Category: Sword Fighting Class

Sword Fighting Class- Stop the Blame Game

On By Judy GlasserIn Sword Fighting ClassLeave a comment

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, when you face trial of many kinds, because you know the testing of your faith develops perseverance.  Perseverance must finish its work so that you can be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”James 1 1 -9

“If anyone lacks wisdom, they should ask God who gives generously to all with fault and it will be given to him.  But when he asks, he must believe and not double, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.  That man should not believe that he will receive anything from the Lord, he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.”

“The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position.  But the one who is rich should take pride in his low position, because he will pass away like a wildflower.  The sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the plants; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed.  In the same way, a rich man fades away even as he goes about his business.”James 1= 13-18

“Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to all who love him.”

Awesome!  We are memorizing James 1 and it’s getting really challenging!  With God, all things are  possible!  Here’s our next verse,

“When tempted, no one should say, ‘God is tempting me.’ For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone.”

When we sin, there is no one to blame but ourselves.  Sometimes that’s a hard thing to admit – we’d like to blame anybody else…even God.

There is nothing evil in God, this temptation to sin does not come from him.

He sometimes tests our faith – that’s not the same thing.  He tests us in order to grow us, to mold us, to help us persevere and become more wise.  When he tests us, we can step up to the plate or we can disobey.  It’s our choice.

Dear Father, We choose to grow and to persevere – please help us.

 

Sword Fighting Class – Victory

On By Judy GlasserIn Sword Fighting ClassLeave a comment

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.  Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be complete and mature, not lacking anything.  If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God who gives generously to all without fault, and it will be given to him.James 1 1 - 9

“But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.  That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord: he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.”

The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position.  But the one who is rich should take pride in his low position, because he will pass away like a wildflower.  The sun rises with scorching heat and the plant withers; it’s blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed.  In the same way, a rich man fades away even while he goes about his business.”James 1, 9-12

Wow!  We are doing great at memorizing James 1!  Keep it up!  Here’s the next verse:

“Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.”

When we persevere in our faith through trials, we grow closer to God.  We have victory over the trials and sufferings of this world.

Victory.  A great word.  An even better feeling of accomplishment.  God gives us victory which helps us find meaning and purpose to our trials.

What a great way to show God we love him – by standing the test of the trials that come our way and remaining faithful.  Obedient.

We love you, Abba Father.

Sword Fighting Class – Don’t Fade Away

On By Judy GlasserIn Sword Fighting ClassLeave a comment

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, when you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.  Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be complete and mature, not lacking anything.James 1- 1-9

“If anyone lacks wisdom, he should ask God who gives generously to all with fault, and it will be given to him.  But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.  That man should not believe he will receive anything from the Lord, he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.’

‘The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position.  But the one who is rich should take pride in his low position, because he will pass away like a wildflower.’

We are doing a great job of memorizing James 1!  We’re ready for verse 11:

‘ For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossoms falls and its beauty is destroyed.  In the same way, the rich man will fade away even as he goes about his business.’

This is a poetic picture of what will happen to all of our worldly wealth.  It will be withered and destroyed.

If our identity is attached to what we own and the money we have, we will fade away into nothing along with our wealth.

How easy it is to get distracted by money and owning things, isn’t it?  Our world bombards us with this message constantly.  We step into the flow of our culture, focusing on more and better stuff and suddenly we find ourselves up to our eyebrows in debt with our stuff owning us.  When we look up, we wonder how we got there.

God tells us through James that all of our earthly riches will fade away and be destroyed.

Verse 12 is a good verse to repeat to ourselves when we feel that tug of ‘more, better, newer’ happening in our minds.

Thank you for your truth, dear Father.

 

Sword Fighting Class – The Only Thing That Counts

On By Judy GlasserIn Sword Fighting ClassLeave a comment

‘Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, when you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.  Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.  James 1- 1-9

‘If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.  But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.  That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord, he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.

‘The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position.’

How are you doing in memorizing James 1?  When we ask God to help us write his word upon our hearts, its amazing what he can do!  We’re up to verse 10:

“But the one who is rich should take pride in his low position, because he will pass away like a wild flower.”

Those of us blessed with significant earthly goods (which is most of us in the United States) need to understand our true position of sinful poverty in front of a holy and perfect God.

When we’re in that mindset, we know just how badly we need the free gift of grace that God offers us.  Our money, our possessions, our influence – they are nothing.  They pass away just like a wild flower.

Only God remains.  And our relationship with him.  For eternity.

Thank you, Abba Father.

 

Sword Fighting Class – Perseverance has Rewards

On By Judy GlasserIn Sword Fighting Class2 Comments

 ”Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, when you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.  Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.  James 1 1 -9

“If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God who gives generously to all without fault and it will be given to him.  But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.  That man should not believe that he will receive anything from the Lord, he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.

Great job so far in memorizing James 1!  Verse 9 gives us an example:

‘The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position.”

He should take pride because he has persevered in his faith despite his lack of earthly possessions.

This man has let his trials grow him and help him be mature and complete.

He has asked for wisdom when he needed it.

He believed that he received it.  There were no doubts.

His faith helped him become a stable man focused on God.

A high position.

Please help us follow his example, dear Father.

Sword Fighting Class – Become Stable

On By Judy GlasserIn Sword Fighting ClassLeave a comment

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, when you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.   Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.James 1 2-5

If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God who gives generously to all without fault, and it will be given to him.  But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like the wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the sea.  That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord;” 

Great job!  We’re memorizing James 1 one verse at a time and we’re adding verse 8 this week:

‘he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.‘

Double – minded.  Changing his mind over and over.  Not sure.  Not confident.  Not grounded.

Unstable.

So, how do we become stable?  When the waves of life crash all around us.  Over us.  Into us.  Shoving us.  Frustrating us.  Making us unhappy.  Tired.

God tells us to believe and not doubt.

Believe he is the creator of the universe.  Believe that he is in control.  Believe that he wants the best for us. Believe that he sent his Son to save us.  Believe that he gives us wisdom when we ask for it.

Believe – not doubt.

Become stable.  Sure.  Confident.  Grounded on the Rock.

Thank you, dear Father.

Sword Fighting Class- Expect His Next Move

On By Judy GlasserIn Sword Fighting ClassLeave a comment

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, when you face trials of many kinds, because you know the testing of your faith develops perseverance.  Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.

If anyone lacks wisdom, he should ask God who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.  But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.”

Great job on memorizing James 1!  We’re up to verse 7:James 1

“That man should not think that he will receive anything from the Lord.”

And that thinking is so wrong.  We receive everything we have from the Lord.  We’re believing the lies when we get sucked into our culture’s view – that we earn what we have and we deserve what we have and it’s all about us.

It’s all about God.  He owns everything and he decides what to give to us.

When we have this correct in our head, it’s not hard to give back at least 10%.  We get to keep the rest!

And God always answers our prayers and requests.  Sometimes its ‘yes’, sometimes its ‘no’ and sometimes it’s ‘wait, my child.  I have something better coming for you.”  That’s a hard one but it’s very cool later, when we see God revealing what he’s been working on in this area of our lives.  This perseverance thing really works.

So we live our lives expecting answers from God.  Watching for them.  Anticipating the best he has for us.  Listening to the Holy Spirit within us and responding in faith.  With trust.

With Joy!

Sword Fighting Class – Cut out the Doubting

On By Judy GlasserIn Sword Fighting ClassLeave a comment

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, when you face trials of many kinds, because you know the testing of your faith develops perseverance.  Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.  If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

We are doing a great job of memorizing James 1!  Keep it up!James 1 2-5

As the verses grow, my prayers to God asking for his help have also grown 🙂

This is a God thing.  We know it’s his will for us to write his word upon our hearts and minds.  We know he’ll help.

Asking for his help is a wise thing.

And listen to our next verse- verse 6:

“But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he would doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.”

Love that verse!  We must believe and not doubt.

When we ask for something that is in God’s will for us, we always receive it.  Always. He has promised us.  We should have no doubt about that.

And when we’re not sure if something is in God’s will for us, this verse tells us we should be praying expecting an answer.

Watching for an answer.  Not doubting that God will answer.

Praying expectantly.

This verse changed how I pray.  After I really understood this, I started praying and immediately watching – expecting an answer.

And God always answers.

Sometimes its ‘no’, other times its ‘yes’ and he often uses the ‘wait’ answer with me. That’s a hard one.  But a very cool one.  Because when I see God move and answer those requests at the right time, it’s a glorious thing.  Worth the wait.

Doubt causes us to be blown and tossed by the winds of life.  The winds of emotion.  The winds of confusion.  The winds of disappointment and anger.  The winds of despair.

We’ve all been caught in those winds.  It’s not a fun place to be.

Dear Father God, Please help us remove all doubt we have about you.  We want to be anchored securely in you..today…always.  When the winds of life blow at us and tug at our spirit, draw us closer to you.  Thank you for helping us to memorize your word, hiding it deep within our hearts, renewing our minds and setting us free.  In the redeeming name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

Sword Fighting Class – Growing Wise

On By Judy GlasserIn Sword Fighting Class3 Comments

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.  Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

Nice work! Here’s our next verse on our journey to memorize James 1:

‘If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without fault, and it will be given to him.’

Love this!  Who doesn’t need wisdom?James 1 2-5

And God gives us generous amounts of wisdom when we ask.

I need to remember this today!  I need to remember this everyday!

When I remember to remember this, I will ask God first when I’m making a decision.  And it always works out better than it would have without his wisdom.  Always.

Especially people issues….relationship issues…….family issues.

I’m glad we’re memorizing this.  As we etch God’s words onto our hearts and minds, God is changing us.  He is renewing our minds.  He is helping us grow more wise.

Thank you, dear Father!

 

Sword Fighting Class – Fighting through the tough stuff

On By Judy GlasserIn Sword Fighting ClassLeave a comment

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, when you face trials of many kinds, because you know the testing of your faith develops perseverance.”

Do you have that part memorized?  Our journey to memorize James 1 continues and we’re adding verse 4 this week: James 1

‘Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.’

Mature.

Complete.

What awesome words!  Who doesn’t want to be mature and complete?

God is telling us that we get mature and complete by persevering with joy through our trials.

Persevering – a hard thing to do.

We like to give up when the going gets tough.

Our culture teaches us to choose the ‘easy’ way, the fast way, the immediate gratification way.

God says that those choices don’t lead to maturity and completeness.

We must choose the harder way of persevering, seeking God and growing in his wisdom through our trials.

Please help us persevere, dear Father.