Friday night we had a wonderful study of James chapter 4! The night's events included small group time, which allowed for sharing about the areas that God was speaking to us from the reading. A. Martinez led a dynamic time of worship, Alex and Tita gave the announcements and everyone enjoyed prayer, laughter and even some foos ball.
We celebrated Pastor Dennis' wife Xu's birthday with two delicious King's Hawaiian cakes: passion fruit cake and chocolate cream and both were a big hit. Lots of sugar and big smiles during fellowship after the study. We are grateful beyond words for Xu. Her compassion, sacrifice and kind heart, demonstrate to us a godly woman who loves the Lord, her husband and her kids.
Road map of James 4
(v.1&2) We often quarrel, fight, and covet due to our sinful desires for pleasures in this world. These misdirected passions cause conflicts within our selfs and with others.
(v.3) We ask out of selfish motives, but rather should ask God for all our needs.
(v.4) When we are friends with the world, we cheat against God and are considered His enemies.
(v.5) The scripture tells us that God is a jealous God. He cares about us and is righteously jealous for our attention and affection.
(v.6) God gives us an abundance of grace. He "resists the proud but gives grace to the humble"
(v.7) We should strive for humility and resist the Devil so he will flee.
(v.8) Draw near to God with a pure heart! We have the natural tendency to have a divided loyalty between Christ and the world.
(v. 9&10) In our somber moments, rely on the Lord, knowing we are sinners but can come to a place of humility before God.
(v.11&12) Don't judge others! Let God be the Judge, as "He alone has the power to save and to destroy"
(v.13-14) When making our life plans, recognize that God plans out each day. Don't spend our time worrying about what's next, but focus on an eternal perspective. We must look to God's will and not our own.
(v.15-17) Rather than boasting in our own plans, we take the attitude of Christ and say "If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this and that"
~ Come and join us at the Bridge every Friday night in the Jr. High room at 7:30~
HAVE A WONDERFUL WEEK!
