How many of you were hoping for a diamond for Christmas?  I was hoping for that, a ring, necklace or some guidance on the permanence of my relationship...instead, what I got, was a Pandora charm bracelet.  I hate those!  Grandma type things.  I feel like he doesn't even know me.  He relied on my mom to pick out my Christmas present...I wanna ask him to return it as I don't think i'll EVER wear it.  It is SO not my style, and SO still unclear about my relationship, except now is NOT the time to remarry I guess...everything else was so perfect this Christmas, the snow, the food...family.  I dunno, I just feel sad, dissapointed...is it wrong?  Should I ask him to return it.  I mean I really hate it, and don't think i'll ever wanna wear it.  I feel really sad, is it wrong to want to be known by a guy.  To have them pick out the jewelry, not your mom?!  I dunno, I am just thankful Jesus knows us fully, sorry Lord for my little rant, I just feel sad, and unknown...I trust in Your timing and provision.  -amen. 

I surely have sensed the spiritual battle lately...Iv'e been away on vacation at a friends trying to relax from the stress of my life...  My ex pretty much had a psychological break down while I was away, but it seems he has had an experience with God that has brought him much "peace" and "grace" he says.  It sounds like he may have become a Christian!  I know the enemy has been attacking him bad latley and even telling him to kill himself.  I thank everyone on CBN who has prayed for him, and us.  Please continue to pray.  I do still love him and daydream of re-marrying him.  It would be the best joy to find out he has peace with God now.  I pray it is true and not a "tactic" he is trying to use.  Please pray for me, for us!  thank you ;)

I see them everywhere I go, on the net, at work, amongst strangers...that sweet glittery quality handbag called Coach.  The girls at work talk amongst themselves during lunch break, they are surfing the Coach site wondering where to spend their next paycheck, what purse to get next?!  Oh the decisions, look at the quality, the seams are flawless, and OMG the lining, just a touch of shimmer...

The world says, "Go ahead, buy yourself this luxury, its ok, you deserve it!  You are a grown woman now with a professional career, show them all you've arrived!  Every mature lady purchases quality, its a sign of responsibility, of infact, being mature." 

In the book of James 4:4 we read "Adulterers and adultresses!  Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God."  Why so harsh word of God?!  Am I really commiting adultry by purchasing a quality handbag? 

Purchasing a Coach bag for me is a little bit like sleeping with the enemy.  Let me explain, the cost for a good Coach purse is around $250-300 maybe more.  The name speaks of luxury, of arriving.  How can one call themselves a Christian yet justify spending that amount of money on something as utlitarian as a purse.  Aren't there much prettier purses for far less?  Can a Christian carry around a $300 purse on their shoulder knowing that many hungry children could be fed for the same price?  Does it not symbolize the antithises of the Christian way? 

For these reasons next time you feel seduced by magazine adds saying buy this (fill in your own designer) and show them you arrived!  Buy this and your just purchasing "quality."  Remember James said "friendship with the world is enmity with God."  I am choosing not to sleep with Coach, where do you stand?

Of course not covered in this topic is if you find the designer handbag at Goodwill, then well your just, smart. 

James states "true religion is this..."

The positive or action qualities are this: "to visit the orphans and elderly in their time of distress..." As well we can think of many who would fit the qualifier ..."in their time of distress"  I added to this list such as, prisoners, sex slavery, lonely elderly, and the poor.  The list can keep on going.  But God says this is not enough, it's not enough just to DO these things for the Lord, or the HELP these people...this is only half of true religion, a very important half for without it it is said that our religion is "dead,"  how can one have faith without it's demonstration or positive quality through action.

Now, the second half of true religion, the other side of the coin if you will, or negative aspect.  That which should be absent is the world or as James says true religion is being "unspotted from the world."  So, as you can see, it is not enough just to be a DOER, one must be "unspotted" from the world...or seperate, holy, pure, different, set apart, not the same....This is an important point, if our lives don't reflect that difference, if we are sleeping around like everyone else without marrige, if we are living together without commitment, if we swear like a truck driver and drink without shame than how can we reflect the difference God brings into a life?  But this quality is not just that God is concerned with how we "appear" to others, no I believe it is much more than that.  You see we are special to Him, He is a jealous God and wants us all to Himself...he wants your happiness, your best, and your best is when you are most like Him, holiness.  Holiness perhaps the forgotten aspect of true religion, may we ever seek His face and become more like Him each day in holiness.  I encourage myself and others to take on the holiness challenge, examine those aspects in your life which don't seem so pure, perform the surgery and excise the tumor, read spiritual books on holiness, prepare your heart daily for fellowship with Him worshiping in the beauty of holiness...it will not only be good for your soul, but you will indeed be practicing "true" religion.