“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.  Perseverance must finish its work so you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.  If anyone lacks wisdom, he should ask God who gives generously to all without 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, unstable 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 the wildflower.  The sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed.  In the same way, the rich man fades away even while 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 all who love him.”

When tempted, no one should say, ‘God is tempting me’, for God cannot be tempted by evil or does he tempt anyone.   But each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed.  Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.”

Great job!  We’re memorizing James 1 and we are over half-way!  Thank you, dear God, for helping us write your word upon our hearts!  Here are the next two verses:

“Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters.  Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the Heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”

I love this verse!  Everything good comes from God.  Everything that is true and good and fun and worthwhile comes from God.

This was driven home to me one year when my company had all of the top leaders attend a seminar to help us personally work through things in our heads and hearts because they knew we would be better employees if we were better people.

It was not a faith-based seminar but every main point they made was Biblical……..because all truth comes from God.  All good things come down from the Father of Heavenly light.

There is nothing good on earth that did not come from him.

I like the last part of that verse as well – God doesn’t change.  The rest of our world changes every second, shifting around like shadows that move as the sun moves.    God is our consistent Rock.  He is our only anchor.

Thank you, Abba Father!