James 3

Reading with Children during Bible time
James 3 My own green thoughts.

My friends, we should not all try to become teachers.
Hm, that's weird. Am I doing the wrong thing--teaching my children? (nah.)
In fact, teachers will be judged more strictly than others.
Great.
All of us do many wrong things.
No kidding.
But if you can control your tongue, you are mature and able to control your whole body.
There's my problem.

By putting a bit into the mouth of a horse, we can turn the horse in different directions.
Think: Kentucky Derby
It takes strong winds to move a large sailing ship, but the captain uses only a small rudder to make it go in any direction. Our tongues are small too, and yet they brag about big things.
Yes, I'm so guilty.
It takes only a spark to start a forest fire. The tongue is like a spark. It is an evil power that dirties the rest of the body and sets a person's entire life on fire with flames that come from hell itself.
Hell. Not good.
All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and sea creatures (critters--if from the South) can be tamed and have been tamed.
Check out the Little Rock Zoo sometime.
But our tongues get out of control. Thy are restless and evil, and always spreading deadly poison.
This is not good. I would like to change. I've always had trouble here.

My dear friends, with our tongues we speak both praises and curses.
Isn't this so true for me??
We praise our Lord and Father, and we curse people who were created to be like God, and this is not right.
It is so not right. I need help.
Can clean water and dirty water both flow from the same spring?
Hot Springs.
Can a fig tree produce olives or a grapevine produce figs? Does fresh water come from a well full of salt water?
NO

Are any of you wise or sensible?
I think so.
Then show it by living right and by being humble and wise in everything you do.
Then I guess I'm not so wise or sensible.
But if your heart is full of bitter jealousy and selfishness, don't brag or lie to cover up the truth.
Ok, I'll try. I hope I haven't done that.
That kind of wisdom doesn't come from above. It is earthly and selfish and comes from the devil himself. Whenever people are jealous or selfish, they cause trouble and do all sorts of cruel things.
Hm, what kind of trouble have a caused for the children? I need some forgiveness.
But the wisdom that comes from above leads us to be pure, friendly, gentle, sensible, kind, helpful, genuine, and sincere.
Yep, this is what I'm missing. I need Godly Wisdom especially in dealing with the children.
When peacemakers plant seeds of peace, they will harvest justice.
Oh I want to do that.