| |

James 1 - 5 Summary: The Lens of Community

In reviewing James, I want to look at the book differently in this last post. First, we must remember that the message of James is not about our striving to do better, checking off the boxes of righteous living. Instead, James describes Kingdom Living, lives surrendered to God, and living in community. Notice the plurals!…

Share Button
| |

James 5:13-20: Prayer is Doing

James ends his letter by emphasizing prayer and loving one another well. Let’s look at four promises related to prayer. God hears us when we pray. The Lord is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous. Proverbs 15:29 NIV I love the story in Luke 18 of the wicked judge…

Share Button
| |

James 4:1-12: Submitting to God

I’m returning to blogging after a short break. I’m unsure what is causing the brain fog – the vacation or the autoimmune flare-up, but complete thoughts have been challenging for a few weeks. It is time now to finish what I started in James! [God] gives grace generously. As the Scriptures say, “God opposes the…

Share Button
|

reflecting on the cross

Meditating on these words this morning … Beneath the Cross of Jesuswritten by Elizabeth C. Clephane Beneath the cross of Jesus I fain would take my stand,The shadow of a mighty rock within a weary land;A home within the wilderness, a rest upon the way,From the burning of the noontide heat, and the burden of…

Share Button
| |

He laid down His life

Several years ago, we attended a church that had a Good Friday service where we nailed our sins to the cross.  It was a quiet, reflective service with scripture reading, prayer, a wooden cross, nails, a hammer, slips of paper, and pencils. The only noise was the sound of hammering, tap, tap, tap. One by…

Share Button
| |

surveying the wondrous cross

1 John 3:16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. When I survey the wondrous crossOn which the Prince of glory died,My richest gain I count but loss,And pour contempt on all my pride. Philippians 2:5-8 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:  Who, being in very nature God, did…

Share Button