Colleen James

Blog

  • Elections and the Book of Daniel

    Photo from Pexels of three men etched in stone, presumably from ancient Babylon

    I recently finished reading Daniel, and in light of the elections, I’ve been thinking of him and his friends a lot.

    The days after an election always have me feeling down a bit, regardless of which candidates have won. Each election year, I get on social media in the days that follow, naïve to the fact that people will be talking about the results online, and the amount of complaining and/or gloating really saddens me.

    It’s one thing to celebrate or mourn the results. It’s another thing to expose one’s unrighteousness in such a vile manner in the comment section.

    Our country grows more and more divided by the day, and the days following elections only highlights that in such a hideous way.

    But back to Daniel! Daniel and his friends, most commonly known as Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, were taken captive by Nebuchadnezzar after this Babylonian king besieged Jerusalem. They were then placed in a position of servitude over this pagan king (imagine what it might feel like to serve a president or ruler that you politically oppose!). Not only did Daniel and the other three serve king Nebachadnezzar, but the book of Daniel also reveals that Daniel served the three succeeding kings as well. There is no indication in the book of Daniel that this righteous man ever got to return home.

    Although Daniel remained in Babylon for the rest of his life, it is clear that he did not forget the customs of his homeland nor the God in whom he and his three friends believed. We see him praying throughout the book. We also see him make mention of God throughout this story, boldly speaking of Him to the very men that had the power to put him to death on a whim (King Nebuchadnezzar almost did just that in Daniel 2).

    When I think of Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, I wonder how they must have felt throughout this time. They were living in a pagan nation, given pagan names, serving pagan kings, and asked to do pagan things (which they refused to do). Did they grumble about such things? Were they discouraged and dismayed? The book of Daniel certainly does not indicate any of this. What we do see, however, is that they never lost their testimony as individuals who feared God.

    They prayed when facing tribulation. They proclaimed God’s name in the good moments and the bad. And they were willing to lose their lives to remain faithful to their God.

    When I think of the recent elections, I consider the idea that the book of Daniel seems to support—that Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego never made Babylon their home. Perhaps we would endure the ups and downs of this nation better if we learned by their example.

    My fellow sibling in Christ, let us not forget that this earth is not our home. No matter how good or bad things might be at any particular time, the joys and trials that this world holds are temporary compared to what is to come.

    God has placed us here, in the place that we dwell and in this season, to be an ambassador for Him. Much like Daniel and the other three, we are foreigners on this earth, meant to remember and practice the customs of our real home and to point others to the King of kings.

    Regardless of how bad things get, regardless of how disheartening things might be, our task is to act as the citizen we are to the Celestial city. To live well here. To obey the laws of the land as long as they are in accordance with the Scriptures. And to be a light in the face of tribulation.

    Let’s mourn unrighteousness when we see it, because that is a reflection of God’s heart. But let’s not get so caught up in the direction of our nation or any other, knowing that this earth truly is not our home. Let’s pray for our leaders, pray for people to come to know our Lord, and pray that we will continue to shine brightly when everything around us seems to be getting darker. Perhaps, just like with the four men I’ve mentioned, it is in our trials that God will allow us to proclaim His name even louder and to a greater amount of people than we could have imagined. He is Sovereign, and His purposes will prevail!

    “But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.”

    Philippians 3:20-21 ESV

     

  • God’s Kindness in a Pot of Mums

    Picture of the red and yellow-tinted mums

    I’ve been eyeing the mums at the grocery store for quite some time, telling myself I’ll buy some next visit.

    But then I always let the cost of groceries and other expenses keep me from following through. It seems frivolous to buy flowers in today’s economy.

    I’ve also had a lot on my mind to keep me from wanting to “worry” about some flowers. I’ve been feeling unsettled as of late and facing a lot of insecurity as JJ and I try to figure out exactly where to purchase a house and which church to call home. Buying flowers seems like such splurge, and do I really want the responsibility of caring for a plant that I’ll probably somehow manage to kill anyway?

    Yesterday, a couple of women from the church we’ve been visiting came over for dinner. It was wonderful to express my desires and concerns to them and to hear their words of wisdom, encouragement, and advice as we seek out a church to belong here.

    But more than anything, I was impacted by how God silently spoke to my heart as one of the ladies placed an unexpected gift for me on my counter—a pot full of red and yellow tinted mums.

    That moment reminded me of how intimately He knows me. All my fears, insecurities, passions, dreams, and worries. And even my silliest and most simple of desires.

    That evening, He provided me with a felt need to remind me once again that He knows ALL my needs.

    I don’t have to figure it out.
    And I don’t have to worry about the future.

    Perhaps it’s enough to “worry” about watering my new pot of mums for today. And to be continually reminded that God will provide all my needs in due season.

    “And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”


    ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭28‬-‭34‬ ‭ESV‬‬

  • Sometimes a Greater Calling Requires Longer Periods of Waiting

    I posted this on social media and thought I’d share it here, too. If you find yourself in a season of waiting to see the calling that God has placed on your life fulfilled, I hope you’ll be encouraged by this video.

    Our paths are often not linear like we’d like them to be. But perhaps the setbacks aren’t really setting us back after all.

    David’s character and deep dependence was further deepened in the Lord in his time of waiting to become king.

    Similarly, Joseph deepened his dependence on God, his character, integrity, and humility as he waited on Him. Ultimately, all his “setbacks” placed him exactly where he needed to be for his literal dreams to come true.

    No matter what you are facing today, I hope you can see the value in this time of waiting and dreaming and hoping.

    If it’s from the Lord, then it will be. Trust that this period of waiting is part of His good plan.

    Note: I realize I said the events for the high moments of David’s life out of order. Next time, I’ll have to double check the Bible stories I’m sharing about before making a video! 😂

  • The Tale of the Two Plug Ins

    “The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever.”
    Psalm‬ ‭138‬:‭8‬a-b ESV‬‬

    Images above of a couple of air fresheners plugged in.

    Ishared this little story on social media today. As you probably guessed by now, it’s based on a true story that took place right here in the two bathrooms of our apartment.

    When I plugged the air freshener into another socket, I could sense God stirring at my heart, teaching me a deeper lesson. The properly-functioning plug in a few days later only confirmed what I knew God to be speaking to me.

    The lesson was two-fold. For one thing, the liquid in the vial reminded me of the Holy Spirit. As believers, the Holy Spirit dwells within us, but unless we are plugged into Him, we won’t “spread the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere” (2 Corinthians 2:14 ESV). We won’t be living a life powered by Him and for Him.

    I also thought of all that God has put within us as individuals—our spiritual gifts and abilities and personalities. And although we may be able to complete some meaningful things throughout our lifetime using these aspects of our lives, we will not fulfill our true potential and purpose unless we are plugged into the One that put all those aspects into our beings.

    Lastly, I think it’s also important to note that we must be plugged into Him.

    One socket was good. The other was not.

    We can be plugged into church, into Bible studies, and into doing many wonderful things. But unless we are plugged into the true Source, we won’t be fragrant.

    If this story blessed you today, I hope you’ll share it with a friend.

    May we never keep all that God has put within us to ourselves because we weren’t consistently and continually being plugged into the source. May we be a beautiful fragrance first and foremost to Him!

  • Some Trust in Chariots

    Photo by Marie-Claude Vergne on Pexels.com of a horse and chariot race

    “Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help and rely on horses, who trust in chariots because they are many and in horsemen because they are very strong, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel or consult the LORD!”

    -Isaiah 31:1

    My mom shared the gist of this verse with me several days ago over the phone as I told her about my desire to see my book business grow, so when that verse happened to be in my Bible reading the next day, I didn’t take it lightly.

    The truth is, I have been feeling a bit discouraged as of late. Now that school is in session and we are living in a new state, I have been dreaming big dreams as to how to publicize my book more and to share this story with others. The problem is, no one seems to be cooperating with me. The last three attempts to try to schedule a book reading at different venues has been denied, and I’m left here wondering what I’ve done wrong and why no one seems to be interested in this story.

    I know in my heart, however, that my heart has not been in the right place.

    Recently, I’ve been thinking about a verse with a similar sentiment—the first verse found in Psalm 127.

    Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain.”

    The last few weeks, I’ve been running around (in a figurative sense), trying to build my own “house” through attempts at growing my social media presence. Surely, this would help my book to get into the right hands! But in many ways, it has felt like trying to stack planks of wood on top of the other with no nails or anything to hold them together. On the outside, it might look like a half-decent start, but nothing is keeping any of it in place. Nothing, because I’ve been running ahead of God.

    This is a hard topic for me to write about, because I believe we are called to walk by faith, and walking involves putting one foot in front of the other. It requires action. So, how do I walk the line between moving in faith and not trying in my own effort out of fear?

    Really, it all comes back to my motives. It comes back to consulting God. And for me, it starts with prayer and asking God to work in my heart so that I can walk with Him in this endeavor. Ultimately, I need to remember my purpose here on earth, that I have been made by Him for Him and His purposes. Everything I do should be an act of worship to Him.

    Today, I stopped thinking about myself so much and growing my business. Instead, I started to think of how I might help others through social media and through the different avenues He has given me, and it is already making a difference. I had peace. I felt like I had more time. And I was able to enjoy the present more and to feel joy again.

    I still very much hope that I can get my book (and the subsequent ones) out there. I hope I can have the funds to illustrate the rest in this series and the other books to come. And I hope so incredibly much that this story will bless and change young hearts and that I’ll someday meet individuals in heaven that tell me my story was instrumental to them being there. But for now, I have to settle it in my heart that pleasing God with this aspect of my life and all others is what matters most.

    Earthly kingdoms come and go. Businesses fade away. But what is eternal will last eternally. May my heart and mind be captivated by that. May that be the kingdom I help to build. May my house, in all ways, be founded upon that. That and that alone.

    P.S. If you’d like to listen to my interview from last month, you can find it here: The Instrument Maker & The Mandolin – Christian Family Radio. Much love to you all!

  • My Interview on Christian Family Radio

    Larry and me with the book at the CFR station!

    I don’t think I could have imagined a worse attire to be asking for an interview. When I saw that Christian Family Radio (CFR) had a booth set up at the local pool, however, I knew I had to shoot my shot.

    Just weeks earlier, my family and I had stumbled upon their headquarters on our way home, and I had mentioned to JJ that perhaps I’d give them a call sometime to see if they would want to interview me about my gospel-centered children’s book. I definitely didn’t plan on giving them a call any time soon, however. And even if I did, I don’t know if they would have been interested in my book over a conversation by phone. So when I saw them at the pool, I knew I had to take my chance.

    After assuring that my oldest son was settled into his one-on-one swimming lesson that afternoon, I mustered up what little courage I had and marched on over to their booth in my floppy hat and flip-flops, waiting in line for my turn to talk to the staff.

    Fortunately for me, the young staff lady I initially talked to was really sweet and showed a lot of interest in my book, quickly pointing me to another staff member at the booth that was in charge of interviews.

    What made the moment even better was that I had been carrying a copy of the book in my purse for several days now. I almost never carry it with me nowadays, but I had told my realtor I’d give her one for her kids next time we saw her, so the book had been in my purse ever since.

    After showing Larry, the radio host, the book and briefly explaining the plot, he gave me his business card and told me to give him a call.

    I headed back to where my son was learning to swim feeling excited and humbled and so unworthy. What were the chances that Liam and I would be there when they were? Who was I that God would give me such an opportunity as this?

    Unable to contain my excitement, I told Liam’s swim instructor what had just happened, and she expressed a lot of interest in my book as well and told that she had never seen CFR there before. Turns out, they have only been there twice this summer. I truly believe that God ordained for me to be there when they were.

    We went up north to visit family the week after that initial contact, so I once again mustered up what little courage I had and left a message for Larry the Monday after we returned, and he called me back shortly after to set up an interview that same week!

    Just yesterday, I went to their headquarters to do the interview in their studio, and although I’m pretty sure I rambled quite a bit, I’m just so glad that God gave me the chance to share about my book. I had to keep reminding myself before the interview that the interview really wasn’t about me. It was about pointing children (and their parents) to their Maker and helping them to recognize that they had a wonderful purpose as an instrument in His hands.

    As Larry edits the interview and then begins to play it in clips on radio, I pray that that is the message that will shine forth and that God will use it to help others know Him more.

  • Problems and Promises

    Problems and Promises

    View of a sunset from outside our apartment in early June

    Before we moved to Kentucky, I stumbled upon a message from a Christian podcaster and author named Susie Larson who talked about occupying our “Promised Land.” In her video, she mentioned how Abraham went to the promised land as a foreigner and how it took faith for him to live there as such. 

    As I listened to her message just weeks away from our own move, I tucked away her message in my mind and the lingering idea that we may very well have our own challenges upon arriving to a new state.  I would soon realize just how true that was.

    We left Uvalde, Texas on May 30th a little before 6 a.m. in the middle of our first trial. Our youngest son was on antibiotics for an ear infection and was barely eating because his mouth also hurt. Listening to his occasional cries of pain as I drove was heartbreaking, and trying to coordinate times to give him his antibiotics and painkillers was a bit tricky too. Nonetheless, we made it through that first day and finally settled into a hotel room for the night a little past seven.

    By 9 p.m., we were ready to sleep when the smoke detector began to chirp. After I located the only hotel staff member on site, both she and JJ tried to resolve the issue, but it continued to sound despite new batteries. So, we were finally transferred to another room and got to bed around 11 that night.

    The next day, we got a later start and made it to our next hotel with no issues around five. CJ was also feeling much better. But just as we were settling down for the night, he threw up on the bed, resulting in several trips downstairs to obtain fresh bedding from the front desk. Fortunately, he slept through the night and seemed to be just fine by the next day. 

    The third day was to be our shortest drive, and I was looking forward to a relatively stress-free day. Twenty minutes in, however, it started to rain and didn’t let up the entire journey. At times, the downpour was so bad that I could barely see. 

    I would later discover that both JJ and I were thinking the same thing as we made that final leg of the journey. We were convinced by now that we were facing spiritual warfare.

    The rain stopped shortly after we arrived to our beautiful, new apartment, and JJ and I moved our stuff into the place as Liam watched CJ in our bedroom, the smoke detector incessantly chirping the whole time. 

    An hour or so later, the maintenance man fixed the smoke detector, fortunately. Unfortunately, it would randomly go off six times within the first two weeks of living here. The last incident we’ve experienced so far was on Sunday morning, and it went off four times in a row, waking the whole family (Is it a coincidence that we found the church we plan to attend here later that day? I think not!).

    In between these last two weeks, we’ve also experienced frustration as we’ve stood in long lines to get new drivers licenses and to deal with car registration, only to walk away empty-handed and with the knowledge that we’ll have to try all over again.

    Although most of these issues have been minor inconveniences that have been especially disheartening due to being newcomers in a relatively unfamiliar place, we’ve also faced some greater challenges more recently. 

    Last weekend, the toe that CJ ran over with his tricycle in the spring started hurting again after he accidentally stepped on it, and I ended up having to have the nail removed on Monday, which has caused me a lot of pain. And just as the pain was beginning to subside, CJ jumped off his bed yesterday and sprained his foot. 

    Home after the toe nail removal.

    I’d be lying to suggest that I haven’t been discouraged by all of these things. Lately, I’ve been praying for God’s protection and no more harm to my family or me.

    And yet, in the midst of all these hardships here, I still believe God has called us to this place. I still believe He has a good future for us here. And I’m still holding onto the verse that Susie Larson included in her video weeks ago and that was scrawled upon a stone that an older gentleman gave me at church earlier this year, that “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him” (I Corinthians‬ ‭2‬:‭9‬b NKJV‬‬).

    I pray that we grow in our love for God and know Him deeper through this season as we watch Him work on our behalf and for His glory, seeing Him do what no eye has seen and holding onto the promise in Romans 8.

    We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.”

    Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭28‬ ‭CSB‬‬

  • Sprouting

    View from outside our patio of a plant sprouting up from the ground.

    In our four years of living in this apartment, this is the first time I’ve ever seen anything sprout so close to our patio. Perhaps the seeds I planted back in March (and that my toddler son quickly got into) ended up fallin into the ground beyond our home and are now sprouting. Or could it be that all the rain we’ve been having has awakened seeds that were once dormant but now spring to life? I may never know the answer to this question. What I do know, however, is that these little saplings are serving as a vivid image for what I hope my time is to be remembered for when we leave this little, Texan town.

    What did I plant here? What seeds have I sown that will remain and grow long after I’ve left this place?

    My mom told me something the other day as she ponders how much longer God might have her and my dad stay in their current dwelling place. She commented that she wants to leave any place where she has lived looking more beautiful than when she first came. In part, she means that in the most literal sense due to her own love of gardening. But I know the sentiment runs deeper than that.

    As believers, we have an opportunity to plant something eternal because we have the Spirit of the eternal God living in us. At the end of our time here as a family, I hope and pray that we have left something beautiful and of eternal value, just as many within our church community have left such a deep impact on us. I hope that we will leave this place more beautiful than when we first arrived.

    As we prepare for our departure, the plants that have quickly sprouted up and are growing just past our patio challenge me to keep sowing here while we still can, even to the very end. And they also encourage me to trust that our time here has not been in vain. It definitely has not been in vain as far as what we have received here as a family. We have been blessed so greatly and by so many in a plethora of ways. But God has had specific ways for us to contribute to this community, too. I pray that our contribution will leave a lasting impact in the years to come. And, just like the saplings outside our apartment, that it will only grow.

  • Ten Years In

    Picture of my husband’s and my hands, compliments of my sister-in-law

    JJ and I celebrated our tenth wedding anniversary last week. Our approaching anniversary had me feeling nostalgic as I remembered some of the highs and lows we’ve experienced throughout this past decade.

    Within these ten years, we have lived in three different cities and called four different apartments and one house our home.

    We’ve welcomed two precious sons into our lives and await to meet our other child in heaven.

    We’ve certainly had our share of grief—of sickness, loss, and heartache.

    But we’ve also had so much to celebrate, too.

    Besides the blessing of getting married and welcoming our two precious sons into our family, JJ has been able to experience a gamut of opportunities within his career. Most importantly, I’ve seen God use JJ in that place. He has grown in his love of the gospel and boldness to share it as God leads. We expectantly wait to see what God might have for him as we prepare to move out of state.

    As for me, I’ve found purpose in writing—a sense that God wants to use my words for His glory. It has been humbling and overwhelming in the best way. I pray it always is for as long as He wishes to use me in this way.

    Ten years ago, we were five weeks out from a move across the state. We just didn’t know it yet. Ten years later, we are once again around five weeks out from a move. This time, however, we are fully aware of it. We have been for quite some time.

    It is interesting to see how much our marriage parallels what it once was ten years ago. And yet so much has changed, too.

    We move forward with a bit of nervousness but also with a lot of anticipation, believing this is where God is leading. And I move forward with JJ toward this new place and new life with trust because I know the man he is and the one that he has become.

    I’m so grateful for these ten years and the ways I’ve witnessed God shaping JJ and molding him and giving him a greater love for prayer, His Word, and the lost. I’m also so thankful for how God sustained us. He has been our constant, faithful in all ways.

    We may not know what these next ten years may bring, and we certainly don’t know what it will be like to live in a new state. But to be in God’s hands, in His will, is the best place to be. Our security is found in Him, and I look forward to seeing what these next ten years will bring.

  • A Tool for His Purposes

    Picture of the glass jar I use when I paint

    Yesterday it dawned on me why I like this mason jar so much.

    I’ve been using it for years to paint and originally tried to keep it spotless after each painting session with my son. He was a toddler when we first started using it, however, so that was an impossible goal. Keeping the walls and furniture smudge free as I took him and his paint-speckled hands to the bathtub was much more of a priority. So, the jar stayed smudged with paint instead, and I soon kept it with all my paint supplies.

    Although I rinse it out after each painting session, it nonetheless has become more speckled and splattered throughout the years. Over time, however, a subtle beauty has emerged form that glass jar—a living story from each time it has been used.

    Yesterday morning, after painting rocks with the boys to remember the empty tomb, I rinsed off the mason jar at the end of our activity, and I once again studied each color, each streak, each testimony to its quiet and steady use over time. And in that moment, I felt a nudge—a silent challenge—to be more like that jar for God’s good purposes.

    The truth is, most people will never know about this glass jar that I appreciate so much. When they see my paintings (or, more likely, my oldest son’s artwork), they won’t comment on how well that jar cleaned off our paintbrushes in between paints. They’ll only comment on the colors, or perhaps even the size of the canvas and the brush strokes. They’ll certainly comment on the talent of the painter, as they’ve done so many times already with my son. The mason jar will never receive the recognition it deserves of a job well done. Not by a public audience, at least. But both my son and I know how important this jar has been, faithfully helping us to paint for all these years. And that is enough.

    As God uses me in different ways throughout my lifetime, I hope I will find a deep peace in knowing that pleasing Him is enough also. Often times, the roles we play and the things God calls us to may seem so secondary to the tasks to which God may call others. But perhaps, in our quiet and steady service to Him, a subtle beauty will emerge—a living story for His glory of a greater masterpiece.

    For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.”

    Galatians 1:10 ESV