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