I just had to post this. An assignment Alexis had this week was to write about what she liked the best about her home. It is simply amazing! Enjoy and may you be blessed reading it and thinking of your own home:
My home is only one of my many all-time favorite places. It does many things: shelters me from storms and snow; warms me from head to toe after a cold day outside. There is a symphony of love and care waiting for me. All of my family has tender loving care for me. Sometimes I can smell dinner cooking; from chicken and peas to pizza. Also in bed before I sleep I can read my favorite book or write a good story.
I love all of these lovely things because they are heart-warming and soul-nourishing. Succulent, mouth-watering s'mores and cider by the fire are very nice. The very thought of these great things make me feel fantastic.
Over all of the things that I love, my home is one of my favorites. Even if we depart eternally from it, it will always, as long as I live, be in my memories.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Friday, February 25, 2011
Job: The End
At least I hope I can fit the rest in today:
34:31-33 - (Still Elihu)Suppose someone says to God, 'I am guilty but will offend no more. Teach me what I cannot see; if I have done wrong, I will not do so agian.' Should God then reward you on your terms, when you refuse to repent? You must decide, not I; so tell me what you know.
34:35-37 - 'Job speaks without knowledge; his words lack insight.' Oh that Job might be tested to the utmost for answering like a wicked man! To his sin he adds rebellion; scornfully he claps his hands among us and multiplies his words against God."
35:2 - Do you think this is just? You say, 'I am in the right, not God.'
35:13-15 - Indeed, God does not listen to their (the wicked) empty pleas; the Almighty pays no attention to it. How much less, then, will he listen when you say that you do not see him, that your case is before him and you must wait for him, and further, that his anger never punishes and he does not take the least notice of wickedness?
36:5 - God is mighty, but despises no one; he is mighty and firm in his purpose.
36:15 & 16 - But those who suffer he delivers in their suffering; he speaks to them in their affliction. He is wooing you from the jaws of distress to a spacious place free from restriction, to the comfort of your table laden with choice food.
36:18 & 19 - Be careful that no one entices you by riches; do not let a large bribe turn you aside. Would your wealth or even all your mighty efforts sustain you so you would not be in distress?
37:5-7 - God's voice thunders in marvelous ways; he does great things beyond our understanding. He says to the snow, 'Fall on the earth,' and to the rain shower, 'Be a mighty downpour.' So that everyone he has made may know his work, he stops all people from their labor. (Interesting with all the snow days we've had this year)
37:23 - The Almighty is beyond our reach and exalted in power; in his justice and great righteousness, he does not oppress.
Here it comes!
38:1-3 - Then the Lord spoke to Job out of the storm. He said: "Who is this that obscures my plans with words without knowledge? Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me.
38:12 & 13 - Have you ever given orders to the morning, or shown the dawn its place, that it might take the earth by the edges and shake the wicked out of it?
40:8-14 - Would you discredit my justice? Would you condemn me to justify yourself? Do you have an arm like God's, and can your voice thunder like his? Then adorn yourself with glory and splendor, and clothe yourself in honor and majesty. Unleash the fury of your wrath, look at all who are proud and bring them low, look at all who are proud and humble them, crush the wicked where they stand. Bury them all in the dust together; shroud their faces in the grave. Then I myself will admit to you that your own right hand can save you.
He then goes on to talk about how he created the Leviathan and how scary and immense and strong it is:
41:10 & 11 - No one is fierce enough to rouse it (the leviathan). Who then is able to stand against me? Who has a claim against me that I must pay? Everything under heaven belongs to me."
42:1-6 - Then Job replied to the Lord: "I know that you can do all things; no purpose of your can be thwarted. You asked, 'Who is this that obscures my plans without without knowledge?' Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know. You said, 'Listen now, and I will speak; I will question you, and you shall answer me.' My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes."
42:7 - After the Lord had said these things to Job, he said to Eliphaz the Temanite, "I am angry with you and your two friends, because you have not spoken the truth about me, as my servant Job has. (He ordered them to take 7 bulls and 7 rams to Job and sacrifice a burnt offering for themselves and then Job would pray for them)
42:10 - After Job had prayed for his friends, the Lord restored his fortunes and gave him twice as much as he had before.
42:12-17 - The Lord blessed the latter part of Job's life more than the former part. He had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, a thousand yoke of oxen and a thousand donkeys. And he also had seven sons and three daughters. The first daughter he named Jemimah, the second Keziah and the third Keren-Happuch. Nowhere in all the land were there found women as beautiful as Job's daughters, and their father granted them an inheritance along with their brothers (unheard of in that time I'm sure). After this, Job lived a hundred and forty years; he saw his children and their children to the fourteenth generation. And so Job died, and old man and full of years.
Pretty amazing book of the Bible!
34:31-33 - (Still Elihu)Suppose someone says to God, 'I am guilty but will offend no more. Teach me what I cannot see; if I have done wrong, I will not do so agian.' Should God then reward you on your terms, when you refuse to repent? You must decide, not I; so tell me what you know.
34:35-37 - 'Job speaks without knowledge; his words lack insight.' Oh that Job might be tested to the utmost for answering like a wicked man! To his sin he adds rebellion; scornfully he claps his hands among us and multiplies his words against God."
35:2 - Do you think this is just? You say, 'I am in the right, not God.'
35:13-15 - Indeed, God does not listen to their (the wicked) empty pleas; the Almighty pays no attention to it. How much less, then, will he listen when you say that you do not see him, that your case is before him and you must wait for him, and further, that his anger never punishes and he does not take the least notice of wickedness?
36:5 - God is mighty, but despises no one; he is mighty and firm in his purpose.
36:15 & 16 - But those who suffer he delivers in their suffering; he speaks to them in their affliction. He is wooing you from the jaws of distress to a spacious place free from restriction, to the comfort of your table laden with choice food.
36:18 & 19 - Be careful that no one entices you by riches; do not let a large bribe turn you aside. Would your wealth or even all your mighty efforts sustain you so you would not be in distress?
37:5-7 - God's voice thunders in marvelous ways; he does great things beyond our understanding. He says to the snow, 'Fall on the earth,' and to the rain shower, 'Be a mighty downpour.' So that everyone he has made may know his work, he stops all people from their labor. (Interesting with all the snow days we've had this year)
37:23 - The Almighty is beyond our reach and exalted in power; in his justice and great righteousness, he does not oppress.
Here it comes!
38:1-3 - Then the Lord spoke to Job out of the storm. He said: "Who is this that obscures my plans with words without knowledge? Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me.
38:12 & 13 - Have you ever given orders to the morning, or shown the dawn its place, that it might take the earth by the edges and shake the wicked out of it?
40:8-14 - Would you discredit my justice? Would you condemn me to justify yourself? Do you have an arm like God's, and can your voice thunder like his? Then adorn yourself with glory and splendor, and clothe yourself in honor and majesty. Unleash the fury of your wrath, look at all who are proud and bring them low, look at all who are proud and humble them, crush the wicked where they stand. Bury them all in the dust together; shroud their faces in the grave. Then I myself will admit to you that your own right hand can save you.
He then goes on to talk about how he created the Leviathan and how scary and immense and strong it is:
41:10 & 11 - No one is fierce enough to rouse it (the leviathan). Who then is able to stand against me? Who has a claim against me that I must pay? Everything under heaven belongs to me."
42:1-6 - Then Job replied to the Lord: "I know that you can do all things; no purpose of your can be thwarted. You asked, 'Who is this that obscures my plans without without knowledge?' Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know. You said, 'Listen now, and I will speak; I will question you, and you shall answer me.' My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes."
42:7 - After the Lord had said these things to Job, he said to Eliphaz the Temanite, "I am angry with you and your two friends, because you have not spoken the truth about me, as my servant Job has. (He ordered them to take 7 bulls and 7 rams to Job and sacrifice a burnt offering for themselves and then Job would pray for them)
42:10 - After Job had prayed for his friends, the Lord restored his fortunes and gave him twice as much as he had before.
42:12-17 - The Lord blessed the latter part of Job's life more than the former part. He had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, a thousand yoke of oxen and a thousand donkeys. And he also had seven sons and three daughters. The first daughter he named Jemimah, the second Keziah and the third Keren-Happuch. Nowhere in all the land were there found women as beautiful as Job's daughters, and their father granted them an inheritance along with their brothers (unheard of in that time I'm sure). After this, Job lived a hundred and forty years; he saw his children and their children to the fourteenth generation. And so Job died, and old man and full of years.
Pretty amazing book of the Bible!
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Finished with Job (long O sound Val!)
There's a lot, so I'm just getting right into it:
21:23-26 - (Job is speaking here)One person dies in full vigor, completely secure and at ease, well nourished in body, bones rich with marrow. Another dies in bitterness of soul, never having enjoyed anything good. Side by side they lie in the dust, and worms cover them both.
22:4-11 - (One of Job's friends)Is it for your piety that he rebukes you and brings charges against you? Is not your wickedness great? Are not your sins endless? You demanded security from your relatives for no reason; you stripped people of their clothing, leaving them naked. You gave no water to the weary and you withheld food from the hungry, though you were a powerful man, owning land--an honored man, living on it. And you sent widows away empty-handed and broke the strength of the fatherless. That is why snares are all around you, why sudden peril terrifies you, why it is so dark you cannot see, and why a flood of water covers you.
22:19-26 - The righteous see their ruin and rejoice; the innocent mock them, saying, 'Surely our foes are destroyed, and fire devours their wealth.' Submit to God and be at peace with him; in this way prosperity will come to you. Accept instruction from his mouth and lay up his words in your heart. If you return to the Almighty, you will be restored; If you remove wickedness far from your tent and assign your nuggets to the dust, your gold of Ophir to the rocks in the ravines, then the Almighty will be your gold, the choicest silver for you. Surely then you will find delight in the Almighty and will lift up your face to God.
25:2-6 - (One of Job's other friends)Dominion and awe belong to God; he establishes order in the heights of heaven. Can his forces be numbered? On whom does his light not rise? How then can a mortal be righteous before God? How can one born of woman be pure? If even the moon is not bright and the stars are not pure in his eyes, how much less a mortal, who is but a maggot--a human being, who is only a worm!
27:11 & 12 - (Job again-he has been blaming God for everything bad that's happened to him)I will teach you about the power of God; the ways of the Almighty I will not conceal. You have all seen this yourselves. Why then this meaningless talk?
28:12 & 13 - (about wisdom)But where can wisdom be found? Where does understanding dwell? No mortal comprehends its worth; it cannot be found in the land of the living.
28:21-28 - (more of wisdom)It is hidden from the eyes of every living thing, concealed even from the birds in the sky. Destruction and Death say, "Only a rumor of it has reached our ears." God understands the way to it and he alone knows where it dwells, for he views the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens. When he established the force of the wind and measured out the waters, when he made a decree for the rain and a path for the thunderstorm, then he looked at wisdom and appraised it; he confirmed it and tested it. And he said to the human race, "The fear of the Lord--that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding."
30:26 & 27 - (back to Job)Yet when I hoped for good, evil came; when I looked for light, then came darkness. The churning inside me never stops; days of suffering confront me.
31:6-11 & 15 - let God weigh me in honest scales and he will know that I am blameless--if my steps have turned from the path, if my heart has been led by my eyes, or if my hands have been defiled, then may others eat what I have sown, and may my crops be uprooted. If my heart has been enticed by a woman, or if I have lurked at my neighbor's door, then may my wife grind another man's grain, and may other men sleep with her. For that would have been wicked, a sin to be judged. Did not he who made me in the womb make them? Did not the same one form us both within our mothers?
32:2-5 - (enter Elihu-he's heard enough)But Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, became very angry with Job for justifying himself rather than God. He was also angry with the three friends, because they had found no way to refute Job, and yet had condemned him. Now Elihu had waited before speaking to Job because they were older than he. But when he saw that the three men had nothing more to say, his anger was aroused.
33:4 & 5 - (Elihu speaks)The Spirit of God has made me; the breath of the Almight give me life. Answer me then, if you can; stand up and argue your case before me.
33:8-18 - But you have said in my hearing--I heard the very words--'I am pure, I have done no wrong; I am clean and free from sin. Yet God has found fault with me; he considers me his enemy. He fastens my feet in shackles; he keeps close watch on all my paths.' But I tell you, in this you are not right, for God is greater than any mortal. Why do you complain to him that he responds to no one's words? For God does speak--now one way, now another--though no one perceives it. In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on people as they slumber in their beds, he may speak in their ears and terrify them with warnings, to turn them from wrongdoing and keep them from pride, to preserve them from the pit, their lives from perishing by the sword.
34:5-15 - Job says, 'I am innocent, but God denies me justice. Although I am right, I am considered a liar; although I am guiltless, his arrow inflicts an incurable wound.' Is there anyone like Job, who drinks scorn like water? He keeps company with evildoers; he associates with the wicked. For he says, 'There is no profit in trying to please God.' So listen to me, you men of understanding. Far be it from God to do evil, from the Almighty to do wrong. He repays everyone for what they have done; he brings on them what their conduct deserves. It is unthinkable that God would do wrong, that the Almighty would pervert justice. Who appointed him over the earth? Who put him in charge of the whole world? If it were his intention and he withdrew his spirit and breath, all humanity would perish together and mankind would return to the dust.
I think I will stop there today. There is much, much more! Even God says his piece, yeah!
21:23-26 - (Job is speaking here)One person dies in full vigor, completely secure and at ease, well nourished in body, bones rich with marrow. Another dies in bitterness of soul, never having enjoyed anything good. Side by side they lie in the dust, and worms cover them both.
22:4-11 - (One of Job's friends)Is it for your piety that he rebukes you and brings charges against you? Is not your wickedness great? Are not your sins endless? You demanded security from your relatives for no reason; you stripped people of their clothing, leaving them naked. You gave no water to the weary and you withheld food from the hungry, though you were a powerful man, owning land--an honored man, living on it. And you sent widows away empty-handed and broke the strength of the fatherless. That is why snares are all around you, why sudden peril terrifies you, why it is so dark you cannot see, and why a flood of water covers you.
22:19-26 - The righteous see their ruin and rejoice; the innocent mock them, saying, 'Surely our foes are destroyed, and fire devours their wealth.' Submit to God and be at peace with him; in this way prosperity will come to you. Accept instruction from his mouth and lay up his words in your heart. If you return to the Almighty, you will be restored; If you remove wickedness far from your tent and assign your nuggets to the dust, your gold of Ophir to the rocks in the ravines, then the Almighty will be your gold, the choicest silver for you. Surely then you will find delight in the Almighty and will lift up your face to God.
25:2-6 - (One of Job's other friends)Dominion and awe belong to God; he establishes order in the heights of heaven. Can his forces be numbered? On whom does his light not rise? How then can a mortal be righteous before God? How can one born of woman be pure? If even the moon is not bright and the stars are not pure in his eyes, how much less a mortal, who is but a maggot--a human being, who is only a worm!
27:11 & 12 - (Job again-he has been blaming God for everything bad that's happened to him)I will teach you about the power of God; the ways of the Almighty I will not conceal. You have all seen this yourselves. Why then this meaningless talk?
28:12 & 13 - (about wisdom)But where can wisdom be found? Where does understanding dwell? No mortal comprehends its worth; it cannot be found in the land of the living.
28:21-28 - (more of wisdom)It is hidden from the eyes of every living thing, concealed even from the birds in the sky. Destruction and Death say, "Only a rumor of it has reached our ears." God understands the way to it and he alone knows where it dwells, for he views the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens. When he established the force of the wind and measured out the waters, when he made a decree for the rain and a path for the thunderstorm, then he looked at wisdom and appraised it; he confirmed it and tested it. And he said to the human race, "The fear of the Lord--that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding."
30:26 & 27 - (back to Job)Yet when I hoped for good, evil came; when I looked for light, then came darkness. The churning inside me never stops; days of suffering confront me.
31:6-11 & 15 - let God weigh me in honest scales and he will know that I am blameless--if my steps have turned from the path, if my heart has been led by my eyes, or if my hands have been defiled, then may others eat what I have sown, and may my crops be uprooted. If my heart has been enticed by a woman, or if I have lurked at my neighbor's door, then may my wife grind another man's grain, and may other men sleep with her. For that would have been wicked, a sin to be judged. Did not he who made me in the womb make them? Did not the same one form us both within our mothers?
32:2-5 - (enter Elihu-he's heard enough)But Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, became very angry with Job for justifying himself rather than God. He was also angry with the three friends, because they had found no way to refute Job, and yet had condemned him. Now Elihu had waited before speaking to Job because they were older than he. But when he saw that the three men had nothing more to say, his anger was aroused.
33:4 & 5 - (Elihu speaks)The Spirit of God has made me; the breath of the Almight give me life. Answer me then, if you can; stand up and argue your case before me.
33:8-18 - But you have said in my hearing--I heard the very words--'I am pure, I have done no wrong; I am clean and free from sin. Yet God has found fault with me; he considers me his enemy. He fastens my feet in shackles; he keeps close watch on all my paths.' But I tell you, in this you are not right, for God is greater than any mortal. Why do you complain to him that he responds to no one's words? For God does speak--now one way, now another--though no one perceives it. In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on people as they slumber in their beds, he may speak in their ears and terrify them with warnings, to turn them from wrongdoing and keep them from pride, to preserve them from the pit, their lives from perishing by the sword.
34:5-15 - Job says, 'I am innocent, but God denies me justice. Although I am right, I am considered a liar; although I am guiltless, his arrow inflicts an incurable wound.' Is there anyone like Job, who drinks scorn like water? He keeps company with evildoers; he associates with the wicked. For he says, 'There is no profit in trying to please God.' So listen to me, you men of understanding. Far be it from God to do evil, from the Almighty to do wrong. He repays everyone for what they have done; he brings on them what their conduct deserves. It is unthinkable that God would do wrong, that the Almighty would pervert justice. Who appointed him over the earth? Who put him in charge of the whole world? If it were his intention and he withdrew his spirit and breath, all humanity would perish together and mankind would return to the dust.
I think I will stop there today. There is much, much more! Even God says his piece, yeah!
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Poor Job: More Bible Highlights
So, I've been reading Job recently and thought I better get started on posting the highlights since there are quite a few so far and I'm not even done reading this book yet.
My take on what has happened so far: Job is a faithful man, but his kids like to party. Satan appears before God and for some reason, God allows Satan to take control of all of Job's possessions, but he is instructed not to touch Job. So, Job ends up losing everything...all his belongings: sheep, goats, cattle, crops, buildings and all his children! Obviously Job is very upset. He has several friends that come to try to cheer him up. So far, the book has been his conversation with his friends. On to my verse highlights:
5:17,18 - Blessed is the one whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty. For he wounds, but he also binds up; he injures, but his hands also heal.
11:14-19 - if you put away the sin that is in your hand and allow no evil to dwell in your tent, then, free of fault, you will lift up your face; you will stand firm without fear. You will surely forget your trouble, recalling it only as waters gone by. Life will be brighter than noonday, and darkness will become like morning. You will be secure, because there is hope; you will look about you and take your rest in safety. You will lie down, with no one to make you afraid, and many will court your favor.
12:7-14 - But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish in the sea inform you. Which of all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind. Does not the ear test words as the tongue tastes food? Is not wisdom found among the aged? Does not long life bring understanding?
13:9,10 - Would it turn out well if he examined you? Could you deceive him as you might deceive a mortal? He would surely call you to account if you secretly showed partiality.
14:1,2 & 5,6 - Mortals, born of woman, are few of days and full of trouble. They spring up like flowers and wither away; like fleeting shadows, they do not endure. A person's days are determined; you have decreed the number of his months and have set limits he cannot exceed. So look away from him and let him alone, till he has put in his time like a hired laborer.
18:4 - You who tear yourself to pieces in your anger, is the earth to be abandoned for your sake? Or must the rocks be moved from their place?
19:25-27 - I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see him with my own eyes-I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!
20:6,7 - Though the pride of the godless person reaches to the heavens and his head touches the clouds, he will perish forever, like his own dung; those who have seen him will say, "Where is he?"
20:20-22 - Surely he will have no respite from his craving; he cannot save himself by his treasure. Nothing is left for him to devour; his prosperity will not endure. In the midst of his plenty, distress will overtake him; the full force of misery will come upon him.
Well, that's as far as I've gotten. I'm really interested to see how this one turns out.
My take on what has happened so far: Job is a faithful man, but his kids like to party. Satan appears before God and for some reason, God allows Satan to take control of all of Job's possessions, but he is instructed not to touch Job. So, Job ends up losing everything...all his belongings: sheep, goats, cattle, crops, buildings and all his children! Obviously Job is very upset. He has several friends that come to try to cheer him up. So far, the book has been his conversation with his friends. On to my verse highlights:
5:17,18 - Blessed is the one whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty. For he wounds, but he also binds up; he injures, but his hands also heal.
11:14-19 - if you put away the sin that is in your hand and allow no evil to dwell in your tent, then, free of fault, you will lift up your face; you will stand firm without fear. You will surely forget your trouble, recalling it only as waters gone by. Life will be brighter than noonday, and darkness will become like morning. You will be secure, because there is hope; you will look about you and take your rest in safety. You will lie down, with no one to make you afraid, and many will court your favor.
12:7-14 - But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish in the sea inform you. Which of all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind. Does not the ear test words as the tongue tastes food? Is not wisdom found among the aged? Does not long life bring understanding?
13:9,10 - Would it turn out well if he examined you? Could you deceive him as you might deceive a mortal? He would surely call you to account if you secretly showed partiality.
14:1,2 & 5,6 - Mortals, born of woman, are few of days and full of trouble. They spring up like flowers and wither away; like fleeting shadows, they do not endure. A person's days are determined; you have decreed the number of his months and have set limits he cannot exceed. So look away from him and let him alone, till he has put in his time like a hired laborer.
18:4 - You who tear yourself to pieces in your anger, is the earth to be abandoned for your sake? Or must the rocks be moved from their place?
19:25-27 - I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see him with my own eyes-I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!
20:6,7 - Though the pride of the godless person reaches to the heavens and his head touches the clouds, he will perish forever, like his own dung; those who have seen him will say, "Where is he?"
20:20-22 - Surely he will have no respite from his craving; he cannot save himself by his treasure. Nothing is left for him to devour; his prosperity will not endure. In the midst of his plenty, distress will overtake him; the full force of misery will come upon him.
Well, that's as far as I've gotten. I'm really interested to see how this one turns out.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
More Highlights: Song of Solomon and James
Wow! If you have never read Song of Solomon do so. I had no idea that was in the Bible...a bit racey at times.
8:6 - Put me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm. For love is as strong as death, jealousy is as severe as Sheol*; Its flashes are flashes of fire, the very flame of the Lord.
*Sheol - In Judiasm, it's the earliest conception of the afterlife. It is a place of darkness to which all the dead go regardless of the moral choices made in life and where they are "removed from the Light of God." (from Wikipedia)
Pretty intense!
On to James. This book has always been a favorite of mine...one I go to a lot! So I have many highlights from James.
1:2-4 - Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
1:12-15 - Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
1:22 - Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
2:3-4 - If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, "Here's a good seat for you," but say to the poor man, "You stand there" or "Sit on the floor by my feet," have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughs?
2:10 - For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.
2:17 - In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
3:5-9 - Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one's life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God's likeness.
3:13-17 - Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.
4:3 - When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.
4:11-12 - Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgement on it. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you-who are you to judge your neighbor?
4:13-16 - Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money." Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will llive and do this or that." As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil.
5:11- As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job's perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.
(I'm in the process of reading Job...I don't actually know the whole story)
5:17-18 - Blessed is the one whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty. For he wounds, but he also binds up; he injures, but his hands also heal.
8:6 - Put me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm. For love is as strong as death, jealousy is as severe as Sheol*; Its flashes are flashes of fire, the very flame of the Lord.
*Sheol - In Judiasm, it's the earliest conception of the afterlife. It is a place of darkness to which all the dead go regardless of the moral choices made in life and where they are "removed from the Light of God." (from Wikipedia)
Pretty intense!
On to James. This book has always been a favorite of mine...one I go to a lot! So I have many highlights from James.
1:2-4 - Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
1:12-15 - Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
1:22 - Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
2:3-4 - If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, "Here's a good seat for you," but say to the poor man, "You stand there" or "Sit on the floor by my feet," have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughs?
2:10 - For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.
2:17 - In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
3:5-9 - Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one's life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God's likeness.
3:13-17 - Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.
4:3 - When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.
4:11-12 - Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgement on it. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you-who are you to judge your neighbor?
4:13-16 - Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money." Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will llive and do this or that." As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil.
5:11- As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job's perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.
(I'm in the process of reading Job...I don't actually know the whole story)
5:17-18 - Blessed is the one whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty. For he wounds, but he also binds up; he injures, but his hands also heal.
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