The Book of James is good...

All of scripture falls under "what is good," but I like to call the Letter of James the Guide to Christianity. At first glance James is a really hard book to swallow, I read much of his words and find myself burdened. But I have realized that this letter is a mirror and as I gaze into it the refection I should see is one who is like Christ. In chapter 1:22-25 he says:

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.

So James is indeed a mirror. I look inside of his words and I don't see the law, for Christ has fulfilled it, but I see a standard for those who are in Christ that I must weigh myself against. So I thank God for his grace and the Holy Spirit working in me. So James.... definitely filed under what is good!

Waffles and Family Worship

I have changed up the blog a little bit. By no means am I abandoning the original intent of living out Titus 2, but rather just expanding it. I am realizing that the command to "learn what is good" is really a call to learn who God is and so live your life accordingly.

So, I have been looking at scripture with new eyes lately. At our women's bible study we have been going through James, a wonderful but challenging book, and I have been left with the question: If we are commanded to "count it all joy," how do we do that? The answer is Christ, but how do I find enjoyment in Christ in the midst of day to day life. I see how he reveals himself in big ways, but I have fallen short of finding my enjoyment in Christ in all of the small things. Most of which I often I see separate from God. Like waffles! Until this morning. For a while we have had the tradition of "Morning Family Worship" at breakfast time. Originally breakfast we intended to just keep the kids quiet at the table, but now I see it as a springboard for prayer and a practical example to our children of God's daily provision. So thank you God for declaring your goodness through waffles this morning, they were truly enjoyable.

"There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God, for apart from him who can eat or who can have enjoyment? For to the one who pleases him God has given wisdom and knowledge and joy...." Ecclesiastes 2:24-2

Things that are good...

Sometimes I take life to seriously... and I miss some of the really good things! Like:

A daddy who is willing to lead by example...






Getting to ride Daddy's Jeep with the whole family







Making a birthday cake with TWO digging trucks that a little boy has been asking for since June! And seeing the big smile on his face when he saw it!



"And God saw everything that he made, and behold, it was very good..." Genesis 1:31a