James 1 New International Version

1James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,

To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations:

Greetings.

Trials and Temptations

²Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,^[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds, ³because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. ⁴Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. ⁵If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. ⁶But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. ⁷That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. ⁸Such a person is double-minded…

2 Corinthians 5 New International Version

The Ministry of Reconciliation

¹⁶So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. ¹⁷Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:^[a] The old has gone, the new is here! ¹⁸All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: ¹⁹that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.²⁰We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. ²¹God made him who had no sin to be sin^[b] for us, so…

There’s a voice in my head
That keeps questioning me
Why did you do this?
Why did you feel that?
Why did you think that?
Is that the right thing to do?
How do you think he/ she feels?

I don’t know if everyone has it
And it is not always there
Is it part of humanity’s toolkit?
Are some people just not aware?

Or am I a freak
And this delusion?
This voice’s critique
A mere illusion?

Is my mind fractured?
Divided within
A strange new structure
Hidden by my skin?

Then there’s the Lady
Another apparition
She might seem shady
But she helps with my condition

Sometimes the two become one
Answers become imperative
And after it is done
My mind forms a narrative

Of how I should behave
Of how I should act
When my reason is in tune
With my spirit

Just because you have a parent, sibling, cousin or aunt who has epilepsy doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll have it also.

In fact, if you have a close relative with epilepsy,the chance of you having epilepsy is only about 2-5%, depending on the specific type of epilepsy.

The risk in the general population is about 1-2%.

On the other hand, there is a 92-98% chance for the close relative of someone with epilepsy to NOT have the same condition!

So, even though the risk in families with epilepsy is higher than in the general population,most people with epilepsy do not have any relatives with seizures, and the great majority of parents with epilepsy do not have children with epilepsy.

Not everyone who carries genes making them more likely to develop epilepsy will do so.Even if the genes are passed on, not every generation in a family will have…

Psalm 31New International Version

Psalm 31^[a]

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

¹In you,Lord, I have taken refuge;
let me never be put to shame;
deliver me in your righteousness.
²Turn your ear to me,
come quickly to my rescue;
be my rock of refuge,
a strong fortress to save me.
³Since you are my rock and my fortress,
for the sake of your namelead and guide me.
⁴Keep me free from the trapthat is set for me,
for you are my refuge.
⁵Into your hands I commit my spirit;
deliver me,Lord, my faithful God.

⁶I hate those who cling to worthless idols;
as for me, I trust in theLord.
⁷I will be glad and rejoice in your love,
for you saw my affliction
and knew the anguishof my soul.
⁸You have not given me into…

Hebrews 9 New International Version 

The Blood of Christ

¹¹ But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that are now already here,^[a] he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands, that is to say, is not a part of this creation. ¹² He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining^[b] eternal redemption. ¹³ The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. ¹⁴ How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death,^[c] so that we may serve the living God!

¹⁵For this reason…

Romans 15:1-13New International Version – UK

15We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves.²Each of us should please our neighbours for their good, to build them up.³For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: ‘The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.’^[a]4For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.

⁵May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had,⁶so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

⁷Accept one another, then, just…