James

     We went to an amazing church while on vacation!  It was a baptist church with an average membership of 14,000 people...yep, that's right!  While there they had a cute little book store and I found a new Beth Moore bible study.  It's on the book of James.
     Since starting the book of James it has now become my favorite book.  It has a lot of insightful messages in it and asks us to do some very hard things.  From my commentary in my bible: James 1 tells us to act out our faith.  James 2 reminds us to treat everyone the same and follow with deeds.
     Acting out faith can be a very hard thing.  For example, believing for more children when the doctors here on earth say it is not going to happen.  Faith says, it can, because God tells us to be fruitful and multiply, anything is possible and ask and you shall receive.  Part of faith is believing when you feel like everyone thinks your crazy.  Another example, believing that a house you fell in love with will stay on the market until your house sells!  Believing this, isn't not knowing reality, it's believing God for something and knowing that if the doors open then it's meant for you.
     In James 2 the first half of this chapter is on favoritism.  Which I didn't even know was here..even though I just read this whole entire book..I must have missed that point!  That we are to treat everyone the same, even if they just walked off the street or if they just donated a million dollars to the church.  It doesn't matter where they came from or what they look like, everyone deserves the chance to contribute and have a say.
     The second half of James reminds us that faith without deeds is useless.  For example, buying a bigger house when there are going to be 2 empty rooms, but knowing if that is the house you are meant to buy that God has a plan and you have to have faith for that plan.  Don't worry about the why or the how, but having faith for the unseen and following through with what God has laid on your heart.  No matter what we are having faith for we have to follow it up with deeds.  We can't believe God to provide for us and then go out and get a loan, or believe God for change and then say it's not going to happen.  It doesn't matter if our friends and family think we are crazy as long as we following through with what God wants and asks from us that is all that matters:)