Liar, Liar, Pants On Fire

Let your “Yes” be yes, and your “No” be no.  

- James 5:12

Are there certain things people do that drive you nuts?  One of my greatest pet peeves is being lied to. I think it happens to me so often because my “BS meter” is broken.  I’m quick to trust that people are telling me the truth.  I take their “Yes” to mean yes and their “No” to mean no.  A few mechanics, salespeople, and construction contractors have really liked this.

You’ll laugh when I tell you about our first construction project.  Prior to moving from Massachusetts after Dan’s residency, we hired a construction company to renovate part of the house we had recently bought in Vermont. I was tasked by Dan as the “project manager.” Giving this job to the mother of a newborn and two kids under five was, in hindsight, not such a good idea.  All the diapers, laundry, dishes, and round-the-clock nursing must have fried my brain, because at some point I thought that giving the contractor access to our bank account was a smart and easy way to pay their bills.  

It didn’t take long for them to get comfortable withdrawing money.  We paid for a porch roof that was mistakenly built three feet to the side of the door it was supposed to be directly over.  Then we paid for them to take it down and re-build it in its proper place.  Plumbing had to be expensively re-routed because walls were mistakenly torn down. 

I had assumed that they’d know where roofs go and which walls have pipes in them.  As they assured me these were routine hiccups and unavoidable mistakes, our renovation crept 30% over budget.  I could never get clear, honest answers and by the end, I was pulling out my hair and screaming curses into the phone.  (Sorry James, I know we’re not supposed to do that).  I was blown away by all the lies. 

Do you have wounds from people lying to you?  I’ve learned the hard way that un-forgiveness keeps these wounds open and leads to scarring rather than healing.  The bitterness hurts only me, not those who wronged me.  When I finally forgive, I feel set free.  It’s not easy, which is probably why Jesus told His followers that forgiveness is something you have to do over and over again.  

Looking back, if instead of cursing the construction company owner I had prayed for him every day at 3pm, it would have sped up the healing process and I would have been a happier person.  When you pray for someone who has wronged you, as tough as that sounds, it softens your heart and positions you to better see them from God’s point of view.  Give it a try and see how prayer does indeed have the power to heal your heart and relationships.  It really works!

The Power of Giving God Thanks Will Ignite Your Faith and Change Your World!

Thank You for Being a part of the 3 O’Clock Wake Up Movement

Keep Humbly Shooting Arrows

Humble yourself before the Lord, and He will lift you up.  - James 4:10

When was the last time you complimented someone for being humble?  Aren’t we much quicker to applaud the assertive, the confident, and the strong? 

From the sidelines I yell to my daughter, “You’ve got this!” and in the car on the way home I puff her up with things like, “Great job girl!  You dominated out there.”  At home I’ll talk to her about workout plans, healthy eating, and physical fitness.  She’ll pay attention, occasionally nodding in agreement, but the look on her face tells me that the extra training is most likely not going to happen. 

It dawned on me the other night that I have a similar resistance to much of the good advice James gives in the Bible.  Instead of heartily leaning in to James’ “To Do List” for Christian living, I often find myself trying to work around it.  I’ll procrastinate rather than prepare, choose anger over understanding, and exude pride rather than humility.  

What about you?  When you hear good advice are you inclined to put it into practice or to push back against it?  You know you need to ____________, but instead you ______________.  Do these recurring struggles make you feel like you’re constantly missing the “bullseye” that is God’s will for your life? 

Thankfully God is patient, forgiving, and understands that we’ll never completely hit the target.  He just wants us to keep trying.  It’s my sincere hope that you’re using your 3 O’Clock Wake Up Call as a daily reminder to keep shooting the arrows.  Whatever you’re working towards; humility, patience, or even simple peace, ask for it at 3pm.

I’m cheering for you.  You can do it!  You’ve got this!  Go for it!  

The Power of Giving God Thanks Will Ignite Your Faith and Change Your World!

Thank You for Being a part of the 3 O’Clock Wake Up Movement

Heavenly Wisdom

The wisdom that comes from heaven is…. 

- James 3:17

How would you finish the passage above?  I don’t know about you, but I could really use heavenly wisdom as I make future plans, juggle financial decisions, and parent my teens.  Where do you need more wisdom in your life?  What does heavenly wisdom even look like?

As Jesus’ half brother, James grew up observing God’s son perfectly maneuver difficult relationships, make hard decisions, and “grow in wisdom and stature.” (Luke 2:52).  (Imagine James’ frustration when asked “why can’t you be more like your brother?”)

Maybe that’s why James is able to make it so clear what heavenly wisdom looks like.  He teaches us that it comes out of a humble heart with pure motives.  It is peace-loving, considerate, merciful and sincere.  Heavenly wisdom does not stem from pride, bitterness, selfishness or envy. 

Ouch!  That’s a “Wake Up Call” to the heart. When I think back to my earlier years, I cringe at my own lack of wisdom.  Can you relate to this timetable?  

In my ….

• Teens – I knew everything.  
• 20’s – I knew how to make the world a better place.
• 30’s – I knew how to manage the world’s increasing demands on my own.
• 40’s – I’m clueless, help me God!

I used to think age had nothing to do with wisdom.  Now I recognize and humbly apologize for the times I steam-rolled others when I thought I knew best, for the times I acted out of pride, bitterness, envy, or selfish motives.  Life has a way of humbling us doesn’t it?

If you’re older than me, and can add decades on to the list above, how would you describe each one? (I’d love to hear from you).  Would your current decade, like mine, contain an admission of “cluelessness” and surrender?  Maybe that’s the first step towards “heavenly wisdom.”

Dear God,

Forgive me for thinking I was wise when I was really foolish and prideful.

Help me to follow your heart that is humble, pure, peace-loving, considerate, merciful, and sincere.  Pour yourself into my heart and delete the darkness that you see in mine.  I desire to grow in heavenly wisdom.  

In Jesus Name I Pray,

Amen  

The Power of Giving God Thanks Will Ignite Your Faith and Change Your World!

Thank You for Being a part of the 3 O’Clock Wake Up Movement

Mixing The Pot

Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing…this should not be.  - James 3:10

My husband and I just spent three days on Lake Powell with four teenagers. Besides being light years ahead of me in understanding technology, they also speak a different language.

I don’t Snapchat or Instagram but I do ask a lot of questions. Here are a few of my inquiries from the first day on the boat with the teens:

• Why does your bathing suit have so little fabric on the bottom?  
• What’s up with all the bad language in your music?
• Were those shorts that short when I bought them?
• Just how well do you think your tiny top is going to stay on when you hit the water?  

Do you want to know what their response was every time?  They said over and over again, “Mom, you’re such a pot mixer.”  A what?  Living in Colorado where marijuana is legal, I thought they were calling me “high.”  That only made them laugh more.  Finally, I got the truth out of them.  

A bunch of kids at their high school were discussing “girl drama” one day and a friend said, “She’s always stirring the pot.”  Then another girl chimed in, “Yea, you’re right.  She’s loves mixing the pot.”  Then one gal in the crowd yelled, “She’s a POT MIXER!”  And it stuck.  

When was the last time you were with a “Pot Mixer?”  Or maybe you are one!  If you like to add intensity to the conversation or get jazzed by heated discussions, then you, my friend, like mixing the pot.  According to the teens, the worst kind of “pot mixing” is telling lies or spreading rumors about someone.  I tend to agree.  

I’m so thankful our God is not a “Pot Mixer.”  He tells us truths we can cling to:

• Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life.  (John 14:6) 
• Jesus gave us His Holy Spirit that guides us into truth.  (John 16:13) 
• The truth about Jesus will set you free.  (John 8:32)

Let’s be reminded today that although it might be tempting to “mix the pot” by getting involved in daily dramas, God has called us to live by His truths.  Let’s be Truth Tellers not Pot Mixers.  

The Power of Giving God Thanks Will Ignite Your Faith and Change Your World!

Thank You for Being a part of the 3 O’Clock Wake Up Movement

What's On Your "Therefore" List?

Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.  

- James 2:17

I used to think that when James said “faith without deeds is dead,” he must have missed Paul’s letter to the Romans, in which he states that our faith in Jesus alone is what saves us. Now I understand how they can both be correct.  They actually compliment one other.  Our faith in Jesus is enough to save us, but once we’re saved, the Holy Spirit spurs us on to do God’s good works.  

Think of a time when you stopped to help, serve, or even just talk to someone in need because, in that moment, you knew you had to.  

God places people and things in our paths because He uses us to carry out His plans on earth.  Yes, we can ignore God’s nudges or promptings, but as James warns us, that is faith without deeds. 

“Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.  If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed, but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?” (James 2:15-16)

Faith in God changes us on the inside first, then we see changes on the outside. Has this been true for you?

• I am saved, therefore I give thanks to God.
• I am loved by God, therefore I love others.
• I am growing in my faith, therefore I share it with others.
• I am following Jesus, therefore I walk in His ways.
• I am trusting God, therefore I go where He leads me.
• I am adopted into God’s family, therefore I give God praise.
• I am gifted by God, therefore I share my gifts with others.

The “therefore” list goes on and on.  Others will see your faith in action when you live it out loud, day by day.  Let’s walk and talk and love and serve, not because we have to, but because we get to. What’s your faith statement these days?   I have faith therefore…

The Power of Giving God Thanks Will Ignite Your Faith and Change Your World!

Thank You for Being a part of the 3 O’Clock Wake Up Movement

Teacher's Pet

“As believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don’t show favoritism.”  

- James 2:1

In elementary school I always wanted to be the “teacher’s pet.”  When I found out Ms. Wolf, my second grade teacher at Carmel (Indiana) Elementary School was our neighbor, I snuck over to her house, rang her doorbell, gave her a gift I’d made, and invited myself in. 

When have you wanted to be the “best friend,” the favorite on the team or in the small group?  Kids often push their way to the front, jump in the spotlight, or convince others they’re the best.  They’re kids, right?  As adults, though, many of us are guilty of the same thing.  We fall into the “comparison trap,” ranking others, and picking our favorites.

Isn’t it wonderful and relieving to know that God doesn’t have favorites?  We are all equally loved.  It doesn’t matter what we do.  He will never love us more or less than He does at this very moment.  Like the Sunday School song says:

“Jesus loves the little children.

All the children of the world.

Red, and yellow, black, and white,

They are all precious in His sight.

Jesus loves the little children of the world.”

Lately when we turn on the news, the focus is on the heated racial tensions. The violence that has exploded breaks my heart.  How do you think all this violence makes God feel?  Jesus wept when His dear friend Lazarus died.  I can picture Jesus weeping in heaven as His loved ones are killing each other because of the color of their skin.

When we get to heaven, every color, gender, ethnicity and nation will be praising God together.  How can we, as believers in Jesus, the one who called ALL people to be loved and saved, love others the way Jesus does? 

Start by remembering this:

• All God’s children are made in His image.  All = Everyone.
• Jesus taught us to love our neighbors.  Think about who is your neighbor? 
• God is love.  His love knows no boundaries.  He calls us to love like Him.

Martin Luther King Jr dreamed of a nation where love changes boundaries.  I have the same dream.  One day, I pray God’s children around the globe will stand and give thanks to God at 3pm – every color, in every nation.  Let’s dream together.

The Power of Giving God Thanks Will Ignite Your Faith and Change Your World!

Thank You for Being a part of the 3 O’Clock Wake Up Movement

Burnin' Down The House

The tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts.  Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark.

– James 3:5

As I write this, over a thousand residents of a nearby town have been evacuated due to an uncontrolled wildfire.  Standing in Boulder looking west, the rising black plume of smoke reminds me of the Bison Fire of 2012.

One lightning bolt from heaven can set a forest aflame.  Four years ago, our house stood just a few hundred yards from where the lightning strike hit that started the Bison Fire.  My mind flashes back to standing on our porch watching bombers lay down strips of orange fire retardant while fire-fighting helicopters dropped thousands of gallons of water on the growing flames.

There wasn’t a cloud in the sky the next day when my 3pm alarm went off.  I paused to ask God to protect our home and put out the approaching wildfire, then got back to work packing and preparing to evacuate.  A few hours later, as if on cue, God brought the first rain storm in several weeks. It was a deluge that ended with a hailstorm, as if God wanted to make His point perfectly clear. I danced and shouted praises to God for this miraculous answered prayer.

In the Bible, James warns us that our tongues are powerful and can be like a wildfire that leaves a path of destruction.  He prompts us to use our tongues for greatness by praising God and boasting about His goodness.  

Every day when our 3pm alarm sounds, we are reminded that God is right there loving us, blessing us, and guiding us.  When we thank Him, we are choosing to bless Him.  When we tell others about what God is doing in our lives, we are boasting in the Lord.  

It’s our choice.  Will we control our tongues and let positive praises pour out?  Or will we set relationships on fire with critical, negative, judgmental talk?  I’m so thankful for the daily reminder of the 3 O’Clock Wake Up Call because many times by 3pm, I need a course correction.  I need to be set straight and prompted to praise.  How about you?

The Power of Giving God Thanks Will Ignite Your Faith and Change Your World!

Thank You for Being a part of the 3 O’Clock Wake Up Movement

Listen Up

Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.  

– James 1:19

I am guilty of talking more than I listen.  When my husband hears me say that, he lets out a huge AMEN!  I have been interrupting that man for more than thirty years.  (We met in high school)

We’re making our way through the book of James, the How To Live Out Your Faith in Jesus book of the Bible.  Its truths are sometimes tough to read, like a punch in the gut.  In today’s passage, for example, James flatly counsels us to “be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.”  This passage in Message Version of the Bible reads, “Lead with your ears, follow up with your tongue, and let anger straggle along in the rear.”  That’s a pretty clear visual of God’s priorities.

Have you ever met someone who talks incessantly about himself or herself?  How they run this, have accomplished that, or their child is the best at…?  These uneasy interactions are less of a conversation than a downloading of information. No need for your input.  How much time do you desire to spend in their presence?  Truth be told, I’ve actually picked up my chair at a soccer game and moved 30 feet down the sideline to escape them.

I’m afraid to admit, though, that I’ve been guilty of doing that very same thing, especially with my husband or children.  I get tunnel vision and process my thoughts aloud, later wondering at what point they stopped listening.

On the flip side is my husband’s friend, Jeff, one of the best listeners I’ve ever met.  He makes continuous eye contact, leans into the conversation, and gives you his full attention. He asks in-depth, personal questions that lead you to thoughtful, heartfelt answers.  After talking with Jeff, you feel like you are the most important person in his world.

I bet Jesus listened with this intensity.  

Just think of how many arguments could be avoided if we followed James’ directive.  Think of how many families could be radically changed if we listened more.  Think about how many jobs have been lost, relationships ended, or children hurt because we snapped and let angry words tumble off our tongues.  James is giving us a Wake Up Call to listen more.  

Let’s give it a try.  This week, even if you have to use a stopwatch, make the decision that you will listen more than you talk in a conversation.  

Now listen up.  You can do it!

The Power of Giving God Thanks Will Ignite Your Faith and Change Your World!

Thank You for Being a part of the 3 O’Clock Wake Up Movement

Wisdom From Where?

If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.  But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt.

– James 1:5-6

Who wants more wisdom when it comes to our relationships, finances, career paths, raising children or grandchildren, or caring for aging family?  I certainly do!  I definitely need God’s wisdom as I write, teach, pay bills, parent, care for, and love my friends and family.  We all need God’s wisdom as we make plans for ourselves and our loved ones.  

In this day and age, we’re trained to “Google” our way to wisdom, instantly getting advice on just about any topic out there. We let search engines lead our decisions and move us to action.  To this, James would shake his head and say “Wake up and put your faith in action by asking God for wisdom when you need it.”

Where do you go when you need wisdom?  Do you call a friend, a spouse, an older relative?  What if you went to God first and asked Him?  The Bible says we are to go to God and ASK for what we need and not doubt.  Those last two words, not doubt, are the hardest for me.  

A father brought his demon possessed son to Jesus, saying “Jesus if you can do anything, take pity on us and help.”  You can sense the father’s inner battle between doubt and belief.  When Jesus responded, “If you can?  Everything is possible for him who believes,” the father responded “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief.” (Mark 9:24).  Doubt was overcome.

That my friends, is our prayer for today.  Let’s put our faith in action, ask for what we need, and let our doubt be overcome by the faith that God will be with us.  

Jesus, 

I know your awesome power is available to move in my life.

I know you can give me the wisdom I need.

I ask you to be my guide.

Speak wisdom into my heart, mind, and soul.

Help me to overcome my unbelief.  

Help me to trust you with every area of my life.

In Your Powerful Name I Pray,

Amen

The Power of Giving God Thanks Will Ignite Your Faith and Change Your World!

Thank You for Being a part of the 3 O’Clock Wake Up Movement

James: The Biblical Get 'er Done Manual

Consider it pure joy, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.  Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 

– James 1:2-4

My husband, Dan, can be frustratingly practical at times.  When faced with obstacles, from a leaky sink to obstinate teenagers, he wants to get to the point, figure out a plan, and start fixing things as quickly as possible.  (“Let’s just get ‘er done,” is his favorite rallying cry).  He’s willing to do the hard work, but he really wants a plan.

Isn’t this true for a lot of us in our faith journeys?  “God, I’ll do what you want, just tell me what that is…”

Not surprisingly, Dan’s favorite book of the Bible is James.  It was written by Jesus’ half-brother, James, to pockets of Christians scattered throughout the Mediterranean as sort of a “how to” manual for Christian living.  It’s a very practical, no-nonsense guidebook that tells us how to put our faith into action.

One of the greatest examples I’ve seen of this, is my friend Alice during her battle with cancer. When, after a long remission the cancer returned, she doubled down on her faith and encouraged others who were battling cancer by pointing them towards God’s word and strength.  She shared her faith in Jesus with nurses, doctors, other patients, neighbors, and newcomers at church.  She also made it a point to mentor me as a writer.  Alice never stopped being a voice on this earth for God until God called her home last summer.

The last time I saw Alice alive, she was lying in bed barely able to eat or drink.  Still, she was ready, as always, with my next writing assignment.  I could see joy in her spirit, knowing that I would write many of the things she had taught me.  She stood as an example of how to face the trials of life with a joy given by God.  

We’re going to spend the next couple of weeks studying James.  Let’s work together to grow stronger in our faith and move in the direction He has planned for us. 

The Power of Giving God Thanks Will Ignite Your Faith and Change Your World!

Thank You for Being a part of the 3 O’Clock Wake Up Movement