Learnings from the book of James

The main idea of this post is to share with you my reflections on the book of James and how it taught me few most important lessons. In our sunday school at Church, we studied the book of James and today we were reflecting on what each one of us have learnt through this study.

First of all, I want to write the things which were given in the prologue of this book in my study bible.

1. Putting faith into action through words and deeds.

2. Submitting to God under God's care.

3. Prayer needs to be a priority in our lives.

For me I found the book of James as a great instructory blessing. The words written are very simple and gives a clear instruction on how to be our walk with Christ as a Christian in everyday life. Few verses have become my favorites.

"Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness"

It taught me that having no faith in God is a sin. Also, believing God brings blessing into our lives. Trust in him makes us righteous. Abraham was called God's friend. How amazing it is to be a friend of God - who is the almighty!

"Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,"

It taught me to be more patient to listen than to speak quickly. I feel that there is a great gain in listening. It makes the other person happy that we are giving him/her attention to what she is speaking and also, we can learn and improve our understanding about different things. Also, the verse says slow to become angry. In this modern world, I feel it is one of the toughest things. But surrendering ourselves to God and lean on him will help us able to follow HIS instructions through HIS word.

"God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble"

This teaches us to be humble to gain the grace of God in our lives. Also, as we see in the book of Proverbs, "pride walketh before fall", if the grace of God is not in our lives, our lives will be shattered and meaningless.

"Is anyone in trouble? He should pray"

Gives us an instruction that prayer is an important tool to face the troubles of everyday life. Taught me the importance of prayer to survive in this competent world.

Hope these verses are a blessing to you too.

Thanks,

A sinner saved by grace.

My fav chapter from Bible - Psalm 34.

¹ I will extol the LORD at all times;
his praise will always be on my lips.

² My soul will boast in the LORD;
let the afflicted hear and rejoice.

³ Glorify the LORD with me;
let us exalt his name together.

⁴ I sought the LORD, and he answered me;
he delivered me from all my fears.

⁵ Those who look to him are radiant;
their faces are never covered with shame.

⁶ This poor man called, and the LORD heard him;
he saved him out of all his troubles.

⁷ The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him,
and he delivers them.

⁸ Taste and see that the LORD is good;
blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.

⁹ Fear the LORD, you his saints,
for those who fear him lack nothing.

¹⁰ The lions may grow weak and hungry,
but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.

¹¹ Come, my children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the LORD.

¹² Whoever of you loves life
and desires to see many good days,

¹³ keep your tongue from evil
and your lips from speaking lies.

¹⁴ Turn from evil and do good;
seek peace and pursue it.

¹⁵ The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous
and his ears are attentive to their cry;

¹⁶ the face of the LORD is against those who do evil,
to cut off the memory of them from the earth.

¹⁷ The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them;
he delivers them from all their troubles.

¹⁸ The LORD is close to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

¹⁹ A righteous man may have many troubles,
but the LORD delivers him from them all;

²⁰ he protects all his bones,
not one of them will be broken.

²¹ Evil will slay the wicked;
the foes of the righteous will be condemned.

²² The LORD redeems his servants;
no one will be condemned who takes refuge in him.

Swimming trance

After Olympics and especially after my trip to Sydney, I've finally decided to take Swimming classes because I've realized the importance of swimming in Sydney. I've shown much interest in taking swimming classes. Since my childhood every summer my dad used to force us(my brother n me) to join the swimming classes but we never did what he asked us to do. We normally don't take elders words seriously until we experience the bad consequences in our life which they asked us to take care of. I think I'm exceeding my boundaries in teaching philosophy [:D] Anyways with the inspiration of Michael Phelps [:D], went to the stadium for registration. Unluckily the registrations for that month (August) were closed. Again a hinderance :( I made a strong decision that I should join swimming from September. Waited desperately for the 1st of September. As usual I've lost completely in my work :( Forgot about swimming and it was already 7th of September. So on Monday which was 8th I decided to get myself registered. (The dates are not sure which I'm mentioning) Successfully registered for swimming. Guess what happened, again an obstacle on my way. Then it was a weird obstacle. Doctors in our college asked students of IIIT not to attend swimming classes. I was so angry and I thought eventhough I get anything, I loose my skin color or anything I decided not to stop joining. Just before I was planning to join that next day, few hours before going for the swimming class, we received a mail mentioning that. Finally with a great inspiration from Phelps who won 8 Gold medals in Beijing Olympics [:D] of course I cannot ever think about acheiving, I wanted to learn swimming at least. Got addicted to the swimming videos of major events like Olympics especially videos of Phelps. Really am a biggest fan of Phelps. Even am a fan of Australian swimmer Ian Thorpe who took retirement. Ian Thorpe was the first youngest male ever to represent Australia at an age of 14. Phelps declared once that Thorpe was his inspiration . When I was watching the videos of Beijing Olympics, how cool Phelps was. I suggest you to watch those clips if you ever get a chance. In every event he was so cool without any tension on his face and every time he was listening to music and coolly he takes his position and the way he swims was so amazing. The way he rolls back by hitting the other side of the pool was a very very interesting one. Anyways I'm going out of the topic I guess [:D]. After joining swimming, getting dreams that I was drowning and suddenly waking up in the middle of night. It was so terrible and now I am confident that at least I will learn well and am learning slowly. I feel that everyone should learn swimming. In foreign countries almost everyone knows how to swim. I encourage each and everyone to learn swimming which is a very helpful one and is also a good relaxation for the body. No one knows, it may save your life someday!!!


He is Michael Phelps who won eight gold medals in a single Olympics who set the world records in almost all the different events of swimming. He is an exceptional swimmer I've ever seen in my life. You can read more about him in wiki :)

ThE fAvOrItE dAy WhIcH I AlWaYs LoNg FoR..........

I always wish for this beautiful, fair-haired, hallowed,......day. That is Sunday. "Vow!!!!It's sunday....phew!!! the whole week's burden is released" I always feel like this.
When I'm very young, I love those days and I wish such days again come in my life. Sunday means most of the day, we used to spend in the Church. We lived far away..approx 5Kms from the Church and so to utilise the time we used to pack our food and stayed there till evening.
When I'm young means in my high-school days, GOD gave us a beautiful house which is somewhat near compared to the old rented house. School days were amazing...and if I ever think about that I feel I'm really missing them alot. Even if I want them we can't go to the history :( Time once passed, is passed. In those days our schedule was morning waking up early, having some breakfast and riding our bicycles going to sunday school. I LoVe SuNdAy ScHoOl. It has played alot, in transforming me and was a great blessing to me. We had many competitions like singing, memory verse telling,etc. It was a great fun. Apart from fun as I've mentioned a great blessing for all, whoever have attended.After SuNdAy ScHoOl, along with my parents, my brother and myself used to go to church.Sunday evening was a great fun. My brother and I used to play Cricket!!!(I play cricket well [:)] in such a way that my brother sometimes din't allow me to play because my batting was such a terrific one that ball always bounced on to other's terrace[:D])
When I'm in college(pre-university)....I went to Nellore. No fun nothing....A new place...New environment...New members in church and everything NeW. I made myself adjusted to all that and very soon I became habituated with all those. Sunday was my favorite. When I went to Church I feel at home. We were not allowed to go out without incharge's permission and should go with our hostel warden. God helped in such a way that it is a shock to tell....our college principal, who can also give permission, sometimes informed the driver of our college vehicle to help us to drive to church and return. Thank you LORD for putting grace in the eyes of those people. I sometimes missed church on sundays and so we used to have prayer in the hostel itself. I came to know the importance of prayer and church in an individual's life when I was in Nellore and I suffered from the feeling of missing Church on sundays. Because none other day I enjoyed myself in the week, more than sunday and if I lost that also......it was very pitiable. After two yrs my brother got admission in the same college and then all happies. We both used to go together.It was gr8.
When I'm in university means now.....It's all happy. No permissions, nothing from anyone. We have such a freedom here. Every week I enjoy in the presence of my LORD, my Friend. Whole week busy wid assignments, deadlines, projects, blah blah blah.....I sleep very early on sundays. Monday, again routine busy life starts...So..today is saturday and enough for now.... tomorrow I should wake up early to go to Church in time.Gud nite!!!!