Wisdom from Above

As I journal through James this month, I meditate on these verses. They are were both conflicting and inspiring. 

James 3:16-18

Pure. 

Peaceable. 

Gentle. 

Willing to yield. 

Mercy-full. 

Bearing goodness. 

Zero partiality. 

Zero hypocrisy. 

I don’t know about you, but as for me this doesn’t come easy. In and of myself I can be destructive, manipulative, self-seeking, angry, bitter, and just plain human. 

But God, through the power of His Holy Spirit can infuse wisdom to every area of my life. 

How? By simply asking Him for it. Thank you Lord! May your wisdom be a mark of your likeness in my life. 

Are you in need of wisdom? Ask Him for it and act on what He speaks to you. 

Would you join me is prayer, asking Him to infuse us with His wisdom for every trial ahead of us this week? 

From Anger to Righteousness

Anger is one of those areas that the Lord instantly healed when I surrendered my life to Him. He truly replaced anger for unspeakable joy. 

I recognize that the joy of the Lord is my strength. That’s not to say that there are times where I allow His joy to be rocked by anger and frustration. I’m a long ways away from saying I don’t struggle with anger. But it doesn’t overtake me like it used to. 

If you struggle with anger, I’d love to pray for you. I’ve been there (many times) where I can’t kick off the anger, and I replay specific conversations or scenarios over and over, and the anger just festers and eats away at me. If that anger isn’t dealt with, you’re in danger of it becoming bitterneness, and bitterness is a death to the soul. 

So, let’s deal with it today so that the righteousness God desires can be produced in our lives. . 

January 2019 Journaling: James

Happy January 1st! We’re starting 2019 with the book of James. In the midst of Paul’s many letters, we come across this gem. Written by the very brother of Jesus. He was the leader of Jerusalem church and writes to the Jewish Christians who have been scattered by persecution. He encourages them to indure their trials with Christian fortitude and to exhibit consistent Christian character. 

Before we begin, let’s first settle this truth: Mary and Joseph had children. You can reference Matthew 13:55 and Acts 15:13-21. During Jesus his public ministry, neither James nor the other siblings or followers of Jesus. They had even tried to end his ministry and bring him home to his responsibilities as eldest son (Mark 3:31-35; John 7:3-5). The resurrection appearances convinced James that Jesus was the Christ (1 Corinthians 15:7), and he was with the others in the upper room when the Holy Spirit was given on Pentecost (Acts 1:14, 2:1-3). James became the leader of the Jerusalem church after Peter’s arrest and departure from Jerusalem (Acts 12,15, and 21). 

Now that we have that out of the way, let’s dive in to the letter of James. It will help us understand how Christians should live when they are a minority group in the midst of an oppressive, non-Christian society. It is alive with godly counsel for us today. 

Get your pen and journal ready, open the word and dive in.  

A Year In Verses

Hello Lovelies!
Before I even begin to write about Haiti, I wanted to end the year with a little tradition. For the past 7 years I have written a verse-a-day in my journal. I leave you with the verses that sustained me, encouraged me and got me through 2012. From the pages of my journal, I share with you one verse from each month. Remember, the Word of God never returns void, it accomplished what it sets out to do! Make it a new year's resolution to get God's word in your heart and mind daily!

[photo credit]

January 31, 2012
You are altogether beautiful, My darling, beautiful in every way. Song of Songs 4:7

February 24, 2012
The blessing of the Lord makes one rich, and He adds no sorrow with it. Proverbs 10:22

March 12, 2012
He will once again fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy. Job 8:21

April 19, 2012
Sensible people control their temper; they earn respect by overlooking wrongs. Proverbs 19:11

May 6, 2012
You have allowed me to suffer much hardship, but you will restore me to life again and lift me up from the depths of the earth. Psalm 71:20

June 13, 2012
Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep His promise. Hebrews 10:23

July 22, 2012
I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. 1 Timothy 2:1

August 14, 2012
When the storm has swept by, the wicked are swept away, but the righteous stand form forever. Proverbs 10:25

September 22, 2012
The Lord is a shelter for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. Those who know His name trust in Him, for He will not abandon those who search for Him. Psalm 9:9-10

October 6, 2012
My child, if your heart is wise, My own heart will rejoice. Everything in Me will celebrate when you speak what is right. Proverbs 23:15-16

November 19, 2012
Abraham never wavered in believing God's promise. His faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. He was fully convinced that God was able to do whatever He promised. Romans 4:20-21

December 15, 2012
I rejoice in your Word as one who discovers a great treasure. Those who love your Word have great peace and do not stumble. Psalm 119:162, 165

Year in verses: 2009, 2010, 2011

A Year In Verses

Hola.
That's what my mornings look like: Coffee + Bible time!
It's my favorite time of day.

For the past 4-5 years, I have prayed for a verse that will be my theme, my motivation, my encouragement for that year. 2010's verse was (well still is till tomorrow night at Midnight)Matthew 16:26, "For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?" To be quite frank with you, I was a bit offended by God that this would be the verse He chose for me. In my little self-obsessed mind, my walk with the Lord was ok. However, the Lord's agenda for me was a bit different. He had bootcamp in store for me. (you can read yesterday's post for more) This verse proved to be an anchor for me, a verse that I used as a mirror: Am I gaining this world and all it's luxuries at the cost of my soul? Hmmm, I don't want to live that way. I want to live my life for the then and there and not the here and now. I love Matthew 16:26!

 Last year I posted A Year in Verses and will do the same this year. Raquel, what are you talking about? What is a year of verses? Glad you asked. Two years ago, I was challenged by a verse, a couple of verses actually, to make God's word at home in my heart. So I challenged myself to journal a verse per day. From whatever I read that day, to jot it down and date it. This has kept me accountable to being in God's word daily. So here I go, sharing 1 verse from each month out of the 364 verses that I received this year in my quiet time with Jesus.

January 19, 2010
Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high. Luke 24:29

February 7, 2010
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9

March 6, 2010
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. Ezekiel 36:26

April 7, 2010
Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality. Romans 12:10-10

May 19, 2010
Say to those who are fearful-hearted, "Be strong, do not fear! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God; He will come and save you." Isaiah 35:4

June 8, 2010
Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:13-14

July 16, 2010
The LORD has appeared of old to me, saying: “ Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you." Jeremiah 31:3

August 20, 2010
My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; He is mine forever. Psalm 73:26

September 23, 2010
He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be moved. Psalm 62:6

October 16, 2010
The LORD will guide you continually, and satisfy your soul in drought, and strengthen your bones; You shall be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail. Isaiah 58:11

November, 2010
And say to [insert your name], “Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it.” Colossians 4:17

December 11, 2010
The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed. Proverbs 11:25

Be blessed dear friends.
I challenge you, journal 1 verse a day. Share that verse with others. And make it personal, like the November verse I posted. God's word is powerful and intimate. May you be drawn into God's word like never before. May you never be quenched and satisfied apart from every word that proceeds from the mouth of God, found in the Bible. Happy 2011!

and if you're not tired of reading- ck out last year's verses and then dig in to God's word.
Has God given you a verse? Share it with me.

journaling

 Hello. 

One of my favorite activities with the Lord is journaling. I was cleaning out a drawer this weekend and came across one of my 2006 journals. In reading through it, I was encouraged with the scriptures that I jotted and the notes that I took in various teachings at Church. But what encouraged me the most, and always does, is the prayers that make up the journal. They keep me accountable and serve as a reminder of God's mercy, grace and truth in my life. It's awesome to read how God has answered prayers in my life. Even more so, to read the many dumb Raquel-ideas that He has spared me from. I love reading old entries and realizing that yes, I have grown in the Lord.

If you don't journal or aren't disciplined in journaling, I highly recommend that start. It's not about writing a book or filling a page, it's about you and God. Jot down scriptures that speak to you and mark the date. Write love letters to God... your prayers are a sweet smelling aroma unto the Lord. Get creative with it. Make it your story book with God.

Here I are some prayers from three journal entries and I post them not to brag but because today, four years later these words still echo in my heart as prayers for my life and now I add you to them:
Father deliver me from ever becoming comfortable. Keep me moving onward to the place you have prepared for me, keep me on the path you have cleared for me. Equip me for any situation that may shake the ground beneath me. And fill my heart with love and meekness towards other. 7/12/2006
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It always amazes me to see what awesome and great power You have. Lord I am nothing yet You allow me to play a small part in Your holy and mighty works. You are so good to me. What a mighty God I serve. 7/17/2006
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Lord thank You for Your Word which always reminds me to worship Your holy name. Father may Your praise be continually on my lips and in my heart. Instruct me how you desire to be praised and teach me how to prepare my heart for worship. 7/19/2006

Beautiful words stir my heart.

I will recite a lovely poem about the king,

for my tongue is like the pen of a skillful poet.

Psalm 45:1

A Year In Verses

Cause me to hear Your loving-kindness in the morning,
For in You do I trust;
Cause me to know the way in which I should walk,
For I lift up my soul to You.
Psalm 143:8

[photo credit]

It's almost that time of the year again. No, I am not talking about Thanksgiving, Christmas or New Years Eve. It's almost that time of the year where I begin to seek and pray for a "year verse" from the Lord. So you're wondering what I am talking about. For the past few years I have asked God to give me one verse for that year. For 2009, He gave me Psalm 143:8. With this verse I was challenged to go to His word daily and in the morning, to trust it and allow it to guide me. I began to journal one verse each day. Here is a look into my journal, one verse from each month:

January 23, 2009

The secret of the LORD is with those who fear Him, and He will show them His covenant. Psalm 25:14

February 22, 2009

So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved. Acts 2:46-47

March 31, 2009

Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction. Isaiah 48:10

April 2,2009

He alone is your God, the only one who is worthy of your praise, the one who has done these mighty miracles that you have seen with your own eyes. Deuteronomy 10:21

May 28, 2009
Tell me, my love, where are you leading your flock today? Where will you rest your sheep at noon? For why should I wander like a prostitute among your friends and their flocks? Song of Solomon 1:7

June 3, 2009
Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. 2 Corinthians 2:14-15

July 1, 2009
The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand. I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. Psalm 37:23-25

August 1, 2009
I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Psalm 27:13

September 5, 2009
Oh, that we might know the Lord! Let us press on to know him. He will respond to us as surely as the arrival of dawn or the coming of rains in early spring. Hosea 6:3

October 23, 2009
But giving thanks is a sacrifice that truly honors me. If you keep to my path, I will reveal to you the salvation of God. Psalm 50:23

November 13, 2009
Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15


His Word is a lamp unto my feet and a wonderful light unto my path. May I encourage you to set a time apart daily and devote it to hearing from God in His word. Journaling is a huge blessing in my life. I love going back and reading scriptures that spoke to me at the time, answered prayers and as I read past entries I see the growth in my own walk. If you don't already journal, try it out. It's like writing love letters to Jesus.