Study book review

It has been awhile since I have posted and that is mainly due to two reasons. 1-I haven't disciplined myself to do so and 2- I have fallen away from doing my devotions/studies. I hoping that, that will begin to change starting today.I know we all as Christians daily struggle to do the Lords will and not our own. It is His will that I spend time in His Word and in prayer daily. The blog helps me to remember what I'm learning in my studies. If you write it down it stays with you better, right? At least for me it does. I was doing pretty good for a while studying the book of James through a great study guide called "Growing in Wisdom and Faith" by Elizabeth George, but since I got away from it today is going to be review day. I will share a few points from the chapters I had already done to catch us up. They are ch. 1-7 which go through the entire first chapter of James.

James 1:1 James calls himself a servant of God. We are to be servants of God. What does that mean?

Obedience-no right if our own, absolute possession of our master, unquestioning obedience to our master

Humility-think not of privilege but duty, not of rights but obligations. To loose yourself in the service of God.

Loyalty-living out your faith by doing all for God, not personal gain.

James used Jesus' full name when he wrote that he was a "servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ."

Lord-emphasizing His right to rule,
Jesus-emphasizing His humanity
Christ-emphasizing His Messiahship.

Amen! Think about that next time you say His name. I know I will.

James 1:2-4 Trials...there will be some, guaranteed (says when, not if) and to count them as joy. In them is work in you producing you to be perfect (not sinless but right with God) complete and lack nothing.

Look at progression in verses...

Trials work to...
Test my faith which...
Produces patience which makes me...
Perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

How do we count them joy? 1. With our mind, not emotions! 2. By faith.
"because the eye of faith will see the hand of God in all of life."

Without trials we can not to like Jesus.

James 1:5-8 Ask for wisdom from God, who gives it unconditionally. Ask in faith, not wavering. To doubt is to be unstable, crashing about. You must ask. It doesn't say He will give it without asking, no, it say to ask and to ask in faith. So we must...

Stop- to take time to consult with the Lord
Look- to the Lord and ask.
Listen- for His wisdom.
Proceed- in His direction without doubt.

The heart of faith believes God hears our cry for help....and answers them.

That is my biggest fault, struggle, sin....doubt! Faith believes. There is no room for doubt in faith. To doubt means you better take a good look at your "faith"! This is where I am at.

Time to sit and meditate on what i have just reviewed and to take time in prayer so I will pick up on the rest of the review tomorrow.



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Location:NW 108th Ave,Fort Lauderdale,United States

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Our wedding


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My wedding picture edited on my IPad.


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Lesson from a silly situation!

First of all, let me start by saying that I am really sorry for not posting in a LONG time! A lot has been going on here and like many of us I struggle to get it all the things I want accomplished. I am hoping to start to be more regular with my posting again, starting now!

Today's post may seem silly to some of you but I had to share because in this silly situation I found myself in, I was taught a big lesson!


My husband and I were driving home from visiting family about 3 hours away. If anyone is familiar with Florida and the stretch of Interstate that is called Alligator Alley then you know it is over 80 miles long with NOTHING on it. No gas stations and more importantly NO bathrooms! Well, I thought I could make it the entire 3 hour ride without needing to stop but of course half through Alligator Alley I had to pee! It was one of those times when, when you gotta go, you GOTTA go! Near the end of Alligator Alley is finally a rest stop, so we pulled off and as we approached the rest area we see a police officer taping the restrooms off. It was closed! "Are you kidding?" I asked myself. Not only had I held it for quit sometime but then when you think your about to be able to go and then can't, that just makes you have to go all the more! But, the officer said that there was another rest stop 13 miles ahead. Ah, hope.
I have to say that, that was a long 13 miles! I was hurting by the times we finally pulled in and was eager to find relief and comfort again, only to my dismay this restroom was closed too! No, I'm NOT kidding! The two rest stops at the end of this 80 mile long Interstate were both closed! What were they thinking? Even if the facilities aren't working put a Port-a-Potty in there. Something people! Now, I had to wait the rest of the 30 minutes to get home. Any men reading this may not quit grasp the full effects of holding it for that long as a women but I know you ladies understand. It was a agonizing time!

So, when we finally get of our exit and we only have three lights till home I begin to cry out to the Lord "Have mercy on me! Please, Lord let the three lights be green. I know You can make them green if you want to. Please, if ever I needed mercy, now is the time, Lord!" ( I know, dramatic, but I really had to pee!)
First light, green. "Amen! Thank you, Lord!" I shout.
Second light, green. "Oh, Lord, Thank you for having mercy on me. One more light, Lord. That's it one more!"

Third light is a left turn only on green arrow so as we approach the lights begin to change. Green was just seconds away. "Thank you, Thank you, Lord! You are SO good to me!"
I ran in that house so fast! At last my comfort was restored!
Ok, now your probably asking, "whats the lesson in this, pee before the long interstate?" Well, that is a good lesson but not the one I want to share...

The Lord allows situation to come into our lives so that we remember to rely on Him and give Him the glory. Think about it. If that first rest stop was open, I would have just gone and never thought twice about it. No work from the Lord, right. No glory needed. At least I wouldn't have thought to give any. Even at the second rest stop, but because it wasn't "easy" for me and I was in an uncomfortable situation I needed the mercy of the Lord. He showed it to me and in return got all the Glory for taking care of me.

How many times in our life do we just go about it, not really take the time to give God the glory because it was easy or everything was going our way. The Lord allows thing to happen to make you remember to cry out to Him. To look to Him and in the end to give Him all the glory.

So, that's my silly story with an unexpected lesson in it.

Remember to look to Him and give God all the glory for everything in your life. Even green lights when you have to pee!

Thank you, Lord for your goodness.

Blessing from 2009

Happy New Year Everyone!

As a year ends and a new one begins it is good to reflect on the blessings the Lord has given us. I thought I would share what I am thankful for this past year and hope that you will share your 2009 blessings as well.

Last Sunday our Pastor opened evening service to anyone who wanted to share their praises to the Lord. I shared this.

It is very easy to Praise the Lord when your prayers are answered. However it is not very easy to praise the Lord for your unanswered prayers but that is what I want to do. For it is in those unanswered prayers that character is built and you learn to trust completely in the Lord. My husband and I have a verse together. It's inscribe in our wedding rings. Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your path straight. " That is easier said then done but the Lord provides a wonderful church, friends and a good husband to help you.

So, the thing that I am most thankful for this past year that I want to share with you is my unanswered prayer. It has been a journey learning to trust and obey. To know that God loves me and if He doesn't answer my prayer it's either not His timing or He has something far better and more wonderful then I can imagine. I learned that I can't make some things happen. I can't fix everything. I can't blame myself or think I am being punished for my sins. I can't be bitter or hurt any longer. This year I've learned how to truly Trust in the Lord and simply let go. I only learned that because God didn't answer my prayer. When I started to let go and trust in Him more He brought so many blessing into my life. Blessing to help fill a void that my unanswered prayer leaves. I am so thankful for what the Lord has done in my life and the lessons He is choosing to teach me. I am blessed to learn them. I am blessed to be His child.

How about you? Do you have an unanswered prayer? Will you sit in the middle of that hurt and pain your unanswered prayer brings you or will you look to the Lord and find out what He trying to teach you?

The other blessing the Lord has given me this year is my Grandpa. He has always been a blessing in my life but this year especially. My Grandpa as you know past away recently. I was with him in some of the last few days of his life. I went to visit him two weeks before he went to be with the Lord. I was at the dinner table the last time he sat at the head of the table. I was there to take him into the hospital with my Grandmother. I was there to pray with and for him before he left in the ambulance. I was there to soak up as much more wisdom, love and lessons I could from him. I was there when he looked at me and said that everynight he asked the Lord to answer my prayer. I was there to witness Proverbs 31:11 in perfect truth. "The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil." I praise the Lord that I was there for all of this and so much moreI will carry with me forever. Grandpa may not be with me anylonger in the way I wish he could be but he's with me in a way far better. I know that he is watching over me from heaven. And what a blessing to know that one day I will join him there.

Take the time to reflect on what the Lord has done for you. How has He blessed you in 2009?

Love,
Rebecca