Chapter Two- James

I recieved a few points from this chapter but not as much as some of them.

Favoritism  (James 2-1:13) 

In the first part about favoritism I found that God wants us to be merciful not judgmental.

"Mercy trumphs over judgment."

I find favoirtism a pretty big but sneaky trap to people, not just Christians. We do not always see it as harmful or bad. We've probably all had; favorite teachers, favorite friends, that sibling or parent you like just a little bit more. Esp. as kids. You see it all the time. I think its only more noticable in kids though, because they express it. We tend to hid it or not make it the centre of something, but the fact is;

"If you only break part of the law, you broke all of it."

James 2:10

So even though we may not express it, act apon it, or mention it... it still is not very cool.

When I focused in on favoritism and thought of my flaws on this topic, I was shocked. Ya, as a child my parents would say its not good to pick favorites or you should not say that you do not like that person as much. I never thought it could cause harm. I can now look at favoritism with a different perspective and think that, its one of those little sins, that most everyone does, but a sin is a sin.

I want to be merciful, and love people the way Jesus loves us. God does not love one of us more or less no matter what we do, so why should I? I think that this will be something that needs a lot of prayer and reflection on because it can easily bite us in the butt! But nothing is impossible, not even the sneakest of the sneaks, so lets work together and be fair and equal to others! Amen?

Now, 

Faith & Deeds (James 2:14-26)

Lets ask ourselves this; 

"What good is it brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? 

and can such faith save him?" 

James 2:14



Can you imangine if we thought that faith was all we needed, that we never had to do any work to recieve God's gift? That we thought just faith and nothing else saved us?

What a crazy realization it would be when we found out when it was too late.

I personally would have been mortified. I would have been so disappointed in myself for living and believing that faith was all it takes in life. That just goes to show you how important it is to read the Bible and get notified ahead of time!

In the Bible it gives us lots of reassurane that faith alone is dead.

In James it says;

"Faith not accompained by action is DEAD!"

James 2:17

"You see that a person is justified by what he does and NOT by faith alone."

James 2:24

And again,  

"Faith without deed is dead."

James 2:26

That is three times in nine verses where it mentions it. Pretty sure that is what you call a good warning!

So, now that I know how important doing deeds with faith is in my spiritual journey it makes me even that more excited to go and do the deeds God has called me to do.

You in?

Chapter One - James

Trials & Temptations (James 1:13-15)


Whether its all the time or occasionally, we all are tempted. We all face trials in life as well. Everyone faces different trials and have different temptations even at different times... but remember you are not alone in it.

First off why do we get tempted?

Does God tempt us? NO!  

Our evil desires and sinful nature cause us to be tempted, when we follow our temptations we sin.

"but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desires, then are dragged away

and enticed, then when desires has conceived, it gives birth to sin;

and sin, when it is full-grown gives birth to death."

James 1:14-15

First we got evil desires, then temptation which leads to sin then leads to... DEATH.

When you are tempted, something inside of you likes doing the things you know are wrong.

 The problem is in YOU! 

So next time you are tempted, remember God did not tempt you. He is waiting to give you freedom and help you through your temptation before it becomes sin! 

God made us new in Jesus.

 You may still like what you know is wrong- but pleasing God you'll love even more!  

Along with temptation we face trails in life. Whatever trial you face, bring it to God to get the pure joy found in him and him only! God's joy is pure and he gives that pure joy to us! 

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers. Whenever you face trails of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance."   

James 1:2-3

The testing of our faith develops perseverance and perseverance must finish its work! 

It makes us mature and complete. Not lacking anything. (James 1:4) 

If we are not complete and lack wisdom, what should you do? ASK GOD and he will make you complete. 

"If  any of you should lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously  

to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him."

James 1:5

BUT REMEMBER: When you ask do not doubt! 

After all this this...  remember this:

Everyone gets temptated and faces many trials.. its what we do with them that counts.

So if you're facing trails... give them up to God to find peace, joy and freedom!

If your facing temptation... Repent then and turn to God to find freedom and salvation!

I love you guys, and am always here for you.. to pray, guide, help, support, encourage and love.. so be open if you need anything!





Listening & Doing (James 1:19-27)

"...Everyone should be quick to listen slow to speak and slow to become angry."

James 1:19

PUT IT INTO PRACTICE:

"Therefore, get ride of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you which can save you. Do not merely listen to the word, and so decieve yourselves. Do what it says."

James 1:21-22

We need to make sure that we come clean with God and confess or sins so that we can see the word and act apon it more clearly. I know that after this summer at LDC and confessing my sins, i have been able to soak in the words in my Bible so much easier because my heart is pure and my shame is taken away. I encourage that you do that as well, so that we can not only listen to what God is saying to us, but to act on what it he says.

"Listening to the word but doesn't know what it says, is like a man who looks in the mirror then later forgets what he looks like."

 James 1:23-24

Lets not be the man who cant remember what he looks like, trust me that'd be quite embrassing. Instead lets look deeply into the word like we look in the mirror so we can remember it, and then act apon it so we may be blessed.

"But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives us freedom, and continues in it - not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it - they will be blessed in what they do."

James 1:25

So remember this; Cleanse, Read, Remeber, Act, & Then Be Blessed !

Love,

Hailey

Being The GOOD Apple - Intro into James

What is a GOOD apple?


I think that being a "good apple" is being the Christian that we are meant to be. It says in my Bible that just saying you believe in the Bible or Jesus does not make you a Christian.


One of the most important things to being a Christian is to practice and share your faith.


This is something that I struggle with. I have family and friends who are non-believers and yes, it is sometimes VERY hard to share and practice my faith fully with them. But it can just be hard no matter where I am and who I am with. I am trying and growing to become more bold and more aware of what it takes to be a "good apple." With school just around the corner.. I believe that reading and applying James into my life will not only help me with my faith but it will help make this school year the best yet! That is why I am happy that God placed this book on my heart at this time! 


I was asked from a friend;

        "Do you ever have those dreams where that time has come and you see one of your non Christian friends crying and you go up to them and ask them what’s wrong and they say “Why didn’t you tell me about Christ, about salvation? I am now forever separated from Him.”

I have defiantly thought about this, and it actually scares me to think of all the opportunities God gave and gives me to share Him with others but I do not go and take it or ignore it. I makes me want to change that to  actually stepping out and being bold. Sharing and practicing what God is calling me to do!  

She had also said, "Christianity isn’t something that should be hidden; people should be able to see it in your actions, in your eyes, in your words, and in your smile." 


So lets be "good apples"  together and change our world.. one person at a time ... All it takes is BOLDNESS and FAITH. 




AND REMEMBER: 

God does not expect you to be perfectly good but he does not expect you to be perfectly awful either.

The Book of James... Together!

Hello Bloggers!

This week I have been studying the book of James. This book is EXTREMELY important to read and apply. I find anyways. It goes through some of the key points to being a Christian. Its helping me become a stronger and more real Christian.

The points it covers are the ones everyone wants to hear and learn about. Temptation, Listening & Doing (Applying), Favoritism, Faith & Deeds, Taming the Tongue, Wisdom, Submitting to God, Boasting about Tomorrow, Rich Oppressors Warning, Patience in Suffereing, and The Prayer of Faith. 


I find  that reading the Bible with other people, helps because you are getting new outlooks on what it means, new ideas for applying, and accountability to actually go and read it! Agree?

So, in the next blogs, I will be going over the book and sharing my views and applications with it. Encouraging you to read and apply.. LETS DO IT TOGETHER! :)

I want you to comment with your views,  share your applications and experiences... and lets ENCOURAGE each other! But please fell free to just read and follow them as well!

Love,
Hailey

Owl City

Check out the Owl City Blog;
With Adam Young :)

http://owlcityblog.com/

The Power of Worship - Experience/ Encouragement

Umm, Woah! 

God is good Amen? 

So lets just get right into this.. this past week, two, month or two? Not too sure when it started, but a little thing called doubt popped into my head. What is doubt & what kind of doubt you ask? Well...

doubt

verb (used with object)

1.

to be uncertain about; consider questionable or unlikely;hesitate to believe.

2.

to distrust.

3.

Archaic . to fear; be apprehensive about.

verb (used without object)

4.

to be uncertain about something; be undecided in opinion orbelief.
noun

5.

a feeling of uncertainty about the truth, reality, or nature ofsomething. <--- THIS ONE

6.

distrust.

7.

a state of affairs such as to occasion uncertainty.

8.

Obsolete . fear; dread.

Yes.. number five.. that's the one! :S 

Lets back up a bit...

God, loves when we love Him and when we bring others to Him. It's what we were created and called to do! 

Satin, on the other hand HATES when God uses/brings people to Him.

To the POINT-

At/after camp. I found God working more through me then in me. This was a very tough time for me, because it made me feel spiritually weak and far from God.

I would be discouraged when someone would tell me all these experiences they've had, that God spoke to them, or if He showed himself to them. 

I would wonder why nothing ever happened like that to me or why God did not wanna show His face to me. 

This is when all the doubt came in.

I became to doubt that God was real and what I was experiencing was real. I lacked the knowledge to know what I was actually experiencing and what God was doing in me. 

Until Sunday Night...

I was at a worship night for my friends church. The band playing was the band from camp (aka friends of mine). When this worship team plays... I can always feel something from God. Weither its peace, joy, hope, or love.

This night was different. I stood singing all my favorite songs from camp and doing the actions, until one of my favorite worship song "Come Away" played. I could not just stand there. A feeling impossible to ignore. I went and sat by myself against the wall. At this time I felt like it was just God and I. No one around me, just me and him. He was singing the song to me. As I raised my hands..

Strong Sensation on my hand

Thought in my head

He was telling me to believe and know that this was the night. 

With the confusion on why my hand would not open and the smile on my face would not go away. I said my goodbyes and headed on home. 

When I had got home, I ended up having a fantastic talk with one of my campers. It was an eye opener to me, when the advise I ended up giving her was advise I should take for myself. At times like these I would get discouraged and think I was terrible to God. Not giving Him the time of day.. just reading my Bible or praying. 

But that night was different, still after like two hours of when the feeling in my hand started it was still there. I felt not discouraged but motivated and encouraged to go and read my Bible and pray. So, that's exactually what I did. 

I read the parts in my Bible that were Highlighted & Underlined. I came across a verse that concluded everything. 

Acts 13: 46-52

Not only was it the verses that struck me but it was the "Instant Access" on the side that related to these verses. 

I will even share it with you; 

"The devil doesnt bother some Christians. Like believers who go along with the crowd or who keep quiet about their relationship with Jesus. The person who doesn't go along with the crowd and who shares their faith is the one who gets persecuted. It happen in Acts. Persecution was stirred up when "the word of the Lord spread" (Acts 13:49). So if you start a morning prayer group or if a couple people become Christians through your witness, don't be surprised if you face opposition. It's not much fun, but if persecution does come, it tells you that you are getting to Satan and becoming a spiritual success!" 

That wowed me! I mean at camp with being a counselor and everything.. I've had encouraged, shared my testimony, shared God's word & love, practiced my gifts, and even had a New-Born Christian in my life. 

These verses and access completely changed the way I view what God is doing not only through me but in me. I mean at my weakest time with doubt ... God was not giving up on me and He won the battle with Satan once again. 

This is not just something for me... its something for all of us. We are all going to have times where this will happen to us. Maybe you wont get doubt, but something else. 

REMEMBER: God has already won the battle... And he'll get you through it! 

God makes all things work together for our good! 

This verse just popped out in front of me and I thank God it did! That evening, worshiping God, the sensation on my hand, thoughts in my head, and unfading smile on my face was the preparation for what God did for me at night!

And I ask myself now... How can I have doubt?!

 So God is Good... AMEN?! 

God Bless,

Hailey

A Randomly Awesome Site

Here is a link to the International House of Prayer.
You can listen to there mainstream, shop there merch, find outcoming EXCITING events and much much more!

http://www.ihop.org/

I LOVE this place <3

Enjoy,
Hailey

Just Forget.

A Devotion I Came Across .. PLEASE ENJOY!  

Do you ever kick yourself for your past mistakes? We do. We try not to do it because it is unproductive, but it remains a temptation when we make a blunder that we thought we had learned not to make. Evidently we are not alone because other people tell us they do the same thing. What is it about us and our inability to let the past be the past? Of course we need to learn from our mistakes, but having done so, why do we then form a weapon out of our mistakes with which to bash ourselves? Is it not bad enough that others will not allow us to forget? Must we remind ourselves of our own failures?
Nevertheless, many live their lives with little or no joy, or personal confidence because past errors have become a weight around their necks. Their past failures plague their lives and haunt their minds. The decision to move forward is often set aside because of the feeling of uncertainty and fear about their ability to make the right choices. Bound up, fearful and frustrated many do their best to just move on with life – yet they remain focused on the past.
Yet, in our relationship with Jesus Christ, we are able to lay aside our past mistakes and focus on the One who does not fail and the work that He wants to do in our lives. As Paul said, “Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13-14 NIV In another place he gives his reason for his personal confidence when he writes, “Such confidence as this is ours through Christ before God. Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God.” 2 Corinthians 3:4-5 NIV
Out of one’s spiritual experience God is able, not only to heal and save the eternal soul, but also to give personal direction and confidence with which one can live his life – in spite of mistakes. Realizing that it is most often only we who are holding ourselves in bondage to past mistakes, Christ seeks to set us free from the past and give us newness of life through Himself. (John 10:10)
Sadly for some, their lives often conform to their misdirected manner of thinking. Unable or unwilling to forgive themselves they seem to sink further and further into the pit of despair and hopelessness because they have become obsessed with how they have failed in the past. The good news, however, is that we can be set free from that defeated way of thinking. In Christ, all predetermined notions of future failure are nullified. We are given a clean slate and a new opportunity to become more than we have previously been in life. In Christ, the past is transformed from a legacy of failure to a learning experience that we can build upon.
There is power in believing that, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” Romans 8:31  There is even greater power in allowing God’s power and the guidance of His Word to transform us into what we had previously only hoped we could be Why not let the past be the past today?
Forget about it!
JCLU and we do too!Kim, Chynna and Zoey.

Songs To Check Out!

• you are more- fivth ave. north
• glorious day- casting crowns
• shiekniah glory- cory asbury
• city on our knees- toby mac
• perfect people- natalie grant
• not to us- chris Tomlin
• you are more- tenth avenue north
• by your side- tenth avenue north
• one mistake- seventh day slumber
• bethel loft music

*More to add soon!*

Stand Out and Be Encouraged! - Devotion

Good Afternoon Bloggers,
My first actual post;


Just wanted to share that 2 Timothy is TOTALLY worth the read! i mean every book in the Bible is.. but as for now go read 2 Timothy! Its a huge encouragement to go and share God with others, its all about forming a Godly character and then standing out! 

*I read it in less then an hour.. it was that good!*

Side note- All scripture is God inspired its used to teach, rebuke, correct, and train (2 Timothy 3:16);

teach: what truths can you discover that will help you understand God and other people?
rebuke: what have you been doing wrong that you need to change? 
correct: What can you do to become more Christ-like? 
train: What can you discover that will equip you for good deeds!? 

Love you All ... now go read it! ♥

The Intro

Hello my lovely bloggers,

I am totally pumped to share my devotions, learnings, prayer requests, experiences, and much more with you!

Blogging defiantly is something I am not gifted with, but i feel called to share what God is doing in my life.. so bare with me!

This summer, I was blessed with the opportunity to go and serve at Beaver Creek Bible Camp for four whole weeks! I started the summer off by attending a program/camp at BCBC called Leadership Development Camp (LDC). Here I learnt sooo much not only about leadership but about God and myself! It opened me up to get deeper into what God wants for our relationship and who I am in Him. Seriously, like the BEST thing I have EVER done!

But... one thing I struggle with is doing devotions. I tend to not make time for them and just don't end up wanting to do them.. (I know, I know it's horrible!) so that is why I started this blog. To get more into them... to share them and express what I had learnt! You have a part in this too... keep me accountable [Please].

So thanks for stopping by and yah... like I said.. Writing is not a strong point... Awkward.

Love,
Hailey