Take A Moment

I invite you to take a moment
Perhaps to walk by a beautiful stream,
Stop and smell the roses,
close your eyes, rest and dream.
Reminisce of days gone by or
Ponder thoughts for today,
Go ahead and plan tomorrow
While you're warmed by the sun's rays.
Forget your fears and past regrets
Embrace the joy and peace
As the breeze blows through your hair
Find your sweet release.
Can you feel Him right beside you?
Can you hear His voice so dear?
He's singing over you, my child.
Listen! Can you hear?
Such a beautiful voice He has
Much more pleasing to the ear
Than all the songs the birds can sing
As His love draws you near.
Dwell here in His presence.
Do not rush away.
Captivate this moment
Cradled in His arms stay.
Your Faith will be strengthened,
Your passion rekindled as well,
Here in His presence
Because you stopped, listened, beheld.
No where else can you find
A more restful place to be
Than in His presence
Surrounded by His peace.

Written By: Kimberly Waters
March 30, 2010

Year of Transformation!

 "James saw an epidemic of worldly living among his readers. In 4:1-10 he warned against worldliness and showed its effects on the prayer life of his recipients. In 4:11-12 and in verses 13-17 he showed, respectively, that worldliness produced a critical spirit and a godless self-confidence.

In describing the effect of worldliness on the prayer life, James showed that his friends resorted to scheming, quarreling, and striving in order to obtain their wishes. They failed to receive what they truly needed because they did not ask. Whenever they did ask, they failed to receive because their request was tinged with self-will (4:1-3). James’ description of God in 4:5 demonstrated that God tolerated no rivals and wanted complete commitment from His followers. God could make heavy demands on His followers, but He could also provide the grace to meet those demands (4:6). In 4:7-10 James uttered in rapid-fire fashion ten imperative appeals to submit to God and avoid worldliness.

One evidence of worldliness James cited was the presence of a critical spirit (4:11-12). He saw that Christians were defaming one another in the same way that the ungodly defamed Christians (4:11; 2:7). James warned that those who belittled fellow Christians had set themselves up as judges and had assumed a position that rightly belonged only to God (4:12).

Probably the arrogance James denounced in 4:13-17 came from self-confident Jewish businessmen who planned their lives without reference to God’s will. James warned his readers that life resembled a transitory vapor and that all of life must be planned with reference to God’s will (4:14-15). The sin James described in this paragraph is an example of a sin of omission."

- Holman Bible Handbook: (James 4:1-17) The Avoidance of Worldliness

I'm persuaded that when we become so critical of others that we choose to point out their flaws, we blind ourselves from our own and deceive ourselves into becoming self-righteous hypocrites. Setting ourselves up as judges, we will be held accountable to God for every idle word we speak. I've been guilty. How about you?

"... do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect." Romans 12:2 NASB

Today's Prayer

Penetrate my heart, O God
Purge my wickedness
Harbor me safely in Your arms
Fill this emptiness
Without You I am nothing
Apart from you, I'm lost
I see myself so clearly now
In the shadow of Your cross
I struggle to survive down here
You see me, this I know.
For every time I call Your name
Just in time You show.
I wrestle with my own desires
Sometimes I move too quick or too slow
In my heart I've hidden your Word
that from my mouth Your Word will flow.
Anoint me with Your Spirit
Empower me this day
Take the wretch that I have been
And use me Lord I pray.
You are my heart's desire
You are the reason for all I do
You are my hiding place, O God
I choose to abide in You.

- Written By: Kimberly Waters
April 1, 2010