I used to think it was about me loving God...I am now learning that EVERYTHING flows out of His Love for me...

Here are some words I am finally (at the ripe age of 61) learning the meaning of ...

Believe- the acceptance and assurance of his LOVE for me

Hope- The excitement and anticipation I feel in my heart as the one He LOVES

Trust- The complete confidence I have in His ability, reliability, truth and strength because He LOVES me

Surrender- the abandonment of myself (my dreams, abilities and ambitions) entirely to His LOVE; giving in to LOVE

Yield- To give way to LOVE or to give my right of way to LOVE

Wait- To remain in readiness to receive His LOVE and to become LOVE

Lean- To incline and rest for support on His LOVE for me

Abide- To Live loved; to dwell in LOVE...my head against His chest

Faith/Works

I would like to suggest we change the word Works for the word Fruit in James. I would like to suggest that the works that Jesus expects in our lives are not the civic organization type of good works (although there is nothing wrong with Civic organization works).

I would like to suggest that the Greater Works life style Jesus expects from us is not the type of works we can boast in.

In other words the works He is expecting from us are not something we come up with on our own but flow out of a relationship with the Father through the Holy Spirit.

His life is formed in us in a process that is more organic than sweat. And the word Jesus uses to describe the process is the word Fruit.

Now fruit sure looks like works. The main difference is the process by which they are accomplished.

Fruit, is the natural result of an abiding relationship in the Father, made available to every believer through the cross and fleshed out in the power of our promise, the Holy Spirit. The Life of Jesus was a life lived in the closest of fellowship with the Father and empowered through the Spirit.

And the good news is that it is also our promise as sons and daughters.

I believe James was describing a life filled with the Holy Spirit, a life that didn’t just profess something but a life of faith evidenced by its fruit.

Show me your faith without fruit… I will show you my faith with fruit…

Just saying…