"WHO IS YOUR PROVIDER?"

Take a moment and settle this in your mind.... Who is your Provider?

Some may answer my spouse and another may even answer I provide for myself. I'm reminded of Jesus teaching the disciples about prayer. See (Matthew 6:11) "Give us this day our daily bread". When we daily seek the face of the LORD, we are acknowledging that God is our Sustainer and Provider. No matter how big and strong I am, no matter how hard working I may be, one must understand that my strength comes from the LORD.

We must look to the LORD for our every need. If we are just and aboveboard in our associations, we will dwell with God, and He will supply our needs. We must thank Him for our daily provisions.

Until next Wednesday trust in God, as He is our Sustainer and Provider.

"CHRIST OR JUDGMENT"

Greetings All,

I truly believe that it's time for us to talk. How often have you had discussions with those in your charge about obedience? Think back to when you were growing up and you were taught why we need to obey. How many times have we said to ourselves, "I know what's best for me".

HEBREWS 10:31 "It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God." What are your immediate thoughts when you hear this verse? One may say I heard that the LORD is a loving God.... One might even say that this verse may cause them some pause. This verse is to make you aware of the judgment of Christ. This judgment is for anyone who rejects the love and mercy of God. For those who love and honor Jesus Christ as LORD and Savior, the coming judgment is no cause for concern. Saints being saved through his Grace, we have nothing to fear (see 1 John 4:18) "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love."

To all who are listening while the gift of eternal life is free and an example of God's wonderful Grace, each and everyone of us will still be judged by Christ. We must all give an account for how we live our lives." This judgment will reward us for how good or bad examples we were for others.

Please do not be mistaken, God's loving gift of Salvation does not free Any of us from the prerequisite of faithful obedience.

Until next time...

"NOT ASHAMED"

Greetings All as we get into this weeks "Insights Into God's Word" I wish to express my gratefulness for those of you who are not ashamed of the Word of God. What I'm trying to say is that we all must en graft the Word into our hearts and mind. There are some of God's people who can share Scripture at the drop of a hat, then theirs me who loves to research Scripture.

This past week I mean within the last five days I heard from two individuals that are very important to me. My friend David reminded me and the other men in our prayer group of (JAMES 3:4) "Look at the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, are still directed by a very small rudder wherever the inclination of the pilot desires". Our tongue is a very small part of our bodies, but a very powerful instrument. Sometimes I feel that we forget that by our words we will be condemned, and by our words we will be justified. My friend David was reminding us that disagreeably rough words and unmindful statements cut deeply and are not easily removed. My cousin - in - law Ruth reminded me of Romans 12:1-2 " Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, which is your spiritual service of worship. (2) And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect." Our God wants his people to be transformed with renewed minds. It's our personal responsibilty to give ourselves as living sacrifices for His service.

It's important for us to understand that God wants to make us mature and complete, not to keep us from all pain. We need to thank the LORD for promosing to be with us in rough times. We must learn to be wise and knowledgeable about the things of God. It's important to think before we speak, we should meditate on the things of God. I live with chronic pain daily and meditating about the Word gets me through my days. James tells us to turn our hardships into times of learning. I spend my time praying for others and researching scripture that applys to the moment. It's my prayer to be used by the LORD and to be a thoughtful person. I'm also learning that seeking God's wisdom delivers us from the need to compare ourselves to others and to want what others have. The sooner we learn that nothing is impossible with God, then we will relax about the things in life. We all must have the Love and Compassion of Christ then we will be mindful of what we think do and say.

Until next time be Not Ashamed...

Jim

"WHY DO WE PROCRASTINATE"

Good Morning All,

Today's subject is one that I believe we all need to take a hard look at, and we should do this now.

Webster's Dictionary defines the word "Procrastination" this way: To put off intentionally and habitually - To put off intentionally the doing of something that should be done - Delay - Postpone - To put off intentionally and reprehensibly the doing of something that should be done.
It seems that no matter how much time passes man never changes. From the begining of time man has always had the attitude of what ever suits me.

In Joshua 18, Joshua "asked why some of the tribes were putting off the job of possessing the land" (Procrastination). Why do we often delay doing jobs that seem large, difficult, boring, or disagreeable? To continue putting them off shows lack of discipline, poor stewardship of time, and in some cases, disobedience to God. Tasks we don't enjoy require concentration, teamwork, twice as much time, lots oe encouragement, and accountability. remember this when you are tempted to procrastinate.

Men, how many times has your wife asked or maybe even begged you to complete a do it yourself project. Now, let's be very honest, how often was your reply that I'll get around to it, and six months or more passed without the task being completed. When we procrastinate we're not putting our best foot forward. II Chronicles 12:14 "he did evil because he did not set his heart to seek the Lord". Rehoboam's story is tragic because he "did not set his heart to seek the Lord". It is dangerous to put off responding to God. God asks us for a firm commitment, and unless we respond by trusting him completely, we find ourselves aliented entrusting - everything - Our lives families, jobs, possessions - to his control and guidance. To commit ourselves to the LORD means to trust in him (Ps. 37:5), believing that he can care for us better than we can ourselves. We should be willing to wait patiently (37:7) for him to work out what is best for us.

In all we do, we must trust the LORD. Psalm 9:10 "And those who know your name will put their trust in you, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek you." friends God will never forsake those of us who seek him. To forsake someone is to abandon that person. God's promise does not mean that if we trust in him we will escape loss or suffering; it means that God himself will never leave us no matter what we face. Take a moment and reflect on a bad time in your life last year. While going through it I'm sure that you cried out to the LORD. Sometimes we make promises to God that we never keep. As we think back to our worst time, a time in our life were we felt that no body knows what I'm going through. Our Father God knows what we are going through at any given time. I believe that he allows us to go through such things so we can mature in his ways.

In Exodus 14:10-11 Trapped against the sea, the Israelites faced the Pharaoh's army sweeping in for the kill. God's people thought they were doomed. After watching God's mighty hand deliver them from Egypt, their only response was fear, grumbling, and despair. Where was their trust in God? Israel had to learn from repeated experience that God was able to provide for them. If I'm totally honest the same goes for me, and I'm ashamed to say so. God has preserved these examples in the the Bible so that we can learn to trust him the first time. Friends by focusing on God's faithfulness in the past we can face crises with confidence rather than with fear and complaining.

Think about it, that trouble you were in last year or that situation that you feared there was no way out, you came through it. Think about it you always come through, God has promised to never leave you nor forsake those who belong to Him.

Until Next Time, Know That God Will Be With You...

Jim

"UNEXPECTED GUEST"

I was reading in the book of Mark about the account of Demons. Jesus had just calmed the wind and the sea. Jesus and his disciples were now on the other side of the sea, coming into the country of the Gerasenes. Can you imagine how strong of a man Jesus was? Yes he was God, but he walked this earth as man. Once his public ministry started He was bombarded by every one's wants and needs. He walked in love and compassion, but always about His Fathers business.

This week is about Demons who are unexpected guest to those who are not walking with Christ. When Jesus stepped out of the boat immediately He was approached by a man with an unclean spirit. It's truly important that we are prayed up and that we are able to discern, and to recognize. We should pray for moral discernment so we can maintain our Christians morals and values. We cannot be sure why demon-possession occurs. It's well known that unclean (evil) spirits can use the human body to distort and destroy people's relationship with God and likeness to Him. You need to be aware that even today, demons are dangerous, powerful, and destructive. Friends please understand that Satan is the chief adversary of God and the LORD of demons and evil. It's important to recognize their evil activity so that we can stay away from demons. We should avoid any curiosity about our involvement with demonic forces or the occult
(Deut. 18:10-12). If we resist the devil and his influences, he will flee from us (James 4:7). Have you heard the term "LEGION" in Matthew 26:53 "Or do you think that I cannot appeal to my father, and He will at once put at my disposal more than Twelve Legions of angels"? Which translates into 36,000 to 72,000 plus Angels can come to the aide of Jesus if He calls for them.

Now getting back to Jesus stepping out of the boat on the other side of the sea. My Bible says immediately a man from the tombs with an Unclean Spirit met Him. This man's dwelling was among the tombs. At this time no one was able to restrain him anymore, even with a chain; because he had often been bound with shackles and chains, and the chains had been torn apart by him and the shackles broken in pieces, and no one was strong enough to subdue him. We call ourselves Christians, and that means Christ-like. This man seeing Jesus from a distance, he ran up and bowed down before Him. I'm reminded of a few verses in the Bible: Romans 14:11 For it is written, " AS I LIVE, SAYS THE LORD, EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW TO ME, AND EVERY TONGUE SHALL GIVE PRAISE TO GOD." Philippians 2:10 "So that in the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth. As this man with a unclean Spirit in him shouting with a loud voice, (man tends to shout when we are unsettled, scared,etc.) he said, "What business do we have with each other, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore you by God, do not torment me! Did you catch it, He said I beseech you by God, not to torment me. Saints we have Power and Authority through Jesus Christ, all we have to do is recognize what and who we are in Jesus Christ. When this man ran at Jesus, did Jesus run? I wonder what the disciples were thinking, was Peter getting ready for battle? The unclean spirit said it's name was Legion. I mentioned earlier that a legion was the largest unit of the Roman Army Consisting of 3,000 to 6,000 soldiers. Evidently this man was possessed by demon(s) can be a force to recon with, unless we are in the body of Christ. Are you prayed up, are you praying without ceasing, (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Folks we cannot spend all of our time on our knees, but it is possible to have a prayerful attitude at all times. I believe that Jesus wants us to acknowledge our dependency on God. When we realize his presence within us no weapon formed against us shall prosper. When the man ran from the tomb towards Jesus and his disciples how did Jesus react, how would you have reacted? Acknowledging our dependence on God, realizing his presence within us, and determining to obey him fully. Then hopefully we will find it natural to pray frequent, spontaneous, short prayers. A prayerful attitude is not a substitute for regular times of prayer but should be an outgrowth of those times. So when you're faced with someone who, is a demon fight him with the world of God the demons goal is to control the humans they are able to inhabit. Jesus' goal is to give people freedom from sin and Satan's control. Demons know that they have no power over Jesus; so when they begged Jesus to spare them from the abyss, which is the place of confinement for Satan and his messengers. The demons, of course, knew all about this place of confinement, and they didn't want to go there. The demons implored Him saying, "Send us into the swine so that we may enter them." With that request Jesus gave them permission. According to Old Testament Law (Lev. 11:7) pigs were "Unclean" animals. This meant that they could not be eaten or even touched by a Jew. This incident took place southeast of the sea of Galilee in the region of the Gerasenes, a Gentile region, which explains how a herd of pigs could be involved. Coming out, the unclean spirits entered the swine; and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea, about two thousand of them; and they were drowned in the sea.

Friends please understand how important it is for us to watch out for "Unexpected Guest."
have a great evening.