Another good message to hear "A Chosen Generation"

A wonderful message to share

Don’t Be Tempted

I have been working on my study through James and updating you on what the Lord has been teaching me. James 1:13-16 focuses on temptation and where temptation comes from. The word “tempted” means to be enticed---Christians are subject to sin. We are humans and humans have a sinful nature. Just because one is a Christian does not mean that they {I} will do everything right. Christians (and non-Christians) can have a bad habit of pointing fingers to God when they do wrong---but that should not be the case because GOD IS HOLY and God does not tolerate sin. Temptation comes from man himself. We {I} all have a sin nature. I can be tempted to turn away from God by little things---TV, facebook, internet, netflix, media, etc. But I should let these things tempt me and destroy my relationship with God. Satan does not want me to love God—Satan wants me to to wrong. Sin is like a small seed. A seed is small but something that seems small is big and if I let temptations get a hold of me it can I can grow deeper and deeper into sin and it can ruin my relationship with God. Sadly I will make errors in my life. After all I am human and I make mistakes {a lot of them}. But with God’s help and fleeing from temptation I can make the right choices. I can also be misled by other people in my life. I need to make sure I have godly leaders and choose godly people to follow.

Five Minute Fridays: I feel most loved when…

Hosted by: The Gypsy Mama

My students come running into class filled with smiles, laughter, and hugs. When they bring me “flowers” (dandelions and weeds) from the playground in their little hands. When they see I am sad they always make sure I am “okay.”

I feel loved when I get an unexpected letter, email, or text—even if it just says “thinking of you.”

I feel loved when I have that time with friends for laughter, talking, and of course Starbucks thrown in. I feel loved even when the Starbucks barista gives me my drink “on the house.”

I feel loved when I am told I am beautiful.

I feel loved when I am smiled at.

I feel loved when I think of everything that God did for me---how He gave His Son as a precious gift to die for ME. I feel loved when I sit and read God’s Word and the love letter He wrote to me. I feel loved when I think about everything God has blessed me with~ a wonderful family and friends.

 

The Tongue

James 3:5a “Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things…”

I am the first to admit how outspoken I can be. Many times I have spoken my mind and at times haven’t meant to. It seems I always say, “oops didn’t mean to say that.” The tongue is a very important part of our body. It helps up eat (preventing food from going right down our throat), we can taste things, and it helps us speak. But the tongue can also be something that can get one into trouble.

Growing up my mother always told me to “think before I speak” and many times I have just spoken my mind and regretted it. James warns of the tongue and tells the Christian to control what we say.

James uses three illustrations with the tongue:

• Horses bridle: very small and helps guide and CONTROL the horse
• Ship’s Rudder” very small and helps GUIDE and CONTROL the ship.

Just like the horse’s bridle and the ship’s rudder both being small and both controlling something big I need to make sure I control my tongue. I need to make sure that my tongue {words} please the Lord.

The third illustration that James uses is fire. A fire starts as a spark and can grow bigger and bigger. How is this applicable in our life?

1. I need to make sure I am not spreading rumors and gossiping
2. I need to make sure I am telling the truth
3. I need to make sure I am not boasting

(vs 7-10)

Man has tamed many animals. I think of the dolphins and whales at Sea World and watch how tame they are…I mean look at all the tricks they can do its AMAZING! Although animals can be tamed the tongue cannot—but the tongue can be controlled. To control the tongue one must ask for wisdom to be careful what to say and to speak S-L-O-W-L-Y (or think before you say something.)

(vs 10-12)

Am I careful what I say. Do I say one nice thing then turn around and say something mean---or something that does not please the Lord? James warns of  “blessing and cursing” coming out of the mouth. This should not be so---I need to make sure that only blessings comes out of my mouth. Two illustrations are used

• a fountain with sweet and bitter water cannot be so. Both kinds cannot come out of the fountain. My words need to be like sweet water.
• A fig tree cannot bear olive berries. Therefore I need to make sure that only one thing (blessings and sweet words) come out of my mouth.

(vs 13-18)

I need to make sure my heart is right when I speak wisdom. I can say the right things but if I am not believing it in my heart or saying one thing and doing another it is a sin. I need to make sure that I say and live and do. I need to make sure that I pray before saying things---and that my words are TRUE. The wisdom from God is “pure, peacable, gentle, and full of mercy, not partial, and not hypocritical.”

May I live my life in this way and make sure everything I saw is wise and pleases the Lord.

Update on Surgery

Things have kept me so busy that I haven't had a chance to sit down and update you on my surgery. Several weeks ago I was informed I was only going to get partial coverage for my surgery. Two weeks of prayer the Lord has answered in His way---I have full coverage on my surgery!

The plastic surgeon office called and I have been able to schedule my surgery for June 7th!!! Praise the Lord! =)

Five Minute Friday: When I Look in the Mirror I See…

Five minute Fridays hosted by: The Gypsy Mama

“Mirror Mirror in the Wall what do I see? I see a face staring back at me.”  I see clear brown eyes (tired from a long week teaching 17 four year olds), I see my floppy and scraggly brownish reddish hair that come to my shoulders, I see a thin smile (since I am NOT  a morning person), I see a nose that isn’t the prettiest. I see my dad’s eyes and mom’s facial features.
And as I look in the mirror and cover the flaws I see with makeup and brush my scraggly straight (and sometimes “fluffy”) brown hair I see a face that God made. A face that God made unique because He loves me. I see a face that is not approved by man, but a face that God approves of. I see that I am “fearfully and wonderfully made” and think that there in no one just like me. I see a young woman who once was low on self-esteem and hated herself turn into a beautiful confident young lady who desires to serve the Lord.
But as I go places (Oh the places I will go) I hope and pray that people will not just see ME but will see Christ shining through me.
(well this was a hard one to write and I did it!)

(A picture of little old unique ME!)