Created in the Image of God “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth…Then God said, ‘Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness…So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.”[1] The imago Dei has been aContinue reading “Made in the Image of God”
Category Archives: reflection
Faithful
James 4:4-6 “You unfaithful people! Don’t you know that friendship with the world means hostility toward God? So whoever wants to be the world’s friend becomes God’s enemy. Or do you suppose that scripture is meaningless? Doesn’t God long for our faithfulness in the life he has given to us? But he gives us more grace. ThisContinue reading “Faithful”
Fresh and Salt
James 3:10-12 CEB “Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water. Continue reading “Fresh and Salt”
Words From Creation
James 3:7-9 CEB “People can tame and already have tamed every kind of animal, bird, reptile, and fish. No one can tame the tongue, though. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we both bless the Lord and Father and curse human beings made in God’s likeness.” Here, James is goingContinue reading “Words From Creation”
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”
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”
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