James 1:19-20 (NIV) 

¹⁹ My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, ²⁰ because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. 

 

First of all, there's no way that a believer that's ever cracked open the Word that hasn't read if @ least heard about fools becoming angry through impulse & not listening to others. Like children they interrupt, get angry over ANYTHING they cannot get & always want to be heard but not always want to listen. A lot of adults no matter what age never shake that. They might have a job, house maybe even a family but Satan lives disrespect, rudeness, strife, chaos, ungodly anger, sadness, confusion, misunderstanding, perversity, vulgarity, etc. Non-believers ( & even some believers) are selfish, its our human nature to have our own agenda, to only worry & care about us & how certain things effect only our lives. Everyone knows the cliche phrase "you have 2 ears and one mouth so you can listen more and talk less", that comes from this verse.  Proverbs mentions the fools who don't listen, get angry impulsively,  & do no heed instruction. No one wants to be a fool so God said if we want wisdom all we have to do is ask (James 1:5). Self-control is a fruit of the spirit so that includes controlling our mouths, eruptions of emotions, being polite, & by letting the other person share their side/part. Man's anger comes from a personal, selfish place mostly because he does not get what he wants; not necessarily a righteous anger - God's anger -  because something wrong is actually happening. Our hearts should break for what makes God's heart break ad since this does not happen naturally we have to line up our life with his will and the instructions /words of the bible.

Galatians 6:1-5

Galatians 6:1-5 (NIV) 
¹ Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. ² Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. ³ If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. ⁴ Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, ⁵ for each one should carry their own load. 


Bearing my own load or being responsible for my responsibilities would mean I couldn't blame anyone for my actions or being a part of it through implication because every action is decided before its done regardless of circumstances.
Meaning if you think about doing something & if you really want to do it weighing out the circumstances and you decided you were gonna do it, say it or whatever because you've set your mind on it no matter what anyone else says in agreement or opposition you're gonna do it. So you cant then say this person did or said this and persuaded me one way or another because in the end you made the decision. So you are then responsible for all deeds and words done and spoken and will be held accountable here on earth and in heaven.

1 John 5:19

1 John 5:19
¹⁹ We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one.

The verse says we "know" that we are of God & I think know is a powerful word. Thinking of someone famous or someone "bigger than life" that you look up to & to say that you "know" them carries much weight. Its a kind of certainty that's secure & grounded in you. So if we "know" that we are of God then the fact that the whole world is under the sway of the wicked shouldn't worry us or instill fear in us but cause concern & be heavy in our hearts for the lost that live in this world. I chose this version because when I think of sway , I think of seduction its like its happening & you don't even know it & by the time you do its too late. And that's how the enemy works in everything he does.

1 John 5:11-12

1 John 5:11-12 (NIV)

¹¹ And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. ¹² Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. 

WOW, this couldn't be any more self explanatory but here it goes:
When I read this passage I think about what non-believers might think life is. There's sayings like " live life to the fullest", "live like its your last day", etc. And that  might play out to mean have as much fun as you can, experience, have adventures, etc.But what they don't understand (or they will if/when converted) is that once you have Jesus in your heart He's going to take you on the best adventure of your life, living becomes all the more richer, new perspective & you have fun in different ways most of the time in better ways. A non-believers "fun" life is only til they die but a CF fun life becomes forever because God created everything- fun included. I know non-believers don't think fun when they think of God-Jesus-the christian walk- they think the opposite. But that's why we need to let the joy we feel inside ooze out our pores and show the world that following Jesus is the greatest adventure of all time!

Cook with Concetta: Here is the recipe for Zucchini bread. Although it...

Cook with Concetta: Here is the recipe for Zucchini bread. Although it...: "Here is the recipe for Zucchini bread. Although it states grate zucchini, when the recipe was passed down it was said that the Zucchini shou..."

James 1:9-11

James 1:9-11
⁹ Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position. ¹⁰ But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they will pass away like a wild flower. ¹¹ For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business.

 I honestly am confused about the "boast of humility" isn't that an oxymoron? I understand the rich man part bc rich men have pride in their hearts and pride separates us from God. Rich are also materialistic so there are never being satisfied always wanting more.

James 1:12

James 1:2 (NIV)

 ¹² 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 I read this I think about how easy it is to give in or give up. When we go through a trial it is almost instinctive to complain, be negative & reconsider doing the right thing. But when we stand strong in our strength in Jesus & we push further and forward for what we know will make our Father happy despite our flesh; He sees it is not an easy task & hat we have to trust on His Word, His promises, His grace, mercy, strength & hold on to our faith in Him bc like the end of the verse says God has promised to those who love him.
As cliche as it sounds the phrase "no pain no gain" is so true in all cases but especially this one. If we don't go through hardship/pain/trial/tribulation/etc. we ourselves cannot see how strong our faith is and/or how we handle stress/pressure spiritually. hypothetically i see us when in trials as a sword in a fire, the fire makes it stronger and if it can survive/withstand the fire then its good sword for the fight, etc.

James 1:13-15

James 1:13-15 (NIV)

¹³ When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; ¹⁴ but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. ¹⁵ Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

When I read this I think about the people who blame God for their temptation and I try to think about the root problem. People blames God (& others) because they don't ant to admit they are at fault. I may be wrong but my personal opinion is they are insecure, hurt, maybe have low self esteem & since God is so mysterious for them in the first place He seems like a good place to start. In EVERY temptation there is a way out but our flesh &/or the enemy tries to convince us that the temptation is so good disobeying God & deceiving ourselves is worth it.
But I believe the mature believer knows when Satan is attacking him so when we walk away from temptation & stay faithful to the Lord it strengthens our faith & our walk with Him. God has nothing to hide He doesn't have to "lure" & "entice" us to do or tell us anything, there's no point or reason for us to entice ourselves so its clearly the enemy.

James 1:16-18

James 1:16-18 

¹⁶ Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. ¹⁷ Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. ¹⁸ He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created. 

 

When people give you gifts its usually for an occasion like birthday, Christmas, anniversary, etc. I think also it depends on how close you are to that person, how special they see you, how deep your friendship/relationship is. The aforementioned also determines the quality of the gift in either craftsmanship and/or price. So I think that when it comes to new converts-"baby Christians"-, strong believers or anywhere in between that our gifts/blessings are given to us based by obedience, level of faithfulness, level of wisdom/knowledge and of course the "desires of our hearts" that if we ask he will give us. Sometimes there are gifts that seem good but are not good for US. So the gifts that are good for us are from Him.

He doesn't change like a shifting shadow because He is the same yesterday, today and forever, HE is the rock-our rock-, the solid constant we can rest on and trust. In fact He is not shifting or a shadow, shadows are blocked light and He is the light.

When God made the world & everything in the world, He didn't HAVE to make us humans but He did because HE had/has a purpose for us. Out of all He created were the only creatures that can produce fruit. So even though we spiritually separated ourselves from God by disobeying Him, He knows the beginning and end of all things.