EXAMPLE

1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,
To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations:
Greetings.

2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6 But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.

9 The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position. 10 But the one who is rich should take pride in his low position, because he will pass away like a wild flower. 11 For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich man will fade away even while he goes about his business. 

12 Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

13 When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone 14 but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. 

16 Don't be deceived, my dear brothers. 17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.  18 He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all He created.

19 My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. 21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.

22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.

26 If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. 27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

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At the end of each Bible I write out a final letter to the one for whom I am praying and a final prayer. 

(Example of a final letter)

My dear son, 

There is so much wisdom I want to give you.  So many pitfalls I want to warn you about but God says it far better than I ever could.  Stay in His word.  Don’t let it depart from you because it is the way to a fulfilling life with Him directing.  I have made so many mistakes that I pray you will never experience, and the very reason is because I ignored everything I heard from the Bible.  I didn’t think it really mattered.  I didn’t think it applied to me, I didn’t trust it, my heart was hard, I thought I knew better and consequently my life turned into a giant mess and I just about ruined yours.  But God, in his infinite mercy found me and carried me back, just like that little lost lamb.  We all fall, we cannot possibly keep all that God has instructed us to do and he knows we are only human but His desire is that we strive every day to do His will.  To love others, be kind, and to walk humbly with Him. To keep His words hidden in our heart so when we struggle they are there to keep us on the narrow road.  Never walk away from Him, son.  Throw yourself on his mercy , He is always there, but never walk away because the road back is long and painful.

I love you so much and my hope is that God gives you the desires of your heart as you walk with Him daily.  I pray the name of Jesus over your life until the end of it when at last you well see Him face to face and you hear Him say, "Well done, my good and faithful servant."

If you're saved and you know it, then your life will surely show it and others will be drawn to Him because of it. - All my love, Mom

(Example of a final prayer)

Heavenly Father,

You know I have only one child.  It's hard to believe you could possibly love him more than I do and yet it's true.  I've spent quite a bit of time bringing him before you each day and now I ask again, raise him to become a man of integrity.  Cause him to be a man after Your own heart, supple in Your hands.  Give him courage.  Keep him on the right path and his face resolute toward the goal.  Give him a hunger for your Word.  Let others see You in him.  When he falls, Lord, pick him up.  Comfort him in grief. Bring him a wife that loves You.  I pray he will always see Your hand guiding him. 

I sit here with the words of Jesus Loves Me running through my head.  "Jesus loves me this I know.  For the Bible tells me so."  The amazing thing is Lord...not only that you love me, but that I know it.  I pray that he would know you love him as well.

I give him to You once again, Lord.  He is more Yours than mine.  Thy will be done.  Take care of him.

In the mighty name of Jesus,  Amen