Each day, we have some things in our lives that are frustrating, stressful, difficult or challenging, but we mistake them for suffering. And while we may suffer a little (let’s take a trip to Africa or other third world nations to experience true suffering), we know that we will reap the benefits later:

For examples of patience in suffering look at the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. We give great honor to those that endure under suffering. Job is an example of a man who endured patiently. From his experience we see how the Lord’s plan finally ended in good, for he is full of tenderness and mercy. James 5:10-11 (NLT)

It’s all part of his plan, not ours, and if we are able to wait it out, it can turn out all good. Does it always? No, but it is amazing how things work out when you have faith and endure patiently through the struggles.

A couple of other things help us get through these days. First and very important, prayer:

Are any of you suffering? They should keep on praying about it. And those who have reason to be thankful should continually sing praises to the Lord. James 5:13 (NLT)

But, can we do it alone? Well, yeah, but it sure helps if you have fellowship with others:

Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and wonderful results. James 5:16 (NLT)

I have to say that I have had a really fantastic life, but it has gotten even better since I have began doing these things. It is amazing what the Lord for does for us and through us. Perhaps you aren’t really getting this. Don’t worry, I didn’t fully grasp it for a long time myself. But, by reading the Word and having fellowship through church, you start getting it more and more each day. Read on…

Up next: 1 Peter

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I ran across this via Seth Godin’s blog and it brought to mind this verse from James:

Pure and lasting religion in the sight of God our Father means that we must care for orphans and widows in their troubles, and refuse to let the world corrupt us. James 1:27 (NLT)

Do you think that would apply to freshmen in pink shirts? Absolutely!

Stay classy Nova Scotia…

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So I laid down on the couch to look over this read and prepare what I was going to write and I fell asleep! Not because of the content, but because I am pooped and I shouldn’t read the Bible lying down. With that being said, I need to knock this out and go to bed.

With that being said, recently our Home Team did a lesson on coauthoring our child’s story using Biblical knowledge. One of the things I brought up was this passage from James:

The tongue is a small thing, but what enormous damage it can do. A tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. And the tongue is a flame of fire. It is full of wickedness that can ruin your whole life. It can turn the entire course of your life into a blazing flame of destruction, for it is set on fire by hell itself. James 3:5-6 (NLT)

How much more does this apply to kids? Things that are said to them at a young age can stay with them forever! Even an offhand remark. It doesn’t exclude us older folks, we aren’t immune to it either. From the source or the receiving end.

If you are wise and understand God’s ways, live a life of steady goodness so that only good deeds will pour forth. And if you don’t brag about the good you do, then you will be truly wise! James 3:13 (NLT)

Especially in business and work, it really seems as though this isn’t true. You work hard and the guy that is always selling himself to the boss gets the rewards. I hate that! But, is that person truly happy? A lot of times it turns out that the squeaky wheel can’t do the job after all. We have to resist that temptation because we have very little to do with it. We are not in control:

What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.” Otherwise you will be boasting about your own plans, and all such boasting is evil. James 4:15-16 (NLT)

When you bow down before the Lord and admit your dependence on him, he will lift you up and give you honor. James 4:10 (NLT)

It is difficult to get totally sold out to Him and realize that we have very little to do with this all. We always fall back on this “But he made us of free will” stuff and believe that we are in control. We can make choices in our lives that we lead while here, but we are not in control. We can only try to be the best stewards of all that the Lord has bestowed upon us. It has been such an amazing journey through the Word that has helped me personally in this regard.

Finally, a housekeeping note, I originally was going to blog on James 1-2 and 3-5, but I realized tonight that James 5 needs its own post. So I am off to hit the sack and write on James 5 tomorrow. Until then, read on…

Up next: James 5 

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Man, I had one of those days. You know the one, where you are not right from the time you wake up. And worse, as my friend Greg would say, I went negative and I really hate that because it is rare that I get that way. It was frustrating, but I thank God that I have His Word to lean on. With that being said:

For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything. James 1:3-4 (NLT)

God blesses those who patiently endure testing. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. James 1:12 (NLT)

While it might be interpreted that faith is tested by big things (stealing, adultery, murder, etc.), I believe that the most overlooked by most of us is “treat your neighbor as yourself”. It is those around us that matter the most and if we go negative, we do not know the consequences that it can have on the people around us.

What’s the use of saying that you have faith if you don’t prove it by your actions? That kind of faith can’t save anyone. James 2:14 (NLT)

We show our faith in everything that we do and, as is the case today, I went negative and I wasn’t showing much faith. Fortunately, we are forgiven in Jesus and we can get forgiveness from those around us. It is these tests in faith that make us stronger when we recognize them. Tomorrow is a new day and I look forward to making it all right.

Finally, I have to say that God has working through me in a big way recently. “Enduring patience” has been key in my mind lately and while it has been very challenging, I am excited about it all. It’s really not that easy, I will make mistakes, but it will all be for the best. Thanks for stopping by and stay classy Bible readers. Read on…

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First, I must explain my delay in posting. It was a week ago that I was getting ready to head out of town for my high school class reunion in California and I had planned to post while out there, but had trouble with internet service in both the places that I stayed. Plus, I was a bit distracted as I came back to reality this week. If you were wondering (which you probably were not), seeing my friends from high school was great and quite a blessing. Since our last reunion, email has become much more prevalent and I hope that keeps me in touch with those people more often.

Now, before I get started, I must give credit where it is due. Biblical knowledge that follows is from my study Bible, Every Man’s Bible (NLT). The observations are my own. With that being said, how would you like Jesus’ brother? That’s a pretty high bar! Now it is not totally proven that James was a natural son of Mary’s or that he was just a relative, but being around Jesus like that must have been a challenge. Jesus is the son of God after all! But, as we read in the Bible, James was not totally on board until after he saw Jesus after the Resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:7). I like the fact that James even pushed Jesus to make a spectacle of himself (John 7:3). Come on, that’s what brothers do!

But, think about the sibling relationships we have. Imagine that, if Jesus was your brother! The thing that I need to remind myself of is: nobody, other than a very few, knew that at the time! He had to wander the land to tell everybody that he was the son of God (would you believe him today?) and that all the teachers of faith were wrong and that a new day was coming (again, would we believe him today?). How many times have our siblings said that they were going to do something and we responded with a “Yeah, right!”? That is what makes this book compelling at first.

But then you read it and he is passing along some of the most solid teaching that I have found in the Bible thus far. He must of really got it growing up with that guy! It is a favorite in our home team and I like it so much that I will be posting two posts on this short book to cover all that I want to discuss. Thanks as always for joining in the discussion and…

Read on…

Up next: James 1-2

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