;"><i>wordsmiths letting our hearts & our fingers do the <strike>talking</strike> tapping & we hit publish before we can second-guess it all away. </i></span><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: xx-small;"><i style="color: #45818e;">It's been a LONG time since I've hung out here, but this is where w</i></span><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: xx-small;"><i>e encourage & uplift... where we share prayer requests & praise reports... where we talk about food & friends & we find support & kindred hearts. It's where we are reminded that life is good & God is good & we're not alone... Join in!</i></span></div></div><div style="font-family: merriweather;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="color: #52a0b3; margin: 0px;"><br /></div></div></div></div></h3><h4 style="font-family: merriweather;"><br /><div style="color: #664a29;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div style="color: #664a29;"><br /></div></h4></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>~Karrilee~ from Abiding Love, Abounding Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06698176066735604032noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24687432.post-82163468190943791292023-02-04T12:08:00.004-08:002023-02-04T12:08:46.640-08:00A "These are the Days of..." Post<div><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">Hello, Sweet Readers!<br /><br />I dipped my toe back into the Blogging World last month with my return to participating in the Five Minute Friday community. I had hoped to find an easy rhythm finding myself back in the saddle again. But we know, ... don't we? I mean - we know <i>now</i> that - at least in this season - any kind of 'easy rhythm' seems really difficult to find!</span></div><div><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">So - nearly a whole month went by with no routine, no clear schedule, no priority laid out to get me back in this chair... tapping at these keys, waiting to see/read/hear what He has to say. You see, I've explained it before but sitting in this spot, praying for words and then being willing to type when He begins speaking to my heart: It's more for <b><i>me</i></b> than it is for <i>you</i>! </span></div><div><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">Oh, you are welcome here... welcome to any nuggets of truth or insight or wisdom, of course! But the 'easy rhythm' I'm truly longing for is simply the reconnecting of spending time with Him, expectantly waiting to hear! (Maybe you are longing for something similar, too?). </span></div><div><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">With the arrival of a new month, hope is stirring yet again and I am following His lead... heeding to the beckoning of His call... and I am willing and I believe (--Lord, help my unbelief!) that He has something for us in this season that will only come as we pursue Him with a single vision and a tenacity that - to be honest - has waned for many including myself. Maybe we grew weary... even though we know the verse that tells us not to... maybe doubt crept in - or maybe life just crowded Him out. Whatever the reason or excise... here's to pressing in again and pursuing His Presence together in this space yet again!</span></div><div><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">Let's get to the process of beginning again... and leaning in to hear what God is saying in this season, at this time!</span></div><div><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">For today - as I am slowly walking back into this practice, let's revisit an old favorite way of keeping track and writing things down! This discipline of making a list had me at Hello! (I mean - <i>right?</i>). Emily P Freeman talks about making a list to help her stay present and acknowledge all that a season is holding. I loved it so much that I started to put it into practice! In fact, when I didn't write ONE SINGLE ESSAY/POST/JOURNAL ENTRY for all of whatever year Covid was new and everywhere... (2020? 2021?) - every month, I wrote a list! I'm so grateful to have those written in my journal!</span></div><div><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #783f04;">So today - to catch up on what this Season is holding for me... I will make a list:</span><br /><i><b><span style="color: #45818e;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="color: #45818e; font-size: large;">"THERE ARE THE DAYS OF..."</span></b></i></div></span></b></i><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: center;">Jan/Feb 2023</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvy0Ed-d9HCOl18tTTpjwLV_ViDmZ1AuF3K3AP5RleZBFoDA6lUMaveewks4gfRNApAr84p1oN_np17q2GIAvTCCt3lqpSGShX2FO4pWKlkH6w6N43wYIAkpzjWQPzUMVuj9Rjg4HOigS7s9xM9HiCy1y-4N8QoDCoyA7MlXOpDBQzVGBJbA/s1880/These%20are%20the%20Days%20of...%20Feb%202023.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1576" data-original-width="1880" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvy0Ed-d9HCOl18tTTpjwLV_ViDmZ1AuF3K3AP5RleZBFoDA6lUMaveewks4gfRNApAr84p1oN_np17q2GIAvTCCt3lqpSGShX2FO4pWKlkH6w6N43wYIAkpzjWQPzUMVuj9Rjg4HOigS7s9xM9HiCy1y-4N8QoDCoyA7MlXOpDBQzVGBJbA/w400-h335/These%20are%20the%20Days%20of...%20Feb%202023.png" width="400" /></a></div></span></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #783f04;">* <b><i>Cozy Evenings spent at Home</i></b>, stirring up Gratefulness for ALL the way</span></span><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;"> </span><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">God takes care of us.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #783f04;">* <b><i>Real Estate Broker Licensing Course/Studying</i></b> </span></span><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">(Before work, After work, on the weekends, too!)</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #783f04;">* <b><i>Midnight Hour Intercessions</i></b> - Being Wide Awake at 3am, praying for our Nation and our world, as well as for our friends and family!</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span><a name='more'></a></span><span style="color: #783f04;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #783f04;">* <b><i>15(ish) Hours a week </i></b>of working for me (and 40 for Dave!)</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #783f04;">* <b><i>Car Searching </i></b>- After God told me EXACTLY what to look for and buy... I have always prayed and asked the Lord to guide us in this process. He is always faithful in giving clues... this time He gave make and model, & color... plus a preferred year? (<i>Guys</i>... apparently He has opinions and He knows what He wants to bless us with! But it's made it hard because we simply cannot find it! So we trust His timing, too!)</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #783f04;">* <b><i>Dipping Toes Back into Ministry! </i></b>We have been attending a church for over a year now... there are many things we love about it. Of course - when you have Tasted and Seen... well - we miss what once was but we are following His lead and I believe He is calling and positioning a remnant back into church life - back into community... and My Honey is on the Worship Team and we are both on the Prayer Team, and a couple of months ago we started up a once a month Prayer and Worship night. It's intimate - not just because the numbers are small... we believe God will grow it - but it is intimate in nature... it is a set-aside time to come and sit with the Lord... to soak in His Presence and worship together, alone. To pray, together, alone. And then to come together and share in prayer or praise, what God is doing! It's pretty much our jam. Even if it was just us and Jesus - we'd love it and do it still!</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA3CKxviJI8UpFkvqO7OT1AJgsfgxPxbMtZ8yQampuQ1uugIx3QvYs7PEMmeGStJ-iuthKWYQ4_zqZfRSl2natbpKpRf49B-oHLPBLn12HyQJqWoPsSvI0EsgmwrSuA94IsOfSj-AhIcoZ9x8AgHMXUNtO2nxlLips9CQFri_OQfCcPk_I9Q/s940/These%20are%20the%20Days%20of...%20Feb%202023%20(1).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="940" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA3CKxviJI8UpFkvqO7OT1AJgsfgxPxbMtZ8yQampuQ1uugIx3QvYs7PEMmeGStJ-iuthKWYQ4_zqZfRSl2natbpKpRf49B-oHLPBLn12HyQJqWoPsSvI0EsgmwrSuA94IsOfSj-AhIcoZ9x8AgHMXUNtO2nxlLips9CQFri_OQfCcPk_I9Q/w400-h335/These%20are%20the%20Days%20of...%20Feb%202023%20(1).png" width="400" /></a></div></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><span><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #783f04;">* <b><i>Traveling to see my Sissy</i></b> about once a month! So thankful for this season of healing and for having the time and ability to get some face-to-face time with her. (My other sister is a bit farther away so I don't get to see her as often! I DID just get to spend the weekend with her though - and that, too, was such a gift!)</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #783f04;">* <b><i>Dinner Dates with the Parsleys</i></b> about twice a month! Long time friends... we raised our kids together and we vacation together and we have lived life together - the highs and the lows - and now we are grandparents together and caring for aging parents and -- we have a bit of time and money and we do not take for granted covenant friendships that have stood the test of time! What a blessing!</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #783f04;">* <i><b>Shorter "Long Days" with Lil' Miss! </b></i>I have been blessed to be a hands-on Mimi... I used to get her four days a week when her Mama was taking classes... then three days a week when she was working from home... then two days a week when she was starting preschool... and now - just ONE Day a week as we get her ready for kindergarten. (Kindergarten already? Can you even...?!) She always referred to Wednesdays as long days because I got to keep her all day! The other days were half days before I had to go in to work! But Wednesdays - those are set aside for Lil' Miss! However, she has preschool in the mornings so I pick her up after that and we hang out until dinner time. I love that she still calls it our Long Day - even though it's not all day anymore!</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #783f04;">* <b><i>Remembering Self-Care, Soul-Care, and Sabbath Rest!</i></b> (Why do we keep forgetting the importance, power, and value of these things?)</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #783f04;">* <i><b>Getting back into Writing/Blogging</b></i> - baby steps back into the practice and discipline of it!</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #783f04;">* <i><b>Stress at/from work</b></i> due to learning - yet again - a whole new platform! (--while also learning/studying for my license.)</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #783f04;">* <b><i>Mom & Dad still living next door! </i></b>(And Mom, probably nearing the end of her Driving era!)</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #783f04;">* <i><b>Podcasting with Lori every week</b></i> - for almost a year already!!? (Made to Pray podcast)</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #783f04;">* <b><i>Podcasting NOT every week - but still doing it - with Kayelyn.</i></b> (Changing Our Minds podcast - in Season 5, I think?) <br /><br />* <b><i>Telegram/Rumble as my main News Source</i></b>, plus the "</span></span><i style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">return'</i><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">' </span><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">of Twitter, and Several 'Conspiracies' becoming Truth (at a somewhat alarming rate.)</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><br />* <i><b>The "FULLNESS of TIME" -- what the Lord spoke over 2023!</b></i> Signs of it, all around!</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><span><span><span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><span><span><span>* <i><b>Considering a pet again... maybe!</b></i> A Cat or smallish Dog... Cats are easier - but Dave is allergic... the desire may pass because as much as we have loved pets in the past - we have loved not having them, too!</span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><span><span><span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><i>...These are the Days of...</i></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><span><span><span><span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><span><span><span><span>* <b><i>Lil' Miss </i></b>and FaceTime video chats, playdates with the Ingle Girls, playing Eye Spy, doing Puzzles, making Art, playing Board games, etc.</span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><span><span><span><span><span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #783f04;">* <i><b>FB Messenger Chat Threads</b></i> and long-ongoing conversations about all the things! </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><span><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><span>* <i><b>Voxer Talks & Prayer Times</b></i> with Jenn, Andrea, and Sheryl & Syl!</span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><span><span><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><span><span>* <i><b>Longing for Spring and Sunshine and Warmer Weather!</b></i></span></span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><span><span><span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><span><span><span>* Changing into PJs EARLY at night - <i><b>staying cozy and cuddling on the couch.</b></i></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><span><span><span><span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><span><span><span>* <i><b>Less Essential Oil Diffusing and a return of Lighting actual Candles again!</b></i><br /><br />* <b><i>Frankincense</i></b> rubbed on my knees - amazing results!!! <i>(Seriously! Did you guys know about this?)</i></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><span><span><span><span><span><span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><span><span><span><span><span><span>* <i><b>Side Gigs in Photography</b></i> again... Bridal Shower, Family Portraits, New Baby... </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span>* <i><b>GRATEFULNESS for FB Memories</b></i>... the hard ones and the blessed and happy ones! Man - for all the Facebook is and is not - I am truly grateful for those memories that pop up!</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b>***</b></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #783f04;">As always, I encourage you to take this idea and make your own "These are the Days of..." list! Whether it is just a bullet point list, or you go into detail - your Future You will be oh so grateful that you took just a few moments to jot down a list of what this season holds for you on a normal, every/any day basis! I try to do this about once a quarter in my journal. It's a quick easy way to capture what your daily life looked like! </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #783f04;">Until next time, which will most definitely be sooner than March!</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #783f04;">Let's remember to keep doing what we know to do! Let's purpose to: </span></span></div><a href="http://imageshack.com/i/neonf0j" target="_blank" title="ImageShack - Image And Video Hosting"><img border="0" src="http://imageshack.com/a/img842/5358/onf0.jpg" /></a>~Karrilee~ from Abiding Love, Abounding Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06698176066735604032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24687432.post-76639192656450295482023-01-15T16:13:00.002-08:002023-01-15T18:55:28.926-08:00Receive - A return to the Five Minute Friday Post<h3 class="post-title entry-title" style="background-color: white; color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 22.4px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0.25em 0px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px;"><b style="color: #134f5c; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">***</span></i></b></h3><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-2762133847099488483" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-2504036818998041434" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8522841488703482155" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-5576419933994363330" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-4482879725388629576" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-7510089016879300257" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-5241062014499945178" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-4492690261735878951" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-96356580094704565" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8857992301946162048" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div style="line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0.25em 0px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: medium;">This is a</span><span style="color: #664a29; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #52a0b3;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #783f04;"><i> Five Minute Friday</i> post<i>... It has been a long, long while since I have played along with this practice, this community... but I am hoping to get back to some sort of consistency in sitting in this chair and typing words together... In case you are new - or like me, may have forgotten - </i></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #783f04; font-style: italic;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #45818e;">Five Minute Friday posts are when</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #45818e;"> I set a timer </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #45818e;"><span style="font-size: medium;">and free-write for five minutes flat. Sometimes I then add graphics and format a bit, but the actual writing stops (or at least is given an asterisk!) when my timer goes off! I'm out of practice in all things writing but here I sit... leaning in, and getting back to some old practices! Here we go!<br /></span><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #45818e; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16px;">Today, our one-word prompt is:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic;"><span style="color: #45818e;"> </span><b><span style="color: #783f04;"><a href="https://fiveminutefriday.com/2023/01/12/fmf-writing-prompt-receive" target="_blank"><span>R</span>ECEIVE</a></span></b></span></div><div style="font-family: Merriweather; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0.25em 0px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #664a29; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #664a29; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"></div><div style="color: #664a29; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/325456794_3791163404443302_8662547271564325202_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=5cd70e&_nc_ohc=NvwCd6aYjuIAX-RZDwT&tn=xrBarxpiRK68Eaee&_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.xx&oh=00_AfDutxba0lFx9E-Xj7xW1I2CXrife-1YF6dPruxxZ4wq7w&oe=63C8B32E" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="400" src="https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/325456794_3791163404443302_8662547271564325202_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=5cd70e&_nc_ohc=NvwCd6aYjuIAX-RZDwT&tn=xrBarxpiRK68Eaee&_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.xx&oh=00_AfDutxba0lFx9E-Xj7xW1I2CXrife-1YF6dPruxxZ4wq7w&oe=63C8B32E" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div></div></div><h3 class="post-title entry-title" style="line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0.25em 0px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px;"><div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 22.4px;"><b style="color: #134f5c;"><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">{GO!} </span></i></b></span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><b style="color: #134f5c;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></i></b></span><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 22.4px;"><b style="color: #134f5c;"><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">Receive...</span></i></b><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 22.4px;"><b style="color: #134f5c;"><i><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></i></b></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: 22.4px;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I see the word prompt and immediately remember doing a post on this word years and years ago... maybe around Christmas time. I am also reminded that it has been </span>WAY <span style="font-weight: normal;">too long since I have sat in this space and tapped on keys to reveal my heart.</span></span></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: 22.4px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: 22.4px;">I stepped away from the Blogging World a while ago. It was a slow fade for me... </span></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span><a name='more'></a></span><span style="font-size: 22.4px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 22.4px;">Going back to work after decades of staying home and being in ministry was an adjustment... many of you (if you are still around!) remember my Honey and I helped to plant a brand new church and it was AMAZING... it was so great --until it wasn't. We didn't see that coming because --well, because we started it ourselves and we knew what we wanted and what we didn't want --so when it began to transform into things we did not want we weren't quite sure how to slow it down or course-correct it. We lost our voice and eventually had to lay it all down and step away. In that season, I stepped a bit further back from this place... holding my thoughts and my words closer to my chest. </span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: 22.4px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: 22.4px;">Then job loss and uncertainty crept in...</span></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: 22.4px;">Next politics and political correctness swirled up into a storm all around us and then finally the blow of a global pandemic. I lost my rhythm and routine in writing all the things! I didn't take notice that writing is more for ME than it is for any of you... it is how I process and how I hear from the Lord!</span></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: 22.4px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: 22.4px;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">But as 'writer' slipped out of my bio and the practice fell off to the side, I pressed into God... I embraced change and surrendered to a season of silence, and I found healing... no - I </span><i><u>received</u></i><span style="font-weight: normal;"> healing... but I stayed quiet. </span></span></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: 22.4px;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: 22.4px;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I felt called to a season of Intercession and many of the things I was being called to pray for were not exactly popular and definitely not very social media friendly.</span></span></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: 22.4px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: 22.4px;">So over the past handful of years, in my absence, I have felt things brewing and changing... I have received grace and healing and extended it outward, too! </span></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: 22.4px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: 22.4px;">I have learned a whole new industry in my day job with constant learning going on to implement new programs and new platforms. I am currently taking classes to become a licensed Real Estate Broker. <br /><br />I have also found ridiculous joy in being a Mimi! My all-grown-up girlie is doing incredibly well and we are so proud of her and her Lil' Miss (who is already FIVE, if you can believe it!)</span></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: 22.4px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: 22.4px;">If I am honest -which I am that... as you all know!- I have felt <i>tired</i>. A bit wrung out and weary... but I know that God has been with me in all of the twists and turns and I know that He has plans and purposes in every one of them. </span></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: 22.4px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: 22.4px;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Curveballs and Blind Corners are not my favorites. I like it best when He lets me in on what He is up to and when I can see a bit ahead. I am a fan of my comfort zones. But if you have been around this corner of the internet much at all, you know He is the Boss of me and He OFTEN - I mean, read: </span>ALL<span style="font-weight: normal;"> the </span><i>TIME</i><span style="font-weight: normal;">!?? - calls me out of those comfy cozy spaces into a wide-open place full of stretching and new adventures. </span></span></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: 22.4px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: 22.4px;">He has caused me to wake up at 3am for much of the past couple of years to pray. He has plans and He has given me a glimpse here and there and I know beyond the shadow of a doubt that His plans are GOOD... and they are for my/our good. So I choose to Trust Him.</span></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: 22.4px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: 22.4px;">Where else would we go, right?</span></span></div><div style="font-family: Merriweather; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: 22.4px;"><br /><span style="color: #45818e;">Friend, maybe this is you too? Maybe you have gone through a season of feeling a bit overwhelmed, disconnected, out of sync</span></span></span><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 22.4px;">*</span><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 22.4px;">, or just felt too tired to press through or go on... </span></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 22.4px;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 22.4px;"><i>Can I tell you something? </i> Everything we need to live a life of joy and grace and goodness --He has already provided! We simply (or not so simply!) just need to <i>receive</i> it!</span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: 22.4px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: 22.4px;">I am still a Faith girl... it's in my bones and my very makeup now... I cannot escape it. But I also have had seasons of tragic loss, doubt, and many many unanswered prayers. (At least they were not answered in the way I was praying for them to be!)</span></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: 22.4px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Merriweather;"><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-size: x-large;"><i>Still, I know down deep, without question:<br />God is good...</i></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Merriweather;"><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-size: x-large;"><i>He is faithful!</i></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Merriweather;"><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-size: x-large;"><i>(He can't NOT be!</i></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Merriweather;"><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-size: x-large;"><i>It's WHO He IS!)</i></span></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: 22.4px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: 22.4px;">As I pray into what 2023 holds for me --for <i>us</i>... I feel a hint of Hope stirring yet again and I believe that while many will be blindsided and shell-shocked --there is a remnant who said Yes to praying... who said Yes to believing (-help my unbelief, right?)... and who said Yes to God - <i>no matter what. </i></span></span></div></div></div><div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div><div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 22.4px; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><i style="color: #134f5c; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18.72px; font-weight: 700;"><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">{STOP!}</span></i></span><br /><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 22.4px; font-weight: normal;">And I believe in Dry Bones coming together... </span></div><div><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 22.4px; font-weight: normal;">I believe in Resurrection Power and in Supernatural Healing...</span></div><div><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 22.4px; font-weight: normal;">I believe we will see the Goodness of God in the land of the Living. </span></div><div><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 22.4px; font-weight: normal;">I believe this year brings us to the Fullness of Time</span></div><div><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 22.4px; font-weight: normal;">and I believe the payoff for <i>'no matter what' </i>is fast approaching!</span></div><div><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 22.4px; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 22.4px; font-weight: normal;">100%, I believe </span><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 22.4px; font-weight: normal;">and I receive!</span></div><div><i><span style="color: #134f5c; font-size: large;">In Jesus' Name!</span></i></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 22.4px;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large; font-weight: normal;"><br />***<br /><br /></span></div></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 22.4px; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;">In full disclosure - I was using an online timer and I am pretty sure it was not accurate! Next time I will use my phone! <br /><br />Until next time, let's remember to:</span></div></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 22.4px; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px;"><div><a href="http://imageshack.com/i/neonf0j" style="color: #52a0b3; display: inline; font-family: merriweather; font-size: medium; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank" title="ImageShack - Image And Video Hosting"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEiLFgMaJyc1FCFWF1-rbi2WaWdIbSwgthHC6Fj7_EUykj5bBQwEC2VZshMfNOaT8OSgQTzmK1Obkaq_nA1WbRjiGyAoPXg-9kz8EwsrYfmc9F7bLQWheHNaDiFIMXFB2TwGidSJVomX=s16000" style="border: 0px solid transparent; padding: 4px;" /></a></div></div></div></h3></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div class="post-body entry-content" style="background-color: white; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><h3 class="post-title entry-title" style="font-size: 22.4px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0.25em 0px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="font-family: merriweather;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #52a0b3; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-style: italic;"></span></span></span></span></div></div></div></div></h3></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></blockquote><div class="post-body entry-content" style="background-color: white; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><h3 class="post-title entry-title" style="font-size: 22.4px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0.25em 0px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="font-family: merriweather;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/325456794_3791163404443302_8662547271564325202_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=5cd70e&_nc_ohc=NvwCd6aYjuIAX-RZDwT&tn=xrBarxpiRK68Eaee&_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.xx&oh=00_AfDutxba0lFx9E-Xj7xW1I2CXrife-1YF6dPruxxZ4wq7w&oe=63C8B32E" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/325456794_3791163404443302_8662547271564325202_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=5cd70e&_nc_ohc=NvwCd6aYjuIAX-RZDwT&tn=xrBarxpiRK68Eaee&_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.xx&oh=00_AfDutxba0lFx9E-Xj7xW1I2CXrife-1YF6dPruxxZ4wq7w&oe=63C8B32E" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #52a0b3; font-size: large;"></span><span style="color: #52a0b3; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-style: italic;">Linking up with </span><span style="color: #45818e; font-style: italic;">Kate Motaung and the #fmfparty Community today. Five Minute Fridays give us the chance to dive right in and share what He puts on our hearts!</span><span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span><i>Click </i></span></span><span style="color: #134f5c;"><a href="https://fiveminutefriday.com/" style="color: #52a0b3; display: inline; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;" target="_blank">HERE</a> <span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><i>to read what others have to say about </i></span></span></span><span style="color: #52a0b3; font-size: large;"><i>"</i></span><span style="color: #660000; font-size: large; font-style: italic;"><a href="https://fiveminutefriday.com/2023/01/12/fmf-writing-prompt-receive" target="_blank"><span>R</span>ECEIVE</a></span><span style="color: #52a0b3; font-size: large;"><i>"</i></span><span style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>!</i></span></span></span></span><span style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: left;"><br /></span><span style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: left;"><br /></span><span style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></i></span></span></div></div></div></div></h3></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="post-body entry-content" style="background-color: white; font-family: Merriweather; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><h3 class="post-title entry-title" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0.25em 0px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px;"><div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-size: 22.4px;"><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: merriweather;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-size: 22.4px;"><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: merriweather;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-size: 22.4px;"><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: merriweather;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-size: 22.4px;"><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: merriweather;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-size: 22.4px;"><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: merriweather;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-size: 22.4px;"><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: merriweather;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-size: 22.4px;"><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: merriweather;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-size: 22.4px;"><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: merriweather;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-size: 22.4px;"><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: merriweather;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-size: 22.4px;"><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: merriweather;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-size: 22.4px;"><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: merriweather;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">*</span><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><i><span> - This marks my Five Minutes. Grace, please, as I finished my thought!</span></i></span></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-size: 22.4px;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></i></span></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-size: 22.4px;"><b style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: medium;"><i><span style="color: #783f04;"><u>The FMF lowdown:</u></span></i></b></div></div></div><div style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: merriweather;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: xx-small;"><i style="color: #45818e;">We write our hearts out around One Word for </i></span><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: xx-small;"><i>five minutes flat, --a flash mob of </i></span><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: xx-small;"><i>wordsmiths letting our hearts & our fingers do the <strike>talking</strike> tapping & we hit publish before we can second-guess it all away. </i></span><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: xx-small;"><i style="color: #45818e;">It's been a LONG time since I've hung out here, but this is where w</i></span><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: xx-small;"><i>e encourage & uplift... where we share prayer requests & praise reports... where we talk about food & friends & we find support & kindred hearts. It's where we are reminded that life is good & God is good & we're not alone... Join in!</i></span></div></div></div><div style="font-family: merriweather;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="color: #52a0b3; margin: 0px;"><br /></div></div></div></div></h3><h4 style="font-family: merriweather;"><br /><div style="color: #664a29;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div style="color: #664a29;"><br /></div></h4></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>~Karrilee~ from Abiding Love, Abounding Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06698176066735604032noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24687432.post-30978988323387810042023-01-01T19:11:00.002-08:002023-01-15T18:54:29.263-08:00Our Annual Prophetic Post for the New Year - 2023 Edition<div><div><h1 style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;"><b><i>Happy New Year, </i></b></span><b style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;"><i>Sweet Readers!</i></b></span></h1><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">Honestly - I didn't mean to be gone for nearly an entire year! I wrote a post last week and didn't get too into all the why's of why I was absent here but let me say this - it was not intentional! I didn't decide to walk away from blogging, from writing, from connecting in this space... Life just sort of crowded it out and I felt a call for a season to hold many things closer to my chest. I was called (--am <i>still</i> called, really!) to a more intense season of intercession. Between that, regular life, plugging back into church/ministry, a part-time job and schooling, and - of course - being a Mimi, Blogging got pushed to the side.</span></div><div><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">For now... I want to say, Here we are! We made it through 2022 and we are winding down the first full day of 2023! Once again, I am <i>SO READY</i> for a</span><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;"> Brand New Year... a Fresh New Start... a Blank, clean slate! The Hope and Energy that accompanies the dawning of a new year is tangible and the pull towards Goal Setting and Dream pursuing and the endless possibilities for GOOD... well, it seems to only last for a few days, right? So - the standing Open Invitation and long-running Date I have with the Lord continues and He woke me up early this morning, already speaking about 2023!</span></div><div><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">And that means it is time for our <i><b>Annual Prophetic Post</b></i> for the start of the New Year!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja1od0--PcxNqUwllVeYkCtAd74keFJnfJaZJpmYz07wsGl-WTwdEYjM4br6vf1SKi3jfB90RTkfV1dcxDupIE3tuXZ4g1zX4YGnl1EUr_GskXO6WB2PEDFNdC6mXk0iufsJCj4yxGtLiMUeS_hbpXuM3YHFfW4jT4OpqaHO7bplSGN8f7_w/s1102/Annual%20Prophetic%20Post%202023.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1102" data-original-width="735" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja1od0--PcxNqUwllVeYkCtAd74keFJnfJaZJpmYz07wsGl-WTwdEYjM4br6vf1SKi3jfB90RTkfV1dcxDupIE3tuXZ4g1zX4YGnl1EUr_GskXO6WB2PEDFNdC6mXk0iufsJCj4yxGtLiMUeS_hbpXuM3YHFfW4jT4OpqaHO7bplSGN8f7_w/w426-h640/Annual%20Prophetic%20Post%202023.png" width="426" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;">Before we dive into what God spoke to my heart about 2023, let's briefly look back at 2022...</span></div><div><a name='more'></a></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">On New Year's Eve, just after midnight, as my Honey and I were drifting off to sleep in the midst of an array of Blasts and Booms of fireworks going off, he said, </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">"2023 is here!</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">" to which I replied, </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">"I hope it's better!"</i></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #783f04;">2022 was long and stressful! It felt for MUCH of it, Hope held out and the 'carrot' at the end of the stick was always moving just out of reach! Many breakthroughs, Truths, and Injustices we thought would be revealed were not brought out into the open. But Hope DID remain... although there was also the year-end weariness and wariness that we went through all of 2022 waiting for some big reveals - and they just didn't happen. </span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #783f04;">As far as the Prophetic Word and Book the Lord highlighted for </span><span><b><i><a href="https://abidingloveaboundinggrace.blogspot.com/2022/01/our-annual-prophetic-post-for-new-year.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #134f5c;">2022</span></a> </i></b></span><span style="color: #783f04;"> well, as much as my flesh and the enemy may want me to think I missed the mark... it turns out (YET AGAIN!) that God is pretty smart and He knows what we need even if it is not what we want! </span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #664a29; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #783f04;">The Phrase that the Lord gave us for 2022 was:</span></span><br style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="color: #664a29;"><i><span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">"Increased Encounters</span></span></i><i><span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">"</span><br /></span></i></span><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia, times new roman, serif;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: x-large;">If I am being honest, it's only been the last month or so that I have truly experienced this myself, but my prayer is I helped lead others into more Encounters all year long!</span><i><span style="color: #134f5c; font-size: medium;"> (If <b>YOU</b> experienced some new ways of experiencing Jesus or encountering the Holy Spirit, I'd love to hear about that!)</span></i></span></div></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #783f04;">T</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #664a29;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;">he Book of the Bible that God highlighted to me last year was the Book of </span><i style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">PHILIPPIANS</span></span></i><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;">! It should have been a clue that the kind of JOY He was going to pour out over the year would not so much be the Glitter and Giggles kind of Joy! (While this Letter to the Philippians is considered Paul's most joyful message, it WAS penned in prison!) When I complained/whined to Him about how I was just so certain that I had heard Him clearly say He wanted it to be a year of Joy but all I felt was a delay and an impatience arising to keep on waiting, He asked me:<i> "Do you really think you didn't experience Joy last year?" </i></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #664a29;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #664a29;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;">Hmm... well - I did. At times... for a short period... when I stayed Present and allowed myself to be thankful in a moment! He went on to say the kind of Joy He poured out last year in all of us - if we were willing and if we will look back! - is a deeper joy... a lasting joy... one that is not conditional and one that only comes from going THROUGH something! He also reminded me that my OneWord last year was STRONGER or STRENGTH - and I had assumed I would get fit... lift weights... gain confidence. Again - the kind of Strength He stirred up in me was deeper... Something about The Joy of the Lord is our Strength... and <i>when do we need strength? </i>Yeah. When we are weak. I can be honest and tell you even though it's true and He really did do what He said... in my flesh, I like to think I'd still prefer <b><i>my</i></b> version of Joy and Strength. However, I have walked with Him long enough to know He really does know best! </span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #664a29;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #664a29;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;">But - keep reading, sweet friends... I believe 2023 has great things in store for us!</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #664a29;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">I took an online quiz and it told me my Word for this year is "CONNECTION"... but I don't usually let a quiz pick my Word, so I decided to continue to pray for either confirmation or a brand new word! </span><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #783f04;">This morning, as I was in between Asleep and Awake, I heard Him say, </span><i><b><span style="color: #134f5c;">"CONVENE"</span></b></i><span style="color: #783f04;">. That is not a Word I would choose. It's not really - well... <i>Instagrammable</i> now, is it? It's not in the line of words I even use. It means to "Call or Gather together; to summon, to come together; to unite."</span></span></div></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #783f04;">Well, </span><i><span style="color: #134f5c;">I like that!</span></i><span style="color: #783f04;"> I will keep praying into it for a few more days - asking for confirmation!</span><br /><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">On New Year's Day, I ask God for 2 things:</span></div><div><blockquote><span style="background-color: white; color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;">1. A Book in the Bible to study or read through a few times throughout the year.</span> </blockquote><blockquote><span style="background-color: white; color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;">2. A Prophetic Word or Phrase we can all look to throughout 2023.</span> </blockquote></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #664a29; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><i><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></i></span><b style="background-color: white; color: #664a29; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: xx-large;"><i><span style="color: #45818e;">***</span></i></b></div><div><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i><br style="background-color: white;" /><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="background-color: white; color: #664a29; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #134f5c;">Say Goodbye to 2022 and let's welcome 2023!</span></i></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;"> </span></div></i></b></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: x-small;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-EHBPTxJgojwKdyHR3OmGoQHgIBunjPFSO6Nr5CGgholpRtWfIcyWqQr6sI8w2-btY7mHhHJeAYoL4R1NPvHKQwkhgv-hSxbBri0AgVapseyEFjYWtdKIThwCKa2lceIRx6mTeL_g7FeEe1zCx2XdfU3yaVFsWtJjrAxmYFnW_YgXh6S3RA/s1102/2023.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1102" data-original-width="735" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-EHBPTxJgojwKdyHR3OmGoQHgIBunjPFSO6Nr5CGgholpRtWfIcyWqQr6sI8w2-btY7mHhHJeAYoL4R1NPvHKQwkhgv-hSxbBri0AgVapseyEFjYWtdKIThwCKa2lceIRx6mTeL_g7FeEe1zCx2XdfU3yaVFsWtJjrAxmYFnW_YgXh6S3RA/w426-h640/2023.png" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: xx-large;">--</span><b style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: xx-large;">The Book in the Bible: </b></div><div style="background-color: white;"><div style="color: #664a29; font-family: merriweather; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><b><span style="color: #45818e; font-size: x-large;"><i>Ruth</i></span></b></span></span></div><div style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div><div style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><i>(#Swoon!)</i></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, times new roman, serif; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, times new roman, serif; font-size: medium;">Ruth is a short little book in the Old Testament and one that I have studied several times. When He said Ruth, I immediately thought of Boaz and said, "Yes Lord! Yes!" Something about Your Redeemer King is Coming! Let it be so! This is a story about Ruth, sure... and Naomi and Boaz... this is a story about God working out details BEHIND THE SCENES and this is about redeeming love and I don't know about you - but I know for me... I think we just may need a refresher and a reminder that God is working things out for our good and that He is coming for us! I encourage you to read through this short book this year at LEAST once or twice and ask the Lord what He has to show you in it!<br /></span><div style="color: #664a29; font-family: merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><br /></div></div><div style="font-family: merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"><i>Next, we dive into the Prophetic Phrase for 2023!</i></span><br /><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;">After I ask the Lord about what to read (and read and read again) in the Bible throughout the new year, I ask for a fresh word or phrase that we may find re-visiting us <i>again and again</i> as 2023 unfolds! I ask the Lord to give me a few words that reflect His heart and reveal what He has planned for the Body in the coming year!</span><br /><div style="color: #664a29;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div></div></div><div style="background-color: white;"><div style="color: #664a29; font-family: merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: small;">--</span><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: medium;"><b><span style="color: #783f04;">The Phrase:</span></b></span></span></div><div style="color: #664a29; font-family: merriweather; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><b><i><span style="color: #45818e;">"It's Time!<br /></span></i></b></span><b style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><i><span style="color: #45818e;">It is the FULLNESS of TIME!"</span></i></b></span><br /><b style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16px;"><i><span style="color: #45818e; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></i></b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX4JBNTSO6LoVPsbG1OYmETReb6okuRnqyRHRZr0GzuBYaVeqxZHGGxWA8qBYON4VX6IsXQHHr6ZNY3PNZ9T_mEPn36bmo0PzlBZ_tEzE9gTvpPHwIh_MTggpSN0qDTa7proaeANPL0voUIepcwOIvSJRmUYPsdCkDsjwBz3LTJbmndVfcKA/s1102/2021.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1102" data-original-width="735" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX4JBNTSO6LoVPsbG1OYmETReb6okuRnqyRHRZr0GzuBYaVeqxZHGGxWA8qBYON4VX6IsXQHHr6ZNY3PNZ9T_mEPn36bmo0PzlBZ_tEzE9gTvpPHwIh_MTggpSN0qDTa7proaeANPL0voUIepcwOIvSJRmUYPsdCkDsjwBz3LTJbmndVfcKA/w426-h640/2021.png" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 16px;"><br /></div></div><div style="color: #664a29; font-family: merriweather; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #664a29; font-family: merriweather; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"></div><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, times new roman, serif; font-size: medium;">It came to me quick, while still laying in bed. I heard Him say, <i>"It's Time!"</i> I paused... pondering what that could mean - because, you know, it could mean so many things... and that is when He said it again! He said, <i>"It's TIME! It is the FULLNESS of TIME!"</i></span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, times new roman, serif; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, times new roman, serif; font-size: medium;">The Fullness of Time makes me think the Waiting Season is Over! (Hallelujah and Amen, anybody? I mean, anybody<i> else</i>?) In Scripture, that phrase is often referring to the Incarnation - when Jesus came! --Or like in Galatians 4:4, when the Gospel would spread worldwide. The "Fullness of Time" simply means the appropriate time, the due time, the right time --usually after a waiting period.</span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, times new roman, serif; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><i><span style="color: #134f5c; font-size: large;">OKAY!</span></i></b></div><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: georgia, times new roman, serif; font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>ALRIGHTY THEN!</i></b></div><b><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>LET'S GO!</i></b></div></b></span></div></div><div><br style="background-color: white; color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;" /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu5YB0aJwwEqK2rV0leoXzfvjbS4XlcBXozr_MF968nZ33iyZAe4ue0NobRab_59vTmFJOv2CAntfiiOLe0EEJrQZ88nZqqDabwy55yx6ObSISBu3pqzaOB8MRpAEL4cTQwcdvxcLukUKOSawfrdI0iS09pVBhnb5KI42rLYGOEq4uU_xB6Q/s1102/2021%203rd%20Day.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1102" data-original-width="735" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu5YB0aJwwEqK2rV0leoXzfvjbS4XlcBXozr_MF968nZ33iyZAe4ue0NobRab_59vTmFJOv2CAntfiiOLe0EEJrQZ88nZqqDabwy55yx6ObSISBu3pqzaOB8MRpAEL4cTQwcdvxcLukUKOSawfrdI0iS09pVBhnb5KI42rLYGOEq4uU_xB6Q/w426-h640/2021%203rd%20Day.png" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><div style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><i><span style="color: #45818e; font-size: x-large;">Hold On! </span></i></b></span></div><div style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><i><span style="color: #45818e; font-size: x-large;">Our Redeemer King is Coming... </span></i></b></span></div><div style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><i><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;">& I really believe 2023 is going to be amazing!</span></i></b></span></div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="color: #45818e;"><b><br /></b></span></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-size: x-large;"><b>***</b></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;"><i><b>What about you, sweet reader? What is the Lord speaking to your heart about this coming year? I'd love to hear in the comments below!</b></i></span></div><div><br style="background-color: white; color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #134f5c; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"><b><i>Happy New Year, friends!</i></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: georgia, times new roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: georgia, times new roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>May 2023 be better - for you and for me</i></b></span><b style="color: #134f5c; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"><i>! </i></b></div><div><b style="color: #134f5c; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"><i>May we see and experience what our hearts are longing for and may we encounter our Redeemer King coming for us... coming through for us... </i></b></div><div><b style="color: #134f5c; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"><i>And may we believe the Words of Worth and Love and Life that He sings over us this year!</i></b></div><div><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: georgia, times new roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;">In 2023, let's continue to:</span></div></div><a href="http://imageshack.com/i/neonf0j" target="_blank" title="ImageShack - Image And Video Hosting"><img border="0" src="http://imageshack.com/a/img842/5358/onf0.jpg" /></a><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">P.S. I have podcasts! The Changing Our Minds podcast (co-hosted with my Girlie) is sporadic because - well, we're the worst! - But if you Subscribe, whenever a new episode releases you will be notified! The Made to Pray podcast releases a new episode every Monday morning so tune in and listen and pray along with us! It's a great way to start off your work week!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFmByHpT3XrvKjsMZfgBA5GD2RFox6ScV1J-zxOnCFzF2Y8iVja1OV_AIOTBf6snRCC4LSfyJ9n-4g1jdiH2ywPq-IXF4KkLDjn_AF6WQLxmiCO3physe2IYipDKMD3ItmKdjTKU3gmeFrQPw2IJJ9YRJ-7YEEXf1zZ3FvKOBC6bMrWRFPCw/s1102/Podcasts.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1102" data-original-width="735" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFmByHpT3XrvKjsMZfgBA5GD2RFox6ScV1J-zxOnCFzF2Y8iVja1OV_AIOTBf6snRCC4LSfyJ9n-4g1jdiH2ywPq-IXF4KkLDjn_AF6WQLxmiCO3physe2IYipDKMD3ItmKdjTKU3gmeFrQPw2IJJ9YRJ-7YEEXf1zZ3FvKOBC6bMrWRFPCw/w427-h640/Podcasts.png" width="427" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div><br /></div>~Karrilee~ from Abiding Love, Abounding Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06698176066735604032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24687432.post-87614213194719679302022-12-24T11:14:00.003-08:002023-01-15T18:54:01.006-08:00Merry Christmas Eve!<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSrC_5UinHFQbJfh4kXADn5RJdQ9fq1nEvcO8jSQlDnyulJUA7gZax6YbdUpZ4pClorrfMqp5bWi6lcuxCOlHKfhOh5QPave9YaADX25sWtjwm-QUv2ia-UGR6NnYY-fanpB4BCwmHokuYFfZFg_QqHRb5ayDh2p6oNUP4EpQMlblXaeImYw/s2048/zChristmas%20Eve.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSrC_5UinHFQbJfh4kXADn5RJdQ9fq1nEvcO8jSQlDnyulJUA7gZax6YbdUpZ4pClorrfMqp5bWi6lcuxCOlHKfhOh5QPave9YaADX25sWtjwm-QUv2ia-UGR6NnYY-fanpB4BCwmHokuYFfZFg_QqHRb5ayDh2p6oNUP4EpQMlblXaeImYw/w400-h266/zChristmas%20Eve.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: #660000; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #660000; font-family: georgia;">Oops!? You guys?!!?</span></div><div><span style="color: #660000; font-family: georgia;"><br />How did <i>LITERALLY </i>almost an entire<b> YEAR</b> go by here?<br /><br />I knew I was feeling called to more quiet... less sharing of all my thoughts so publicly.</span></div><div><span style="color: #660000; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #660000; font-family: georgia;">I was called more to Prayer in secret and waking (again/still) at 3am to intercede through most midnight watches in 2022. Add to that: real life, working a part-time job that took up more mental space than part-time jobs usually do, battling some physical ailments that made my OneWord <i>(Strength)</i> feel mean and tricky, and - well - I was tired, Y'all!)</span></div><div><span style="color: #660000; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #660000; font-family: georgia;"><b><i>TIRED!</i></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #660000; font-family: georgia;"> (Weary? Maybe a bit of that, too, as the year dragged on.)</span></div><div><span style="color: #660000; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #660000; font-family: georgia;">I kept up the Monthly Newsletter for a bit longer than this blog, but even that practice got pushed to the side for a season.</span></div><div><span style="color: #660000; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #660000; font-family: georgia;">However, I have been feeling a stirring... a reawakening to write, once again!<br /><br />My, how I have missed it!</span></div><div><span><a name='more'></a></span><span style="color: #660000; font-family: georgia;"><br />My temptation is to update you all on 2022 --but nothing major actually happened... </span></div><div><span style="color: #660000; font-family: georgia;">We are all good, enjoying our jobs, we planted into a local church again, and my podcasts are still a thing --the Prayer podcast, entitled <i>Made to Pray</i>, releases a new episode every Monday morning while the other one with my girlie, <i>Changing Our Minds</i>, is - well - more sporadic (which tracks!) Lil' Miss is <b>FIVE</b>, you guys?! She is <i>FIVE</i> - and SO TALL it is ridiculous! She is still such a Joy... like a Giggle in human form. We are smitten still... (The magic of being a Papa and Mimi has not worn off!)</span></div><div><span style="color: #660000; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #660000; font-family: georgia;">As I mentioned above, I have been feeling a stirring to sit back in this chair and tap out words. I've been rolling it around in my mind and allowing myself to get a little excited, hopeful, -even a tad bit expectant about it! I figured I would start with the Annual Post I usually write out on New Year's Day. I'm sure I will... however, this morning I woke up with my mind in mid-sentence. I lay there still, slowly waking up and hearing a Christmas message unfold in my spirit. </span></div><div><span style="color: #660000; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #660000; font-family: georgia;">So I got up, grabbed a blanket, a pen, and a journal, and I wondered how the message started while I was still asleep. I sat there waiting and thought, "We are ALL still waiting! We are all waiting for something... for someone... searching the horizon, looking for Hope."<br /><br />Waiting... Waiting... it just keeps spinning in my thoughts and then it hits me! </span></div><div><span style="color: #660000; font-family: georgia;">It's Advent - and Advent is all about waiting!<br /><br />Christmas is here, and Christ came, and we are all still waiting...</span></div><div><span style="color: #660000; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #660000; font-family: georgia;">Waiting for the World to Change, when in fact, it already did!<br /><br />I feel the Holy Spirit nudging me to back up my perspective a bit --to zoom out... to encourage you to not just see Christ in the Cradle, or even Christ on the Cross, but to focus on Christ the King of Kings and Lord of Lords... the Ruler of the Universe... </span></div><div><span style="color: #660000; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #660000; font-family: georgia;">Our World changed the very moment God --<i><b>GOD!!!</b></i>-- chose to become flesh and dwell among us. When all of heaven watched the All Powerful, Omnipotent God curl himself small into human form and freefall from Heaven, floating in embryonic fluid to be pushed out into this world spinning out of control. (You can almost hear the gasp of the angels!)</span></div><div><span style="color: #660000; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #660000; font-family: georgia;">It's hard to fathom --for many reasons. One, because it's so ridiculous that anyone would do that -much less GOD! And two, because our world still feels wild and wobbly, unsure and unsteady on its' axis!<br /><br />But one-third of the Trinity volunteered to leave all of Heaven to come to earth - so He could show us a better way and so He could free us and bring us Home!</span></div><div><span style="color: #660000; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #660000; font-family: georgia;"><b><i>Home</i></b> -- Jesus said He didn't have a home, but I think He was just stating the obvious: His Home cannot be found anchored in dirt and held together with wood and stone. His Home is in Heaven and in every Heart that prepares Him room!</span></div><div><span style="color: #660000; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #660000; font-family: georgia;">Not <i><b><u>A</u></b></i> room... We don't invite Him into PART of our lives... into PART of our heart. We lay the whole thing down, laid bare on the altar, placed in the Hands who formed us first out of the dirt. <b><i>WE </i></b>are His Home - and He came on Christmas, yes. He came as a Child, rose as the Christ, and He's coming again as our King!</span></div><div><span style="color: #660000; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #660000; font-family: georgia;">Maybe in the past few years - you've lost sight of Him... lost sight of the Magic of Christmas and just exactly what Christ in the Cradle really means... what it really did. (Me, too, if I'm being honest.)<br /><br />But as I look out my window into the still-dark morning sky, in the dim glow of the streetlights, I can see blankets of snow falling, bringing a peaceful, holy hush to our world that only a freshly fallen cover of snow can do. And I remember...</span></div><div><span style="color: #660000; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #660000; font-family: georgia;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">He came to Cover <i>everything!</i></span></b><br /> --to calm our fears and to forgive our debts, and to heal our wounds and our world.</span></div><div><span style="color: #660000; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #660000; font-family: georgia;">Maybe your Flesh has been Fighting off fear... </span></div><div><span style="color: #660000; font-family: georgia;">and your Heart has been Hesitant to Hope, </span></div><div><span style="color: #660000; font-family: georgia;">and your Love feels a Little Lacking...</span></div><div><span style="color: #660000; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #660000; font-family: georgia;">Maybe you're still waiting for Him to change the world </span></div><div><span style="color: #660000; font-family: georgia;">--or at least to change<b> YOUR </b>world!</span></div><div><span style="color: #660000; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #660000; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">As Advent gives way to Christmas Eve day, and we celebrate the end of our Waiting Season, I pray you catch a glimpse of our God - who gave up all of heaven to get to you! </span></div><div><span style="color: #660000; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #660000; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">And I pray you'll back up your perspective and not just see Him as a Babe wrapped in a Manger, but as Christ Crucified and Risen, as Christ the King who came for you... who is here even now, --waiting on us, wanting to walk us back Home!</span></div><div><span style="color: #660000; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #660000; font-family: georgia;">All of Heaven and Earth changed already --over 2000 years ago, when Jesus became our Tribute - when the Triune God - God, who is Three in One, separated, so that we would be made One --be (re)made Whole! </span><span style="color: #660000; font-family: georgia;">All the Change that was needed came - arriving on earth with the cry of a newborn babe, which sounds to the enemy very much like both "Eli, Eli, Lema Sabachthani!" (My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?) and "It is finished!"</span></div><div><span style="color: #660000; font-family: georgia;"><br />--Something about <b><i>Victory is Won!</i></b> <i><b>Your sins are Forgiven</b></i> (-<i>now go and sin no more!</i> Our culture seems to have forgotten the second part of the verse!)...</span></div><div><span style="color: #660000; font-family: georgia;"><br />--Something about<b style="font-style: italic;"> Well done Good and Faithful Servant, now enter into His JOY!</b></span></div><div><span style="color: #660000; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #660000; font-family: georgia;">Christ came as a baby, died as our Savior, and Rose as our King!<br /><br />The moment He exhaled the breath of God out of tiny human lungs,</span></div><div><span style="color: #660000; font-family: georgia;">the atmosphere changed -- <b><i>EVERYTHING </i></b>changed!</span></div><div><span style="color: #660000; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #660000; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><i>Our Wait is Over!</i></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #660000; font-family: georgia;"><br />We have been forgiven, redeemed, grafted in, and</span></div><div><span style="color: #660000; font-family: georgia;">adopted as sons and daughters --as the Family of God.<br /><br />Inhale... </span><span style="color: #660000; font-family: georgia;">Exhale...</span></div><div><span style="color: #660000; font-family: georgia;">Feel a thrill of Hope... <br />& Rejoice, my friends!</span></div><div><span style="color: #660000; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #660000; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><i>Merry Christmas, Jesus! </i></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #660000; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><i>Thank You for coming! </i></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #660000; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><i>We're so glad you did! </i></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #660000; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><i>We want to walk with you, </i></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #660000; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><i>day by day, step by step, </i></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #660000; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><i>all the way back Home!</i></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #660000; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #660000; font-family: georgia;"><i><b><span style="font-size: large;">Merry Christmas, friends!</span></b></i></span></div><div><span style="color: #660000; font-family: georgia;"><i><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></i></span></div><div><span style="color: #660000; font-family: georgia;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0MWWGAq86NgdGiavviyDApI4mUQMEuGwuLMGHJgsG4rOyM-TLyAO8YqYK5DB5seuwKRiEekVpwBULgEwcuSY8rKyFkF4vPKH1yXYjkFegEy_e1PKoz63h3RRqU7UsnN4tAOu4s5dKipYRIWtlYIwirpzEA9Sxzlfuh4iu3FzfvtWRxzCdug/s2000/zChristmas%20Eve%201.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1429" data-original-width="2000" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0MWWGAq86NgdGiavviyDApI4mUQMEuGwuLMGHJgsG4rOyM-TLyAO8YqYK5DB5seuwKRiEekVpwBULgEwcuSY8rKyFkF4vPKH1yXYjkFegEy_e1PKoz63h3RRqU7UsnN4tAOu4s5dKipYRIWtlYIwirpzEA9Sxzlfuh4iu3FzfvtWRxzCdug/w400-h286/zChristmas%20Eve%201.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /></span><span style="font-size: medium;">I'll be back next week!</span></i></span></div><div><span style="color: #660000; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><i>(I promise!)</i></span></div><div><br /></div><a href="http://imageshack.com/i/neonf0j" target="_blank" title="ImageShack - Image And Video Hosting"><img border="0" src="http://imageshack.com/a/img842/5358/onf0.jpg" /></a>~Karrilee~ from Abiding Love, Abounding Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06698176066735604032noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24687432.post-76272506423760113902022-01-01T12:35:00.000-08:002022-01-01T12:35:16.766-08:00Our Annual Prophetic Post for the New Year - 2022 Edition!<div><div><h1 style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;"><b><i>Happy New Year, </i></b></span><b style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;"><i>Sweet Readers!</i></b></span></h1><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">We made it through and here we are: January 1, 2022! </span></div><div><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">A Brand New Year... a Fresh New Start... and I think all of us are ready for it --maybe even more than in years past!</span></div><div><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #783f04;">This has become a somewhat anticipated post around here... but, as I've said before, it was a tradition long before I started this blog (which was a long, long, LONG time ago!) So, </span></span><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">long before I wrote this New Years Day post here for the public, I practiced this routine in private --and year after year, it still proves to be... True... Helpful... Accurate... and Encouraging!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="color: #45818e; font-size: large;">This is our Annual Prophetic Post for the New Year!</span></i></b></div><div style="color: #783f04; text-align: center;"><b><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhsM9BQEVRAyr5pyaHtx-SVGKb4E0a8pxbzRqjxqkBwFBG9-0R2OfuC4MBTYY2Jizfjxma2RxTUxqqdNqlLuZ7RsyOG0oXXqGvL9dPEPcNvHguQu_G7OWbIAav4fpHlxSxOfGcA3OycgvoxEOUwgiS8Sggbnq4piAqj3TLmman_1xw2W1u1mA=s1102" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1102" data-original-width="735" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhsM9BQEVRAyr5pyaHtx-SVGKb4E0a8pxbzRqjxqkBwFBG9-0R2OfuC4MBTYY2Jizfjxma2RxTUxqqdNqlLuZ7RsyOG0oXXqGvL9dPEPcNvHguQu_G7OWbIAav4fpHlxSxOfGcA3OycgvoxEOUwgiS8Sggbnq4piAqj3TLmman_1xw2W1u1mA=w426-h640" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div></i></b></div></span></div><div><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #664a29; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: medium;">I know we have all felt a bit of trepidation and hesitant Hope during the approach of a New Year for the last few trips around the sun. But I have to say, I feel ACTUAL Hope and Joyful Anticipation rising up as we enter into 2022!</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #664a29; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #664a29; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: medium;">It feels like all the Hard & Heavy from the past several years have been leading up to Now! NOW is the time... THIS is the year!</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #664a29; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #664a29; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: medium;">Before we dive into whatever God has to say about'22, let's briefly look back at 2021...</span></span><i><br style="background-color: white; color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;" /></i><a name='more'></a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #783f04;">For</span><span><span style="color: #45818e;"> </span><b><i><a href="https://abidingloveaboundinggrace.blogspot.com/2021/01/the-annual-prophetic-post-for-new-year.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #134f5c;">2021</span></a></i></b></span><span style="color: #783f04;">, </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #664a29;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;">the Book in the Bible was </span><i style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">JAMES</span></span></i><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;">! So full of (much needed) Wisdom and (unapologetic) Truth! It was both refreshing and convicting and I LOVED writing our way through it in the series on the blog!</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #664a29;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div><div style="background-color: white; color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #664a29; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #783f04;">The Phrase that the Lord gave us for 2021 was:</span></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #664a29;"><i><span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">"Resurrection over Restoration!</span></span></i><i><span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">"</span><br /></span></i></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;">He told me that sometimes He chooses Resurrection over Restoration because sometimes something has to die to be able to breathe New Life back into it! <br /><br />I don't know about you, but I clearly saw that happen over and over and over last year. In broad, general ways as well as in small, personal ways, too! (Just a few examples at the top of the list would be C (--that which will not be spoken of... and the variants, too!) --and all that goes along with it, 2020 Elections, Various Expectations, our Small Group, etc. Some were a surprise, and some we saw the end coming a mile away!<br /><br />So, this year I believe we will see the finality of things dying and being raised to life again. I believe we will see the REVIVAL that always follows Resurrection and that just may be why I can sense actual Hope rising up as we step into 2022!</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;">And now, we come to this tradition on New Years' Day, where I quiet my thoughts and opinions and still my spirit and I ask God for 2 things:</span></div><div><blockquote><span style="background-color: white; color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;">1. A Book in the Bible to study or read through a few times throughout the year.</span> </blockquote><blockquote><span style="background-color: white; color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;">2. A Prophetic Word or Phrase we can all look to throughout 2022.</span> </blockquote></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #664a29; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><i><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></i></span><b style="background-color: white; color: #664a29; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: xx-large;"><i><span style="color: #45818e;">***</span></i></b></div><div><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i><br style="background-color: white;" /><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="background-color: white; color: #664a29; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #134f5c;">Say Goodbye to 2021 and let's welcome 2022!</span></i></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;"> </span></div></i></b></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: x-small;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEghmZndyc7kk_CEQt478go-cVUfWkhCbYKf9_I-ZFGZWuZ_lNV_cNJiF60-YnHoFPz29lu-OOPSHIq0clnaTkTWfuTrguwrHHW4ODmeSEcKWJoMgzatYr2HqQzMpQzGq8XGxsFmZ2WZKwfAvMq8wh2T3s3oH3XpV_Lfa2tziGwTZwAizzKZSw=s1102" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1102" data-original-width="735" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEghmZndyc7kk_CEQt478go-cVUfWkhCbYKf9_I-ZFGZWuZ_lNV_cNJiF60-YnHoFPz29lu-OOPSHIq0clnaTkTWfuTrguwrHHW4ODmeSEcKWJoMgzatYr2HqQzMpQzGq8XGxsFmZ2WZKwfAvMq8wh2T3s3oH3XpV_Lfa2tziGwTZwAizzKZSw=w426-h640" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #783f04;">I know... I know that even if, in the past, you were one who got all the warm fuzzies when turning to a new calendar year, --well... you may be a bit hesitant. I get it. I felt that way, too! </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #783f04;">But I'll just give you a little</span><b><i><span style="color: #45818e;"> Spoiler Alert </span></i></b><span style="color: #783f04;">right up front: </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #783f04;">God whispered to my heart these words when I reminded Him of the last few years...</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"><i><blockquote><span style="color: #76a5af;">"I'm pretty excited for all that I have planned for 2022! You should allow yourself to get excited, too!" </span></blockquote></i></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">So - let yourself feel Hope Rising with Joy not far behind... and let's dig into the Book and Phrase for the year! </span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><div style="color: #664a29; font-family: merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: medium;">As I prayed for the book in the Bible, I thought of Esther or Psalms or the Book of Enoch (which I know is not technically IN the Bible!)... but what God finally led me to is this:</span></div><div style="color: #664a29; font-family: merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: x-large;">--<b>The Book in the Bible: </b></span></span></div><div style="color: #664a29; font-family: merriweather; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><b><span style="color: #45818e; font-size: x-large;"><i>Philippians</i></span></b></span></span></div><div style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div><div style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><i>You know how I am though, right?</i></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, times new roman, serif; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, times new roman, serif; font-size: medium;">God and I had sort of fallen into a routine of going from Old Testament to New Testament - back and forth - for several years. So I questioned Him. But looking at the themes in Paul's letter to the Philippians -well, it's a perfect follow-up to James! Plus - remember that Spoiler Alert above? Yeah - something about getting excited and feeling hints of actual Hope and Joy... and that, my friends, is what Paul brings to the Philippians! Eugene Peterson writes this about Paul and his letter to the Philippians: "This is Paul's happiest letter. And the happiness is infectious. Before we've read a dozen lines, we begin to feel the joy ourselves --the dance of words and the exclamations of delight have a way of getting inside us. ...Paul doesn't just tell us that we can be happy, or how to be happy. He simply and unmistakenly IS happy. None of his circumstances contribute to his joy: He wrote from a jail cell, his work was under attack by competitors, and after twenty years or so of hard traveling in the service of Jesus, he was tired and would have welcomed some relief. But circumstances are incidental compared to the life of Jesus, the Messiah, that Paul experiences from the inside."<br /><br />See? Consistently, God knows JUST what we need! <br /><br />At this point, I have no plans or intentions to do a year-long series (like we did for Colossians and James!) --but you know how it is with me. He's the boss, so that could change! Right now I am focused on podcasting more consistently in 2022. Getting back (-- 'back'?!) to a regular schedule with Kayelyn for the CHANGING OUR MINDS podcast, as well as starting a brand new one -- Spirit-Led Prayers* -- with my friend and prayer partner, Lori. So, adding another series on the blog may be tough... but again, He's the boss of me! If He asks/tells me to do it, He is also Kind and Gracious to give me a doable timeline, too!<br /></span><div style="color: #664a29; font-family: merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><br /></div></div><div style="font-family: merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"><i>Next, we dive into the Prophetic Phrase for 2022!</i></span><br /><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;">After I ask the Lord about what to read (and read and read again) in the Bible throughout the new year, I ask for a fresh word or phrase that we may find re-visiting us <i>again and again</i> as 2022 unfolds! I ask the Lord to give me a few words that reflect His heart and reveal what He has planned for the Body in the coming year!</span><br /><div style="color: #664a29;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div></div></div><div style="background-color: white;"><div style="color: #664a29; font-family: merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: small;">--</span><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: medium;"><b><span style="color: #783f04;">The Phrase:</span></b></span></span></div><div style="color: #664a29; font-family: merriweather; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><b><i><span style="color: #45818e;">"Increased Encounters!</span></i></b></span><b style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><i><span style="color: #45818e;">"</span></i></b></span><br /><b style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16px;"><i><span style="color: #45818e; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></i></b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEheY0VzQ7Bm0xA83B7flHMt5fXaDplm9rgBQLigIRU3zYBYyUNM8G77dF8CjJykVJ2DGNSiSG7G4EZinIONc7TTm4gJs0GLHMS2keFaM7IzJZSza68JquxTC6tQWBXJHTDt7nNogN8BZwLrJ6FnCo1P8OGKjwetPqzoP5zz-IYk-3sLF0Iv6Q=s1102" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1102" data-original-width="735" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEheY0VzQ7Bm0xA83B7flHMt5fXaDplm9rgBQLigIRU3zYBYyUNM8G77dF8CjJykVJ2DGNSiSG7G4EZinIONc7TTm4gJs0GLHMS2keFaM7IzJZSza68JquxTC6tQWBXJHTDt7nNogN8BZwLrJ6FnCo1P8OGKjwetPqzoP5zz-IYk-3sLF0Iv6Q=w426-h640" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 16px;"><br /></div></div><div style="color: #664a29; font-family: merriweather; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #664a29; font-family: merriweather; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"></div><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, times new roman, serif; font-size: medium;">2022 will usher in an Increase of Encounters with the Spirit Realm and with, specifically, the Holy Spirit</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #783f04;">!</span></span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><br />Dreams & Visions... Supernatural Encounters and Experiences!<br /><br />Revival will spread like WILDFIRE as the Spirit awakens a hunger to experience more of God. As much as WE long to encounter HIM --HE longs to encounter and envelope and empower US!<br /><br />There is an Awakening coming in greater measure and we who have eyes to see and ears to hear must be willing to Be Present and to BECOME an Encounter for others!<br /><br />I believe even more than in seasons' passed, we will walk in anointing and we will once again be Releasers of the Kingdom and Carriers of His Presence!<br /><br />I believe in 2022, Prayer will become a main focus for many and God will enjoy more ongoing conversations and will reveal truths and give boldness and restore (or resurrect!) Righteousness once again. Not in a legalistic, religious way --but in a "Righteousness, Peace, and Joy - that's the Kingdom of God" kind of way! <span style="font-size: x-small;">(Romans 14:17)</span><br /></span></span></div></div><div><div style="background-color: white;"><br /></div><br style="background-color: white; color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;" /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiaOeiPnuKLp73W_8AOhRvcfNTCxfbtt5T5k-uIuxq8CMGu1UO80kPI_IOZPGguhZH_CPlqQLaFY1XXmj6nPHPCJJOwtB6D3ckFjiXpGcjC845AEibhquaB_OwpeTINKmryUtUBe6EFleaqzx8cVo2Tf3cA0i3PWCRx_Xa5KAYYfjSo6pCdSA=s1102" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1102" data-original-width="735" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiaOeiPnuKLp73W_8AOhRvcfNTCxfbtt5T5k-uIuxq8CMGu1UO80kPI_IOZPGguhZH_CPlqQLaFY1XXmj6nPHPCJJOwtB6D3ckFjiXpGcjC845AEibhquaB_OwpeTINKmryUtUBe6EFleaqzx8cVo2Tf3cA0i3PWCRx_Xa5KAYYfjSo6pCdSA=w426-h640" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><div style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><i><span style="color: #45818e; font-size: x-large;">Hold On! He's Coming... </span></i></b></span></div><div style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><i><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;">& 2022 is going to be a wild ride!</span></i></b></span></div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="color: #45818e;"><b><br /></b></span></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-size: x-large;"><b>***</b></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;"><i><b>What about you, sweet reader?</b></i></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #783f04;">I wrote about my </span><i style="color: #783f04;">OneWord</i><span style="color: #783f04;"> for 2022 already! You can read about that</span> <i><a href="https://abidingloveaboundinggrace.blogspot.com/2021/12/releasing-2021-and-leaning-in-to-2022.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #76a5af;">here</span></a></i><span style="color: #783f04;">. If you have not taken a moment or two </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;">to ask God for OneWord365 or if He has a word for you for <i>2022</i>, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;">I encourage you to do so! </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #664a29; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;">It can be just one single word or a phrase </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #664a29; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;">He wants to sow into you this year!</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, times new roman, serif; font-size: medium;"><br style="background-color: white;" /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;">Until then,</span></div><div><br style="background-color: white; color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #134f5c; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"><b><i>Happy New Year, friends!</i></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: georgia, times new roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: georgia, times new roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>May 2022 be Happier & Healthier for us all!<br />May we move in wisdom and grace, </i></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: georgia, times new roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>And may we experience an Increase</i></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: georgia, times new roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>in Encountering Him and, in turn, Become an Encounter to those around us!<br />May we be Releasers of His Kingdom</i></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: georgia, times new roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>and Carriers of His Presence</i></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: georgia, times new roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>wherever we go! </i></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: georgia, times new roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;">And in 2022, let's continue to purpose to:</span></div></div><a href="http://imageshack.com/i/neonf0j" target="_blank" title="ImageShack - Image And Video Hosting"><img border="0" src="http://imageshack.com/a/img842/5358/onf0.jpg" /></a><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjCo8hCm_c3810gBslGQNiDx217XsiXIPKN2InsZFjfvtTmRE6xpFQU9W-opWAMAJNOijiXe_u_b63MENHucHh54RWvcRq5N-aqgbWcS5vh-W0ves3VKODfSrMgujfpn_36dD4Q92blOSRCNT_lORdG_lhjlZzNpdFSUMT3gNsprdvARZYj-A=s1102" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1102" data-original-width="735" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjCo8hCm_c3810gBslGQNiDx217XsiXIPKN2InsZFjfvtTmRE6xpFQU9W-opWAMAJNOijiXe_u_b63MENHucHh54RWvcRq5N-aqgbWcS5vh-W0ves3VKODfSrMgujfpn_36dD4Q92blOSRCNT_lORdG_lhjlZzNpdFSUMT3gNsprdvARZYj-A=w426-h640" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjlHi5WWTFUHgAHqFnB9m3xVp3sA7n__8sDB_gNaiXytCbKlUnCOs7Nt-_v9PtXourc53CotEs3bO_a-jkgNDGz5fFqEj83Yl1zzKL1Py82SZtY81bQfVJ3_HEBer_N3nRZZvVG8hgQ6yZx4FKQeKbbJmEioQV84ga7598yPS3NqfLOjR0l5A=s1102" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1102" data-original-width="735" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjlHi5WWTFUHgAHqFnB9m3xVp3sA7n__8sDB_gNaiXytCbKlUnCOs7Nt-_v9PtXourc53CotEs3bO_a-jkgNDGz5fFqEj83Yl1zzKL1Py82SZtY81bQfVJ3_HEBer_N3nRZZvVG8hgQ6yZx4FKQeKbbJmEioQV84ga7598yPS3NqfLOjR0l5A=w426-h640" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div><br /></div>~Karrilee~ from Abiding Love, Abounding Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06698176066735604032noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24687432.post-91510589946819717112021-12-31T18:09:00.000-08:002021-12-31T18:09:01.101-08:00Releasing 2021 and Leaning in to 2022! (A One Word 365 post)<h3 class="post-title entry-title" style="background-color: white; color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 22.4px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0.25em 0px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">***</span></h3><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-5505936599526295608" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-5206100668869693466" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><i><span style="color: #783f04;">Do Y'all still do this? I love the practice and even in those years where it seems my OneWord may have slipped away - I can always reflect back over the year and see how it was actually at work all the while!<br /><br />Maybe you are not aware of the movement that is OneWord365... or maybe you are in the know and already have fully embraced your Word for 2022! I didn't write much in 2021 about my One Word and to be honest, I kind of forgot all about it for months at a time... but as I said, as I have been reflecting over this (past - almost!) year, I can see how it was always close at hand!</span></i></span></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-5206100668869693466" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYDaNT_FZ9fCGY5D8uEhL1hD7Fl1ka6PHW5iNHhWA4DptF29quvTjUkcv4WBo3eO7kFYcw9dVZkOdVdAW_RCzkyE9DaQXNwXXg_vkkRp1QsQAlp_23XrXuX4utLkVymWuLff7b/s1600/ow17_facebook_cover-1_851x315.png" imageanchor="1" style="color: #82a9b3; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="851" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYDaNT_FZ9fCGY5D8uEhL1hD7Fl1ka6PHW5iNHhWA4DptF29quvTjUkcv4WBo3eO7kFYcw9dVZkOdVdAW_RCzkyE9DaQXNwXXg_vkkRp1QsQAlp_23XrXuX4utLkVymWuLff7b/s640/ow17_facebook_cover-1_851x315.png" style="border: 0px solid transparent; padding: 4px;" width="640" /></a></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-5206100668869693466" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><i style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16px;"><br /></i><i style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16px;"><b style="color: #783f04;">I've been doing this</b><span style="color: #783f04;"> </span><a href="http://oneword365.com/register-your-word/" style="color: #82a9b3; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><b>OneWord365 project</b></a><span style="color: #783f04;"> </span><b><span style="color: #783f04;">for many years and yet, each December, I pray into what He may have for me and ask Him to lead my Word to me. </span><span style="color: #45818e;">(And --usually-- I argue and second-guess! It's fine. It's all part of my charm!)</span></b></i><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: medium;">My OneWord last year was </span><i><b><span style="color: #45818e; font-size: large;">RELEASE!</span></b></i></span><br /><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><br />It was sort of a Do-Over word because I had picked "Releasing" about seven or eight years earlier. If you remember, I sort of argued with God about His choice because - you know - out of ALL the words...? Why use one so similar to something I'd already walked with? But I got confirmation after confirmation and when I allowed myself to sit still long enough to listen, I realized there were things I still hadn't let go of in 2021... things that were holding me back!<br /><br />"Release" also showed up in laying things down (again) like old hurts and expectations, insecurities and doubts, but also releasing things like our small group and old traditions... It meant good things too, like releasing Hope and Peace into OH SO MANY anxious and stressful situations throughout the year, and releasing the false hope of trying to control or persuade something or someone into believing differently!</span></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-5206100668869693466" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><br />So... I'm so thankful I took a few moments to look over 2021 to see where or if Release showed up - because, well - it seems (even though technically I am NOT 'lighter'!) I feel much lighter going in to 2022! Less weighed down... less held back --by myself and by others! When I moved on and began praying about my <i>NEXT</i> Word for 2022, I asked the Lord to give me a Word that would stick with me all year long and would bring in me - if I was willing - a lasting change!<br /><br />Enter the stirrings of Power and Strength!</span></span></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-5206100668869693466" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;"><span><a name='more'></a></span></span></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-5206100668869693466" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #783f04;">I first began to hear Power and - hey? Who doesn't like Power? Am I right? I thought of Power in terms of more answered prayers, and more Holy Spirit --and when the drive for 'more' started to gain momentum, the Lord directed me to literally page after page after page after page in my Bible where "Strength" was written all over the place! In order to have more power... we must increase our Strength! We must become stronger!</span></span><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;"> </span></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-5206100668869693466" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><span style="color: #664a29; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #783f04;">So, my </span><i style="color: #783f04;">OneWord365</i><span style="color: #783f04;"> for </span><b style="color: #783f04;"><i>2022</i></b><span style="color: #783f04;"> is:</span></span><span style="color: #664a29; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: #664a29;"><i><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #76a5af;">~</span><span style="color: #45818e;">Strength</span><span style="color: #76a5af;">~</span></span></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEicdZXR84xpLBSuGRAzy1o2AAqgX2yuNYOIyTexCbr0rhu3j78c8xBp1uTYgQApxcVOXM1x4unhYVgXl3aUF8PSqt38g8uj7ElOK7XyAizFVPz77nXRng_zEHLOuARXAF7ojmxLsDCMQ9cngLAgfA2sHbn53BTJ5mUn4egRE8loAdM2sGx1RQ=s1200" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="800" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEicdZXR84xpLBSuGRAzy1o2AAqgX2yuNYOIyTexCbr0rhu3j78c8xBp1uTYgQApxcVOXM1x4unhYVgXl3aUF8PSqt38g8uj7ElOK7XyAizFVPz77nXRng_zEHLOuARXAF7ojmxLsDCMQ9cngLAgfA2sHbn53BTJ5mUn4egRE8loAdM2sGx1RQ=w426-h640" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div style="font-size: x-small; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #664a29; font-size: 16px;"><b><i><span style="color: #134f5c; font-size: x-large;">Strength:</span></i></b><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;"><i> </i></span></span><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, times new roman, serif;">\ ˈstreŋ(k)th , ˈstren(t)th \</span></div></span></span><blockquote class="tr_bq" style="line-height: 1.3em; margin: 1em 20px;"><blockquote class="tr_bq" style="line-height: 1.3em; margin: 1em 20px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, times new roman, serif;">1: the quality or state of being strong : capacity for exertion or endurance</span></blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq" style="line-height: 1.3em; margin: 1em 20px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, times new roman, serif;">2: power to resist force : SOLIDITY, TOUGHNESS</span></blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq" style="line-height: 1.3em; margin: 1em 20px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, times new roman, serif;">3: power of resisting attack : IMPREGNABILITY</span></blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq" style="line-height: 1.3em; margin: 1em 20px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, times new roman, serif;">4a: legal, logical, or moral force</span></blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq" style="line-height: 1.3em; margin: 1em 20px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, times new roman, serif;">b: a strong attribute or inherent asset</span></blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq" style="line-height: 1.3em; margin: 1em 20px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">5a: degree of potency of effect or of concentration</span></blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq" style="line-height: 1.3em; margin: 1em 20px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">b: intensity of light, color, sound, or odor</span></blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq" style="line-height: 1.3em; margin: 1em 20px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, times new roman, serif;">c: vigor of expression</span></blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq" style="line-height: 1.3em; margin: 1em 20px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, times new roman, serif;">6: force as measured in numbers : effective numbers of any body or organization</span></blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq" style="line-height: 1.3em; margin: 1em 20px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">7: one regarded as embodying or affording force or firmness : SUPPORT</span></blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq" style="line-height: 1.3em; margin: 1em 20px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">8: maintenance of or a rising tendency in a price level : firmness of prices</span></blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq" style="line-height: 1.3em; margin: 1em 20px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">9: BASIS —used in the phrase on the strength of</span></blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq" style="line-height: 1.3em; margin: 1em 20px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, times new roman, serif;">from strength to strength</span></blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq" style="line-height: 1.3em; margin: 1em 20px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, times new roman, serif;">: vigorously forward : from one high point to the next</span></blockquote></blockquote><span style="color: #664a29; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;">I'll be honest... I'm human and this isn't my first rodeo so I felt it important to let Him know I already see that in order to gain strength - there must be resistence and I'm not a fan of that! It made me a little less than enthusiastic about this OneWord. </span></span></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-5206100668869693466" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><span style="color: #664a29; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;">He reminded me that there has <i><b>already </b></i>been steady resistance over the last few years and I am most likely <i><b>WAY</b></i> stronger than I even know! So, as 2021 winds down and I let go of Release <i>(ya see what I did there?) </i>--I'm ready to embrace Strength! </span></span></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-5206100668869693466" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><span style="color: #664a29; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;">I need it --I think we <i>all</i> do, really! We could <i>all</i> use a bit more power... more strength in body, mind, emotions, spirit... I'm looking forward to 2022 and as much as I am well aware that there WILL BE some Heavy and Hard, I am believing that I will also see that He has been strengthening me all along!</span></span></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-5206100668869693466" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">May each of us tap into a </span><b style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: xx-large;"><i><span style="color: #45818e;">'Strength'</span></i></b><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"> that the last few years have already grown in us... let us be STRONGER in 2022! Amen? </span></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-5206100668869693466" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="font-size: large;">And May we each:</span></span></span></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-5206100668869693466" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://imageshack.com/i/neonf0j" style="clear: left; color: #82a9b3; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank" title="ImageShack - Image And Video Hosting"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEiLFgMaJyc1FCFWF1-rbi2WaWdIbSwgthHC6Fj7_EUykj5bBQwEC2VZshMfNOaT8OSgQTzmK1Obkaq_nA1WbRjiGyAoPXg-9kz8EwsrYfmc9F7bLQWheHNaDiFIMXFB2TwGidSJVomX=s0-d" style="border: 0px solid transparent; padding: 4px;" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: large;">What comes to <i>your</i> mind when you hear the word, Strength? <br /></span></span><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />What about you, my friend? Do you participate in finding One Word (or letting One Word find you?) If so... </span></span><i style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #783f04;">what's your Word for 2022?<br /></span><span style="color: #134f5c;">I'd love to hear!</span></i></div></div></div><div class="post-footer" style="background-color: white; color: #52a0b3; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12.48px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; letter-spacing: 0.1em; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0.75em 0px; text-transform: uppercase;"></div>~Karrilee~ from Abiding Love, Abounding Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06698176066735604032noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24687432.post-40296817508519169932021-12-27T16:54:00.007-08:002021-12-27T16:57:25.761-08:00Wrapping Up James... An Official The End to our Year-long Series!<div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #783f04;">I am simply popping in real quick and quiet-like to officially say, "That's a Wrap!" to our James Series! </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhUvtUdM6LjAjqal9NyBnXR5EDmrlm1l5hWFEB1d3f9XhqIkJs6Yjko67U6HP_fq6Ikkm1OkXXa2ZZumxdi9A5vdWaqKpmR5KT1ihO4T5e-vOT9f4oOc_Jubn9Ik4w2Ur8Vt95R5FENX70cKSTm3ZWY2v4W9gSTO280Sg0Pj5N1SRlfRtauxQ=s6720" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhUvtUdM6LjAjqal9NyBnXR5EDmrlm1l5hWFEB1d3f9XhqIkJs6Yjko67U6HP_fq6Ikkm1OkXXa2ZZumxdi9A5vdWaqKpmR5KT1ihO4T5e-vOT9f4oOc_Jubn9Ik4w2Ur8Vt95R5FENX70cKSTm3ZWY2v4W9gSTO280Sg0Pj5N1SRlfRtauxQ=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></div><span style="color: #783f04;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #783f04;">I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas! I know things are (still!) different and for many, the holidays were not all Bright and Joyful. But I do pray that you had moments of knowing His Love for you remains -- no matter what else may be shaking... His Love is secure and steady! </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span><span style="color: #783f04;">I can't say for </span><i style="color: #783f04;">you</i><span style="color: #783f04;"> --but I know for </span><i style="color: #783f04;"><b>me</b></i><span style="color: #783f04;">, this week in between all the hustle and bustle of Christmas and the unfolding of a brand New Year can feel a bit lost and without focus. These few days in between give us a little rest and recovery before we put all the decorations away and refocus and set new goals for the year ahead! So it felt like the perfect time to pop in here and simply say, </span><i style="color: #783f04;">Thank You!</i><span style="color: #783f04;"> Thank You for going through the book of James together with me this year! I know it was not all rainbows and unicorns! James is a straight shooter and he packs some heat! But all of the hard things he says are FOR OUR BENEFIT! </span><br /><br /><span style="color: #783f04;">So whether you ready every single entry, or you just clicked over to read now and then --I hope you gleaned some wisdom and insight and hope while you were here! I hope it stirred you up and inspired you to dig into the Word and read in a few different translations, too! I will leave the </span><i><b><span style="color: #134f5c;"><a href="https://abidingloveaboundinggrace.blogspot.com/2021/01/the-book-of-james-introduction-to-our.html" target="_blank">Intro page </a></span></b></i><span style="color: #783f04;">with links to each post in the series up for another month or two - and then I will be taking it down, with plans to upload it to Amazon for purchase! My hope is to upload the James study as well as the Colossians study (possibly along with a few other 31 Days Devotional series, too!) </span><br /><br /><span style="color: #783f04;">Am I planning on writing another series in 2022? I'm not. I am praying into adding a second Podcast in 2022 and I'm just not sure I will have the time or bandwidth to take on a series AND a podcast! (But - again... you know how it is with me! I'm not the boss of me so if God tells me to do it - I'll be here in this space, tapping away at these keys!) </span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #783f04;">I AM leaning in this week and praying... reflecting over the book and phrase the Lord gave me at the start of the year, along with my OneWord, and seeing if/where/how it all showed up in 2021! I'm also setting aside time to pray on New Year's Day to ask Him for a bit of direction for 2022 so I invite you to check back in this space in the next week or two to see what He whispers to me about what's ahead for us in the next year! </span><br /><br /></span><br /></div><a href="http://imageshack.com/i/neonf0j" target="_blank" title="ImageShack - Image And Video Hosting"><img border="0" src="http://imageshack.com/a/img842/5358/onf0.jpg" /></a>~Karrilee~ from Abiding Love, Abounding Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06698176066735604032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24687432.post-2093551135074493592021-12-16T21:14:00.004-08:002021-12-16T21:14:23.391-08:00Wanderers Retrieved, Sins Covered... - The Book of James Bible Series<h3 class="post-title entry-title" style="background-color: white; color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 22.4px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0.25em 0px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16px;">***</span></h3><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-6041324126188991117" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-6374944858352403577" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-6139071451457362636" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-7149246144058024640" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-3776133860270602905" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-1249704254976397156" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-6385188672913020163" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-6013529199438145224" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post hentry" style="border-bottom: 0px dotted transparent; margin: 0.5em 0px 1.5em; padding-bottom: 1.5em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8937080953963341250" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-7852298822455591566" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-6788831846547088304" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-3733883837403525784" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8140482432551011649" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8312569035352090339" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-7278126041108967887" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-6308191026626959719" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-2984755689233979822" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-7766339718772791148" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><h3 class="post-title entry-title" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0.25em 0px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia; font-size: small;">You guys!??! Today is our last official post in this year-long 2021 James Series! Man, I hope you have been with me all through the year! If not, I encourage you to click on the Series Intro page (at the end of this post) and scroll to the bottom, where you can read each post from the whole series! I will be taking this off the blog early in the New Year with intentions of making it available on Amazon in late Winter or early Spring! But I'm getting ahead of myself! Today - we dive into the final two verses! (Then we may have one more post to sort of wrap it all up before the end of the year! Maybe. Because - you know... <i>the Holidays!)</i><br /></span></h3><h3 class="post-title entry-title" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0.25em 0px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia; font-size: small;">But today's verses are</span><span style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather;"><span style="font-size: 22.4px;"> </span></span><i style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: georgia; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0.2em; text-transform: uppercase;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">JAMES CHAPTER 5, VERSES 19-20</span><span style="color: #783f04;">!</span></i><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia; font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0.2em; text-transform: uppercase;"> </span></h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjCaZG06GfVnKKSJbiDUDJ8YsJZQDpGxlTwU7FRcQLc-r3A9eohwT_BWa78QkJwBQXNrX6wjxp4PVPNuUMDQNnM4KfWjaa8ZXwzfxapealCQj0ZO7eMLDcUPqIFRbP8rX_689dfYyDk0cl-ZsEHvwGOuO80_swC9lhyFAlOXr39LNEiuPc14Q=s6302" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4789" data-original-width="6302" height="486" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjCaZG06GfVnKKSJbiDUDJ8YsJZQDpGxlTwU7FRcQLc-r3A9eohwT_BWa78QkJwBQXNrX6wjxp4PVPNuUMDQNnM4KfWjaa8ZXwzfxapealCQj0ZO7eMLDcUPqIFRbP8rX_689dfYyDk0cl-ZsEHvwGOuO80_swC9lhyFAlOXr39LNEiuPc14Q=w640-h486" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #52a0b3; font-size: 12.48px; letter-spacing: 0.2em; text-transform: uppercase;">WE BEGIN BY READING OUR VERSES TOGETHER HERE FROM </span><i style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia; letter-spacing: 0.2em; text-transform: uppercase;">THE PASSION TRANSLATION BIBLE</i><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia; letter-spacing: 0.2em; text-transform: uppercase;">:</span></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-189117400795887209" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8188779082385056474" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-1661924727958925210" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div><blockquote style="line-height: 1.3em; margin: 1em 20px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px; margin: 0.75em 0px;"><i><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></i></p><blockquote style="line-height: 1.3em; margin: 1em 20px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.75em 0px;"><i style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">"</span></span></i><i><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;">Finally, as members of God’s beloved family, we must go after the one who wanders from the truth and bring him back. For the one who restores the sinning believer back to God from the error of his way, gives back to his soul life from the dead, and covers over countless sins b) their demonstration of love!"</span><span style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather;"> (The Passion Translation)</span></i></p></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.3em; margin: 1em 20px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.75em 0px;"><i></i></p></blockquote><span style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather;"><a name="more"></a></span><p style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04;">I know... the whole study was leading up to this! We MUST go after the one who wanders from the truth and bring him back. In the Greek translation of this verse it means, "save his soul from death." </span></p><p style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04;">Yes. That. </span></p><p style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04;">Let's do <i>that!</i> </span></p><p style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04;">Here's the thing -- we have to know when someone wanders from the truth. And even before that, we have to know and remember that there is One Truth that we can wander away from! <br /></span></p><p style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04;">I know...!? This wreaks of <i>accountability!</i> (Gasp!) </span></p><p style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04;">That is so not popular... in our culture - both in and out of the church - we really just don't want anyone to tell us what to do. (Not even God, if we're being honest!) But in order to know when a brother or sister is wandering away from the truth - we have to be in relationship. More than just passing each other in the hallways or waving from afar in a store... we have to have a connection that lasts longer than a kind greeting or a friendly goodbye! Because it's only when we know each other on a deeper level that anyone will even have the chance at noticing if we are heading down the wrong path. </span></p><p style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04;">And listen, sweet readers, I am nearly allergic to confrontation! So I admit myself that I can sometimes know or suspect this is happening, but to confront someone -even if done in love- is --well, it's counter-cultural. But isn't that what we are supposed to be? Counter-cultural? In it, not of it...? But we don't want to offend... and the lines of right and wrong, black and white --they get blurred and no one wants to step on anyones toes. </span></p><p style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04;">Enter James... we've walked with him all year long now and we know he has little concern of your <i>feelings</i> --but he has great love and care for your <i><b>soul</b></i>! </span></p><p style="font-family: Merriweather;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: medium;"><b><i>Lord - make us more like James!</i></b></span></p><p style="font-family: Merriweather;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: medium;"><b></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: medium;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiBfEkiKouvVW9m1QwFUlxzS8ZFUqnXMflLNJjnyYN0840PBQWnVKnuYU8MON-ykfUAi-TR0tQoKK-F57Tvojdg4lmfdOs2u3XotuJo42zqMaoKzL-gUmW6XGG5_qaKJIeozF0KiKJYlh0EylXevjZNXirJWLz-4W-sPykXP_lVi7rKNpN12g=s4654" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4654" data-original-width="3723" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiBfEkiKouvVW9m1QwFUlxzS8ZFUqnXMflLNJjnyYN0840PBQWnVKnuYU8MON-ykfUAi-TR0tQoKK-F57Tvojdg4lmfdOs2u3XotuJo42zqMaoKzL-gUmW6XGG5_qaKJIeozF0KiKJYlh0EylXevjZNXirJWLz-4W-sPykXP_lVi7rKNpN12g=w512-h640" width="512" /></a></b></span></div><p></p><p style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"></p><p style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">--</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">Next up, let's check out how The Amplified Bible expands it:</span></p><blockquote style="line-height: 1.3em; margin: 1em 20px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px; margin: 0.75em 0px;"><i><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></i></p><blockquote style="line-height: 1.3em; margin: 1em 20px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.75em 0px;"><i style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">"</span></span></i><i><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;">My brothers and sisters, if anyone among you strays from the truth and falls into error and [another] one turns him back [to God], let the [latter] one know that the one who has turned a sinner from the error of his way will save that one’s soul from death and cover a multitude of sins [that is, obtain the pardon of the many sins committed by the one who has been restored]."</span><span style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather;"> (The Amplified Bible)</span></i></p></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.3em; margin: 1em 20px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.75em 0px;"><i></i></p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><i><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: medium;">It is our responsibility and call... it is holy work that simply must be done! <br />Lord, give us boldness and compassion and wake us up to those around us who have strayed from the truth and fallen into error. Prepare their hearts and our hearts even now - before any kind of prayer or conversation has begun! </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Merriweather;"><b><i><span style="color: #45818e; font-size: medium;">Lord - we want what You want and what You want is to get Your kids back!</span></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">--</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">Here it is in The Living Bible:</span></p><blockquote style="line-height: 1.3em; margin: 1em 20px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px; margin: 0.75em 0px;"><i><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></i></p><blockquote style="line-height: 1.3em; margin: 1em 20px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.75em 0px;"><i style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">"</span></span></i><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;"><i>Dear brothers, if anyone has slipped away from God and no longer trusts the Lord and someone helps him understand the Truth again, that person who brings him back to God will have saved a wandering soul from death, bringing about the forgiveness of his many sins.</i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.75em 0px;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;"><i>Sincerely, James</i></span><i style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;">"</span> (The Living Bible)</i></p></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.3em; margin: 1em 20px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.75em 0px;"><i></i></p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><i><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: medium;">Man - in this translation it feels like that widens the road astray, doesn't it? I mean - we're gonna throw Trust in there, too? Like - slipped away, walked away, snuck away, slid away? Sure... but add in 'no longer trusts the Lord' and you add in a multitude of people. Am I right?</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">--</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">Next, let's read this in The Voice translation:</span></p><p style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"></p><blockquote style="line-height: 1.3em; margin: 1em 20px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px; margin: 0.75em 0px;"><i><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></i></p><blockquote style="line-height: 1.3em; margin: 1em 20px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.75em 0px;"><i style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">"</span></span></i><i><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;">Brothers and sisters, if someone you know loses his way and rebels against God, pursue him in love and bring him back to the truth. Know this: If you turn a sinner back from the error of his ways, then you will rescue him from the grips of death and cover the pain and consequences of untold sins."</span><span style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather;"> (The Voice)</span></i></p></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.3em; margin: 1em 20px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.75em 0px;"><i></i></p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><i><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: medium;">I know I keep reminding you about this --but The Voice translations' target audience is Middle Schoolers! I think that is powerful to remember while you are reading it... I love how this version specifies James is not talking in general terms - but specifically about a brother or sister you know! Again - God is personal... relational... and we are made in His image! He calls us to be personal, --relational, too! And the result of our being obedient to pursue in love and bring the lost one back to the truth is both rescue and redemption. (And we all know the pain and consequences of untold sins... we all need that Love that Covers, right? Let's receive it <b><i>and</i></b> give it!)</span></p><p style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"></p><p style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">--</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">Lastly, The Message Bible reads like this:</span></p><div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px; line-height: 2.4rem; margin-bottom: 0px; min-width: 0px;"><p></p></div><blockquote style="line-height: 1.3em; margin: 1em 20px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px; margin: 0.75em 0px;"><i><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></i></p><blockquote style="line-height: 1.3em; margin: 1em 20px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.75em 0px;"><i style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">"</span></span></i><i><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;">My dear friends, if you know people who have wandered off from God’s truth, don’t write them off. Go after them. Get them back and you will have rescued precious lives from destruction and prevented an epidemic of wandering away from God."</span><span style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather;"> (The Message Bible)</span></i><span style="text-align: center;"> </span></p></blockquote></blockquote><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhsJ8JgJo4EV46-5cGkFDfQt0Ajw2JJBjq9x4AfhdqZHfKsmVVta5yEuH5wVoA-AekuwVqaIxx_aLGsa0eG0XVAEyx8FaytOtWf4M6EGqtKvVULoosywzQSb4VMpk7ZSDSVVRT3BhNbihRz08FlJghw0CEX49P6Oieq7b3d0YgwSH4CU0ZeAw=s5586" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5586" data-original-width="4469" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhsJ8JgJo4EV46-5cGkFDfQt0Ajw2JJBjq9x4AfhdqZHfKsmVVta5yEuH5wVoA-AekuwVqaIxx_aLGsa0eG0XVAEyx8FaytOtWf4M6EGqtKvVULoosywzQSb4VMpk7ZSDSVVRT3BhNbihRz08FlJghw0CEX49P6Oieq7b3d0YgwSH4CU0ZeAw=w512-h640" width="512" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #783f04;">Don't write them off. Go after them. Get them back! <-- This! Let's do this! Because what we are seeing right now - right this very moment is most definitely an epidemic of wandering away from God! We have seem multitudes slip and slide and veer off course!<br /><br />Let us pray for them to wake up and get right with God... of course! But let's also be willing to go get them and bring them back in love!</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">***</span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">Let's pray: </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><i style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #45818e;">Father God, we come before You today and we ask for Boldness and Compassion. We ask, Holy Spirit, that You will open our eyes to see, and open our mouths to speak words of Love and Wisdom and Truth... empower and enable us to see clearly through Grace what needs to be said or reminded and give us the courage to say it! Lord, You paid our debts and redeemed us all... You do not desire to lose any but that ALL would come to know You and believe in You and be redeemed and restored to right standing with the Father! <br /><br />Jesus, remind us to pay attention... to check in with friends and family... to create a safe space where real, deep conversations and connections can be shared... stir up within us a unquenchable thirst for Your Word and Your Presence! For when we are saturated in You - we will not wander off!<br /><br />Lord - by faith (and by name!) we call back our loved ones who have fallen for lies and gone astray! We claim them once again, as Your family - for Your Glory! God - we really DO want what You want! And what You want really is to get Your kids back!</span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: georgia;"></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhE0HEC1djJAps41DbXbYBmHzfuY-58HjcrJfD4th0SaxkrTwzh-lAVHykpuOBDkKD2gzKxih0F3MuwgDhgSttyC0oFAemzM-kWl-nmRg9ItRRIkNV7_xJrk44pbmn38svf3lyWd9nJ9cA5NnVb5FkwwCeIbI7z8ThmwuZmKxzHLC7OgFodMg=s6720" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhE0HEC1djJAps41DbXbYBmHzfuY-58HjcrJfD4th0SaxkrTwzh-lAVHykpuOBDkKD2gzKxih0F3MuwgDhgSttyC0oFAemzM-kWl-nmRg9ItRRIkNV7_xJrk44pbmn38svf3lyWd9nJ9cA5NnVb5FkwwCeIbI7z8ThmwuZmKxzHLC7OgFodMg=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></i></div><p></p><i style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><i style="font-family: georgia;"><b><span style="color: #134f5c; font-size: medium;">Lord - we want wanderers retrieved, and sins covered as we return and run back to you! We're so grateful You are a Good, Good Father and You run towards us with a Robe and a Ring! </span></b></i></i></div><div><i style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><i style="font-family: georgia;"><b><span style="color: #134f5c; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></i></i></div><div><i style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><i style="font-family: georgia;"><b><span style="color: #134f5c; font-size: medium;">Embolden and empower us to point the prodigals back in Your direction.</span></b></i></i><p style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><i><i style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #45818e;">For the King and His Kingdom,</span></i></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><i style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #45818e;">In Jesus' Name!</span></i></div><i style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="color: #45818e; text-align: left;"><i style="color: #664a29; font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #45818e;">Amen!</span></i></div></div></i><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><o:p></o:p></p></div><div style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">***</span></div><div style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;"><br />Can you believe we did it? We did! We read through the entire book of James this year, verse by verse! This year held many (read: many, many, many!) challenges - but it also held much wisdom and grace! My prayer is that here in this corner of the interwebs, you were challenged in all the best ways and you will walk away and enter 2022 with more Wisdom and Grace than you had at the start of 2021!<br /><br />I will be back one more time -- you know... at some point!-- to wrap this whole thing up with a bow! In the meantime, if you read along --whether it was every post, or just one here or there... I'd love to hear YOUR take away of this series and what the Lord taught you through it! Comment below or send me a direct message and let me know! I'd be so grateful!</span></div><div style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;"><br />U</span><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">ntil next time,</span></div><a href="http://imageshack.com/i/neonf0j" style="color: #82a9b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank" title="ImageShack - Image And Video Hosting"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEiLFgMaJyc1FCFWF1-rbi2WaWdIbSwgthHC6Fj7_EUykj5bBQwEC2VZshMfNOaT8OSgQTzmK1Obkaq_nA1WbRjiGyAoPXg-9kz8EwsrYfmc9F7bLQWheHNaDiFIMXFB2TwGidSJVomX=s0-d" style="border: 0px solid transparent; padding: 4px;" /><br /></a></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="clear: both; color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"></div></div><div class="post-footer" style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12.48px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; letter-spacing: 0.1em; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0.75em 0px; text-transform: uppercase;"><div class="post-footer-line post-footer-line-1"><br /></div><div class="post-footer-line post-footer-line-1"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none;">This is part of our year-long series, diving into the Book of James a few verses at a time! If you missed a post or just stumbled upon us, you can go </span><b style="color: #664a29; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none;"><i><span style="color: #45818e;"><a href="https://abidingloveaboundinggrace.blogspot.com/2021/01/the-book-of-james-introduction-to-our.html" style="color: #52a0b3; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">HERE</a></span></i></b><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none;"> and scroll to the bottom to find each installment of this series as it is published!</span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>~Karrilee~ from Abiding Love, Abounding Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06698176066735604032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24687432.post-60413241261889911172021-12-02T06:30:00.001-08:002021-12-02T06:30:00.193-08:00Want Tremendous Power? Pray for One Another... - The Book of James Bible Series<h3 class="post-title entry-title" style="background-color: white; color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 22.4px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0.25em 0px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16px;">***</span></h3><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-6374944858352403577" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-6139071451457362636" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-7149246144058024640" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-3776133860270602905" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-1249704254976397156" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-6385188672913020163" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-6013529199438145224" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post hentry" style="border-bottom: 0px dotted transparent; margin: 0.5em 0px 1.5em; padding-bottom: 1.5em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8937080953963341250" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-7852298822455591566" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-6788831846547088304" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-3733883837403525784" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8140482432551011649" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8312569035352090339" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-7278126041108967887" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-6308191026626959719" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-2984755689233979822" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-7766339718772791148" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><h3 class="post-title entry-title" style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 22.4px; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0.25em 0px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Happy Holidays, Sweet Readers! Can you even believe it is DECEMBER? I mean - </span><i>DECEMBER?</i><span style="font-weight: normal;"> Where did this year go? Anyway... we are nearing the end of the year <i>as well as</i> the end of our series here. So without further ado, let's get right to the Word:</span><br /></span></span></span></h3><h2 style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 12.48px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0.2em; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0.25em 0px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px; text-transform: uppercase;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #783f04;">TODAY'S VERSES ARE </span><i style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">JAMES CHAPTER 5, VERSES 16-18</span><span style="color: #783f04;">!</span></i><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></h2><div><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6W-Xec51qHO7DpFqaFJ-AEFyRSHe-jaY9Bz484upAyHrKFdjheT-uPm1h8BwPon-mGdWCPudqA1ZNT1SbJFEfMOxZmO7H6B7lCL7-ec56CF_tgJyCAb6NmW47LoDmEnpIqJaI/s2048/James5_16through18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1367" data-original-width="2048" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6W-Xec51qHO7DpFqaFJ-AEFyRSHe-jaY9Bz484upAyHrKFdjheT-uPm1h8BwPon-mGdWCPudqA1ZNT1SbJFEfMOxZmO7H6B7lCL7-ec56CF_tgJyCAb6NmW47LoDmEnpIqJaI/w640-h428/James5_16through18.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #52a0b3; font-size: 12.48px; letter-spacing: 0.2em; text-transform: uppercase;">WE BEGIN BY READING OUR VERSES TOGETHER HERE FROM </span><i style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia; letter-spacing: 0.2em; text-transform: uppercase;">THE PASSION TRANSLATION BIBLE</i><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia; letter-spacing: 0.2em; text-transform: uppercase;">:</span></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-189117400795887209" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8188779082385056474" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-1661924727958925210" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div><blockquote style="line-height: 1.3em; margin: 1em 20px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px; margin: 0.75em 0px;"><i><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></i></p><blockquote style="line-height: 1.3em; margin: 1em 20px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.75em 0px;"><i style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">"</span></span></i><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;"><i>Confess and acknowledge how you have offended one another and then pray for one another to be instantly healed, for tremendous power is released through the passionate, heartfelt prayer of a godly believer!</i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.75em 0px;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;"><i>Elijah was a man with human frailties, just like all of us, but he prayed and received supernatural answers. He actually shut the heavens over the land so there would be no rain for three and a half years! Then he prayed again and the skies opened up over the land so that the rain came again and produced the harvest.</i></span><i style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;">"</span> (The Passion Translation)</i></p></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.3em; margin: 1em 20px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.75em 0px;"><i></i></p></blockquote><span style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather;"><a name="more"></a></span><p style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04;">I mean... I think we all want<i> 'tremendous power'</i> - at least when it comes to our prayers, right? </span></p><p style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04;">Brace yourself, friends... here we get James being all <i>James-like </i>again, explaining that in order to tap into that tremendous power, there are a couple of steps <b>BEFOREHAND </b>that we need to take! This one is tricky because NONE of us like doing it! (We keep it real around here!) </span></p><p style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04;">James tells us that first, we must confess and acknowledge how we have offended one another - and then we need to pray for one another to be instantly healed, for (or because!) tremendous power is released through prayer. But not just any prayer and not just any pray-er! James says <i>passionate heartfelt prayers</i> prayed by<i> godly believers</i> -- that is how we tap into tremendous power! Now - I don't know about you - but for me, when I read this verse, it most definitely sheds a little light on the whole mess of this weary world! We kinda stopped doing the hard parts first and we pray without acknowledging and confessing... we pray without taking on any responsibility and instead we point the finger and push the blame and don't want to pray for 'them' and we wonder why our prayers are -- well, lacking tremendous power.</span></p><p style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04;">Now of course you know I am not saying we need to behave a certain way or do good works IN ORDER to have answered prayers. No. God is so much better than that - and thank Him for it! We all know good, godly believers who have done the hard part first and for whatever reason, sometimes are most heart-felt prayers seem to go unanswered. God is not a genie in a bottle and there is no magic formula to get our prayers answered (--the way we want them to be answered!) BUT, James seems pretty confident that if we do what he is laying out, our chances are much better! He goes on to talk about Elijah and how he prayed powerful prayers and God heard and answered. Elijah prayed with intensity... Have you ever been around someone who prays like that? Someone who, when they first begin praying, you KNOW they have the ear of God and heaven is just waiting to be released? I have... I am blessed to be able to pray with some amazing prayer warriors who know how to pray - and --what James is talking about here is what used to be called Praying Through! Man, we need to get back to the practice and discpline of that! Of knowing ahead of time that we are prayed up, confessed up, slate wiped clean, and boldly go to the Throne of Grace and not let up! Tenacious Faith comes to mind! I have had that. I have. There have been seasons that I knew that I knew that I knew that all of heaven was leaning in and God would give me what I asked for. And then there were the seasons when He seemed distant and quiet. (Those were not my favorite!) And seasons when it seemed everything I asked for was not so much a Yes and Amen kind of response. But still... But God... He is good all the time (--even in the times when I don't understand, don't like, or can't see!) Even then, He is good!</span></p><p style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"></p><p style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">--</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">Next, let's read this in The Voice translation:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiF4r-SwSY-oAk7mR1paMSOjmX2rbv3D3z9TlOJmH9CI7mXS7GObpMd7SjOff3kt6rVTI5Q7JuKIHHXix_Qn9z949yi7tgjP0aRyQqlQiwNPG3crccJqh5SYnQto7JkQyGEo3T/s2048/James5_16through18a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiF4r-SwSY-oAk7mR1paMSOjmX2rbv3D3z9TlOJmH9CI7mXS7GObpMd7SjOff3kt6rVTI5Q7JuKIHHXix_Qn9z949yi7tgjP0aRyQqlQiwNPG3crccJqh5SYnQto7JkQyGEo3T/w640-h426/James5_16through18a.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><blockquote style="line-height: 1.3em; margin: 1em 20px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px; margin: 0.75em 0px;"><i><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></i></p><blockquote style="line-height: 1.3em; margin: 1em 20px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.75em 0px;"><i style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">"</span></span></i><i><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;">So own up to your sins to one another and pray for one another. In the end, you may be healed. Your prayers are powerful when they are rooted in a righteous life. Remember Elijah? He was a man, no different from us. He prayed with great intensity asking God to withhold the rain; God answered his prayers and did not allow a single drop of rain to fall for three and a half years. It did not rain until Elijah prayed again for God to open the skies, when the rain came down and the earth produced a great crop."</span><span style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather;"> (The Voice)</span></i></p></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.3em; margin: 1em 20px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.75em 0px;"><i></i></p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><i><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: medium;">I love how The Voice is geared to Middle Schoolers so it just says it straight! How many adults do you know who need to do this? Just own up to your sins and pray for each other! How many are in need of healing? Now - I am NOT saying if you or someone you love does not get healed, that it is due to sin. I know that has been misunderstood and taught in many circles and I'm a Word Faith girl, so I believed that at least to a point for awhile... Some sickness may be connected to sin or unforgiveness. It's true. We are not made to carry that kind of heavy burden around! We are new creations and we have been invited to trade our yoke for HIS! (Guys! That's SUCH a better deal!) </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: medium;">You're prayers are powerful when they are rooted in a righteous life. And there it is. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: medium;">Remember righteousness? Remember how we are called apart... to live differently... to NOT blend in... remember how the Kingdom of God is made of Righteousness, Peace, and Joy in the Holy Ghost? Guys... we need all three!</span></p><p style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"></p><p style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">--</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">Here it is in The Living Bible:</span></p><blockquote style="line-height: 1.3em; margin: 1em 20px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px; margin: 0.75em 0px;"><i><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></i></p><blockquote style="line-height: 1.3em; margin: 1em 20px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.75em 0px;"><i style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">"</span></span></i><i><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;">Admit your faults to one another and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous man has great power and wonderful results. Elijah was as completely human as we are, and yet when he prayed earnestly that no rain would fall, none fell for the next three and a half years! Then he prayed again, this time that it would rain, and down it poured, and the grass turned green and the gardens began to grow again."</span><span style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather;"> (The Living Bible)</span></i></p></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.3em; margin: 1em 20px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.75em 0px;"><i></i></p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><i><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: medium;">I don't know about you - but I have some dry spots that are in need of a downpour... a drenching of the Holy Spirit, so that they can begin to grow again! You, too?</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: medium;">I love that James reminds us that Elijah was completely human --and yet, when he prayed...<br />Don't you love that? He is no different than you or me... or at least, he shouldn't be!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">--</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">Next up, let's check out how The Amplified Bible expands it:</span></p><blockquote style="line-height: 1.3em; margin: 1em 20px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px; margin: 0.75em 0px;"><i><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></i></p><blockquote style="line-height: 1.3em; margin: 1em 20px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.75em 0px;"><i style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">"</span></span></i><i><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;">Therefore, confess your sins to one another [your false steps, your offenses], and pray for one another, that you may be healed and restored. The heartfelt and persistent prayer of a righteous man (believer) can accomplish much [when put into action and made effective by God—it is dynamic and can have tremendous power]. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours [with the same physical, mental, and spiritual limitations and shortcomings], and he prayed intensely for it not to rain, and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months. Then he prayed again, and the sky gave rain and the land produced its crops [as usual]."</span><span style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather;"> (The Amplified Bible)</span></i></p></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.3em; margin: 1em 20px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.75em 0px;"><i></i></p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><i><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: medium;">I have family who attend a small Bible chapel and their church actually has small groups of 2 or 3 and they actually do this for real... on a weekly or bi-weekly basis. I remember my daughters response to the practice was a little shocked and she sarcasticly said something like, 'Not for me!' But really - it is... it is for her and for me and for all of us who are believers. Now, maybe not in an organized, heavy handed way. (And to be fair, I can't say if that is how it is done at that church... I can say if it has fallen into that, I'm certain that was not their intention!) </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: medium;">I supposed my question to each of us is - who do we have in our lives that keep us accountable to the Lord and to living a life that is pleasing to Him? Do we have anyone who we confess our sins to and get help to stay on course? I mean - of course we confess and repent to the Lord... However, He placed us in a family and He desires to see us put that whole Iron sharpens Iron deal into practice! I think if we did, we just may tap into more 'tremendous power' in our prayers!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">--</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">Lastly, The Message Bible reads like this:</span></p><div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px; line-height: 2.4rem; margin-bottom: 0px; min-width: 0px;"><p></p></div><blockquote style="line-height: 1.3em; margin: 1em 20px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px; margin: 0.75em 0px;"><i><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></i></p><blockquote style="line-height: 1.3em; margin: 1em 20px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px; margin: 0.75em 0px;"><i><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">"</span></span></i><i style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;">Make this your common practice: Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you can live together whole and healed. The prayer of a person living right with God is something powerful to be reckoned with. Elijah, for instance, human just like us, prayed hard that it wouldn’t rain, and it didn’t—not a drop for three and a half years. Then he prayed that it would rain, and it did. The showers came and everything started growing again</i><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;"><i>.</i></span><i><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;">"</span> (The Message Bible)</i></p></blockquote></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #783f04;">Whole and Healed! Man... wouldn't <b><i>that</i></b> be nice? For our families and homes, our churches, our towns and cities, states and nation! <br /><br />The prayer of a person living right with God is something powerful to be reckoned with!<br /><br />Friend, are you a person living right with God? Not sure? Ask Him... </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #783f04;">He is gracious and kind... but He also speaks the Truth! I encourage all of us to take a few moments and ask Him if we are living right with Him... if there is any area of our lives that is not pleasing to Him? --Anything we need to let go of, lay down, or cast out!</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Merriweather;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04;">I don't know about you - but I know for me: </span><i><span style="color: #45818e;">I'm ready for everything to start growing again!</span></i></span><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Something about Resurrection and bringing dead things back to life!)</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">***</span></p></div><div style="font-family: Merriweather;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">Let's pray together now: </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-size: 16px;"><i style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #45818e;">Father God, we come to You today knowing full well that we could do better... that we NEED to do better! Lord we read in Your Word that if we want tremendous power in prayer like Elijah had, then there are a few steps we need to take!<br /><br />You know, Lord, that it will feel like we are the only ones doing it! You understand that we are reluctant sometimes because we feel justified or right... but if it is causing sin or offense or somehow holding us back or watering us down --we don't want to cling to it any more!</span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-size: 16px;"><i style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #45818e;">Holy Spirit, help us to make this our common practice --to confess our sins to You --and to each other... to risk being real and honest and vulnerable! Remind us, God, to call sin sin... and if we aren't sure - remind us to ask You! You do not want us in the dark... You will shine Your Light on our path and enable and empower us to course-correct if and when needed!</span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i style="color: #664a29; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #45818e;">Jesus, You know even better than we do that what this world needs now is LOVE... Healing... and Awakening (--not just a wokeness!) and we need HOPE, Lord! Good thing we are now entering the season of wonder and hope and oh my goodness - how we are longing to see and hear and feel and know a weary world rejoicing! <br /></span></i><i></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy7xUeha299KCdexf2jzOMbvXqktO0vGihWGqrYLrcXBI0A3xmQ_u_pEh8Ng6ilGfhsu20AqSqz3zyTxWJW2MqUWKpueD1XEgKmiGZAOpeb9iyHPO1rryt0MnHf4ZrQTbuI3ey/s2048/James5_16through18b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy7xUeha299KCdexf2jzOMbvXqktO0vGihWGqrYLrcXBI0A3xmQ_u_pEh8Ng6ilGfhsu20AqSqz3zyTxWJW2MqUWKpueD1XEgKmiGZAOpeb9iyHPO1rryt0MnHf4ZrQTbuI3ey/w640-h426/James5_16through18b.jpg" width="640" /></a></i></div><i><i style="font-family: georgia;"><b><span style="color: #134f5c; font-size: medium;">Come, Lord Jesus! Come! <br />Envelop our praises and empower our prayers <br />and let Healing and Hope and Heaven come!</span></b></i></i><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-size: 16px;"><i><i style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #45818e;">For the King and His Kingdom,</span></i></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #664a29; font-size: 16px;"><i style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #45818e;">In Jesus' Name!</span></i></div><i style="color: #664a29; font-size: 16px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="color: #45818e; text-align: left;"><i style="color: #664a29; font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #45818e;">Amen!</span></i></div></div></i><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-size: 16px;"><o:p></o:p></p></div><div style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">***</span></div><div style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;"><br />Friends... I can hardly believe it and w</span><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">e have just ONE more installment in this Series! I hope you have enjoyed it as much as I have! I hope you have been both challenged and encouraged, too!</span></div><div style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;"><br />U</span><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">ntil next time,</span></div><a href="http://imageshack.com/i/neonf0j" style="color: #82a9b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank" title="ImageShack - Image And Video Hosting"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEiLFgMaJyc1FCFWF1-rbi2WaWdIbSwgthHC6Fj7_EUykj5bBQwEC2VZshMfNOaT8OSgQTzmK1Obkaq_nA1WbRjiGyAoPXg-9kz8EwsrYfmc9F7bLQWheHNaDiFIMXFB2TwGidSJVomX=s0-d" style="border: 0px solid transparent; padding: 4px;" /><br /></a></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="clear: both; color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"></div></div><div class="post-footer" style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12.48px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; letter-spacing: 0.1em; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0.75em 0px; text-transform: uppercase;"><div class="post-footer-line post-footer-line-1"><br /></div><div class="post-footer-line post-footer-line-1"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none;">This is part of our year-long series, diving into the Book of James a few verses at a time! If you missed a post or just stumbled upon us, you can go </span><b style="color: #664a29; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none;"><i><span style="color: #45818e;"><a href="https://abidingloveaboundinggrace.blogspot.com/2021/01/the-book-of-james-introduction-to-our.html" style="color: #52a0b3; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">HERE</a></span></i></b><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none;"> and scroll to the bottom to find each installment of this series as it is published!</span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>~Karrilee~ from Abiding Love, Abounding Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06698176066735604032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24687432.post-63749448583524035772021-11-18T06:30:00.172-08:002021-11-18T06:30:00.225-08:00Prayer to be Reckoned with... - The Book of James Bible Series<h3 class="post-title entry-title" style="background-color: white; color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 22.4px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0.25em 0px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16px;">***</span></h3><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-6139071451457362636" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-7149246144058024640" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-3776133860270602905" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-1249704254976397156" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-6385188672913020163" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-6013529199438145224" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post hentry" style="border-bottom: 0px dotted transparent; margin: 0.5em 0px 1.5em; padding-bottom: 1.5em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8937080953963341250" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-7852298822455591566" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-6788831846547088304" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-3733883837403525784" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8140482432551011649" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8312569035352090339" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-7278126041108967887" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-6308191026626959719" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-2984755689233979822" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-7766339718772791148" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><h3 class="post-title entry-title" style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 22.4px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0.25em 0px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="font-size: small;">Hello, friends! We are back with another installment of our James series! Today we are going over just two little verses, but --you guys!-- they are PACKED full! Let's get right to it:<br /></span></span></span></h3><h2 style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 12.48px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0.2em; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0.25em 0px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px; text-transform: uppercase;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #783f04;">TODAY'S VERSES ARE </span><i style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">JAMES CHAPTER 5, VERSES 13-15</span><span style="color: #783f04;">!</span></i><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj75KeaxirWOGVRUOd3rMKZ_wtYunocGLuHxyNhnGJXVMQfTeTBAaLVjW0MaE5y26xK9FcWgXypyTWpf4ipGvEjOkiuwI-oyr9zi20lEmiG510mYpuhweML4elZmg2d9U2K4RcM/s2048/James5_7through12a.jpg" style="color: #52a0b3; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj75KeaxirWOGVRUOd3rMKZ_wtYunocGLuHxyNhnGJXVMQfTeTBAaLVjW0MaE5y26xK9FcWgXypyTWpf4ipGvEjOkiuwI-oyr9zi20lEmiG510mYpuhweML4elZmg2d9U2K4RcM/w640-h426/James5_7through12a.jpg" style="border: 0px solid transparent; padding: 4px;" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #52a0b3; font-size: 12.48px; letter-spacing: 0.2em; text-transform: uppercase;">WE BEGIN BY READING OUR VERSES TOGETHER HERE FROM </span><i style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia; letter-spacing: 0.2em; text-transform: uppercase;">THE PASSION TRANSLATION BIBLE</i><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia; letter-spacing: 0.2em; text-transform: uppercase;">:</span></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-189117400795887209" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8188779082385056474" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-1661924727958925210" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div><blockquote style="line-height: 1.3em; margin: 1em 20px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px; margin: 0.75em 0px;"><i><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></i></p><blockquote style="line-height: 1.3em; margin: 1em 20px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px; margin: 0.75em 0px;"><i><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">"</span></span></i><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;"><i>Are there any believers in your fellowship suffering great hardship and distress? Encourage them to pray! Are there happy, cheerful ones among you? Encourage them to sing out their praises! Are there any sick among you? Then ask the elders of the church to come and pray over the sick and anoint them with oil in the name of our Lord. And the prayer of faith will heal the sick and the Lord will raise them up, and if they have committed sins they will be forgiven.</i></span><i><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;">"</span> (The Passion Translation)</i></p></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.3em; margin: 1em 20px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.75em 0px;"><i></i></p></blockquote><span style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather;"><a name="more"></a></span><p style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;"><i>'Are there any believers... suffering great hardship and distress?' </i><br />This is rhetorical, right? I mean, the answer is always yes... </span></p><p style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;"><span></span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #783f04;">At least lately - but if we are honest, I think the answer has always been yes! There are <i>always</i> believers among us who are going through it! This is a fallen world we live in and the enemy is roaming around like a lion, seeking whom he may devour. He is on the prowl and we are the hunted. (Let's not forget that!) On the upside, there are always also believers among us who are cheerful and happy... and while we are to encourage the sick<b> <i>to pray</i></b>, we are also to encourage the cheerful <i><b>to praise!</b></i> James tells us to encourage them to sing praises! I love this because so often we think we should be one way or the other! As an empath, being around someone who is sick and someone who is happy --well, I tend to embrace both... Something about Rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep, right?</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><p style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">Next we come to the calling of the elders to pray... to come and lay hands and pray for healing. Sweet readers, I am oh so grateful for online church and the ability to Zoom or watch a service or participate in a Bible study or book study online... but these should not be the replacement of in real life, face to face, meetings and community. It's great - but it's not a great replacement. Also - hear me clearly: Currently, we do not have an in real life community/church/small group. So I get it. We long for it and we have had our own small group but recently felt called to lay that down (again)! I say that because I do not want you to feel any judgment if you, too, are between what was and what is to come! However - I am preaching to us all that what is to come is necessary! Not even a global pandemic should cause us to settle for anything less! We were made for community... to be a part of the Family... and when we are sick - whether it be physically battling, or (as the Greek word here, 'kamno' suggests) simply being weary and worn down, we need to have actual in real life people who we can call who will come on over and be with us, battle with us, lay hands on us, and pray the prayer of faith with us! For better or worse, whether we like it or not, we NEED each other!</span></p><p style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; text-align: left;"></p><p style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">--</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">Next, let's read this in The Voice translation:</span></p><blockquote style="line-height: 1.3em; margin: 1em 20px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px; margin: 0.75em 0px;"><i><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></i></p><blockquote style="line-height: 1.3em; margin: 1em 20px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px; margin: 0.75em 0px;"><i><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">"</span></span></i><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;"><i>Are any in your community suffering? They should pray. Are any celebrating? They should sing praises to God. Are any sick? They should call the elders of your church and ask them to pray. They will gather around and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. Prayers offered in faith will restore them from sickness and bring them to health. The Lord will lift them up from the floor of despair; and if the sickness is due to sin, then God will forgive their sins.</i></span><i><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;">"</span> (The Voice)</i></p></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="line-height: 1.3em; margin: 1em 20px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px; margin: 0.75em 0px;"><i></i></p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><i><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: medium;">I like how this version makes it even more clear: If any in your community are suffering, THEY shoull pray! Do we pray with them? --for them? Of course... but not INSTEAD of them! I've said for decades now, the structure of the church is upside down and we do not do anyone favors by setting our leaders up on pedestals and looking to them for all the answers and to be our fixers and intercessors. We pay them a salary so it becomes their job description. However, James makes it clear here --the suffering must do their own battling... they must learn or be taught (or reminded of) how to pray and encouraged to pray for themselves! Our system is broken, and too many broken believers do not know how to war for themselves or for anyone else! I believe we are being called back to the basics and there is coming an awakening of prayer warriors and those who are willing to pray THROUGH something... to not back down or give in or simply ask someone else to do it instead! (Ask someone else to stand and fight WITH you and for you, yes... do that! But to expect that asking others to pray for something and then not actually doing it yourself - well... Something about we have not because we ask not! He's talking about asking HIM... not our Pastor or leader?) </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: medium;">Now - so we don't get the idea that we don't need anyone, James goes on to say that if any are sick - call the elders! (See? We do need Community and leaders who know and love us!) Call for the elders to come --to gather around them and anoint them with oil and their prayers offered up in faith will (1) restore them FROM sickness and (2) bring them TO health.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP8xSXyQsgKgS5brtAB6mlj139gPajw65Kwp1ebI4R9kuwxNlavWFsWWpgbnQGNRDfHc-IvJrAkB1QxXdF5Eb-jC4jhJaxrspvqXu_QpZRHqce_XRZ7g6X9ya-TmOj7bmvNyzE/s576/Mission7_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="384" data-original-width="576" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP8xSXyQsgKgS5brtAB6mlj139gPajw65Kwp1ebI4R9kuwxNlavWFsWWpgbnQGNRDfHc-IvJrAkB1QxXdF5Eb-jC4jhJaxrspvqXu_QpZRHqce_XRZ7g6X9ya-TmOj7bmvNyzE/w640-h426/Mission7_edited-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: medium;"><br />Restoration means better than before... and going FROM one thing TO the opposite thing --well, it's a journey, isn't it? We can be so short sighted and we can want it to happen miraculously... with shock and awe. It can happen that way, sure. But often times, it's a long walk in the same direction, right?<br /><br />Listen, I am a crazy Faith Girl... and I have laid my hands on a ton of people and prayed for healing. I have prayed prayers of faith... and while I have seen some healing... I've seen a lot go unchanged, unhealed, if you will, and I don't love it. I don't like it or understand it and it's easy to start trying to lay blame. Or to want to back away from doing this - but Readers, these are the RED PARTS of the Bible! Jesus said we should be doing these parts! Do I want Him to answer me the way I want the answers to come every time? Of course I do! Do I know that's not how it works and even still, He is trustworthy and true and He is a Good, Good Father -- even when it doesn't feel like that is truth? Yes. Yes, I do know these things!<br /><br />I like also how this translations clearly points out that IF the sickness is due to sin, God will forgive their sins. Not all sickness is due to sin. Oh, we can act like that is true... our theology can get real messed up and confusing... and SOME sickness is due to sin... it is maybe a consequence or a result... but some sickness is <i>not</i> of our own doing.</span><p></p><p style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">--</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">Next, let's read from The Amplified Bible:</span></p><blockquote style="line-height: 1.3em; margin: 1em 20px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px; margin: 0.75em 0px;"><i><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></i></p><blockquote style="line-height: 1.3em; margin: 1em 20px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.75em 0px;"><i style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">"</span></span></i><i><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;">Is anyone among you suffering? He must pray. Is anyone joyful? He is to sing praises [to God]. Is anyone among you sick? He must call for the elders (spiritual leaders) of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer of faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven."</span><span style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather;"> (The Amplified Bible)</span></i></p></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="line-height: 1.3em; margin: 1em 20px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px; margin: 0.75em 0px;"><i></i></p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><i><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: medium;">I may go as far as to say this type of activity can and should be practiced in each meeting. As I said above, there are ALWAYS those suffering among us --and there should always also be those who are joyful among us, too! What James is describing here is a really powerful home meeting! Lord - let us all find this kind of community!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">--</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">Lastly, The Message Bible reads like this:</span></p><div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px; line-height: 2.4rem; margin-bottom: 0px; min-width: 0px;"><p></p></div><blockquote style="line-height: 1.3em; margin: 1em 20px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px; margin: 0.75em 0px;"><i><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></i></p><blockquote style="line-height: 1.3em; margin: 1em 20px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px; margin: 0.75em 0px;"><i><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">"</span></span></i><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;"><i>Are you hurting? Pray. Do you feel great? Sing. Are you sick? Call the church leaders together to pray and anoint you with oil in the name of the Master. Believing-prayer will heal you, and Jesus will put you on your feet. And if you’ve sinned, you’ll be forgiven—healed inside and out.</i></span><i><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;">"</span> (The Message Bible)</i></p></blockquote></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #783f04;">Leave it to Eugene to make it so simple yet powerful! So clear and to the point, and easy to follow! I love the 'subtitle' to this portion of scripture in The Message Bible! It says<i> "Prayer to be Reckoned with" </i>- and OH MY YES!!! Lord - let us pray THOSE KINDS OF PRAYERS!!!</span></span></p><p style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">***</span></p></div><div style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">Let's pray together now: </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #45818e;">Lord, We come to You today and - as has become our habit, we start by simply giving thanks! We're so thankful that we are Yours! We're so grateful for the ways You care for us! For the ways You love us! Father God, we know that You desire all of our attention, all of our hearts, all of our affections. And we offer it all - all of who and what we are, and we lay everything at Your feet! Lord - we long for community that James talks about here in these verses! Some of us have been blessed with such a family... such a church. Many had that for a season but can't seem to find it again... and some have sadly never tasted it! </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #45818e;">Lord - we ask for a reawakening of Your Body... of Your Bride... that She will wake up from her slumber and that She will function as the Lover of God that she is! </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #45818e;">We pray for those who are sad... who are hurting... who feel lost or discouraged, depressed or anxious... and we ask Holy Spirit that You will encourage them to pray. We thank You Holy Spirit that interceed with us and for us and that You can teach us how to pray! Jesus, we ask that You will stir up the joyful among us to not shrink back or shut up - but that they will sing loudly the praises of God! May their joyfulness be contagious! We pray for those who are sick and we ask that Elders among them will rise up and that there will be community or family come and gather around and pray and anoint with oil... Lord, let Believing-prayer heal us... Jesus, put us on our feet!<br /><br />God we thank You that our sins are covered by the blood of Jesus! We thank You that we are healed and forgiven! Lord, let us remember this and let us remember to live like this is true!<br /><br />Holy Spirit, empower us to pray prayers to be reckoned with... prayers that move heaven and earth... prayers that both bind and loose... prayers that rise up and lay flat... prayers that revive and restore and resurrect!</span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><i style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #45818e;">For the King and His Kingdom,</span></i></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #45818e;">In Jesus' Name!</span></i></div><i><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="color: #45818e; text-align: left;"><i style="color: #664a29; font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #45818e;">Amen!</span></i></div></div></i><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p></div><div style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">***</span></div><div style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;"><br />The Holidays are fast approaching, but I just wanted to say again how proud I am of us! We did it... with just a few verses left -- we have slowly, intentionally gone through the Book of James this year, verse by verse. I pray you have let it challenge and encourage you along the way! </span></div><div style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">We have two more installments in this Series, so u</span><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">ntil next time,</span></div><a href="http://imageshack.com/i/neonf0j" style="color: #82a9b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank" title="ImageShack - Image And Video Hosting"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEiLFgMaJyc1FCFWF1-rbi2WaWdIbSwgthHC6Fj7_EUykj5bBQwEC2VZshMfNOaT8OSgQTzmK1Obkaq_nA1WbRjiGyAoPXg-9kz8EwsrYfmc9F7bLQWheHNaDiFIMXFB2TwGidSJVomX=s0-d" style="border: 0px solid transparent; padding: 4px;" /><br /></a></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="clear: both; color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"></div></div><div class="post-footer" style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12.48px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; letter-spacing: 0.1em; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0.75em 0px; text-transform: uppercase;"><div class="post-footer-line post-footer-line-1"><br /></div><div class="post-footer-line post-footer-line-1"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none;">This is part of our year-long series, diving into the Book of James a few verses at a time! If you missed a post or just stumbled upon us, you can go </span><b style="color: #664a29; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none;"><i><span style="color: #45818e;"><a href="https://abidingloveaboundinggrace.blogspot.com/2021/01/the-book-of-james-introduction-to-our.html" style="color: #52a0b3; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">HERE</a></span></i></b><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none;"> and scroll to the bottom to find each installment of this series as it is published!</span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>~Karrilee~ from Abiding Love, Abounding Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06698176066735604032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24687432.post-61390714514573626362021-11-04T06:30:00.260-07:002021-11-07T09:17:34.275-08:00 Now is the Time for High Hopes and Patience... - The Book of James Bible Series<h3 class="post-title entry-title" style="background-color: white; color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 22.4px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0.25em 0px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16px;">***</span></h3><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-7149246144058024640" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-3776133860270602905" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-1249704254976397156" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-6385188672913020163" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-6013529199438145224" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post hentry" style="border-bottom: 0px dotted transparent; margin: 0.5em 0px 1.5em; padding-bottom: 1.5em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8937080953963341250" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-7852298822455591566" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-6788831846547088304" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-3733883837403525784" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8140482432551011649" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8312569035352090339" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-7278126041108967887" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-6308191026626959719" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-2984755689233979822" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-7766339718772791148" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><h3 class="post-title entry-title" style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 22.4px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0.25em 0px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="font-size: small;">Happy November, Y'all! Can you even believe that we are this close to all the end-of-year Holidays and festivities? I was talking with a friend just the other day sharing about how this year has seemed to slip right by while we have been holding our collective breath, waiting... for healing, for hope, for a breakthrough, or overcoming... While much of our 'normal' lives may have been pushed to the side or put on pause, Time -in fact- did not slow!<br />This also means we are nearing the end of our study, reading through the book of James together through 2021! Let's continue with Chapter 5... </span></span></span></h3><h2 style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 12.48px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0.2em; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0.25em 0px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px; text-transform: uppercase;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #783f04;">TODAY'S VERSES ARE </span><i style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">JAMES CHAPTER 5, VERSES 7-12</span><span style="color: #783f04;">!</span></i><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj75KeaxirWOGVRUOd3rMKZ_wtYunocGLuHxyNhnGJXVMQfTeTBAaLVjW0MaE5y26xK9FcWgXypyTWpf4ipGvEjOkiuwI-oyr9zi20lEmiG510mYpuhweML4elZmg2d9U2K4RcM/s2048/James5_7through12a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj75KeaxirWOGVRUOd3rMKZ_wtYunocGLuHxyNhnGJXVMQfTeTBAaLVjW0MaE5y26xK9FcWgXypyTWpf4ipGvEjOkiuwI-oyr9zi20lEmiG510mYpuhweML4elZmg2d9U2K4RcM/w640-h426/James5_7through12a.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #52a0b3; font-size: 12.48px; letter-spacing: 0.2em; text-transform: uppercase;">WE BEGIN BY READING OUR VERSES TOGETHER HERE FROM </span><i style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia; letter-spacing: 0.2em; text-transform: uppercase;">THE PASSION TRANSLATION BIBLE</i><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia; letter-spacing: 0.2em; text-transform: uppercase;">:</span></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-189117400795887209" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8188779082385056474" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-1661924727958925210" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div><blockquote style="line-height: 1.3em; margin: 1em 20px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px; margin: 0.75em 0px;"><i><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></i></p><blockquote style="line-height: 1.3em; margin: 1em 20px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.75em 0px;"><i style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">"</span></span></i><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;"><i>Meanwhile, brothers and sisters, we must be patient and filled with expectation as we wait for the appearing of the Lord. Think about the farmer who has to patiently wait for the earth’s harvest as it ripens because of the early and latter rains. So you also, keep your hopes high and be patient, for the presence of the Lord is drawing closer. Since each of you are part of God’s family never complain or grumble about each other so that judgment will not come on you, for the true Judge is near and very ready to appear!</i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.75em 0px;"><i style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;">My brothers and sisters, take the prophets as your mentors. They have prophesied in the name of the Lord and it brought them great sufferings, yet they patiently endured. We honor them as our heroes because they remained faithful even while enduring great sufferings. And you have heard of all that Job went through and we can now see that the Lord ultimately treated him with wonderful kindness, revealing how tenderhearted he really is!</i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.75em 0px;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;"><i>Above all we must be those who never need to verify our speech as truthful by swearing by the heavens or the earth or any other oath. But instead we must be so full of integrity that our “Yes” or “No” is convincing enough and we do not stumble into hypocrisy.</i></span><i style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;">"</span> (The Passion Translation)</i></p></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.3em; margin: 1em 20px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.75em 0px;"><i></i></p></blockquote><span style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather;"><a name="more"></a></span><p style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">Oh man, this portion is PACKED full of goodness!</span></p><p style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span></span></p><a name='more'></a><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">Remember whenever we start with a <i>'meanwhile'</i> or <i>'therefore'</i> we need to back up and remind ourselves what the 'therefore' is there for! Last time, we talked about how James was calling out those who were not taking opportunities to do good, but instead enjoying the luxuries their wealth afforded them. He was a bundle of fun last time, remember? But the <i>'meanwhile'</i> is meant to be an encouragement here! In the midst of repenting and lamenting and getting right with God, --<i>meanwhile</i>-- let's also be expectant and hopeful that the Lord is ever near and His appearance is fast approaching! So, in other words, while we wait for His appearing... we are called to be doing something! (Lamenting and repenting, yes --but also: expecting and anticipating!) That word translated 'appearing' can mean</span><i style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;"> “arrival, presence, becoming manifest, appearing” </i><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">and the Footnotes in the Passion say that it has <i>'little to do </i></span><i style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">with distance or space, but with becoming visible, such as an uncovering or revealing what is nearby. It is commonly used for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ.'</i><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;"> <br /><br />James tells us to not blame others for our troubles... (It's like he knows us?) But instead, to remember that the one true Judge is at the gate, ready to come on the scene! He goes on to admonish the believers to receive and learn from the prophets, for they have followed God and suffered much... and we are to regard them as blessed. They are true heroes of the faith. This makes me think of what the prophets right now are saying... how they have suffered much... and how they are blessed and heroes, still!</span><p></p><p><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">Then he wraps up our portion of Scripture today telling us our Yes should be Yes and our No should be No! We should be so honest and transparent, so full of truth and integrity, there should be no need or temptation to have to follow up our statements by swearing an oath or using persuasive language to be convincing!</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8S_Do2ak9aU0SHs53u0PUQnHxybEZlVIgLZIFKeaB3LYozK6v919BVEBZViBvOd4xBhcfhjtN3PiKQckRWjfX-xj2JQ5Ky6KQWVak2ii58Voz5ABGhfMA0OBgevJ188R-MdmJ/s2048/James5_7through12b.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8S_Do2ak9aU0SHs53u0PUQnHxybEZlVIgLZIFKeaB3LYozK6v919BVEBZViBvOd4xBhcfhjtN3PiKQckRWjfX-xj2JQ5Ky6KQWVak2ii58Voz5ABGhfMA0OBgevJ188R-MdmJ/w640-h426/James5_7through12b.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16px;">--</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">Let's read this in the New American Standard Bible, for those who appreciate a less poetic modern translation!</span></p><blockquote style="line-height: 1.3em; margin: 1em 20px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px; margin: 0.75em 0px;"><i><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></i></p><blockquote style="line-height: 1.3em; margin: 1em 20px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.75em 0px;"><i style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">"</span></span></i><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;"><i>Therefore be patient, brothers and sisters, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until it gets the early and late rains. You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near. Do not complain, brothers and sisters, against one another, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing right at the door. As an example, brothers and sisters, of suffering and patience, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. We count those blessed who endured. You have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome of the Lord’s dealings, that the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful.</i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.75em 0px;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;"><i>But above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath; but [g]your yes is to be yes, and your no, no, so that you do not fall under judgment.</i></span><i style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;">"</span> (NASB)</i></p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px; margin: 0.75em 0px;"><i></i></p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><i><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-size: medium;">Again, we are told to be patient while waiting but there is also the call to do something! And that something is to 'strengthen your hearts' - and to not complain against each other. (How many know when we are waiting and doing nothing --the enemy can come in quick and sow seeds of judgment and complaints. His job is to discourage and divide.) I believe this is why James tells us to strengthen our hearts while waiting... because if we are paying attention to our heart and intentionally tuning it to His, we will be WAY LESS LIKELY to turn on each other! <br /><br />So, can I encourage you to take note of your thoughts and feelings when they turn to judging or complaining about your brothers and sisters in Christ? Listen - I know! I know the Body seems divided and like there are at least two or three splits or sides and it's super easy to accidentally fall into tearing 'them' apart --but James is telling us here that if we would pay attention and be quick to strengthen our heart, rather than judge and tear down someone else's, well-- things will go much better for us! The one true Judge is at the door, ready to return... and He will judge all things when He comes. Until then, we wait... and we pay attention to and protect our own heart against judging and complaining! <br /><br />Here's the thing: We are accountable to the Lord --and to each other. So, while I believe judging is ultimately HIS job, we ARE called to call each other out when we are not making the best or wisest choices... but it is to be done in LOVE - not anger or fear or harsh judgment... it is to be done the same way Jesus did it when he was in the flesh and walked among us! Let Him lead you... It feels like there is a whole lot of complaining and judging and while it may be said to be meant or done in love, it sure doesn't FEEL like Love, does it? I'm pretty sure when Jesus said, "Now go, and sin no more!" there may have been Holy Spirit's conviction, but there was no heavy yoke of condemnation or disgust! <br /><br />I believe Righteousness is returning to the church - and not in a heavy-handed legalistic way, but in a bowing to conviction and letting Him actually BE our Lord kind of way! (Read: That way is <i><b>SO MUCH</b></i> better!)</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16px;">--</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">Lastly, my favorite translation: The Message Bible:</span></p><div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px; line-height: 2.4rem; margin-bottom: 0px; min-width: 0px;"><p></p></div><blockquote style="line-height: 1.3em; margin: 1em 20px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px; margin: 0.75em 0px;"><i><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></i></p><blockquote style="line-height: 1.3em; margin: 1em 20px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.75em 0px;"><i style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">"</span></span></i><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;"><i>Meanwhile, friends, wait patiently for the Master’s Arrival. You see farmers do this all the time, waiting for their valuable crops to mature, patiently letting the rain do its slow but sure work. Be patient like that. Stay steady and strong. The Master could arrive at any time.</i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.75em 0px;"><i style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;">Friends, don’t complain about each other. A far greater complaint could be lodged against you, you know. The Judge is standing just around the corner.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.75em 0px;"><i style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;">Take the old prophets as your mentors. They put up with anything, went through everything, and never once quit, all the time honoring God. What a gift life is to those who stay the course! You’ve heard, of course, of Job’s staying power, and you know how God brought it all together for him at the end. That’s because God cares, cares right down to the last detail.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.75em 0px;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;"><i>And since you know that he cares, let your language show it. Don’t add words like “I swear to God” to your own words. Don’t show your impatience by concocting oaths to hurry up God. Just say yes or no. Just say what is true. That way, your language can’t be used against you.</i></span><i style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;">"</span> (The Message Bible)</i></p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px; margin: 0.75em 0px;"><i></i></p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><i><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i><span style="color: #134f5c;">'What a gift life is to those who stay the course!' </span></i><span style="color: #783f04;"><-- This... So. Much. This! </span><br /><br /><span style="color: #783f04;">Stay steady and strong. Just as the farmer waits, knowing the rains are doing the work, wait patiently like that! I know - we all want sunshine and harvest... and for many of us, we have been in a LONG long season of waiting! Waiting for answered prayers, waiting for a breakthrough, waiting for victory, for healing, for promises kept, for something new... </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">Can I assure you, He IS working... He IS coming... Your Harvest is nearly ready.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><i><span style="color: #45818e; font-size: large;">Stay strong and steady...<br />Stay the course, my friends! <br />Stand your ground and hold the line!</span></i></b><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #783f04;">Just as on the <i>first</i> day of this year, and as the last day is fast approaching, I </span><span style="color: #783f04;">hear Him whisper,</span></span><br /><b><i><span style="color: #45818e;"></span></i></b></span></p><blockquote><b><i><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">'...Your Redemption Draweth Nigh!'</span></span></i></b></blockquote><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">***</span></p></div><div style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">Let's pray: </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29;"><i style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #45818e;">Father God, We are so grateful that You sent Jesus</span></i><i style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #45818e;">! We're so thankful that You came! And even more than that, --that You are coming back again! <br /><br />Holy Spirit, enable and empower us to wait well. Help us to wait in expectation and hope... help us to wait while strengthening our hearts and holding our tongues. Lord, we know You are the only one true Judge... the only One able to be just and fair... and we know Jesus You paid the price and cleared our debt and it is by grace we have been saved! Help us to remember that and to offer and extend grace to others around us!<br /><br />Jesus, You know we don't love praying for patience... but we know we need it! </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29;"><i style="font-family: georgia;"></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6yo8NfTpZmu9quMqlOkUZMcnDK83fPrmygs5bSKYhfXk_gp1Svux3cJkVUB0Ln95H_sk9TXkNLO2klBDUOW2w5fNMiuaDEO4vh4sBTI0bLdr62zuPoLLxE3GTCC7kFfdgz2e-/s2048/James5_7through12c.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6yo8NfTpZmu9quMqlOkUZMcnDK83fPrmygs5bSKYhfXk_gp1Svux3cJkVUB0Ln95H_sk9TXkNLO2klBDUOW2w5fNMiuaDEO4vh4sBTI0bLdr62zuPoLLxE3GTCC7kFfdgz2e-/w640-h426/James5_7through12c.jpg" width="640" /></a></i></div><i style="font-family: georgia;"><i><span style="color: #45818e;">Give us faith like the farmers... those who willingly do the hard work of sowing and are willing and able to trust the process and see through the rain and the wind and know that the Harvest will come! Remind us to protect our hearts and minds, keeping them focused on You! Help us to stay steady and strong! Father God, put a check in our spirit whenever we begin to complain or judge. If we are called to hold a brother or sister accountable, give us loving words dripping with grace to speak softly to them, with the intent of guiding them back to You. If we are called to simply pray for them and not say anything, help us to do just that --praying and talking with You and no one else! Remind us Lord that if we judge, by that same measure, we will be judged. If it's in love for the purpose of course-correcting, we would want and welcome that! If it's anything else -- we would resent and reject it! Help us to remember that! </span></i></i><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29;"><i style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #45818e;"><br />Lord, thank You for the Prophets... the ones of old and the one's today! Let them continue to hear and speak Your heart and Your will! Thank You, God, that You care right down to the last detail! Knowing that, Lord... help us to be a people of integrity, truth, and honor, letting our Yes be Yes and our No be No!</span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; margin: 0.75em 0px;"><i style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><i style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #45818e;">For the King and His Kingdom,</span></i></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #664a29;"><i style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #45818e;">In Jesus' Name!</span></i></div><i style="color: #664a29;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="color: #45818e; text-align: left;"><i style="color: #664a29; font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #45818e;">Amen!</span></i></div></div></i><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29;"><o:p></o:p></p></div><div style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">***</span></div><div style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">As November gets underway and Fall winds down as Winter threatens an early arrival, how are you feeling as this year begins to wrap up? I'd love to know if you have been with me all year long here! And if so, what are your thoughts on this Series? Other than the beloved 31 Days series, I have only done a handful of series and other than Colossians, we have not done a year-long Bible series. My hope is to make both this series as well as the Colossians series available in book form at the beginning of 2022!<br /><br />Anyway, I'm so proud of us! We have made it into James, Chapter 5 together... just a few verses at a time, giving God room to convict and correct us as we press in to be more like Jesus!</span></div><div style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">Until next time,</span></div><a href="http://imageshack.com/i/neonf0j" style="color: #82a9b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank" title="ImageShack - Image And Video Hosting"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEiLFgMaJyc1FCFWF1-rbi2WaWdIbSwgthHC6Fj7_EUykj5bBQwEC2VZshMfNOaT8OSgQTzmK1Obkaq_nA1WbRjiGyAoPXg-9kz8EwsrYfmc9F7bLQWheHNaDiFIMXFB2TwGidSJVomX=s0-d" style="border: 0px solid transparent; padding: 4px;" /><br /></a></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="clear: both; color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"></div></div><div class="post-footer" style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12.48px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; letter-spacing: 0.1em; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0.75em 0px; text-transform: uppercase;"><div class="post-footer-line post-footer-line-1"><br /></div><div class="post-footer-line post-footer-line-1"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none;">This is part of our year-long series, diving into the Book of James a few verses at a time! If you missed a post or just stumbled upon us, you can go </span><b style="color: #664a29; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none;"><i><span style="color: #45818e;"><a href="https://abidingloveaboundinggrace.blogspot.com/2021/01/the-book-of-james-introduction-to-our.html" style="color: #52a0b3; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">HERE</a></span></i></b><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none;"> and scroll to the bottom to find each installment of this series as it is published!</span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>~Karrilee~ from Abiding Love, Abounding Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06698176066735604032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24687432.post-71492461440580246402021-10-23T15:00:00.001-07:002021-10-30T11:34:44.368-07:00Listen for the Cries for Justice - The Book of James Bible Series<h3 class="post-title entry-title" style="background-color: white; color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 22.4px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0.25em 0px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16px;">***</span></h3><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-3776133860270602905" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-1249704254976397156" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-6385188672913020163" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-6013529199438145224" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post hentry" style="border-bottom: 0px dotted transparent; margin: 0.5em 0px 1.5em; padding-bottom: 1.5em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8937080953963341250" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-7852298822455591566" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-6788831846547088304" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-3733883837403525784" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8140482432551011649" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8312569035352090339" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-7278126041108967887" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-6308191026626959719" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-2984755689233979822" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-7766339718772791148" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><h3 class="post-title entry-title" style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 22.4px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0.25em 0px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="font-size: small;">Hello, Sweet Readers! I bet you thought I forgot about you! Or gave up... but look - here we are, nearing the end of October and we are digging into Chapter FIVE!!! We've almost made it! We can do this!</span></span></span></h3><h3 class="post-title entry-title" style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 22.4px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0.25em 0px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="font-size: small;">I hope you have been getting a lot out of going through this Book ever so slowly this year. Verse by verse, precept upon precept... I hope things have both encouraged and challenged you, as they have me! Who's ready for chapter five?</span></span></span></h3><h2 style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 12.48px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0.2em; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0.25em 0px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px; text-transform: uppercase;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #783f04;">TODAY'S VERSES ARE </span><i style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">JAMES CHAPTER 5, VERSES 1-6</span><span style="color: #783f04;">!</span></i><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxVA5dc_nvG8h-KJvsUjXQV61MjjH9s6_lfgqm7RjpHH_KrQYmGzUeIlhv3lmzVz9i_kgtR49BXtX7Nugrzdy8Q-Te0CcrJxH9Uu_xTLnu97P2NbrjNRtmwy8HaAd7Ek_Rc-Nx/s2048/JamesSeriesCoverPhoto.jpg" style="color: #52a0b3; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxVA5dc_nvG8h-KJvsUjXQV61MjjH9s6_lfgqm7RjpHH_KrQYmGzUeIlhv3lmzVz9i_kgtR49BXtX7Nugrzdy8Q-Te0CcrJxH9Uu_xTLnu97P2NbrjNRtmwy8HaAd7Ek_Rc-Nx/w640-h426/JamesSeriesCoverPhoto.jpg" style="border: 0px solid transparent; padding: 4px;" width="640" /></a></div><h2 style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 12.48px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0.2em; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0.25em 0px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px; text-transform: uppercase;"><br /></h2><h2 style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 12.48px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0.2em; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0.25em 0px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px; text-transform: uppercase;">WE BEGIN BY READING OUR VERSES TOGETHER HERE FROM <i style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16px;">THE PASSION TRANSLATION BIBLE</i><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16px;">:</span></h2><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-189117400795887209" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8188779082385056474" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-1661924727958925210" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div><blockquote style="line-height: 1.3em; margin: 1em 20px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px; margin: 0.75em 0px;"><i><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></i></p><blockquote style="line-height: 1.3em; margin: 1em 20px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.75em 0px;"><i style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">"</span></span></i><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;"><i>Listen all you who are rich, for it’s time to weep and howl over the misery that will overtake you! Your riches lie rotting, your fine clothing eaten by moths, and your gold and silver are corroded as a witness against you. You have hoarded up treasure for the last days but it will become a fire to burn your flesh. Listen! Can’t you hear the cries of the laborers over the wages you fraudulently held back from those who worked for you? The cries for justice of those you’ve cheated have reached the ears of the Lord of armies!</i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.75em 0px;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;"><i>You have indulged yourselves with every luxury and pleasure this world offers, but you’re only stuffing your heart full for a day of slaughter. You have condemned and murdered good and innocent people who had no power to defend themselves.</i></span><i style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;">"</span> (The Passion Translation)</i></p></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="line-height: 1.3em; margin: 1em 20px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px; margin: 0.75em 0px;"><i></i></p></blockquote><span style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather;"><a name="more"></a></span><p style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">Oh yeah... James can be - uh - a bit<i> much! </i><br /><br />James again calls out to the wealthy and tells them it's time now to weep and howl over the misery that will overtake them. Fun times. </span><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">The Aramaic word for misery here can refer to demonic torment. Again... super fun. </span></p><p style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span></span></p><a name='more'></a><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">Remember, these Chapter breaks are not in the original letter, so if we back up just a verse or two, we'll recall that James was talking about making plans without really consulting God and he was addressing those who know the right thing to do but aren't doing it and how that is sin to them. So it's a natural progression to go from missing opportunities to do good, to talking about the rich who maybe enjoy their wealth and the luxury it buys without taking the opportunities presented to them to do said (or implied) good. <br /><br />We live in America and much of what brings people from all over the globe to our shores is the promise of trying to attain the American Dream. Listen - we are a consumer-based culture and we want all the things... but it turns out the Dream of our Father is freedom, not independence and those two things are not always the same thing! We are called to a Family --grafted into One Body... we are supposed to take care of each other! Not in a mandated, socialist kind of way --but in a Love One Another, be like Jesus kind of way!</span><span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #783f04;">For much longer than I have been alive, the masses have been taken advantage of and served the elite. Jesus - the King of the World - came to show us a different way! So, honestly:</span><i style="color: #783f04;"> "The cries for justice of those you’ve cheated have reached the ears of the Lord of armies!"</i><span style="color: #783f04;"> This should strike fear only in the hearts of the ones who know this is what they have done... what they continue to do!</span><br /><br /><span style="color: #45818e;"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Cheaters and Liars, man. </span></i></b><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span style="color: #783f04;">It can feel like they will just always get away with it --but James assures us that our cries of injustice... our cries FOR justice... they do not go unheard. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #783f04;">I truly believe that this is the day and hour that we will see more and more of these verses come into play! Again - God is so much smarter than me and I could not have planned the timing of this study. But He knew... </span><i style="color: #783f04;">He knows... </i></span></p><p><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16px;">--</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">Next, let's read our verses</span><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;"> in The Voice:</span></p><blockquote style="line-height: 1.3em; margin: 1em 20px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px; margin: 0.75em 0px;"><i><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></i></p><blockquote style="line-height: 1.3em; margin: 1em 20px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px; margin: 0.75em 0px;"><i><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">"</span></span></i><i style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;">Hey, you rich folk, misery is on its way; so cry and moan because you will watch your riches rot before your eyes as the moths devour your fine clothes. Your stockpile of silver and gold is tarnished and corroded, and this rust will stand up in the final judgment and testify against you. It will eat your flesh like fire and become a permanent and painful reminder that you have hoarded your wealth through these last days. Listen. You held back a just wage from the laborers who mowed your fields, and that money is crying out against you, demanding that justice be done. The cries of the people who harvested your crops and made you a profit have fallen upon the ears of the supreme Lord of heavenly armies. Your life on the earth has been one of luxury, pleasure, and endless consumption; you have feasted to your hearts’ content on animals you slaughtered, but now the day of slaughter comes for you. You have condemned and murdered the righteous man, and he did not defend himself.</i><i><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;">"</span> (The Voice)</i></p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px; margin: 0.75em 0px;"><i></i></p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><i><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">(Does anyone else picture King George from Hamilton The Musical here?)</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://media1.tenor.com/images/5a574768a2a195ba34e4b4d0196cac9d/tenor.gif?itemid=17735454" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="266" data-original-width="498" height="266" src="https://media1.tenor.com/images/5a574768a2a195ba34e4b4d0196cac9d/tenor.gif?itemid=17735454" width="498" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Merriweather;"><span style="color: #783f04;">For a long time, there have been cries for <b><i>Justice...</i></b> God, who is a God of Justice is also the same God who said He desires Mercy over Judgment. Man, He is so patient and so kind.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Merriweather;"><span style="color: #783f04;">For many years we have been pressing into the fact that He is a Good, Good Father because somehow that got twisted and lost in translation and for too long we thought He was an angry God. This was a much-needed course correction. However, I fear in our awakening to His great Love and Kindness, we have made Him to be just like us... and in our getting to know Him more, we have maybe become too familiar with Him. Too casual... too 'No Worries -Jesus is Grace and Love' and 'He's cool, man.'</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Merriweather;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #783f04;">And He is! He <b>IS</b> all of those things... <br /></span><span style="color: #783f04;"> but He is also Just! </span></span><br /><span style="color: #783f04;"> </span><i><span style="color: #45818e;"> (Something about Great and Greatly to be Feared!)</span></i></p><p style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">--</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">Lastly, my favorite translation: The Message Bible:</span></p><div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px; line-height: 2.4rem; margin-bottom: 0px; min-width: 0px;"><p></p></div><blockquote style="line-height: 1.3em; margin: 1em 20px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px; margin: 0.75em 0px;"><i><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></i></p><blockquote style="line-height: 1.3em; margin: 1em 20px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.75em 0px;"><i style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">"</span></span></i><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;"><i>And a final word to you arrogant rich: Take some lessons in lament. You’ll need buckets for the tears when the crash comes upon you. Your money is corrupt and your fine clothes stink. Your greedy luxuries are a cancer in your gut, destroying your life from within. You thought you were piling up wealth. What you’ve piled up is judgment.</i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.75em 0px;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;"><i>All the workers you’ve exploited and cheated cry out for judgment. The groans of the workers you used and abused are a roar in the ears of the Master Avenger. You’ve looted the earth and lived it up. But all you’ll have to show for it is a fatter than usual corpse. In fact, what you’ve done is condemn and murder perfectly good persons, who stand there and take it.</i></span><i style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;">"</span> (The Message Bible)</i></p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px; margin: 0.75em 0px;"><i></i></p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><i><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">It's no secret that I adore Eugene Peterson and his work in translating The Message Bible. I love how he pinpoints who James is really talking to here. It's not just the rich! We know, of course, it is not a sin to be rich. However, to be <i>arrogant and</i> rich - well, now. It seems James is calling for some self-awareness and repentance... and some lament just may be in order! If you find your salvation and security, your identity and importance, in your bank account rather than your Bible -well, James is talking to you, here.<br /><br />We know, right, that there is more to life than the pursuit of the American Dream... more to life than a big house, cars, college paid for, vacations, designer clothes, etc. None of those things are bad... but in all our getting, let's get Wisdom from on High and let's let Love lead us... let's live together - not pushing each other down as we climb and claw to the top, but rather lift each other up as we fight for the bottom!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">***</span></p></div><div style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">Let's pray: </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #45818e;">Father God, We come before You today so thankful! Thankful for Your great love and mercy. Thankful for the way You bless and for the way You give us every opportunity to choose right... to do good. Lord, we thank You that the cries for Justice do not fall on deaf ears... they do not go unheard or - eventually - unacted upon! Thank You, Jesus, that You are a God of Justice and Mercy --for we need both!<br /><br />For the times we have been rich - and unaware... and have missed chances to do good with our money or influence, Lord we repent. Forgive us and wake us up to open doors and invitations in the future! <br /><br />For the ways we have become hardened, prideful, or arrogant -- Lord, we ask for Holy Spirit Conviction. Help us to humble ourselves, Lord. Help us to remember that You are God and we are not. That EVERY good and perfect gift comes from You and is showered down on us through Your Hands. Help us to hold on to things loosely, but to cling to You with all our strength!</span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #45818e;">Thank You Jesus that we are seen and known and protected in Your and by Your Blood. You are our Redeemer and Provider and we trust You, oh Lord! We trust You to lead and guide us into all that You have for us. Hold our hearts close and show us how to be the Body and the Bride more and more and more!</span></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i><i style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #45818e;">For the King and His Kingdom,<br /></span></i></i><i style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #45818e;">In Jesus' Name!</span></i></div><i><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="color: #45818e; text-align: left;"><i style="color: #664a29; font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #45818e;">Amen!</span></i></div></div></i><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p></div><div style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">***</span></div><div style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">I would LOVE to hear some feedback from you, Sweet Readers! What did you think of this portion of Scripture? <br /><br />Thinking of the whole study so far, what has stood out to you or stuck with you the most? What have you learned or noticed in this study of James that you hadn't really realized or knew before?</span></div><div style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">Until next time,</span></div><a href="http://imageshack.com/i/neonf0j" style="color: #82a9b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank" title="ImageShack - Image And Video Hosting"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEiLFgMaJyc1FCFWF1-rbi2WaWdIbSwgthHC6Fj7_EUykj5bBQwEC2VZshMfNOaT8OSgQTzmK1Obkaq_nA1WbRjiGyAoPXg-9kz8EwsrYfmc9F7bLQWheHNaDiFIMXFB2TwGidSJVomX=s0-d" style="border: 0px solid transparent; padding: 4px;" /><br /></a></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="clear: both; color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"></div></div><div class="post-footer" style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12.48px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; letter-spacing: 0.1em; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0.75em 0px; text-transform: uppercase;"><div class="post-footer-line post-footer-line-1"><br /></div><div class="post-footer-line post-footer-line-1"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none;">This is part of our year-long series, diving into the Book of James a few verses at a time! If you missed a post or just stumbled upon us, you can go </span><b style="color: #664a29; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none;"><i><span style="color: #45818e;"><a href="https://abidingloveaboundinggrace.blogspot.com/2021/01/the-book-of-james-introduction-to-our.html" style="color: #52a0b3; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">HERE</a></span></i></b><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none;"> and scroll to the bottom to find each installment of this series as it is published!</span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>~Karrilee~ from Abiding Love, Abounding Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06698176066735604032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24687432.post-37761338602706029052021-10-07T07:30:00.163-07:002021-10-07T07:30:00.229-07:00It Seems Everyone is Violating God's Law of Love lately! The Book of James Bible Series<h3 class="post-title entry-title" style="background-color: white; color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 22.4px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0.25em 0px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16px;">***</span></h3><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-1249704254976397156" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-6385188672913020163" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-6013529199438145224" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post hentry" style="border-bottom: 0px dotted transparent; margin: 0.5em 0px 1.5em; padding-bottom: 1.5em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8937080953963341250" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-7852298822455591566" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-6788831846547088304" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-3733883837403525784" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8140482432551011649" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8312569035352090339" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-7278126041108967887" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-6308191026626959719" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-2984755689233979822" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-7766339718772791148" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><h3 class="post-title entry-title" style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 22.4px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0.25em 0px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="font-size: small;">Happy Thursday, Friends! It's time to dig into more of James! I'm so grateful that the Lord highlighted this letter for us to focus on this year... it is so needed and has been so helpful!<br />You know the drill: Grab something yummy to drink, get your Bible, and let's dive in!</span></span></span></h3><h2 style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 12.48px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0.2em; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0.25em 0px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px; text-transform: uppercase;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #783f04;">LET'S DIG IN! TODAY'S VERSES ARE </span><i style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">JAMES CHAPTER 4, VERSES 11-17</span><span style="color: #783f04;">!</span></i><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxVA5dc_nvG8h-KJvsUjXQV61MjjH9s6_lfgqm7RjpHH_KrQYmGzUeIlhv3lmzVz9i_kgtR49BXtX7Nugrzdy8Q-Te0CcrJxH9Uu_xTLnu97P2NbrjNRtmwy8HaAd7Ek_Rc-Nx/s2048/JamesSeriesCoverPhoto.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxVA5dc_nvG8h-KJvsUjXQV61MjjH9s6_lfgqm7RjpHH_KrQYmGzUeIlhv3lmzVz9i_kgtR49BXtX7Nugrzdy8Q-Te0CcrJxH9Uu_xTLnu97P2NbrjNRtmwy8HaAd7Ek_Rc-Nx/w640-h426/JamesSeriesCoverPhoto.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><h2 style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 12.48px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0.2em; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0.25em 0px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px; text-transform: uppercase;"><br /></h2><h2 style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 12.48px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0.2em; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0.25em 0px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px; text-transform: uppercase;">We begin by reading our verses together here from <i style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16px;">The Passion Translation Bible</i><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16px;">:</span></h2><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-189117400795887209" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8188779082385056474" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-1661924727958925210" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div><blockquote style="line-height: 1.3em; margin: 1em 20px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px; margin: 0.75em 0px;"><i><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></i></p><blockquote style="line-height: 1.3em; margin: 1em 20px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.75em 0px;"><i style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">"</span></span></i><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;"><i>Dear friends, as part of God’s family, never speak against another family member, for when you slander a brother or sister you violate God’s law of love. And your duty is not to make yourself a judge of the law of love by saying that it doesn’t apply to you, but your duty is to obey it! There is only one true Lawgiver and Judge, the One who has the power to save and destroy—so who do you think you are to judge your neighbor.</i></span></p></blockquote></blockquote><span><a name='more'></a></span><blockquote style="line-height: 1.3em; margin: 1em 20px;"><blockquote style="line-height: 1.3em; margin: 1em 20px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.75em 0px;"><i style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;">Listen, those of you who are boasting, “Today or tomorrow we’ll go to another city and spend some time and go into business and make heaps of profit!” But you don’t have a clue what tomorrow may bring. For your fleeting life is but a warm breath of air that is visible in the cold only for a moment and then vanishes! Instead you should say, “Our tomorrows are in the Lord’s hands and if he is willing we will live life to its fullest and do this or that.” But here you are, boasting in your ignorance, for to be presumptuous about what you’ll do tomorrow is evil!</i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.75em 0px;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;"><i>So if you know of an opportunity to do the right thing today, yet you refrain from doing it, you’re guilty of sin.</i></span><i style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;">"</span> (The Passion Translation)</i></p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px; margin: 0.75em 0px;"><i></i></p></blockquote><span style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><a name="more"></a></span><p style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">Listen, I feel the need once again to point out that this was not <i>MY </i>idea! <i><b>I</b></i> am not the one who thought going through the book of James in such a difficult time would be<i> fun</i>! God put it on my heart and made it so clear that I could not <b><i>NOT</i></b> do it --so, here we are! </span></p><p style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">Here we are in a world and culture where it certainly FEELS like everyone --every single one!-- is violating God's law of love</span><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">! (I mean... <i>right?</i> It's not just me?) It FEELS like everyone is making themselves a Judge of the law while not actually putting ourselves under that law!</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">I can't recall in all of my years as a believer on this earth a time when the Church was so divided. I mean - sure... we've always had our issues --but it seems the divide is wider and wider, greater and greater... it can be exhausting just thinking about it! But here we are -- reading James and hearing him tell us not to judge but instead simply obey the law of love... don't talk poorly or gossip about a brother or sister (--But, but, but...?!--) <br />I'm going to even go a step further... how about we allow this to include even harboring thoughts against our brothers and sisters and neighbors! I think some of us have matured enough to actually not want to start a fight or stir things up - and long gone is the lost art of conversating with someone we disagree with in calm and collected ways! Instead - we have one extreme or the other... either there is fake drama and all kinds of arguments or there is seeming passivity and silence. But it's our thoughts that run wild, even if/when our tongue is held tight.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">--</span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">Next, let's read our verses</span><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;"> in The Voice:</span></p><blockquote style="line-height: 1.3em; margin: 1em 20px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px; margin: 0.75em 0px;"><i><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></i></p><blockquote style="line-height: 1.3em; margin: 1em 20px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.75em 0px;"><i style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">"</span></span></i><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;"><i>My brothers and sisters, do not assault each other with criticism. If you decide your job is to accuse and judge another believer, then you are a self-appointed critic and judge of the law; if so, then you are no longer a doer of the law and subject to its rule; you stand over it as a judge. Know this—there is One who stands supreme as Judge and Lawgiver. He alone is able to save and to destroy, so who are you to step in and try to judge another?</i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.75em 0px;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;"><i>Listen carefully, those of you who make your plans and say, “We are traveling to this city in the next few days. We’ll stay there for one year while our business explodes and revenue is up.” The reality is you have no idea where your life will take you tomorrow. You are like a mist that appears one moment and then vanishes another. It would be best to say, “If it is the Lord’s will and we live long enough, we hope to do this project or pursue that dream.” But your current speech indicates an arrogance that does not acknowledge the One who controls the universe, and this kind of big talking is the epitome of evil. So if you know the right way to live and ignore it, it is sin—plain and simple.</i></span><i style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;">"</span> (The Voice)</i></p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px; margin: 0.75em 0px;"><i></i></p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><i><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">I will say this past year has helped us break this bad habit of making plans way into the future! In this season, we're not even sure if the restaurants will be open to letting us dine inside for dinner over the weekend! I think we've come face to face with the reality that we are, in fact, like a mist that appears one moment and then vanishes another!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">And it all comes down to this, right? This last portion in verse 17 that says: "So if you know the right way to live and ignore it, it is sin --plain and simple."<br /><br />Woah... Selah --pause in His presence on that one for a moment!</span></p><p style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">--</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">We don't usually use this Paraphrase, but let's look at The Living Bible</span><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">:</span></p><blockquote style="line-height: 1.3em; margin: 1em 20px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px; margin: 0.75em 0px;"><i><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></i></p><blockquote style="line-height: 1.3em; margin: 1em 20px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.75em 0px;"><i style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">"</span></span></i><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;"><i>Don’t criticize and speak evil about each other, dear brothers. If you do, you will be fighting against God’s law of loving one another, declaring it is wrong. But your job is not to decide whether this law is right or wrong, but to obey it. Only he who made the law can rightly judge among us. He alone decides to save us or destroy. So what right do you have to judge or criticize others?</i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.75em 0px;"><i style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;">Look here, you people who say, “Today or tomorrow we are going to such and such a town, stay there a year, and open up a profitable business.” How do you know what is going to happen tomorrow? For the length of your lives is as uncertain as the morning fog—now you see it; soon it is gone. What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we shall live and do this or that.” Otherwise you will be bragging about your own plans, and such self-confidence never pleases God.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.75em 0px;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;"><i>Remember, too, that knowing what is right to do and then not doing it is sin.</i></span><i style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;">"</span> (The Living Bible)</i></p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px; margin: 0.75em 0px;"><i></i></p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><i><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">Again - knowing what is right to do and then not doing it is sin. Plain and simple. No way around it. (And here's the thing -- we may not know everything but we DO know some things! We know some things are right and some are wrong. If/when we don't do what we know to do - it is accounted to us as sin. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">We know we are called to love... to give grace... knowing it and not doing it, guys-- that's the hard part! It becomes sin to us and we must repent and ask the Lord to help us walk this out and enable us to love the way He loves!</span></p><p style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">--</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">Lastly, my favorite translation: The Message Bible:</span></p><div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px; line-height: 2.4rem; margin-bottom: 0px; min-width: 0px;"><p></p></div><blockquote style="line-height: 1.3em; margin: 1em 20px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px; margin: 0.75em 0px;"><i><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></i></p><blockquote style="line-height: 1.3em; margin: 1em 20px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.75em 0px;"><i style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">"</span></span></i><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;"><i>Don’t bad-mouth each other, friends. It’s God’s Word, his Message, his Royal Rule, that takes a beating in that kind of talk. You’re supposed to be honoring the Message, not writing graffiti all over it. God is in charge of deciding human destiny. Who do you think you are to meddle in the destiny of others?</i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.75em 0px;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;"><i>And now I have a word for you who brashly announce, “Today—at the latest, tomorrow—we’re off to such and such a city for the year. We’re going to start a business and make a lot of money.” You don’t know the first thing about tomorrow. You’re nothing but a wisp of fog, catching a brief bit of sun before disappearing. Instead, make it a habit to say, “If the Master wills it and we’re still alive, we’ll do this or that.”</i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.75em 0px;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;"><i>As it is, you are full of your grandiose selves. All such vaunting self-importance is evil. In fact, if you know the right thing to do and don’t do it, that, for you, is evil.</i></span><i style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;">"</span> (The Message Bible)</i></p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px; margin: 0.75em 0px;"><i></i></p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><i><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">A Wisp of fog... We forget! We forget that this is not our Home and life on earth here is so fleeting... a wisp of fog, a bit of sun, and then, poof - vanished! In but a moment, we will be about our Father's business in our forever home... so let us obey the Law of Love and put it into practice here and now... bridging the gap and preparing for our future!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">***</span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">Let's pray: </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><i style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #45818e;">Father God, You come boldly to your throne of Grace and we come with a grateful heart - even in the middle of all the chaos surrounding our world right now! Lord, given the temperature of our current culture - putting James' words here into action seem impossible --but we know with You, nothing is impossible! We ask, Holy Spirit, for your guidance... enable us to obey the law of love and to not bad-mouth or gossip or tear down others... but instead to show grace and mercy, love and patience! We want to be Your hands and feet, Your heart and hope to those around us. We know, God, there IS a time to speak and a time to be quiet --help us to know the difference and to discern the times. <br /><br />Remind us, Jesus, that this life is not our end goal --but to be with You in the next one is! Empower us to live like You lived and to love like You love... and to not violate Your law but to willingly obey it, making sure that we do not forget that we are not in charge, but You are! Help us to remember to let You be in charge... and to make our plans loosely, giving them over to You for direction and blessing! Lord - show us the right thing to do --and then prompt us to do it so that we may not sin against You! We want to shine brightly and love well --so much so that not only will others know we are Christians by our love - but that they will want to be part of the Family of God, too!</span></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><i><i style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #45818e;">For the King and His Kingdom,<br /></span></i></i><i style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #45818e;">In Jesus' Name!</span></i></div><i style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="color: #45818e; text-align: left;"><i style="color: #664a29; font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #45818e;">Amen!</span></i></div></div></i><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><o:p></o:p></p></div><div style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">***</span></div><div style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">I don't know about you guys - but if I'm honest, this was a hard portion of Scripture because it feels --especially in recent times!-- nearly impossible! We know it's not. </span></div><div style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">Here's the thing: I hate confrontation... healthy or not - I prefer to avoid it. </span></div><div style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">I know... it's not great! We <i>need</i> healthy confrontation. We do. So - holding my tongue and trying not to make waves -- this Enneagram 2 is on board for that. However, it has also felt like the line in the sand is being drawn and many have been silent for too long. </span></div><div style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">It's a difficult task - to speak up and speak truth when it feels so extremely controversial! Then we read these verses in James and we know it's a harder job than we thought because we need to speak up - without tearing anyone else down! We want justice, but we must not forget that we are not the Judge --only God is! The world is watching and sadly it seems like in recent times the Church has turned in on itself and is eating its' own. We'd rather do this - than to obey the Law of Love. We even turn on each other when talking about what it looks like to actually walk out said Law of Love! </span></div><div style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">Listen, Church... a hurting world is watching and oh my goodness, they are supposed to know us by our Love. So let's take these words in James to heart and stop bad-mouthing the family of God... and instead, let us pray! (For ourselves and for 'them' and for our great good God to be made famous and for faith and hope and patience knowing the One True Judge will come and make all things right.)</span></div><div style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">Until next time,</span></div><a href="http://imageshack.com/i/neonf0j" style="color: #82a9b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank" title="ImageShack - Image And Video Hosting"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEiLFgMaJyc1FCFWF1-rbi2WaWdIbSwgthHC6Fj7_EUykj5bBQwEC2VZshMfNOaT8OSgQTzmK1Obkaq_nA1WbRjiGyAoPXg-9kz8EwsrYfmc9F7bLQWheHNaDiFIMXFB2TwGidSJVomX=s0-d" style="border: 0px solid transparent; padding: 4px;" /><br /></a></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="clear: both; color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"></div></div><div class="post-footer" style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12.48px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; letter-spacing: 0.1em; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0.75em 0px; text-transform: uppercase;"><div class="post-footer-line post-footer-line-1"><br /></div><div class="post-footer-line post-footer-line-1"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none;">This is part of our year-long series, diving into the Book of James a few verses at a time! If you missed a post or just stumbled upon us, you can go </span><b style="color: #664a29; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none;"><i><span style="color: #45818e;"><a href="https://abidingloveaboundinggrace.blogspot.com/2021/01/the-book-of-james-introduction-to-our.html" style="color: #52a0b3; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">HERE</a></span></i></b><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none;"> and scroll to the bottom to find each installment of this series as it is published!</span></div><div class="post-footer-line post-footer-line-1"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none;"><br /></span></div></div></div></div></div></div>~Karrilee~ from Abiding Love, Abounding Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06698176066735604032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24687432.post-12497042549763971562021-09-23T07:00:00.035-07:002021-09-28T20:55:08.127-07:00 Surrender, Stand, Resist, (Repeat) - The Book of James Bible Series<h3 class="post-title entry-title" style="background-color: white; color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 22.4px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0.25em 0px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16px;">***</span></h3><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-6385188672913020163" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-6013529199438145224" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post hentry" style="border-bottom: 0px dotted transparent; margin: 0.5em 0px 1.5em; padding-bottom: 1.5em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8937080953963341250" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-7852298822455591566" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-6788831846547088304" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-3733883837403525784" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8140482432551011649" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8312569035352090339" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-7278126041108967887" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-6308191026626959719" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-2984755689233979822" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-7766339718772791148" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><h3 class="post-title entry-title" style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 22.4px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0.25em 0px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="font-size: small;">Hello again, Sweet Readers! It's so great to meet you here as we dive into more of James! Grab something Fall-like and festive to sip on along with your Bible, and let's get started!</span></span></span></h3><h2 style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 12.48px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0.2em; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0.25em 0px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px; text-transform: uppercase;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #783f04;">LET'S DIG IN! TODAY'S VERSES ARE </span><i style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">JAMES CHAPTER 4, VERSES 6-10</span><span style="color: #783f04;">!</span></i><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></h2><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-189117400795887209" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8188779082385056474" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-1661924727958925210" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn461xJPQeXFFkPpyh4q77v4I_StEyyCE_F78uyIt4sSKMHJtxO7Ps7Rev0wFbTf4L7SfcWYVFxr-DprTIvGlxHbtP2_E64v5gQCWWeLJ6DlABX5z0RMI3kJp5ccXTQy7qirzE/s2048/James4_6through10.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn461xJPQeXFFkPpyh4q77v4I_StEyyCE_F78uyIt4sSKMHJtxO7Ps7Rev0wFbTf4L7SfcWYVFxr-DprTIvGlxHbtP2_E64v5gQCWWeLJ6DlABX5z0RMI3kJp5ccXTQy7qirzE/w640-h426/James4_6through10.jpg" width="640" /></a></div></div><blockquote style="line-height: 1.3em; margin: 1em 20px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16px;">We begin by reading our verses together here from </span><i style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16px;">The Passion Translation Bible</i><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16px;">:</span></blockquote><blockquote style="line-height: 1.3em; margin: 1em 20px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.75em 0px;"><i style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></i></p><blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.75em 0px;"><i style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">"</span></span></i><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;"><i>But he continues to pour out more and more grace upon us. For it says, </i></span><i style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;">“God resists you when you are proud</i><i style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;"> but continually pours out grace when you are humble.”</i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.75em 0px;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;"><i>So then, surrender to God. Stand up to the devil and resist him and he will flee in agony. Move your heart closer and closer to God, and he will come even closer to you. But make sure you cleanse your life, you sinners, and keep your heart pure and stop doubting. Feel the pain of your sin, be sorrowful and weep! Let your joking around be turned into mourning and your joy into deep humiliation. Be willing to be made low before the Lord and he will exalt you!</i></span><i style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;">"</span> (The Passion Translation)</i></p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.75em 0px;"><i style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"></i></p></blockquote><span style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather;"><a name="more"></a></span><p style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">I'm going to just say it upfront... this is another hard part of James --but only because he speaks the truth so bluntly and he makes it hard to ignore! <br /><br />Let's start with the not-so-hard part first... 'he continues to pour out more and more grace..." That phrase there can also be translated, "he gives us a greater gift" or "the grace or favor he gives us is stronger." Remember in when a verse starts with 'But', or 'And', or 'Therefore', (etc.) it's always a good idea to back up a verse or two... </span></p><p style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;"><span></span></span></p><a name='more'></a><span style="color: #783f04;">We covered this last time, but the overall picture of what James is talking about here is how we have become friends with the world and we forgot that our God is a jealous lover... <i>"But - he continues to pour out more and more grace for us..."</i> (See? Good News!)</span><p></p><p style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUluGEtQHNlaMRvbztkUwHmxguACQHdNvJD2WlKDAAh_d0es2eyvybwbps0sn1GlAvTnpWFgjqHncx8v8n-rQnVZv0ETvYxuYhA_ohujofbYhkYYrwQ4VFe3bdbufCokjUbwxt/s2048/James4_6through10a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUluGEtQHNlaMRvbztkUwHmxguACQHdNvJD2WlKDAAh_d0es2eyvybwbps0sn1GlAvTnpWFgjqHncx8v8n-rQnVZv0ETvYxuYhA_ohujofbYhkYYrwQ4VFe3bdbufCokjUbwxt/w426-h640/James4_6through10a.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">If we want that grace -- James tells us how to get it. It's not that we earn it or buy it... we can not! But there are steps we can take that will eventually pull us back to the heart of God. Surrender, Stand, Resist, (Repeat!) </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">First, (and this is important... this is FIRST...) -- we must<b><i> surrender to God. </i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">What does that mean? What does that actually look like - in practical terms, in our modern times? Well, it's not hard. I mean - it is. It IS hard... but it's pretty clear. We must surrender... something about Your will, not my own... something like relinquishing control... something about to make Him Lord -as in, for real! He gets to be the Boss of you. So while that is clear --it is most certainly not easy. We surrender to God every day... sometimes hour by hour or minute by minute, right? Because we have this annoying fleshly tendency to keep taking back the job of being the boss of us... even when we know we actually aren't very good at it! So - first... surrender to God.<br /><br />Next, <b><i>stand up to the devil. </i></b>Listen... we are really quick to forget that the battle we are in is not --NOT!-- against flesh and blood. We must remember that this is a spiritual war and we will have to stand up to the enemy. Faith comes from God and fear from the devil... at least the ungodly kind of fear --they work against each other and cannot reside in the same space. We must rise up and stand up and tell the devil who and Whose we are. We cannot afford to be silent any longer and we cannot afford to shrink back or give up ground. We cannot fall for his lies anymore! Too much is at stake. Something about having done all, stand! Stand therefore with the full armor of God, right? We are well-equipt to stand up to the enemy. God has given us everything we need for life and godliness! Stand!<br /><br />After we Stand up to the devil, we <b><i>RESIST him!</i></b> Now, this is such an important step because you can have all the faith in the world to Stand, but if you think for a minute the devil will just give in... pack up and go home without a fight --well, you must be new here. Seriously - the devil is the father of lies. He lies as if it is his job and he is really good at it. It's not enough to stand against him - we must also resist him! He so often comes in as an angel of light... he speaks a little truth and then twists it just so, so that it sounds kind of right... he is crafty, but not creative. He can be convincing because so often he whispers lies in your ear instead of shouting accusations. He can twist things just enough to sound like wisdom. This is why we must resist. I love this translation because -<i>I'm not gonna lie...</i>- I like the part where it says when we resist him, the accuser will flee <b>in agony</b>. Yeah! Take that, enemy! (He flees in agony because of the One who stands with us!). So the best way to resist the enemy is to move closer to God... to get to know His voice best - so any other voice will register as counterfeit! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">--</span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">Before we tackle the next (<strike>hard</strike> <i>clear</i>) part, let's read our verses</span><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;"> in The Voice:</span></p><blockquote style="line-height: 1.3em; margin: 1em 20px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.75em 0px;"><i style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></i></p><blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.75em 0px;"><i style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">"</span></span></i><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;"><i>You may think that the situation is hopeless, but God gives us more grace when we turn away from our own interests. That’s why Scripture says, </i></span><i style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;">God opposes the proud, </i><i style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;">but He pours out grace on the humble.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.75em 0px;"><i style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;">So submit yourselves to the one true God and fight against the devil and his schemes. If you do, he will run away in failure. Come close to the one true God, and He will draw close to you. Wash your hands; you have dirtied them in sin. Cleanse your heart, because your mind is split down the middle, your love for God on one side and selfish pursuits on the other.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.75em 0px;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;"><i>Now is the time to lament, to grieve, and to cry. Dissolve your laughter into sobbing, and exchange your joy for depression. Lay yourself bare, facedown to the ground, in humility before the Lord; and He will lift your head so you can stand tall.</i></span><i style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;">"</span> (The Voice)</i></p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.75em 0px;"><i style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"></i></p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><i><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16px;">I know! <i>I know</i>, you guys? James is so good and so needed, but man - he just gets right up in our business, right? But this is how we press in and press on and rise up and live the life Christ paved the way for... the life Jesus longs for us to live. I love in this translation, in the middle of these verses, the footnote says, <i>"</i></span><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;"><i>Since the beginning, our loving Creator has been pursuing us, drawing us closer to Him. He invites us to move closer to Him so we can be fully His." </i> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">Let's not lose sight of this. This is the reason we must wake up and get back to the basics in calling sin sin and in being willing to wash our hands and purify our hearts. We can't just count on grace and shrug off the consequences of sin, thinking grace will cover us and we can do whatever we want. I mean - we can. He gives us the freedom to choose. But don't think for a minute that choosing to sin and pretend it's not sin is going to lead anywhere good... anywhere free. It's not. It won't. Sin takes root and gives birth to death. But He came to give us life and Life Abundantly! We were made for Light... not Darkness. We were made for Life... not Death. <br /><br /><b><i>"Now is the time..." </i></b>It is. You can feel it -<i>yes?</i> I know I can. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">I can feel a pull to wake up and to count the cost and to make sure that I am following Him - and no one else. Make sure that I keep an account of my actions and thoughts and move closer and closer to God SO THAT He can help to cleanse and purify and make me right. And yes - this is not just a One and Done kind of deal! We live in a fallen world where sin abounds... we must draw closer and repent and make better choices intentionally every day. I'm not talking in a Rules and Religion heavy-handed way. I am not talking about legislating what is Right and Wrong for everyone. <i>(I walked that road... it's not fun for anyone except the devil!)</i> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #783f04;">I'm talking about just you and God sitting down and being brave enough to ask Him where you are falling short of His plan for you. And then, letting the Holy Spirit be the Holy Spirit and reveal all truth to you... --to lovingly, gently help you to course-correct your life and get back on track so you can follow hard after Him and live the overcoming life He has planned for you! </span><b><i><span style="color: #45818e; font-size: medium;">Which always includes Surrender, Stand, Resist, [Repeat], and Move Closer! Always Closer!</span></i></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><i></i></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEifMycSMrbmWnuHujoYVmsLJX28NprheH93ug7hv6d_cHMWiFqd0QrLmfWknfhi5ftWJpBGiP7K3vHOd3tfts6HzJA6GMceR4vecsAtx3X91_jcS9JSXfHXjmIiJWzUwMIMyR/s2048/James4_6through10b.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEifMycSMrbmWnuHujoYVmsLJX28NprheH93ug7hv6d_cHMWiFqd0QrLmfWknfhi5ftWJpBGiP7K3vHOd3tfts6HzJA6GMceR4vecsAtx3X91_jcS9JSXfHXjmIiJWzUwMIMyR/w480-h640/James4_6through10b.jpg" width="480" /></a></i></b></span></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;"><i>This</i></b><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;"> is what James longed for --for himself and his people... and for us. </span></p><p style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">--</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">Lastly, my favorite translation: The Message Bible:</span></p><div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px; line-height: 2.4rem; margin-bottom: 0px; min-width: 0px;"><p></p></div><blockquote style="line-height: 1.3em; margin: 1em 20px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.75em 0px;"><i style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></i></p><blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.75em 0px;"><i style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">"</span></span></i><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;"><i>You’re cheating on God. If all you want is your own way, flirting with the world every chance you get, you end up enemies of God and his way. And do you suppose God doesn’t care? The proverb has it that “he’s a fiercely jealous lover.” And what he gives in love is far better than anything else you’ll find. It’s common knowledge that “God goes against the willful proud; God gives grace to the willing humble.”</i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.75em 0px;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;"><i>So let God work his will in you. Yell a loud no to the Devil and watch him make himself scarce. Say a quiet yes to God and he’ll be there in no time. Quit dabbling in sin. Purify your inner life. Quit playing the field. Hit bottom, and cry your eyes out. The fun and games are over. Get serious, really serious. Get down on your knees before the Master; it’s the only way you’ll get on your feet.</i></span><i style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;">"</span> (The Message Bible)</i></p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.75em 0px;"><i style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"></i></p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><i><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">What God gives in love is far better --FAR BETTER!-- than anything else you'll find. Hands down. Full Stop. End of Story. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP5y3VQy5cYsVTUckOdjLUQ5uz_3dc6IR3M_NDAgCGvIE_jolXK3d0rb7KeO3joNVzmjLMdNEYKLKBippUK6Hz8mkUV69icgWrwXIwJXPcDD2H-V4KPm5mbte_yX56XOtoR0cn/s2048/James4_6through10c.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP5y3VQy5cYsVTUckOdjLUQ5uz_3dc6IR3M_NDAgCGvIE_jolXK3d0rb7KeO3joNVzmjLMdNEYKLKBippUK6Hz8mkUV69icgWrwXIwJXPcDD2H-V4KPm5mbte_yX56XOtoR0cn/w480-h640/James4_6through10c.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #664a29; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><i style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Friends... let's not focus out there on 'them' and what 'they' are doing. Let's be honest with God and with ourselves. Let's focus on our own heart... on our own dirty hands... let's open up and invite God into every area and ask Him to help us overcome the temptation to be the boss of us... the temptation to slack off or give in or shrug it off... instead let's ask the Holy Spirit to once again lead and guide us as we go!</i></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">***</span></p></div><div style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">Let's pray: </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #45818e;">Father God,</span></i><i style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #45818e;"><br /></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #45818e;">We come to You right now and before we ask for <b>anything</b> - we want to thank You! </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #45818e;">Thank You, Lord, for Your great love. Thank You for the grace you pour out over us again and again and again. Thank You for working Your will in us! Stir us up --no, WAKE us up!-- and give us boldness and courage to yell a loud NO to the devil! Pull back the veil and the blindness and the justification or excuses we have given for the choices we have made. --Choices we know full well that are less than what You have for us! Help us to SHOUT at the enemy and Whisper our crying out to You. Not that we want to be quiet or hidden in our faith --but that we know we need correction and we know, Father, that You are a kind of loving Father... and You correct us with grace and mercy. You take our weakness or broken pieces and You put us back together... (and You prefer to do it one on one and not for show!)<br /></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #45818e;">Holy Spirit, convict us of sin... remind us the difference between conviction (which is loving and gentle and comes from you!) and condemnation (which is not any of those things and comes from the enemy!) and help us to purify our lives. Enable, equip, and empower us to quit playing the field... to quit flirting with the world and being enamored with paths that lead us nowhere good! Soften us, Lord - so our hearts are not hardened or closed off to your drawing and correcting! Help us to bow down before you, Father --knowing that You alone lift us up!</span></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i><i style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #45818e;">For the King and His Kingdom,<br /></span></i></i><i style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #45818e;">In Jesus' Name!</span></i></div><i><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="color: #45818e; text-align: left;"><i style="color: #664a29; font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #45818e;">Amen!</span></i></div></div></i><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p></div><div style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">***</span></div><div style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">I know James is challenging... and I know life - you know - is challenging right now! But I honestly believe digging into James and following the Word will help us! I hope you are enjoying this series as much as I am. And I hope you, along with me, are becoming more and more like Jesus as we rise to the challenge and overcome!</span></div><div style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">Until next time,</span></div><a href="http://imageshack.com/i/neonf0j" style="color: #82a9b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank" title="ImageShack - Image And Video Hosting"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEiLFgMaJyc1FCFWF1-rbi2WaWdIbSwgthHC6Fj7_EUykj5bBQwEC2VZshMfNOaT8OSgQTzmK1Obkaq_nA1WbRjiGyAoPXg-9kz8EwsrYfmc9F7bLQWheHNaDiFIMXFB2TwGidSJVomX=s0-d" style="border: 0px solid transparent; padding: 4px;" /><br /></a></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="clear: both; color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"></div></div><div class="post-footer" style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12.48px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; letter-spacing: 0.1em; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0.75em 0px; text-transform: uppercase;"><div class="post-footer-line post-footer-line-1"><br /></div><div class="post-footer-line post-footer-line-1"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none;">This is part of our year-long series, diving into the Book of James a few verses at a time! If you missed a post or just stumbled upon us, you can go </span><b style="color: #664a29; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none;"><i><span style="color: #45818e;"><a href="https://abidingloveaboundinggrace.blogspot.com/2021/01/the-book-of-james-introduction-to-our.html" style="color: #52a0b3; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">HERE</a></span></i></b><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none;"> and scroll to the bottom to find each installment of this series as it is published!</span></div></div></div></div></div>~Karrilee~ from Abiding Love, Abounding Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06698176066735604032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24687432.post-63851886729130201632021-09-09T06:30:00.033-07:002021-09-09T06:30:00.202-07:00Flirting with the World - The Book of James Bible Series<h3 class="post-title entry-title" style="background-color: white; color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 22.4px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0.25em 0px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16px;">***</span></h3><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-6013529199438145224" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post hentry" style="border-bottom: 0px dotted transparent; margin: 0.5em 0px 1.5em; padding-bottom: 1.5em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8937080953963341250" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-7852298822455591566" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-6788831846547088304" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-3733883837403525784" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8140482432551011649" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8312569035352090339" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-7278126041108967887" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-6308191026626959719" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-2984755689233979822" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-7766339718772791148" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><h3 class="post-title entry-title" style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 22.4px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0.25em 0px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="font-size: small;">Welcome back, Sweet Readers! It's time again for another installment in our James Series! I'm so glad to have you here in my little corner of the interwebs! Grab something yummy to drink, and your Bible, and let's dig in!</span></span></span><br /></h3><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><h2 style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 12.48px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0.2em; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0.25em 0px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px; text-transform: uppercase;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #783f04;">ARE YOU READY? LET'S GO! OUR VERSES FOR TODAY ARE </span><i style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">JAMES CHAPTER 4, VERSES 1-5</span><span style="color: #783f04;">!</span></i><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></h2><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-189117400795887209" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8188779082385056474" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-1661924727958925210" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4eBmWd0xWf4JgWkM5yQYITkGnW2Rz6JMl3PXnxOM5vLdGsMlvAMvX7ntGKjwIT7GsSEA3u2SC2qF5Wq8QqDWxAHNiF81wFDRrRTisnbD1Q5nUcJJTGAthqrc-ZhKStsmK_skq/s2048/James4_1through5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1367" data-original-width="2048" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4eBmWd0xWf4JgWkM5yQYITkGnW2Rz6JMl3PXnxOM5vLdGsMlvAMvX7ntGKjwIT7GsSEA3u2SC2qF5Wq8QqDWxAHNiF81wFDRrRTisnbD1Q5nUcJJTGAthqrc-ZhKStsmK_skq/w640-h428/James4_1through5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;">As has become our habit, we will start by reading it together in </span><i style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;">The Passion Translation Bible</i><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;">:</span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"></div><blockquote style="line-height: 1.3em; margin: 1em 20px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.75em 0px;"><i style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">"</span></span></i><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;"><i>What is the cause of your conflicts and quarrels with each other? Doesn’t the battle begin inside of you as you fight to have your own way and fulfill your own desires? You jealously want what others have so you begin to see yourself as better than others. You scheme with envy and harm others to selfishly obtain what you crave—that’s why you quarrel and fight. And all the time you don’t obtain what you want because you won’t ask God for it! And if you ask, you won’t receive it for you’re asking with corrupt motives, seeking only to fulfill your own selfish desires. You have become spiritual adulterers who are having an affair, an unholy relationship with the world. Don’t you know that flirting with the world’s values places you at odds with God? Whoever chooses to be the world’s friend makes himself God’s enemy!</i></span></p></blockquote><span><a name='more'></a></span><blockquote style="line-height: 1.3em; margin: 1em 20px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.75em 0px;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;"><i>Does the Scripture mean nothing to you that says, “The Spirit that God breathed into our hearts is a jealous Lover who intensely desires to have more and more of us”?</i></span><i style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;">"</span> (The Passion Translation)</i></p></blockquote><span style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather;"><a name="more"></a></span><p style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">We just may need to put this one up on a mirror or something! I can't say for you --but for me? Well, having the answer to what is causing all the conflicts and quarrels in our world would be super helpful. The only problem is the problem, it seems, is us. We are the reason... we are the problem! It's our flesh and our wanting what other people have, or our seeing ourselves (or a group/race/religion/political stance/etc.) as better than others. We, to put it simply, want our own way. If we are honest, it won't matter what 'side' we fall on any issue, we think we are right --or we<i> want</i> to be right... and it's because we want what we want. And listen --we're not fans of having people tell us what we can and can't have. No one is the boss of us. But herein lies the problem! Someone (read: some One!) needs to be! We don't do a very great job at bossing ourselves around. James clearly points this out here!</span></p><p style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKyDI41DrtmviqJuOOr0GhOyNXDusxegq0YwmUHw6S11h5D2U_bbPOXcf9IOkxwuwXXTgJV0ynrYPkFauBZFgOjKjjZok8x92oIVg5yf0aaiCWlki7WjqR5kf-2gu3hT3PL_50/s2048/James4_1through5a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1367" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKyDI41DrtmviqJuOOr0GhOyNXDusxegq0YwmUHw6S11h5D2U_bbPOXcf9IOkxwuwXXTgJV0ynrYPkFauBZFgOjKjjZok8x92oIVg5yf0aaiCWlki7WjqR5kf-2gu3hT3PL_50/w428-h640/James4_1through5a.jpg" width="428" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">In the footnotes for Chapter </span><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">4, verse 3, it says the Greek word for <i>'corrupt motives</i>' is<i> kakos</i> and can be translated <i>“sick,”</i> or <i>“sickly.</i>” James is exhorting us not to pray <i>“sickly prayers.”</i> I mean - of course... of course, we don't want to pray 'sickly prayers' --but I think this points out that we may be doing just that, unaware!</span></div><p style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">Here we have James - being all James-like, pulling no punches. </span></p><p style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">He compares his audience (which, we know includes us now, yes?) as adulterers! <i>Yipes?</i> This is one of the hard portions in the Book of James because we like to think of Jesus as all grace and love. (And He is!) But we tend to muddy the waters a bit in reducing Him to our cool older brother who looks the other way when we sin. He's not. He's not that way. James --his actual brother, says that when we flirt with the world's values we put ourselves at odds with God! He says if we choose to be the world's friend, that makes us God's enemy. </span></p><p style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">Now - of course, we know this doesn't mean we separate from the world and wall ourselves off... it doesn't mean we harshly judge the world by God's standards --(they are sinners, sinning... so... they are doing what they know to do.) It doesn't mean that we are not friend<b><i>LY</i></b>--- but to be friends with the worldly values is to be cozying up to things that God laid His Life down to free us from! They lead nowhere near the Kingdom of God and actually lure us farther away from Him. We don't want that! We are called to love the world --but not the world's values. We are called to be IN the world, but not OF it... (I used to say that we are OF it but not IN it... but even that is not true anymore. It seems the pendulum swung and we are now both... which I suspect just may be what causes us to be lukewarm in His mouth. I know...? Harsh. I don't love it either.) We are not the thought police or the ones who blindly offer to remove specks while ignoring the planks in our own eyes. We are not the boss of the world... but we know the One who is and He is the best boss. He is kind and loving and gracious... patient and wise and pure. He makes us want to be better... and the good news is when we spend time with Him, we are! We are better... He rubs off on us and when we let him be the boss, we learn how to live more like Him! He gave us the Holy Spirit who reveals all things and He desires for us to desire Him --more than any other!</span></p><p style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">The footnotes also tell us that in verse 5, James isn't quoting a specific verse from the Old Testament, but it's</span><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;"> possible that it became more of a general statement of what the Bible teaches, or even a quotation from an older translation not available today. It goes on to say,<i> "We must always realize that the Holy Spirit pursues us relentlessly and takes it very personally when we turn from him to pursue friendship with the world." </i></span></p><p style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">Ouch... and true, right? We never want to or intend to offend the Holy Spirit. We never want to grieve him... but we do. Lord - help us notice when we do!</span></p><p style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"></p><p style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">--</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">Let's read it in The Voice:</span></p><blockquote style="line-height: 1.3em; margin: 1em 20px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.75em 0px;"><i style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">"</span></span></i><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;"><i>Where do you think your fighting and endless conflict come from? Don’t you think that they originate in the constant pursuit of gratification that rages inside each of you like an uncontrolled militia? You crave something that you do not possess, so you murder to get it. You desire the things you cannot earn, so you sue others and fight for what you want. You do not have because you have chosen not to ask. And when you do ask, you still do not get what you want because your motives are all wrong—because you continually focus on self-indulgence. You are adulterers. Don’t you know that making friends with this corrupt world order is open aggression toward God? So anyone who aligns with this bogus world system is declaring war against the one true God. Do you think it is empty rhetoric when the Scriptures say, “The spirit that lives in us is addicted to envy and jealousy”?</i></span><i style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;">"</span> (The Voice)</i></p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><i><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16px;">The subtitle proceeding these verses in The Voice is: <b>"</b></span><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;"><b>Worldly wisdom may promise the good life, but it leads to chaos and destruction every time. Ultimately true wisdom comes from God."</b> Remember, James is all about the power of our words and so while you may not actually murder anyone, let's not assume he is talking about someone else here! Let's take a pause and take a real honest look at our motives and ask the Lord if they are all wrong in any area! If they are, well-- let's tackle that head-on with the help and hope of the Holy Spirit! Let's not pretend they are pure and honorable. Sometimes, they are. Sometimes they are even holy and righteous. But in the times when they are wrong --let's invite the Lord to rush in and redeem us... to set us right, yet again! For what we are after... what we simply must have at this time and in this season is true wisdom that comes from God!</span></p><p style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">--</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">Let's read it in The Amplified Bible:</span></p><blockquote style="line-height: 1.3em; margin: 1em 20px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.75em 0px;"><i style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">"</span></span></i><i><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;">What leads to [the unending] quarrels and conflicts among you? Do they not come from your [hedonistic] desires that wage war in your [bodily] members [fighting for control over you]? You are jealous and covet [what others have] and your lust goes unfulfilled; so you murder. You are envious and cannot obtain [the object of your envy]; so you fight and battle. You do not have because you do not ask [it of God]. You ask [God for something] and do not receive it, because you ask with wrong motives [out of selfishness or with an unrighteous agenda], so that [when you get what you want] you may spend it on your [hedonistic] desires. You adulteresses [disloyal sinners—flirting with the world and breaking your vow to God]! Do you not know that being the world’s friend [that is, loving the things of the world] is being God’s enemy? So whoever chooses to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you think that the Scripture says to no purpose that the [human] spirit which He has made to dwell in us lusts with envy?"</span><span style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather;"> (The Amplified)</span></i></p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><i><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16px;">The world has been offering up 'unending quarrels' for quite a while now! I won't speak for you - but I know it can leave me feeling weary and wrung dry. We cry out for vengeance or justice or even a bit of a reprieve, but do we ask amiss? I don't know. Man, friends... if I had a corner on this - all my prayers would be answered! I assure you they are not. Well - at least not the way or within the timeframe I prefer, right? What stands out to me most in reading this portion of Scripture in these different translations is this: I do not want to be an enemy of God. I want to love people and be a light --we are called to do this, absolutely! However, I really do think that many of us (and I<i> do</i> include myself here) have lost sight of the fact that maybe in trying to love the world and make them feel loved... just maybe we have blurred some lines and have been friends with the world or culture rather than just being friends with actual people in the world or culture. We have accidentally become friends with the world's values, rather than with God's. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16px;">We don't like what He says... or it goes against our culture now, so we pick and choose and decide His word must have been misinterpreted or misguided. I get it. I do. But as much as I wish there were things in the Word that aren't there... they aren't there. The Word is unchanging and it may seem old-fashioned or out of date --but it is the one thing that will remain after the whole dumpster fire we've created burns out! The Word is eternal... it is forever... and it is Jesus! Jesus, whom James grew up with... he knew Him... didn't actually believe all the hype about Him until much later... James knows what it is like to be around Jesus and not quite know if you buy the whole story! He gets it... he lived it. But there comes a time when we see more clearly --when the Holy Spirit reveals all truth and we see. (Still in part, sure.) But we see the truth for what/Who it is... and we realize we must choose to be friends with the world's system, <b><i><u>or</u></i></b> be friends with God! We can't be both.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16px;">I want to draw closer to God in these days --not further away. I want to be loving --while not grieving the Holy Spirit or making myself an enemy of God. When I value what God values --that IS people! It is. He is loving and kind and gracious... but He is also righteous and pure and holy. Let's no longer blur the lines! (Let's not take it up as our job to legislate righteousness, either... we tried that. Turns out it too lends to unending quarrels and conflicts.) Rather, let's purpose to live a life modeled after Jesus. Let's purpose to be friends with God... to love what He loves, yes --but to also be willing to hate what he hates. (Hint... he hates the enemy and </span><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16px;">He never, ever, ever loses sight that we - humans! - are</span><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16px;"> </span><i style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16px;">not</i><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16px;">the enemy. He hates a</span><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16px;">ll the slippery slopes the enemy puts in front of us, beckoning us to go for a ride!) </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">--</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">Lastly, my favorite translation: The Message Bible:</span></p><div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px; line-height: 2.4rem; margin-bottom: 0px; min-width: 0px;"><p></p></div><blockquote style="line-height: 1.3em; margin: 1em 20px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.75em 0px;"><i style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">"</span></span></i><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;"><i>Where do you think all these appalling wars and quarrels come from? Do you think they just happen? Think again. They come about because you want your own way, and fight for it deep inside yourselves. You lust for what you don’t have and are willing to kill to get it. You want what isn’t yours and will risk violence to get your hands on it.</i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.75em 0px;"><i style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;">You wouldn’t think of just asking God for it, would you? And why not? Because you know you’d be asking for what you have no right to. You’re spoiled children, each wanting your own way.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.75em 0px;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;"><i>You’re cheating on God. If all you want is your own way, flirting with the world every chance you get, you end up enemies of God and his way. And do you suppose God doesn’t care? The proverb has it that “he’s a fiercely jealous lover.”</i></span><i style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;">"</span> (The Message Bible)</i></p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><i><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #783f04;">Our God is a 'fiercely jealous lover.' He's not cool, man... He's not <i>'all good'</i> with whatever you want to do. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #783f04;">He grieves... He longs for all of your affection, all of your devotion... He is after our hearts, friends! He looks beyond all the arguing and unrest, all the fighting and feuding... He looks beyond our excuses or explanations --and He sees our heart. He knows our hearts and our true motivations, even if/when we do not. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #664a29; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw7hpQLtDzbZny_ohGUxglprXMrE01D_Uv8aEVhyadi9OB34ai1gtFgezWHS_ldAgsMBX1LEzYo2sKW1kr6-aeG1SHnqWTrZygWYz62CKqDH_1bILoZEcU7GXPbwB4rq7lIxV-/s2048/James4_1through5b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1367" data-original-width="2048" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw7hpQLtDzbZny_ohGUxglprXMrE01D_Uv8aEVhyadi9OB34ai1gtFgezWHS_ldAgsMBX1LEzYo2sKW1kr6-aeG1SHnqWTrZygWYz62CKqDH_1bILoZEcU7GXPbwB4rq7lIxV-/w640-h428/James4_1through5b.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><i style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">Even still --even after seeing all of that, He loves us! </i></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Merriweather;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-size: medium;"><i>He runs toward us with a robe and a ring! </i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Merriweather;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-size: medium;"><i>He is after redemption... restoration... revival!</i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">***</span></p></div><div style="color: #664a29;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">Let's pray: </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Merriweather;"><i style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #45818e;">Father God,<br /></span></i><i style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #45818e;">We want to be friends with You! We want to be after what you are after! We, too, long for Redemption, Restoration, and Revival! (Even if we aren't really sure what that looks like or what it will require! If You want it, we want it, Lord!) We are weary of all the wars and conflict... we're tired of only wanting our way! Father God, give us a hunger and thirst for the things YOU hunger and thirst for! Help us to ask for Your opinion... Your Wisdom... Your insight... Help us to seek council from YOU - and not from the world around us! Help us to stand with You... to love others as You love others --and yet, somehow, to not also love the world's values!</span></i></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl9X3fT4U-P8ysA_85huBvguwWbXNIs9E6o0gwvAtVcEifdq2lrjZgc20Bd4kO-Vil8DIpARE5D_kS0UUswjsP10sfRNemJNFDyahGhckmKJrXUpXc79uDILLx2asMVjuJBPRJ/s2048/James4_1through5c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1367" data-original-width="2048" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl9X3fT4U-P8ysA_85huBvguwWbXNIs9E6o0gwvAtVcEifdq2lrjZgc20Bd4kO-Vil8DIpARE5D_kS0UUswjsP10sfRNemJNFDyahGhckmKJrXUpXc79uDILLx2asMVjuJBPRJ/w640-h428/James4_1through5c.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Merriweather; text-align: left;"><i style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #45818e;">Jesus, we don't want to be like spoiled children, always asking for what we want and only wanting our own way! Help us to no longer ask amiss! Show us, Lord, when we are flirting with the world! That is never our intention! We want You and what You want - even above what we think is best --so remind us that You are good and You are trustworthy and true! Remind us that we can count on you --not to just answer yes to every request - but to cover us and call us back to You whenever we lose our way! To passionately pursue us... to win our hearts, over and over again!</span></i></div><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: black; line-height: 2.4rem; min-width: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i style="color: #664a29;"><span style="color: #45818e;">Renew a right spirit within us, Lord! Help us to burn for You...<br /></span></i></span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i style="color: #664a29;"><span style="color: #45818e;">to love and live and when necessary, to lay down our lives, for You!<br /></span></i></span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i style="color: #664a29;"><span style="color: #45818e;">We love You, God!<br /></span></i></span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i style="color: #664a29;"><span style="color: #45818e;">Fill us up to overflowing so we can pour out Your Love<br /></span></i></span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i style="color: #664a29;"><span style="color: #45818e;">to a world that is wounded and wild... <br /></span></i></span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i style="color: #664a29;"><span style="color: #45818e;">and not necessarily living for You!</span></i></span></p><i style="font-family: Merriweather;"><i style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #45818e;">For the King and His Kingdom, </span></i></i><p style="font-family: Merriweather;"></p><i style="font-family: Merriweather;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i><span style="color: #45818e;">In Jesus' Name!</span></i></span></div><div style="color: #45818e; text-align: left;"><i style="color: #664a29; font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #45818e;">Amen!</span></i></div></div></i><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><o:p></o:p></p></div><div style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">***</span></div><div style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">I know, you guys! James is tough... but I hope you are seeing, like me, how much we need the wisdom laid out in this book!</span></div><div style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">Until next time, Sweet Readers, let's purpose to:</span></div><a href="http://imageshack.com/i/neonf0j" style="color: #82a9b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank" title="ImageShack - Image And Video Hosting"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEiLFgMaJyc1FCFWF1-rbi2WaWdIbSwgthHC6Fj7_EUykj5bBQwEC2VZshMfNOaT8OSgQTzmK1Obkaq_nA1WbRjiGyAoPXg-9kz8EwsrYfmc9F7bLQWheHNaDiFIMXFB2TwGidSJVomX=s0-d" style="border: 0px solid transparent; padding: 4px;" /><br /></a></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="clear: both; color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"></div></div><div class="post-footer" style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12.48px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; letter-spacing: 0.1em; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0.75em 0px; text-transform: uppercase;"><div class="post-footer-line post-footer-line-1"><br /></div><div class="post-footer-line post-footer-line-1"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none;">This is part of our year-long series, diving into the Book of James a few verses at a time! If you missed a post or just stumbled upon us, you can go </span><b style="color: #664a29; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none;"><i><span style="color: #45818e;"><a href="https://abidingloveaboundinggrace.blogspot.com/2021/01/the-book-of-james-introduction-to-our.html" style="color: #52a0b3; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">HERE</a></span></i></b><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: normal; text-transform: none;"> and scroll to the bottom to find each installment of this series as it is published!</span></div></div></div></div><div class="post-footer" style="background-color: white; color: #52a0b3; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12.48px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; letter-spacing: 0.1em; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0.75em 0px; text-transform: uppercase;"></div>~Karrilee~ from Abiding Love, Abounding Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06698176066735604032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24687432.post-60135291994381452242021-08-28T13:12:00.000-07:002021-08-28T13:12:05.633-07:00Live Well, Wisely, & Humbly - The Book of James Bible Series<div class="post hentry" style="background-color: white; border-bottom: 0px dotted transparent; margin: 0.5em 0px 1.5em; padding-bottom: 1.5em;"><h3 class="post-title entry-title" style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 22.4px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0.25em 0px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16px;">***</span></h3><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8937080953963341250" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-7852298822455591566" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-6788831846547088304" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-3733883837403525784" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8140482432551011649" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8312569035352090339" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-7278126041108967887" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-6308191026626959719" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-2984755689233979822" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-7766339718772791148" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><h3 class="post-title entry-title" style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0.25em 0px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="font-size: small;">It's that time again! Time to open the Word up to the Book of James and read a handful of verses here together and let the truth of them soak in deep! </span></span></span><br /></h3><h2 style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0.25em 0px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-weight: normal;">Are you ready? Let's go! Our verses for today are </span><i style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">James Chapter 3, verses 13-18</span><span style="color: #783f04;">!</span></i><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></h2><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-189117400795887209" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8188779082385056474" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-1661924727958925210" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV2lVpGrMR5hsxMd0zduknZfRp3_dibQWKCFWW10cbdHA80rwY7oQhIZ5HWlUlY9Uc4vn_FLDe4mG0sikerMyI_uwXBTAlNpRcO81ZgAE4vgFNfj3Gj9extjgmQFr9UQl8l2ck/s2048/James3_13through18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV2lVpGrMR5hsxMd0zduknZfRp3_dibQWKCFWW10cbdHA80rwY7oQhIZ5HWlUlY9Uc4vn_FLDe4mG0sikerMyI_uwXBTAlNpRcO81ZgAE4vgFNfj3Gj9extjgmQFr9UQl8l2ck/w640-h480/James3_13through18.jpg" width="640" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">Let's read it together here, starting with </span><i style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">The Passion Translation Bible</i><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"></div><blockquote style="line-height: 1.3em; margin: 1em 20px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.75em 0px;"><i style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">"</span></span></i><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;"><i>If you consider yourself to be wise and one who understands the ways of God, advertise it with a beautiful, fruitful life guided by wisdom’s gentleness. Never brag or boast about what you’ve done and you’ll prove that you’re truly wise. But if there is bitter jealousy or competition hiding in your heart, then don’t deny it and try to compensate for it by boasting and being phony. For that has nothing to do with God’s heavenly wisdom but can best be described as the wisdom of this world, both selfish and devilish. So wherever jealousy and selfishness are uncovered, you will also find many troubles and every kind of meanness.</i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.75em 0px;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;"><i>But the wisdom from above is always pure, filled with peace, considerate and teachable. It is filled with love and never displays prejudice or hypocrisy in any form and it always bears the beautiful harvest of righteousness! Good seeds of wisdom’s fruit will be planted with peaceful acts by those who cherish making peace.</i></span><i style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;">"</span> (The Passion Translation)</i></p></blockquote><span style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather;"><a name="more"></a></span><p style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">Well, who among us would consider ourselves wise? And - after reading the above Scripture, would you still? I love the encouragement to advertise your wisdom simply by living a beautiful, fruitful life guided by gentleness. Hmm... why do we think Wisdom is shouty and boastful and loud? (Oh wait... turns out, THAT is not wisdom!) I was reading an article the other day and I can't remember who to credit it to but the author was pointing out that the more a Christian matures in their faith, the less LOUD they get about it. Not less passionate about sharing but less preachy, maybe? Less judgy. I know that is true of my own life/walk with the Lord. As a new believer, I thought it was sort of my job to prove my wisdom and share my knowledge... to 'help' course-correct others or attempt to convince them that I was right. That, my friends, can be exhausting --and (--it turns out!) counter-productive. </span></p><p style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">It's like the saying goes, the more you know - the more you know you <i>don't</i> know. </span></p><p style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">Embracing this truth enables us to live well, wisely, and humbly. We must remain teachable and allow the Holy Spirit to root out jealousy or competition! </span></p><p style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">In James 3:16, the greek word for 'jealousy' implies an obsession to promote one's self at the expense of others, and the Aramaic word for 'many troubles' can be translated 'instability' or 'disorder'. When I look around the world today - or simply turn on the news for a few minutes, I see all kinds of meanness 'instability' and 'disorder'! </span></p><p style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZRprBYrgOq-cogczp_OUtbQbKdoHGLQRAX-3mtcS8LRFosg5KxTFxe-PPGWHG6sfXZpEsl_b51t-N__b-s9HD4akkMKDXURh2w4A5RexySNpNhW1IWx0H64IhME8ojrHU1Th-/s2048/James3_13through18a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZRprBYrgOq-cogczp_OUtbQbKdoHGLQRAX-3mtcS8LRFosg5KxTFxe-PPGWHG6sfXZpEsl_b51t-N__b-s9HD4akkMKDXURh2w4A5RexySNpNhW1IWx0H64IhME8ojrHU1Th-/w640-h426/James3_13through18a.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">We are called to operate out of a different kind of Wisdom! Let's not get caught up in the wrong kind... but wisdom from heaven is pure, considerate, and teachable! In other words, someone who operates in heavenly wisdom can be easy to correct, is ready to be convinced or at least is willing to yield to others. (This requires the ability and desire and disciplined practice of listening! And not just to those who already agree with us --but to those who vehemently disagree, too!) </span></p><p style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">I include myself when I say, this doesn't sound fun. I am fairly non-confrontational and I would just rather not. I'd rather not argue or get angry... but heavenly wisdom stands for truth, while still being willing to engage with those who seem to be opposite. How will we learn... iron sharpens iron but we have to be willing to be sharpened. It seems in this culture of being so divided, both 'sides' are unwilling. We must pray - for ourselves and in our own lives, as well as for our nation and world!</span></p><p style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"></p><p style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">--</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">Let's read it in The Voice:</span></p><blockquote style="line-height: 1.3em; margin: 1em 20px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.75em 0px;"><i style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">"</span></span></i><i><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;">Who in your community is understanding and wise? Let his example, which is marked by wisdom and gentleness, blaze a trail for others. If your heart is one that bleeds dark streams of jealousy and selfishness, do not be so proud that you ignore your depraved state. The wisdom of this world should never be mistaken for heavenly wisdom; it originates below in the earthly realms, with the demons. Any place where you find jealousy and selfish ambition, you will discover chaos and evil thriving under its rule.</span></i><i><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;"> Heavenly wisdom centers on purity, peace, gentleness, deference, mercy, and other good fruits untainted by hypocrisy. The seed that flowers into righteousness will always be planted in peace by those who embrace peace.?"</span><span style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather;"> (The Voice)</span></i></p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><i><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">As I have stated before (earlier in this series, I believe!) <i>The Voice</i> is a version of the Bible that is aimed at Middle Schoolers... so it makes things pretty easy to grasp! I invite you to take a moment and actually think of your answer to the question, "Who in your community is understanding and wise?" I mean - in this cultural climate - you may be able to think of one or the other... but both? That feels like a harder find. Wisdom and Gentleness? Yeah - those are not so much hand-in-hand in these days, right? I mean - of course - they SHOULD be! But it seems rare.<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">Wisdom of this world should not be mistaken for heavenly wisdom.<br /></span><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">They are not the same.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">--</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">Let's read it in The Amplified Bible:</span></p><blockquote style="line-height: 1.3em; margin: 1em 20px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.75em 0px;"><i style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">"</span></span></i><i><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;">Who among you is wise and intelligent? Let him by his good conduct show his [good] deeds with the gentleness and humility of true wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not be arrogant, and [as a result] be in defiance of the truth. This [superficial] wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly (secular), natural (unspiritual), even demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder [unrest, rebellion] and every evil thing and morally degrading practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure [morally and spiritually undefiled], then peace-loving [courteous, considerate], gentle, reasonable [and willing to listen], full of compassion and good fruits. It is unwavering, without [self-righteous] hypocrisy [and self-serving guile]. And the seed whose fruit is righteousness (spiritual maturity) is sown in peace by those who make peace [by actively encouraging goodwill between individuals].</span><span style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather;"> (The Amplified Bible)</span></i></p></blockquote><div style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2.4rem; margin-bottom: 0px; min-width: 0px;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2.4rem; margin-bottom: 0px; min-width: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">I know it can feel repetitive when we read the same verses over and over. This is why I love to </span><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">read the same portion in different translations or paraphrases. The </span><i style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">Amplified Bible</i><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;"> takes the original language and expands or amplifies the original meaning so it's easier for us to understand! </span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; line-height: 2.4rem; margin-bottom: 0px; min-width: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>"</i></span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder [unrest, rebellion] and every evil thing and morally degrading practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure [morally and spiritually undefiled], then peace-loving [courteous, considerate], gentle, reasonable [and willing to listen], full of compassion and good fruits."</i></span></span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; line-height: 2.4rem; margin-bottom: 0px; min-width: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">Well now... that makes it real clear, doesn't it? I don't know about you - but my heart and soul is LONGING for more of this! We NEED more of this, friends! Rather than continued competition and eating our own, let's be intentional with our words and actions to tap into the wisdom from above! (Remember, we've been given the mind of Christ and James said earlier if we lack wisdom, to ask of God - who gives liberally, abundantly, to all who ask!)<br /></span><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">--- </span></p><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;"><i></i></span><p></p><p></p></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px; line-height: 2.4rem; margin-bottom: 0px; min-width: 0px;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">Now comes one of my favorite translations: The Message Bible:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix0yb_Ojhbq6FcEgoxJNqOK6NEcJUdBEA6jKyndMu7qJfIBIobL82NEdv51usLGivFxCgBsEhWU7qhk-phGrUOHe-o0QKv3wj5_7__KyMQfaODPwCfHeROAX2J3WLRr38TcToC/s2048/James3_13through18b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix0yb_Ojhbq6FcEgoxJNqOK6NEcJUdBEA6jKyndMu7qJfIBIobL82NEdv51usLGivFxCgBsEhWU7qhk-phGrUOHe-o0QKv3wj5_7__KyMQfaODPwCfHeROAX2J3WLRr38TcToC/w640-h426/James3_13through18b.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p></div><blockquote style="line-height: 1.3em; margin: 1em 20px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.75em 0px;"><i style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">"</span></span></i><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;"><i>Do you want to be counted wise, to build a reputation for wisdom? Here’s what you do: Live well, live wisely, live humbly. It’s the way you live, not the way you talk, that counts. Mean-spirited ambition isn’t wisdom. Boasting that you are wise isn’t wisdom. Twisting the truth to make yourselves sound wise isn’t wisdom. It’s the furthest thing from wisdom—it’s animal cunning, devilish plotting. Whenever you’re trying to look better than others or get the better of others, things fall apart and everyone ends up at the others’ throats.</i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.75em 0px;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;"><i>Real wisdom, God’s wisdom, begins with a holy life and is characterized by getting along with others. It is gentle and reasonable, overflowing with mercy and blessings, not hot one day and cold the next, not two-faced. You can develop a healthy, robust community that lives right with God and enjoy its results only if you do the hard work of getting along with each other, treating each other with dignity and honor.</i></span><i style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;">"</span> (The Message Bible)</i></p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><i><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #783f04;">Oh, Eugene! He is with Jesus now, face to face, and I can only imagine the depth of their conversations! I am so grateful that we benefit from some of them as he translated The Message Bible. <br /><br />If we want a healthy, robust community (read: church, family, country, world.) that lives right with God... there IS hard work to do. It's not EASY to get along with each other or to treat each other with dignity and honor. It's not in our (old) nature --but we who are grafted in and adopted... we who are believers, we have been given a new nature and it resembles Jesus! Man - do we need to follow hard after His example! </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #783f04;">Listen - did He always get along with everyone? No. No, He did not. He stood for something (read: Truth!) and He was bold - and ALSO, full of grace. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #783f04;">There may very well be coming a time when we are called to stand up for something (Truth!) too and how I hope we rise to the occassion and take courage and also strive to do the hard work of getting along that is required!</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">***</span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">Let's pray: </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><i style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #45818e;">Father God, <br /><br />In this day and hour, maybe more than any other time, we need wisdom! Lord, we know it... and we know there is a difference between earthly or worldly wisdom and heavenly wisdom. We can sense it and feel it. We are a country that highly values education and intellegence, however much of that - it seems - does not bring the kind of fruit we are in need of! We need You, Lord... we need the mind of Christ to help navigate us through these perilous times. Lord, we want to be wise. We want to have insight and knowledge and understanding. We want to know the truth... and to be set free. <br /><br />Jesus, put a check in our hearts and spirits when we find ourselves operating out of wisdom from earth... when we just want to be right - at any cost. Help us to not be mean-spirited or boastful... to not twist the truth or give way to cunning or devilish plotting. Rather, help us to build a reputation for wisdom -- to be known and sought after for insight that comes not from fleshly intellect, but from spiritual discernment and heavenly guidance. <br /><br />Lord, we know the Word tells us that real wisdom (--Your wisdom!) begins with a holy life... make us holy, Lord! Enable and empower us to get along with others - to be gentle and reasonable, overflowing with mercy and blessings... even tempered... steadfast... stable and sure. <br /><br />Father, we long for a healthy and robust community... one that lives right with You and that enjoys the fruit of doing the hard work of getting along with each other! Whether it be under our own roofs, or in our individual churches, in our cities or country or world... Lord we ask that You will finish the work You started in us!</span></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2oUtNVvPxPQ5AxJ7Nl5RkSKTJIaBdfnTGKilBmvP0O0kPsJKcbFejmXVEWoMo5mtu3X1JAo_eDuDx4OZR563kC_Dt1wB3DJ5o-kCesACEqjPFrBo5a2lmOPRDXR1S00YtyEoo/s2048/James3_13through18c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2oUtNVvPxPQ5AxJ7Nl5RkSKTJIaBdfnTGKilBmvP0O0kPsJKcbFejmXVEWoMo5mtu3X1JAo_eDuDx4OZR563kC_Dt1wB3DJ5o-kCesACEqjPFrBo5a2lmOPRDXR1S00YtyEoo/w426-h640/James3_13through18c.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><i style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #45818e;">We want what You want --which is Unity. Unity, Lord, we know is not sameness. We long to be one as You are One. We want Peace to reign and righteousness, joy, and the Holy Spirit to be present in our daily living... for that is the Kingdom of God! Jesus, we are one body, with one lord... remind us to love like You love... to treat each other with dignity and honor --even if/when we disagree! Let wisdom become mature in us... give us words to speak when You call us to stand up strong... but also let our LIVES speak louder in the ways to live out our day to day routines. We thank You for your Word... for the encouragement and correction that it brings. Remind us to turn to You and Your Word when we are lacking wisdom, rather than other sources. We ask that YOU become our Plumbline once again and that when all is said and done -- we are known as a people who love God and who love each other well and who operate in the wisdom of heaven!</span></i></p><i style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><div><i style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #45818e;">For the King and His Kingdom, </span></i></div></i><p style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"></p><i style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i><span style="color: #45818e;">In Jesus' Name!</span></i></span></div><div style="color: #45818e; text-align: left;"><i style="color: #664a29; font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #45818e;">Amen!</span></i></div></div></i><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><o:p></o:p></p></div><div style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">***</span></div><div style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">I hope you come back in about two weeks as we dive in to Chapter 4 in the book of James!<br /><br />And as</span><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;"> always, if you missed a post or just stumbled upon us, you can go </span><b style="font-family: georgia;"><i><span style="color: #45818e;"><a href="https://abidingloveaboundinggrace.blogspot.com/2021/01/the-book-of-james-introduction-to-our.html" style="color: #52a0b3; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">HERE</a></span></i></b><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;"> and scroll to the bottom to find each installment of this series as it is published!</span></div><div style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">Until next time, Sweet Readers, let's purpose to:</span></div><a href="http://imageshack.com/i/neonf0j" style="color: #82a9b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank" title="ImageShack - Image And Video Hosting"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEiLFgMaJyc1FCFWF1-rbi2WaWdIbSwgthHC6Fj7_EUykj5bBQwEC2VZshMfNOaT8OSgQTzmK1Obkaq_nA1WbRjiGyAoPXg-9kz8EwsrYfmc9F7bLQWheHNaDiFIMXFB2TwGidSJVomX=s0-d" style="border: 0px solid transparent; padding: 4px;" /><br /></a></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="clear: both; color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"></div></div><div class="post-footer" style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12.48px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; letter-spacing: 0.1em; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0.75em 0px; text-transform: uppercase;"><div class="post-footer-line post-footer-line-1"><br /></div></div></div>~Karrilee~ from Abiding Love, Abounding Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06698176066735604032noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24687432.post-89370809539633412502021-08-14T18:56:00.003-07:002021-08-14T18:56:38.112-07:00Are We Sending the Whole World Up In Smoke? - The Book of James Bible Series<h3 class="post-title entry-title" style="background-color: white; color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 22.4px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0.25em 0px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16px;">***</span></h3><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-7852298822455591566" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-6788831846547088304" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-3733883837403525784" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8140482432551011649" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8312569035352090339" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-7278126041108967887" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-6308191026626959719" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-2984755689233979822" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-7766339718772791148" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><h3 class="post-title entry-title" style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 22.4px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0.25em 0px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04;">Hello, Sweet Readers! Here I am, 'late' again! I mean - <i>sure...</i> it is somewhat of a<i> self-</i>imposed deadline, but it's one that I mapped out after praying about this series so I still feel tied to it... but life, man?! <i>Am I right?</i><br /><br />At any rate, here we are - together... ready to dig into more of Chapter 3! </span></span></h3><h3 class="post-title entry-title" style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 22.4px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0.25em 0px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04;">Let's go! Here is our portion of Scripture for today: </span></span><i style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">James Chapter 3, verses 6-12</span><span style="color: #783f04;">!</span></i><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16px;"> </span></h3><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-189117400795887209" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8188779082385056474" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-1661924727958925210" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho9vYvH_Gmvrbz_UBC4FEqXCwnVmN6S4mhXKNIF_vVeG13qpKEHyQAJzUvZI0iwCw58WfCDiBKPzew5LzNbpER6a5C5KuHqxpmAIzl5DlW8e194n6TkouDen5HYNCuPAa_IJu3/s2048/James3_6through12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho9vYvH_Gmvrbz_UBC4FEqXCwnVmN6S4mhXKNIF_vVeG13qpKEHyQAJzUvZI0iwCw58WfCDiBKPzew5LzNbpER6a5C5KuHqxpmAIzl5DlW8e194n6TkouDen5HYNCuPAa_IJu3/w426-h640/James3_6through12.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">Let's read it together here, starting with </span><i style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">The Passion Translation Bible</i><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"></div><blockquote style="line-height: 1.3em; margin: 1em 20px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.75em 0px;"><i style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">"</span></span></i><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;"><i>And the tongue is a fire! It can be compared to the sum total of wickedness and is the most dangerous part of our human body. It corrupts the entire body and is a hellish flame! It releases a fire that can burn throughout the course of human existence.</i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.75em 0px;"><i style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;">For every wild animal on earth including birds, creeping reptiles, and creatures of the sea and land have all been overpowered and tamed by humans, but the tongue is not able to be tamed. It’s a fickle, unrestrained evil that spews out words full of toxic poison! We use our tongue to praise God our Father and then turn around and curse a person who was made in his very image! Out of the same mouth we pour out words of praise one minute and curses the next. My brothers and sisters, this should never be!</i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.75em 0px;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;"><i>Would you look for olives hanging on a fig tree or go to pick figs from a grapevine? Is it possible that fresh and bitter water can flow out of the same spring? So neither can a bitter spring produce fresh water.</i></span><i style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;">"</span> (The Passion Translation)</i></p></blockquote><span style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather;"><a name="more"></a></span><p><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16px;">We know when we start with an 'And', we need to recap a bit, <i>right? </i></span></p><p><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16px;"><span></span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16px;">Last time we talked about the power of the tongue (aka our words!) and we left off with verse 5 that says, "</span><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;"> the tongue is a small part of the body yet it carries great power! Just think of how a small flame can set a huge forest ablaze." So we are continuing with the theme of thepower of the tongue. Or to be more to the point - the destructive power of the tongue!</span></p><p><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">I mean, comparing it to 'the sum total of wickedness' - or, in the Greek, 'a world of wrongdoing.' -- well, that seems pretty bad! Verse 6 can be translated in Aramaic as 'a fire that passes through successive generations, rolling on like wheels.' Wow... I know when I read that, I can picture a few families who have battled some powerful generational fires or curses... to think our tongues hold that kind of power... we should really (Read: REALLY REALLY <b><i>REALLY!</i></b>) be paying attention to what we say!<br /><br />James points out that we pay little attention to the tongue - spewing off toxic words in one moment, and praising God in the next. If we paid better attention, I think we would be better at holding our tongues and taking every thought captive! Then, our writer points us back again to FRUIT that should come as we live out this Christian life and how we should not live double-minded or split-tongued! (Ya see what I did there?)</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkyiD3CJgiUY0Ga05gXyBbZwjq7tR6gXSYMsWEoFRLlokp4mNycsMHMbc4Y_Vam2nzI22u8mnsDOfrTQPXy_-X8mZiRPO3xAK2FSVfwt4kVeG8OUVFdfhjQnxqZSUx9R43gjDC/s2048/James3_6through12b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkyiD3CJgiUY0Ga05gXyBbZwjq7tR6gXSYMsWEoFRLlokp4mNycsMHMbc4Y_Vam2nzI22u8mnsDOfrTQPXy_-X8mZiRPO3xAK2FSVfwt4kVeG8OUVFdfhjQnxqZSUx9R43gjDC/w426-h640/James3_6through12b.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><p></p><p style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">--</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">Let's read it in The Voice:</span></p><blockquote style="line-height: 1.3em; margin: 1em 20px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.75em 0px;"><i style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">"</span></span></i><i><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;">The tongue is a blazing fire seeking to ignite an entire world of vices. The tongue is unique among all parts of the body because it is capable of corrupting the whole body. If that were not enough, it ignites and consumes the course of creation with a fuel that originates in hell itself. Humanity is capable of taming every bird and beast in existence, even reptiles and sea creatures great and small. But no man has ever demonstrated the ability to tame his own tongue! It is a spring of restless evil, brimming with toxic poisons. Ironically this same tongue can be both an instrument of blessing to our Lord and Father and a weapon that hurls curses upon others who are created in God’s own image. One mouth streams forth both blessings and curses. My brothers and sisters, this is not how it should be. Does a spring gush crystal clear freshwater and moments later spurt out bitter salt water? My brothers and sisters, does a fig tree produce olives? Is there a grapevine capable of growing figs? Can salt water give way to freshwater?"</span><span style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather;"> (The Voice)</span></i></p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><i><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">I love this translation because it just makes things so clear!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">--</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">Let's read it in The Amplified Bible:</span></p><blockquote style="line-height: 1.3em; margin: 1em 20px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.75em 0px;"><i style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">"</span></span></i><i><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;">And the tongue is [in a sense] a fire, the very world of injustice and unrighteousness; the tongue is set among our members as that which contaminates the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life [the cycle of man’s existence], and is itself set on fire by hell (Gehenna). For every species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and sea creatures, is tamed and has been tamed by the human race. But no one can tame the human tongue; it is a restless evil [undisciplined, unstable], full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God. Out of the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. These things, my brothers, should not be this way [for we have a moral obligation to speak in a manner that reflects our fear of God and profound respect for His precepts]. Does a spring send out from the same opening both fresh and bitter water? Can a fig tree, my brothers, produce olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Nor can salt water produce fresh."</span><span style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather;"> (The Amplified Bible)</span></i></p></blockquote><div style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2.4rem; margin-bottom: 0px; min-width: 0px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16px;">Listen... this right here should give each and every one of us pause:</span></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2.4rem; margin-bottom: 0px; min-width: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 16px;"><i><span style="color: #134f5c;"></span></i></span><blockquote><i><span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 16px;">"</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God. Out of the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. These things, my brothers, should not be this way [for we have a moral obligation to speak in a manner that reflects our fear of God and profound respect for His precepts]."</span></span></i></blockquote><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;"></span></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px; line-height: 2.4rem; margin-bottom: 0px; min-width: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #783f04;">We forget, don't we? We fall for the whispering/shouting lies of the enemy who tricks us into forgetting that our enemy is HIM... not flesh and blood... not men made in the likeness or image of God! We get all caught up in our cause and we forget that we have a moral obligation to speak in a way that honors and reflects God... we are to lift and build each other up - not tear each other down. Correct and hold accountable? Yes - of course! But with and in love and grace! We can't pratically do this if we are drawing lines in the sand and separating into 'us' and 'them'! We forget that we are ALL US... we are all His kids... the THEM is the enemy and his hordes of wickedness... Let's try to remember this the next time we see a Meme that offends us or a post on social media that we think/know is wrong! Rather than retalitating or harshly trying to correct, how about we </span><i><b><span style="color: #45818e;">PRAY FOR 'THEM</span></b></i><span style="color: #783f04;">' and ask God to do the redirecting and coarse-correcting!</span></span></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px; line-height: 2.4rem; margin-bottom: 0px; min-width: 0px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">--- </span></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 2.4rem; margin-bottom: 0px; min-width: 0px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">Let's read it in The New Living Translation:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFq19g8GVo30v0C8GRZWcPx75eu1OArByzdCva1E28zC7hRCDkjQJSvXcq-HllEvsoM7oFhIYevF6WczpOyEW4ajA4ntqlDShIt2NenQMnuJq0jIsfts2h3AK5EM2svtkDx18m/s2048/James3_6through12a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFq19g8GVo30v0C8GRZWcPx75eu1OArByzdCva1E28zC7hRCDkjQJSvXcq-HllEvsoM7oFhIYevF6WczpOyEW4ajA4ntqlDShIt2NenQMnuJq0jIsfts2h3AK5EM2svtkDx18m/w426-h640/James3_6through12a.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><p></p><blockquote style="line-height: 1.3em; margin: 1em 20px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.75em 0px;"><i style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">"</span></span></i><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;"><i>And among all the parts of the body, the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself...</i></span><i style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;">"</span><span style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather;"> (NLT)</span></i></p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><i><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">I am not sure why this is, but I have always been one who chooses my words carefully and calmly. I was never interested in saying something I didn't really mean - so yelling it out in the heat of the moment never sat well. I'm sure it happened a time or two, but overall - I like to process internally first and then when I am ready to say a thing --you can take it to the bank that this is what I mean and believe! <br />I have known many however who don't really know how to edit their words or even keep track of them and I can tell you - I have seen how this has set their whole world on fire a time or twelve, for sure!</span></p></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">---</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">Now comes one of my favorite translations: The Message Bible:</span></p><p style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"></p><blockquote style="line-height: 1.3em; margin: 1em 20px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.75em 0px;"><i style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">"</span></span></i><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;"><i>A word out of your mouth may seem of no account, but it can accomplish nearly anything—or destroy it! </i></span><i style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;">It only takes a spark, remember, to set off a forest fire. A careless or wrongly placed word out of your mouth can do that. By our speech we can ruin the world, turn harmony to chaos, throw mud on a reputation, send the whole world up in smoke and go up in smoke with it, smoke right from the pit of hell.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.75em 0px;"><i style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;">This is scary: You can tame a tiger, but you can’t tame a tongue—it’s never been done. The tongue runs wild, a wanton killer. With our tongues we bless God our Father; with the same tongues we curse the very men and women he made in his image. Curses and blessings out of the same mouth!</i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.75em 0px;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;"><i>My friends, this can’t go on. A spring doesn’t gush fresh water one day and brackish the next, does it? Apple trees don’t bear strawberries, do they? Raspberry bushes don’t bear apples, do they? You’re not going to dip into a polluted mud hole and get a cup of clear, cool water, are you?</i></span><i style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;">"</span> (The Message Bible)</i></p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><i><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04;">Oh man! You can see why this translation is one of my favorites! </span><br /></span><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16px;"><br />I mean, "</span><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">By our speech we can ruin the world, turn harmony to chaos, throw mud on a reputation, send the whole world up in smoke and go up in smoke with it..." <br /><br />I know we live in a protest-y world right now... people are shouting loud and making sure their voices are heard... this, of course, is not bad in itself! In fact, the fact that we have this choice to begin with is why we love America so much! But if we are letting our speech ruin the world, turn harmony into chaos, muddy 'their' reputations (with or without actual facts being checked!), --well, is it really any wonder that it seems the whole world is going up in smoke? I mean - James is OH SO CLEAR about it all! We REALLY need to pay attention to our tongue and hold it more often than letting it just run wild! We need to re-learn that art of listening - for the sake of understanding or at least entertaining the mere idea that 'we' may be wrong and 'they' - as crazy as 'they' are... well - they may have some valid points that we cannot hear about the roar of the flames overtaking everything in sight!<br /><br />I agree with James, brothers and sisters! This simply can't go on!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">***</span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">Let's pray: </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><i style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #45818e;">Father God, </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;">We come before you today, humbled and undone. We know. Even more, we know that YOU know! We have blown it so many times... let our thoughts go unchecked and before we realize what is happening, our tongues are running wild, starting and spreading wildfires everywhere we speak! </span><br /><br /></i></p><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXi7PUjqFXknZIXg3eShTLapzezbLtHFHpGdjtHzRNQdQlP_iy7J6_t2CSVsEMlxehCqHQQT6NHyvKIJilyG9-XgkBhi_dDkFPUyeNxyP0CJzXWFKs9i3YjYEf8LD7im7BFaGb/s2048/James3_6through12c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXi7PUjqFXknZIXg3eShTLapzezbLtHFHpGdjtHzRNQdQlP_iy7J6_t2CSVsEMlxehCqHQQT6NHyvKIJilyG9-XgkBhi_dDkFPUyeNxyP0CJzXWFKs9i3YjYEf8LD7im7BFaGb/w426-h640/James3_6through12c.jpg" width="426" /></a></i></div></div><i><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;">Help us, Holy Spirit, to mount guard over our tongues. To pay attention to the words we say and how they come across to others... how they affect others. Help us to remember the power we weild when we open our mouths to speak! Enable us to take a stand and to stand for Truth and Justice - yes, of course! But to do it in a way that doesn't lose sight of who our real enemy is! Help us to remember that the enemy of our souls does not walk around in flesh and blood and he is never happier than we are at each others' throats screaming words and declarations that are used as weapons of mass destruction!</span></i></div></i><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;"><i>Jesus, we invite you to interrupt us when we are about to let loose, when we should be taking hold! Remind us that our tongues hold the power of life and death! Help us to always choose life! <br /></i></span><i style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;"><br />We know, Lord, that taming our tongue is not an easy task and we cannot do it on our own! We need You... we need Your guidance and correction. We need your Grace and Mercy, too! Help us --even when we think we are being helpful... but in reality we are wounding with our words. <br /><br />Fahter God, we do not want to bless you and turn around and curse the very people you have fashioned in your image --even if or when they look or live or believe differently than we do! Help us to remember to yield to You and to You alone!<br /></i><i style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;">Remind us that our words should reflect what You would say and how You would love... help us to purpose to use our words to refresh and encourage, rather than to blame and tear down! Help our Words bear good fruit because we are choosing them carefully and in kindness... and when (not if!) we forget and begin to get lazy in our speech and holding every thought and word captive, we give You full permission to interrupt us and redirect our words to be words of blessing and not cursing!<br /><br />We love You, Lord! We're so grateful for how You speak to us... help us to speak to others with just as much love and compassion! Give us a passion to fill our minds and hearts with Your Words, Jesus... so what spills out of us are words that give life and hope and joy!</i></p><i style="color: #664a29; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #45818e;">For the King and His Kingdom, </span></i><p style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"></p><i style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i><span style="color: #45818e;">In Jesus' Name!</span></i></span></div><div style="color: #45818e; text-align: left;"><i style="color: #664a29; font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #45818e;">Amen!</span></i></div></div></i><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><o:p></o:p></p></div><div style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">***</span></div><div style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">I hope you come back in about two weeks as we wrap up Chapter 3 in the book of James!<br /><br />And as</span><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;"> always, if you missed a post or just stumbled upon us, you can go </span><b style="font-family: georgia;"><i><span style="color: #45818e;"><a href="https://abidingloveaboundinggrace.blogspot.com/2021/01/the-book-of-james-introduction-to-our.html" style="color: #52a0b3; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">HERE</a></span></i></b><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;"> and scroll to the bottom to find each installment of this series as it is published!</span></div><div style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">Until next time Friends, let's purpose to:</span></div><a href="http://imageshack.com/i/neonf0j" style="color: #82a9b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank" title="ImageShack - Image And Video Hosting"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEiLFgMaJyc1FCFWF1-rbi2WaWdIbSwgthHC6Fj7_EUykj5bBQwEC2VZshMfNOaT8OSgQTzmK1Obkaq_nA1WbRjiGyAoPXg-9kz8EwsrYfmc9F7bLQWheHNaDiFIMXFB2TwGidSJVomX=s0-d" style="border: 0px solid transparent; padding: 4px;" /><br /></a></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>~Karrilee~ from Abiding Love, Abounding Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06698176066735604032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24687432.post-78522988224555915662021-07-29T09:10:00.191-07:002021-08-01T08:22:00.185-07:00Control Yourselves... The Book of James Bible Series<h3 class="post-title entry-title" style="background-color: white; color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 22.4px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0.25em 0px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16px;">***</span></h3><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-6788831846547088304" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-3733883837403525784" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8140482432551011649" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8312569035352090339" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-7278126041108967887" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-6308191026626959719" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-2984755689233979822" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-7766339718772791148" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><h3 class="post-title entry-title" style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 22.4px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0.25em 0px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04;">Hello, friend! I hope your summer is going well - I can't believe we are already near August! Which may or may not explain why this is technically a few days late! It's fine. We're fine. Everything is fine. (For real.)<br />We're back with another installment in our Book of James Bible Series and today we dig into the first 5 verses of Chapter 3! </span></span></h3><h3 class="post-title entry-title" style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 22.4px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0.25em 0px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04;">Let's go! Here is our portion of Scripture for today: </span></span><i style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">James Chapter 3, verses 1-5</span><span style="color: #783f04;">!</span></i><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16px;"> We get to focus on one of my favorite subjects:<i> The Power of Your Words!</i></span></h3><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-189117400795887209" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8188779082385056474" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-1661924727958925210" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG-fgZB1bk1LFzJOH8AKmfDvclSqQd8h6d7JBRQnrJwuSbBwJpCjXfmLsblXiXcp_9vVzRmoSeplPDzas9Nd18I8VJGGoGpQ8IxjjPj2mk1SwuogXxQNPF9sLxDCvU_xiiu1dV/s2048/James3_1through5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG-fgZB1bk1LFzJOH8AKmfDvclSqQd8h6d7JBRQnrJwuSbBwJpCjXfmLsblXiXcp_9vVzRmoSeplPDzas9Nd18I8VJGGoGpQ8IxjjPj2mk1SwuogXxQNPF9sLxDCvU_xiiu1dV/w640-h426/James3_1through5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">Let's read it together here, starting with </span><i style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">The Passion Translation Bible</i><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"></div><blockquote style="line-height: 1.3em; margin: 1em 20px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.75em 0px;"><i style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">"</span></span></i><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;"><i>My dear brothers and sisters, don’t be so eager to become a teacher in the church since you know that we who teach are held to a higher standard of judgment. We all fail in many areas, but especially with our words. Yet if we’re able to bridle the words we say we are powerful enough to control ourselves in every way, and that means our character is mature and fully developed. Horses have bits and bridles in their mouths so that we can control and guide their large body. And the same with mighty ships, though they are massive and driven by fierce winds, yet they are steered by a tiny rudder at the direction of the person at the helm.</i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.75em 0px;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;"><i>And so the tongue is a small part of the body yet it carries great power! Just think of how a small flame can set a huge forest ablaze.</i></span><i style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;">"</span> (The Passion Translation)</i></p></blockquote><span><a name='more'></a></span><p><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16px;">I can still remember back to the first time I read this portion of Scripture. I was a new believer and couldn't figure out why James was so hard on those wanting to teach... I mean, are people really pushing and shoving their way to the podium? (Sadly - the answer is <i>yes.</i> They were and they often still are! Many people may feel called to a stage -- whether they crave the spotlight or truly just feel their gifting requires it... James is here to tell us all to cool our jets and count the cost! I think it does us well to remember that teaching others and pointing them in the way of Christ actually <i><b>does</b></i></span><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16px;"><i><b> </b></i>put us under a higher standard. So many are eager to come across as experts or to stand in a position to teach others --but we forget to make sure we are teaching <i><b>THE</b> Truth</i> and not just<i> <b>our</b> truth</i>, ya know what I mean?</span></p><p style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"></p><p style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">I also love the visuals James uses here... and the encouragement that if/when we are finally able to bridle the words we say, we will be able to control ourselves and will prove that we are mature!</span></p><p style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">--</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">Let's read it in The Voice:</span></p><blockquote style="line-height: 1.3em; margin: 1em 20px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.75em 0px;"><i style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">"</span></span></i><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;"><i>My brothers and sisters, do not encourage a large number of you to become teachers because teachers will be held to a higher standard. We all stumble along the way. If a person never speaks hurtful words or shouts in anger or profanity, then he has achieved perfection. The one who can control his tongue can also control the rest of his body. It’s like when we place a metal bit into a horse’s mouth to ride it; we can control its entire body with the slightest movement of our hands. Have you ever seen a massive ship sailing effortlessly across the water? Despite its immense size and the fact that it is propelled by mighty winds, a small rudder directs the ship in any direction the pilot chooses. It’s just the same with our tongues! It’s a small muscle, capable of marvelous undertakings.</i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.75em 0px;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;"><i>And do you know how many forest fires begin with a single ember from a small campfire?</i></span><i style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;">"</span> (The Voice)</i></p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><i><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">Again with the imagery! So good! <br /><br />I love this line: "If a person never speaks hurtful words or shouts in anger or profanity, then he has achieved perfection." (I mean... I'm pretty chill, Y'all... and I take seriously the power of my words so I learned a long time ago to hold my words and wield them carefully... but NEVER is a big word! I'm pretty sure Jesus is the only One who can say that without any doubt!) </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiSGan1bJrqbVVR8OdcMVhl_ANofhpFbOGeA1LofhbJV6VRfS_nuv7U5QIhL5EsCl1SidfErpR1LvYE4QkJTxWt2B1xWmED3yAsKPSbNsaWJ3rnN_Adb1CfDvX99aJT0kc4aUW/s2048/James3_1through5a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiSGan1bJrqbVVR8OdcMVhl_ANofhpFbOGeA1LofhbJV6VRfS_nuv7U5QIhL5EsCl1SidfErpR1LvYE4QkJTxWt2B1xWmED3yAsKPSbNsaWJ3rnN_Adb1CfDvX99aJT0kc4aUW/w640-h426/James3_1through5a.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">And also this one: "It's a small muscle, capable of marvelous undertakings. And do you know how many forest fires begin with a single ember from a small campfire?" </span></p><p style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">--</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">Let's read it in The Amplified Bible:</span></p><blockquote style="line-height: 1.3em; margin: 1em 20px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.75em 0px;"><i style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">"</span></span></i><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;"><i>Not many [of you] should become teachers [serving in an official teaching capacity], my brothers and sisters, for you know that we [who are teachers] will be judged by a higher standard [because we have assumed greater accountability and more condemnation if we teach incorrectly]. For we all stumble and sin in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says [never saying the wrong thing], he is a perfect man [fully developed in character, without serious flaws], able to bridle his whole body and rein in his entire nature [taming his human faults and weaknesses]. Now if we put bits into the horses’ mouths to make them obey us, we guide their whole body as well. And look at the ships. Even though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are still directed by a very small rudder wherever the impulse of the helmsman determines. In the same sense, the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things.</i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.75em 0px;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;"><i>See [by comparison] how great a forest is set on fire by a small spark!</i></span><i style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;">"</span> (The Amplified Bible)</i></p></blockquote><div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #664a29; line-height: 2.4rem; margin-bottom: 0px; min-width: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz3WWHXpFiZlV2KV2Ue_vheESsLkDjmKnbeS9agSz0qgLswnqdHot4jxVfjFRi1ab7JkCqbOh5Gps3eGLyjAN8Ig-RjciQQpEsJZZqzcQ602bY94SCVfCNGcI619rLmDEwLXQw/s2048/James3_1through5b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz3WWHXpFiZlV2KV2Ue_vheESsLkDjmKnbeS9agSz0qgLswnqdHot4jxVfjFRi1ab7JkCqbOh5Gps3eGLyjAN8Ig-RjciQQpEsJZZqzcQ602bY94SCVfCNGcI619rLmDEwLXQw/w640-h426/James3_1through5b.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">Again - it's the whole <i>'we have assumed greater accountability and more condemnation if we teach incorrectly' </i>part that catches my breath! Listen, as one who has taught --this verse is sobering because, well-- if you teach long enough, you will find you taught things that were incorrect! </span></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #664a29; line-height: 2.4rem; margin-bottom: 0px; min-width: 0px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">We grow and learn more and allow the Spirit to teach and correct us. Our theology changes or shifts over time and hopefully we course-correct in a way that leads others to grow and learn along with us!</span></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px; line-height: 2.4rem; margin-bottom: 0px; min-width: 0px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">--- </span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">Now comes one of my favorite translations: The Message Bible:</span></p><p style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"></p><blockquote style="line-height: 1.3em; margin: 1em 20px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.75em 0px;"><i style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">"</span></span></i><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;"><i>Don’t be in any rush to become a teacher, my friends. Teaching is highly responsible work. Teachers are held to the strictest standards. And none of us is perfectly qualified. We get it wrong nearly every time we open our mouths. If you could find someone whose speech was perfectly true, you’d have a perfect person, in perfect control of life.</i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.75em 0px;"><i style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;">A bit in the mouth of a horse controls the whole horse. A small rudder on a huge ship in the hands of a skilled captain sets a course in the face of the strongest winds. A word out of your mouth may seem of no account, but it can accomplish nearly anything—or destroy it!</i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.75em 0px;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;"><i>It only takes a spark, remember, to set off a forest fire. A careless or wrongly placed word out of your mouth can do that. By our speech we can ruin the world, turn harmony to chaos, throw mud on a reputation, send the whole world up in smoke and go up in smoke with it, smoke right from the pit of hell.</i></span><i style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;">"</span> (The Message Bible)</i></p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><i><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #664a29;">Once again, Eugene Peterson </span><i style="color: #664a29;"><b>BRINGS IT!</b></i><span style="color: #664a29;"> </span><span style="color: #783f04;"><span>I mean, </span>"</span></span><span style="color: #783f04;"><i style="font-family: georgia;">A word out of y</i><i style="font-family: georgia;">our mouth may seem of no account, but it can accomplish nearly anything—or destroy it!" </i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Here we go, friends! What we say is VITAL... to ourselves, to our family, our friends... co-workers, neighbors, strangers - in real life and ...wait for iiiiitttt... online! I know. We should know this --we DO, it's just that sometimes we forget. We forget that our words wield mighty power and we are made in the image of God... our CREATOR. (You know... the One Who used WORDS to CREATE THINGS!) </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Full Stop.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Eugene's translation here goes on to say. "</span></span><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">By our speech we can ruin the world, turn harmony to chaos, throw mud on a reputation, send the whole world up in smoke and go up in smoke with it..." You guys... let's not forget this Truth: Our words Matter... they make things... manifest things... they bind and they loose things! </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">Imagine if, instead of turning harmony to chaos, we turned chaos to harmony? What if, rather than wounding with our words, we purpose to heal instead? How about we decide ahead of time to control ourselves by controlling our tongues and using our words to create the world we want... one of Love, Life, Liberty... one of Friendship and Family and Faith... Just imagine how we could change the world and bring the Kingdom closer!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">***</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDwO05i68poTFcCQ-RpkTvOasMP9apxYHvqZTFz0UMMtdE6zxZID0d29vXi9lhARnzJylVFhy5hdgmMtUPqytREOYYAY0MEWrqUkoEXl4HQY57pI5lAOdCi82pS_83NXOGeUjn/s2048/James3_1through5c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDwO05i68poTFcCQ-RpkTvOasMP9apxYHvqZTFz0UMMtdE6zxZID0d29vXi9lhARnzJylVFhy5hdgmMtUPqytREOYYAY0MEWrqUkoEXl4HQY57pI5lAOdCi82pS_83NXOGeUjn/w640-h426/James3_1through5c.jpg" width="640" /></a></div></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">Let's pray: </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i style="color: #664a29; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #45818e;">Father God, </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;"><i>We are so grateful for Grace! We come to You and are well aware that You are the Only One who is perfect and able to be perfect! Thank You for forgiveness when we fail and for the way You love us and lead us into becoming more and more like You! Help us to not strive to be the Head... to not long for spotlights and platforms, but to follow You wherever You lead. (We know oftentimes that means spotlights and platforms --but not always... and those are never the goal! Help us to not take teaching or leadership lightly but to remember that those kinds of callings also mean a higher standard to live up to --and a heart soft and an ear open to correction so we don't mislead ourselves and any who may be following us as we follow You!)</i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;">Holy Spirit, remind us to tame our tongue... to not let it run without any boundaries or guidelines... help us remember to use words that bless... words that love and heal and help, rather than words that gossip and tear down and wound! Enable us to be mindful of every word out of our mouths - even though they may seem unimportant --we know our words hold power to create... or destroy! </i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;"><i>Lord, we ask You to interrupt us if/when necessary... help us to not start fires unaware. Help us to guard our hearts and our words... and choose them with purpose, on purpose!</i></span><i style="color: #664a29; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #45818e;"> </span></i></p><i style="color: #664a29; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #45818e;">For the King and His Kingdom, </span></i><p style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"></p><i style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i><span style="color: #45818e;">In Jesus' Name!</span></i></span></div><div style="color: #45818e; text-align: left;"><i style="color: #664a29; font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #45818e;">Amen!</span></i></div></div></i><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><o:p></o:p></p></div><div style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">***</span></div><div style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">It feels good to be in Chapter 3... we'll be back in a couple of weeks with our next installment in this James series! </span><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">If you somehow just happened upon us or if you missed a post along the way, you can always go </span><b style="color: #664a29; font-family: georgia;"><i><span style="color: #45818e;"><a href="https://abidingloveaboundinggrace.blogspot.com/2021/01/the-book-of-james-introduction-to-our.html" style="color: #52a0b3; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">HERE</a></span></i></b><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;"> and scroll to the bottom to find each installment of this series as it is published!</span></div><div style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">As always, until next time, let's purpose to:</span></div><a href="http://imageshack.com/i/neonf0j" style="color: #82a9b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank" title="ImageShack - Image And Video Hosting"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEiLFgMaJyc1FCFWF1-rbi2WaWdIbSwgthHC6Fj7_EUykj5bBQwEC2VZshMfNOaT8OSgQTzmK1Obkaq_nA1WbRjiGyAoPXg-9kz8EwsrYfmc9F7bLQWheHNaDiFIMXFB2TwGidSJVomX=s0-d" style="border: 0px solid transparent; padding: 4px;" /><br /><br /></a></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>~Karrilee~ from Abiding Love, Abounding Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06698176066735604032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24687432.post-67888318465470883042021-07-15T11:15:00.001-07:002021-07-15T11:19:26.982-07:00The Full Expression of Your Faith... The Book of James Bible Series<h3 class="post-title entry-title" style="background-color: white; color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 22.4px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0.25em 0px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16px;">***</span></h3><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-3733883837403525784" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8140482432551011649" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8312569035352090339" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-7278126041108967887" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-6308191026626959719" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-2984755689233979822" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-7766339718772791148" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><h3 class="post-title entry-title" style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 22.4px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0.25em 0px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04;">Hey there! We are back with another installment in our Book of James Bible Series! I'm like a broken record, but I have every --ok, not <i>'every'</i> - but many!?-- intentions of writing in between these bi-monthly posts, and yet... I haven't quite found myself sitting in this chair ready to tap out words! It's a strange but blessed and full season and yet I'm confident I will find myself back in this seat again soon! Until then, we will just plan on continuing to meet right here, every two weeks! (Even when I consider not meeting here every two weeks --God is still the boss of me and He has some plans He just won't back off from, I suppose!)<br /><br />So here we are...ready to dig into </span></span><i style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">James Chapter 2, verses 18-26</span><span style="color: #783f04;">!</span></i><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16px;"> </span></h3><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-189117400795887209" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8188779082385056474" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-1661924727958925210" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzEYp0_t5SIB9-SyffWcwEY_huqe2tLfWcHyQig_aV-yV3MAGM3inErv4sEITp_x8g_Bsy_NdEmt244w-k82nRa8kkaONVae_JtbXsWN8RzenfACN0XyEUaHNjJv9A1-o71tJa/s2048/James2_18through26.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzEYp0_t5SIB9-SyffWcwEY_huqe2tLfWcHyQig_aV-yV3MAGM3inErv4sEITp_x8g_Bsy_NdEmt244w-k82nRa8kkaONVae_JtbXsWN8RzenfACN0XyEUaHNjJv9A1-o71tJa/w640-h426/James2_18through26.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">Let's read it together here, starting with </span><i style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">The Passion Translation Bible</i><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"></div><blockquote style="line-height: 1.3em; margin: 1em 20px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.75em 0px;"><i style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">"</span></span></i><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;"><i>But someone might object and say, “One person has faith and another person has works.” Go ahead then and prove to me that you have faith without works and I will show you faith by my works as proof that I believe. You can believe all you want that there is one true God, that’s wonderful! But even the demons know this and tremble with fear before him, yet they’re unchanged—they remain demons.</i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.75em 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i><span style="color: #45818e;">O feeble sons of Adam, do you need further evidence that faith divorced from good works is phony? Wasn’t our ancestor Abraham found righteous before God because of his works when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? Can’t you see how his action cooperated with his faith and by his action faith found its full expression? So in this way the Scripture was fulfilled: </span></i></span><i style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;">Because Abraham believed God, his faith was exchanged for God’s righteousness.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.75em 0px;"><i style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;">So he became known as the lover of God! So now it’s clear that a person is seen as righteous in God’s eyes not merely by faith alone, but by his works.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.75em 0px;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;"><i>And the same is true of the prostitute named Rahab who was found righteous in God’s eyes by her works, for she received the spies into her home and helped them escape from the city by another route. For just as a human body without the spirit is a dead corpse, so faith without the expression of good works is dead!</i></span><i style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;">"</span> (The Passion Translation)</i></p></blockquote><span><a name='more'></a></span><p><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16px;">Many scholars agree that this is the most difficult verse in all of James and quite possibly in all of the New Testament to translate. As I mentioned in our last post, some feel Paul and James were contradicting each other when it comes to Faith and works but we cleared that up last time! (If you want to re-read that, you can go <b><i><a href="https://abidingloveaboundinggrace.blogspot.com/2021/07/when-talk-is-cheap-book-of-james-bible.html" target="_blank">HERE</a></i></b>.) What we do know is James was saying your actions should make your faith known! I love in this translation how, when talking about Abraham, it says 'by </span><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">his action faith found its full expression' - SO GOOD! </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCYM48GhZewis6TKE5EvA0wPzyDNisQDH2blbsgz057_74SDepz2tm29EW2ntba-sc_HoIT_cAXbAUSTJiU4K6lebxIErVFduI57KP5qKtqVpjoAW8sSsTbc0JK2HLslKi3OV0/s2048/James2_18through26a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCYM48GhZewis6TKE5EvA0wPzyDNisQDH2blbsgz057_74SDepz2tm29EW2ntba-sc_HoIT_cAXbAUSTJiU4K6lebxIErVFduI57KP5qKtqVpjoAW8sSsTbc0JK2HLslKi3OV0/w426-h640/James2_18through26a.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">How is your faith finding its full expression? (My guess is James would say if it is all talk, with little follow-through walk, it's not actually faith --or at least it has not found its FULL expression!)</span></p><p><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16px;">--</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">Let's read it in The Voice:</span></p><blockquote style="line-height: 1.3em; margin: 1em 20px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.75em 0px;"><i style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">"</span></span></i><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;"><i>I know what you’re thinking: “OK, you have faith. And I have actions. Now let’s see your faith without works, and I’ll show you a faith that works.” </i></span><i style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;">Don’t you realize that faith without works is useless, like a glove without a hand or a hat without a head?</i><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;"><i> Do you think that just believing there’s one God is going to get you anywhere? The demons believe that, too, and it terrifies them! The fact is, faith has to show itself through works performed in faith. If you don’t recognize that, then you’re an empty soul. Wasn’t our father Abraham made right with God by laying his son Isaac on the altar? The faith in his heart was made known in his behavior. In fact, his commitment was perfected by his obedience. That’s what Scripture means when it says, “Abraham entrusted himself to God, and God credited him with righteousness.” And living a faithful life earned Abraham the title of “God’s friend.” Just like our father in the faith, we are made right with God through good works, not simply by what we believe or think. Even Rahab the prostitute was made right with God by hiding the spies and aiding in their escape. Removing action from faith is like removing breath from a body. All you have left is a corpse</i></span><i style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;">."</span> (The Voice)</i></p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><i><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">The two portions in this translation that stand out most to me are:<br /> "The faith in his heart was made known in his behavior." and "Removing action from faith is like removing breath from a body." </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">Wow! It's not that this concept is new to us, right? We have all heard of the importance of walking the walk... it's just that it is so often so much easier to just talk the talk and call it good. (Remember... we keep it real here!) But this also begs the question - -what is in your heart that IS made known by your behavior? It would be all too easy to start to judge others or jump to conclusions --but let's keep the focus inward a bit. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">How are you 'acting out' through behavior? Whether it is a knee-jerk reaction or an on purpose response, --whether it is righteous or self-righteous... would onlookers process your behavior and think, "Wow! They must be a believer!" If we are honest - sometimes, Yes... and sometimes, Not So Much, right?<br /><br />And "Removing action from faith is like removing breath from a body" is such a powerful visual, I don't think we need to expand much on that one! (Perhaps, though, a bit more introspection may be in order!)</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #783f04;">I was reading through a Devotional on James on my YouVersion app, and one of the writers compared our faith life to a body of water, like a lake or a pond. They wrote,</span><i><span style="color: #45818e;"> "If you are not engaging in regular actions, your faith will become stagnant. It will sit in its own pool of knowledge while the heat of life's frustrations and challenges begin to evaporate the life right out of it."</span></i><span style="color: #783f04;"> The daily devotion went on to say,</span><i><span style="color: #45818e;"> "Actions are the answer to keeping your faith alive; to making sure your expectations find the outflow they need for God to show up big in your circumstances. The good news is that no matter how long your faith has been stagnant, it can be revived. The flow can be restored, and the extraordinary will begin to fill your ordinary." </span></i></span></p><div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px; line-height: 2.4rem; margin-bottom: 0px; min-width: 0px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">--- </span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">Now comes one of my favorite translations: The Message Bible:</span></p><p style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"></p><blockquote style="line-height: 1.3em; margin: 1em 20px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.75em 0px;"><i style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">"</span></span></i><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;"><i>I can already hear one of you agreeing by saying, “Sounds good. You take care of the faith department, I’ll handle the works department.”</i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.75em 0px;"><i style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;">Not so fast. You can no more show me your works apart from your faith than I can show you my faith apart from my works. Faith and works, works and faith, fit together hand in glove.</i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.75em 0px;"><i style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;">Do I hear you professing to believe in the one and only God, but then observe you complacently sitting back as if you had done something wonderful? That’s just great. Demons do that, but what good does it do them? Use your heads! Do you suppose for a minute that you can cut faith and works in two and not end up with a corpse on your hands?</i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.75em 0px;"><i style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;">Wasn’t our ancestor Abraham “made right with God by works” when he placed his son Isaac on the sacrificial altar? Isn’t it obvious that faith and works are yoked partners, that faith expresses itself in works? That the works are “works of faith”? The full meaning of “believe” in the Scripture sentence, “Abraham believed God and was set right with God,” includes his action. It’s that weave of believing and acting that got Abraham named “God’s friend.” Is it not evident that a person is made right with God not by a barren faith but by faith fruitful in works?</i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.75em 0px;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;"><i>The same with Rahab, the Jericho harlot. Wasn’t her action in hiding God’s spies and helping them escape—that seamless unity of believing and doing—what counted with God? The very moment you separate body and spirit, you end up with a corpse. Separate faith and works and you get the same thing: a corpse.</i></span><i style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;">"</span> (The Message Bible)</i></p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><i><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #783f04;">Belief in God alone will not save us. As James points out even the demons believe... (and they are smart enough to tremble at the knowledge.) <br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #783f04;">Now, listen Sweet Friends... you know I am all about Jesus and how He is approachable and 'real' I am loving The Chosen series because it gives Him a sense of humor and comradery - a brotherhood and we know that He is for us and He can handle us at our best and our worst! You also know (at least I hope you do!) that I am all for Grace... I'm a needer of it and an extender of it, too! I have no desire to put myself or anyone else back under the Law. But this verse always makes me wonder, are <i><b>we</b></i> trembling at all like the demons? <i>Do we even 'fear' God anymore?! </i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #783f04;">I know. I know... fear is a tricky word and for many generations, we had this impression of an angry vengeful God... a judging Father who could never be appeased. Like I said,<i> No Thanks</i> in going back to that way of thinking or living! However, I <i><b>do</b></i> wonder in all of our making Him more in our own image, if we have lost the reverence and (good) fear/awe that He is due! I am sure the demons still fear Him! They have <i>reason</i> to fear Him, sure... but let's not make Him completely in our own image and likeness and forget that He is God! </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #664a29; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04;">I think the more we match our faith WITH our works, we will not lose sight of this! We will have opportunities at every turn to see how He partners with us in putting action to our faith and we will see how He shows up and shows off in hopes of winning hearts back - wholly and completely, and transforming lives! I believe we are refilled and refueled when we allow our </span></span><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">faith to find its full expression!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">***</span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">Let's pray: </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><i style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #45818e;">Father God, we know that every good and perfect gift comes from You! We are so grateful that You have given us a gift of faith... a seed of faith that will grow and grow! Lord, empower and enable us to put our faith to work -not to EARN anything from You, but to partner with You to release the Kingdom! Help us, Jesus, to follow the example that Your life on earth gave us --to let our words be followed by action! Remind us to keep a healthy reverence for You and for Your Name... help us not take anything for granted, or make assumptions that are not based on Your Word! Let Grace and Love flow freely as we partner with you and with the Bride to make Your Name famous, Lord! Let everything we do be done in love and be the full expression of our faith walked out! Let our actions match up to the words we say and let our lives be lived out loud in a way that points others (back) to You! </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><i style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #45818e;">Holy Spirit, inspire our words to testify of the goodness of God and let our works do the same! Help us to not be double-minded in speech or action! I pray You will help us to be who we are --who You made us to be -- consistently, wherever we go! </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><i style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #45818e;">And as always, Lord... help us to be Carriers of Your Presence and Releasers of Your Grace! </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><i style="font-family: georgia;"></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt5HFfXSsTLCqdKug2VG4HQva0zl7ImyCVVHqdWnX8ST9_u-T-_VzUQ_LPEeC64HH1V1R9QtTjLuv3NGiIY0gXXb3zmzucNYlAf66Utizka2NDfwJRQa5EktRJrSNBHrmx4fnM/s2048/James2_18through26b.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt5HFfXSsTLCqdKug2VG4HQva0zl7ImyCVVHqdWnX8ST9_u-T-_VzUQ_LPEeC64HH1V1R9QtTjLuv3NGiIY0gXXb3zmzucNYlAf66Utizka2NDfwJRQa5EktRJrSNBHrmx4fnM/w640-h426/James2_18through26b.jpg" width="640" /></a></i></div><i style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #45818e;">For the King and His Kingdom, </span></i><p></p><i><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div><i style="color: #664a29; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #45818e;">In Jesus' Name!</span></i></div></span></div><div style="color: #45818e; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;"><i style="color: #664a29; font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #45818e;">Amen!</span></i></div></div></i><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><o:p></o:p></p></div><div style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">***</span></div><div style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #783f04;">I am loving going through this Book every so slowly! I hope you are enjoying it, too!</span></span></div><div style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #783f04;">Lastly, I feel like, by now, if you are here - you are here on purpose! However, if you somehow just happened upon us or if you missed a post along the way, you can always go </span><b><i><span style="color: #45818e;"><a href="https://abidingloveaboundinggrace.blogspot.com/2021/01/the-book-of-james-introduction-to-our.html" style="color: #52a0b3; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">HERE</a></span></i></b><span style="color: #783f04;"> and scroll to the bottom to find each installment of this series as it is published!</span></span></div><div style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">As always, until next time, let's purpose to:</span></div><a href="http://imageshack.com/i/neonf0j" style="color: #82a9b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank" title="ImageShack - Image And Video Hosting"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEiLFgMaJyc1FCFWF1-rbi2WaWdIbSwgthHC6Fj7_EUykj5bBQwEC2VZshMfNOaT8OSgQTzmK1Obkaq_nA1WbRjiGyAoPXg-9kz8EwsrYfmc9F7bLQWheHNaDiFIMXFB2TwGidSJVomX=s0-d" style="border: 0px solid transparent; padding: 4px;" /><br /><br /></a></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>~Karrilee~ from Abiding Love, Abounding Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06698176066735604032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24687432.post-37338838374035257842021-07-01T06:30:00.102-07:002021-07-01T17:48:07.999-07:00When Talk is Cheap... The Book of James Bible Series<h3 class="post-title entry-title" style="background-color: white; color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 22.4px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0.25em 0px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16px;">***</span></h3><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8140482432551011649" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8312569035352090339" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-7278126041108967887" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-6308191026626959719" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-2984755689233979822" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-7766339718772791148" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><h3 class="post-title entry-title" style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 22.4px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0.25em 0px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04;">Happy Summer, my friends! I hope its official arrival has brought you some of the </span><i style="color: #783f04;">best </i><span style="color: #783f04;">of the season! </span><i style="color: #783f04;">For me?</i><span style="color: #783f04;"> Well - it's brought swimming with Lil' Miss (yay!), visiting family from out of town (yay!), and triple-digit heat for so many days in a row I stopped counting (</span><i style="color: #783f04;">not</i><span style="color: #783f04;"> yay!)! It's also stirred up a renewed love of and gratefulness for our A/C! (</span><strike style="color: #783f04;">Yay</strike><span style="color: #783f04;"> -- </span><i><span style="color: #45818e;">Yes and Amen!)</span></i></span></h3><h3 class="post-title entry-title" style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 22.4px; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0.25em 0px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-weight: normal;">Today we are back again with another installment of our James series! We are diving into some more familiar verses, reading through </span><i><span style="color: #134f5c;">James Chapter 2, verses 14-17</span><span style="color: #783f04;">!</span></i><span style="color: #783f04; font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></h3><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-189117400795887209" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8188779082385056474" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-1661924727958925210" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDRjH_GsxZ8Is6U4XV7kjTzuFzQGIqxp7LZBhY6kti2GKauJeul0BWEjY4paDOvvkMTEm7Xhf8FMUcf3k4nrrpLgS33AsJQ0GsdII9nTnTPH3AFTqWQvWbPTWK5Vo25_HRsft6/s2048/James2_14through17a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDRjH_GsxZ8Is6U4XV7kjTzuFzQGIqxp7LZBhY6kti2GKauJeul0BWEjY4paDOvvkMTEm7Xhf8FMUcf3k4nrrpLgS33AsJQ0GsdII9nTnTPH3AFTqWQvWbPTWK5Vo25_HRsft6/w640-h426/James2_14through17a.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">Let's read it together here, starting with </span><i style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">The Passion Translation Bible</i><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span></span></div><blockquote style="line-height: 1.3em; margin: 1em 20px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.75em 0px;"><i style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">"</span></span></i><i><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;">My dear brothers and sisters, what good is it if someone claims to have faith but demonstrates no good works to prove it? How could this kind of faith save anyone? For example, if a brother or sister in the faith is poorly clothed and hungry and you leave them saying, “Good-bye. I hope you stay warm and have plenty to eat,” but you don’t provide them with a coat or even a cup of soup, what good is your faith? So then faith that doesn’t involve action is phony."</span><span style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather;"> (The Passion Translation)</span></i></p></blockquote><span><a name='more'></a></span><p> <span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16px;">Well, again --James is not one to mince words. The actual translation for the word phony is Dead... Fruitless... We've heard it clearly stated, "Faith without Works is dead." This is what James is so bluntly saying! In other words, friends, talk is cheap! We can all talk the talk --but are we also walking the walk. Are we putting action to our words and following through so that our faith is something that can be seen? <br /><br />I think we have all been guilty of both extremes here if we are believers. We have said all the right things, even quoted Scripture or said we would pray about something --but our actions (or lack thereof!) spoke louder than our words! And --we'll get to this soon --but I think it may be a safe bet to say that there may have also been times where we got caught up in the doing part, and never really spoke out our faith or the why of why we were helping or serving in the first place! I know I have been guilty of both! </span></p><p><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16px;">What James is calling us to here is a balance... we must put both faith <i><b><u>and</u></b></i> works into action TOGETHER! </span><b style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16px;"><i>THAT </i></b><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16px;">is when others can most clearly see and hopefully believe that the King and His Kingdom are real!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">--</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">Let's read it in The Voice:</span></p><blockquote style="line-height: 1.3em; margin: 1em 20px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.75em 0px;"><i style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">"</span></span></i><i><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;">Brothers and sisters, it doesn’t make any sense to say you have faith and act in a way that denies that faith. Mere talk never gets you very far, and a commitment to Jesus only in words will not save you. It would be like seeing a brother or sister without any clothes out in the cold and begging for food, and saying, “Shalom, friend, you should get inside where it’s warm and eat something,” but doing nothing about his needs—leaving him cold and alone on the street. What good would your words alone do? The same is true with faith. Without actions, faith is useless. By itself, it’s as good as dead."</span><span style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather;"> (The Voice)</span></i></p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><i><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">I love the footnotes on this portion of scripture in The Voice Bible! They point out how many may think James' focus on works/actions contradicts Pauls' message about how salvation comes by faith alone! However, it says to look carefully and you will see they are talking about different issues! Paul was addressing a riff between the Jewish and the Gentile Christians. The Jews were trying to say the Gentiles should be living according to the law. Paul points out that thanks to God's grace, ALL people are made right by FAITH (and not by the works of the law!) James, however, is describing Christians helping the poor. That is two different kinds of 'works'! The Footnotes go on to say, (James is)</span><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;"> "concerned about a shallow, insincere, and hypocritical faith. </span><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">Paul describes the <i>root</i> of salvation; a person is saved by God’s grace received through faith. James is explaining the<i> fruit</i> of salvation; saving faith is a faith that works." </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">Ya see the difference?</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIKj_yhen8eXxnf6QJUoZn9B8RtiI3uVb9ykzQ-Q3HeZgGVFOVvUc7zxrBaES1RVX5Fe4J3q9BTHs8R7PEKzFsKA8IVMNwbo4lYnwyMk-nx7R9urk6PCnIfba_MS_U5XyWvv5C/s2048/James2_14through17b.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIKj_yhen8eXxnf6QJUoZn9B8RtiI3uVb9ykzQ-Q3HeZgGVFOVvUc7zxrBaES1RVX5Fe4J3q9BTHs8R7PEKzFsKA8IVMNwbo4lYnwyMk-nx7R9urk6PCnIfba_MS_U5XyWvv5C/w426-h640/James2_14through17b.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px; line-height: 2.4rem; margin-bottom: 0px; min-width: 0px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">--- </span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">Our verses in The Amplified Bible say:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><i><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></i></p><blockquote style="line-height: 1.3em; margin: 1em 20px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.75em 0px;"><i style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">"</span></span></i><i><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;">What is the benefit, my fellow believers, if someone claims to have faith but has no [good] works [as evidence]? Can that [kind of] faith save him? [No, a mere claim of faith is not sufficient—genuine faith produces good works.] If a brother or sister is without [adequate] clothing and lacks [enough] food for each day, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace [with my blessing], [keep] warm and feed yourselves,” but he does not give them the necessities for the body, what good does that do? So too, faith, if it does not have works [to back it up], is by itself dead [inoperative and ineffective].."</span><span style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather;"> (The Amplified Bible)</span></i></p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><i><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #783f04;">Dead... inoperative and ineffective. Who wants a faith like that? (Who wants a God like that?) No thanks! We, as Believers, must back up our words with action! Genuine faith produces good works!<br /><br />Let's be real for a moment here though! Maybe you're like me and somewhere in the back of your mind, excuses mixed with actually valid reasons are trying to drown out the desire to get to work! Maybe you are fighting off visions of homeless who don't seem to be able to break the cycle or others who maybe have learned to work the system and go from church to church or ministry to ministry, looking for hand outs or freebies while not looking for a longer term solution! (I know... no judgment here. I struggle with those thoughts, too!)<br /><br />Listen - we have a limited budget and while we are blessed and can give <i>some</i> -- we don't have enough to, say, eradicate homelessness in our area. We don't even have enough to necessarily eradicate it for one person or one family. But we give as directed by the Holy Spirit --and sometimes, yes, it is to the guy on the corner or the friend running low on funds (--and not necessarily for the first time), or to the neighbor who just had surgery, etc. --but often times it is partnering with organizations who are better equipped to make a larger impact. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">I've said it many times around here - we may not be able to change the whole world... but we are able to change the world for one person... even if only for one day! </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">For too long, I believed the lie that felt like truth that my $5 wouldn't make a difference. But it makes a difference to the one who has nothing. So - whenever I see someone on a corner or notice or hear of a need, I pray --but I don't just say a quick prayer and move on --I pray and ask the Lord if this is a need that I am called to meet. (Notice - I did not say that I am able to meet. If I am called to it --He will make sure I'm able! Sometimes it may be a stretch -but obeying in faith is always better than disobeying with caution!)</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">Another thing I am a fan of --in real life and in this space, is healthy boundaries. This verse does not mean that you give and give and give without question, accountability, or expectation. This does not mean that we are not allowed to have nice things or to put money away. It means that we love with words AND action and we keep the lines of communication open enough that if we are to give - whether it is a sacrifice or not - we will feel the nudge <i>and we will follow through!</i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">--- </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">Finally, let's wrap it up using another favorite translation: The Message Bible:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX9UxmVrUYeKdlWy_Pzyvy9hFSY3fkgzOfa2xooU6-RpASaHeD366mEyRUmdhAxsTNzMFDAzRLP4DPycJdi0VqMOmuxyxgKHhsGYIy544kbjUw4qeHiEytftXEJGuPElBiz18D/s2048/James2_14through17c.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX9UxmVrUYeKdlWy_Pzyvy9hFSY3fkgzOfa2xooU6-RpASaHeD366mEyRUmdhAxsTNzMFDAzRLP4DPycJdi0VqMOmuxyxgKHhsGYIy544kbjUw4qeHiEytftXEJGuPElBiz18D/w640-h360/James2_14through17c.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><blockquote style="line-height: 1.3em; margin: 1em 20px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px; margin: 0.75em 0px;"><i><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">"</span></span></i><i style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;">Dear friends, do you think you’ll get anywhere in this if you learn all the right words but never do anything? Does merely talking about faith indicate that a person really has it? For instance, you come upon an old friend dressed in rags and half-starved and say, “Good morning, friend! Be clothed in Christ! Be filled with the Holy Spirit!” and walk off without providing so much as a coat or a cup of soup—where does that get you? Isn’t it obvious that God-talk without God-acts is outrageous nonsense?</i><i><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;">"</span> (The Message Bible)</i></p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><i><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #783f04;">Thank you, once again, Eugene Peterson! This is the clear, Talk the talk AND Walk the walk verse, isn't it?<i> "Do you think you'll get anywhere in this if you learn all the right words but never do anything?"</i> (It's a fair question! And one we must ask ourselves from time to time!)</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;"><i>"God-talk without God-acts is outrageous nonsense!" </i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">***</span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">Let's pray: </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><i style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #45818e;">Father God, we're so grateful that you are not a man that you should lie and that you are a Man of Your Word! Thank You that You are our example and the One in whom we are called to represent! Help us to have faith, yes! Help us to talk about our faith and to let those around us know that even if/when we do not have the answers, we know the One Who does! But let's not stop there with our knowledge and words... help us, Lord, to follow through and put action to what we say! Let our ACTIONS matched with our WORDS be a light shining in the darkness! Let what we say match up with what we do and let that speak volumes to believers and non-believers alike!</span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i style="color: #664a29; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #45818e;">Open our hearts and our eyes to see those around us who are in need... let us not be blind to those asking for help and let us not ignore those who are in need but are too afraid or too embarrased to ask! Holy Spirit - prompt us to step up and step out and meet the need when you have set someone in our path! Give us grace to know when we are to pray and when we are to pray AND act - whether it is to meet the need ourselves, or to connect them with someone who can. More than anything, Jesus, --help us to represent You well! Help us to not be lazy in our faith and not to get caught up in works, thinking it is all up to us or we are doing it on our own! </span></i></p><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><i><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCPcIKQvAfR-P4aRo8sqdgrL-tedsMY6SmgvJDd6pbEYQ4zRf2DQ-WDjdUDtc1Sj8mY7Ths4rdTpJMTy3pIKNw4GELY_Ry8AZ8G_9N0KjTLVKRAvxf_DDGATuOVe5U_yxBhteX/s2048/James2_14through17d.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1463" data-original-width="2048" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCPcIKQvAfR-P4aRo8sqdgrL-tedsMY6SmgvJDd6pbEYQ4zRf2DQ-WDjdUDtc1Sj8mY7Ths4rdTpJMTy3pIKNw4GELY_Ry8AZ8G_9N0KjTLVKRAvxf_DDGATuOVe5U_yxBhteX/w640-h458/James2_14through17d.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i style="color: #664a29; font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #45818e;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i style="color: #664a29; font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #45818e;">Ultimately - every day, in every way, we want to partner with You, Lord! Lead and guide us! Fill and refresh us! Enable us to be a blessing and a light!</span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i style="color: #664a29; font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #45818e;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i style="color: #664a29; font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #45818e;">In Jesus' Name!<br /></span></i><i style="color: #664a29; font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #45818e;">Amen!</span></i></div></div></i></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><o:p></o:p></p></div><div style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">***</span></div><div style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #783f04;">I</span></span></div><div style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #783f04;">A Gentle Reminder: if you've just joined us or have missed a post or two along the way, you can always go </span><b><i><span style="color: #45818e;"><a href="https://abidingloveaboundinggrace.blogspot.com/2021/01/the-book-of-james-introduction-to-our.html" target="_blank">HERE</a></span></i></b><span style="color: #783f04;"> and scroll to the bottom to find each installment of this series as it is published!</span></span></div><div style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">As always, until next time, let's purpose to:</span></div><a href="http://imageshack.com/i/neonf0j" style="color: #82a9b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank" title="ImageShack - Image And Video Hosting"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEiLFgMaJyc1FCFWF1-rbi2WaWdIbSwgthHC6Fj7_EUykj5bBQwEC2VZshMfNOaT8OSgQTzmK1Obkaq_nA1WbRjiGyAoPXg-9kz8EwsrYfmc9F7bLQWheHNaDiFIMXFB2TwGidSJVomX=s0-d" style="border: 0px solid transparent; padding: 4px;" /><br /><br /></a></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>~Karrilee~ from Abiding Love, Abounding Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06698176066735604032noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24687432.post-81404824325510116492021-06-17T06:00:00.264-07:002021-06-17T06:00:00.198-07:00How to Take Dominion... The Book of James Bible Series<h3 class="post-title entry-title" style="background-color: white; color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 22.4px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0.25em 0px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16px;">***</span></h3><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8312569035352090339" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-7278126041108967887" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-6308191026626959719" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-2984755689233979822" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-7766339718772791148" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><h3 class="post-title entry-title" style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 22.4px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0.25em 0px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px;"><span style="color: #664a29; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04;">Hello, Sweet Readers! I am going to start off real honest here... I have had thoughts of throwing in the towel. I've entertained ideas to just put this whole thing on hold --or loosen my timeline... or - well, like I said, just give it up altogether! </span></span></h3><h3 class="post-title entry-title" style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 22.4px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0.25em 0px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px;"><span style="color: #664a29; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04;">I've been doing this blogging gig for a long, long, LONG time... long enough to remember what it was like in its heyday! Even for non-celebrity bloggers, there was a time when there was real community and great give and take in the blogosphere. As much as I miss that, I have always said God called me into this before I even really knew what a blog was and I was never doing it for attention or applause. At least not from you... I write for an Audience of One and He is the One who gets to boss me around and He is the One who put this series on my heart.<br /><br />But <i>the struggle is real, Y'all!</i> Now, I know some of you are reading along because even if you don't comment, I can track the 'hits' and I know I'm not all alone here in this corner -even if it does feel like that from time to time! Again - even if I was on my own here, I am getting so much out of this study... so I push back the temptation to give up or give in, and I sit myself down in this chair and I type out Scripture and trust that if you are sitting there, reading these words, He is drawing you and teaching you and showing you Truth! So for you, and for me, and mostly for Him... I write on!<br /></span></span></h3><h3 class="post-title entry-title" style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 22.4px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0.25em 0px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px;"><span style="color: #664a29; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04;">Today we are reading through James Chapter 2, verses 11-13! </span></span></h3><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-189117400795887209" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8188779082385056474" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-1661924727958925210" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAB0m4aNJ9GBYguA3plG3VGD3DKGty7XsZVfKDDFSfHXsGMj2AX4JOtlhyJALdpS3hP3hoh38ZLKsMjgzBwJbyz7xdnV0n5MnA5U2bp2J1000oOIzIcLA6sYLVv-TG-VEeH_Hj/s2048/James2_11through13a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAB0m4aNJ9GBYguA3plG3VGD3DKGty7XsZVfKDDFSfHXsGMj2AX4JOtlhyJALdpS3hP3hoh38ZLKsMjgzBwJbyz7xdnV0n5MnA5U2bp2J1000oOIzIcLA6sYLVv-TG-VEeH_Hj/w640-h426/James2_11through13a.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">Because, if you haven't caught on yet, it's one of my favorite translations, we'll start with </span><i style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">The Passion</i><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span><a name='more'></a></span></div><blockquote style="line-height: 1.3em; margin: 1em 20px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.75em 0px;"><i style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">"</span></span></i><i><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;">For the same One who tells us, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” Now if you don’t commit adultery but do commit murder, you are still guilty as a law-breaker. So we must both speak and act in every respect like those who are destined to be tried by the perfect law of liberty, and remember that judgment is merciless for the one who judges others without mercy. So by showing mercy, you take dominion over judgment!!</span></i><i style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;"></span><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;">"</span> (The Passion Translation)</i></p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i><span style="color: #45818e;"></span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">Wait a minute...? James -- post-Jesus, is talking about the Law?!<br /><br />Sigh... I know, you guys?! It's complicated! </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">But Jesus, we have read, did not come to abolish the Law, but to fulfill it! So the Law is still a thing... it's just, thank God (quite literally!), we are no longer UNDER it. But it is still something we should look to and -at least TRY to follow! Not in a strict, religious, judgy way! Not at all... James goes on here to explain this!</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">I love how he reminds us that we should both speak <i><b>AND</b></i> act as if we will be held accountable! I realize this is not a popular stance and many, even in the Body, say this is old-fashioned and out of date... that the Law is no longer something we need to adhere to because Jesus already did! But - I can't help hearing Pauls' words about how we should not sin <i>all the more</i>, right?<br /><br />This is where I struggle... I have <b>been</b> religious. It's rough and no fun and full of angst and striving and unfairness and the uniform comes with some real tight judgy McJudge pants! I am a firm believer, receiver, and hopefully active giver of Grace! And so was James... but let's not skim over the hard parts because we don't like them! We SHOULD be mindful of trying to live a life that follows the heart of the Law - which really ultimately causes us to realize how we can not do it on our own! It points us to our dependence on Jesus!</span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">--</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">Let's read it in The Voice:</span></p><blockquote style="line-height: 1.3em; margin: 1em 20px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.75em 0px;"><i style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">"</span></span></i><i><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;">The same God who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also says, “Do not murder.” If you break either of these commands, you’re a lawbreaker, no matter how you look at it. So live your life in such a way that acknowledges that one day you will be judged. But the law that judges also gives freedom, although you can’t expect to be shown mercy if you refuse to show mercy. But hear this: mercy always wins against judgment! Thank God!"</span><span style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather;"> (The Voice)</span></i></p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><i><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">I know there are extremes that fall on either side in our culture right now - even within the Church (Big C.) on almost any topic. We have friends who identify now as Messianic Jews and as much as they have a love for the Lord and a ton of knowledge about the Jewish culture and feasts and traditions, they also put themselves right back under the Law. Like - a heavy burden type of Law... not a My Yoke is Easy and My Burden is Light kind of thing. It must just be exhausting. And then we have friends who love the Lord and have a ton of knowledge about the Word but over the last several years have decided much of the Bible is not really relevant for today --or it doesn't mean what they thought it meant. I get it... I do. And I'm not even saying that maybe over the centuries some things we believe now weren't actually what the original writer was trying to convey. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Merriweather;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-size: medium;"><b>But God,</b> <i>right?</i> It is His Word and He promises that while everything else may change or fall away --His Word never will. <i>So there's that. </i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">I love this part: </span><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia; font-style: italic;">"So live your life in such a way that acknowledges that one day you will be judged."</span><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;"> I think of how we may live our lives differently if we considered this... my guess is we would sin less, --but that is only <i>half</i> of the goal... the other part is to love more, right? James even goes on to tell us how to do that! (Something about Mercy...)</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnAf7K2kCwTh7HyJj1ajzDOIFvSz8DK_BI_LHvhXohTbKGnrpvmxsjKfWRw5OzC4dXnzsw9yKHMZMJYDCqVcSXQbwxyR9OS6eLVW4krHWi6rqUETPkRBTOaRDMAammD269q_HK/s2048/James2_11through13b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnAf7K2kCwTh7HyJj1ajzDOIFvSz8DK_BI_LHvhXohTbKGnrpvmxsjKfWRw5OzC4dXnzsw9yKHMZMJYDCqVcSXQbwxyR9OS6eLVW4krHWi6rqUETPkRBTOaRDMAammD269q_HK/w640-h480/James2_11through13b.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px; line-height: 2.4rem; margin-bottom: 0px; min-width: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">--- </span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">Our verses in The Amplified Bible say:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><i><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></i></p><blockquote style="line-height: 1.3em; margin: 1em 20px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.75em 0px;"><i style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">"</span></span></i><i><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;"> For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery, but you murder, you have become guilty of transgressing the [entire] Law. Speak and act [consistently] as people who are going to be judged by the law of liberty [that moral law that frees obedient Christians from the bondage of sin]. For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; but [to the one who has shown mercy] mercy triumphs [victoriously] over judgment.."</span><span style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather;"> (The Amplified Bible)</span></i></p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><i><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #783f04;">Consistency can be our downfall. (Well - the lack of it, anyway!) If we would speak and act consistently we would avoid many of the troubles we find ourselves in. And if we would do that in following the 'moral law that frees obedient Christians from the bondage of sin' - well, again... we may just sin <i><b>less.</b></i><br /><br />I know... we don't love that word. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i style="color: #783f04;">"Obedient"</i><span style="color: #783f04;"> is not really a word our Independent selves want to be used to describe us. But what James is pointing out is there is actually FREEDOM in following that moral law and it is a freedom that makes us more like Him... --Him, who has paid the price for our ransom and freed us from the bondage of sin! We are no longer </span><i style="color: #783f04;">under</i><span style="color: #783f04;"> the Law... it's true and praise God! But we should still let the Law guide us into living a life of --</span><i><b><span style="color: #45818e;">wait for it...</span></b></i><span style="color: #783f04;"> Righteousness, Peace, and Joy in the Holy Ghost!</span><i style="color: #783f04;"> (That's the Kingdom of God!)</i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">--- </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">Lastly, my other favorite translation: The Message Bible:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><i><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></i></p><blockquote style="line-height: 1.3em; margin: 1em 20px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.75em 0px;"><i style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">"</span></span></i><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;"><i>You can’t pick and choose in these things, specializing in keeping one or two things in God’s law and ignoring others. The same God who said, “Don’t commit adultery,” also said, “Don’t murder.” If you don’t commit adultery but go ahead and murder, do you think your non-adultery will cancel out your murder? No, you’re a murderer, period.</i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.75em 0px;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;"><i>Talk and act like a person expecting to be judged by the Rule that sets us free. For if you refuse to act kindly, you can hardly expect to be treated kindly. Kind mercy wins over harsh judgment every time.</i></span><i style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;"></span><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: georgia;">"</span> (The Message Bible)</i></p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><i><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #783f04;">The Message just tends to make things clearer... "For if you refuse to act kindly, you can hardly expect to be treated kindly. Kind mercy wins over harsh judgment every time."</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">I can't say for you - but I will speak for me: I have heard (and have quoted!) that last part many, many, <i>many</i> times... but the first part comes first for a reason!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;"> I know that -again!- we have extremes in our culture and in the Church... and if you believe the mainstream media, you may think that we have never been more divided as a nation or as a people. There are strong, solid, deep lines drawn in the sand making teams of "US!" and "THEM!" I am also aware that for many years, the Church (Big C.) has not done a stellar job at acting kindly to outsiders or specific groups. So it is no real big surprise that we have not been treated kindly, right? </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">I believe over the last decade, however, the pendulum swung and many in the Body embraced Grace, and Mercy, and Kindness on a whole new level. This was SO NEEDED... it is <i>still</i> needed. It will <b><i>always </i></b>be needed because -well, this is the way of Jesus! </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">But as James so often points out - the way of Jesus includes more than just these things. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">Jesus always pointed to Righteousness... to a <i>'go and sin no more'</i> lifestyle... not because He is Bossy or religious, but because He loves us and wants what is best for us! </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Merriweather;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><i><span style="color: #45818e; font-size: medium;">So how do we take dominion over judgment? By showing Mercy! </span></i></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16px;">Mercy is defined as: "</span><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">compassionate or kindly forbearance shown toward an offender, an enemy, or a person in one's power; compassion, pity, or benevolence." <i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">(Dictionary.com)</span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><span style="color: #45818e;">You guys!? Mercy is giving or showing compassion toward an offender or enemy? Imagine if we would all do this?</span></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">We are all so easily offended... and I've been preaching this for a while in these parts, but man... we need to (re)learn how to be Unoffendable! Being unoffendable sure does make it easier to dole out Mercy and avoid judgment! (I mean... just think of Jesus! He had EVERY REASON to take offense, and yet -consistently, He did not!)</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">***</span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">Let's pray: </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><i style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #45818e;">Father God, </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #45818e;"><i> We come before You right now, so very grateful for the Mercy You so freely pour out over us! We are thankful that You came and fulfilled the Law and You took or place and paid the price of our ransom and that You lead the way in how to live a life that leads us right back to You!</i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #45818e;"><i><br />Holy Spirit, help us to remember that we have been set free... that our old man is dead and buried and we are raised up with You... we are no longer bound to sin. Help us to not attempt to pick and choose which parts of the Word we want to follow and which ones we want to believe are not for today --or at least not for us! Remind us to match the way we talk with our actions and to live in a way that shows that we have been set free and grafted into the Family of God! </i></span></p><span style="color: #45818e;"><i><div style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><i> Empower and Enable us to live righteously - without being religious! Help us to act kindly... and to extend Mercy to those around us --especially those who disagree with or offend us! Help us to remember that mercy wins over harsh judgment every time! Help us to be unoffendable and to choose You... to love and speak and act like You... to <b>re</b>-present You to this world we live in... help us to point others to You and to reflect righteousness, peace, and joy in the holy ghost --for that's the Kingdom of God!</i></div><div style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDLliFIRtcaVhApcACfrQ4qRrw_tVDQaCyF7_7YfOGGFnAbrFyiDP-yyKykR0XlQ1JxHep7kLjWlwgW7HIKplLlKUx3VoH2x13GCJ-cP2HPBh1wqXjI14pYGLGYIZEIwbkTlAz/s2048/James2_11through13c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1538" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDLliFIRtcaVhApcACfrQ4qRrw_tVDQaCyF7_7YfOGGFnAbrFyiDP-yyKykR0XlQ1JxHep7kLjWlwgW7HIKplLlKUx3VoH2x13GCJ-cP2HPBh1wqXjI14pYGLGYIZEIwbkTlAz/w640-h480/James2_11through13c.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><i style="color: #664a29; font-family: georgia; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #45818e;">In Jesus' Name!</span></i></div></div></i></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><i style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #45818e;">Amen!</span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><o:p></o:p></p></div><div style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">***</span></div><div style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #783f04;">I hope you feel like you are getting something out of this series! I know I am! And, as I mentioned at the start above, even when I think of giving up on it --I know He asked me to write this -so, I press on! (Consistency... right? I'm working on consistency and a lack of follow-through!) </span></span></div><div style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #783f04;">Also, if you've just joined us or have missed a post in this series, you can always go </span><b><i><span style="color: #45818e;">HERE</span></i></b><span style="color: #783f04;"> and scroll to the bottom to find each installment of this series as it is published!</span></span></div><div style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: georgia;">As always, until next time, let's purpose to:</span></div><a href="http://imageshack.com/i/neonf0j" style="color: #82a9b3; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank" title="ImageShack - Image And Video Hosting"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEiLFgMaJyc1FCFWF1-rbi2WaWdIbSwgthHC6Fj7_EUykj5bBQwEC2VZshMfNOaT8OSgQTzmK1Obkaq_nA1WbRjiGyAoPXg-9kz8EwsrYfmc9F7bLQWheHNaDiFIMXFB2TwGidSJVomX=s0-d" style="border: 0px solid transparent; padding: 4px;" /><br /><br /></a></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="post-footer" style="color: #52a0b3; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12.48px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; letter-spacing: 0.1em; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0.75em 0px; text-transform: uppercase;"></div><div style="clear: both; color: #664a29; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 16px;"></div></div>~Karrilee~ from Abiding Love, Abounding Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06698176066735604032noreply@blogger.com0