JAMES 1 (NIV)

I purchased this bible 14 years ago after we left a church we were once involved with.  While it took awhile to open it's pages, I purchased this cover during a Bible study I took last fall on the subject of 'Believing God.' My spiritual walk is a journey, one that isn't always pretty, but one truly seeking God.

It has been awhile since I have written on my Blog site.  I've been uber busy with my volunteer work at House of Hope, and have recently begun the Bible study on the book of James.  One of the challenges in studying the book of James is to memorize the entire book.  Since the girls in HOH are required to memorize so much scripture, I decided to take on this challenge myself hoping to encourage the girls in the importance of memorizing scripture.  Here is the first chapter in James.......typed out by Memory...I will confess, the very last verse about the orphans had to be retyped as I had the wording wrong.  I have not read through the rest of it...I typed it out as I have said over and over when I go to bed, when I get up, when I am driving, or just when I am home alone.  I've never memorized this much scripture at one time in my life.  It's pretty powerful once you quote it by memory.  So, here it is....the first chapter of James.


James, a servant of God, and of our Lord Jesus Christ.
To the twelve tribes, scattered among the nations;
Greetings,
Consider it pure joy my brothers, whenever you face trials of many 
kind, because you know that the testing of your faith develops 
perseverance.  Perseverance must finish it's work so that you may 
be mature and complete, not lacking anything.  If anyone lacks 
wisdom, he should ask God who gives generously to all, without finding 
fault, and it will be given to him  But when he asks, he must believe 
and not doubt, because he  who doubts is like a wave of the sea, 
blown and tossed by the wind.  That man should not think he will 
receive anything from the Lord.  He is a double minded man, 
unsettled in all he does.


The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his
high position; but,  the one who is rich, should take pride in his
low position, for he will pass away like a wild flower.  For the
sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant.  It's blossom 
falls and it's beauty is destroyed.  In the same way the rich man
will also fade away, even as he goes about his business.


Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when
he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that 
God has promised to those who love him.


When tempted, no one should say God is tempting me, because 
God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone. 
But; each one is tempted by his own evil desire, he is
dragged away and enticed.  Then, after desire is conceived, it
gives birth to sin.  Then when sin is full grown, it gives birth to
death.


Don't be deceived my dear brothers, every good and perfect 
gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the 
Heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
He chose to give us birth, through the word of truth, that we 
might be a kind of first fruits of all He created.


My dear brother, take note of this: everyone should be quick
to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry, because
mans anger does not bring about the righteous life God desires.
Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so
prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can 
save you.


Do not merely listen to the word and so deceive yourselves, do 
what it says.  Anyone who listens to the word and doesn't do what
it says is like a man who looks at himself in a mirror; and, after 
looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets
what he looks like.  But the man who looks intently into the perfect
law that gives freedom. and continues to do so, not forgetting what
he has heard, but doing it, he will be blessed in what he does.


If anyone claims to be religious, and yet, does not keep a tight reign
on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.
Religion God our Father deems pure and faultless is this:
*to look after orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep 
oneself from being polluted by the world. 


* had to peek to finish this one.