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So proud of Alexa. Through ups and downs, she foug

So proud of Alexa. Through ups and downs, she fought to keep perspective this season and came through shining! It was a great season for all!

Congratulations SHS boys and girls 4A State Track

Congratulations SHS boys and girls 4A State Track and Field champions! There were ups and there were downs, as there always are, but they did it!

When God says, “Go!” you go! In the throes of

When God says, “Go!” you go!

In the throes of motherhood with babies and toddlers and preschoolers, I kept a blog about finding the extraordinary in the everyday life of motherhood. I met some other amazing mommy bloggers, blogging about faith in numerous gifted ways. Several of them you know as authors today.

God pressed upon my heart all those years ago that He had more in store for my writing than just the blog.

Then He placed the burden to homeschool on my heart and I stopped blogging and writing altogether for a couple of years.

But He vividly showed me that He is not an all-or-nothing God and that I needed to keep writing.

So I wrote in those early 4:00am mornings. And I wrestled with God because I would be tired by 10:00am. I started many projects with many ideas and dreams.

And God said to wait.

“But, I thought….”

Keep writing, and keep patiently waiting.

I wrote, wrestled, and waited; wrote wrestled, and waited.

And I’ve lived life in between. Mostly, I’ve lived out the calling right in front of me, as a mom and homeschooling director, wearing many different hats. And life has been full and good and challenging and glorious.

And I continued to write, wrestle, and wait, and my heart continued to fill and expand with life’s changing tides.

And then a couple of years ago, God told me it was time to finish one of those writing projects.

And I’ve learned that when God says, “Go!” you go!

To be continued…

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When we consider the context for James’ message

When we consider the context for James’ message in chapter 4, verse 8, it might make us a little uncomfortable. Yet context is everything, so let’s take a look.

James is writing to the Jewish Christians approximately 40 years after Christ, and likely before Paul’s ministry to the Gentiles. In this book, James is calling out a double-minded church, wavering between God and the world.

It is important for us to understand that James’ audience was the Jewish Christians. These Jews needed direction differently than the Gentiles, through Paul’s ministry.

Unlike the Gentiles, Jews had a history of succumbing to pride and arrogance in earning favor through the law and lacking belief that Jesus was the Messiah.

For those who did come to believe, releasing old ways of living by the law or falling into pride proved difficult. James called them out as double-minded. According to my Bible commentary, they made their sin laughable and wavered between God and the world.

Although it appears that Paul’s message later to the Gentiles contradicted James (with Paul’s emphasis on grace and James’ emphasis on works) they actually compliment each other in this context of extremely different audiences.

As seasoned Christians, we too, can become set in our beliefs and like those prideful Jewish Christians, not take our sin seriously. The sin roaming through our thoughts provoking our actions; our gossip, judgements, and arrogance. Perhaps the ways we link arms with culture in the name of our Christian faith, or the way some stir up strife within the body of Christ.

When James exhorts them to draw near to God, he is not speaking to the dead in Christ, but to those who have been made alive in Christ. He exhorts them to turn from their prideful, seditious, and impetuous ways and fully surrender to Christ.

Have you considered what it means to “draw near to God?” What areas do you need to turn from in order to fully surrender to Christ?

“Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” James 4:8

This picture reminds us when we humbly stride towa

This picture reminds us when we humbly stride toward God fully bankrupt, He will fill us completely. I’m willing to guess that the humble stride of the son became a more confident one that day after because he finally understood the heart of his father.

Share or Save this post for future encouragement. 🙌

(Luke 15:11-32)

Pre-order today #aplaceofgrace for the moms in you

Pre-order today #aplaceofgrace for the moms in your life! Available on Amazon in hard copy, paperback, and kindle. 🙌

“Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.

“Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.” James 4:8a

“What does ‘draw near’ even mean?”

The question came from a seasoned Christian. As I considered it, I concluded that drawing near is more than prayer and reading scripture. Let’s take a closer look through The Parable of the Lost Son to better understand what James 4:8 means for us today.

Imagine the prodigal son who demanded his inheritance, then squandered it. He had no where to go, eventually returning to his father without expectation of acceptance or forgiveness. What did his father do when he caught a glimpse of his son humbly striding toward him? He sprinted in his direction and celebrated his son’s return. (Luke 15:11-32)

What a beautiful picture of our Heavenly Father’s grace coming for us in our humble stride back to him. Whether we have turned from our faith or simply trusted ourselves more than Him in a certain situation, the necessary action is not much different. We must turn back.

Imagine our Heavenly Father coming for us with a signet ring and robe to cover the evidence of our worn down worldly efforts and reminding us of who we are and who we belong to.

We realize through this picture that our Heavenly Father is good and trustworthy. Turning back from our worldly desires and efforts requires us to trust Him completely. No more demanding our inheritance and what we believe is ours by entitlement. He gives more grace to the humble (James 4:6).

🌟Drawing near is turning to God in our humble stride, desperate for what He is willing to offer us today.

🌟It is coming to Him on His terms and not our own.

🌟It is trusting in His ways and perfect timing.

Living on God’s terms does not always feel easy, yet when we choose this humble posture before the Lord, blessing always follows.

Like the father in The Parable of the Lost Son, when we draw near to God in humility and trust, He promises to meet us right where we are.

Friend, do you desire today the blessings God intends for tomorrow? As you draw near in prayer and reflection, ask God to help you trust Him completely today.

Morning light and deer frolicking in their playgro

Morning light and deer frolicking in their playground.

Happy Monday!

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