Blogger Small Group

This week's reading was James 4.

For those of you who are new to Small group...welcome. I'm Mandy and I don't follow the rules. I don't comprehend scripture well from reading & analyzing, so I usually write a story. Just thought I should let you know in case you look at other people's and mine looks weird!

The first thing that popped out to me in this scripture is 4:8 when it says "you double-minded". The first thing I thought of was "two-faced". Ummm.....that's a hard subject for girls. So many times we (in our younger years of course) say one thing to this person, and another thing to that person.

But wait, isn't it true for adults too? Don't some of us act one way in front of our Christian friends, another way at work, and another way at home?

There is a woman at my old church who is always kind, smiling, helpful when there is a group of ladies around. But when you are alone w/ her, she's very different. Making you feel unimportant & unwelcome. Doesn't seem very Christian, but isn't it us Christians who give Christians a bad name?

I honestly think that because this woman was a leader in the church, she knew all of us on a deeper level. Deeper as in, SHE'S SEEN THE FILE, if such a "file" exists. She probably knows everything about us!! I feel like she treated me differently because she knew my past. And not "past" as in last week, last month, last year...but like LAST DECADE! Hello? I think I've grown up a lot in a decade.

The other part that hit home for me was the "boasting about tomorrow". My family LOVES to make plans. Plans for a weekend, a road trip, a vacation, our finances, additions to the house...everything! We made a 400+ paper chain to countdown to our trip to Disneyworld in DECEMBER! (206 days!)

We plan things so far in advance and yet God tells us that "we are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes." He also says "you do not even know what will happen tomorrow."

Silly me - I thought I was in control here! I have plans coming out the wazoo! Plans for my kids college, their weddings, their KIDS. Yet, I feel like we have to plan for somethings. We can't say "I'm not going to save for their college because who knows when Christ is coming."

I guess I need to find a balance in that area of my life. I thought I had learned that after losing my Mom so suddenly... guess I need a referesher too.

UPDATE - Dangit - after reading my post back I realized that 4:11 applies to my reference to the mean lady at church. "do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks agains the law".........whoops.