James 2:14-17

What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. - James 2:14-17

Dear Savior,

Your deeds always matched your words and I am so thankful because when I look into this passage I see my failure to always care as much I say I do.  Your joyful obedience that made you love all people perfectly, covers my selfish life.  I want to be the child of God that shows his faith by his acts of love.  Give me eyes to see the needs around me and the heart to do something unnaturally tangible to eradicate them.  Give me the faith that works but doesn't see it as labor. 

AMEN

Pastor Don Patterson

Faith and love are conjoined twins that catch your attention by the way they live their lives out in ours. 

James 2:12-13

Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment. - James 2:12-13

Dear Jesus,

You have freed me from the Ten Commandments as a my source of strength.  You have replaced it with love that drives me to keep all commandments with deep meaning and significant purpose.  I strongly desire to love others and you so much that I feel free from the law with its demands and threats.  I just want to do the right thing.  This came from you who saved me and gave me peace from fear of judgement or punishment.  It is the "law" that gives freedom to me.  You are in my life and my mind driving me to be a loving person.  Keep me merciful and humble by your Holy Spirit who lives here with me while you are in heaven watching over all things for my good. 

Amen

Pastor Don Patterson

Goodness is a force from God living in the heart of everyone who has his grace giving Spirit.

James 2:10-11

For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. For he who said, “You shall not commit adultery,” also said, “You shall not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker. - James 2:10-11

Dear Lord,

I know it's healthy to have a full grasp of my own sinfulness.  I do sometimes think that because I avoid certain sins that I am one of the good guys in your world.  But there are no good guys and bad guys from your perspective. We are all just sinners loved by you.  You elevate what I call little sins when I am being self-righteous and you erase what I call big sins when I feel shame.  I am a redeemed law-breaker.  Thank you for giving me the gospel that gives me God-born thoughts to straighten out mine.  I will strive to live honestly and hopefully today because of your law and gospel. 

AMEN

Pastor Don Patterson

A Christian is someone who is honest with themselves about their need for forgiveness and gracious to themselves because of the gift of Christ. 

James 2:1-9

My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. 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 thoughts?

Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong?

If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right. But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. - James 2:1-9

Lord Jesus,

You are never impressed by wealth nor do you look down on poverty.  You make all people.  Every life is your signature on your planet.  We each have meaning, value, and purpose.  Give me your godly eyes that look on all people as your own special creations.  Use my love and attention to give dignity to the poor and direction to the rich.  Open my lips to tell both poor and rich alike about your love and forgiveness.  Make me a true lover of people in the highest sense of the word.  And flow though me to them in living color.

Amen

Pastor Don Patterson

Every soul created by God is worthy or our respect and tender care. 

James 1:26-27

Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. - James 1:26-27

Dear heavenly Father, 

Your desires are perfectly clear. You want me to learn to speak loving, truthful words that do not have any rancor or negativity.  You want me to help the less fortunate, especially the fatherless and the widows.  Open my eyes to see the needs around me and give me a heart that longs to help people.  Make me an instrument in your hands to pick up the fallen and comfort the distressed.  Give me the ability to strengthen people who love to serve others by helping them achieve their vision for mercy.  Help me to weed out the worldly influences all around me.  I want to be a healer and comforter like you.  

Amen

Pastor Don Patterson

Commit yourself to helping others and you will never be bored or feel insignificant. 

James 1:22-25

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. - James 1:22-25

Dear Jesus,

I have listened to and read your word for many years.  It's easy to listen but much harder to do.  Give me the faith to believe that studying your word is worth my full commitment. I don't want to be a wise fool who knows what he should have done but never did it. I've seen your word work.  It's amazing.  When I act on what you tell me to do, great things happen in my life and for others.  I cannot do anything on my own.  I need your help and guidance.  Give your Holy Spirit more time with me to help me do and say what you want.  Make me an instrument to your love, truth, and peace. 

Amen

Pastor Don Patterson

In Christ, there are no spectators.  All of us are his Olympian competitors. 

James 1:19-21

My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that 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. - James 1:19-21

Dear Heavenly Father,

You gave me two ears and one mouth for a reason.  You want me to listen and understand before I make a judgment on any situation.  Give me the wisdom to understand the whole story with my close ones before I try to speak to them about it.  Preserve me from anger that makes me rash and judgmental.  Give me the peace and patience to allow them to find a comfortable way to discuss matters with me in a positive environment instead of under the stress of my irritated scrutiny.  And help me to listen to your word every day so I let it bear fruit in me for others to enjoy.  

Amen

Pastor Don Patterson

Listening quietly with an open heart is one of the most active and productive things we can do. 

James 1:16-18

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. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of first-fruits of all he created. - James 1:16-18

Dear Heavenly Father, 

God I know that you give me so many blessings but I rarely think about it the way James puts it here.  All good things are from you.  Life itself is a gift to me from you.  My spouse, children and grandchildren are a gift from you. My friends, my church, my home, my car, everything is a gift from you.  But the greatest gift is the gift of eternal life.  I am eternal as a gift from you. I want to be the hope filled light you want me to be for others.  Drive disappointment and despair far from me and make hopeful in all situations.  Give me an optimism from faith and not from circumstances that encourages others to seek and find you because they see you in me.  

Amen

Pastor Don Patterson

Hope is knowing you will survive the worst and live to talk about it - forever.

James 1:13-15

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. – James 1:13-15

Dear heavenly father,

I know you would never tempt me to evil.  But sometimes I feel you should keep temptation further away from me.  I accept what you are saying; I am dragged away by my own evil desire.  It’s hard to admit but it’s true.  I am evil enough to lead myself into sin.  I am thankful that you saved me anyway through the sacrifice of your own Son.  And I believe that you give all believers power to overcome their temptations through love and faith in you.  Strengthen me in the faith through your Holy Spirit to deal personally and precisely with my own sins.  Give me the ability to see my desires in light of your word and to put those that are bad to death as soon as they sprout.  It’s there in the inner man that I need to deal with them.  And because I love you I will fight them with all the strength you allow me to have.  Help me Lord, to live a godly life until I rest in glory with you.

Amen

Pastor Don Patterson

The greatest battle is never between me and another.  It’s between me and me.

James 1:12

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.  –James 1:12

Dear heavenly father,

There are few things worse than suffering with no direction or purpose.  Your word here gives me purpose in every suffering.  My goal is to cling to you and your promise to make sense out of it in the end.  My goal is also to use the suffering to glorify you.  I will receive my crown from you when I see you for the first time in heaven. I look forward to seeing your approving and forgiving smile.  Give me the strength to persevere with hope and courage under my problems and challenges.  Keep me from making my loved ones pay with my grouchy and surly attitude.  Help me not pass the stress on to them but to give it away to you in prayer, trusting that you are listening and will rescue me in your time.

Amen

Pastor Don Patterson

Standing up under pressure is easier when you know God is watching and waiting to make it all worthwhile.

James 1:10-11

Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride on their high position.  But the rich should take pride in their humiliation-since they will pass away like a wild flower. 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. – James 1:10-11

Dear Heavenly Father,

I love how James puts all of us on the same level.  Wealth and poverty have this in common; they both are only temporary.  So, I find my greatest value in the salvation you have graciously given me.  I am going to be okay no matter how my life goes because I go to heaven.  This gives me hope for today that makes me confident even if great difficulty awaits me.  Help me to stop comparing my life with others since it’s all temporary anyway.  And help me use whatever you give me to reach out to others with your great treasure. 

Amen

Pastor Don Patterson

A life on its way to heaven is a good life in rags or velvet.

James 1:5-8

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you, you must believe and not doubt because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.  That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.  Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do. – James 1:5-8

Dear Father in Heaven,

I doubt so easily while I pray because I can’t see you and I don’t hear you talk. But I see your word and you speak to me there.  You tell me to trust that you will give me wisdom.  I believe your word too.  Oh Lord, you know what things are troubling me.  I don’t have to name them.  Give me wisdom with my work, my church, my friends, my family and my health.  Don’t let me miss what you’re trying to tell me through friends and leaders in my life.  Give me discernment to weed out the ideas of people who mean well, but who spout foolishness. Make me wise like your Son when he walked the earth. Give me the peace that comes from wisdom.

Amen

Pastor Don Patterson

God gives wisdom to anyone who believes that he does no matter how many times they have doubted before.

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 of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.  – James 1:2-4

Dear heavenly Father,

I started out my life very surprised by trials in health and relationships.  Having passed through a few difficulties I have come through feeling stronger and settled as if no more would come my way.  Then it seems that out of nowhere an otherwise strong relationship will go weak or a new health concern erupts from below or a major expensive repair is needed on my car or in my home.  It feels like I have to start all over learning how to accept, then face, then cope, then pass through the trial.  I can safely say that considering the trial a joy is pretty far from my mind.  It doesn’t even seem logical.  But I hear your word that guides me to find joy in how you make me persevere.  You teach me to trust you during my trials.  I trust you but I need more trust. Please help me overcome my doubts.  Make me calm and not an anxious saint.  I give you my worries one by one and let you work for my good in all situations.  And I will wait for you to help me find the joy in the midst of sorrow.

Amen

Pastor Don Patterson

Trials will come and go but God will never leave you. 

Romans 12:17-21

Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. Do not take revenge my friends but leave room for God’s wrath. … Do not be overcome with evil but overcome evil with good. – Romans 12:17-21

Dear Heavenly Father,

It’s easy to fall into self-pity or cynicism when I see or experience evil. I want to make things right too and am tempted to get back at people who do wrong. It’s comforting to know that you see every sin and have a plan to fix it in your own time and way. I want to let you be God and I will just be your child who follows your lead. I love it that you give me something positive to do about evil. You tell me to overcome it with good. I can make a difference by being the gracious giver and leaving justice to you. You alone know how to deal out justice without ruining everything. You would have me overcome evil with good. I don’t always know what that looks like. Fill me with creative love by your Holy Spirit so I show perpetrators your amazing, life changing love.

Amen

Pastor Don Patterson

Goodness really can overcome evil if you will give it the opportunity.

Romans 12:15-16

Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. – Romans 12:15-16

Dear Heavenly Father,
The lives of everyone around me and especially in my church matter to me. It really is a blessing to share life with them. We share all of our struggles and breakthroughs alike. Their joys become my joy and their struggles affect me also. Help me to live in harmony with them, so they are not lonely in good times or bad. Give me a filter that prevents me from seeing any difference between low or high position. Open the eyes of all our members to see the needs of their Christian family. Help us rise up to play a beautiful concert of care and concern that brings glory to your name. Make us a community of healers and friends.

Amen

Pastor Don Patterson

In Christ no one lives or dies alone.

Romans 12:14

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. – Romans 12:14

Dear Heavenly Father,
My first reaction when someone tries to hurt me is to retaliate in kind. I’m tempted to even the playing field. My natural inclination is to stab them with my words or freeze them out by ignoring them. You call me to do something totally counter-intuitive to me. You call me to bless them with my words and actions. I can see the benefit of such amazing grace because I have experienced blessing from you even though I have criticized you at times in my soul. Your blessing made me believe in your love. I want my blessing to help people believe in your love too. So, give me your supernatural strength to stop getting even and start giving blessing.

Amen

Pastor Don Patterson

When someone hurts you it’s your turn to be Jesus.

Romans 12:13

Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. – Romans 12:13

Dear Jesus,

You were sharing with people in need every moment of your life.  It filled all your days.  Help me see the needs of those around me and give me a large heart to joyfully meet them with my help.  Open my eyes to see the Christians in my church family who are hurting and give me the wisdom to make room for them in my calendar and my home.  Make me one who creates a safe family feeling around our church so people will understand that you are there among your people healing hearts and changing lives through love and service. 

Amen

Pastor Don Patterson

Dare to love people in tangible ways and you’ll never be bored or lonely again.

Romans 12:11-12

Never be lacking in zeal but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.  Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. – Romans 12:11-12

Dear Heavenly Father,

Your word gives me wholesome guidance because I am so prone to laziness, distractedness and defeatism.  Like a positive coach it stands beside me and cries “Carry on with the faith and hope of Christ and use up every last moment on earth to prosper the word and reach souls for him.” My purpose is to serve you and your purposes while I have breath and life.  Oh God, help me overcome myself to be a positive, pleasing child of God who lives out of the hope you have given us in Christ. Make me patient in affliction and to find my peace in prayer where I lay my concerns at your feet.  You have sealed eternity for me.  Nothing in this life can take that away.

Amen

Pastor Don Patterson

The power to carry on at any moment of our lives comes from above, not from within or without.

Romans 12:9-10

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. - Romans 12:9-10

Dear Lord,

I like this verse because it moves my focus from myself to others in a sincere way.  It's easy to love people for how they bless me, which is really love of myself.  But to love others for what I can give them, that is divine insight.  Make me so devoted to others that I forget my needs and wants and simply find my joy in making their lives better as children of God.  Help me to hate what is evil for them and to promote faith and love in all I do.  Make me a tool in your hand that fixes things instead of breaking them.  Thank you for going behind me and fixing what I have broken too. 

Amen

Pastor Don Patterson

Appreciation says "Thank You" for loving me.  Love says, "Thank you for letting me love you."

Romans 12:4-8

For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead,do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully. - Romans 12:4-8

Dear Heavenly Father,

I have often wished I had the talents and spiritual gifts of other people.  How silly it is of me when I forget that other people are given gifts to bless me and not impress me.  When they use their gifts for the good of all, that includes me.  I receive the benefit by their shining work.  Help me to see what my gifts are and to use them faithfully to bless my church family.  Give me the wisdom and humility to be the best me that I can be for you and them.  And where gifts are lacking in our church, raise up new men and women, boys and girls that will deny themselves the cushion of laziness and self indulgence to step out and round out your team around me.

Amen

Pastor Don Patterson

When you are using your spiritual gift faithfully it will feel like wind is in your sails validating you with confidence and pleasure.