a reflection of James4...

If a burden is reli a burden we will be on our knees right now and pray and ask for more grace in our lives and for God's leading to reveal His will to us. Rather than pass judgement or criticise or comment or make a stand regarding others lives or gossip, hv we considered praying and putting our hope that the answer they find is OUR ABBA FATHER?

I understand that I am not the solution to everyone's need. Nor am I sayin that I am their source of strength, hope and joy. For a person to realise their inadequacy, don't we see that they are in need of Jesus our LOrd? Praise the Lord! FOr isnt that a breakthrough? That the word like a mirror reflects one's true self? That they don't dare look up to Him and say i'm alright but like the tax collecter beating His chest and says Lord have mercy on me a sinner. So who is the answer? Us? or Is it CHrist? Who is the foundation of the victorious life we describe one whr we can hv no guilt? Thus do we say such things tat would end up discouraging them rather than lifting them up in prayer and reminding them that Jesus is always with arms wide open waiting for them?

1cor3:11 "For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ"

I agree that some people are living double lives(could be us as well), and I know that some ppl have not come to the same understanding of who God is as us. NOr have they fully submitted their all in all to Him. Rather than stretching out our hands we are merely waving our fingers and pointing our their faults which hurts them and makes them turn away from us and in the end our intention of doing good ends up backfiring on us.

I am glad you see the flaws of other's but have we seen our own flaws before we speak of others? If we care would we speak so strongly against what is happening around and deny that God is in the midst of them? Will we hold so strongly at our own understanding and beliefs and deny the process of it all? God works in ways I myself couldnt fathom? Do we know HIs thoughts? Do we see his mind? Even if we do so what? Our understanding of Him is beyond us. But i know And I've been prayin since the time I know that He will do somethin and I've held on to that hope eversince, maybe I didnt believe it all the way, but after last week and seeing lives change SLOWLY, I know I must hold fast like never before. So Do we assume what is goin on without asking the source of our assumptions? If a man were to run a mile isn't one step progress? It takes time? Do you place hope in Him to begin His inner work in them as He did with us not too long ago? Why do we end up hurting one another so unneccessarily?

And to those affected, how do we react and face a situation as such? Do we hurl back harsher words or do we hate the person for what the person says? How can we be brethren and be of Christ if we war over this? FOr there may be some truth in it? Have we stopped and thought about it? But if you are assured of where you are, how would you best react to this?

Because of that I couldnt sleep for a night nor could I remove this thought from me. I cant allow strife or discontent to happen over somethin so trivial and end up havin brethren hating one another for how are we to fulfil the new commandment-to love one another as I have love you- isn't that a mark of a true disciple? That even we who know what shd be, we have to have the patience of our Lord(imagine Him teaching his disciples-they weren't an easy lot) and the prayerfulness of our Lord. And I thank the Lord for James 4....for reminding me again where our source of wars and fighting come from and again that we are after all sinners saved by grace, that we have to humble ourselves and pray.

[1] From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?[2] Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.
[3] Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.
[4] Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
[5] Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?
[6] But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
[7] Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
[8] Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
[9] Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.
[10] Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
[11] Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.
[12] There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?
[13] Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:
[14] Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
[15] For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.
[16] But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil.
[17] Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

I believe this passage will speak to you as it did to me. And if its opportunity you want then remember that its the Lord who opens the door no man can shut and closes the door no man can open. He places us where we are for a purpose. Even if we are frustrated or burdened that things don't seem to be what we desire, it says to cast our cares upon Him. Maybe we aren't praying enough or maybe we have but we are not prayin aright? And i pray that I wont come off as one who is speaking evil but rather I want all of you to know that we have to mind what we say for we may not know how our words may stumble others or discourage others or affect people's perception. I know the Lord is stirring the people's hearts and its in HIS time tat personal revival will begin for He has assured me that it will happen. When? I'm not sure but we have to keep prayin and upholding them in our hearts and day by day uplift them to God, ANd God is no respector of man even the vilest of man can He use to bring Him glory after all its all to His glory. It is not us who chose Him but Him who chose us. And if now is the time where ppl come face to face with who they are that they are living in guilt, pray that GOd will breakthrough all their guilt, shame and pain! For who are we but mere instruments in your greater work of salvation!