Mirror Madness

How many of you look in the mirror while getting ready and 5 minutes later feel the urge to look in the mirror again while you know that no changes have been made since the first time you looked? It's something to think about while I share my new insights of a few verses in the book of James...

I'm currently studying the book of James through a Bible study titled James--Mercy Triumphs by Beth Moore. I have to say that I'm seeing an all too familar book with new eyes. When I first came to know the Lord, I can remember Melanie Porter suggesting that I start reading the book of James as I take my first steps as a new christian.  So, I can't tell you how many times I have read James (partially because it's such a short, to the point, easy to comprehend text) but this time around it's like I'm seeing it from a whole new point of view.  The Lord is forever faithful and so good to do this for me.

On to my new insight from Him.  I'm sure if you are a regular church attender, you have read/listened to the illustration of a man looking (intently) in a mirror and totally forgetting what he looks like as soon as he turns around.  Beth asked us to draw what this might look like, and folks I'm no artist but I'm going to show you what comes to my mind when I read this passage:

James 1:24 "For he looks at himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was."

This illustration has come alive for me today and I'm going to tell you how.  First let me share some questions that I've been asking myself lately.  Why am I still here in this? Why am I still struggling with this? When is He going to deliver me from this stronghold?  Now I want to tell you that I go to church every Sunday. I take notes. I listen very intently. I pay attention to the Spirit's calling and gentle whispers. I hear Him. I hear Him when I read my Bible, when I pray, when I listen to my pastor share the Word. I hear Him.  I can remember many times while in a Sunday or Wednesday service when tears just roll down my face (while I'm trying to conceal it) because I can hear and FEEL His words in my ears and heart. I hear and sense Him alot.

I want to share a quote from Beth now before I go any further:

"We can underline our Bibles till our pens run dry without a drop of ink splattering our lives.  The self-deception slithers in when we mistake appreciation for application or being touched without being changed.  The tricky part is that hearing all by itself really does lend a certain satisfaction."

I have been deceiving myself!! I can't tell you how many times I have "appreciated" God's words for me without applying them or have been "touched" by His gracious hand of forgiveness yet didn't change.  He has been forever faithful on His part and it breaks my heart to know that I have not.  I no longer wonder why I am still in this stronghold.  I've known how to break away from it for quite some time now and the freedom door has been wide open.  I know now that I must perservere and remember what He has said to me when I turn around from studying and hearing His word.  As a teacher, I know the best way to remember somthing I've heard is to put it into action.

I want to close with His Word:
James 1:22-25 "But be doers of the Word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.  Because if anyone is a hearer of the Word and not a doer, he is like a man looking at his own face in a mirror.  For he looks at himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.  But the one who looks intently into the perfect law of freedom and perseveres in it, and not a forgetful hearer but one who does good works--this person will be blessed in what he does."

And don't we all wanna be blessed?

A Tree Branch?

Ok, before you start judging my weird blog name, let me explain why I'm starting a blog...

God introduced me to the thought of starting a blog several years ago as a tool to share Him and how He lives in me.  I guess you could call it a part of my fruit baring process (more on that later).  First, I need to tell you how much I LOVE reading blogs.  Most of the blogs I read are teacher blogs with tons of inspiration for my own classroom, but I also enjoy reading personal blogs where people share about their life and their families.  It's fun to keep up with people that you don't see that often.  Anyways, when the Lord gave me a nudge to start a blog some time ago, I blew it off as, "No, I don't have anything nearly as exciting and fun to share as most of the blogs I read do."  So I put the thought aside and kept on reading and being inspired by other people.  Well, as my brothers and sisters know, the Lord does not let you off the hook that easy.  His sweet still small voice would come around like it always does and remind me of that time I had the thought to do a blog for His glory and purpose. "But God, I'm not an exciting writer, people won't read it, it might take up too much of my time, blah, blah, blah."  I've come to think that excuses are so unattractive to God. But time and time again the Lord is faithful in sharing His wisdom with me when I ask for it.

"If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him."  James 1:5

If you are a follower of Christ, then you know what I mean when I say that from time to time I receive magnificent epiphanies from God.  They always come from His Word and they bring me great joy and perfect peace because I know that it is Truth.

"...and you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free."  John 8:32

So with every thought and epiphany I had about God's word, that still small voice would come around and remind me that I could be sharing this truth with others.  I would say to myself, "But what is the best way to share something like this?"  At this point, the Lord would always bring me back to the art of writing.  I guess you could say that I like to write...when it's about something fun and interesting. :)  So, of course, the thought of starting a blog comes back to me...again.  I came close (a little over a year ago) to starting one but only got as far as an account and basic information and then chickened out. (serious fail)  So here I am, done with making excuses, doing a little something the Lord has called me to do for the moment:  sharing Him.  That's my reason for starting this blog, to share Him...to share His love that He pours out on me and you, to share His Word, to share the story of Jesus and His journey to the cross and out of the grave, to share my struggles as a follower of Christ, to share the joys and blessings I experience just by knowing Him, and to share with you my journey that I take each day with Him.


Now on to the name...

I am called a branch several time in John chapter 15.  In fact, we are ALL called branches in this chapter.  We are either a branch that produces fruit or branch that does not produce fruit.

[Jesus talking] "I am the true Vine, and my Father is the Vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.  Already you are clean because of the Word that I have spoken to you.  Abide in Me, and I in you.  As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the Vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.  I am the Vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in Me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing."  John 15:1-5

So that's where the name came from.  I'm not very creative, but I know what I like and what I relate to and for some reason I am drawn to this illustration of being a branch being completely dependant on a vine...THE Vine. Without Him, I am nothing and produce nothing.  Anything that I write is of Him and not me.  That's my prayer anyways.  If it is of me, I understand that it won't produce fruit and the whole point of sharing Him is wasted time.  If you find yourself reading this, I pray that God has spoken to you in some way and whispered truth and peace into your life today.  He is the only one that can.

I have more I would love to share about the whole vine and branch illustration, but I'll save it for another post. :)

By His grace,
Hannah