What is Your Life?

Today I'm finishing up Chapter 4 of James, verses 13-17.
"Now listen, you who say ,'Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money'. Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say,'If it's the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that. As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil. Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins."
What James is saying to believers here is that the folly of forgetting God in our business is another manisfestation of worldliness.
The expression, "If it's the Lord's will" is not to be used as a cliche either. It should be a sober reflection of a heart attitude of total dependence on God's will.
In the last verse, where it refers to knowing what good should be done and isn't, is considered a sin. Suppose a friend or neighbor is in need of something, and you have the means to satisfy that need, and you don't. God looks at that as sin - He has blessed you with the ability to help that someone out, and you could be the only person at that time who is able, and to not help is robbing that person of the blessing of having their needs met, and also robbing yourself of the blessing and gift of giving. God puts each one of us in circumstances every day to bless others, and to be blessed in turn by doing God's will.
God has given me the ability to sew, and I so enjoy making my dolls and such, but from time to time he's presented me with the opportunity to help others out by hemming some dresses, making things for their home that they otherwise wouldn't be able to afford, etc.
I put The Lord as the CEO and CFO of Little Sister's Dolls - I ask Him to guide my hands as I make each doll, to help me price them in a way that's affordable, and for the things I make bring a smile to the one who receives it.
I am so thankful to Him that I was able to leave my job that was outside of the home, and be able to stay home and do what I love most - create with my hands.
God wants to be involved in every aspect of our lives - when we don't allow him into a particular area, we are in effect saying that we are capable of doing that ourselves, and that my friends, is the sin of pride.
Take the time today to ask God to show you areas in your life where you've not allowed him to be a part. Thank Him for wanting to be involved in your life, and give him the opportunity of showing you how if you let him into the business side of your life, he can and will bring you blessings that are endless.

Have a blessed day - please pray for our country's leaders, and that they will seek God for wisdom. Pray for our soldiers who put their lives on the line every day for us to enjoy the freedoms we have.

Shalom,
Janelle