James 3-Video Bible Study

It is Wednesday again! {isn't it funny how that happens every week. hee hee} Take a look at the video and leave me your thoughts!

In the video I encouraged you to use scripture to define scripture. Look up in your Bible index the word Tongue, Words, Mouth or Speech. (just pick one) and tell me what you learned about how to "tame the tongue" as we discussed in James 3.

Leave a comment here and I can't wait to read what God has taught you today! :)

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Wednesday Video Bible Study-James 2

So glad you clicked back to study James with me!

What’s your take on James 2:17--faith with out works is dead?

How do you see faith and works as two sides of the same coin?

What is one thing you can do TODAY to live out your faith?

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Short Snipet-Ugly heart

I just returned a text from my girlfriend, Erin, asking how I'm doing. I wanted to text back, "grt, thx," but I decided to get real with her so I guess I will get real on the world wide web while I'm at it.

Ok, I'll make this short and sweet 'cause it ain't pretty. {did I actually type the word ain't?!}

This is what I texted back: I've got an ugly heart right now. Please pray.

Yep, it's U.G.L.Y.

~pride

~jealousy

~anger

~did I mention pride?

I hate this about myself that this ugly heart condition bubbles up out of nowhere. But really...is it out of nowhere?

That is where I rely on Psalm 24 which says that those with a clean {not ugly} heart will stand in God's holy presence. Those who do not succumb to ugly, false, sinful thoughts and actions will be blessed by God's sweet mercy. Here is the cool part: those who seek His face will find Him; even if they seek Him while loaded down with the ugly junk.

I know that I know that I know that Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior. I also know that I know that I know that Jesus nailed my ugly stuff to the Cross when He died for me {and YOU!}.

But, what I have lately realized is that I must find constant focus on Christ every minute of every day in order to stave off this junk that festers in my heart.

This means that as I go about my day, I take a hard look at the condition of my heart and PROMPTLY confess the ugly. This also means that my thoughts, words and actions are filtered through a sift that reflects the truths of the Bible. Often times, the ugly comes from believing lies that I conjure up in my head--lies that I have no business believing as they are contrary to what I read in verses like Psalm 24.

So this is what I'm going to do with my ugly:

Find Focus on Him. Constantly check in with Jesus. The moment the ugly heart surfaces its well...ugliness, He will redirect my focus back to His beauty.

{NOTE: after I posted this, another opportunity came around for ugliness to bubble up. Another girlfriend gave me this verse. Whew! God knew what I needed to hear from His word!}

Isaiah 26:3 You keep in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you {FIND FOCUS!} because he trusts in you.

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James 1-Video Bible Study

Join me on Wednesdays for the next few weeks to study the book of James.

Lets dig into James 1 a bit more... {would love to read your thoughts so post a comment with your answers!}

1) Read James 1:1 again. Focus in on the word JOY and give me your definition of the word.

2) What is your definition of the word TRIAL? How do you feel about putting the word JOY and the word TRIAL in the same sentence?

3) I talked in my video about saying to God, "Bring it on" regarding future trials that will come my way. Does the thought of saying that to God freak you out? Why or why not?

4) Read through the rest of chapter one. Anything else stand out to you?

I would love to hear your thoughts...

See you next Wednesday!

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Short Snipet- I want to hear from YOU!

Lets talk jobs and career again.

The corporate world is vicious, conniving and thrilling all at the same time. The good news is that it is all the more exciting when we work every day side by side Jesus. With our professional strengths and weaknesses in mind, He guides us toward success defined only by His Word. Success defined by the Lord is drastically different than the world’s definition. Godly success is:

• Those around us have no doubt Who we serve and worship EVERY day.
• Earning a paycheck that we know we worked for with integrity.
• Everyday we give of ourselves fully with out forgetting to balance it out with quality time with God.

I want to hear form YOU!

~What is your personal definition of godly success?

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