Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. James 5:7–8 (ESV) It is Labor Day weekend as I write this. This weekend, my family harvested a … [Read more...] about Patience and Prayer
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Living in the Moment
There is little in life that is certain. Expect the unexpected. That is a motto to live by. Life is full of surprises. But we are prideful and presumptuous people. We assume we’ve got tomorrow all figured out. Many of us in America wake up and assume the day will be filled with prosperity. We are not well acquainted with the hardships of many people in this world. We … [Read more...] about Living in the Moment
Finding Strength in Humility
Humility is rare. It is hard to find. It is not a characteristic that many people look to attain. In many cases, humility is seen as something negative. Most people perceive humility as weakness rather than strength. They look at humility as something to be resisted and not embraced. When Jesus said, “Blessed are the meek” (see Matthew 5:5), it went against … [Read more...] about Finding Strength in Humility
Consequences of Pride
Yesterday, we discussed the topic of humility and pride as it relates to the cycles of grief and grace. Today, I would like to explore further the topic of humility and pride. Specifically we will discuss the consequences of pride. James writes: Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. James 4:10 (ESV) The point is that there is blessing found in humility. … [Read more...] about Consequences of Pride
The Cycles of Grief and Grace
James comes back to the topic of humility in chapter 4. We had previously discussed humility in chapter 1. Humility is a key to facing adversity with joy because humility is an important aspect of a relationship with God. Opposite humility is pride. We cannot approach God in pride. Pride puts us in opposition to God. But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God … [Read more...] about The Cycles of Grief and Grace