James

I am going through Beth Moore’s study of James.  If you’ve never done her study of the book, do it.  You will be blessed.  It has gone quickly, and I can hardly believe that the study will be over soon.

James is significant to me, and I love how well God writes a story.

First of all, my name is Jamie, from James, from the root of Jacob, meaning, “deceiver.”  I have never liked that my name means deceiver.  I was named after my grandfather and maybe my uncle (both named James).  Last year, I went through the Esther study a second time.  God used it to speak to me about me and the name Jacob – about my deception and how I have been deceived by my insecurities and use my insecurities to manipulate and deceive others, although not necessarily with intention.

I never really cared for Jacob, but then I got to write about him for the women’s conference, and I sort of fell in love with him.  I relate to his wrestling with God.  I relate to His manipulation.  I love that God chose him even though he was not the obvious choice.

And then we see in Beth Moore’s study of how James relates to Jacob, that his name too was Jacob.  That he writes to the 12 tribes of Jacob scattered.  Jacob was the one to set up a pillar to form a house for God.  James is the leader of the Christian house of God.

I first studied James when I was a freshman at Auburn, where God began a mighty work in me.  I didn’t realize how much the book of James had affected me and my life until I have been doing this study and see how much it has influenced both my life after I left Auburn and the way I wrote about conference material.

Now I am studying James again after another time of spiritual growth and renewal.  It is like He has used the book to bookend  a life stage in which I suffered and wrestled with insecurities for a while.  I find that just a reminder of how beautifully God writes our own human stories.

Look for these details of Him working in your life.  They are there.  Beautiful reminders of a God in the details who loves you!