Hooked on Beth Moore's Bible Studies

"You need to do a Beth Moore Bible study," my sister-in-law, Debbie, told me. "You'll love her."



 Years later,

Debbie gave up on my efforts 

and sent

JAMES, Mercy Triumphs

through the mail--

to me.

She was right: I loved the study. Beth Moore writes with a genuiness and a connected-ness to women of any age. She knows her Bible history and makes it come alive.


I'd like to share a few things from the JAMES study....

;;

 

Who was James?

 

 

 

James was the half brother of Jesus who more than likely grew up in the same household as Jesus along with other brothers and at least one sister. His parents were Mary and Joseph.

 

The book in the Bible, James, was one of the last to be accepted as part of the New Testament but probably one of the first to be written.

 

It has only five chapters.... an easy read.

 

Although a half brother of Jesus, he starts his book with ....

 

 

James,

a servant of God

and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Greetings.

 

These are some thoughts I wrote down...

... Beth Moore's words...

   Thank you, Beth...

 

 

Mercy heals,

Mercy grows,

Mercy moves....

 

 

Have the courage to live under strain and pain

to be part of a better story.

A larger story.

Don't wimp out.

Don't waste your pain.

 

God's way of reaching the big, needy world is to enlist every one of us to do our parts in love and humility, variety and diversity.

 

God can do a perfect work in an imperfect person.

 

Boasters and braggarts are liars --

every single time.

 

Selfishness makes us sick.

The more we put ourselves first,

the more insecure we become.

Insecurity's mark?

Jealousy.

Insecurity is when your own mind turns on you.

 

What does "full-of-mercy" look like?

Dignifying people.

 

 

If we are willing,

God is our song when we are happy,

Our escape when we are tempted,

Our hope when we're despairing,

Our joy in tribulation,

Our strength in weakness,

And our immortality in dying.

Ultimately,

He Himself is our health.

 

 

A pair of hands clasped in earnest--

prayer is the best means we have

this side of heaven

to hang onto Jesus

for dear life.

 

 

 

Again, thank you Beth Moore for the Bible study on James... and thank you James for inspiring each of us to remain faithful--and remembering that true faithfulness is the living-faith expressed in action.

 

 

In Chapter 2: 14-17, James tells us.... about faith and deeds:

¹⁴ What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? ¹⁵ Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. ¹⁶ If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? ¹⁷ In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

 

 

Again, a gentle reminder from Beth..

 

 

A pair of hands clasped in earnest--

prayer is the best means we have

this side of heaven

to hang onto Jesus for dear life.

 

 

James gives us

   the prayer of faith

      in his last chapter

         starting with verse 13...

¹³ Is anyone among you in trouble?

Let them pray. Is anyone happy?

 Let them sing songs of praise.

¹⁴ Is anyone among you sick? ...

 ¹⁵ And the prayer offered in faith

will make the sick person well;

the Lord will raise them up.

If they have sinned, they will be forgiven.

 ¹⁶ Therefore confess your sins to each other

and pray for each other so that you may be healed.

The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

 

Pray

Give Praise.