God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. James 1:12 God does not promise the Christian an easy life. On the contrary, Jesus tells us in John 16:33 that here on earth we will have many trials and … Continue reading When Troubles Come, God Blesses Our Patient Endurance: James 1:12 →

Believers who are poor have something to boast about, for God has honored them. And those who are rich should boast that God has humbled them. They will fade away like a little flower in the field. The hot sun rises and the grass withers; the little flower droops and falls, and its beauty fades away. In … Continue reading Christians, Do Not Boast In Fading Things, Boast in God Alone: James 1:9-11 →

I love living in a part of the country where we experience all four seasons. (Although spring and fall can feel too short in the South with summer stretching far into both.) With each changing season, I plant different flowers in pots at the front of my house. It is a joy of mine to switch … Continue reading Living Out The Mission Wherever You’re Planted →

If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and He will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask Him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that … Continue reading When Troubles Come, Ask God For Wisdom: James 1:5-8 →

This letter is from James, a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ. I am writing to the twelve tribes -- Jewish believers scattered abroad. Greetings! Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is … Continue reading Troubles…Opportunities to Grow Spiritual Endurance: James 1:1-4 →

  My thirteen-year-old came home from school with a swollen bruise on his face. "Where did you get that bruise?" "I got punched today." "What?! What happened?" "Two kids were going at each other. One of the kids was my good friend. I got in between them so my friend could get away, and the … Continue reading My Son Was Punched In The Face At School And What This Reminded Me About Love →

Like most of the world, I was shocked and saddened to see the beautiful Notre Dame Cathedral consumed in flames. As the spire collapsed amidst the red glow, one couldn’t help but feel a profound sense of loss. The damage wasn’t as bad as it could have been, but it was bad enough. Perhaps it is … Continue reading Easter And The Fires of Notre Dame Cathedral →