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Posts Tagged ‘James 1’

Two Beneficial Decisions

Posted in Decisions, Prayer, Talk, tagged on October 28, 2011| Leave a Comment »

I recently made two decisions which have helped me a lot:

  1. Twice a day stop what I’m doing and pray for 15 minutes.

    The world will not fall apart if I don’t answer the phone or return a e-mail for 15 minutes

  2. Stop talking.

    My faith project is to say nothing I don’t have to say. Apart from a friendly, “Hello”, or to answer (succinctly) a question asked directly to me, I purpose to be quiet. Oh! It’s difficult for someone so loquacious but I’m getting better and it’s been such a blessing, especially with my kids!

    Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath — James 1:19

Sound Bite: Pray more, talk less
Also see: “Learning To Pray” – June 25, 2011

— fritz

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Not Tempted to Eat Worms

Posted in Temptation, tagged , on March 18, 2011| Leave a Comment »

“[E]very man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.” – James 1:13b-14

I’ve never been tempted to eat a worm, they just don’t appeal to me – but there’s something in a fish that calls when they see one. It’s not the worm, it’s the fish.

It’s the same way with us.

Example: We have a handicapped child always drawn to the donut/coffee table at church; he can’t keep his hands off and can’t stop with one. We can’t blame the church, they’re not tempting him, he has the problem.

It’s the same with any temptation. God and society are not doing it to us, we are. We have the responsibility put down our pride, recognize our problem areas, and avoid situations that allow us to be corrupted.

God will help by providing an escape route but he doesn’t make us take it.

“God is faithful … When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.” – 1st Corinthians 10:13b-14 (New Living Translation)

The devil doesn’t make me do things, I move my own body and always have a choice.

– fritz

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Grafting Plants and Hearts

Posted in Engrafted, The Bible, tagged on November 2, 2010| Leave a Comment »

Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. – James 1:21

I have a grafted Orange tree. The original stalk was cut and a cultured Orange tree was tied in place until the stock actually grew into and through the graft. If you look closely you can still see the scars.

“Engrafted” is the horticultural term used to describe how the Word of God, both the living and the written, becomes part of our lives.

We are cut by our guilt, grief, and repentance, and God’s word is placed in our hearts then held there as we grow into and through it. If you look closely you can still see the scars.

Take the bible, read it, think about it throughout the day, talk about it, meet with others doing the same, letting God’s word stay close enough to enable your life grow into and through it.

– fritz
Also See: Patrikin blog post, October 30, 2010 – “Reading the Scriptures Adequately and Accurately”

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