James 1:2-4 - "We Won't Be Shaken"

At 4:30 AM the words to "We Won't Be Shaken" were going through my head...

Whatever will come my way
Through fire or pouring rain
We won't be shaken
No we won't be shaken
Whatever tomorrow brings
Together we'll rise and sing
That we won't be shaken

I told Doc before going to bed that it seems like when one thing doesn't get me something else comes my way. He explained that it how spiritual warfare goes. The enemy does not like the way I live a life surrendered to the Lord's will. As these words came to my mind, it made me more determined than ever to continue living in this manner...

You know my every longing
You've heard my every prayer
You've held me in my weakness
Cause you are always there
So I'll stand in full surrender
It's your way and not my own
My mind is set on nothing less
Than you and you alone
I will not be moved oh

I will stand upon James 1:2-4 and persevere. I will not allow this new pain to stop me. It would be so much easier to stay home and go back to bed this morning but I refuse to allow the enemy to win. I am to sing the special this morning and had my song picked out. A couple days ago the Lord told me that I was to sing a different song but He didn't tell me which one. This morning He took me to "Just A Closer Walk With Thee"...

1. I am weak, but Thou art strong;
   Jesus, keep me from all wrong;
   I’ll be satisfied as long
   As I walk, let me walk close to Thee.
   • Refrain:
     Just a closer walk with Thee,
     Grant it, Jesus, is my plea,
     Daily walking close to Thee,
     Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.

Oh my, yes! It is going to take a closer walk with Him in order to stand up against the things that come my way. Part of me wonders if I haven't been walking close enough to Him and that is why the new pain. Another part of me wonders if the enemy is after me. I truly believe it is the enemy.

Dear Jesus,
Thank You for Your love, mercy and grace! Thank You for Your strength that allows me to stand up against things such as this new pain. Father, I pray in Your mighty name to heal me but in the process of that healing I pray for You to be glorified in all my words, actions and especially my attitude. Take away the distraction of this pain. Flow through me in abundance and be blessed as I am You to others. Thank You Jesus for being My Strength. Amen.

James 4:14-15 - "Awake"

There are too many people in this world who believe waiting on accepting the Lord, stopping bad habits, changing a life style, etc. can wait. We never know when the Lord will return. If do not live in the manner He so desires of us now, we won't be living with Him for eternity. Everything we do on this earth impacts our eternal being. If we make the decision to do His will, we will be with Him forever. However, if we make the decision to live a life of our own desires we may not have the time to make a decision where we live for eternity. Yesterday we saw a person run a red light and come within inches of t-boning a woman. The look on her face was one of terror as the car came so close to hitting her door. There wasn't time to pray for her before as it happened so fast but I sure prayed for her afterward. I prayed for her to have eternal peace. Her life on this earth could have been over in just the blink of an eye. But God spared her. I pray she realizes that and lives for Him. The sooner we all realize our purpose on this earth is to live out His will, the sooner we will be ready to die. 

James 4:14-15 describes us as being "a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes." As I thought about a mist I thought about how it isn't clear. It is foggy and you cannot focus well in it. That is how a person who is not living in God's will lives. They are in a fog because their focus isn't on 'The Light' of Christ. Jesus is the only One to offer us the ability to focus on a life of eternity with Him. His way of life is one that is everlasting. But in order to have everlasting life we first must accept Him and then we must live in His will every day while on this earth. We must be willing to walk where He leads and talk what He gives us to say. We must remember He has a plan for us even when His direction seems 'weird' and we may not want to follow it. Yesterday as He told me to tell the waitress He loved her and she was beautiful I questioned Him. I was so thankful I was obedient when I saw and heard her response. She needed to hear those words. I also believe she needed the physical contact of me taking her hand when I told her and then the hug as we left. I know beyond a shadow of a doubt she saw and heard Him through me yesterday. I am thankful for the day I chose to quit living in the fog. I am thankful for the clear, blue skies that follow me throughout my days. Even when storm clouds come into my life my focus is sharp on Him. In fact, I believe when the storms come my focus gets even clearer and it's all because I chose to live the life He has for me.

Dear Jesus,

Thank You for loving me so greatly! Thank You for allowing me to live out Your will on this earth. Oh how I pray for more people to realize You are the Way of Life they need. I pray for those who are seeking You to find You. I pray for those who are living part in the world and part for You to take the plunge into living a life fully for You. I pray for those who are living in a fog to see The Light of holy living. Father, fill me to overflowing so people see and hear You through me throughout this day. I pray for all the many prayer requests that came my way yesterday. Physical, mental, financial...most of all the spiritual needs. I pray specifically for the one seeking healing in her physical body to receive healing in her spiritual body. I also pray specifically for the situation where a Momma and little guy need protection. I pray she is living in Your strength. Thank You Jesus for being My Light. Amen.

James 4:7 - "Priceless"

I woke up to these words of "Priceless" by King and Country...

I see you dressed in white
Every wrong made right
I see a rose in bloom
At the sight of you
Oh so priceless
Irreplaceable
Unmistakable
Incomparable
Darling it's beautiful
I see it all in you
Oh so priceless

This is how the Lord sees us. We are special to Him. We are not trash. We are not something to ignore. We are special. This is a hard concept to grasp in today's society. The enemy tells us lies about how no one can love us, we have made too many mistakes, etc. Those are just lies. God loves us with an unconditional love. When we make a mistake, no matter how big it is, He is ready to take us into His arms and love us. Yesterday I took this picture not knowing when I would use it but I saw such simple beauty in it. 

As I look at this picture, I see a beautiful rose but I also see lots of buds all around it. God sees beautiful when He sees us. He also sees room for growth in our spiritual bodies. We must grow closer to Him in order to submit to Him. The only way to stay away from the evil one is to be in completion submission to Him. Once again I think of how salvation is not enough. It is only the first step to living the way the Lord desires of us. He desires all to be as beautiful as this rose. He knows it takes work on our part but He gives the strength to accomplish that work when we humble ourselves before Him and allow Him to live in and through us. There is no other way to live than in a 24/7 relationship with Him.

Dear Jesus,
Thank You for the beauty of this rose and the lesson You shared with me through it this morning. Thank You for a 24/7 lifestyle where You are in control. Father, thank You for all the ways You loved on me yesterday. I pray for a lessening of pain in my breast unless You want to use this pain for Your glory. Then I say 'bring it on and use it'! Father, I also pray for the day ahead. I pray I will be a blessing to You in my words, actions and attitude. I pray You will ooze out of me so people will not see/hear me but rather You. I pray people who I come in contact with that are listening to the enemy will see/hear how You see them as beautiful. I praise You for the day I quit listening to him and allowed You to speak words of affirmation into me. Thank You for being My Fullness. Amen.

James 1:13-15 - "Clean"

I woke up this morning singing Natalie Grant's "Clean"....

There's nothing too dirty that You can't make worthy
You wash me in mercy
I am clean.

Last night I was asked, "Miss Sheila what is the worst thing you've ever done?" 
My reply, "I'm not going to tell you.
"Why? You tell me yours and I'll tell you mine."
What an awesome teaching opportunity! I explained everything 'bad' I've ever done is no longer because I've asked the Lord to forgive me and He has wiped my slate clean. My sins are no longer in His mind. Therefore, I do not have to think about them myself! This happened at the end of class. I wish it would have been earlier so I would have had more time to explain. Hopefully a seed was planted to get this young man thinking and I will have further time to explain it. We don't have to fret over the past. It is just that. The past. When we repent, the Lord forgives us and He forgets our transgressions. Sometimes we have a hard time forgetting and even forgiving ourselves. But we don't have to. This song says it all...

Washed in the blood of Your sacrifice
Your blood flowed red and made me white
My dirty rags are purified
I am clean

Clean. Not just partly but completely. He cleanses us when we allow Him to. Natalie Grant writes about this song:

"I think maybe what there has been is an absence of light. I think that what's happened is that there's not enough good being done in the world and instead we're focusing on the evil," she continued.

Grant proceeded to note different dark times in world history, pointing out Hitler and slavery.

"I think that with the growth of social media we're just so much more aware of evil, and that's what this album's about – is to get our focus on the problem of the world and the problems in your own world and to get your focus back on Jesus, the king of the world, the one who is still in control. Instead of pointing your fingers at other people and saying, 'I need you to do this for me,' why don't we raise our hands and say, 'I was born to do this for You.'"

Too many people are wallowing around in the junk of their past instead of allowing Jesus to cleanse them fully. Some have repented yet they enjoy going back into the filth of their sins. The evil one loves to bring back memories to try to make us feel dirty. He loves to cause us to think we are worthless and have done things that are too bad to be forgiven for. But our Heavenly Father loves us enough that He sent His son to die for all of our sins. When we allow the evil one to control our lives, Jesus' death is for naught. We must stand up and proclaim the cleansing the Lord gives us in order to stand up against the evil one tearing us down. Jesus' desire for us is to live a cleansed life. He didn't just forgive us but He forgot all of the wrong we have done. Now we need to accept Him fully and forgive ourselves along with forgetting the past. 

Dear Jesus,
Thank You for loving me enough to die for me. Thank You for cleansing me fully. Thank You for forgetting my past sins. Thank You for empowering me to live a cleansed life. Lord, fill me to overflowing with more of You today so people will see and hear You through me. I pray You will not only be my words and actions but be my attitude. Father, I sometimes struggle with believers who wallow in their own dirt. But I know I use to live that life too. I am grateful I don't live there now and pray for others to grasp a life of holiness that will allow them to not live there either. Thank You Father for being My Cleanser. Amen.

James 1:2-4 - "Thy Will"

"Thy will be done...Thy will be done..." How can I do the Lord's will when I feel like I don't have any strength? How can I have a smile on my face when all I want to do is cry? It is only through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit who will enable me to do what He desires. As I reflect back on yesterday I realize there were many opportunities put before me that I saw and responded to. I pray I didn't miss any others.

• tech who is discouraged with pain...the Lord told me to tell her to read James 1 and then as I was leaving the parking lot "No Room" came on the radio and He had me share that with her
• clerk who is having extreme back pain...He guided me to touch and pray for her back
• friend who is discouraged with circumstances...He told me to tell her "Don't give up!"
• friend who is suffering from some losses in her life...He gave me encouraging words for her

These are the kind of things I want to experience today but in my flesh I don't see how that will be possible. In my spirit though I know He will take away the distraction of my physical body in order to work in and through me.

Dear Jesus,

Thank You for leading me down the path of righteousness. Thank You for putting opportunities before me. Thank You for taking away distractions so I can see these opportunities. Lord, be my will today each and every moment. I pray for opportunities to be You today. Fill me to overflowing with more of You so people will see and hear You through me today. Thank You for being My Will. Amen.

James 5:19-20 - "Come Alive (Dry Bones)"

As I read the last chapter of the book of James this morning I reflected back on all he had wrote about. Prayer, truth, trusting God and helping others to do the same were all part of his teaching. James had such a passion for righteous living. He is a fine example for us to follow today. Some would argue the world has changed and it is not possible. I disagree with that argument. Righteous living can be lived when one gives their all to the Lord. One who lives a holy life is one who has a personal relationship with God, accepts and uses the gifts He gives, and will stand on His truth. Such a person is one who will refuse to live in the ways of the world but instead will live in God's way. One commentator wrote, "Salvation is to be worked into our character and daily life in the form of righteousness." One does not have to sin. Instead they need to make the choice to live in God's will. It is when living in such a relationship that His voice will be heard AND followed. Eternal life with the Lord is not possible without this type of living. James is teaching in verses nineteen and twenty the importance of all who are living a holy life to bring others into such living. A lot of people say they are living a life of holiness but there is no fruit showing from them. Many have never brought someone into relationship with the Lord. Sharing His love is part of holy living. Oh how I pray for more people to grasp what holy living is all about and then live in His will.

Dear Jesus,
Thank You for loving me so greatly! Thank You for being Who I follow! Thank You for speaking so clearly to me! You are so awesome! I pray for more opportunities to share Your love with others. I pray for more people to come into relationship with You to the point of hearing and following Your will. Father, fill me to overflowing so I can be who You desire me to be. I pray for opportunities for people to see and hear You through me today. Thank You Jesus for being My Will. Amen.

John 5:29; 30 - "Great Our You Lord"

"It's Your breath in our lungs...so we pour out our praise, we pour out our praise..." Yes! Praise the Lord for a new year! Praise Him for all that He brought us through in 2016 and for all the opportunities He will give us in 2017 to praise Him! Praise is key to living in His empowerment. When Jesus was on this earth, He was persecuted yet He never gave up. He never gave up living in the empowerment of His Heavenly Father. He knew He could do nothing without that empowerment. He depended upon His Heavenly Father. He is the example we need to follow. In order to follow His example we first must accept Him into our hearts and then we must be willing to live a life in His will. Non-believers and those who believe yet refuse to live in His will do not have His empowerment. Only those who are true believers will receive His empowerment. It is sad for me to see so many people who call themselves believers to live without His Spirit living in them. They are kidding themselves when they think they will spend eternity with Him. The only way to Heaven is through His will.

Dear Jesus,
Thank You for the way You used me as Your servant in 2016! Thank You for the way You will use me in 2017! I pray Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven through me in this new year. I pray I will grow deeper in my relationship with You and my Heavenly Father this year. I pray for more of the Holy Spirit to flow in and through me in this new year. I pray for You to ooze out of me because You fill me to overflowing with all three of You this new year. Thank You Jesus for being My Will. Amen.