Approximately 250 women gathered on Saturday 13 May at St Mary’s Church, Basingstoke for the South-Central Women’s Day – a biennial event.
Under the title The Heart of the Matter, the women heard some excellent teaching from Lizzie Smallwood on the letter of James. There were two talks, one concerning ‘diagnosis’, considering a series of tests which James gives, and the other on ‘treatment’, which is the path of wisdom through repentance and the grace of God.
Deadly pride
Lizzie said that if any of us committed adultery or murder there would be an outcry in the local church. But James points up the deadly disease of adulterous pride which is exposed in our attitudes to God, his Word and other people through our speech and decision making. It didn’t make easy listening, but then, as Lizzie pointed out, ‘heart surgery is excruciating, but it’s a life-saver.’