If you have a graduate in your life that needs some additional encouragement, consider sending them a small gift to congratulate them for making it through high school - especially during such a crazy, unique season of life! I have curated a few items that I love and think will most encouraging to seniors as they are preparing to head off to college (and hopefully that’s not just online classes this fall, am I right?!).

As disciples of Jesus Christ, our proclamation of faith is validated in our demonstration of good works. When Jesus is acknowledged as the good King who sits on the throne over all of our desires, it changes the way we live out our faith.

Staying connected with people should not just stop at quick texts or hello’s - it’s important that we go deeper! This is why it’s so crucial to have close friends or a small group of people in your life to challenge you, encourage you, and keep you accountable to what you are learning and living. So how are we supposed to stay connected with a community of people when we can’t get out of our houses and see them in person? Are there still ways that we can get intentional with how we stay connected with our friends or our small group that used to meet together?

James left no room in his letter for the idea of hearing the truth and not doing what it says. He didn't want his readers to deceive themselves into thinking they could be Christians merely by believing the right things about Jesus. Following Jesus requires action! As a disciple, you not only have to believe Christ is worth following, but you also have to take steps of faith to deny yourself, pick up your cross, and follow Him daily!

James begins his letter with a greeting to his audience, the Jews in dispersion. The Jewish people had been scattered all around the world as their nation was conquered by Assyria and Babylon, forcing them into exile. While some of the Jews returned to Israel, many of God’s people found themselves far from their homeland and their people, refugees in a foreign land. If that wasn’t hard enough, by following Jesus as Messiah, these Jewish believers were also persecuted by their own community, some even killed. These are the circumstances around James's opening words, "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds.” How could James tell people going through the hardest time in their lives to have joy? How could he say that to us today?