James 1 - 5.19.26

SCRIPTURE:  James 1:2 – 4

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

OBSERVATION

Many consider the author of this book to be Jesus’ half-brother, James. Some commentaries say verses 2 – 12 deal with the temptations that God can use to produce Christ-likeness in our life. Later in verses 13 – 17 the temptations are the “un-holy temptations” that come from sin.

Trials and temptations come in various forms and situations. James says, in verse 2, that “whenever” you encounter trials - not an “if” but “whenever.” Trials are inevitable.

APPLICATION

I can safely say that everyone reading this has encountered some sort of trial in their life. Personally, I’ve encountered many life altering events at different times in my life. Some early trials began when I was maybe 4 or 5 when my mom’s boyfriend held me hostage. Then when I was around 7 years old, the courts took me away from my mom. While under their care, I was molested and lived in the foster care system for several years. Afterwards I had emotional seizures from all the trauma. Then several years after returning home to my mom, she was severely burned in a fire she started when, during an OD of prescription drugs, she fell asleep smoking and caught her bed on fire. She spent about 6 months in the hospital with 2nd and 3rd degree burns, almost died several times, and then had many years learning to walk and function. All of this took place by the time I was 12 - 13 years old. Thankfully Jesus had his hand on my life, the Gospel was shared with me and I asked Jesus into my life shortly before she was burned.

No one can say they have “joy” in the moment a trial begins, however, when we understand the trial can produce perseverance and wisdom, then joy can follow. When a trial begins, is easy for our flesh to creep in and cause worry, not trusting Jesus, or even being angry at God. There have been too many times I’ve allowed the fear to creep in, but God is gracious when I’ve run back to him asking forgiveness. Always remember in the moment of crisis is a choice on how to respond. You can choose God’s direction, protection from something worse, and lean into the Lord or go in the opposite direction. Recognizing the trial can strengthen you will change your entire perspective. It can be a source of motivation and strength.

One small word in this section of scripture was the key of understanding for me about my own attitude towards trials. I can either “let” the trials work in my life or not take that step. The word “let” implies an action on our part. It’s a conscious choice to “let” endurance work with the end results of perseverance, wisdom and maturity. On the other hand, a choice can be made to:

Rebel against them, lose heart or give up - Hebrews 12:5 - “And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says, “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you.”

Grumble or complain - 1 Corinthians 10:10 - “And do not grumble, as some of them did.”

In choosing to rebel, lose heart, grumble or complain, you can guarantee to have more trials in your life. God desires to mold you to be more like Christ. Each trial and tribulation brings you one step closer to being more Christ-like – that’s if you make the choice to “let” the process mold you.

In Hebrews 12:11 we see what trials also produce  – “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” The important part to this particular Scripture is the “harvest of righteousness and peace” are for those “who have been trained by it.”  Again, it’s a choice on our part to allow the trails to shape, mold, and train us to be more like Christ so we can have righteousness and peace.

Trials can also deepen our trust in God. We can witness His faithfulness in bringing us through the trial or we can allow bitterness to creep in which fuels anger against God. I could have chosen to be a bitter person from all that happened in my early life. Instead, those trails caused me to praise Him for His faithfulness. It’s all in the choices we make. Just like God gives us the choice to choose salvation through Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, we have the choice to let the trials of life bring us closer to Jesus. If we choose to accept the trial’s end result, we can then “consider it all joy” because our faith can grow, we can become stronger, and ultimately be complete lacking in nothing through Jesus.

PRAYER

Lord, I commit my life to you. You are my savior! Thank you for being there with me through all the trials and tribulations in life. Forgive me for the times when I’ve been weak and struggled through some trials. Although trials can be difficult, I take comfort knowing you will never leave me or forsake me (Deuteronomy 31:8).  With you by my side, I know these trials can be used to strengthen me for your service. Guide me through each event so I can show others about Jesus in my life and glorify your name. I’m so thankful for all of the trials in my life. I consider them joy as you’ve helped me to persevere, and I lack in nothing in you. Praise your mighty name, Jesus!  Amen

- Mary Oberg

Genesis 24 - 5.18.26

Scripture

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Genesis‬ ‭24‬:‭45‬ ‭NIV‬‬

““Before I finished praying in my heart, Rebekah came out, with her jar on her shoulder. She went down to the spring and drew water, and I said to her, ‘Please give me a drink.’”

Observation

Abraham was getting old and requested from his senior servant that he find a wife for his son, Isaac. The servant prayed to the Lord that he would be successful in fulfilling this oath to his master. He even prayed for specific signs to reveal that the woman he met would be Isaac’s future wife. Verse 15 says, “Before he had finished praying, Rebekah came out with her jar on her shoulder.“ The Lord had already led Rebekah to the servant before he finished his prayer requests to the Lord!

Application

Keep praying! God knows our heart’s desires even before we ask Him.

“And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” -Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭7‬-‭8‬ ‭NIV‬‬

The amazing thing about Abraham’s servant’s prayer was that He consulted the Lord for His will and didn’t just try to search for any woman that fit Abraham’s criteria.

The  Lord has been encouraging me to reevaluate my prayer life. Do I truly ask for His will for my life or my own will for my life to keep me comfortable, successful and without problems?

“When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.” -James‬ ‭4‬:‭3‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Even when I ask the Lord to take me out of suffering instead of through it, that can be selfish too, especially if it is not His will. In His Word, it says that Jesus learned obedience through suffering. So if God’s ultimate goal is to make me more like His Son, I shouldn’t be surprised by suffering, but rather know that He will be with me through it. (It just hit me! One thing I/we will never experience that Jesus had to experience on the Cross, was when His Father turned His face away from Him when He took upon our sins. Because of Jesus, we will never have to experience or endure being apart from God! Thank You Lord!)

“During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered.” -‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭5‬:‭7‬-‭8‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.” -1 Peter‬ ‭4‬:‭12‬-‭14‬ ‭NIV‬‬

There have been prayers that I have fasted and petitioned the Lord for for many years and some prayers that stayed in my heart. I didn’t even verbally express them to Jesus or anyone else, but they got answered!

Prayer is communication with God and asking Him for His will for our lives, not our own. Let us not give up in lifting up our prayers to Him!

“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.” -‭‭1 John‬ ‭5‬:‭14‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Prayer

Dear Lord,

I admit that sometimes I don’t want to ask You for things because I don’t want to be disappointed and hear “No.” However, I am reminded by Your Word that You already know all the desires of my heart and to never give up requesting things, especially things that are in line with Your will. May I submit to whatever Your will is and not get disappointed when I get the answer I do not desire. Help my prayers to align with Your will and even when they don’t, I pray that I would always run to You, knowing that eventually my prayers will be answered and align with Your will. Amen.

-Michelle Gaddi

Psalm 84 - 5.15.26

Scripture Psalm 84:1 - 12

How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord Almighty! 

My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.

Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself,
where she may have her young - a place near your altar,
Lord Almighty, my King and my God.

Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you.

Blessed are those whose strength is in you, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.

As they pass through the Valley of Baka, they make it a place of springs;
the autumn rains also cover it with pools.

They go from strength to strength, till each appears before God in Zion.

Hear my prayer, Lord God Almighty; listen to me, God of Jacob. 

Look on our shield, O God; look with favor on your anointed one.

Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere;
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God then dwell in the tents of the wicked.

For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor;
no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.

Lord Almighty, blessed is the one who trusts in you.

Observation:

There is no better place to be than God’s presence. David talks about how he loves to be in God’s courts. A King holds “court” himself.  It is a place where people come and have an audience with him. This is an analogy David is familiar with. 

We always have an audience with God.  Jesus sent the Holy Spirit. Now the temple God dwells in is not a building.  We are God’s temple. 

“Don’t you know that yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?  1 Corinthians 3:16

When we are on a “pilgrimage,” our daily walk with God, and go through a dry valley, we make it a place of springs.  God in us shifts the atmosphere around us. God’s presence in us and our attitude of praise, have the power to transform places we go and the people we interact with.  He is a sun and a shield who bestows favor and honor.  He does not withhold any good thing from those whose walk is blameless.  We are blessed, happy when we trust in him.

Application

One of my favorite songs, “Better is One Day” by Hillsong, comes from this Psalm. Being in God’s presence and worshipping fill us up like nothing else can.  Reading this today, in its entirety, opened up an even greater meaning.  We have the “better” wherever we are because we are God’s temple.  His court is available any time and we can cry out to Him wherever we are.  This is a fact I want to remember as I go about my day.  My days are better when I dwell in His Court.

I also want to remember that He withholds no good thing.  When I walk with God, I will have good things as I seek His plan.

Prayer

Dear Lord,

You are amazing!  You created such a beautiful world and wonderful people to interact with.  Please help me remember every day can be the best day because your presence goes with me. You, glorified in me, has the ability to transform dry places.  Please help me worship you and bring your blessing everywhere I go. When things are discouraging or not happening the way I hoped, please help me trust you knowing that you don’t withhold good things. Thank you for providing all I need and that I always have an audience with you.

Amen

- Cindy Howard