James 3:4-6 CEB “Consider ships: They are so large that strong winds are needed to drive them. But pilots direct their ships wherever they want with a little rudder. In the same way, even though the tongue is a small part of the body, it boasts wildly. Think about this: A small flame can set aContinue reading “Small; Yet Powerful”
Monthly Archives: September 2015
Control
James 3:2-3 CEB “We all make mistakes often, but those who don’t make mistakes with their words have reached full maturity. Like a bridled horse, they can control themselves entirely. When we bridle horses and put bits in their mouths to lead them wherever we want, we can control their whole bodies.” I love theContinue reading “Control”
Careful Career
What do you do for a living? Do you feel like you are scrutinized for your job? Does your job directly affect the well being other people? The passage we begin this week in James talks about a profession that has many judges and criticizers. This is a profession that many people may think theyContinue reading “Careful Career”
Live Out Loud
I love the lyrics to Steven Curtis Chapman’s song “Live Out Loud:” Think about this Try to keep a bird from singing after it’s soared up in the sky Give the sun a cloudless day and tell it not to shine Think about this If we really have been given the gift of life thatContinue reading “Live Out Loud”
Will You Accept This Challenge?
James 2:12-13 CEB “In every way, then, speak and act as people who will be judged by the law of freedom. There will be no mercy in judgment for anyone who hasn’t shown mercy. Mercy overrules judgment.” We don’t have to go very far without seeing something negative. It is common to turn the televisionContinue reading “Will You Accept This Challenge?”
Keeping Egos in Check
Hello Church! The book of James may seem harsh or brash when first reading it; but there is so much grace offered. This grace allows us to live into freedom and keep us from thinking too highly of ourselves. This is the kind of love that is given to us so we can build upContinue reading “Keeping Egos in Check”
Beneath the Surface
James 2:5-7 CEB “My dear brothers and sisters, listen! Hasn’t God chosen those who are poor by worldly standards to be rich in terms of faith? Hasn’t God chosen the poor as heirs of the kingdom he has promised to those who love him? But you have dishonored the poor. Don’t the wealthy make life difficultContinue reading “Beneath the Surface”
Favortism
We have now begun our second week in our look into the book of James. This week, we look at verses that, on the surface, seem harsh; but in reality help us see an alternative way of living and thinking so we can truly live in freedom: freedom to love, freedom to serve, freedom toContinue reading “Favortism”
Devotional Life
James 1:26-27 CEB “If those who claim devotion to God don’t control what they say, they mislead themselves. Their devotion is worthless. True devotion, the kind that is pure and faultless before God the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their difficulties and to keep the world from contaminating us.” WhenContinue reading “Devotional Life”
Stepping Out
Hello Church! Before we began this five week series through the book of James, I wrote down a thought that I believe catches the heart of these messages: “Be who you say you are, yes!; but more importantly allow God to work in you to transform you to the person He created you to be.”Continue reading “Stepping Out”
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