Christmas fatigue

Wow, it has been awhile since I have posted anything. Fatigue has set in as the holiday activities have begun. I am sure this is a common problem with many of us as we scurry around attempting to do everything that will ensure that perfect Christmas for our family and ourselves. I want to have the perfect tree and decorations, send out the yearly photo Christmas card, shop for the ideal present for each person on my list, and attend all of the "must do" events of the season. I mean, this is what Christmas is all about... Oh, wait a minute, this is what I have made Christmas become. What has happened to the celebration of the birth of my Lord. How am I showing the love of Christ to others this season? I think that I need to pray for compassion and love during this Christmas season and commit to a Christmas that represents Christ instead of one that reveals glitter and greed. How about you? What are you doing this year to celebrate the birth of our savior?

Thanksgiving outreach

We serve a mighty God and he allows us to be his hands, his mouth, his feet here on earth. I am so thankful for all the people that I see around me that are using the gifts that God gave them in service to others. I am humbled by their energy and dedication. I am grateful for the time and the love that they pour into their ministry. May God bless all the work that is being done these next few days in preparation for Thanksgiving outreach.

Give Thanks

Last night I was at the UH game (Go Bows!)when the person sitting in front of me pointed up to the sky. Of course those of us who saw her, looked up. And there sitting in the sky right in front of us was a full moon; it had just risen enough above the other side of the stadium to be seen. And I watched it rise, just enjoying it's beauty, until I could no longer see it above our seats.

There is something about the moon and the stars that grab our attention. Something that is in the realm of awe. The sky is so expansive, the stars and moon are so beautiful, and it is all so predictive. God created the sky and everything in it to be just perfect and he made it beautiful and awesome so we would notice. When we notice his creation, we notice him. When we see the beauty of the sky, we see his beauty. When we understand the expansiveness of the sky, we can begin to understand the greatness of God. When we see the full moon appear each month like clockwork, we see God's faithfulness. God wants us to know him and to know his attributes, so he places signs of who he is all around us for us to see every day. As we begin this week of Thanksgiving, I encourage you to read all of Psalm 136.
"Give thanks to the God of heaven. His love endures forever." Psalm 136:26

God is with us!

God is so good! These past few weeks have been very busy, but I see God working in my life and in the lives of those around me. No matter what comes up - God is there with us, no matter the hardships - God is there with us, no matter how tired or overwhelmed we are - God is there with us. He tells us "I will never leave you nor forsake you". (Joshua 1: 5b) I am so grateful that God is always with me! Remember, no matter what you are going through, God knows about it and he is with you. He is there to strengthen or comfort or encourage. He is there for exactly what you need.

Obedience

I have an 8 month old puppy, who is not yet always obedient. Recently, he has begun to run out the front door when I open it to come in or go out. At first, he would just take off - away he would go down the street to see what excitement he may be missing. He would get scolded, which of course he hated. He started to do better; he would run out the door and stop when called, but then off he would go. I guess he decided that the fun of exploration was greater than the disapproval from Mom. Today he ran out, stopped and then ran back in when I called his name. I still saw that moment of hesitation; he almost ran but made the decision to be obedient. He was rewarded with my approval, which he loves.

We are the same way with God sometimes. We know that we are doing something that displeases God, but we do it anyway. We want to be obedient, we may even hesitate, but in the end we allow our sinful nature take control. Obedience is not always easy to do and some times we need many scoldings from God before we learn, but how sweet it is when we respond correctly to God in obedience and know that he is pleased.

Focus on the good

We are bombarded with bad news and inappropriate thoughts, language, and images all day long. It's in the news, on television, in movies, in the paper and perhaps even in our workplace or neighborhood. This is the world in which we live. This is a world that is filled with sin. So what are we to do? Do we give up and accept that this is just the way things are? Do we pretend that it doesn't exist?

We are given the answer to this by the Apostle Paul in Philippians 3:8-9. "And now dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all that you learned and received from me - everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you."

Busyness

There is the old line that idleness is the devil's favorite weapon, but I think in today's fast paced world, it is busyness. We are all so busy that we can't sit down for a meal together, have time to enjoy a calm conversation with our family or just to give thanks for our blessings. We run from one event to another with hardly a moment to breathe. And it is all done in the name of progress or improvement. Satan loves this need that we all have to do more, be more, achieve more. The more busy we become, the less time we have for God and for our relationship with God. Satan jumps in and reminds us how important we are and how necessary each of our "things" are for our lives or our children's lives. Now don't misunderstand, being busy is okay - as long as we don't allow it to pull us away from our first priority, which is to worship the Creator. The question is whether we have prayed to God and asked him to help us decide how busy we need to be. Which activities are blessed by God and which are enjoyed by Satan? Join me today in a time of idleness. Worship the Lord and ask for help in setting priorities and boundaries on our time.
"Be still and know that I am God"

Fear Not

Ever wonder how come there are so many passages in the Bible where we are told to "fear not"? Perhaps it is because it is a natural human tendency to be fearful, and God wants to remind us that we don't have to be fearful any more. We only need to trust him. When we place our lives in the hands of Jesus, he is our protector. He has already provided eternal protection for us for all of eternity through his saving grace on the cross. What more is there to fear?

I know that in the reality of life here in this world there are frightening things happening. Sin and evil surrounds us, but we have a power greater that he who is in the world. Access that power the next time you are afraid. Draw from the strength of the Father and Son and Holy Spirit and allow the peace of God to replace the fear of satan.

"You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world." -1John 4:4

Morning praise

I just returned from my walk with my dogs this morning and I want to just praise God. I can still see a few stars in the sky, reminding me of the night of rest and of God's protection while I sleep. The sun has not yet risen but I know there is the promise of this new day. It is cool and quiet; most of the neighbors have not yet begun their day. A wonderful time to just praise God for who he is and for his perfect creation. I pray that God will bless each of you today and that you will feel his presence in all that you do. To God be the glory!

Blessed Day

What a wonderful day! I had the opportunity to fellowship with the women of my church today at a brunch at Wai'oli Tea Room in Manoa. I always love going there since the scenery and the food is great, but this was also the kickoff for a new women's bible study by Priscilla Shirer. I am excited about this study and about what I know God will be doing in the lives of all of us as we work through this study together. How wonderful it is that we can learn from each other and support one another as women of faith. I say thank you to all my sisters in Christ!

New Day

As I took my dogs for their morning walk today, I was struck by how excited they were. Especially in comparison to me! It is 5:45am and they can hardly contain their excitement. And that is how dogs are about most things. Mine just stare at me and wait for me to awake. Yea, Mom's up! Now our day can start! Can't you just see their tails wagging and see them jumping around. Now turn to me first thing in the morning. Totally different picture. "What time is it? Can I go back to sleep for another delay on the clock? What day is it anyway? Ugh!"
I need to be more like my dogs - wondering what the day will bring and excited at the prospects. "This is the day that the Lord has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it." Psalms 118:24

Privilege of serving

As I have been preparing for my first sermon to give in class, I have become acutely aware of the privilege that it entails. To have the opportunity to teach or preach God's message to others is truly a blessing. It is also a responsibility that must not be taken lightly. I don't know if I will ever be called to preach outside of this class, but I do know that I have been called to teach God's word. Either way, I am struck by how it humbles me. Who am I to be used in this way? I think that anything that God has called us to do should be considered sacred and a blessing, for we are serving The Living God. Lord, I pray for wisdom and guidance and I am thankful for the opportunity to serve you. I pray for all of those that are reading this blog, that you will show each of them how to use their gifts and talents for you as we all move forward on our journey of faith in service.

Gentleness

"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near." - Philippians 4:4-5

The Apostle Paul begins his exhortation on the way to stay firm in the Lord with this
passage. First, we are to rejoice always, no matter the circumstances. Second, our gentleness should be seen by all - not just our fellow Christians on Sunday morning, but all through the week in all circumstances. Gentleness, used here means Christlike consideration for others. Third, remember that the Lord is always with us.
Very simple - in theory. More difficult to actually do. I want to focus on the Christlike consideration for others this week because I know I often fail in this area. Remember that the Lord is near and wants to assist us in our weaknesses.

I just got home from class and am excited about what I know we are going to learn this term. I am taking preaching, which would have terrified me in the past, but God has been placing me in speaking situations over and over again preparing me for this.  Every time I get in front of a group and speak, I know God is with me.  It is one of those things I can not do on my own power.  God uses our weakness to reveal his power.  We listened to a sermon tonight to critique it and I was struck by a comment made in the sermon.  The speaker said that theology matters, meaning that using our heads to learn about God and to understand God's word, leads to worshiping God with our hearts.  I love the blessings that I have received through these classes and the more I learn, the more I love God.

Focus

Well, it has been several days since I posted anything so I apologize.  I have been helping David move into town and was preparing a lecture to give at a conference today, so my focus was elsewhere.  However, there are always other things to distract us and to keep us busy.  I have to be careful that I don't let all the things that need to get done take priority over time with God or in doing the things that I know that God has directed me to do. God is so good and has such good plans for our lives, but we need to follow that plan.  I did accomplish alot this weekend and did alot of important things.  I needed to have time with my husband and sons and friends - God doesn't want me to given up these relationships.  But I think he does want me to keep my focus on the task that he has laid on my heart and to set up my schedule in a way that will allow me to keep moving forward.  In this way I will honor God.

Attention

I was trying to check my emails this morning before work and my dog, Chewy, jumped up in my lap and stood in front of the screen and pushed my hand off the mouse.  If I tried to go back to my work, he would do anything he could to block me.  I love the way dogs just tell it like it is.  He was saying that he was more important than what I was doing.  He wanted my time and my attention.  It made me stop and give him some love and take him for his walk.
I think that I would be better off if God would do the same thing to me.  If he would just make the TV shut off or gently nudge me off the sofa when I am being lazy, then I would be reminded that my priorities might be wrong.  Instead I have to rely on my faithfulness to God, which often fails the test.  I get caught up in my activities of the day and lose track of the time.  I need to keep God as my center.  He also wants and deserves my time and attention.  Thank you Lord for your patience with me.

Peace

I feel very peaceful today even though it is Monday and one of the other providers at work was sick and another is on vacation, so I needed to pick up extra patients today.  I feel peaceful today even though it is also the end of our fiscal year, so end of year reports and updates on programs and our self evaluations are all due.  I feel peaceful today even though I have agreed to do a lecture in one week for the Hawaii PA Conference and I haven't even started on my powerpoint presentation.  I feel peaceful today because I spent some good quality time with God this weekend and God's peace is within me.  The peace of God can fill us, so that we don't have to get  or anxious when life gets busy (which is all the time for most of us).  The peace of God is my calm in the storm.  I know that God is in control and as long as I do my part, all the things that I really need to get done, will get done.  Peace - what a wonderful gift!

"Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace.  And be thankful."  Colossians 3:15

One Month

I realized today that it has been a month since I started this blog.  For the first couple of weeks, I only shared it with 2 or 3 people, then I told a few more each week.  I still have only a small following but I am being faithful to God's direction and trust that God will use it to help or bless someone.  I do ask for those who are following my thoughts/devotions/ramblings, to please share the site with someone that you feel could use it.  Also, I love to have comments, but don't feel obligated.  I try to share what is on my heart and hope you will joint me on this endeavor to live a life of faith in such a way that those around us can see Christ.

As I review the postings of the past month, I can see areas that I still need to work on.  But that's okay.  God knows that I am a work in progress.  I think that it helps me to review my past convictions, so I can continue to focus and pray on these areas.  I know that God is faithful and that through him, all things are possible - even memorizing scripture.  Let's keep each other in prayer as we move forward in faith this week.

Passion

I was thinking on my drive to work this morning about trying to incorporate my passions in life into my ministry.  I have a passion for teaching God's word and for scrapbooking, so I have been investigating ways to bring these passions into service opportunities.  While I was thinking on these ideas, I was immediately convicted on the fact that while God has given me these gifts and in fact has given me the passion for these things, my first passion needs to be for Jesus.  I get so caught up in serving Jesus or teaching about God, that I forget to show my passion about Jesus.  In fact, I think I don't even feel passionate about Jesus.  I hate to admit that but I need to be honest. I love him, I worship him, I try to live my life for him, but am I truly passionate about him?  Do I share with others a passion for Jesus?  Sadly, no.  This is my prayer for today, to develop and display a passion for my Savior and Lord.

seeking

I have been exploring possible service opportunities and don't yet know if any of them will be the right place for me to serve right now.  I am simply following through on ideas and opportunities that jump into my mind or doors that seem to be opening.  I realize that in the past I have often had a sense of call or seen a possible need to fill, but then I don't bother to follow through.  Sometimes, I even have really good ideas but lose interest.  I then will say that God didn't open the right doors, when in fact, it was just that I didn't want to put myself out there.  I was being disobedient to God. I am now trying to be more intentional on my part and then trusting God to work out the details on where he wants me to serve.  To serve faithfully, we first need to offer ourselves up to God and then be active in prayer and action, seeking and then using God's wisdom and discernment as a guide.  Who knows where God will lead us?

Slowing down

My youngest son, Kyle, is learning to drive and he needs to log 50 hours of driving.  I took a long ride with him up to the north shore today and we stopped by the farmers market and had a nice lunch in Haliewa.  It was a very nice day, but riding in a car with someone who is following the speed limit exactly made me realize just how much we tend to rush through things.  (And how much most of us really speed - I admit to my lead foot).  It was a gorgeous day with beautiful scenery, but everyone was anxious to get around us to go faster.  I think that God probably looks at us daily with this question - what is the rush?  He gives us things to do and a plan for our life, but not in order to just rush off to the next item or event.   He created the beauty that is around us because it tells us who he is.  As we slow down and reflect on our day or his creation, it should cause us to worship the Creator.  So today I encourage each of us to slow down and enjoy God's creation.  "Be still and know that I am God."

Be strong and courageous

Be strong and courageous!  This command is spoken to Joshua 4 times in the first chapter of the book of Joshua, three times by the Lord and once by his officers. Makes it sound like it is an important command, doesn't it.  And it is a command from the Lord.  It isn't a suggestion or request.  The Lord commands Joshua to be strong and courageous, for he knows the difficulties that lie ahead.  Joshua has just taken leadership of the Israelites and he will be the one to lead them into the Promised Land.  They have followed Moses since leaving Egypt, but now they have a new leader.  And the Lord tells him to be strong and courageous.  He also tells him how to do this.  Obey the law (v.7), meditate on God's word and do what it says (v.8).  He then gives two promises-he tells Joshua that he will be prosperous and successful (v.8) and that God will be will him wherever he goes (v.9).

Now this command was given specifically to Joshua but it can apply to us today as well.  As I try to live a life of faithful obedience, I need to remember to be strong and courageous.  For by myself, I tend to be weak and fearful.  As I step out in faith and become obedient to God's direction for my life, for areas of service and for ways to witness, I need to remember this command - BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS!  For God commands this and he promises that he will be with me. I pray that each of us will be strong and courageous in our walk with God. 

Pleasing words

I am convicted tonight about my words.  I know that God desires my words to be for encouragement and lifting others up, but how often do I let that little comment slip out and wish I could take it back.  Or worse yet, purposefully say something hurtful or prideful or take part in gossip.  I know that God has called me to encourage and inspire others; it is part of his plan for my life.  But I constantly have to pray for wisdom and guidance on how to control my tongue.  I often need to allow for silence or quiet reflection instead of jumping in with advice.  Psalm 19:14 says "May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer."  Those around me hear my words and they should reflect my faith, but I must remember that God also "hears" my heart.  Both need to be pleasing to God.

Being honest with God

I have been reading the psalms for the past few days.  I love the honesty that is displayed by the writers of these verses.  In the book of Psalms we can see love, anguish, praise, anger, and just about every emotion that can be expressed.  I love the reminder that God wants all of us; he wants us to be honest in our conversations with him.  I know that I try to be "holy" sometimes in my prayers, expressing what I think God would like to hear.  But in the Psalms, we see the good and bad all displayed openly. God can't really help us or heal us without our honesty, because it shows our lack of trust, our lack of faith in God.  And of course, he already knows what we are really thinking and feeling anyway - we aren't surprising him!  For today, for me though, it is all praise.

"I will praise you, O Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonders. I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.   (Psalm 9:1-2)

God is Awesome!

I am getting ready to go to church this morning and just want to give a little shout out to God first.  God is so awesome and gracious and loving.  He knows just what we need and when we need it.  The more I study and learn on faith, the more blessed I feel.  And, the more I realize just how far I still need to go.  It is a daily walk and a daily commitment, not a one time event.  The christian life is not easy, but it is a  life worth living to it's fullest - in the way that God intended. 

I pray that each of you will have a truly blessed Sabbath today and that God will speak to your heart in a meaningful way.  May God bless each of you.
OUR GOD IS AN AWESOME GOD! 

building spiritual muscles

I have 3 sons who are 17, 19, &21 years old and they all work out and lift weights regularly.  They often spend several hours a day on lifting, running, exercising, planning the correct amount of protein to consume and eating healthy. They are very dedicated to their passion and to their goal.  They realize that it takes time and commitment to develop those oh so coveted "6-pack abs or killer biceps".  They show their dedication and I am proud of them for their commitment.

It makes me wonder, however, about my dedication and commitment to my faith.  Sadly, I can't be as proud of myself in this area. What would happen if I spent even one tenth of the amount of time that my sons spend on building physical muscles each week, on time with God?  What kind of spiritual muscles could I build with that time?  Where or how would God be able to use me if I had just a small portion of the passion that they reveal in their workouts? Faith and spiritual maturity requires time and energy and a passion for God.  I need to commit to build strong spiritual muscles through quiet time with God, prayer, and bible study. A workout with an eternal reward!

memorizing scripture

I have always struggled with memorizing scripture.  I don't know why; maybe I have been too lazy or maybe I haven't fully committed myself to the endeavor.  I know how important it is to know God's word, to have it at the tip of our tongue when we need it, to know the location of a particular passage.  And yet, I still struggle.  I know that I can do this with God's help, and that is what I pray for now.  I pray for God to give the desire, the time and the persistence to place his word in my heart and in my mind.
I am placing this challenge of faith out to everyone.  If this is not a struggle for you, then pray for the rest of us.  No specific passage or time line, just start with a favorite passage, or one that speaks to you today. 

Weekend blessings

It has been a busy few days and I have failed to post anything.  But God has been blessing me greatly, as usual.  I had a wonderful Saturday as my friend, Karen, taught me how to make some beautiful cards.  It was truly a blessing to take the time to just spend time with friends and to have a little creative time as well.  Yesterday, we celebrated David's birthday by eating at the Cheesecake Factory.  YUM!!!  The diet can start again tomorrow.  David is now 21years old.  I don't know where the time has gone but God blessed me greatly with this wonderful son.  He is caring and thoughtful and so much fun.  Today we are celebrating with his friends with a barbecue at our house.  I won't be much help since I pulled my back yesterday while putting away all the food we bought.  But, there is even a blessing in that.  I will have to let David be the host and not worry about anything.  And, I will have no excuse for not studying for my final.  And, today is an extra day to spend with family; got to love those holidays!

Faith is trusting God and thanking God in all circumstances and I pray that each of us will continue to grow in this test of faith called life.

Action

Praise God! I just completed by research paper, which is really good news since I have to turn it in tomorrow night.  These papers are always such a struggle and very time consuming, but I learn so much through the research on each one.  In fact, the problem is that I want to read every word in each book, instead of focusing on the specific topic.  It's easy to get off track on something else that is interesting. And there is always something new to learn about the Bible.

It does, however, bring up a good reminder. As interesting as a certain topic might be in a biblical commentary, we need to realize that it is not the reading or studying in itself that is useful.  It is, instead, what we do with the knowledge.  After reading something new or recognizing a new concept from a passage, we need to immediately ask ourselves, "how can I apply this?"   Or better yet, stop and pray over it and allow God to show us how to apply it to our own lives and in service to him.  This is my challenge and possibly yours as well - to allow God's word to become an action plan for my life.

Time with God

Today I had a doctors appointment in town at 10am, so I decided to take the whole day off.  A very unusual occurrence but one that I knew would be nice.  I got up at my usual time and just puttered around the house and read a little.  My two dogs were so content with me being there.  When I returned home, they were thrilled.  What a short day! they must have thought.  They got to go out whenever they wanted, got a few extra treats and even an extra walk.  But the best part of the day, (I think they would say if they could talk), was that they got to be with Mom all day.  Our dogs want to just spend time with us.  Same with our loved ones.  There is nothing better than hanging out with family or friends and developing a stronger relationship.

I believe that God is the same way.  He longs to have us spend time with him, to get to know him better and to develop a stronger relationship with him.  How much time do I give to God in prayer and worship, in reading his word and listening to him in quietness?  Do I give him as much time as I give my dogs?  I don't think I want to answer that question.  Faith is not stagnant, it needs to grow and the only way to mature in faith is to focus on God. 

     I love the way God works through his word.  I have been studying the book of James and in fact, writing my research paper on faith as discussed in James.  So of course, I am fairly immersed in this topic currently. But apparently not enough, because the message today at church included the very passage that I have been working on for the past few days - James 1:2-4.  Don't you just love it when God does that?
     These verses essentially tell us that trials happen in our life for the purpose of testing our faith.  As our faith is tested, we develop perseverance, which leads to the ultimate goal of spiritual maturity.  Each difficulty that we face is, in fact helping us to grow in our walk with God.  James even makes the radical statement that we should be joyful as we recognize this fact.  God blesses us in our trials.  If we continue to turn to him for comfort, wisdom and strength during the hard circumstances of life, our faith and our understanding of God will increase.  God's desire is for a progression of our faith over time and he knows exactly what each of us needs for this growth. 

I have finally made a decision to move to another church.  It has not been an easy decision, for I love my brothers and sisters at the old church, but I feel that God is directing me to move and I have peace in my  heart over the decision.  I have been visiting for awhile, but it is time to make the commitment and to plug into where God wants me to serve.  I am looking forward to new possibilities and new opportunities, for I know that God always has a plan.  I might not have one, but God always does.  I pray that I will listen to God and discern his will as I journey forward in faith.

Blessings

Today has been a blessed day.  Two or three times a month, I drive over to the other side of the island to work at Kaneohe Marine Base.  The beauty of the drive never ceases to amaze me.  As I come out of the tunnel on the other side of the mountain, there is an incredible panoramic view of God's scenery - the steep cliffs of the mountain range and the ocean all visible.  God "did good" when he created Hawaii!  And God has blessed me by placing me in this paradise.  I don't deserve to see this beauty every day.  I also don't deserve all the other blessings that God has given me but I am grateful. 
We need to  remember that none of us deserve God's mercy and grace and forgiveness, but he gives them to us anyway.  And while God does not need a payment for his gifts, he does deserve our devotion and our faithful service. What an awesome God we serve!

Being an example

I have a 3 year old poodle mix (Chewy) and his son (Max), who is now 6 months old.  Both are cute and hyperactive and make me laugh every day.  I took them for their walk after I came home from work today and  couldn't help but  laugh as I watched Max.  Over the past few months, he has been slowing learning to copy all the things that Chewy does.  Initially, Max only ran along beside Chewy, but then he learned to start smelling everything and finally that he was suppose to be doing his business.  Now he is just a mimic.  Today for the first time he did that little back leg scratch thing that dogs do in the grass, showing who is in charge - just like Chewy.  Chewy has been demonstrating to Max what it means and what it looks like to be a dog. 

It made me think about how we also set the example for our children.  What are we teaching them about faith, about God, about priorities and about service.  What am I teaching my children on how to be a Christian?  As I examine my life, I have to admit that I have fallen down in this area as my children have gotten older.  They see me reading, praying, serving at church and worshiping God.  But do they see me as living a life truly in service?  I fear that I have not demonstrated a faith that is always lived out in service to others.  As I continue on this journey, I will be more aware of how I reveal my Christian life to my children and to others,  so that I can be a better witness.

Being faithful in the little things

Today I came home from work and answered some emails- finally.  I often glance over email messages quickly and plan to get back to those that need an answer later.  Sounds reasonable, but of course, later gets pushed back to never.  So much time passes, an answer is no longer required.  So what is wrong with this?  After all, we are all busy and understand. 
Well, the problem is that I am not being faithful to my commitments or friendships or whatever is involved. What example am I setting?  As Christians, we are called to live a life that mirrors Christ, in everything we do.  Not just the big things, but in everything.  My failure to answer an email in a timely manner is showing my selfishness.  It shows my pride by saying that my time is more important than the other person.  Now of course, there are times where we just can't do everything and priorities need to be set, but this is not the case in this discussion.
I realize that I need to be faithful in the little things because they form the pattern of my life.  How can I expect to live a life of faithful service to others, if I don't begin with common courtesy.

The First Step

As I study the book of James in the New Testament, I realize just how much of my faith is superficial.  James tells us that faith without action is not really faith at all.  In other words, if we don't live our faith, show our faith through service to others, then we need to question our true commitment to God. I realize how much of my faith is only talk.  I know my heart and God knows my heart, but left in my heart, my faith does not produce fruit - it doesn't result in action or service to others.  We are called to become like Jesus, who was all action.  His life was service - teaching, healing, mentoring.

My first step on this journey of faith is to start a blog.  This is a big step, since I have never even read a blog before, which I am sure you can readily tell by this first post.  I hope to inspire and encourage others to join me on a journey of faith - a challenge to live life as James describes and God expects.


Sharon