bread and water

1.       Pray, thank the Lord and ask Him for wisdom and understanding. 2.       Read James 1:22.   What happens to you if you only hear the Word and do not do it?   What can you be sure to do so that you are not deceived? 3.       Read James 1:23-25.   The Bible is the mirror and the perfect law of liberty.   Liberty is freedom.   Christ came to set us free, not put us in bondage.   Sin is what puts us in bondage.   What happens if we continue looking into the perfect law, the Bible, and doing what is says?   Give some examples of how sin can put you or others in bondage and slavery. 4.       Read James 1:26.   What does it mean to bridle your tongue?   Define the word bridle.   What is our religion if we do not bridle our tongue?   Define the word vain.   5.       Why do you think it is hard someti...

Moment with the Master Week 8   Pray and thank the Lord for something specific He has done for you.   Sing a song in your heart or out loud to Him and worship Him.   (Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise).   Ask Him for wisdom (James 1:5) and ask Him to speak to you through your Bible reading today.   1.        Read James 1:16.   This verse fit better with the last lesson about verse 14 and 15 talking about sin.   It says, “Do not err, my beloved brethren”   Err means to do or be wrong.   He says, do not be wrong, do not do wrong.   He addresses them as BELOVED BRETHREN which means he loves them like a brother and sister and they are very dear to him.   When you love someone you do not want them to be in sin or do wrong.   Have you ever had to tell someone you love to not do wrong? 2.        Read James 1:17.   Where is every good and perfec...

The other day my 5 year old son and I were watching the movie, The Passion (about Jesus dying on the cross).  He wanted to watch it because I was watching a youtube video of the song Not Guilty.  Benjamin thought that at that moment in a different place some men were actually nailing Jesus on the cross.  He said, "Mommy why don't we care that Jesus died on the cross ? "   I explained to him what was happening on the movie and that Jesus died on the cross a long time ago, etc.  His comment was convicting and it made me think...Do I act like I care that Jesus died on the cross for me?  The past two weeks I have been thinking a lot about the Cross because I was learning the song I have come by the Way of the Cross and I've been listening to another song about the cross and watching youtube videos from the Passion movie of Jesus suffering for our sins.  It has really made me think and stirred me up.  It made me cry again in awe of what Jesus went thr...

A Moment with the Master: Week 7 1.       Read James 1:9-11 after praying for wisdom and understanding.   These verses can seem confusing but take a guess at what they mean to stretch your brain muscles.   J   Or you could use a Bible commentary or the internet to discover what they mean.   That’s one way to study your Bible on your own.   (Pick a Scripture passage and look it up in commentaries or the internet).   Here are some of my thoughts on these verses.   God exalts (lifts up) the humble man/woman of low degree and he humbles the rich.   God humbles the rich at times so they will not trust in their riches.   Their riches will not last forever, they will fade away as quick as a flower lives and dies.   Your current condition in life is temporary because we will all perish one day.   Therefore, if you are poor rejoice that in Heaven you will be rich!   If you are rich, you mine as well give liberal...

I am so proud of you for finishing the study of Psalm 63!   Now we are going to study the book of James.   It is one of my favorite books of the Bible.   It has a lot of practical things to learn and apply. First pray and ask the Holy Spirit to forgive you and to teach you through the Scripture. 1.       Read James 1:1.   Who wrote this book and to whom did he write it to? 2.       Read James 1:2-4.   What are we supposed to count as joy?   What does the trying of your faith produce?   What happens after patience has her perfect work? 3.       Read Romans 5:3-6.   How are Romans 5:3-4 similar to James 1:2-4? I love to remember these verses when I am going through trials.   All Christians go through trials at various times in our life.   Some trials are short, some are long, some seem like they will never end.   God has a perfect plan and a reason for each tr...

We have been studying Psalm 63 and will finish it this week.   Take some time now to pray and reread all of Psalm 63.   Ask the Holy Spirit to teach you and counsel you and help you understand the Scripture. Read Psalm 63:6.   What do you think about when you lay down to go to sleep?   I usually think of everything I did that day, things I didn’t get to do, and my huge to do list for the next day.   Thinking on those things just makes me feel overwhelmed.   The Lord doesn’t want us to feel overwhelmed, discouraged or even worried and stressed.   He wants us to sleep sweetly and feel rested as we meditate on Him.   Psalm 42:8 says, “Yet the Lord will command his lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life.”   You can think of songs and say prayers as you lay in bed.   I love to drift off to sleep while I have been praying to Jesus laying in bed.   It is so peaceful!...