V 5 I really need wisdom right now and this verse spoke to me that God is not stingy with wisdom but gives it LIBERALLY!
V 17 Every good and perfect gift comes from our Father who does not change..."no shadow of turning." Everything and everyone in life changes. We change. God does not change. How he feels towards us never changes.
V 27 Help orphans. Help widows. Live a separated life. Funny how seldom I hear the first two ever mentioned, yet this is pure and undefiled religio
1. Temptation (which is practically the whole chapter): We WILL fall into temptation but it's cool how trials can strengthen our faith so much more if we turn to God during them.
2. vs 23-24: The imagery in these verses is convicting. Many times I'm just a "hearer" not a "doer". I'll hear a really good sermon and many times leave the concepts behind as I walk out the door.
3. vs. 1: James was called "a servant of God". I think this is one of the highest callings. I want people to know me as a servant of God.
James 1 1. V. 2 counting it as a joy when we are put in a tough situation is probably one of the hardest things in the Bible to apply. We naturally have a bad attitude when circumstances are bad. Let's be rebels to this tendency. 2. V. 8 love this verse. It helps me to remember why, often times, when my "ways are unstable"it's because I am double minded. I want to have a single focus for my savior, keeping my mind on him alone...the one who created my mind 3. V. 17 Awesome! Gods so good and he doesn't change. Why do we doubt God? We try to blame Him for so many self inflicted things. God forgive us
1. V. 3 Through the trials, God is working in my life. Perfecting my patience, teaching my how to endure and persevere. God's breaks us to recreate us. 2. V 19 I find myself often doing just the opposite and am quick to get angry. This verse is easy to understand and sums up how we should act towards each other. 3. V 23-25 The illustration here is a great one, a man looks into a mirror and then goes on his way, completely forgetting what he was like. That reminds me of the many times where we look into God's word, we hear amazing sermons and then we just go on a our way, forgetting everything. It's one thing to hear, but another to live it out.
Vs 5-7 These verses are so convicting to me. I have such a tendency to doubt God while I'm praying. I ask for things not really believing that He will give them to me. I ask Him to save loved ones, deep down not really believing He will. He wants us to talk to Him and ask Him with no doubts whatsoever. It's so comforting to know that He never changes. We change constantly which is why we cannot rely on our emotions. This gives us so much freedom! We don't have to rely on ourselves for happiness! It's all Him :)
Vs 14-15 We need to be constantly aware and on the lookout. The Devil wants us to be tempted by subtle little desires and if we give in even a little, we will soon find ourselves much deeper and farther than we would have ever imagined. Praise God for His forgiveness when we do!
Vs 21-25 These verses spoke right to me. I am horrible about reading and not applying. That's one reason I think this blog is such a great idea! Because it actually makes us stop and think about how to apply it instead of just reading and not thinking twice about it. It helps me to read a verse and talk to the Lord about it. Then go to the next verse and so on. We can't grow stronger in His Word if we don't take the time to meditate and apply it to our lives.
Hey everyone! I would just like to say that I love James.
V2) Count it all joy when you fall into various trials. This is a reminder that the trials put in our lives should be viewed as ways to help with our relationship with God and our families. We shouldn't view the trials as "God hates me" or "God doesn't want anything to do with me." Because that's not true. He puts them in ourselves to HELP us. V5) If anyone lacks wisdom, let him ask God. Wisdom is attainable for all and everyone. It's not something only the very smart and few can get, but everyone can. It is also a reminder that we shouldn't go to God with our "grocery list" of stuff that we want Him to do for us. V17) Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above. Everything that God has given us is from HIM. We need to thank Him for everything He has given us. We do not deserve anything because we were dead in trespasses and sin. But somehow, He gave us life and again. Be thankful!
Great job man! I wish everyone could understand how much you have been through and that you are not just saying, God puts trials in our lives for our good, and have no clue what you're talking about. Keep up the fight!
V. 6-8 We naturally doubt God, doubt his goodness, doubt his plan. We are worthless when we doubt. A mustard seed of true faith in God would move a mountain. Unless we pray to God in full faith we can't expect him to answer. Doubt is something I struggle with a lot. V. 12-14 God gives us hard things in life to deal with but never to try and test if we are faithful enough not to sin. To God, sin isn't part of the equation. He can't be tempted or tempt because sin isn't ever on his mind or part of his will unless he had to judge it out gets to forgive it. V. 22-25 Sometimes the Christian world over-preaches "your beautiful in Gods eyes" when in honesty we are ugly and filthy yet he loves us anyway. I need to see myself the way God sees me and how the Bible describes me. But the Bible doesn't only condemn but explains how I can change.
Michael, I love love love your third point. Yes we look "good" in God's eyes, but our sin's ugliness covers that up. I haven't thought of that. Thanks for sharing!
Vs. 12) Blessed is the man that endures temptation. After God talks about being joyful through trials and remembering that trials work patience, He says that the man who endures temptation is blessed. Having endurance through trials is something that is so hard to have. The strength to carry on and keep persevering can only come from God. When we seek Jesus's face in the midst of a storm, he will give us endurance and strength. Vs. 19-20) It can be so difficult to not get angry when someone says or does something to offend. Being quick to listen and slow to speak can be one of the most challenging things in life. But I love how God clearly says in verse 20, this is the solution: a soft answer turns away anger. This is something that I have been processing in my mind a lot lately as well. Vs. 22) Be ye doers of the Word and not hearers only. I find myself struggling in this area of hearing a sermon or reading my devotions and I'm not really keyed in or thinking of ways that I can use what God is teaching me in my personal life. But I'm so thankful that God is never done teaching me and showing me things from His Word that He wants me to grow in Spiritually.
1. V.17 just a reminder that everything we have is a gift from God it is perfect. God can take it away just like when we take our eyes off of Him 2. V.19 we need to listen carefully before we speak (your mouth is what gets you into trouble) and see need to be slow to wrath. Stop. Listen. Pray. Think. Act with good judgment and a calm spirit. 3. V.22 I often find myself hearing the gospel, hearing God. Yet that's all I do is hear, I never do. I deceive myself everyday when I sit here and say well at least I'm hearing the Word. No. I need to get out there and make a difference.
Very strong statements Rachael! I definitely struggle with a quick temper and being slow to wrath is a very convicting concept. Now to tie it in with your third point, I need to actually apply being slow to wrath...use it or lose it.
James 1 V 2- rejoice when we fall. That happens to be one of the hardest things for me to do. There's this one song 'Blessings' that this verse reminded me of and it's the part where it mentions 'God's trials are his blessings in disguise'. This has really been an encouragement for me and also makes me think how God lets everything happen for a reason. Rejoice always. V 5-6- it's amazing to me that God never wants us to stop asking things of Him. He's done so much for us but he wants to take our burdens continually. V 13- God is not the one we are being tempted by, it's satan and this reminded me that I have been blaming God for things that have been happening in my life, and that is just satan tempting me. It's beyond me that I would think it's okay to blame God for situations that come up in my life when He is the one that gave me life and gave me a mind that I am using against Him. In every way, God's ways are perfect.
V 5 I really need wisdom right now and this verse spoke to me that God is not stingy with wisdom but gives it LIBERALLY!
ReplyDeleteV 17 Every good and perfect gift comes from our Father who does not change..."no shadow of turning." Everything and everyone in life changes. We change. God does not change. How he feels towards us never changes.
V 27 Help orphans. Help widows. Live a separated life. Funny how seldom I hear the first two ever mentioned, yet this is pure and undefiled religio
I really like your third point Leah! You're right, I miss that part a lot too.
DeleteI got a notification that I deleted a comment from an unknown blogger. I didn't so idk what happened. Who ever it was, please repost
ReplyDeleteIt may have to do with the person not following the blog first. So make sure to follow so you can comment
DeleteJames 1
ReplyDelete1. Temptation (which is practically the whole chapter): We WILL fall into temptation but it's cool how trials can strengthen our faith so much more if we turn to God during them.
2. vs 23-24: The imagery in these verses is convicting. Many times I'm just a "hearer" not a "doer". I'll hear a really good sermon and many times leave the concepts behind as I walk out the door.
3. vs. 1: James was called "a servant of God". I think this is one of the highest callings. I want people to know me as a servant of God.
James 1
ReplyDelete1. V. 2 counting it as a joy when we are put in a tough situation is probably one of the hardest things in the Bible to apply. We naturally have a bad attitude when circumstances are bad. Let's be rebels to this tendency.
2. V. 8 love this verse. It helps me to remember why, often times, when my "ways are unstable"it's because I am double minded. I want to have a single focus for my savior, keeping my mind on him alone...the one who created my mind
3. V. 17 Awesome! Gods so good and he doesn't change. Why do we doubt God? We try to blame Him for so many self inflicted things. God forgive us
James 1
ReplyDelete1. V. 3 Through the trials, God is working in my life. Perfecting my patience, teaching my how to endure and persevere. God's breaks us to recreate us.
2. V 19 I find myself often doing just the opposite and am quick to get angry. This verse is easy to understand and sums up how we should act towards each other.
3. V 23-25 The illustration here is a great one, a man looks into a mirror and then goes on his way, completely forgetting what he was like. That reminds me of the many times where we look into God's word, we hear amazing sermons and then we just go on a our way, forgetting everything. It's one thing to hear, but another to live it out.
Vs 5-7 These verses are so convicting to me. I have such a tendency to doubt God while I'm praying. I ask for things not really believing that He will give them to me. I ask Him to save loved ones, deep down not really believing He will. He wants us to talk to Him and ask Him with no doubts whatsoever. It's so comforting to know that He never changes. We change constantly which is why we cannot rely on our emotions. This gives us so much freedom! We don't have to rely on ourselves for happiness! It's all Him :)
ReplyDeleteVs 14-15 We need to be constantly aware and on the lookout. The Devil wants us to be tempted by subtle little desires and if we give in even a little, we will soon find ourselves much deeper and farther than we would have ever imagined. Praise God for His forgiveness when we do!
Vs 21-25 These verses spoke right to me. I am horrible about reading and not applying. That's one reason I think this blog is such a great idea! Because it actually makes us stop and think about how to apply it instead of just reading and not thinking twice about it. It helps me to read a verse and talk to the Lord about it. Then go to the next verse and so on. We can't grow stronger in His Word if we don't take the time to meditate and apply it to our lives.
Wow Beckah! All extremely good points. I really like your third of course. And that is where this idea came from!
DeleteHey everyone! I would just like to say that I love James.
ReplyDeleteV2) Count it all joy when you fall into various trials. This is a reminder that the trials put in our lives should be viewed as ways to help with our relationship with God and our families. We shouldn't view the trials as "God hates me" or "God doesn't want anything to do with me." Because that's not true. He puts them in ourselves to HELP us.
V5) If anyone lacks wisdom, let him ask God. Wisdom is attainable for all and everyone. It's not something only the very smart and few can get, but everyone can. It is also a reminder that we shouldn't go to God with our "grocery list" of stuff that we want Him to do for us.
V17) Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above. Everything that God has given us is from HIM. We need to thank Him for everything He has given us. We do not deserve anything because we were dead in trespasses and sin. But somehow, He gave us life and again.
Be thankful!
Isaac I love your attitude about these verses! All were great points
DeleteGreat job man! I wish everyone could understand how much you have been through and that you are not just saying, God puts trials in our lives for our good, and have no clue what you're talking about. Keep up the fight!
DeleteV. 6-8 We naturally doubt God, doubt his goodness, doubt his plan. We are worthless when we doubt. A mustard seed of true faith in God would move a mountain. Unless we pray to God in full faith we can't expect him to answer. Doubt is something I struggle with a lot.
ReplyDeleteV. 12-14 God gives us hard things in life to deal with but never to try and test if we are faithful enough not to sin. To God, sin isn't part of the equation. He can't be tempted or tempt because sin isn't ever on his mind or part of his will unless he had to judge it out gets to forgive it.
V. 22-25 Sometimes the Christian world over-preaches "your beautiful in Gods eyes" when in honesty we are ugly and filthy yet he loves us anyway. I need to see myself the way God sees me and how the Bible describes me. But the Bible doesn't only condemn but explains how I can change.
Michael, I love love love your third point. Yes we look "good" in God's eyes, but our sin's ugliness covers that up. I haven't thought of that. Thanks for sharing!
DeleteMichael! I really like your third point as well...I'll be thinking about that.
DeleteVs. 12) Blessed is the man that endures temptation. After God talks about being joyful through trials and remembering that trials work patience, He says that the man who endures temptation is blessed. Having endurance through trials is something that is so hard to have. The strength to carry on and keep persevering can only come from God. When we seek Jesus's face in the midst of a storm, he will give us endurance and strength.
ReplyDeleteVs. 19-20) It can be so difficult to not get angry when someone says or does something to offend. Being quick to listen and slow to speak can be one of the most challenging things in life. But I love how God clearly says in verse 20, this is the solution: a soft answer turns away anger. This is something that I have been processing in my mind a lot lately as well.
Vs. 22) Be ye doers of the Word and not hearers only. I find myself struggling in this area of hearing a sermon or reading my devotions and I'm not really keyed in or thinking of ways that I can use what God is teaching me in my personal life. But I'm so thankful that God is never done teaching me and showing me things from His Word that He wants me to grow in Spiritually.
Endurance... difficult in sports and in our spiritual life. Keep it up!
Delete1. V.17 just a reminder that everything we have is a gift from God it is perfect. God can take it away just like when we take our eyes off of Him
ReplyDelete2. V.19 we need to listen carefully before we speak (your mouth is what gets you into trouble) and see need to be slow to wrath. Stop. Listen. Pray. Think. Act with good judgment and a calm spirit.
3. V.22 I often find myself hearing the gospel, hearing God. Yet that's all I do is hear, I never do. I deceive myself everyday when I sit here and say well at least I'm hearing the Word. No. I need to get out there and make a difference.
Very strong statements Rachael! I definitely struggle with a quick temper and being slow to wrath is a very convicting concept. Now to tie it in with your third point, I need to actually apply being slow to wrath...use it or lose it.
DeleteJames 1
ReplyDeleteV 2- rejoice when we fall. That happens to be one of the hardest things for me to do. There's this one song 'Blessings' that this verse reminded me of and it's the part where it mentions 'God's trials are his blessings in disguise'. This has really been an encouragement for me and also makes me think how God lets everything happen for a reason. Rejoice always.
V 5-6- it's amazing to me that God never wants us to stop asking things of Him. He's done so much for us but he wants to take our burdens continually.
V 13- God is not the one we are being tempted by, it's satan and this reminded me that I have been blaming God for things that have been happening in my life, and that is just satan tempting me. It's beyond me that I would think it's okay to blame God for situations that come up in my life when He is the one that gave me life and gave me a mind that I am using against Him. In every way, God's ways are perfect.
What a God we serve!
ReplyDelete