September 27, 2018
The epistle of James can be understood as belonging to the literary genre of the wisdom literature of Israel. Written by a Messianic Jew, intended most probably for Messianic Jewish congregations beyond Palestine, it reflects Jewish thought patterns throughout. The overarching wisdom theme of the book: external behavior reveals the condition of the inner life.
When we focus on changing behavior directly (by will-power) we are focusing on the effects of the problem rather than on the root cause. Inner life is radically transformed by learning how to live in the Presence of Jesus. We learn this in discipleship with him. Behavior alteration follows.
June 27, 2018
Unhealed places within us will find expression in our behavior. In this we can not only harm ourselves, but also others around us. The consequences are even greater in the case of leaders who have responsibility for others and enjoy wider influence. What are some main areas of wounding within? How can we seek healing from Jesus?
October 6, 2017
PART 2 OF 2
Foundational in Jesus' teaching: to access the new life he offers, I must first allow God to put my old self-life to death. The cross must precede the resurrection. Grasping on to my own damaged life only leads me deeper into despair. Laying it down in order to receive a new, Christ-life leads to pure joy.
(George Miley) Recorded 9/2017
October 6, 2017
PART 1 OF 2
Foundational in Jesus' teaching: to access the new life he offers, I must first allow God to put my old self-life to death. The cross must precede the resurrection. Grasping on to my own damaged life only leads me deeper into despair. Laying it down in order to receive a new, Christ-life leads to pure joy.
(George Miley) Recorded 9/2017
September 7, 2017
PART 2 OF 2
Learning to honor my father and mother is crucial to my personal development. My heavenly Father chose my parents, and I must be able to trust that He has done well by me in all things. Honoring my parents does not mean denying their imperfections. There are no perfect parents; there are no perfect children. I learn to honor my parents in spite of imperfections—theirs and mine. Jesus teaches me how.
(George Miley) Recorded 8/2017
September 7, 2017
PART 1 OF 2
Learning to honor my father and mother is crucial to my personal development. My heavenly Father chose my parents, and I must be able to trust that He has done well by me in all things. Honoring my parents does not mean denying their imperfections. There are no perfect parents; there are no perfect children. I learn to honor my parents in spite of imperfections—theirs and mine. Jesus teaches me how.
(George Miley) Recorded 8/2017
August 24, 2017
PART 2 OF 2
God reconciles people who have been separated relationally. This is just the kind of person God is. As we mature toward Christlikeness, we also become agents of reconciliation. This is just the kind of persons we are becoming. But what does the process of reconciliation look like? Are there specific steps?
(George Miley) Recorded 8/18/2017
August 24, 2017
PART 1 OF 2
God reconciles people who have been separated relationally. This is just the kind of person God is. As we mature toward Christlikeness, we also become agents of reconciliation. This is just the kind of persons we are becoming. But what does the process of reconciliation look like? Are there specific steps?
(George Miley) Recorded 8/18/2017
August 16, 2017
PART 2 OF 2
Forgiving my enemy can be hard, especially if I misunderstand what forgiveness is. Forgiveness never denies or minimizes the wrong. It is a way of responding to the wrong. It acknowledges God as Judge and leads to my healing. It changes the effects of the past on the present. Jesus teaches me how. He is just the kind of person who forgives.
George Miley (Recorded 7/28/2017)
August 16, 2017
PART 1 OF 2
Forgiving my enemy can be hard, especially if I misunderstand what forgiveness is. Forgiveness never denies or minimizes the wrong. It is a way of responding to the wrong. It acknowledges God as Judge and leads to my healing. It changes the effects of the past on the present. Jesus teaches me how. He is just the kind of person who forgives.
George Miley (Recorded 7/28/2017)
August 10, 2017
PART 2 OF 2
God created us male or female. He intended a man and woman to forge a “one-of-a-kind” intimacy of mutual and permanent commitment, caring, kindness, respect. God designed us with ability to express this unique intimacy physically. Sexual intimacy, in harmony with God's intention for me, is beautiful and fulfilling. Sexual acts that violate God's intention deeply violate and wound. What I do with my body affects my soul.
George Miley (Recorded 4/29/2017)
August 10, 2017
PART 1 OF 2
God created us male or female. He intended a man and woman to forge a “one-of-a-kind” intimacy of mutual and permanent commitment, caring, kindness, respect. God designed us with ability to express this unique intimacy physically. Sexual intimacy, in harmony with God's intention for me, is beautiful and fulfilling. Sexual acts that violate God's intention deeply violate and wound. What I do with my body affects my soul.
George Miley (Recorded 4/29/2017)
July 20, 2017
PART 3 OF 3
My need to be loved is so great that, initially, my capacity to love others is quite limited. Where did this neediness come from? I turned away from the all-competent Lover. God never stopped loving me; I stopped loving him. My need to be loved can only be met as I learn to live increasingly in God's Presence. Being with him, I experience his love. His love heals me. It begins to form a reservoir of love within me that I can pass on to my neighbor.
George Miley (Recorded 2/10/2017)
July 20, 2017
PART 2 OF 3
My need to be loved is so great that, initially, my capacity to love others is quite limited. Where did this neediness come from? I turned away from the all-competent Lover. God never stopped loving me; I stopped loving him. My need to be loved can only be met as I learn to live increasingly in God's Presence. Being with him, I experience his love. His love heals me. It begins to form a reservoir of love within me that I can pass on to my neighbor.
George Miley (Recorded 2/10/2017)
July 20, 2017
PART 1 OF 3
My need to be loved is so great that, initially, my capacity to love others is quite limited. Where did this neediness come from? I turned away from the all-competent Lover. God never stopped loving me; I stopped loving him. My need to be loved can only be met as I learn to live increasingly in God's Presence. Being with him, I experience his love. His love heals me. It begins to form a reservoir of love within me that I can pass on to my neighbor.
George Miley (Recorded 2/10/2017)
May 10, 2017
1 OF 2
God created the human body good. But living in a rebellious, darkened world I have learned behaviors that are unlike God and thus damaging to me and others. Many are stored in my body as subconscious habits, negatively affecting my heart, soul, mind and relationships without me realizing it. I must now learn to access God's provision of grace to unlearn (put to death) destructive habits and replace them with behaviors I learn from Jesus.
George Miley (Recorded 2/4/2017)
May 10, 2017
1 OF 2
God created the human body good. But living in a rebellious, darkened world I have learned behaviors that are unlike God and thus damaging to me and others. Many are stored in my body as subconscious habits, negatively affecting my heart, soul, mind and relationships without me realizing it. I must now learn to access God's provision of grace to unlearn (put to death) destructive habits and replace them with behaviors I learn from Jesus.
George Miley (Recorded 2/4/2017)
May 3, 2017
PART 2 OF 2
Our culture assumes that if an emotion exists it is valid. If I feel it, I have every right to express it. This may feel good at first, but it invariably leads to painful and disruptive life experiences. Jesus heals wounded emotions that block our maturing, replacing them with beautiful emotions God created us to have. This happens as we allow him to teach us how life works--as his disciples.
George Miley (1/27/2017)
May 3, 2017
PART 1 OF 2
Our culture assumes that if an emotion exists it is valid. If I feel it, I have every right to express it. This may feel good at first, but it invariably leads to painful and disruptive life experiences. Jesus heals wounded emotions that block our maturing, replacing them with beautiful emotions God created us to have. This happens as we allow him to teach us how life works--as his disciples.
George Miley (1/27/2017)
April 26, 2017
PART 2 OF 2
The first step in reforming my mind is intention—an orientation of the heart or will. I choose to intend to learn from Jesus how to access the new life he offers. My first step is to choose where I will place my thoughts. Jesus teaches me to live with my thoughts centered in God.
George Miley (Recorded 1/21/2017)
April 26, 2017
PART 1 OF 2
The first step in reforming my mind is intention—an orientation of the heart or will. I choose to intend to learn from Jesus how to access the new life he offers. My first step is to choose where I will place my thoughts. Jesus teaches me to live with my thoughts centered in God.
George Miley (Recorded 1/21/2017)
April 19, 2017
PART 2 OF 2
A soul not centered in God becomes fragmented. It can’t find its way home. One’s inner being trends toward chaos and harmful behavior. A soul centered in God comes to rest. It has returned home. One's inner being, in spite of what is going on around, finds order and peace.
George Miley (Recorded 1/20/2017)
April 19, 2017
PART 1 OF 2
A soul not centered in God becomes fragmented. It can’t find its way home. One’s inner being trends toward chaos and harmful behavior. A soul centered in God comes to rest. It has returned home. One's inner being, in spite of what is going on around, finds order and peace.
George Miley (Recorded 1/20/2017)
April 5, 2017
PART 2 OF 2
The choices of my heart direct the re-making of my person. This is very different from "will-power." Allowing Jesus to teach me how life works, I learn to choose not to rely on will-power but on him. As he teaches me how to live in God's Presence, my inner life is transformed.
George Miley (Recorded 1/19/2017)
April 4, 2017
PART 1 OF 2
The choices of my heart direct the re-making of my person. This is very different from "will-power." Allowing Jesus to teach me how life works, I learn to choose not to rely on will-power but on him. As he teaches me how to live in God's Presence, my inner life is transformed.
George Miley (Recorded 1/19/2017)
March 31, 2017
How can we pray throughout the day while carrying out the tasks of life? We need ways—established practices—for repeatedly returning our thoughts to God.
George Miley (Recorded 1/09/2017)
March 24, 2017
PART 2 OF 2
What is prayer? It is interacting with God. I talk to him; I also listen for what he is saying to me. Prayer is two-way communication. It is interactively living in God's Presence.
George Miley (Recorded 1/07/2017)
March 24, 2017
PART 1 OF 2
What is prayer? It is interacting with God. I talk to him; I also listen for what he is saying to me. Prayer is two-way communication. It is interactively living in God's Presence.
George Miley (Recorded 1/07/2017)
March 14, 2017
As I enter more deeply into rest, I become more aware of the condition of my soul. Practice expands my ability to go deeper into silence.
George Miley (Recorded 1/06/2017)
