Last night I had the opportunity to attend a benefit dinner for a human rights agency by the name of International Justice Mission. This agency is a group of lawyers and social workers that fight to secure justice for victims of slavery, sexual exploitation and other forms of violent oppression all over the world. It was an incredible night of listening to stories of many people who were trapped in a world of hopeless bondage, but by the generous contributions of others, they had been brought into a new life of freedom and redemption. The one story that impacted me the most though wasn't one of the awesome rescues that they are preforming overseas, but one about a nine year old boy here in America. The boy had saved up $90 to buy a new bike, but upon hearing of the work of IJM he decided to give his money to them so that they could free the slaves he had heard about. In a note he sent along with the money, he said "I can always get another bike later."

When I heard that story, I couldn't help but think about what I had read in the first chapter of James earlier that morning.

⁹"The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position. ¹⁰But the one who is rich should take pride in his low position, because he will pass away like a wild flower.

The boy understood something that I so often forget. Our lives are like wildflowers that are here today and tomorrow are withered and dead. I was reminded again of importance to live a life of humility and to be full of selflessness when it comes to the countless gifts we are given from the Father of Lights (James 1:17).

Another thing that I was reminded of is how what I read in the morning impacted the way that I perceived things during the day. My time spent reading the Bible was not time spent in vain.

Be encouraged as you read this week and be looking for ways of how God's word speaks directly into the things of your day to day lives.

Dave Hostetler

??? to Meditate On

Hey everyone!!

I hope I'm doing this right...

Some of you expressed interest in the 3 questions I have in my notebook to help meditate on the Scripture we're reading. Here they are:

• What is God saying to you?
• What do you need to say to Him?
• What is God teaching you?

Looking forward to next Tuesday and getting to know you all better...

-XOXOX

Melissa

I saw a bumper sticker yesterday that just said, "2 Chronicles 7:14" and felt inclined to look it up. It's a word spoken from God to Solomon that I thought was encouraging for our group as we seek God:

"Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land."

-lander

Tools for Success

feel free to post on here any questions, comments, resources, etc. that you'd like. if you like a verse, post it. if you are having trouble understanding something you read, post it. if you need prayer in your life, post it or email it. be encouraged to comment on other posts as well. hopefully this will work well!

I want to offer a few helpful words of advice to keep in mind and in practice while diving into a practice of getting into scripture regularly:

1) spiritual discipline and physical discipline go together nicely. if you set your alarm so that you wake up specifically for the purpose of seeking God through prayer and reading, you will be much more inclined to do that as you get up.

2) if you feel like you don't have time to read, make time to read. just decide that your day now starts 30 minutes or an hour earlier than it did yesterday... and then make that your new practice.

3) be very conscious of how you are processing what you are reading. more important than reading a chapter from James is understanding what God is telling you through that chapter from James... even when that means that you only read one sentence. Sometimes reading just a little bit, but really unfolding it and taking it in and understanding it is more important.

4) overcome the spirit of laziness. this is what discipline is all about... overcoming the things that we're used to doing. be certain, there is an enemy, there are demonic spirits, and they do not want you to learn more of the truth. you will be spiritually attacked. battle this through prayer and commitment to seeking God.

5) remember that your desire is to know the TRUTH that God offers to teach you, and seek this with all your heart.

Let your goal be God himself, at any cost, by any road.

love you guys.

-lander