Today, in our Bible study in James 4, we're focusing on the JOY of godly sorrow. Sometimes, we need to allow God to show us hidden areas of sin or strongholds or selfishness that are keeping us from the closeness with the Lord that He desires.

Our HAPPY HABITS focus on the JOY of abiding close to Jesus.

We can't stop our sin on our own, but we don't have to; God wants us to draw near to Him and He will give us all the strength and help we need to repent and turn from sin, and to draw close to Jesus.

James 4

• Verses 1-5 -- many sins mentioned: lust, murder (hate), selfish desire, coveting, adultery, longing for friendship with the world.
• Key: verse 5: "The Spirit who dwels in us yearns jealously."
• Verse 6 -- God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.
• Verse 7 -- Submit to God, resist the devil, and he will flee.
• Verse 8 -- Draw near to God and He will draw near to you... CLEANSE YOUR HANDS!!!
• Verse 9, 20 -- Lament, mourn, weep, let your laughter be turned to mourning, your joy to gloom. HUMBLE YOURSELVES BEFORE GOD...
• Verse 11, 17 -- be a doer (to him who knows to DO good and does not do it, to him it is sin).

Focus on the Sovereignty of God --

• He is the judge and the Law giver. God sets the rules.
• He gives us grace and help to obey.

"You never know what a day holds"

• Verse 14 -- your life is a vapor. You do not know what a day holds. BUT GOD KNOWS.
• Verse 15 -- Say, If the Lord wills, we will go and do this and that...

Key verses, along with James 4 include:

• Psalm 16:11 -- In your presence is fullness of Joy...
• Psalm 126:5 -- Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy...
• Matthew 5:8 -- Happy are the people who have pure hearts, because they will see God.
• Luke 15:7 -- ...More JOY in heaven over one sinner who repents that over 99 righteous persons who need no repentance.
• Psalm 51:12 -- Restore to me the JOY of Your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.
• Acts 3:12 -- "Repent and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of repentance may come from the Lord.."
• We also discuss the apostle Peter, who denied Jesus. When Jesus warned him at the Last Supper, Peter truly believed that his heart was fully surrendered to God (John 13:37-38), but Jesus knew Peter's heart and Jesus knew the tempation and fall that were coming (denial #1 to a servant girl -- John 18:17, denial #2 -- John 18:25, denial #3 -- John 18:27, also see Matthew 26:69-75, about Peter swearing and weeping bitterly, and Mark 14:66-72 -- and "as he, Peter thought about it, and also recalled what Jesus has said, he wept bitterly). Jesus warned Peter, and also He helped Peter to repent, and even helped Peter to recover after the Resurrection (even talking by a smokey fire, as we read in John 21:25-19, which reminded Peter of the memory of his 3 denials) -- until at last Peter could step back into his purpose and calling to feed God's sheep.

In our Kid's Missionary Class, we're learning about David Livingstone, Missionary and Explorer to Africa. For all the links and learning ideas, including the FREE 10-page Mission Pack for David Livingstone, please see our class website: http://missionmindedfamilies.org/livingstone

Referred to in the episode:

• Recommended Missionary Biography book: David Livingstone: Africa's Trailblazer (Christian Heroes Then & Now Series).
• Recommended Prayer and Mission Guide: Window on the World (Operation World resource)
• Online puzzle: https://crosswords.brightsprout.com/295420/David-Livingstone-Crossword-Puzzle
• 2-minute mission monologue (matches the coloring page https://youtu.be/_ocSf0ila0U?si=jj_ndKr1i30-TjOx
• 2-minute history (highlights slave trade and geographical places) https://youtu.be/96P_INDMa-4?si=bK1ukf-ESUNOmyHP

In this episode, we're introducing our first "Kid's Missionary Class." We're learning about Gladys Aylward (1902-1970), a courageous woman who served in China as a missionary, sharing the Good News of Jesus. Gladys Aylward was determined, even when facing discouragement and danger.

Here are the links mentioned:

Gladys Aylward Kid's Missionary Pack -- 10 pages, with checklis https://s3.amazonaws.com/kajabi-storefronts-production/file-uploads/sites/8901/themes/2163712137/downloads/c54f7e-28a2-ba2-5aef-53cab6306dd_Gladys_-_PDF_booklet.pdf

Torchlighter Children's Cartoon: "The Gladys Aylward Story" https://youtu.be/5TPFJYxb4q0?si=CJ9G2bzevTFaPkZr

Recommended Missionary Biography -- Gladys Aylward: The Adventure of a Lifetime (Christian Heroes Then & Now) https://www.amazon.com/Gladys-Aylward-Adventure-Lifetime-Christian/dp/1576580199/ref=asc_df_1576580199?tag=bingshoppinga-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=80126962061079&hvnetw=o&hvqmt=e&hvbmt=be&hvdev=m&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=111334&hvtargid=pla-4583726540923850&psc=1

Recommended Book: Window on the World -- (learn about countries, people, and religions of the world). https://www.amazon.com/Window-World-Operation-Resource-Resources/dp/0830857834

Inn of the Sixth Happiness (Classic Movie Excerpt -- rejected by the China missionary society) https://youtu.be/m__u1bxe--k?si=_-Gb4rxwSoOT9pmP

Inn of the Sixth Happiness (Classic Movie highlights - 9 minutes) https://youtu.be/HaupKAcE6Nw?si=RddALPOakxNquONw

Inn of the Sixth Happiness (Full Movie) https://youtu.be/wrFF-j8NuSU?si=d1JbGfy0GT3-1kJt

Today, in our Bible study in James Chapter 3, our focus is the importance of taming our tongue (by God's grace). Our words are important, as words can reveal what is in our heart, and by submitting our tongue to Jesus, our words can shape our lives, our families, and also our ministries.

At Mission-Minded Families, we focus on Biblical truth, Happy Habits, and Gospel Impact.

• What are object lessons given in James 3 about our tongue?
• What are other Bible verses about the importance of our tongue?
• How can words we speak relate to the Gospel and Global missions?

Links mentioned:

Mission-Minded Women

7 Keys for Mission-Minded Families (Free Mission Course)

Beautiful Feet International

Today's focus is the JOY of Generosity, especially helping the poor, continuing our Bible study through James, in chapter 2. At Mission-Minded Families, we focus on Biblical truth, Happy Habits, and Gospel Impact.

• What does it mean to show "partiality" (giving preference or honor based on wealth or social standing, including how today's "Social Justice" can relate).
• What does it mean to love our neighbor "as ourselves" (and how can this be misunderstood)?
• What does the Bible tell us about caring for the Poor?

Featured global ministries:

• Mission-Minded Women
• Mission-Minded Families - 7 Keys (FREE Mission Course for Families)
• Compassionate Hope

At Mission-Minded Families, we focus on Biblical Truth, Happy Habits, and Gospel Impact.

This week, we're beginning a Bible study through the book of James (starting today in James, Chapter 1), highlighting verses about, "Count it all joy," seeking God's wisdom, and caring for orphans. We look at several missionary heroes: Amy Carmichael, George Muller, Hudson Taylor, plus a mostly unknown missionary (number 8 of 13 children, with 10 children of his own, known as the "Pilgrims Companion" -- Can you guess who he is?).

Links shared:

• 7 Simple Keys for Mission-Minded Families
• Beautiful Feet International - Global ProLife Ministry
• Mission-Minded Women

In this new episode, we're discussing Discipleship 101 for Christians. What does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus? How can we make disciples? What is a simple way to share our faith.

Ann will share some real life stories, from overseas and here at home, introduce you to a happy missionary hero (who you've likely never heard about before), plus share some practical tips for personal discipleship that are really important to our faith.

In today's episode, Ann Dunagan introduces two new mentoring tools, for personal and group discipleship and mobilization with Mission-Minded Women:

1. First is My Mission-Minded Happy Planner, a fun whimsically illustrated life-planning guide and prayer journal, designed to help Christian women and teenage girls to live every day for the glory of God, in every area of ife, spirit, soul, and body. The Happy Planner is available in either a 40-Day or 90-Day version, and in both softcover and hardcover editions (on Amazon).
2. Secondly, The Mission-Minded HappyApp (or simply "HappyApp") is a life-planning tool for personal growth, designed to coordinate with the Happy Planner. The HappyApp includes daily encouragement, personal development training (for every area of our life), goal-setting tools and tracking, and a community feature.

You can get My Mission-Minded Happy Planner on Amazon for as little as $4.99 (for the 40-Day softcover version -- our heart for this version is for small groups or mentoring), up to $14.99 for the 90-Day hardcover version. It is also available in many other countries, including Europe, Australia, Canada, Mexico, and various countries in South America. Currently, we are working to translate the Happy Planner into seven other languages, coming, Lord willing, next year.

Today's focus is Gladys Aylward, a daring missionary to China (1902-1970).

Today's focus is Mary Slessor (1848-1915), an adventurous missionary to Africa with a great heart for unreached people. .