how we can GIVE it all

James 5: Yeah for 5 am!

Posted on October 5, 2011 by Lori Mercer ~ 9 Comments

James 5 does not disappoint. He closes out strong, convicting and without a lot of wiggle room to feel good about your life. I sort of summed it up like this: You wealthy people don’t even realize what you’re missing. All your great stuff is basically junk. Complainers….knock it off and be patient. I’m still caring about all your details….

Staying focused

Posted on October 2, 2011 by Lori Mercer ~ 2 Comments

I love mindmaps. And I love learning how to be more efficient and effective. So check out this colorful, visual help guide for avoiding distraction and staying focused. Wonder what new technology they will need to add in a couple years? Getting rid of distractions in our wealthy world lives allows us to do more GIVING to those who…

James 4: Gimme Gimme Gimme

Posted on September 28, 2011 by Lori Mercer ~ 4 Comments

James 4:1-2 (The Message) Where do you think all these…..quarrels come from?…… They come about because you want your own way, and fight for it deep inside yourselves. A short list: Quarrels I can recall due to me wanting my own way Disagreement over a website migration at work. I wanted to manage my team’s site, not let someone else decide that for us. Lifegroup…

James 3: Ouch!

Posted on September 21, 2011 by Lori Mercer ~ 9 Comments

1 Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. Well isn’t that just like a sucker punch to the stomach? Good morning James 3. You know why this verse strikes me so much these days? It’s a lot because of this blog. I know, we are…

You Have To Give People Something To Dream on, Jimi Hendrix

An Easy Give for Families

Posted on September 20, 2011 by Lori Mercer ~ 3 Comments

How often do you have the opportunity to clear out a few small gently used toys to a great cause? My friend Marla Taviano (who is truly a gifted writer with an inspiring blog – I recommend subscribing!) is taking her family to Cambodia in December and they have this specific need for supplies for a Boys Center. This Boys…

James2: MERCY TRIUMPHS

Posted on September 14, 2011 by Lori Mercer ~ 16 Comments

I am a classic perfectionistic over-achiever. Ok, if you came into my house it would be clear that this does not apply to the cleaning and decorating category so you won’t see me on HGTV anytime soon. But in intellectual and athletic endeavors, God clearly gifted me with talents. School was an exciting challenge with frequent honor roll successes. Athletics rewarded…

GIVING: Remembering Sept. 11th

Posted on September 11, 2011 by Lori Mercer ~ 1 Comments

This blog is about GIVING. In my short lifetime, I can remember no greater moment of giving than this: FDNY Firefighters willingly and knowingly walked toward and into the World Trade Centers while everyone fled. They were running up stairwells while everyone else went to exit. 343 firefighters did not return home that day. Being married to a firefighter, this of…

James Stream of Conscience Prayer

Posted on September 7, 2011 by Lori Mercer ~ 7 Comments

6:03 am and I am NOT a morning person. Thank you God for…..my alarm being set correctly, the eye drops working on my stingy dry morning eyes, no storms and scary dreams drawing children to my bed last night, for removing my typical morning bible study road blocks. Here is my today: Typical. Busy. Not a moment to breathe. Thank…

James Online Read-Along

Posted on September 5, 2011 by Lori Mercer ~ 4 Comments

One of the motivators to get my blog back in action was this 5 week study of James hosted by one of my favorite bloggers (and 5 second friend Marla Taviano. I love Marla’s blog and her personality – true, real, transparent, kind-hearted, able to share strong words in a gentle way and not afraid to make a mistake. The…

Here we go….

Posted on September 5, 2011 by Lori Mercer ~ 3 Comments

We’re off to a roaring start…..only 3 days late on my promise (2 depending on how you count them Proof below! My creativity is often stifled and in direct conflict with some minor perfectionistic tendencies. Working on that! I’m not thrilled with the header…..expect to see some revisions there. It can be difficult to put together a complete sentence in…