Category Archives: James

Chapter 3

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James 3 

So far I have read about 8 verses. James is penning this to Israel in Diaspora. That means the Messianic Jews dispersed from Jerusalem to parts all around.  Yeshua-loving, believing Jews that left Jerusalem due to life-threatening persecution. 

And by chapter 3 of his letter, he begins with this: Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, since you know that we will be judged more severely. 2 For we all stumble in many ways; if someone does not stumble in what he says, he is a mature man who can bridle his whole body.

I am thinking some of his audience were thinking of becoming teachers of Scripture. He cautioned them.
Teachers use their tongues (today teachers also use keyboards). 

James then goes into an extended exhortation about the importance of the tongue AND the impossibility of controlling it. He gives examples like big ships can be guided by a small rudder; horses can be turned this way and that by a simple bit; one spark of fire can burn an entire forest, but the tongue. 
Oh, the tongue can burn down a life in a flash. and who can stop it? 
7 For people have tamed and continue to tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures; 8 but the tongue no one can tame — it is an unstable and evil thing, full of death-dealing poison! source 

Reading on, what does he say? 

 9 With it we bless Adonai, the Father; and with it we curse people, who were made in the image of God. 10 Out of the same mouth come blessing and cursing! Brothers, it isn’t right for things to be this way.  source 

I think I shall not expound on that but I am glad James did.

He explains only man does this. All the rest of creation produces fruit and actions as it was created. Read the verses and see what he means. 

Chapter 3. It’s plain. It’s direct. It’s undeniable. AND it is disobeyed every day! Brothers, it isn’t right for things to be this way.

 I think we cannot pray too much for each other to obey Chapter 3. 

Love, Kathie

gratitude

Seas and Pirates

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Thus far I have read a few verses from James 1. 

This is not my first reading of James as I have notes written on the page. Over the word temptations in verse 2 I have written the word pirates. 
I don’t know what prompted me to write it or even when I did; but, today it has given me many thoughts. 

Pirates — temptations. 
In times like these, I think I’d like to engage a zoom app on this screen to see and hear what you have to say about it. 

Pirates and temptations. How could these be related? 

I started by defining pirates at BibliaTodo Dictionary.
This is what I found:

An armed ship or vessel which sails without a legal commission, for the purpose of plundering other vessels on the high seas

A robber on the high seas; one who by open violence takes the property of another on the high seas; especially, one who makes it his business to cruise for robbery or plunder; a freebooter on the seas; also, one who steals in a harbor.

I wish I could know what thoughts are forming for you, but since I don’t, I’ll give you mine. 

Temptations. Where do they come from? I am reminded of a verse of Scripture that tells me GOD tempts no one but there is one who does. How about that?! Those verses are right here in James 1! 

13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: 14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 

Yikes! Our own flesh will tempt us and as if that is not enough there is the evil one too. 1 Peter 5:8 has something to say about that. 

Could temptations be like pirates? Navigating around in our seas seeking to steal from us? Things like trust, hope, strength, joy, patience, all the fruits of the Spirit? What else might temptations (pirates) seek to steal from us? 
I think when we set sail on a course without permission or guidance from Holy Spirit we shall surely meet pirates and when we do we better turn that ship around and head for JESUS — like NOW. 

Do you have pirates bearing down on you? Are your seas rough, chopping, or perhaps you have a calm – for now?
This we know pirates don’t give up until they are slain . . . the thing is we can’t rid our seas of the many pirates let loose in this world. So what are we to do? 
Actually, the rest of James 1 tells us what to do. 
I hope you will read it.

1   

Love, Kathie 

A Whale of a Day

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Is it late Tuesday, July 26, 2022, already?

Do you as I think days are slipping by quickly?

Life really is just a vapor, isn’t it? 

James 4:14 “Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.”

So what are you doing with your 24/7 — your life?

Are you satisfied with where you are in this season of your years? 
Are there changes you need to make to be able to look in the mirror and say ‘you did good today?’
And what is good anyway?
Who decides what is good? Who has the authority to decide what is good? 

That’s about it — just popped in to say hello and ask nosey questions.

Love, Kathie 

 

Oceans

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I am wondering this morning. It started as I glanced over some words reporting more evil parading as good as set forth by elected officials.

We can barely keep our heads above the ocean of evil to gasp for a breath of clean living.
What do we do?
Do we talk about it?
Do we complain?
Do we rage about it?

The LORD’s Prayer as it is so named; actually is a model for us, and gave me an avenue to explore.
In the prayer, The LORD YESHUA instructed us to pray, to ask The Father to DELIVER US FROM EVIL.

My point?

As we read, as we hear, as we daily see people-sanctioned evil paraded as good, I wonder what would happen if the people of GOD, seriously and consistently, unceasingly cried out to HIM, deliver us from this ocean of evil?

Deliver us from this evil!

What would that walk out like?
How would we do with that? 
What would we expect HIM to do with such cries?

I wonder.
How would He deliver us from evil?
Would He just right now come and get us?
Can I get an amen on that?

Would it mean that He would do such a work in us individually that we would cease to marvel at the evil and instead resist it?
How would we resist it?
Protest? March? Carry signs?
I think that would not work.

What if we carried THE GOSPEL of DELIVERANCE to the ENSLAVED?
How would we do that?
Perhaps Scripture can best answer that.  James 4:7-10

I wonder.

Are you wondering too now?

I hope so.

Love, Kathie

People Changer

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Prayer and Friends

When you can call a friend who will drop what she’s doing, bow and pray with you and for you – that is a reason to give thanks!

I have such friends. 
I am grateful! 

We have heard Prayer Changes Things. 
And it does but what prayer mostly changes is PEOPLE. 
The ones praying and the ones being prayed for. 

Do you have such friends? 
If you do then you know what I mean and you are giving thanks. 

Acts 12 NLT

 4 Then he imprisoned him, placing him under the guard of four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring Peter out for public trial after the Passover. 5 But while Peter was in prison, the church prayed very earnestly for him.  source

Click the word Source above and read the rest of the passage. 
The Church prayed and GOD did a Jailbreak!