Women's Life Group

This week we are going topical.  As Easter comes near, we are going to read about Jesus washing the disciples feet.  I encourage you to read through it a couple times and even in context.  And then next week we will be discussing the passage and washing each others feet – if you have questions please email me or respond to the Need Prayer?  link on the right.

Scripture for April 6^th-12^th, 2011

Wednesday – Tuesday

Read John 13:1-17

Feel free to read it in context in the chapter before and chapters after.

Planning-Do we do it or not?  We talked a lot about the first 3 verses in this section.  Is it ok to plan and be excited for future events (trips, children)?  Isn’t it responsible to plan your time so you are not wasting it?  Some of the questions we wrestled with this week and today.  Ultimately we talked about motive.  Why are we planning?  What are we wanting to accomplish?  And the main question: Are we willing to let God change the plans we have made?  The selfishness and “boastful” planning is not God’s will.  Even if we are doing good things, even if it is for the church.   But isn’t over planning and busyness a way Satan uses to distract us from the things God has planned for us.

Verse 17 sums it all up: “It is a sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.”  This made me think of the book, The Life You’ve Always Wanted.  It talks about sins of commission and sins of omission.  Some sins we commit – do what is wrong.  And some sins we omit – not do what is right.  These verses are not ones that will leave my thoughts anytime soon.  And I am glad.  I am working on saying “If it is the Lord’s will…”

We are finishing up James 4 before we have a special group and then take a little Easter break! (see the next post for more info)

Scripture for March 30th-Apr 5th, 2011

Wednesday – James 4:13

Thursday– Jam. 4:14

Friday – Jam. 4:15

Saturday – Jam. 4:16

Sunday – Jam. 4:17

Monday – Extra Day to Pray

Tuesday  – Prayer time

Some days the kids win and some days the adults win.  Today was a kids winning day.  I can’t say the conversation was as deep as it has ever been, but it was SO good to be back together.  (I think the kids thought that too! Maybe that is why they were so loud.)

However a few things stood out: Be humble – 2 of the 6 verses talked about being humble and wouldn’t you know it I needed it BOTH days.  Sometimes it is the subtle ways I need to be humble.  I don’t go around boasting on the street corners, but how often do I boast in my heart or think I am better than another person. Ouch!

Which leads James to say – don’t judge.  If I am truly being humble, I won’t judge either.

This all reminded me of Pastor Aaron’s sermon about the sin of the older brother – self righteousness and the sin of the younger brother – outward disobedience.  It is so easy to see the sins of the younger brother they are more blatant and easier to identify.  But the sins of the older brother are more internal and much easier to hide, but just as deadly.  If for some reason you didn’t hear Pastor Aaron’s sermon, go check it out on the RdR website .  It is impacting!!

FYI: April 12th will be a special Women’s Life Group.  We will not be doing the “normal” thing, but it will be a blessing!!  I hope you can all be there.  I will give you a heads up next week.  Then we will be taking a little break and not meeting on the 19th or 26th of April.  But we will be back to meeting on May 3rd!

Catching up with friends and just relaxing.  Too many kiddos with colds kept many mommies home.  We will talk about James 4:7-12 next week.  Praying for healthy families!!

Scripture for March 16^th-22^nd, 2011

Wednesday – James 4:7

Thursday– Jam. 4:8

Friday – Jam. 4:9

Saturday – Jam. 4:10

Sunday – Jam. 4:11

Monday – Jam. 4:12

Tuesday  – Prayer time

What you missed…several tangents that somehow related to the Scripture, but they were all great.  I love it when that happens.

Wouldn’t you love to see exactly what was happening in the area around where the Scripture takes place?  What were those quarrels and fights about? James uses some “harsh” words in this section, but all of them are true and apply to our lives as well.  We talked about contentment in the circumstances we are in and Heidi asked a great question.  Instead of longing for “better” things,we need to ask, “What do we NEED to serve God?”

So along with contentment, our attitudes and motives were the topic of discussion.  Here is a facebook quote from a friend of mine.  It REALLY struck a cord with me and I thought I would share it:  from Nate:  “impatience = a strong sense of annoyance at the (usually) unintentional faults & failures of others. The ACTUAL cause of our impatience (is not them, but) lies within our own hearts, in our own attitude of INSISTING that others around us CONFORM TO OUR EXPECTATIONS.” -Bridges, Respectable Sins. Soaking in Ephesians 4:2 today.  Hmmm…anyone else dealing with impatience?

But praise God he gives us “more grace to stand against such evil”.  I love how Scriptures don’t mess around.  They challenge you and make you think, but then they bring you right back to God and His love for us.  All we have to do is be humble.  Not easy to humble ourselves, but as Pastor Matt talked about on Sunday (again loosely quoted) “the moment you seek the forgiveness and start to talk to God about it, you IMMEDIATELY feel the love of God rush over you.”  That is our God always watching and waiting for us to turn around and seek Him.

One last quote of the day, again from Heidi. “I’m God’s today”.  A great way to start each day with that reminder.

Chapter 4 here we come.  What do you have in store for us now God?

Scripture for March 9^th-15^th, 2011

Wednesday – James 4:1

Thursday– Jam. 4:2

Friday – Jam. 4:3

Saturday – Jam. 4:4

Sunday – Jam. 4:5

Monday – Jam. 4:6

Tuesday  – Prayer time

James is really not holding anything back.  He is telling it like it is, with only the facts.  Either you have Godly wisdom or you have wisdom from the devil.  There is no in between.  As we talked it made us realized the importance of confession, the blessing of the grace of God and the root of our true motives.  We talked a little about the places in our world we see jealousy and selfish ambition that leads to disorder and evil – Egypt, Libya, many dictatorships.

But then James gives us the guide to know Godly wisdom.  Personally this is how I knew my husband was “the one”.  All of the things in verse 17 were being done through our relationship – not perfectly, but we were seeking after Godly wisdom in our relationship.  Oh, how I wish young people today were using these standards in their relationships with the opposite sex, but also in any relationship.  And just because I am now married it doesn’t mean these verses don’t apply.  I can apply them to job decisions, parenting, friendship, yes – even ministry!!  Thank you God for using James!!

We ended with the hope of being a peacemaker and reaping a harvest of righteousness.  In thinking about “peacemakers” that have lived they are almost always humble – MLK jr, Mother Teresa, Stephen in Acts, many, many martyrs and the ultimate example Jesus himself.  Through their peaceful actions our world has been changed, even though they themselves faced many hardships, most an early death.  I doubt any of them would do things differently though, but oh how different we are because of them.  Makes me so thankful for the examples God has put in my life!

Scripture for March 2^nd-8^th, 2011

Wednesday – James 3:13

Thursday– Jam. 3:14

Friday – Jam. 3:15

Saturday – Jam. 3:16

Sunday – Jam. 3:17

Monday – Jam. 3:18

Tuesday  – Prayer time