Today's Scripture:

James 3:13-18

I really love love verse 17. It is the standard for whether the "advice" you are giving someone comes from yourself or from the Holy Spirit. Want to know whether what your about to say is from God or not? Check it against this verse. I wish I had put this verse to heart much sooner than now. I suppose it's better late ( Read more... )

Today's Scripture:

James 3:1-12

Again with the tongue exercises!

Sorry about the bit of sarcasm there. Actually, I am so thankful that God directed James to write these passages. It's easy to forget how a simple slip of tongue can so detrimental. A little white lie here. A small piece of gossip there. A bit of unkindness spirinkled everywhere for ( Read more... )

Today's Scripture:

James 2:1-26

The passage today is, again, another one that can be difficult to swallow. We start out with favoritism. I wish I could say differently, but I struggle with this. Maybe not to the extent of the example used in the passage, but I do. It's so much easier to do things for or to be partial to people I like or get along ( Read more... )

I know, I know. I am still working on my consistancy issues. It has been over a month since I posted. I am terribly embarrassed about that fact, especially after all my grand plans of being faithful to this for the entire year. Well, enough of my guilt-ridden rambling...

Today's Scripture:

James 1:1-27

I haven't read James in a long time. I now ( Read more... )

Today's Scripture:

Genesis 16:1-16

Wow. It's been awhile since I've read Genesis straight through instead of just a story here or there. I'm struck by how up and down Abram's life was. He and Sarai really struggled, you know? And not just with the things that happened to them. They struggled often against themselves to do what was right in God's eyes ( Read more... )

Today's Scripture:

Genesis 15:1-21

What happens in this chapter, God creating a covenant with Abram, is a beautiful piece of foreshadowing. The ritual used for establishing covenants back then involved a sacrifice, split in two pieces. The parties involved would then walk between the pieces before they were offered up as a burnt offering. Walking ( Read more... )

Today's Scripture:

Genesis 14:1-24

I'm a bit tired today, so I'm going to keep it simple...

I love Abram's gumption (I think that's the word I'm looking for) in this chapter. He goes and saves Lot, defeating the kings holding him captive in the process. It was something that the power of five kings could not accomplish. Then when one of the kings ( Read more... )

Today's Scripture:

Genesis 13:1-18

In this passage, I am really struck by the first four verses. After Abram had his little interlude in Egypt, he moves around a bit more until he comes back to where he started- to the very place where he built an altar of praise to God! Does anyone else find this a bit ironic? He had to literally go back to the ( Read more... )

Today's Scripture:

Genesis 12:10-20

Oh, how the mighty will sometimes fall. In the previous section, we saw how Abram obediently followed God, even when God asked for something as drastic as pulling up all roots and moving to an unknown land. It was a test of faith, one that Abram passed beautifully.

Now here, in the very next section, we see him ( Read more... )

Today's Scripture:

Genesis 12:1-8

It's been a long time since I read this particular passage. I don't think it has ever before dawned on me just how important these 8 verses are. This is a major pivot point in the history of mankind. We screwed up. Yeah sure, technically it was Adam and Eve who got the destructive ball rolling, but can any of us say ( Read more... )