Logos

Key verse
James 1:17 - Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

John
The gospel of John was written in the late first centuray AD and addressed the popular gnostic/Greek idea that Jesus was fully God but not fully human.  John's theme, therefore, is proving that Jesus is both God and man.
The term logos really speaks to yesterday's reading, but I will post about it here.  Logos had both a Greek and biblical heritage as being the "divine creativity" of God or the "divine ordering principle".  Identifying Jesus as Logos indicated that Jesus existed at the beginning of time with God, and that Jesus also embodied the divine order or truth of the world.  -Archaeological Study Bible

James
It's interesting that for one so popular and revered in the early church, James would have such a short book.  Compared to Paul, James takes up very little space in the New Testament.  And yet, his letter does not lack anything in terms of theological lessons.
I appreciate James 1:12 because it helps debunk the myth of the prosperity gospel.  James says that the man who perseveres under trial will receive the crown of life.  I understand this to mean that anyone can suffer, regardless of the level of sinfulness (though we are all sinners on the same level in the eyes of God).  We won't avoid troubles if we give money or time.  We should give ourselves to God simply because he first gave himself to us, and even when we run into trouble, as it says we will in John 14, we can persevere and win the prize at the end of time.

Ecclesiastes
This verse, 1:18, is from yesterday, but I found myself thinking a little more about it today.  I related it to the old maxim "Ignorance is bliss."  Sometimes, ignorance is bliss and knowledge is pain, when knowledge forces us to act in a way we might not want to, or when we learn unpleasant truths about the world or about ourselves.
I think pleasure and laughter are quite useful, and can tie right in with the joy of the Lord.  Solomon seems a little on the negative side here....