James 1

I have no specific reason for starting with the book of James. To be honest, I put a post on facebook. Requesting for my friends and family tell me their favorite book of the bible and why it was their favorite. From all the suggestions I picked James, just because. I am thrilled I picked this as the first book to blog about. My prayer is that you take as much as I did away from this book.

James 1 Genuine Religion

Blueprint of James taken from Life Application Study Bible NIV

James wrote to Jewish Christians who had been scattered throughout the Mediterranean world because of persecution. In their hostile surroundings they were tempted to let intellectual agreement pass for faith. This letter can have rich meaning for us as we are reminded that genuine faith TRANSFORMS lives. We are encouraged to put our life into action. It is easy to say we have faith but true faith will produce loving actions toward others.

*James was Jesus' brother. Not the apostle James.
*Book of James was on the earliest letters recorded.
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James 1:2-3 -

Consider it joy,my brothers,whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.

*James does not say IF you face trials. He says WHEN you face them.*

God never promises us that we will live perfect, happy, pain-free lives while on earth. He never said all evil will melt away and we will forever be protected. Unfortunately, I think a lot of new believers are unintentionally, led to believe this and it causes great frustration for them.Leading some of those new believers to feel betrayed and to walk away from their faith.

New believers need mentors in their lives, to guide them to helpful scripture so they can have a better understanding of Gods word.
Parents can do this with their children.It starts there. However, this is something I am currently struggling with in my own home and I know several others are too. I did not grow up in a home of great faith so I was not taught the word. Yes, I went to church, but as far as learning the meaning of the bible and daily principles it taught. That stopped when I walked out the church doors. I do not blame my parents. It was the way they were raised. You go to church. You take your kid to Sunday school and you keep a bible in the house.
I am breaking the cycle.
Sorry, I went a bit off topic there.

Parents can mentor their children who are just getting to know Christ.Let them know that they will in fact endure trials in their lives even with the love of Christ. Parents can point out examples of this with every-day life trials.

What about everyone else!? What about that 20 something couple that has decided to enter the faith on their own with no church background?

Or the 30 something mother who is struggling each day and yearns to feel the love of the Lord and please him, yet has never cracked open the bible for fear of being overwhelmed? I guess that is why I have started this blog.

Sorry if this seems a bit unrelated to the verse. I am literally just typing out thoughts I journaled after reading the verse.




*Do not pretend to be happy when facing pain but have a positive outlook because of what trials can produce in our lives. James tells us to turn our hardships into times of learning.*

Reading that shed a beam of light into my day. It is OKAY to be unhappy sometimes. I do not HAVE to put on a smile and tell myself "Get over it!". I can allow myself to FEEL emotion once in a while. Yet, at the same time take my pain as one more stepping stone to moving closer to God.

James 1:5

If any of you lacks wisdom,he should ask God,who gives generously to all without feeling fault and it will be given to them.

WOW! Any new Christian that comes my way, I will give them this verse. What a gift. I can not tell you how many times I have set my bible down and shut myself off from Gods love because I felt like a huge failure. Disgusted with my inability to *get* what I was reading in the bible. For lacking the knowledge I believed took to be a "good-christian" and making the right decisions in complicated situations. This verse tells me it is OKAY! God is patient with me. He is working with me. Not giving up on me.

My bible says, *James is not talking only about knowledge,but about the ability to make wise decisions in difficult circumstances.Whenever we need wisdom,we can pray to God,and he will generously supply what we need.Christians do not have to grope around in the dark,hoping to tumble upon answers. We can ask for God's wisdom to guide our choices.*

How cool is that? Each morning before my feet hit the ground I will pray to our God to supply me with the knowledge of his word to guide me in ALL my decisions.


James 1:6

But when he asks,he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea,blown and tossed by the wind.

James 1:6 is a bit hard for me. Yes, I know that God loves me. Yes, I trust he hears every request I bring to him. Yet, sometimes...doubt (Satan) creeps in and I find myself feeling he can not possibly care about my *silly* request.

*We must put away our critical attitude when we go to him. God does not grant every thoughtless or selfish request. We MUST have confidence that God will align our desires with his purpose.*

Breathe...

James 1:19

My dear brothers,take note of this; Everyone should be quick to listen,slow to speak and slow to become angry.

I LOVEthis verse and plan to put it up (wall script)in my house. It will be a daily reminder to myself and my family of our responsibility as Christians. We are the LIVE the WORD and SHOW it through our ACTIONS.
I can not say enough how much this one verse has touched me. I have repeated it over and over. I have prayed to God, thanking him for this verse. I do not have a life verse. Perhaps, this should be it.

My bible says,*When we talk too much and listen to little, we communicate to others that we think our ideas are much more important than theirs. James wisely advises us to reverse this process. Put a mental stopwatch on your conversations and keep track of how much you talk and how much you listen.*

I am a talker.Once I know someone and comfortable with them, I will talk, talk talk. There have been several times I have walked away from conversations with the feeling that I overtook the entire conversation. In the last couple weeks (even before reading this verse), I have been working harder on listening to people and I have to tell you, I have thoroughly enjoyed it. I love to be *there* for people.Not half listening, thinking about what I am going to say next or who else is in the room. I am talking about being fully focused on and invested in what that person is telling me.

It gives me great joy to have someone talk to me and trust me with their deepest thoughts. I have always been good about keeping peoples secrets. Now they are able to tell me even more because I AM slower to speak. Fully listening to every word that comes from their heart.

I am going to continue to work on this each and every day. Think before my every word. Making sure my words would please our father.

James 1:26

If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight reign on his tongue,he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.

I think this verse is very clear. Everyone is tempted to fall into sin. It happens. We are human. One of the easiest sins to get caught up in is *talking*. If we practice what James 1:19 tells us "Be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to anger." God will guide us to keep a tighter reign on our tongues.

Well,that is all I have for James 1. How do you feel about this first chapter? Do you think all that is asked of us is realistic and achievable?