Pam's Perambulation

Humility and wisdom,
or jealousy and selfishness?

Which way do I want to live?
Which life do I want to follow?
Which is the right way,
God’s way?

I know the answer,
but can I live it?

Will I cause trouble
and be cruel?

Or live with
purity,
friendliness,
gentleness,
kindness
and helpfulness?
Will I be a person who makes peace
or shatters it
wherever I go?

Fighting and arguing is so pointless,
so exhausting,
such a waste of effort.
living in love
and peace
is such a better use of energy,
more use to the world
and what God asks of me.

Lord,
I want my life to be clean
and lived the way you want it.
I give you my pain,
my battling,
my clumsiness
in dealing with others;
that I may live in your peace
and walk in your love.

Perfect Peace

James 3:13-4:3, 7-8 (CEV)

Wisdom from Above

¹³ Are any of you wise or sensible? Then show it by living right and by being humble and wise in everything you do. ¹⁴ But if your heart is full of bitter jealousy and selfishness, don’t brag or lie to cover up the truth. ¹⁵ That kind of wisdom doesn’t come from above. It is earthly and selfish and comes from the devil himself. ¹⁶ Whenever people are jealous or selfish, they cause trouble and do all sorts of cruel things. ¹⁷ But the wisdom that comes from above leads us to be pure, friendly, gentle, sensible, kind, helpful, genuine, and sincere. ¹⁸ When peacemakers plant seeds of peace, they will harvest justice.

Friendship with the World

4 Why do you fight and argue with each other? Isn’t it because you are full of selfish desires that fight to control your body? ² You want something you don’t have, and you will do anything to get it. You will even kill! But you still cannot get what you want, and you won’t get it by fighting and arguing. You should pray for it. ³ Yet even when you do pray, your prayers are not answered, because you pray just for selfish reasons.

⁷ Surrender to God! Resist the devil, and he will run from you. ⁸ Come near to God, and he will come near to you. Clean up your lives, you sinners. Purify your hearts, you people who can’t make up your mind.

~ by pamjw on September 16, 2015.

Posted in bible, faith, God, justice, Lectionary, life, love, peace, Religion, theology
Tags: 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time, wisdom