It's Not Just the Bad that is Wrong

Dear Lord, So often I am just a half a day to giving up all social media because of different stuff I see.  I don't know how to explain it, but so much of it is all about ourselves.  I'm including myself in this observation.  But then you bring something to me and help me to know my time is not done there yet and to keep on.  In fact, I felt Your conviction so as to discern that not taking place, not participating in this avenue of ministry, not even using this for Your good and Glory........... it would be sin!

Lord, as these thoughts come to me it almost causes me to go to my knees because I don't understand it at all.  I have even thought I have to be making this up in my mind.  But after much prayer, conviction, and confirmation - I will obey and in that obedience there will be action.........again!


" If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them."  James 4:17


I really appreciate this verse so much!  I appreciate the specificity of it!  It doesn't just say that anyone that knows good and doesn't do it randomly is sinning, but it is specific to me!  When I know something He has called me to do no matter what it is - no matter how silly it may seem - no matter how many other times I have done it - no matter if it has never worked before - no matter what - IF i don't or chose not to follow through on this "good" - that is not just general sin, but this is sin for me!!!!  


What is it in your life?  What is it that you keep passing by for some reason?  What is it that you hear Him saying - I need you to do this "goodness" and you don't make time, you done feel like it will be effective, you don't want to get involved, you think it is stupid, you are embarrassed, you are don't see any good that could come from that....................


It is not just the obvious bad that is sin in our lives, it is not doing the obvious good that is sin as well.  Oh Lord, may we hear you!  Oh Lord, may we respond to you.  Oh Lord, may we have joy in our hearts.  And Oh Lord, may You be pleased!!  I love you Savior!!  

800 - Your Faith Must Move!!!!!

Putting Feet to Faith

Faith can be such a daunting part of the Christian walk to understand and figure out. Once I think I have finally have it all mapped out in my mind and heart then life happens to change its course. Life has a way of doing that.

I think I have been the greatest of all conference attenders. If there was a speaker coming in a 100 mile radius I was there and have all the books, t-shirts, CD's, DVD's, etc. to prove it. The massive amounts of Biblical teaching that I have gleaned that was suppose to bolster my faith is nearly unfathomable.

The scripture states in James 2:17, "In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead." Those inspired words written by James, brother of Jesus, came alive to me after many internal struggles trying to figure out why my faith didn't feel like life to me. Why did my faith not look like the speakers' described? Why would I go home after every conference and always be the same. What I now know is that I was operating on a "dead" faith.

Yes, I knew my Savior and He was my Lord, but until I put feet to my faith it didn't seem like the life all the speakers had implored me to risk in. Once I began to step out and act on the faith things began to click and make sense in my heart and mind. When I gave to a struggling family clothes and food I began to understand how He provides for me...my faith was engaged! As I forgave even when it was not asked I could see the mercy of God exuded in me...my faith was lit! And the time I was able to love the person that has hurt me time and time again can only be done when a faith is engaged and Christ's love is fueled...my faith was alive!!!

I hope you can see it is possible to sit on the sidelines, a saved believer with a faith that has never been engaged and made alive. I did not want to live my Christian walk in the realm of those that just don't "get it". I wanted a complete, fully working faith that is alive and well! Is your faith alive or dead? Have you put feet to your faith?

James 2:20-24 "You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness," and he was called God's friend. You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone."

728 - Can I have that?

Dear Lord, I am seeking wisdom from you in a big time way.  So many things are up in the air as far as what you are doing with the ministry and I just need to hear from you!  

As a result of this asking I went to a scripture today that i believe is like the first stage of seeking wisdom.  James 1:5 "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him."  

The interesting thing I found out this morning is that word "ask".  This word is actually like begging, but a specific beg.  It is begging for an object.  The object here is wisdom.  It has  to do with something given, not something to be done.  

So with this word I would ask according to this scripture for the Lord to bring us a buyer, but not so much that He would sell the house.  To sale the house is a different kind of word.  I love the Greek language!  Of course I want Him to sale the house too, but again in this word definition is it asking for an object or something to be given not so much something to be done!

Lord, I do love your Word.  I love that when I do seek you will show me and usually it is something new that I have not had before - or taken the time to notice before!  The verses below verse 5 go on to say that when we do ask that we must believe and not doubt.    I have a hard time with knowing what to believe, etc.    

For example - I ask for you to sale the house.  I know and believe and really trust that You and You alone are the one that can bring us a buyer in today's tough times.  But my doubt I guess you might say comes in when I am confronted with Your time line.  I know You are the one that has to bring us a buyer, but I just don't know when you will do it.  So am i not believing Lord?  I am coming to you with the request because I know You are the only one that can do this, but I guess my doubt comes in IF you really will do it for us........... boy, i sound like a mess!  

Lord, above all - i need the object of wisdom.  I need you to give generously and without finding fault like your Word says.  Can I have THAT????  Oh Lord,  please!!  Give quickly and abundantly!!  I love you Lord - I am trusting in You, help me not to doubt! 

551 - Obey or not?

Lord Jesus - you have asked me to do something, but I just don't want to. Honestly, that is the bottom line for me. I just don't want to. I know, how could I say that to You, my Savior, but it is true, I just don't want to. This is not a situation where I am wondering if God wants me to do this particular thing - i am very aware of what He is asking.

Yesterday as I was going about my day and constant talk with You Lord, I asked - am i being rebellious? Is this the kind of thing that will cause much discipline? Most importantly the Lord just relayed back to me - It just breaks my heart, Leigh. You are refusing to obey in this area and it breaks my heart. It is not so much about discipline although you know that I love you and so I must discipline, but You are breaking my heart over this minuscule thing and I have so much more for you!! We have to get through this!!

Oh Lord - it just seems so silly. I know it just between you and I, but still. I know I sound like a junior high kid, but Lord Jesus! This morning in my devotion you wrote the words and had them jump out at my on the page - "Chose today to not rebel any longer." Holy cow - could you get any more specific and any more clear?? I mean did You have to use that same word I had just used in my own prayer? Lord, you are so clear and I thank you for that!! I want to know your will and do your will without question - hello - you are so clear!!!

My scripture for today is James 4:17 - another confirmation.... "To one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin" Ouch!!

Lord, I will walk in obedience. I will choose to line myself up with the favor of the Lord by saying yes to your ways. Lord, I will do as you ask regardless of what I want to do or even feel like I should do. Lord, I want your ways in my life. I want to follow you even in the smallest of things. Lord, I want to go down in your book as faithful and a fighter for what you want in my life. Not fighting against you, but on your team!! I choose to obey and for me that is JOY!!! I love you, Lord. Thank you for loving me enough to ask certain things in my life!!

We are almost all moved in. Kids start the new school today - nerves!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SJ lost her first tooth last night! She was so proud! Me too!

513 - Moving Faith

Oh Lord, you have given me some really great thoughts this morning. I have been looking at the life of James, Jesus' brother. This is the brother that did not believe he was Messiah until after the resurrection. Oh how many people do I know that just need more proof or they are just waiting for a little better time to follow Christ. James was "lucky" in that it didn't get too late for him, he was still able to "know" the Lord Jesus as his Savior before he died. This is another person I like to call that was Up Close and Personal with the Lord and changed. His transformation did not come till much later in life, but it did happen.

I am encouraged that I have seen the Lord be so faithful to those that truly did know Him at one time or knew about Him and came back to KNOW Him. I am so convinced that there is no way to lose my salvation - or anyone to lose their salvation. That is really not the issue or an issue. The real key is did you truly ever know Him at all? Salvation is not part of a lay-away plan and we can come back and get a little bit at a more convenient time. When we truly come to know Him it is done, sealed, and forgiven! Praise you Lord - thank you!!

So I look at James and am just amazed. This dude spent many, many days and nights with Jesus but did not buy it. Oh how I feel like that at times. Not only am I one to not buy into someone at times - their sincerity - but have been treated the same way. Someone doesn't understand me, someone doesn't buy into my heart, someone doubts my motivations or whatnot. But Jesus was perfect - there were no contradictions for James to argue with. Maybe it was he just thought he would have to be perfect too? Maybe it was that he thought he could just keep the letter of the law and be fine - he didn't need his big brother. Maybe he was just not ready to walk that serious and suffer persecution. Maybe he was already mad at his brother for bringing so much attention to the family and their private lives. Maybe just maybe he even overheard his parents talking about even their doubts. I most likely think they had not doubts - I am just kind of speculating here - but you how we get when we are just laying in the bed talking things through with your spouse. Lots of stuff comes out... Who knows, but James did not believe Jesus Christ was the Messiah until after the resurrection!!

I love to see a new believer just go on fire for the Lord. I kind of feel like that is what happen to James. He was not just in Jesus family, but he was all in His business too. SO even though he didn't believe for quite some time - if Jesus dies at 33, then James could have been well into his 20's before he believed and accepted - once he did come to know the Lord, it was a radical change. The things I love the most was that he wrote the book of James.

The book of James is one of the most practical books in the Bible, to me. It is a book of instruction for the most part. How to deal when trials come and temptation sets in. How to deal with having faith and then doing something with it. How to deal with favoritism. How to deal with working your faith, not working out your faith, but putting your faith to work. How to control the tongue!!!!!!!!!!!!!! wow!!! How to deal with giving it all to the Lord, surrendering your life, having patience in suffering, and having an eternal perspective! He must have something all those years of living with Christ that made a huge difference to him even though he didn't buy in at first.

I have to think about my own life. My kids are finding their faith right now. My Tucker is saved, but is trying to figure out what he knows to be truth. Emmajoy is a believer and take everything with such a child like faith. I know her day will come too. Sarahjane is wanting to understand, but can't sit down long enough to really care. Elleigh is too young. But they all are watching Clay and I too see what we do about certain situations, how we express our faith, and how we react to their faith. It is so different for someone just looking in to judge whether one is doing a "good" job of displaying a faith that someone just has got to have. Will my kids see a faith they have just got to have? Will they see a faith that did more than just talk? Will they see a faith that did more than just sit on the sidelines?

That is the thing i love the most about the book of James. James saw Jesus doing - he saw his faith that was express in action. Remember him saying in this book that faith without works is dead. James must have never seen Jesus dead in His walk. I know that seems obvious, but how many times to my kids see a dead faith. James must have seen a faith that was willing to go the distance - death!! What is it like in your house I know the Lord is asking? James knew his brother was the real deal, but it was like he had to see how far he would go, death, before he really believed. I bet he was so disappointed to have wasted all that time of not believing.

Lord, when people really get inside my home and heart do they still see a faith worth dieing for? When I allow people up close and personal in my life do they something that is real and contagious? Lord, am I the type of person you can bring people to me knowing that they will encounter Christ through me? Oh Lord, I know the answer is no at times - nor often that I want to admit. But Lord, help me to be more expressive of my faith. Help me to be real and authentic. Help me to have a faith that my kids will say - I have just got to have a faith in the Lord Jesus like my momma! Thank yo Jesus for hearing my prayers! Thank you for knowing my heart. Thank you for forgiveness as I fail so often. Thank you for my kids asking questions and really seeking what all this is about. Lord, bring to them passion that can not be equaled. Lord, set them on fire at this early age to know you and to want to share you with others. Give to me wisdom to know their bent and how to "water" that for growth. Lord, help clay and I to display a working faith and one that never sits back to let everyone else do it!! I want to be in the game!! I want to be to your go to girl! I want to be faithful!!

I got a potential opportunity of speaking at a True Love Waits deal in WEST Tennessee. (Fran, Teresa, all ya'll - it could be fun.) Oh how i would love to go to that!!! Lord, may the timing and calendar work out. My March is already so busy!! I love you Father - off to go running and weigh in!! ugh!!! double ugh!!