Food for thought

This weekend we had a youth camp, although I did not attend the whole time (due to work and extreme tiredness) it was a great weekend full of lots of fun and great discussion on the most important thing in the world. The word of God - centered mainly on the book of James.
Here is just some food for thought which I have taken away from the weekend and would like to impart to others also.

• James Ch 1: Perseverance
• Consider it JOY when you face trails - vs. 2
• Trails test our faith, and the testing of our faith produces perseverance.
• perseverance produces character and character hope - the hope that we have in God is a firm and steadfast hope which does not waver, it is a firm confidence.
• Do not just be hearers of the word but doers
• Are you really applying what you have heard and learnt?
• Do you practice what you preach? (to put in a cliched way)
• vs. 25 - But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.
• It is a hard thing to do sometimes but we have to work at putting into action what we have heard and learnt.
• James Ch 2: Faith
• Do not show paritality.
• Favouritism is something which is very easy to show. It is easy to speak to certain people because they think like we do and they have the same interests as us.
• BUT vs. 9 says "if you show faviouritism you sin, convicted by the law as law breakers". We are not loving our neighbor.
• As Christians we are united by a common faith.
• SO, lets try step out of our comfort zone and reach out to others who we do not usually talk to.
• James Ch 3: Restraint
• Think before you speak. Are you words
• True?
• Helpful?
• Inspirational?
• Necessary?
• Kind?
• The tongue is impossible to control. We need to continually pray to God for the wisdom to control the tongue  because it is only be the power of the Holy Spirit that we will be able to do so.
• James Ch 4: Submission
• Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord, and he will lift you up vs. 10 
• It is very hard for us to be humble, but humliity with one another and before God is an important part of the life of a Christian vs 6 says: God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.
• Draw near to God and he will draw near to you - vs. 8.
• Many people within our Church circle will react to this verse and state that in quoting this verse in such a way you are very 'evangelical' and taking responsibiltiy for your own faith. This is not what James means. We draw near to God in humility, with a contrite heart.
• James Ch 5: Patience
• The book of James comes round in a circle and the theme of Ch 1 is also related to the theme of Ch 5. James encourages and reminds the readers to be patient in their sufferings.

The book of James is FULL of great riches and what I've written here is only a brief summary.