by tascha |
I have had a few requests via comments and private messages {on facebook} asking how I do this “Bible Journaling” so I thought I would do a blog post about it. [I may break it into a couple of posts, but I’ll post them quickly 🙂 ]
First of all, I must get this out of the way. I have not ever been an artist. I drew a few things {like lighthouses and fences, which have straight lines for which I could use a ruler! lol and I loved drawing big swirly flowers on cards} as a kid. It was fun, but I never felt like an artist and it did not really extend past my high school years. College years were not conducive to being very artistic with drawing, though I did make mini bulletin boards for a teaching class…
anyway…. All of that to say, this is a VERY new venture for me–as in, less than a month. There are bloggers and instagramers {find me here!} out there that have been doing this for much longer.
So, I was first introduced to this concept via TimeWarpWife Share and her blog post: I’m Writing a Legacy Letter, But It’s Not What You Think.
I read it as soon as it was published, as I subscribe to her blog; but I just let it kinda sit in my heart for a while. Then I started talking to my husband about what I thinking: I wanted to do this!
It was not really that I wanted to leave a book for my kids one day {though that could be a wonderful benefit}, but I wanted to create a memory with my kids. And I wanted to have a journal [maybe, possibly, a Bible one day] that would be very personal to me, that my kids could also glean a glimpse into the heart of there mom one day.
My very first sketch was … experimental.
I was on style-overload 🙂 having watched youtube videos and scoured blogs of other journalers.
Then I tried some color and an actual picture.
I was having fun!
Then I made a facebook album of a few pictures I and my kids had drawn {I want them to enjoy the Bible!} and a few people were encouraging. But I’d already caught the bug, so to speak. 🙂
Before this, I would read my Bible. I would pray that certain things God spoke to me would… stick… in my heart. And He has been changing me over the years.
But this type of journaling has opened up an avenue that just brings out some creative juices that were lying dormant [apparently]. And it simply makes my heart happy. Now, I know that Bible study is not necessarily for creating “happiness” but through studying Leviticus at Prayer Meetings at church has shown what true happiness is! –it’s becoming Holy, like HIM… and that is the purpose of Bible study anyway. 🙂
After a few random verses that I love, I decided to work my way through Proverbs during the month of July {2015}… I do not do it on Sundays and while I do read every day, if I do not get to the journaling part, it’s OK! I had to tell myself that upfront–or I would obsess about it. 😉
More on my process… soon!
IMPORTANT! Please remember that this… Bible Journaling… is an expression of your joy and love in studying God and His Word. Comparison is a joy robber! I look at my pictures and find all the flaws… then others look at them and see the beauty in the colors and words that touched my heart. This is about our hearts, not our artistry.
And you might enjoy reading this post by Time-Warp Wife…
by tascha
I am currently reading through Proverbs with the purpose of Journaling.
It is a book full of applicable sayings that are {mostly} simple to illustrate. Is that cheating? 🙂
I made this decision last Friday, thus, beginning on Proverbs 3.
Also, I do not do much studying on Sundays… perhaps that is slacking of me, but that’s the way it is for now.
On to some verses that stood out last Friday.
” [13] Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.
[15] She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.
[33] The curse of the LORD is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the just.”
Godly wisdom, as we learn throughout this entire book {and all of Scripture}, is something that comes only from God. There is no age limit and there are no experiences that can create true Godly wisdom.
So when we get the understanding and find the wisdom that only comes from ready, studying, meditating and truly learning and applying God’s Word, we will find happiness.
On Wednesday evenings at church, we are studying the book of Leviticus… and learning that HOLINESS is what brings HAPPINESS. This is basically what this means.
In our flesh, we all desire riches and all manner of wealth; but only when we seek God and study His Word and learn His Heart can we find actual peace and lasting happiness.
Surely, this world offers a fleeting fun, happy feeling, for a season [Hebrews 11:25]. But it is just that… for a season, fleeting, a feeling. It is not deep and abiding and everlasting.
Also, as a wife and mother, I desire a blessed habitation. As one who is home most of every day with my children, I desire a HAPPY habitation to. 🙂
And I have found, through days of striving to study and apply Scripture and then days of sorely lacking, that these principals HOLD TRUE
– every – single – time!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Let’s connect on FACEBOOK!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
I’m also on Instagram!
{starting back up just for sharing Bible Journaling!!!}
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
by tascha |
And a free download at the end…
In my last post, I alluded to a relationship between Psalm 15 and the book of James…
Verse 1 of Psalm 15 asks a very interesting question: Lord, who shall abide in they tabernacle…?
We begin to see the answer with verse 2: He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.
I like to break sentences apart and examine individual phrases (did I ever mention I was an English major in college?) as well as define words to their most basic meaning in order to understand.
So this verse tells me that if I am to dwell in God’s Holy Hill (His tabernacle, now ME)…
I must:
walk uprightly
to walk means to go the way of, a manner of life, traverse.
uprightly means whole & entire, sound or perfect, in accord {agreement} with truth and fact, with integrity, wholesome and innocent.
work righteousness
work means to make or commit or do.
righteousness is justness of law; what is right; proper weights & measures [balance]; ethically right.
speak truth in my heart
truth is the state of being true, something accurate based on reality {in this instance, I would suggest that Scripture is our only truth… feelings and emotions will lead us astray every time. We must line up with Scripture}
in my heart… my own heart. I must not try to deceive myself. I must be so in-tune with Scripture that I recognize a lie, whether I try to tell it to myself or another is trying to sway me.
Is my manner of life whole and full of integrity?
Do I walk in agreement with the Truth of Scripture?
Do my works commit justice of law? Are they ethical?
Are my deeds properly weighted or balanced?
Is my mind and heart so saturated with hearing and learning and mediating on truths from Scripture that I recognize a lie when the deceiver brings one to me?
These are all weighty questions I am asking myself… and I am trying not to deceive my own heart.
Because, as Jeremiah writes in chapter 17: The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
…and when I do NOT do these things… my Spirit {God’s Spirit IN me} is troubled and there is no peace in God’s Tabernacle!
FREE DOWNLOAD BELOW
- Right Click the image and select Save Image As to download
This was my first attempt as using watercolor pencils.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Let’s connect on FACEBOOK!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
I’m also on Instagram!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
and I’m on Twitter!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
by tascha
The last post broke down verse 2… in answering the question from verse 1: LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?
If you missed it, there were some weighty questions I asked myself at the end.
And the thoughts are continued in the next few verses….
3~He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour.
4~In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the LORD. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not.
5~He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved.
I would like to just say up front, these are not easy or very comfortable points to talk about…
Becoming a mature Christian is not an easy path, but God does have a few promises that I would like to point out before I continue:
…lo, I [Jesus] am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Matthew 28:20
Paul often ended his letters with:
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen. 1 Thessalonians 5:28
The Lord be with you all. 2 Thessalonians 3:16
The Lord Jesus Christ be with thy spirit. Grace be with you. Amen. 2 Timothy 4:22
Grace be with you all. Amen. Titus 3:15
from Peter:
But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. 1 Peter 5:10
and a few promises from the OT that apply:
Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD. Psalm 31:24
My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen thou me according unto thy word. Psalm 119:28
…the joy of the Lord is my strength. Nehemiah 8:10
Our God WILL be with us; He will strengthen us; and He will fill us with His grace… as we meditate on His Word and place our hope in HIM.
…and these are only a bare scratching of the surface of the promises of God’s help for us when we trust in Him and study and apply His Words.
So, my friend, let us be STRENGTHENED by our God
for this task of maturing spiritually 🙂
Psalm 139:9,10
We will delve into the actual verses in the next post…
I would love for you to share a favorite promise in the comments.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Let’s connect on FACEBOOK!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
I’m also on Instagram!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
and I’m on Twitter!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
by tascha
Last post I tried to prepare myself for the difficulty of what these next verses mean… There is a reason there are so many promises for God’s strength and grace for us in Scripture. 🙂
Diving right into it:
in answering the question from verse 1: LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?
3~He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour.
4~In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the LORD. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not.
5~He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved.
So these verses continue with how am able to dwell in God’s Holy Hill (His tabernacle, now ME)…
I must NOT:
backbite:
slander or spy out against
do evil to my neighbour
be disagreeable, vicious, unkind or unethical towards ALL MEN [“who is my neighbour?” ~Luke 10:27-37]
take up a reproach against [anyone]
taunt or scorn or disgrace–my neighbor [anyone].
{{Is this convicting anyone else?}}
still NOT:
put out money in usury
to be honest, this sounds as though we are not to make investments… and I cannot say that it is not saying that, though I doubt it; but I do know positively that in the OT, God warns us against lending money to a friend and charging a usury [interest fee] but encourages rather that we GIVE graciously to a friend in need… and only expect back the exact of what we lent [if anything].
take a reward against the innocent
a reward against would be a bribe… against the innocent. Do not let yourself be bought. If you have a price, someone will ‘buy you.’
They will buy your silence “if you want to keep your job” … buy your loyalty “if you want the connections”…, etc. We must stand for right and NOT “have a price.”
{{ouch… seriously, is anyone else even still reading this?}}
and a few things we MUST DO:
In whose eyes a vile person is contemned
This one is hard, difficult… our eyes must find vileness contemptible. And not just that, but the person becomes loathsome to us. I think, this is difficult because as a society, we are so “into God’s Grace” and often tend to ignore His Justice.
BUT this is NOT a license to treat people with disdain or to think of ourselves a better person. We ALL have the capacity to become a vile person. If you feel differently about yourself, I would send you to Jeremiah in chapter 17: The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
This IS having discernment. We must not allow ourselves to become calloused to recognizing wickedness. And we must recognize when a person is habitually vile. And we must realize that these people should not be our regular companions… [Psalm 1]
honoureth them that fear the LORD
We must give honor to, make weighty or heavy [the testimony of] people who fear the Lord… and prove it with their actions. These people deserve our respect and, to an extent, our emulation [1 Corinthiasn 11:1]… as they continue following Christ. [Many Proverbs, 1 Corinthians 11:1…]
sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not
We must keep our promises, even when it causes discomfort to ourselves… and not let it change who we are. This is difficult. This is one reason I try to give great thought to anything even remotely like a “promise.” We are bound by our word, whether we actually carry it through or not. God knows.
If you’re still here… thank you for sticking it out.
As I mentioned before: Becoming a mature Christian is not an easy path, but God does promise to help us.
Please share your thoughts on these verses in the comments! I enjoy different perspectives.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Let’s connect on FACEBOOK!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
I’m also on Instagram!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
by tascha
I am not lightning quick when I study through a book. I would say a snail’s pace describes me. 🙂
But, I am going to attempt to review a a thought or 2 from a few verses at a time… and there will be several references for looking up, if you choose.
The best way to explain Scripture is with other Scripture!
James 1:1-12
¶ 1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.
¶ 2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
James is speaking to Jews. But he is also writing to CHRISTIANS… of which I am one. I pray you are also!
And he is starting with the basics… having Joy ~ facing trials ~ learning patience. {It’s a circle of events in my own life. 🙂 }
As a believer, my joy will not come from the circumstances around me.
It will not come from the people around me.
It will not even come –from inside me.
My joy will come from following God
–into and through the storms that rage.
And when I follow Him, there will arise temptations [1 Corinthians 10:13].
…count it all joy when ye fall… Count: to see the end of a matter. We must look ahead and… | when: KNOW it WILL happen
We will have need to rebuke one who desires to devour our very soul [1 Peter 5:8 & 9 | James 4:6-8].
…into divers temptations… diverse: various types- the devourer knows our weaknesses
We will have a fight on our hands…but God did not leave us defenseless! [Ephesians 6:10-18]
But it will be a JOY to us to have these temptations, these tempestuous times, because they work PATIENCE in us.
And Patience wishes to have HER way with us,
in completing a perfect work,
that will make us whole.
The devil wishes to devour our testimony so that we may not [or so we choose not to] serve GOD. Satan desires that we serve him. Satan uses our mistakes and folly to make us think we are no good for the Work of God.
But Patience… oh, sweet Patience, she wants to bring about perfectness in our hearts so that we lack nothing we need, thus bringing perfect Glory to our Savior.
My friends… rejoice in the difficulties that come... even when they arise from our own foolishness, because Patience works.
And God can cause ANYTHING bring Himself Glory, when we are following His call. [Romans 8:26-28 & 31]
[EDIT: if you click over here, I have this drawing available as a coloring page.]
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Let’s connect on FACEBOOK!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
I’m also on Instagram!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
and I’m on Twitter!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
by tascha |
A little bit more from James 1:
[you can read about the first few verses Here]
5~If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
6~But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
7~For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
8~A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
Wisdom is one of the most valuable things we can possess … but godly wisdom ONLY comes from God. [the book of Proverbs 🙂 ]
Wisdom: the discernment to make the right {Biblical} choice, before acting in haste {in emotion}
I cannot rely on my experiences in life to give me God’s view of a matter.
Thus: If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God…
He WILL give to us… liberally: simply and openly. [Proverbs 2:1-6]
And He upbraideth not: He will not reproach or cast us down for asking!
BUT, we must ask in faith, nothing wavering: not doubting {like Peter: Matthew 14:25-33}
If we waver, we are like the sea–being driven and tossed to and fro. We will not be stable in our wisdom.
Because we also learn that: A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
And a man that wavers cannot: think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
Ask God for His wisdom
Be confident that He will lead you.
Continue in this direction with faith!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Let’s connect on FACEBOOK!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
I’m also on Instagram!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
and I’m on Twitter!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
by tascha
still in James 1…
The next several verses have thoughts that flow… this is a letter after all, and I am unsure exactly where to separate my thoughts… so, this one’s going to be a little longer than usual.
verses 19-27
19 ~ Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:
20~ For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.
21~ Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
22~ But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
23~ For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:
24~ For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
25~ But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
26~ If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.
27~ Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
These verses quite plainly spell out the HOW of growing and becoming Spiritually Mature.
Previously we’ve been instructed that Patience needs to be allowed to do her perfect work… and this is accomplished through trials and temptations. We are learning to run to God through those difficulties.
We are learning to ask for wisdom… without our faith wavering. Sometimes I find myself repeating this particular lesson more frequently than I’d like. 😉 I am, ashamedly, often tossed about like a wave of the sea.
We learned that we succumb to temptation when are drawn away by our own lusts…
We know that nothing we have or accomplish in this life will effect out standing in Heaven–any and all rewards will be because of God’s good gifts… one of which is helping us endure the temptations that bring a Crown of Life {that we will then cast at Jesus’ feet!}.
Here, verse 19 is fairly plain words:
Wherefore: because of all the previous we’ve talked about…
be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: I really think this does not need explaining. I just need to remember it! {as maybe you do, too?}
How often do I jump to a conclusion [speak quickly] without hearing all the facts [disregarding the hearing part] {just ask my husband—way more frequently than I care to admit}.
How often do I allow myself to become frustrated, just because -to be perfectly honest- I am thinking of myself and what I want, the next thing I want to do, see, etc. Instead, I should be more patient… allow Patience to work her work.
Because, you see, our anger [the wrath of man] does NOT work the righteousness of God.
It just doesn’t.
And another wherefore… because of these things: we are supposed to lay apart [put aside, throw away]: all filthiness [just what it sounds like: dirty & defiling] and superfluity of naughtiness [excessive or in abundance malice, evil, wickedness].
It sounds as though our Lord is equating our swiftness to wrath and speaking and evasion of listening to being filthy and naughty… not exactly what I want to hear.
So often I choose not to hear this. What about you?
And continuing: receive [take to yourself] with meekness [mild disposition, gentle spirit] the engrafted word [learned by instruction], which is able to save your souls. When we take to heart and heed this instruction, it is able to save our souls!! {This is not salvation, but saving us from the heartache that comes from the consequences of our sin.}
Though the rest continues, it slightly pivots to another thought.
We are to hear the Word.
This is plain… and our speech and our emotions [anger/wrath] should come more slowly.
But we should ACT on what we hear from The Word…. or we will deceive ourselves into thinking… well, that just knowing what God says is enough.
And it isn’t.
22 ~ But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
23~ For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:
24~ For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
If we hear only and never do…
but do what? [to be perfectly blunt: strive for Holiness… perfectness of God’s work in our hearts]…
…if we only hear and never do, it is as if we woke up and saw our crazy hair and whatever else might look a little out of place straight out of bed and just let it go…. [I think, personal appearance DOES mean something to God, just not in the way some people try to teach, but that’s another post for another time 🙂 ]…
Would you leave the house without changing into clean clothing and at least brushing your teeth and straightening up your hair? Some days require a little more work than others… and some days I care less than others… but that doesn’t make it appropriate to walk out of my house in a dirty and unkempt manner . [no matter what society is trying to tell us!!!]
When I see my natural face [sinful nature] in the mirror [Scripture], I am supposed to DO something about the dirtiness I see…
so I can be blessed in my deeds:
25~ But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
One last thought… Religion is not bad. It is simply one facet of showing the Love of God to others.
BUT… and this is a big one: if I cannot control my tongue {speech},
my religion is vain and I have deceived myself…
26~ If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.
27~ Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
Have you ever met someone who fits that?
I know I’ve BEEN one that fits that description.
Have you?
Sometimes growing up is hard… 🙂
I’m so glad he addressed this to his “beloved brethren” or I might have felt I was being attacked by a judgmental person…
And the next post will begin chapter 2!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Let’s connect on FACEBOOK!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
I’m also on Instagram!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
and I’m on Twitter!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
