Saturday, August 20, 2011

Show me your faith without works and I will show you my faith by my works

"What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your  works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar?  Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.”And he was called the friend of God. You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only. Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also." James 2:14-26

In most churches and christian circles I often hear these scriptures being used to encourage saints to help members in the body who are in need and what not and that absolutely should be done, but, it is clear that something else is being addressed here..

Faith without works is dead. The context is talking about salvation. Many a men claim to have faith but by their deeds they deny Christ, which is why James mentioned that even the demons believe and tremble, which is more than what some men do.

"They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work." Titus 1:16

"But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?" Luke 6:46

Although we are saved by faith it is not by faith alone that we are saved. The faith that aligns with repentance is a faith that produces good works, life by the spirit, and obedience to Christ.Neither do deeds alone save you for the bible tells us that our works are like filthy rags before God  and no man can boast before him. But instead faith and works come hand in hand just like the body and the spirit, the body without the spirit is dead, so is faith without works, you cannot have one without the other.


"But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags, we all fade as a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away..." Isaiah 64:6

"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." Ephesians 2:8-10

"For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works." Titus 2:11-14

The word is clear. Faith instep with repentance *will* be evident by good works, not works such as keeping the law but works that are expected of those who call on and profess Christ,loving God by obeying him and loving our neighbors as as ourselves  and doing good to all men especially but not limited to the members of the household of Faith and especially that listed in 2 Peter 1:5-11...

"For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge, and to knowledge, self-control, and to self-control, perseverance, and to perseverance, godliness, and to godliness, mutual affection, and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins. Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."

 Continue to Rest in the Everlasting Arms.....
Jazz <3

Monday, August 15, 2011

Take Advantage of Discontinued & Clearance Racks in your Healh Food Stores!

Don't sleep on your local Health Food store's discontinued and clearance rack! If it is anything like mines they keep this shelf at the very bottom, almost out of sight unless you know where it is and accidentally run across it. I was blessed to have gotten a few healing tonics for only $1.99 each and I was also able to get some Hemp Protein Powder (used mostly in my green/fruit smoothies- that's the only way I can bear the taste) for a Fraction of the normal cost!

Organic Hemp Protein Powder


Healing Tonics


I apologize for the quality of my camera, it is not the best but hopefully you get the gist of what is being shown. Below, I will post some of the health benefits associated with each Tonic!

Motherwort: Reduces the risk of heart attack, stroke and other diseases, prevents low blood sugar, vertigo, and headaches. If you are a mother expecting, Motherwort is excellent to promote the flow of breasts milk and has been known to reduce the risk of postpartum depression.

Calendula: Good for treating minor cuts and wounds, skin problems such as eczema and boils, it is also great at helping to fight fevers.

Red Raspberry Leaf: Has long been used by women to help ease pain during childbirth. It also helps to promote healthy skin and bone development in babies. Great to use to help alleviate or eliminate PMS symptoms in women, it can also help to relieve diarrhea.

Skullcap: Often used to eliminate anxiety accompanied with worry, insomnia and headaches. Also good for those suffering from drug and alcohol withdrawals. Traditionally, it has been used as a tranquilizer.

I will just add, it is great to stay educated on alternative medicine, healing tonics, and natural remedies but it is dangerous to think that one will be totally healed and healthy just because they rely on non-pharmaceutical medicine alone. Healing comes from God and sometimes we can put alternative medicine in the same category as pharmaceutical drugs and end up being just as dependent on them, even if they are healthier for the body, let us acknowledge who are help comes from :)

P.S. When purchasing items off of the clearance/discontinued rack *always* check the expiration date to make sure you are truly getting a bang for your buck ;)

Thursday, August 11, 2011

Happy Birthday

So today I turn 24, would you believe me if I told you I was almost dreading my birthday? lol, not kidding! Not that growing older is a bad thing, it is a privilege but for some reason, it was not something I was anticipating. Maybe if things were different but besides all that I am grateful that the Lord has kept me another year, even though it has been tough, he has shown himself strong in my life, time and time again.

My family wants to bake me a cake and throw a little party but I was not in the least interested. But the Lord kind of nudged on my heart like "Stop being so prideful :)" I like when the Lord corrects us because even in his rebuke it can still be kind, at least that one was lol. So yeah, the Lord is right, I am not going to be prideful about it but enjoy whatever it is my family would like to do for me and learn to receive things from people, it is okay to do that. Anyway, I hope you all have been doing great, haven't been blogging much but all is well over this way. Ttys <3