Happy Ash Wednesday and first day of Lent. One of my favorite times of the year. I love it because it is a challenge of discipline in my spiritual life. I try to do this all year round, there is something special about Lent though. Because it is a special dedicated time to meditate on Jesus passion and death, and His great love for us! Choosing to sacrifice extra in a small way as Jesus sacrificed His life for us. I say small becuase my sacrifices are nothing in comparison to Jesus' suffering. He gave His whole life! Could you imagine giving up your whole life for someone you knew was going to betray you, hate you, and you still loved them enough to give your own life that they might have life? I don't know if I could. The last thing that I think of when someone has done wrong against me is do something nice for them. That is exactly what God asks us to do though, Love our enemies, keep them close and pray for them! That's SO hard!
This Lent I am doing a Bible study on James, Pearls of Wisdom. We are only on chapter one and it is already incredible.
"My brothers, you will always have your trials but, when they come, try to treat them as a happy privilege; you understand that your faith is only put to the test to make you patient, but patience too is to have its practical results so that you will become fully-developed, complete, with nothing missing" James 1:2-4
Privilege: a special right, advantage, or immunity granted or available only to a particular person or group of people
Now there's a challenge for you! This may sound strange but, at the same time doesn't it make you feel loved and special becuase that trial is a privilege? I felt better about my life after reading this, and I want to tackle my trials with joy. That is so much easier said than done!
Ciao,
Rachel
This Lent I am doing a Bible study on James, Pearls of Wisdom. We are only on chapter one and it is already incredible.
"My brothers, you will always have your trials but, when they come, try to treat them as a happy privilege; you understand that your faith is only put to the test to make you patient, but patience too is to have its practical results so that you will become fully-developed, complete, with nothing missing" James 1:2-4
Privilege: a special right, advantage, or immunity granted or available only to a particular person or group of people
Now there's a challenge for you! This may sound strange but, at the same time doesn't it make you feel loved and special becuase that trial is a privilege? I felt better about my life after reading this, and I want to tackle my trials with joy. That is so much easier said than done!
Ciao,
Rachel
This was so good to read! I love the book of James. It will always be near and dear to my heart.
ReplyDeleteI think one of my favorite parts about that book is that it was written by James, Jesus' brother. In the gospel you read how his brothers kind of teased him and thought he was crazy. They didn't believe Him. However, after the resurrection the Bible says that Jesus appeared to James. I think that must have been a huge spiritual turning point for him. Then you get to this book and you see that Jesus loved him through all those years of unbelief and brought him to a place where he would write a book in the Bible. I just think it's amazing!
I hope you enjoy your study in it.
love this. this season is so encouraging and it such a great time to reflect on how much we truly need jesus.
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