Women's Life Group

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

More about taming the tongue…Why is such a little thing so hard to do?  We praise and curse with the same tongue.   They don’t belong together and they shouldn’t be done together, but we do.  As Pastor Matt said on Sunday (once again paraphrased) this is one of those things that no one can do and everyone is caught in this sin.  “We just aren’t there yet.”  But how wonderful heaven will be when there will be no cursing and ALL praise!  But that is not an excuse to not start taming the tongue now!

So here are the baby steps I learned I need to start taking this week.  Beside the obvious; watch what I say.  I need to look at the people who wrong (“curse”) me and not hold them to a higher standard than I hold myself.  Why is it I know I sin in what I say, but I can’t forgive others when they say something to me?  So forgiving them and seeing them as “made in God’s image” is one of my baby steps.  The other is teaching my son why we need to tame the tongue and how to tame it.  Not just telling him not to say something, but taking the time to TEACH him the right things to say.  I so often just assume he should know how to behave, but how can he unless I have taught him.  Hmm…James what’s next? What does God want to teach us through you?

More challenges this week.  Hope you can read these familiar verse in a new light!

Scripture for February 23^rd-March 1^st, 2011

Wednesday – James 3:7-8a

Thursday– Jam. 3:8b

Friday – Jam. 3:9

Saturday – Jam. 3:10

Sunday – Jam. 3:11

Monday – Jam. 3:12

Tuesday  – Prayer time

Oh, those little things that make such a big difference!  The tongue, we hardly see it or notice it even, but what would we do without it?  We wouldn’t be able to speak for one thing.  Would that be better or worse?

We spent some time talking about the teachers of the time.  Teaching in James day was a way to be “important”.  Very few people were able to go and look up the facts the teachers were talking about.  Either they couldn’t read or if they could they didn’t have their own Bible.  So what the teacher said was the only way people learned.  If we look back at the history of the Jews, we know there were many times they got off track and didn’t teach the things of God but the things of man, but aren’t we the same now!!

The rest of the conversation was talking about controlling the tongue.  We talked about ways we use our tongue for evil.  Angry words and lies are often what I think of but what about some of the other things we say that are not noble?  Speaking with out thinking first, inconsiderate/selfish words, being too blunt/not showing compassion, bragging or making ourselves look better.  Those are just as serious as the anger and lies.  Then there is the other side that can be just as dangerous – NOT speaking up when we should.  Such a little thing that causes all of us to sin!

But we also talked about when we use our tongue to confess those sins (things we do wrong) we can be restored to a right relationship (with others and with God).  More about this in the next few verses!

Ready for a challenge?  No matter how many times I read this passage I am always challenged!

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

Wednesday – James 3:1

Thursday– Jam. 3:2

Friday – Jam. 3:3

Saturday – Jam. 3:4

Sunday – Jam. 3:5

Monday – Jam. 3:6

Tuesday  – Prayer time

Great verses!  Taking the time to think back to the times Abraham had strong faith (leaving his country, being willing to sacrifice Isaac) and times he didn’t (calling Sarah his sister – twice – to save his behind, having Ishmael in order to receive the promise) was really good.  And the fact he was called the friend of God is amazing.  Are you God’s friend? (Somehow being Jesus’ friend is a little easier to comprehend).  But thinking about his conversation with God about saving the people in Sodom and Gomorrah, you would have to be a good friend to keep asking God “but if…”  And James says this all in the context of having your actions show your faith.

Then James takes us to the opposite extreme: Rahab, the prostitute.  As Heidi says how would you like to be introduced as the prostitute ALL the time.  What a blow to the Jews who think they are doing right by living by faith.  James is pretty much saying this prostitute is doing things better than you are…Ouch!  But she is no ordinary prostitute.  Not only did she hide the spies and be saved by the Jew, she was the Great Grandma of King David (Who EVERY Jew wanted to be like).  She was the mother of Boaz, who married Ruth, the faithful daughter-in-law of Naomi.  And if you follow the genealogy all the way up  you will find Jesus as one of her Great (many, many greats) grandson (Matt 1).  Wow all because her actions of hiding the spies showed she had faith in God!  I would say God can use anyone!!!   (Ok, bible scholars – I know “father of” also can mean “ancestor of”, so there might be a few generation in there between her and David, but still in comparison she is a close relative!)

James is going to totally challenge the Jews faith in these next few verses!

Scripture for February 9th-15th, 2011

Wednesday – James 2:21

Thursday– Jam. 2:22

Friday – Jam. 2:23

Saturday – Jam. 2:24

Sunday – Jam. 2:25

Monday – Jam.2:26

Tuesday  – Prayer time

So good to actually be back with the ladies in the group.  It had seemed like a long time.  James is such a good and challenging book.

Faith vs. Deeds.  Always a good reminder to be actively showing our faith.  It is what makes “Real” Christians unique from everyone else.  Because of our faith we get to show God’s love to others.  We don’t do good things, just to get our way into eternity. Nor do we just sit on our faith with a “holier than thou” attitude.  As Pastor Matt said a few weeks ago (loose quote) “Are you just trying to get in or storing your real treasures in heaven?”  Go show someone Jesus this week! 

It has been a rough couple of weeks – mostly with sickness.  We are back at Heidi’s tomorrow at 10:30.  We are still on James 2:14-20.  We will get them finished tomorrow! 

Hi ladies,

Seems like it is the husband’s turn to get fevers.  No fun.  Anyway we are canceling today.  Hope you have a great week.  See you Sunday.