thoughts from my study in James

so i'm doing a Beth Moore study of the book of James.

this week i thought i'd share a couple of insights from Beth and some thoughts of my own.

James certainly takes the no-nonsense walk it, don't talk it approach to living.

we can go to church, love the sermon, take notes on it, and get a copy to listen to again.
But.
it won't do us a lick of good if we don't actually apply it. as in, "live it, girl!"

Beth says this:

"We can underline our Bibles till our pens run dry without a drop of it ever touching our lives.  The self-deception slithers in when we mistake appreciation for application or being touched with being changed."

and

"There is no lie so sly as the one we tell ourselves."

great stuff.

so in comes the self examination.  what lies are we telling ourselves?  could our "lies" be disguised as excuses?

at the risk of being painfully transparent, i'll share one with you...

i have been guilty of believing this thought "the bible says to love your neighbor, brother or sister in Christ, enemy, etc. but it doesn't say i have to like them"

what?

really? have you ever loved someone that you didn't like at all?  actually, that statement is a license to be rude to someone.  one of those excuses for our less than loving attitude/behavior towards someone.  someone that HE loves.

oh, James.  you don't mince words.  you kick my butt.  but that's why i am so fond of you:)