Scripture: James 1:14-16 Everyone is tempted by their own cravings; they are lured away and enticed by them. Once those cravings conceive, they give birth to sin; and when sin grows up, it gives birth to death. Don’t be misled, my dear brothers and sisters. Thought for the Day: Oh my, I think James hits it out of the park on this one. Without pointing fingers at other
Scripture: James 1:10-11 Those who are wealthy should find satisfaction in their low status, because they will die off like wildflowers. The sun rises with its scorching heat and dries up the grass so that its flowers fall and its beauty is lost. Just like that, in the midst of their daily lives, the wealthy will waste away. Thought for the Day: During the Great Reformation, Martin Luther
Scripture: James 1:5 But anyone who needs wisdom should ask God, whose very nature is to give to everyone without a second thought, without keeping score. Wisdom will certainly be given to those who ask. Thought for the Day: How many of you can remember sitting in a classroom and praying to God for the answer on the test? Maybe I was the only one who sought divine
Scripture: James 1:2-4 My brothers and sisters, think of the various tests you encounter as occasions for joy. After all, you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. Let this endurance complete its work so that you may be fully mature, complete, and lacking in nothing. Thought for the Day: In considering the logic presented here by James, would common sense suggest that most people would
Scripture: James 1:1 From James, a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ. To the twelve tribes who are scattered outside the land of Israel. Greetings! Thought for the Day: I have been reading some James lately, and so I thought I might offer some devotionals on this opening chapter. Now let’s be clear, the author gives his name as James, but outside of the name,
Prayer for the Week: God of Glory, your presence shines into the darkness. You are light, yet when the weight of the shadows linger over us and attempt to insulate us from your gift, we too often find that anxiety only exacerbates the lostness. Keep us close, even when we cannot claim your continuous and contiguous presence. Keep us close, so that hope is present even when light
Scripture: John 9:1-2 As Jesus walked along, he saw a man who was blind from birth. Jesus’ disciples asked, “Rabbi, who sinned so that he was born blind, this man or his parents?” Thought for the Day: Wow! What a question! This is rooted in the great questions around evil in the world. It is important to understand that the culture, in which Jesus lived, believed in a
Scripture: John 7:17 Anyone who resolves to do the will of God will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own. Thought for the Day: There are so many different thoughts on whether God controls our decisions or not. Even before Christianity, Jewish philosophers and mystics were pondering these ideas and their implications. Tomorrow in worship, we will take a little
Scripture: James 3:13 Are any of you wise and understanding? Show that your actions are good with a humble lifestyle that comes from wisdom. Thought for the Day: In my years of ministry, I have had the great pleasure of sitting down with some really smart people. I am fascinated by people’s life experiences and the way many of them have used those experiences to challenge preconceived notions,
Scripture: Psalm 55:12-13 It’s not an enemy that is insulting me— I could handle that. It’s not someone who hates me who is exalted over me— I could hide from them. No. It’s you, my equal, my close companion, my good friend! Thought for the Day: At our Wednesday Evening Program last night, those who attended Second Chance Sunday to go deeper on the issue of Betrayal, discussed