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...to Writing a Connect Devotional Dear Readers, Thank you for being a Connect Devotional reader! Whether you read occasionally or every day (or at all!), we're grateful for your attentive reading and thoughtful responses. We mentioned last week that the CD writing team will be taking a few weeks off over the summer. Never fear, we'll be back in August. Until then, ...
Keep ReadingIs anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Theref...
Keep ReadingThe prayer of a person living right with Godis something powerful to be reckoned with (James 5:16b MSG). Ms. Helen always sat on the left side of the sanctuary. She was always at church early, and she could be found sitting near the front, Bible in hand, head either bowed or eyes focused on the stained glass window above the baptistery. There was never any question what s...
Keep ReadingElijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops (James 5: 17-18). I went to Catholic schools from elementary through high school. I heard the phrase, "Let us pray" a lot. In elementary school, we pra...
Keep Reading"Is any one of you in trouble? He should prayCall the elders to praypray for each otherthe prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effectivepray earnestly." (James 5:13-17) James, perhaps impatient with Christian faith that remains theoretical, crams his short letter with down-to-earth advice for living a robust, meaningful Christian life. Many love this practical lette...
Keep ReadingThis is the final week of our Integrated theme and our time in the Book of James. It's also the final week of Connect Devotionals before we go on summer break never fear, we'll come roaring back in late August! Integrated means our lives have been made whole, put together right, rescued from ruin and restored to fruitfulness and vitality in Christ. Through Christ, we bec...
Keep Reading"Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go." James 2: 8-9 When James uses the metaphor of a ship at sea being steered by a small rudder, it immediately resonates with me. At work I recently gave a mentee advice using the metaphor of a navigator steering a s...
Keep ReadingNot many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. Look at the s...
Keep ReadingWe all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check. James 3:2 NIV The old saying, "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me," is one hundred percent FALSE. Fake news. Fuhgeddaboutit! Words have power, and the way we communicate matters. When our kids were toddlers and pro...
Keep Reading"Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark." (James 3:5) Try an exercise using this question: Isn't she pretty? Say it as if you're watching your granddaughter at her first ballet recital. Listen to your tone. Now, sarcastically say it as you watch a teenager dressed deliberately to annoy her parents. Finally, say it with the emphasis on she as if you'...
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