Book: James
Chapter: 5
Verse: 20
Phrase: Remember this, whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him.
Word: turns
Thought: It is not enough to just convicne sinners intellectually that what they are doing is in violation of God's commands. If I am to save a sinner I must turn him. Turning involves change and for most sinners it is more than just a course correction, it is a dramatic and painful process. Repentance is the hard work part of evangelism. It is much easier to condemn or condone.
Friday, April 27, 2007
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Effective
Book: James
Chapter: 5
Verse:16
Phrase: The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective
Word: Effective
Thought: Everyone wants to be effective. to be ineffective means that we have exerted the same amount of energy with nothing to show for it. Prayer and righteousness come before effectiveness in any spiritual endeavour.
Chapter: 5
Verse:16
Phrase: The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective
Word: Effective
Thought: Everyone wants to be effective. to be ineffective means that we have exerted the same amount of energy with nothing to show for it. Prayer and righteousness come before effectiveness in any spiritual endeavour.
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
YES
Book: James
Chapter: 5
Verse: 12
Phrase: Let your "Yes" be "Yes," and your "No," "No,"
Word: Yes
Thought: It is very easy to say yes, but very difficult to do yes. I always must fight the urge to promise too much. My desire to stay positive and helpful can lead me to become agreeable to things that I am unable or later unwilling to do. I must let my yes, really be a yes and not a, I hope so, or Maybe, or just stop asking and go away. Today I must let my yes be a YES!
Chapter: 5
Verse: 12
Phrase: Let your "Yes" be "Yes," and your "No," "No,"
Word: Yes
Thought: It is very easy to say yes, but very difficult to do yes. I always must fight the urge to promise too much. My desire to stay positive and helpful can lead me to become agreeable to things that I am unable or later unwilling to do. I must let my yes, really be a yes and not a, I hope so, or Maybe, or just stop asking and go away. Today I must let my yes be a YES!
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Persevered
Book: James
Chapter: 5
Verse: 11
Phrase: We consider blessed those who have persevered
Word: Persevered
Thought: Patience extends into perseverance. After through God's grace I have gained patience in a particular area. I must stretch that patience over time to reach perseverance. It is through the trial that I persevere and at the end of perseverance is the blessing.
Chapter: 5
Verse: 11
Phrase: We consider blessed those who have persevered
Word: Persevered
Thought: Patience extends into perseverance. After through God's grace I have gained patience in a particular area. I must stretch that patience over time to reach perseverance. It is through the trial that I persevere and at the end of perseverance is the blessing.
Monday, April 23, 2007
Grumble
Book: James
Chapter: 5
Verse: 9
Phrase: Do not grumble against each other
Word: Grumble
Thought: I like to grumble, that nonverbal form of grumpy combined with a little mumble. It is too easy to complain and grumble against another person. However grumbling accomplishes nothing.
Chapter: 5
Verse: 9
Phrase: Do not grumble against each other
Word: Grumble
Thought: I like to grumble, that nonverbal form of grumpy combined with a little mumble. It is too easy to complain and grumble against another person. However grumbling accomplishes nothing.
Sunday, April 22, 2007
Patient
Book: James
Chapter: 5
Verse: 7
Phrase: Be patient... until the Lord's coming
Word: Patient
Thought: Patience is something we all lack. James tells us that the Lord is coming again, and that in light of this truth, we must be patient.
Chapter: 5
Verse: 7
Phrase: Be patient... until the Lord's coming
Word: Patient
Thought: Patience is something we all lack. James tells us that the Lord is coming again, and that in light of this truth, we must be patient.
Saturday, April 21, 2007
Rotted
Book: James
Chapter: 5
Verse: 2
Phrase: Your wealth has rotted
Word: Rotted
Thought: Things that have rotted are not only useless, but they are offensive. The wealth that I can accumulate here on this earth, by comparison, is rotten.
Chapter: 5
Verse: 2
Phrase: Your wealth has rotted
Word: Rotted
Thought: Things that have rotted are not only useless, but they are offensive. The wealth that I can accumulate here on this earth, by comparison, is rotten.
Friday, April 20, 2007
Boasting
Book: James
Chapter: 4
Verse: 16
Phrase: All such boasting is evil
Word: Boasting
Thought: All boasting is evil. Anytime that I, as a mortal boast of my accomplishments then it is evil in God's sight. I must keep myself from the ease of boasting.
Chapter: 4
Verse: 16
Phrase: All such boasting is evil
Word: Boasting
Thought: All boasting is evil. Anytime that I, as a mortal boast of my accomplishments then it is evil in God's sight. I must keep myself from the ease of boasting.
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Opposes
Book: James
Chapter: 4
Verse: 6
Phrase: God opposes the proud
Word: Opposes
Thought: God opposes the proud. An amount of opposition that I cannot comprehend. It is clear, that in light of this truth, that the greatest roadblock to our success is our own pride.
Chapter: 4
Verse: 6
Phrase: God opposes the proud
Word: Opposes
Thought: God opposes the proud. An amount of opposition that I cannot comprehend. It is clear, that in light of this truth, that the greatest roadblock to our success is our own pride.
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Vanishes
Book: James
Chapter: 4
Verse: 14
Phrase: You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes
Word: Vanishes
Thought: Vanishing acts by magicians have amazed me for years. How the lady can go into the box and disappear. Although I know and understand this trick, it does cause me to think of the complete nature of the word vanish. When most things go away, they leave some essence behind. But James makes it clear that our life is just a mist, then vanishes.
Chapter: 4
Verse: 14
Phrase: You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes
Word: Vanishes
Thought: Vanishing acts by magicians have amazed me for years. How the lady can go into the box and disappear. Although I know and understand this trick, it does cause me to think of the complete nature of the word vanish. When most things go away, they leave some essence behind. But James makes it clear that our life is just a mist, then vanishes.
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Resist
Book: James
Chapter: 4
Verse: 7
Phrase: Resist the devil and he will flee from you
Word: Resist
Thought: A simple conditional promise from God's word. All I must do to cause the devil to flee is to resist him. As often as I give Satan credit for tempting me to sin, I am at a greater fault for not initially resisting. There are also times that, after my first resistance, I later acquiesce and sin. This can only be attributed to my own sinful lusts.
Chapter: 4
Verse: 7
Phrase: Resist the devil and he will flee from you
Word: Resist
Thought: A simple conditional promise from God's word. All I must do to cause the devil to flee is to resist him. As often as I give Satan credit for tempting me to sin, I am at a greater fault for not initially resisting. There are also times that, after my first resistance, I later acquiesce and sin. This can only be attributed to my own sinful lusts.
Monday, April 16, 2007
More
Book: James
Chapter: 4
Verse: 6
Phrase: He gives more Grace
Word: More
Thought: I am a consumer of God's grace. It seems like a need heaping portions of grace. I tend to clean my plate, then ask for seconds, thirds, and more. I am glad that God never cuts me off, never closes the kitchen, but always gives more grace.
Chapter: 4
Verse: 6
Phrase: He gives more Grace
Word: More
Thought: I am a consumer of God's grace. It seems like a need heaping portions of grace. I tend to clean my plate, then ask for seconds, thirds, and more. I am glad that God never cuts me off, never closes the kitchen, but always gives more grace.
Sunday, April 15, 2007
Hatred
Book: James
Chapter: 4
Verse: 4
Phrase: Friendship with the world is hatred toward God
Word: Hatred
Thought: What a bold statement that James makes. Just a little friendship shown to the world and its philosophies equals hatred directed towards God. No one in their right mind would want to direct hatred toward God, but I must remember that even the slightest friendship with the world is in fact that.
Chapter: 4
Verse: 4
Phrase: Friendship with the world is hatred toward God
Word: Hatred
Thought: What a bold statement that James makes. Just a little friendship shown to the world and its philosophies equals hatred directed towards God. No one in their right mind would want to direct hatred toward God, but I must remember that even the slightest friendship with the world is in fact that.
Saturday, April 14, 2007
Motives
Book: James
Chapter: 4
Verse: 3
Phrase: You do not receive because you ask with wrong motives.
Word: Motives
Thought: I must consistently check my motives. Many things can motivate my prayers. Ambition, lust, greed, all for things that can become gods in our lives. I must ask God to help me keep my impure motives in check and pray as Christ did, your will be done.
Chapter: 4
Verse: 3
Phrase: You do not receive because you ask with wrong motives.
Word: Motives
Thought: I must consistently check my motives. Many things can motivate my prayers. Ambition, lust, greed, all for things that can become gods in our lives. I must ask God to help me keep my impure motives in check and pray as Christ did, your will be done.
Friday, April 13, 2007
Disorder
Book: James
Chapter: 3
Verse: 16
Phrase: Where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder
Word: Disorder
Thought: Envy and ambition are the enemies of cooperation and order. On the ball field if everyone fails to play their role, then there is disorder. In life, if I seek to promote self then I will ultimately let my team down. There you will find disorder.
Chapter: 3
Verse: 16
Phrase: Where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder
Word: Disorder
Thought: Envy and ambition are the enemies of cooperation and order. On the ball field if everyone fails to play their role, then there is disorder. In life, if I seek to promote self then I will ultimately let my team down. There you will find disorder.
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Harbor
Book: James
Chapter:3
Verse: 14
Phrase: If you harbor bitter envy...do not boast about it or deny the truth.
Word: Harbor
Thought: Harbors are a safe place to park boats and ships outside of the tempest of the sea. It is a safe place. I cannot give harbor to bitter envy. Envy is one thing, bitter envy is something else. Bitter envy seeks to bring others down. It says "I wish you did not have what I envy." Most of our envy falls into the category of "I want what you have." Bitter envy says " since I don't have it you should not either." It is vicious and has no place in my heart.
Chapter:3
Verse: 14
Phrase: If you harbor bitter envy...do not boast about it or deny the truth.
Word: Harbor
Thought: Harbors are a safe place to park boats and ships outside of the tempest of the sea. It is a safe place. I cannot give harbor to bitter envy. Envy is one thing, bitter envy is something else. Bitter envy seeks to bring others down. It says "I wish you did not have what I envy." Most of our envy falls into the category of "I want what you have." Bitter envy says " since I don't have it you should not either." It is vicious and has no place in my heart.
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Restless
Book: James
Chapter: 3
Verse: 8
Phrase: It is a restless evil
Word: Restless
Thought: From time to time we get restless. It may be a restless night of sleep. It may be that we get restless while waiting, or restless in the events of our life. The tongue is a restless evil. It never sleeps, it paces back and forth waiting for opportunity.
Chapter: 3
Verse: 8
Phrase: It is a restless evil
Word: Restless
Thought: From time to time we get restless. It may be a restless night of sleep. It may be that we get restless while waiting, or restless in the events of our life. The tongue is a restless evil. It never sleeps, it paces back and forth waiting for opportunity.
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Spark
Book: James
Chapter: 3
Verse: 5
Phrase: Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark.
Word: Spark
Thought: Fire is scary, sparks are harmless. We allow even the youngest among us to play with sparklers every 4th of July. Perception is not reality. Harmless sparks can quickly ignite destructive fire. I must guard my sparks or I will destroy my forest.
Chapter: 3
Verse: 5
Phrase: Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark.
Word: Spark
Thought: Fire is scary, sparks are harmless. We allow even the youngest among us to play with sparklers every 4th of July. Perception is not reality. Harmless sparks can quickly ignite destructive fire. I must guard my sparks or I will destroy my forest.
Monday, April 9, 2007
Boasts
Book: James
Chapter: 3
Verse: 5
Phrase: The tongue is small...but it makes great boasts
Word: Boasts
Thought: Maybe rightfully the tongue boasts great things. In context James points out how powerful our tongue can be. We should not underestimate the power of our words. As James says in verse 2, "if anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check."
Chapter: 3
Verse: 5
Phrase: The tongue is small...but it makes great boasts
Word: Boasts
Thought: Maybe rightfully the tongue boasts great things. In context James points out how powerful our tongue can be. We should not underestimate the power of our words. As James says in verse 2, "if anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check."
Sunday, April 8, 2007
All
Book: James
Chapter: 3
Verse: 2
Phrase: We all stumble in many ways
Word: All
Thought: it is a toss up for the key word to be "all" or "many." I chose "all" because it is to the greater extent. "All have sinned," all, everyone. We all stumble in many ways. We tend to enjoy watching others stumble. We may laugh, but in reality, we identify. Everyone stumbles, both physically and spiritually. Spiritual stumbling is a part of life. All stumble, some will fall, but I pray we all get up, and continue or walk.
Chapter: 3
Verse: 2
Phrase: We all stumble in many ways
Word: All
Thought: it is a toss up for the key word to be "all" or "many." I chose "all" because it is to the greater extent. "All have sinned," all, everyone. We all stumble in many ways. We tend to enjoy watching others stumble. We may laugh, but in reality, we identify. Everyone stumbles, both physically and spiritually. Spiritual stumbling is a part of life. All stumble, some will fall, but I pray we all get up, and continue or walk.
Saturday, April 7, 2007
Presume
Book: James
Chapter: 3
Verse: 1
Phrase: Not many of you should presume to be teachers
Word: Presume
Thought: Dictionary.com describes presume as "to undertake with unwarrantable boldness." Too often I presume to teach on things I do not know. I presume to give my opinion on things which I have no expertise. This verse tells me that I will be held to a higher accountability if I undertake this position. I must be careful what I am teaching. I must study to show myself approved unto God a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth.
Chapter: 3
Verse: 1
Phrase: Not many of you should presume to be teachers
Word: Presume
Thought: Dictionary.com describes presume as "to undertake with unwarrantable boldness." Too often I presume to teach on things I do not know. I presume to give my opinion on things which I have no expertise. This verse tells me that I will be held to a higher accountability if I undertake this position. I must be careful what I am teaching. I must study to show myself approved unto God a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth.
Friday, April 6, 2007
Useless
Book: James
Chapter: 2
Verse: 20
Phrase: Faith without deeds is useless
Word: Useless
Thought: I have a lot of useless things and ideas. My faith should not be useless. Chapter two makes it clear over and over that we must use our faith to perform good deeds. Our faith is only useless if we fail to use it for the physical and spiritual good of others.
Chapter: 2
Verse: 20
Phrase: Faith without deeds is useless
Word: Useless
Thought: I have a lot of useless things and ideas. My faith should not be useless. Chapter two makes it clear over and over that we must use our faith to perform good deeds. Our faith is only useless if we fail to use it for the physical and spiritual good of others.
Thursday, April 5, 2007
Dead
Book: James
Chapter: 2
Verse: 26
Phrase: As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.
Word: Dead
Thought: From time to time I feel like my faith lacks life and luster. the temptation is to bury my faith and blame my faith for not having feeling. In reality, when my faith lacks the life that I desire to feel, it is usually because it lacks works. When I am not living out the Christian life, then it feels dead because it is dead. I must remember to give life to my faith by my works.
Chapter: 2
Verse: 26
Phrase: As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.
Word: Dead
Thought: From time to time I feel like my faith lacks life and luster. the temptation is to bury my faith and blame my faith for not having feeling. In reality, when my faith lacks the life that I desire to feel, it is usually because it lacks works. When I am not living out the Christian life, then it feels dead because it is dead. I must remember to give life to my faith by my works.
Wednesday, April 4, 2007
Friend
Book: James
Chapter: 2
Verse: 23
Phrase: Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness and he was called God's friend.
Word: Friend
Thought: What does it mean to be a friend of God. Here we see at least one of the prerequisits was to believe God. How many times do I show my lack of belief in God by not trusting Him. I wonder if I would be able to keep other friends when I have denied belief in their instrcuctions and advice. Abraham believed God and thus was God's friend. Today I want to be God's friend, so I will do my best to live like I believe what He has said.
Chapter: 2
Verse: 23
Phrase: Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness and he was called God's friend.
Word: Friend
Thought: What does it mean to be a friend of God. Here we see at least one of the prerequisits was to believe God. How many times do I show my lack of belief in God by not trusting Him. I wonder if I would be able to keep other friends when I have denied belief in their instrcuctions and advice. Abraham believed God and thus was God's friend. Today I want to be God's friend, so I will do my best to live like I believe what He has said.
Tuesday, April 3, 2007
Shudder
Book: James
Chapter: 2
Verse: 19
Phrase: Even the demons believe there is one God and shudder
Word: Shudder
Thought: Why do the demons shudder when they consider God. Is it merely that they are living in defiance of Him or is there more. Could it be that there is also a knowledge of His holiness and severity, that I often neglect to take into full consideration. I wonder if today as I am tempted to sin, that I could contemplate God so completely that it makes me shudder to think of breaking one of His commands.
Chapter: 2
Verse: 19
Phrase: Even the demons believe there is one God and shudder
Word: Shudder
Thought: Why do the demons shudder when they consider God. Is it merely that they are living in defiance of Him or is there more. Could it be that there is also a knowledge of His holiness and severity, that I often neglect to take into full consideration. I wonder if today as I am tempted to sin, that I could contemplate God so completely that it makes me shudder to think of breaking one of His commands.
Monday, April 2, 2007
Claims
Book: James
Chapter: 2
Verse: 14
Phrase: What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith, but has no deeds?
Word: Claims
Thought: Too often I am guilty of claiming more than I am deeding. Today I want to let my deeds do the claiming for me. I like Jame's question "What good is it?" We can claim all we want, but only what gets done will count. Stop claiming to be a Christian and be a Christian in deed.
Chapter: 2
Verse: 14
Phrase: What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith, but has no deeds?
Word: Claims
Thought: Too often I am guilty of claiming more than I am deeding. Today I want to let my deeds do the claiming for me. I like Jame's question "What good is it?" We can claim all we want, but only what gets done will count. Stop claiming to be a Christian and be a Christian in deed.
Sunday, April 1, 2007
Guilty
Book: James
Chapter: 2
Verse: 10
Phrase: Whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.
Word: Guilty
Thought: It does not take much to be found guilty of breaking God's law. The next time that I start to feel pretty good about myself, all I need to do is to remind myself that I am guilty of breaking all God's laws. Sobering.
Chapter: 2
Verse: 10
Phrase: Whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.
Word: Guilty
Thought: It does not take much to be found guilty of breaking God's law. The next time that I start to feel pretty good about myself, all I need to do is to remind myself that I am guilty of breaking all God's laws. Sobering.
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