Matthew 20:20 - James' parents

Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him.

Many of the biblical references to James refer to his parents. Part of this may be because this is how people were identified with so many similar names.

According to Wikkipedia which can always be trusted (cough) here is some insight in to John's parents:

His parents seem to have been people of means. Zebedee, his father, was a fisherman of the Sea of Galilee, who probably lived in or near Bethsaida, present Galilee, Israel, perhaps in Capernaum, and had some boatmen or hired men. Salome, his mother, was one of the pious women who afterwards followed Christ and "ministered unto him of their substance", and his brother John was personally known to the high-priest, and must have had wherewithal to provide for the Mother of Jesus.^[1]

The Synoptic Gospels state that James and John were with their father by the seashore when Jesus called them to follow him. Matthew 4:21-22 Mark 1:19-20

James' mom, Salome,  is mentioned many times in the gospels, including at the cross. She is probably most remembered for asking Jesus if her sons, James and John, could sit at the right and left side of Jesus. Not a good idea.

The verses including the family of James, make it appear that the family of Jesus and the Zebedee family were very close and were an important part of Jesus ministry.

Lord, thank you for giving us examples of parents, the good and the bad. Please help us to be Godly parents. Amen.

Psalm 113:9 - God cares about our problems

He settles the childless woman in her home
     as a happy mother of children.
Praise the Lord.

We all have struggles in this life. In the two verses before this one tells how God helps the poor and needy and raises them up. The wonderful thing is that God cares about our problems. He sees us. He knows our pain and struggles and he offers comfort for his children, his followers. Sometimes God takes the pain or problem away and sometimes he helps us bear through it, but either way his love is evident.

Lord, thank you for caring about our problems. Please help us to always seek you when we are struggling and be willing to go through the situation with you by our side. Amen.

Psalm 86:16 - Thank you for my mom

Turn to me and have mercy on me;
     show your strength in behalf of your servant;
save me, because I serve you
     just as my mother did.

Reading through the Psalms, there is a lot of similar sounding text. When something is different, it grabs my attention. I loved the last phrase of the verse above, "just as my mother did." Did your mom serve God? Mine does. She is a wonderful example of how to live a Godly life of service. In this season of Thanksgiving, I would like to thank God for my mom. I serve God "just as my mother did".

Lord, thank you for my mother, a servant of Christ. Please help me to serve you just as she does. Amen.