A Small Book Packed With Big Wisdom…

by mommyonfire on January 25, 2012

Next week, we’ll be starting a new journey here at Mommy on Fire and Heart and Soul Reflections.

We’ll be walking through Beth Moore’s new study “James:  Mercy Triumphs” and I am so excited to see where God will take us.

I’m trusting that He’ll bring just the right people to study along with us or to just read what we post each Wednesday starting on February 1.

If you plan to join us, order your book now!  Should you like to order from Amazon, my husband would be oh so appreciative if you might consider ordering it through the Amazon link here on my site (on the sidebar)…Every little bit helps and well, you know, blogging costs money which he so willingly pays but this might make him smile a bit…

On February 1, we will begin with introductions and general information then we’ll be ready to discuss “Week One” on February 8.  More specifics will be shared next Wednesday but just know that you won’t have to have anything read or completed by February 1!

I can’t explain it other than sometimes God draws me in to a book of the Bible and I must go.  About a month ago, I had lingering thoughts of the book of James and voila!  Wouldn’t you know Beth Moore’s new study in all about the book of James.

While looking through the very short book  located towards the back of the New Testament, I was blown away by the wisdom found in just five short chapters.

So to whet your appetite a bit, let me share a few that blew me away and made me say “Oh, NOW I see why you wanted me to study the book of James, God!!!

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds,  because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.  Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.  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. – James 1:2-5

Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. – James 1:12

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. – James 1:17

My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,  for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. – James 1:19-20

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.  Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror  and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.  But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does. – James 1: 22-25

If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.  Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. – James 1: 26-27

Yowsahs, I say…And this is just in the first chapter…

I would love to have you join Cherie from “Heart and Soul Reflections” and I next Wednesday as we dive in – if you have any questions, email me at ncsnapp@gmail.com.

To see a one minute overview done by Beth herself, please click here…

Would you join me in what I’m challenging myself with today?  Quick to listen.  Slow to speak.  Slow to become angry.  (Big task for me, friends.  Prayer appreciated.)

 

 

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10 Things I Love About Having A Girl

by mommyonfire on January 23, 2012

OK. I admit it.

Walking in to my first ultrasound appointment ever, I secretly prayed for a girl.

Nothing against boys.  I eventually would have been happy about having a boy – which is, of course, a great thing since I went on to birth two of them shortly thereafter.

But a girl…

Pink and ruffles and daintiness and just the mere thought of it all swelled my heart.  Not to mention I am very close to my mother and those of us who have this blessing seem to desire a daughter that much more.

God answered my prayer according to my heart’s desire – as I lay on the table staring at the fuzzy ball flipping and turning in my womb, I squeezed my husband’s hand when the technician said “It’s a girl!”

Then we went straight to the nearest children’s store so I could start looking at options for the nursery.  Literally and hour later, I was looking at bedding sets and dreaming of late night talks and crafts and princesses and all things glittery and Liberace-like.

So since last week I shared the “1o Reasons I Love Having Boys” and the week before was “Ten Things I’ve Said Since Becoming A Mother of Boys”, it’s time for the girl to have her day in the sun.

Without further ado, the ten things I love most about having a girl…

10.  I have finally met someone who can out-talk me…

9.  Her sensitive heart – not to say that boys can’t possess this trait because they can but my daughter tends to be softer – more emotional and motherly.

8.  Definite opinions on what she will and will not wear – in the first grade. (Wait.  Do I love this?)

7.  Her bleeding heart – she has become impassioned with the plight of the tigers because “Mom, didn’t you know there are only 3,000 tigers left in the whole world?”  Along with a friend, these two little girls raised $117 for the World Wildlife Fund.  They are never too little to form a missionary heart.

6.  The wonder of little girl friends – the giggles, the shrieks, the little tiny things they play with.  I love it all…

5.  Her seriousness in earning her American Heritage Girls badges…

4.  Cuddle time on the couch while we watch a girly movie – usually involving a horse or a chihuahua…

3.  Her ability to understand Jesus better than I do…

2.  Bedtime talks about stuff going on in her heart and talking through them in an attempt to point her towards Jesus…

1.  Her absolute love for her daddy and his intense love for her – the bond is beautiful and I rest contentedly knowing the cycle has been broken…

There are so many more.  Like the walks and the board games and the dress-up and the crafts (kind of – if it doesn’t involve sewing) and the giggles.  Oh, the giggles.

What about you?  What do you like about having a girl?  If you don’t have a girl, what did you like about being a little girl?

 
Top Ten {Tuesday}

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For When You Feel Trapped

January 22, 2012

Every now and then, I’m faced with serpents that creep in and try to derail what I’m committed to doing. Like being in a healthy marriage and raising children to love God.  Those two things are the top two the serpents hate the most. So when I have an argument with my husband or it [...]

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When God Says “Coming Soon”: Introducing Sisters in Bloom…

January 20, 2012

If you’ve spent anytime around these parts you know that I would choose to raise my babies, wife my husband, and simply just write.  End of story. Sitting down with a cup of coffee faced with a blank screen is a form of worship to me.  I’ve tried to stop the habit but it’s like [...]

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