In reviewing James, I want to look at the book differently in this last post. First, we must remember that the message of James is not about our striving to do better, checking off the boxes of righteous living. Instead, James describes Kingdom Living, lives surrendered to God, and living in community. Notice the plurals!…
James ends his letter by emphasizing prayer and loving one another well. Let’s look at four promises related to prayer. God hears us when we pray. The Lord is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous. Proverbs 15:29 NIV I love the story in Luke 18 of the wicked judge…
Is this the kind of fast I have chosen, only a day for people to humble themselves?Is it only for bowing one’s head like a reed and for lying in sackcloth and ashes?Is that what you call a fast, a day acceptable to the Lord?“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords…
Background Several years ago, in a sermon on prayer, my husband, also my pastor at that time, encouraged us to pray on the spot when others requested prayer. He challenged us to think about how often we casually say we will pray for others but walk away, forgetting to do that very thing. I had…
Responsive Reading Join me in a thanksgiving response to God today: Creation sings of your grandeur, might, and creativity! Thank you, Lord, for the beauty of the earth. Our harvest is plentiful, the pantry stocked, and the table is overflowing with good foods to eat. Thank you, Lord, for the abundance of daily bread. Laughter…
Introduction I love to collect prayer books; I have several that I enjoy, ones that help put words to my deepest desires. Recently, the one that has captured my heart and attention is Prayer: Forty Days of Practice by Justin McRoberts & Scott Erickson. Their book is different, half visual art, half poetic prayer. Below…