James 4:1 What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? 2 You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. 3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. 4 You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. 5 Or do you think Scripture says without reason that the spirit he caused to live in us envies intensely? 6 But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." 7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.11 Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. 12 There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you--who are you to judge your neighbor? 13 Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money." 14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. 15 Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that." 16 As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil. 17 Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins.
So, we focus on money and buying and work and business dealings, for what? Isn't it enough to focus on the One who knows everything we need for life? Isn't it enough to walk day after day serving and loving each other full time? What a wonderful calling? No matter where you are, to see your work as a calling to love and serve. This includes within work, business and more important, family.
There are no exceptions to the order of our life's call. God first, family second and ministry third. If this is scrambled in another order (Oh well if you come here you'll see the rest) when you ask, you cannot expect it to be given to you.
I started not to copy the entire chapter of James and it then came to me our whole focus determines outcome. We are called to seek God first above all things. We cannot 'fall short' here. It is not by works, it is by the heart we serve Him and in following His lead, we serve each other. When we don't do this and know that we should, we do 'fall short' of His complete and perfect will for our lives.
I am learning everyday, as I search and know what I should do and He knows my needs.
And another thing I am learning is to Bless the Lord regardless of what comes at me. And this morning it is my computer, or Explorer and then Firefox or both (that means slow!!). Oh well!Even my computer is showing me how to 'slow' down!
This is Your Day Lord, I give it to you, to be more open and aware of those around me. To really see and feel their heart as they search for Truth to be set free.
Off we go and it's still morning...unbelievable...
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/199/478332550_9d533b6c19.jpg?v=0
Video & Song
'Blessed Be Your Name' Matt Redman
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Qp11X6LKYY&NR=1
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