James 2 ramblings

James 2

Favoritism Forbidden

1 My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. 2 Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. 3 If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” 4 have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
5 Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? 7 Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong?

8 If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,”[a] you are doing right. 9 But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. 10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. 11 For he who said, “You shall not commit adultery,”[b] also said, “You shall not murder.”[c] If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.

12 Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, 13 because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

This is what I came across in my devotional time with the Lord today. How sad and true that this still occurs in a "Christian" society. Well, that is why God inspired Paul to write it down and record it for the generations, because we fall into this a lot.

Praying you have faith, hope, and love always,

Rachel

Normal!

My blog is back to normal!

Praying you have faith, hope, and love always,

Rachel

Weird

Wow. That's all I can say.

Ruth 3

New Living Translation (NLT)

Ruth 3
Ruth at the Threshing Floor
1 One day Naomi said to Ruth, “My daughter, it’s time that I found a permanent home for you, so that you will be provided for. 2 Boaz is a close relative of ours, and he’s been very kind by letting you gather grain with his young women. Tonight he will be winnowing barley at the threshing floor. 3 Now do as I tell you—take a bath and put on perfume and dress in your nicest clothes. Then go to the threshing floor, but don’t let Boaz see you until he has finished eating and drinking. 4 Be sure to notice where he lies down; then go and uncover his feet and lie down there. He will tell you what to do.”

5 “I will do everything you say,” Ruth replied. 6 So she went down to the threshing floor that night and followed the instructions of her mother-in-law.

7 After Boaz had finished eating and drinking and was in good spirits, he lay down at the far end of the pile of grain and went to sleep. Then Ruth came quietly, uncovered his feet, and lay down. 8 Around midnight Boaz suddenly woke up and turned over. He was surprised to find a woman lying at his feet! 9 “Who are you?” he asked.

“I am your servant Ruth,” she replied. “Spread the corner of your covering over me, for you are my family redeemer.”

10 “The Lord bless you, my daughter!” Boaz exclaimed. “You are showing even more family loyalty now than you did before, for you have not gone after a younger man, whether rich or poor. 11 Now don’t worry about a thing, my daughter. I will do what is necessary, for everyone in town knows you are a virtuous woman. 12 But while it’s true that I am one of your family redeemers, there is another man who is more closely related to you than I am. 13 Stay here tonight, and in the morning I will talk to him. If he is willing to redeem you, very well. Let him marry you. But if he is not willing, then as surely as the Lord lives, I will redeem you myself! Now lie down here until morning.”

14 So Ruth lay at Boaz’s feet until the morning, but she got up before it was light enough for people to recognize each other. For Boaz had said, “No one must know that a woman was here at the threshing floor.” 15 Then Boaz said to her, “Bring your cloak and spread it out.” He measured six scoops[a] of barley into the cloak and placed it on her back. Then he[b] returned to the town.

16 When Ruth went back to her mother-in-law, Naomi asked, “What happened, my daughter?”

Ruth told Naomi everything Boaz had done for her, 17 and she added, “He gave me these six scoops of barley and said, ‘Don’t go back to your mother-in-law empty-handed.’”

18 Then Naomi said to her, “Just be patient, my daughter, until we hear what happens. The man won’t rest until he has settled things today.”

Praying you have faith, hope, and love always,

Rachel

Terra Nova!

A hundred and ten years in the future. I can't wait for Terra Nova to start. I love dinosaurs! And it looks intriguing, like the idea of "Among the Hidden" series, including the population control and the fact people are only allowed two children. Except it's because the world is overpopulated, as opposed to there isn't enough food for everyone (which turns out to be a lie...) And of course the planet is dying. When isn't it dying?

Praying you have faith, hope, and love always,

Rachel

Author Heather Harris recently came to speak. It was a great presentation. Since it was Saturday, it was a small crowd, but her words were poignant and needed. She spoke on her battle with mental illness and winning with the help of the Lord.

She had a few tips.
1) You can say no.
2) All you can do is try.
3) You are not perfect and no one should expect you to be.
4) You can relax.
5) It doesn't matter what people say.
6) People aren't thinking about you, all the time. They aren't paying attention to you, so just do it.
7) Speak with confidence.

Her website is www.http://heatherstewartharris.com/. I also bought her book to read.

We know her sister, Megan, and that was our connection to Heather Harris. I think that we should bring her back next fall if Mandy and DICE lets us.

Praying you have faith, hope, and love always,

Rachel

Tyndale Reading Blogger Program Winner

I was one of the top three bloggers in the Tyndale Summer Reading Program. I'm so excited!! I chose a $50 Amazon gift card. Criminal Minds? I think so. 

Praying you have faith, hope, and love always,

Rachel