" IMPLANTED "

Well Praise The Lord,

We have all made it to the end of the
year and that's something to be very excited
about. As you well know that none of us are
guaranteed five minutes from now. Are you
equipped, have you put on your armor today?
Their is much in this world that we must run
from.

" Therefore, putting aside all filthiness
and all that remains of wickedness, in
humility receive the word implanted,
which is able to save your souls"
(James 1:21). We are advised to relinquish
ourselves from all that is wrong in our lives and
in humility receive the salvation message.
Throw away the past and en graft the things of
of God into your life now. We have received the
word Implanted because it alone can save us. The
word " Implanted " means to set firmly or deeply (2)
To fix in the mind or spirit (3) To insert in a living
site for growth or absorption.

Readers we are told to get rid of everything which
would close your ears to the true word of God. If we
neglect to take care of our bodies by daily cleaning we
will become foul. We are ushering in the new year 2011,
and I will go on record and say that it's high time that we
put aside forever the things that make our Lord Jesus
Christ turn away. If we're honest with God and ourselves
we will open up the door in our hearts and minds that we
won't allow another to know about. " The acts of the
sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality,
impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft;
hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish
ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness,
orgies, and the like. I warn you as I did before, that
those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom
of God" (Galatians 5:19-21 NIV).

It's essential that we listen to what God's word says, but it
is more important to obey it, to do what it says. You can gauge
the effectiveness of your time in the word (Bible Study time) by
the result it has on our way of life and our attitudes. Question:
Do you put into action what you have studied? I read that we
can't really know the depth of our character until we see just
how we'll react under pressure.

Many believers want an abundance of God's grace and peace,
but they are unwilling to put forth the effort to get to know him
better through Bible Study and Prayer. To enjoy the privileges
God offers us freely, we have " THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD AND
OF JESUS OUR LORD. "

When you help someone who is spreading the gospel, you are
in a very real way a partner in their ministry.

Until Next Time...

Jim

" NAVIGATOR OR CO-PILOT "

My very best to you and yours, we are in the season of the year when we all become gift givers. It's the time of year when most of us attend a church service or two. Listen, it's vital that we start making wise choices in life, like what place does the Lord serve in your life.

Is God your co-pilot or is he your navigator? I believe that we all should stop and ask ourselves who is the pilot of our lives. A co-pilot is defined as a qualified pilot who assists or relieves the pilot but is not in command. Jesus said, "I am the light of the world, whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will "have the light of life" (John 8:12). Navigator is defined as one that navigates or is qualified to navigator. Yes in this context Jesus called himself the light of the world. Jesus brings God's presence, protection, and guidance. The pillar of fire represented God's presence, protection and guidance. Question: IS HE THE LIGHT OF YOUR WORLD?

Do you make all the decisions, or do you discuss/talk over the directions that you will take in life with God? How often do you stop and ask the Lord what direction you should take when you come to a cross in the road in life? Another question, how do you presently choose which way to go, do you flip a coin?

At this point in your life, what does it mean to be a warrior and or a follower of Christ? I spent four years in the military and I learned how to follow orders. As a soldier follows his leader, so we should follow Jesus, our commanding officer. As a slave follows the advice of a trusted counselor, so we should follow Jesus' commands to us in scripture. As you are a good citizen who follows the laws of our nation, so we should follow the laws of heaven. Are you hearing me, if you're going your own way it's time you allow God to co-pilot and navigator. Those who persist in trusting God will be rewarded.

In life the decisions that we make can and will have serious consequences. If you are the head of a family the decisions that you make will affect every member of your household. Fact, life's decisions can affect you and other members of your family up to 3-4 generations down the road. How often have you heard someone say that this land has been in my family for generations or this family has served in the military or in this capacity as long as I can remember. Yes it's vital that we ask the Father which way to go, or what shall I do. God knows how important his response to your question is, just remember that he's an on time God. We must be patient, now if we jump the gun and make the decision on our own without the guidance and blessings of the Lord, you may be headed for trouble. If you take your time and wait on the Lord, you'll have a more harmonious out come.


MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR.

Until Next Time...
Jim

" WHY DO DOUBTS ARISE IN YOUR HEARTS "

Good Day To You All,

Today's subject is regarding a five letter word "Doubt" which is a very powerful word that I'm attempting to remove from my vocabulary. To doubt is to be uncertain or to lack confidence in, to hesitate or an inclination not to believe or accept. I choose to trust in God the Father in all ways and in all things.

A person who allows their mind to waver is not completely convinced that God's way is best. All God's words are right and true, and they can be trusted. The Bible is reliable: And he said to them, " Why are you troubled, and why do your doubts arise in your hearts"? Unlike people, God does not lie, forget, change his words, or leave his promises unfulfilled. Now, if your faith is new, weak, or struggling, remember that you can always trust God. Then you should be unwavering to the things of God. To stabilize your wavering or doubtful mind, commit yourself wholeheartedly to God. We can trust the bible because it contains the words of a Holy, trustworthy, and unchangeable God.

Let's take a trip to the garden. The serpent, Satan, tempted Eve by getting her to doubt God's goodness. Satan suggested that God was stern, miserly, and self-seeking for not wanting Eve to share his knowledge of good and evil. The serpent made Eve forget all that God had given her and, instead, focus on the one thing she couldn't have. The very next time you are feeling sorry for yourself and what you don't have, consider all you do have and thank God. Then your doubts won't lead you into sin. Temptation is Satan's invitation to give in to his kind of life and give up on God's kind of life. Satan tempted Eve and succeeded in getting her to sin. Ever since then, he's been hard at work getting people to sin. He even tempted Jesus (Matt 4:11). But Jesus did not sin!

Even God's people sometimes make the mistake of trusting their intellect or experience rather than God. When tempted to think that one of God's promises is impossible, remember his work throughout history. God's power is not confined by narrow perspective or bound by human limitations. Trust Him completely.

Ways to resist temptation and therefore doubt: We must realize that being tested is not a sin. We have not sinned until we give in to the temptation. Then, to resist temptation, we must (1) pray for strength to resist. (2) Run, sometimes literally, and (3) Say now when confronted with what we know is wrong. James 1:12 Tells of the blessings and rewards for those who don't give in when tempted.


Until Next Time...
Jim

" WHO WAITS FOR THE LORD "

Good Morning,

Just think in two weeks Winter officially arrives, but if

you ask me nobody told the Lord. This world is his creation

and everything in it comes under his subjection.

In this life people often wonder if working a long time

for something they desire is worth it. If we just take a

moment and think about our legacy, you will find out that

your family was hard working. The most important goals

and desires are worth working and waiting for. While

waiting we should stay active: praying, seeking God's

guidance, (and getting organized). Waiting for God to work

does not mean sitting around doing nothing. We must do

what we can, while we can, as long as we don't run ahead of

God.

Just by turning on the television or getting on the internet,

you see how they have created the illusion that people have

to wait only about an hour to solve their problems or get what

they want. Patience is hardest when we need it the most, but

it is the key to achieving our goals. There probably isn't

anything that I can think of harder to do than wait. Whether

we are expecting something good, something bad, or an unknown.

Question, how long have you been waiting for a certain prayer to

be answered? Most of us after a certain length of time we conclude

that what we're waiting for is just not going to happen. The book of

Genesis shares with us that Sarah and Abraham waited 90 years

before the Lord fulfilled his promise to give them a child.

Do you have the wisdom to wait? " Lead me in your truth and

teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I

wait all the day " (Psalm 25:5).

In this life we must show patience we must trust God to give us

patience during those difficult times when we must wait. often

blessings cannot be received unless we go through the trial of waiting.

Often it seems that he isn't answering our prayers or doesn't

understand the urgency of our situation. That kind of thinking implies

that God is not in control or is not fair. But God is worth waiting for.

In the Bible we are told to hope and wait for the Lord because God often

uses waiting to refresh, renew, and teach us. Make good use of your

waiting times by discerning what God may be trying to teach you in them.

Until next Time...

Jim

" NUCLEAR BLAST...NO CAUSE FOR FRIGHT "

How are you on this 30Th day of November 2010?

Presently the SON and the sun is shinning and our

present temperature is 51.8' . Weather reports are

calling for a severe blast of rain and a high of 61'

today. No matter what the weather is where you

are you can still take time out of your day to give

God the Father Praise. NEVER TAKE HIM FOR

GRANTED.

Now most of us don't have a care in the world

other than our families and Christmas Shopping.

As things go we live in a world where evil bounds

and a nuclear holocaust always looms. With the

threat of terrorism, and the possible release of

missiles and such we may forget that God the

Father is in control. He rules with independent

sovereignty, he always has and always will. He

is like a rock, and there is nothing that we do escapes

him. He is the supreme judge who administers perfect

justice. It would behoove us to remember God's

sovereign control helps us put both world and personal

events in perspective.

As Born Again Christians our faith and trust is in the

Lord, know matter what's happening here on earth. God

is our refuge and strength, and a very present help in

trouble. For this reason we will not fear, through the

earth should change and though the mountains slip into

the heart of the sea; Even if the waters roar and foam,

and the mountains quake at it's swelling pride. Know

matter what comes our way Jesus is in control, so we do

not have to fear anything. We all want to live without

fear, the word of God teaches us that fear of God lead to

a fearless life.

In todays world it seems that many are concerned about

the TSA and their security measures. Like the young man

who got caught with explosives in his underwear. It's my

belief that the TSA just wants to protect us from terrorism.

" Therefore do not fear them, for there is nothing

concealed that will not be revealed, or hidden that

will not be known " (Matt. 10:26). Whatever may, we

need to stand on the promises of God. We must learn to

revert back in our minds to when the Lord came through for

us. Between us He's always by our side.

" Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable

to kill the Soul; but rather fear Him who is able to

destroy both Soul and Body in Hell " (Matt. 10:28).

Until Next Time...

Jim

" SEXUAL UNFAITHFULNESS "

My very best to you all it's my prayer that all is well with

you and yours. Again I find myself appreciating what the Lord

has made, their are birds singing outside of my window, the sun

is shinning and there are fallen leaves and everything is beautiful.

It's my endeavor to stay Holy to be pure in heart, soul and mind.

In this world we are bombarded with impure images as we go

through our daily lives. Readers it's your duty to defend yourself

against the wiles of the devil. This weeks message is entitled

" SEXUAL UNFAITHFULNESS ", I believe that we should all

girls and guys, men and women be on our guard against impure

thoughts and most definitely impure actions.

Has your faith become impure? Spiritual and Physical adultery

are against God's law. When we sin by committing both spiritual

and physical adultery our hearts became hardened to sin. Our

relationship with God is broken, and disappointing to him. Jesus

stands ready to forgive any sin in your life, but confession and

repentance mean a change of heart. We only have to accept and

truly believe that all we have to do is to keep our devotion to him

strong and pure.

The word of God says in the Old Testament that it is wrong for

a person male or female to have sex with someone other than their

spouse (Exodus 20:14). Nevertheless Jesus said that the

desire to have sex with someone other than your spouse

is mental adultery and consequently sin.

Jesus wanted to drum into our heads that if the act is wrong, then

so is the intention. To be faithful to your spouse with your body

but not with your mind is to break the confidence so vital to a

strong marriage. Please refrain from internet pornography...

It's vital that we learn to control our thoughts. I've heard

some say that if lustful thoughts are sin, why shouldn't a person

go ahead and do the lustful actions too? Acting out sinful desires

is harmful in several ways: (1) It causes people to excuse

sin rather than to stop sinning; (2) It destroys marriage;

(3) It is deliberate rebellion against God's word; (4) It

always hurts someone else in addition to the sinner.

Again Internet pornography is so wrong on many levels...

Sinful behavior is more dangerous than sinful desire, and that

is why desires should not be acted out. Nevertheless, sinful desire is

just as damaging to righteousness. Left unchecked, wrong desires

will result in wrong actions and turn people away from God. Listen

I don't choose to be long winded but I believe that this life saving

information is Paramount.

Jesus is not condemning natural interest in the opposite sex or

even healthy sexual desire, but the intentional and repeated

stuffing of one's mind with illusions that would be evil if acted out.

Last Points: If your faith is incomplete, polluted, and in a

weakened state, you should focus your mind on the things of

God. Idolatry, outward or inward is spiritual adultery, breaking

our commitment to God in order to love something else.

Jesus said that divorce is not permissible except for unfaithfulness.

OK, just so we are clear this does not mean that divorce should

automatically occur when a spouse commits adultery. Those who

discover that their partner has been unfaithful should first make

every effort to forgive, reconcile, and restore their relationship.

Until Next Time...

Jim

" WITH GOD'S HELP, IT CAN BE DONE "

This I sincerely believe with all of my heart. Those who persist in trusting God will be rewarded. With God's help we can solve huge problems in our lives and accomplish great goals. Listen up, don't ever allow the size of a task or the length of time needed to accomplish it from keeping you from doing it. I'm reminded of Noah and the task that God gave him. In his ademic nature I would imagine that he had some serious reservations about this task/job. Have you ever marveled just how the animal kingdom round-up took place? Well God took care of the details of that job while Noah was doing his part by building the ark. All we have to do is concentrate on what God has given us to do, and leave the rest to God.

We must be people of Prayer, Bible Study, and Worship - but eventually we must get out and do what God has in mind for us. The Word of God encourages Responsibility and Integrity on the job. As children of the King we should always do our jobs just as if the Lord Jesus is our immediate supervisor. He wants to change the world through you and me. God has given you a job to do in your house of worship, at your place of employment, and yes even in your home. The time has come to be strong at work because God is with you!

Do you trust your employees as people, not machines? Remember that no matter whom you work for, and no matter who works for you, the one you ultimately should want to please is your Father in Heaven. Christian employers should trust their employees fairly and with respect. Remember being a Christian is being Christ - Like.

If we are going to complete the tasks God has given us, we must totally agree to his plan, pledge ourselves to obey it, and put his principles into action. Coming to terms with God's plan means both knowing what the plan is ( as found in the Bible) and carrying it out in our daily lives.

Until Next Time...
Jim

" PROBLEMS ARE UNAVOIDABLE "

I'm very sure that we all can agree that troublesome times will always be about us. Are you one that believes troubles are always kindled by sin or just the absence of faith? Suffering and misfortune may be a part of God's plan for believers. When we undergo problems and persecutions believe it or not they can build character. Problems are unavoidable for God's people, you see troubles may be a sign of effective Christian living.

We can't really know the depths of our character until we see how we react under pressure. It is always easy to be kind to others when everything is going well, but can we still be kind when others are treating us unfairly? You probably find your patience tested in some way everyday. Praise God for those opportunities to grow and deal with them in his strength. Gods wants to make us mature and complete and not to keep us from suffering and pain. Since in this life it's a guarantee that hard times or bad things are going to happen from time to time. Instead of complaining about our struggles, we should see them as an opportunity for growth. I purpose to ask God why, and then and then I ask for the grace to go through my dilemma. Listen,don't be like some who forgets to thank God for promising to be with you in the rough times. In James 4:2 it says " You do nothave because you do not ask ". Those that came before us the original Christians, suffering was the rule rather than the exception.

We will experience difficulties and through said difficulties we will grow. The problem that we run into will develop our perseverance - which in turn will strengthen our character, deepen our trust in God, and give us greater confidence about the future.

Remember that every trial you endure will help you comfort other people who are suffering similar troubles.

Until Next Time...
Jim

" The Brush - Off "

My very best to you all on this fine day that my

Lord has made. How are you feeling are things

going well for you, you know that you have a friend

that will stick closer than a brother. Jesus Christ

will never leave you nor will He forsake you. You

never have to be concerned about Him giving you

the " Brush-Off ". All that's required is that you

Love Him, I mean that you give your heart to him.

Have you ever given someone who you love and

respect the Brush - Off? Well, Peter denied Jesus

three times, how many times have you done the

same? before you respond we may need to consider

the ways one can deny Jesus. How often have stood

by and allowed another to take the name of the Lord

in vain? How many times have you eaten out and

you were too ashamed to pray over your meal?

Denial: is defined in this manner refusal to acknowledge

a person or a thing. Every time that I read/study

Luke 22:54-62 I find myself wondering exactly what I

would do if faced with the exact same circumstances.

Peter was the strong outdoor type, he spent most of

his time on the water. Peter can be described as

impulsive, he made his livelihood as a fisherman, and

Jesus was able to see exactly what he could be in the

Body Of Christ. Jesus said to Peter and his brother

Andrew: " FOLLOW ME, AND I WILL MAKE

YOU FISHERS OF MEN. IMMEDIATELY THEY

LEFT THEIR NETS AND FOLLOWED HIM".

Peter and his brother did not deny Jesus, in fact Peter

recognized Jesus as the Messiah. Peter championed

the cause of Jesus always. The night that Peter denied

Jesus was one that would go down in history. That night

each of the twelve declared that they would die before

denying Jesus. As we all know they all scattered. You

know, it's easy to say that we are dedicated to Jesus.

Our claims are significant only when they are tested

in the crucible of provoking and abuse. Is your faith

strong enough to stand up under intense trial? Those

of us who know the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior we

have the responsibility to listen for and obey the Holy

Spirit. When the Holy Spirit prompts us to go over to

someone it's vital that we do. He may want you to share

your personal story with that individual of how you came

to the Lord. It should be easy for us to share what we

came out of.

Now, it's been my experience that the Holy Spirit

doesn't make mistakes. When we are given our marching

orders we need to just go forth. It's essential that we obey

the Holy Spirit. What if Peter didn't obey Jesus, when he

said follow me? Peter and his brother " Immediately

left their nets and followed Him". Denial: Refusal

to admit the truth or reality ( as of a statement or change).

Question: Have you denied Jesus Christ?

Until Next Time...

Jim

" REVIVE ME IN YOUR WAYS "

Good Day To You,

This past week I was very ill, so ill that my wife

and family attempted to force me into going to the

hospital. Needless to say I was calling on the Lord

throughout my ordeal. During my down time I was

reminded of " Storms " and " Test " that each of us

go through. My prayer was Lord if it be your Will

revive me.

We should always endeavor to be one of God's

greatest achievements. The Father has given us so

many wonderful examples to follow. I look at these

heroes of the faith and I recognize that they were all

at different stages in their lives when introduced to us.

" Turn away my eyes from looking at vanity,

And REVIVE me in your ways " (Psalm 119:37).

Know matter what condition we find ourselves in we

can be REVIVED. Even when we drift apart from God

He is still rooting for us, his arms are stretched out for

us to come closer.

I get it, we all may be vulnerable in certain areas of

our lives. In our minds we may even be thinking I

just can't seem to conquer this sin. One might even

say that it (the sin) is my Achilles Heel.

Most people want lasting joy and will try almost

anything to obtain it, from scrambling for more

money to being involved in wanton sexual

adventures. The only factual source of happiness is

God, He will always have his hands stretched out in

order to assist and revive you.

It's my prayer that those in the Body of Christ who

have lost their first love, be revived. Revelations comes

to mind...(15) " I know your works, that you are

neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were cold

or hot. (16) So, because you are lukewarm, and

neither hot nor cold, I am going to vomit you out

of my mouth". It should be your quest to become active

and or flourishing again in the Body of Christ. Stay active,

don't become a zombie like Christian. God is capable of

reviving your house of prayer as well as, yourself. He

proves to us each day just how cherish able we are to him.

When asked of, He will renew our love for Him. All I know

is all things are possible with God.

Until Next Time...

P.S. When medical attention is required, please don't be

stubborn as I, go for it.

Jim

" BEING PERSISTENT "

Good Evening All,

Sometimes I just get totally blown away by the Holy Spirit

and often I'm in sudden awe. Today I received a call from a

prayer partner who recently as of three weeks ago relocated to

Indiana. you see I have been ill for the past five days and he

wanted to let me know that I was in his prayers.

He also shared with me that he was trusting in the Lord

as he was going to interviews. I was truly blessed by his

attitude and his faith in God. He shared that their was a

particular interview that he was very excited about. I asked

when he interviewed and I responded yesterday. As I am

aggressive in most areas of my life I prodded him to check back

with them. He said something like I was just their yesterday, I've

always believed that the wheel that squeaks the loudest, gets the

grease but that's me. I believe that either their going to hire him

or not.

Now, I'm reminded of the accounting of the Persistent Widow in

Luke 18:1-8. Jesus says that we are to always pray and not give up.

How often do we give up, maybe to easily even when we hear no. Now,

in the story of the persistent widow, we learn to press on resolutely, as

the widow. She truly was firmly determined with much purpose. I believe

that we must continue to ask the Lord for wisdom, then I believe we will

we will know when to become resolute. More than 15 years ago I interviewed

for a position and I didn't hear back from them in an reasonable amount of time.

They would tell me that the owner made the final decision but he was not

available. To this day I believe that I was prompted by the Lord to call back

daily. Finally a manager told me in order to stop me from all of my calls, and

that I was qualified for the position that it was mine.

JESUS SAYS THAT WE SHOULD PRAY AND NOT TO LOSE HEART...

Until Next Time...

Jim

" TROUBLE (S) HAPPEN "

Good Morning All,

First I want to check on something before we engage

into todays subject. Today's subject tittle is Trouble(s)

Happen I just want to make sure that you know where to

look and or turn when trouble arises. I myself always

turn to The Lord Jesus Christ, once upon a time I attempted

to figure a way out of trouble myself, and that wasn't always

successful.

All who has had trouble(s) in their lives please raise your

hands. My hand is up as I've had some form of trouble in my

life since the age of accountability. I'm the kind of person who

plans for everything, as I believe that it's time well spent.

Worrying about tomorrow is time wasted. Careful planning is

thinking ahead about tomorrow and what you need to get

accomplish. As a man who loves the Lord I trust him, and

therefore that alleviates worry in my life. Some of our

troubles may be directly from the Lord. Remember the Lord

does not tempt us, but He will test us. Many believers find

that when they determine to follow God, they immediately

encounter great obstacles. When facing trials don't attempt

to second-guess what God is doing. Use the intellect that

God blessed you with. There is often a time of turbulent's

in our lives where we feel God can't or won't work. When

we truly understand who God is, however, we will realize

that he controls both the storms of nature and the storms

of the troubled heart. Jesus is willing to help if we only ask

him. We should never discount his power even in terrible

trials.

Listen, God created the entire universe, and

nothing is too difficult for him. God the Father

created you; he is alive today, and his love is bigger

than any problem you may ever face. If we always knew

why we were suffering, our faith would have no room to

grow. Don't let worries about tomorrow affect your

relationship with God today.

Until Next Time...

Jim

" HOW GOD VIEWS WORK "

Good Morning,

Well it's been another week since we were in each others company, so how goes it with you? It's my prayer that all is well with you and yours and that you are consistently looking toward the Father as the author and finisher of your faith. This week we will be discussing God's views on work. So strap in and let's get to it.

" Six days you are to do work, but the seventh dayyou will cease from labor so that your ox and yourdonkey may rest, and the son of your female slave,as well as your stranger, may refresh themselves "( Exodus 23:12).

Yes it is scriptural for us to work, and for us to work hard. We are told to give our vehicles of transportation, and those in our household rest, as so we can refresh ourselves. In the society that we live in we must labor or we will end up depending on others. When Jesus walked this earth He labored. First as a carpenter with his earthly father until he was in his early thirties. From his childhood home, Nazareth Jesus set out to begin his earthly ministry. " We must workthe works of Him who sent me as long as it is day; night is coming when no one can work (John 9:4). It's very important that we go about our Fathers business. We should look for openings to share our personal story. In this way we are doing the work of Him who made it possible for us to be here. Jesus was persistent about his job here on earth. We should be doing our best even in small tasks given to us. If we do, I venture to guess that our diligence and if we show a positive attitude we will soon stand out by those in authority. Are you facing a seemingly irreparable predicament? At work, at school, or at home, take the task one step at a time. Something that I ask people, " How do you eat an elephant, onestep at a time" ? Listen; in all things do your very best.

Right now Noah comes to mind and how he handled the job that the Lord had given him. Noah got right to work when he was given his marching orders. He was told to build the ark. I'm drawn toward the opinion that other people must have been warned about the impending disaster see ( 1 Peter 3:20). God took care of the details of the animal kingdom roundup. Noah was freed up to do his part by building the ark. It's important for you to concentrate on what God has given you to do, and leave the rest to God.

Last point: If we are going to complete a task that God has given us, we must fully agree to his plan, pledge ourselves to obey it, and put his principles into action.

Until Next Time...
Jim

" ARE YOU EXPERIENCING INSOMNIA " ?

Good Morning,

It appears that we've bumped into each other again, I

trust that all is well with you and yours? Praise the Lord,I'm

feeling pretty good for the moment and I am grateful. I slept

through the night and I am refreshed and I'm ready to face

the challenges of the day. I know that I will be hearing from

some of you and I want you to know that it's my honor

praying for you and yours.

A remedy for sleepless nights is turning everything over

to God. Do you remember when you were a child, and you

would float off into dream land after you prayed? There are

many reasons we can't sleep -- illness, stress, and worry, you

see sleepless nights can be turned into quiet times of thought

and worship. Use them to review how God has guided and

helped you. I'm reminded of a verse: " Don't worry about

anything, but in everything, through prayer and

petition with Thanksgiving, let your requests be made

known to God (Philippians 4:6).

Sleep does not come easily during a crisis. If you learn to

call on the Lord Jesus Christ you will be able to slumber

peacefully, even during times of defiance. Remember when

you're going through times of great difficulty cry out to the

Lord. Pay attention now, from past experience you might

realize that the assurance of answered prayer will bring

peace.

Don't be like the apostles that were in a boat with Jesus,

who wondered how Jesus could sleep during a severe storm

when they needed him. Readers God is always ready to help,

but he wishes first to build faith in his followers. Think back

how often has the Lord come through for you in a time of need?

Yes sometimes when you call on him and you're not seeing

immediate results, that doesn't mean that you haven't got God's

attention. It just means that he's not answering your prayer right

now.

If you are lying awake at night worrying about circumstances

that you can't change, pour out your heart to God, and thank him

that he is in control. Then sleep will come.

Now on the other hand when we are plagued with nagging

temptation we must pray without ceasing. Temptation strikes

where we are most vulnerable, we can't resist it alone. Prayer is

essential because God's strength can shore up our defenses and

defeat satan's power. You should see time as God's gift and seize

your opportunities to live diligently for him.

Until Next Times...

Jim

" DON'T BE A HYPOCRITE "

Hey it's you, how have you been since our last blog

encounter? Are you taking life as it comes and trusting

the Lord in all things and in all ways? Many of you out

there still have a flaw in your character and that's

Hypocrisy. I'm not trying to pick a fight or a argument

with you I truly care about you.

A hypocrite is someone who pretends to be

better than he/she really is. How often do you

say one thing and do another? Many that are called

on to pray, might first stop to adjust their mask, you

know the one that we all put on. We stand up and

and say what one might call a flowery prayer. Now,

Jesus said: " When you pray, you are not to

be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand

and pray in the synagogues and on the street

corners so that they may seen by men. Truly

I say to you, they have their reward in full ".

Many people especially the religious leaders,

wanted to be seen as " HOLY " and praying in

public all eyes were on them, and that's what they

wanted. Jesus saw through their self-righteous acts,

and taught that the essence of prayer is not public

style but private communication with God.

Pay attention now, their is a place for public

prayer, but to pray only where others will notice

you indicates that your real audience is not God.

Now the word hypocrite that is used in Matt. 6-2:

" So when you give to the poor, do not sound

a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in

the synagogues and in the streets, so that they

may be honored by men. Truly I say to you,

they have their reward in full " (Matt 6:2).

Jesus did not pull his punches, he called it as he saw it.

Those who give money, or even their time for the wrong

reasons are hypocrites. If you say to someone, for

example your child or a subordinate " Do as I say, not as

I do " now that's being a hypocrite.

Until Next Time...

Jim

" UNDERSTANDING PUNISHMENT "

Good Morning,

Again I am sitting in my over sized recliner peering out of my

window enjoying the Father's handy work. The sun is shining, the

sky is blue and the birds are singing. Right now all seems right with

the world and I'm anticipating just what the Lord has for me this day.

I'm pleased that you've taken some time out of your busy schedule to

visit with me. It's sincerely my prayer that all is well in your household

and I do appreciate our time together.

The word of God says " Thus I will punish the world for it's evil

And the wicked for their iniquity " (Isaiah 13:11).

Folks how about you, I believe that the Father is not fooling around when

it comes to just punishment for sin. It's imperative that you understand

retributive suffering, in other words it's just another way to describe

punishment, penalty for wrongdoing.

Many people don't want to accept the fact that God sentences people

to " ETERNAL FIRE " for rejecting him. This is a fact and it is clearly

taught in the Word of God. If we are ever apprehensive regarding our

future, eternity, or God's judgment, we can always remind ourselves of

God's love. We know that he loves us perfectly. His love will quiet your

fears and give you confidence. Sinners who don't seek forgiveness from

God, will face eternal separation from him.

Disobedience is sin, and it breaks our fellowship with the father. But,

fortunately, when we disobey, God is willing to forgive us and to restore

our relationship with him. When you're corrected, don't resent it.

Instead, renew your fellowship with God.

Our sin can have physical or mental side affects that can cause great

suffering. Sometimes God has to punish his children in order to bring us

back to Him. I've always told my children and grandchildren that their

is a consequence to everything. He will punish your iniquity... He will

expose your sins! Realize that God is urging you to follow his paths

instead of stubbornly going your own way.

LAST POINT: Some may believe that they got away with a certain

sin or behavior, but eventually justice will be rendered. It may seem

that sin and treachery often go unpunished, but God's justice is not

limited to this life's rewards.

Until Next Time...

Jim

" DO YOU GRUMBLE/COMPLAIN " ?

Hello All,

It's my prayer and my desire that all is well with you and

those you are responsible for. Know that someone other than

yourself is praying for you, I pray a generic prayer for those

who read "Insights into God's Word ".

OK let's be honest, how often do you feel the need to grumble

and or criticize. Have you ever said to yourself that they are not

doing it right, in other words they are not doing it your way. I'm

sure if my wife of 41 years was asked she might say that I have

grumbled and or complained a time or two.

Grumbling is to complain, to mutter in discontent or whine,

protest or fuss. I'm sure that we all grumble from time to time.

Get this, our lives should be a portrayal of moral purity,

patience, and we should all walk around with a amiable

disposition. The Word of God tells us that we ought to be

" Lights" in a dark and corrupt world. When we argue,

complain, and gossip,we give the world a false impression

of Jesus Christ and the gospel. Belief in Christ should unite

those who trust him. A transformed life is an effective witness

to the power of God's Word.

How often have you heard grumbling in the Church? If your

Local Body (Church) is always complaining and arguing, it lacks

the unifying power of Jesus Christ. Christians, we need to stop

arguing with each other and we must cease complaining about

people and conditions within the church and let the world see

Christ. Are you shining brightly, or are you clouded by

complaining and arguing? Stop grumbling and illuminate for

God.

Until Next Time...

Jim

" IGNORANCE IS NOT AN ACCEPTABLE ALIBI "

Good afternoon All,

I'm truly on cloud nine...translation I am Happy In The Lord. I recently took a moment to appreciate all the answers to prayer that I was aware of in my sphere of influence. I challenge you to take note of just how many prayer request are being answered. I'm aware of the Lord answering prayer within minutes and that's so cool. I sincerely enjoy hearing praise reports.

This weeks message is in regards to ignorance, so strap in and let's get started. Ignorance of the Bible is unpardonable, primarily of Pastors and other Leaders in the faith. As the body of Christ we must do our very best to know God's Word... What it says, What it means, and How it applies to daily lives. Are you spending the appropriate time daily in the Word of God? There are consequences in ignoring God's voice. After a lifetime of resisting God, you may find it impossible to turn to Him. I come in contact with those who say that " I'm just not ready yet". Don't wait until just the right time before turning to God. Do it now while you still have the chance. You know, if you continually ignore God's voice, eventually you will be unable to hear it at all.

God does not offer special protection to people who ignore Him. We must learn to rely on God's power. We must also realize the importance of obeying God from the heart, and not merely out of habit. If we want God's help when we under-take large tasks, we must make staying close to Him our top priority.

We should not try to obey God selectively, choosing the commands we will obey and those we will ignore. God's Word has authority over every aspect of our lives, not just selected portions.

Last point, always seek God's advice, my friend David and I were just talking about this subject this morning. When the Father does give His answer to our prayer request we must accept the fact that we heard from God. It does no good to seek God's advice if we ignore it when it is given. I once read that real love for God is shown not by merely asking for direction, but by following that direction once it is given.

Until Next Time...
Jim

" WHAT ARE YOU HIDING FROM ? "

Salutations To You,

I'm so very pleased that you stopped by today. In this life I find that we hide from many things. Adam and Eve attempted to conceal themselves from God. Have you ever done the same thing? You know when we stop to think about it rationally trying to hide from the All-Seeing, All Knowing God is truly hilarious when you think about it.

How many times have you ever gone through the motion of hiding your Sin/Iniquity? "O God, it is you who knows my folly, And my wrongs are not hidden from you" (PS 69:5). I can even fathom the fact that, the fear of failure causes us to hide. Frequently we hide from serious responsibilities mainly because we are afraid of what others will think, or perchance we're unsure about how we should proceed.

Jesus pronouncde me not guilty of my hidden faults. I would be willing to go on record and say that many Christians are plagued by guilt. Worrying that they may have committed a sin unknowingly, done something good with self-seeking intentions, failed to put their whole heart into a task, or neglected what they should have done. Listen, nothing can be hidden from God the Lord of All He came to earth and faced death to rescue me/Man. NO ONE IS BEYOND HIS REACH. Guilt can play an important role in bringing us to Jesus Christ and in keeping us behaving properly, but it should not cripple us or make us fearful. The Father fully and completely exonerates us - even for those sins we perpetrate unknowingly. If nothing is hidden from God then, our thoughts are an open book to Him. He knows even our motives, we have absolutely no place to hide, no way to pretend we can get away with sin. Listen readers, we don't have to impress God or even put on a false front. Please understand this when we truly follow God, He blesses our efforts.

LAST POINT: Our Father often calls us to tasks that seems too difficult, but He doesn't ask to do them alone. God offers us His resources, just as He did for many of our heroes of the faith. We should not hide behind our inadequacies. We must look beyond ourselves to the great resources available. Believe me when you're open and you totally believe God in all areas of your life, you won't have to be concerned about concealment issues. Do you attempt to keep people from seeing the real you? When you acknowledge your sins, you free yourself to receive forgiveness and a new life. NOW, WHAT ARE YOU HIDING FROM?

Until Next Time...
Jim

" DO YOU HAVE YOUR OWN AGENDA "

Good Morning,

I have a quick question for you: does this year seem to be flying by at break neck speed? Are you accomplishing all that you've set out to do this year? If not you might want to check your agenda listing? This week we are discussing Judas Iscariot and his seemingly unchangeable agenda.

It appears that Judas Iscariot truly had a program that he would carry out know matter what. I believe that Judas was not a man who flip flopped his way through life. Now there is meaning behind everyone's name. There are a small number of possibilities for the definition of this name, including "The False One," "The Slayer," or "The Dyer" (an Occupation). The most presumable meaning is "Man of Kerioth," referring to a village in Judea located 12 miles south of Hebron. The name distinguishes Judas, The Betrayer of Christ, from the other apostle named Judas "The Son of James".

Satan's part in the betrayal of Jesus does not remove any of the responsibility from Judas. Disillusioned because Jesus was talking about dying rather than setting up his kingdom, Judas may have been trying to force Jesus' hand and make Him use his power to prove that He was the Messiah. It's obvious that Judas did not understand Jesus' mission and no longer believed Jesus was God's chosen One. Whatever Judas thought, Satan assumed that Jesus' death would end His mission and foil God's plan. Like Judas, Satan did not know that Jesus' death was the most important part of God's plan all along. Judas' greedy desire for money and status could not be realized if he followed Jesus, so he betrayed Jesus in exchange for money and favor from the religious leaders.

Judas often dipped into the disciples' money bag for his own use. Now, I'm quite sure Jesus knew what Judas was doing but never did nor said anything about it. Similarly, when we choose the way of sin, God may not immediately do anything to stop us, but this does not mean He approves of our actions. What we deserve will come.

Judas had the ability like most to conceal his emotions. Judas had already determined to betray Jesus, but his hypocrisy did not prevent him from attending the Last Supper. I have to marvel as to why Judas didn't get up and leave the table when Jesus started to speak. As they were reclining at the table and eating. Jesus said, " Truly I say to you that one of you will betray me - one who is eating with me." I most likely would have froze, I mean I wouldn't have moved. Especially when he alluded that it will be the one who dips with me in the bowl. I would have attempted to time my dipping, you know, I wouldn't dip until right after Jesus. Let's be real we can't pull the wool over God's eye's. Listen if you already have an agenda don't be so rigid as to not be flexible to change.

Until Next Time...
Jim

" BE MINDFUL OF YOUR WORDS "

Good Day To You,

It's my prayer that all is well with you and yours. As I peer outside of my window I'm truly filled with the possibilities that this day may bring. Everyday is an adventure as I never know what to expect. My emails and telephone calls are always challenging, as I must always be mindful of my every word.

For those of you who have been faithful readers this weeks message may remind you of " We'll See " written June 18, 2008. Again the Lord has put on my heart the fact that many speak without considering the consequences of their words. A scripture in the Word of God comes to mind when Peter declared, " Even if allfall away, I will not (Mark 14:29)." vs. 31 But Peter insisted emphatically, " Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown(deny) you." And all the others said the same. Vs. 50 Then everyone deserted him and fled.


Now, is it just me or is it stereotyped behavior for us just to say any and everything that we think fits the situation? I find myself wondering why can't we say what we mean and keep our word. Peter and the other disciples proclaimed that they would not fall away then they all took flight, and one even ran completely out of his clothing. Peter stated emphatically that even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you... How many times have you broken your word, yes your word and I'm not just referring to saying I promise, or I give you my word? A few years back I got fed up with people >not standing behind what they say, I now say " We'll See."

Jesus came to earth to die for our sins, God was given man another chance. Yes He once destroyed the world, well all except Noah and his family. Incredibly, in all the world, only one man and his family still worshiped God. I'm very sure that Noah was mindful of every word that left his mouth. Right now, I surmise with confidence that the earth is no longer the perfect paradise that God had intended.

I venture to guess that man only cares about his wants and his needs. For this reason I'm very comfortable in saying that man can be selfish and unthinking in speech. Do you remember when Jesus was agonizing in the garden of Gethsemane? As I ponder I believe that if we were in his position that we wouldn't have kept our word. The thought of the up coming suffering, extreme pain of body and mind, we would have fled faster than the disciples. Jesus could have come down from the cross at any time, but He didn't. HE WAS MINDFUL OF HIS WORDS.

Until Next Time...
Jim

" PRACTICING SELF - CONTROL "

Greetings to you on this fine day that the Lord has made. Isn't God good as I'm sitting here peering out of my window, watching the birds while taking notice of my wife's Crape Myrtle's, and I'm appreciating life even more. I'm truly in awe of the Lord Jesus Christ everyday as I'm recognizing His goodness. I've been reading about Jesus' final days and hours in the Gospels and I'm struck by his self control.

"A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps >himself under control"... Proverbs 29:11.

Self - Control is restraint exercised over one's own impulses, emotions, or desires. Self - Control can also be said to be the mastery of your personal desires and passions. The Word of God shares with us that difficult times for those of us who are believers will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self - control, brutal, haters of God. Treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied it's power; Avoid such men as these (2 Tim 3:3). Now, I believe that this is a person who is a slave to a habit or desire. Since we pretty much communicate mainly by speech we ought to learn how an when to hold our tongues. You have not conquered self-control if you do not control what you say. I think that we all are aware that words can cut very deeply. If you want to be self- controlled, begin with your tongue. Stop and think before you react or speak.

As we obey Christ who guides us by his spirit we will develop self-control, notonly with respect to food and drink, but also with respect to our emotions.

Last quick thought, If you can control your tongue this small and yet very powerful instrument, you can control the rest of your body and your life.

Until next Time...
Jim

" WHY IS DISHONESTY SO HARD TO AVOID "

Good Morning To You,

Lord Willing all is well with you this fine day that the Lord has made. It is my desire to share with you what I have discovered regarding dishonesty. Dishonesty is defined in this manner: (1) Lack of honesty or integrity; disposition to defraud or deceive (2) A dishonest act; Fraud.

Those who deceive soon begin to believe the lies they construct around themselves. I for one believe that it's truly hard work being dishonest, as one must endeavor to recall exactly what was said in order to appear credible. Talk about mental exhaustion, telling lies would make me very uncomfortable. I venture to guess that dishonest people tend to lose the ability to tell the difference between truth and lies. If you are concerned about getting caught, then you are probably in a position that is less than honest. Listen let your fear of getting caught be a warning to do right.

Fact, correcting yourself in the middle of doing wrong may bring hurt and disappointment, but it also will bring freedom from sin's control. How we react to a moral dilemma often exposes our real motives. Don't take dishonesty lightly. Even the smallest portion of dishonesty contains enough of the poison of deceit to kill your spiritual life. If there is any dishonesty in your life, tell God about it now. Dishonesty affects the very core of a person, it is easy to cheat if we think no one is looking

Proverbs clearly tells us that God despises all forms of dishonesty. It is wiser to be honest because " The righteous will escape from trouble " (Prov. 12:13). Unrighteous talk can be looked at as twisting the facts to support your claims. As I mentioned earlier those who do this are likely to be trapped by their own lies. By believing your own lies you deceive yourself, you will alienate yourself from God, and you will lose credibility in all your relationships. In the long run, honesty wins out.

Notable Facts that we should be aware of: Leaders value those who speak the truth (Prov. 16:13). Most people will appreciate truth in the end more than flattery (Prov 28:23). The upright are guided by integrity. Truthful lips endure. Riches gained dishonestly don't last. God delights in honesty. God delights in those who deal truthfully. God detests unjust measures. God is pleased when we do what is right and just.

Until Next Time...
Jim

" DON'T EVER BE EMBARRASSED BY JESUS "

Good Afternoon To Ya,

I sure hope that you had a week that you can truly be proud of. I'm still in that growing stage, I find myself asking for forgiveness. Some of you are aware that I'm a man in training, as I am striving to be a man of integrity so I work at being truthful. I'm also learning to totally take the Lord at his word, so I'm listening for that tiny voice inside that instructs and prompts me.

How many times have you backed down when you knew that the Holy Spirit induced you to witness to another? Paul was not ashamed because he shared the gospel of Jesus Christ, The Good News. Now, the Good News is a message of Salvation, which has LIFE CHANGING POWER, for all who hear and accept, now.

So, we must not be embarrassed to share at anytime and to anyone. When you're tempted to be ashamed, remember what the Good News is all about. Many times when I was a new Christian I had to fight through my fear. I once read that if you focus on God and on what God is doing in this world rather than on my/our inadequacy, you won't be ashamed, nor embarrassed

Have you ever wondered how a little child can run naked through a room full of strangers without embarrassment ? One of my youngest grandson's enjoys running around in his birthday suit and he does so without shame. Please remember that he's only two years old. Typically a husband and wife have no barriers, feeling no embarrassment in exposing themselves to each other and as well to God. We must remember that God see's and hears all. When we are working for the Father, in other words when we're on the job we must not take note of any lack in confidence that we may be experiencing when sharing the Good News.

I've read in the Word of God that people of faith died without receiving all that God had promised, but they lost their vision of heaven. Many Christians become frustrated and defeated because their needs, wants, expectations, and demands are not immediately met while they believe in Christ. We sometimes become impatient and we even consider abandoning our quest for the things of God. Jesus constantly turns the world's perspective upside down with talk of first and last, saving and losing. Jesus gives us a choice.. We can reject Jesus now and be rejected by Him at His SECOND COMING, OR WE CAN ACCEPT HIM NOW. Rejecting Christ may help us escape shame for the time being, but it will guarantee an eternity of shame later.

Last word on this subject we can be assured, however, that whenever we suffer because of our loyalty to Christ, He will be with us all the way. It is not shameful to suffer for being a Christian. Don't seek out suffering, and don't try to avoid it. Instead, keep on doing what is right regardless of the suffering it might bring. Continuing to always look to Jesus... somehow always makes me feel good.

Until Next Time...
Jim

" DISOBEDIENCE IS SIN "

Greetings To You All,

Here we are again in the beginning of another week in which all things are possible. With that being said it's very important that I/we focus on the things of God. I'm very sure that none of us intentionally " DISOBEY " but when we let our guard down any thing's possible. I'm from the school of hard knocks which means that sometimes it takes me a little longer to grasp a concept. I've read that rebellion is likened to the sin of witchcraft so disobedience does not need to be in our play book.

Disobedience/Rebellion is sin, and it breaks fellowship with God. Those of you who are in a position of authority I have one question for you. How do you feel when someone directly or indirectly disobeys you? We must always remember that there are consequences for our actions. But fortunately, when we disobey, God is willing to forgive us and restore our relationship with Him.

Listen, your faith in God will give you the courage to take a stand for what you know is right. God does not expect us to obey those in authority when they ask us to disobey him or his word. Following the majority or the authority is not always right. Whenever we are ordered to disobey God's word, we must " Obey God rather than men" (Acts 5:29). Our disobedience may bring suffering upon ourselves and maybe others that we care about. Our disobedience can lead us down a road that we're not truly prepared for. Obeying those who are in authority over us may inadvertently save our lives.

Consider this, often our troubles result from our own disobedience and or lack of faith. We cannot blame God for our sins. Until we face this truth, we will have little peace and absolutely no spiritual growth. We often make life's journey more difficult than necessary by disobedience. Accept God's Love, read and follow His commands in the Bible, and make a promise to stick with God whatever your situation. You will find that your life will be less complicated and yet more rewarding. Last word, never allow anyone, no matter how attractive or persuasive, to talk you into doing wrong. God knows our true motives... He forgives, restores, and blesses only when we are honest about our sins.

Until Next Time...
Jim

" STUBBORN UNBELIEF... ME ? "

Good Evening All,

We'll it's truly been a magnificent 4Th of July holiday weekend for me and mine. My youngest daughter got married to a great guy and all is well in our camp. My two sisters and their families are here from New England and I'm on cloud nine. It's my prayer that all is well with you and yours. Now keep your wits about you in all things and in all ways. Open up your hearts and your minds to the things of the Lord.

Have you ever looked at another and thought to yourself, why don't they get it. How many times have we heard and read about the miraculous power of God. Stubborn unbelief leads to a hardened heart - and a hardened heart can lead to calamity of all kind. We must not wait for great calamities to drive us to God, but we should open up our hearts and minds to his direction now. Have you ever looked back in life and wondered why did I follow my own limited resources instead of God's. Unbelief may be the root of many sins and problems. When we feel lost, it may be because you're looking everywhere but to God for your help and guidance.

I'm of the opinion that the more we study and meditate in the word, that prayer is the key that unlocks faith in our lives. When I pray I ask God to help >my unbelief. I've become aware that growing in faith is a constant process of my daily renewing of my trust in Jesus. Know matter how much confidence I have in myself, I'll never reach the point of being self-sufficient. I need Jesus... I'm convinced that no matter what you've shared with others, saved or unsaved some continue in their unbelief. So it's time to open up your heart and believe that all things are possible with God. So when you pray ask the Father to help your unbelief.

Until Next Time...
Jim

" NEGATIVE(S) "

Good Evening To You,

This weeks subject matter will be an important one, we're going to be looking into NEGATIVE OPINIONS. It's my prayer that you and yours are healthy, wealthy and connected to the father. If you're anything like me I'm prone to have negative feelings about something or someone whom has harmed me in some way.

Listen I'm not removed from the same feelings that you have from time to time. I work very hard to fight the natural feeling to strike out at someone in a negative manner. Anytime I feel the urge I truly call on the Lord.

It's human nature to accept the opinion of another as fact, but not Gods. We must be especially careful when voicing our own negative notions. As Jesus Christ is our shepherd we truly are the sheep. Just as sheep who go where they are led, we must only follow our shepherd. Now, what we say may heavily influence the actions of those who trust us to give sound advice. By carrying out Jesus' simple commands, we find ourselves following all of God's other laws as well.

When facing a tough decision, don't let the negatives cause you to lose sight of the positives. Weigh both sides carefully. Don't let potential difficulties blind you to God's power to help and promise to guide. When a cry of despair goes up around you, consider the larger perspective before you join in. Now don't you think that you have better ways to use your energy than to complain, HELLO.

The dictionary describes the word Negative in different ways: A proposition which denies or contradicts another; Marked by denial, prohibition, or refusal. Removal of something positive - Disagreeable, and lacking positive qualities.

We become fearful and sometimes motionless when we focus on the negative aspects of a situation. How much better it is to focus on the positive - God's direction and promises. Listen, I feel that it's very important that we understand this point. When confronted with an important decision and you know what you should do, MOVE OUT IN FAITH. Focus on the positives while trusting God to overcome the negatives. Problems don't have to rob you of the victory. I understand that at times we can and have become
preoccupied with problems when we should be looking for opportunities.

Instead of focusing on the negatives, develop an attitude of expectancy. Now hear this... to say that God cannot rescue someone or that a situation is impossible demonstrates a lack of faith.

Jesus' statement, " DO NOT JUDGE, " is against the kind of sanctimonious and judgmental attitude that tears others down in order to build oneself up. It is not a blanket statement against all critical thinking, but a call to be discerning rather than negative. Words can hurt almost as bad as a 2x4.

Until next time...

Jim

" WHO NEEDS AN ADVISER(S) "

Good Day To You,

I am blessed and highly favored... This weeks message is one regarding the power of wise counsel. It's just possible that some of us never give a thought to, confiding and or seeking the advise of another older and wiser than ourselves.

It's important to have someone or others around whom you can count on for sound advice. Do you have someone whom you can depend on when you call on them for wisdom? Think for a moment, what do you believe the qualities of a good leader are? Just in case you've exhausted your brain power for the moment. Here's what the Bible suggest: diligence; a trustworthy messenger; never penalize people for their integrity; listen before you answer; pray for the ability to discern; listen to both sides of the story; An adviser must also be able to stand up under adversity and you must be able to stand up
under praise.

A good leader needs and uses wise counselors. I hear you, you're thinking that, the life's experience's you've collected have prepared you for future events. It's always wise to hear someone other than your self's perspective, one person's viewpoint and understanding is re markedly limited; now he or she may not have all the facts or may be blinded by bias, emotions, or wrong impressions. I for one don't want to be a know it all, so I have a group of brothers in the faith whom I bounce things off of. To be a wise leader at home, at church, or
at work, please seek out wise counsel. Listen very carefully to what they have to share, and be open to their advice. Then, after considering all the facts, make your decision.

No focus, people with tunnel vision, those who are locked into one way of thinking, are likely to miss the right road because they have closed their minds to any new options. Seek out the advice of those who know you and have a wealth of experience. We need at times the guidance of those who can enlarge our vision and broaden our perspective. Build a foundation, a network of advisers. Then be open to new ideas and be willing to weigh their suggestions carefully. Your plans will be stronger and more likely to succeed.

That's all for now, until next time...

Jim

" WRONG DESIRES BLIND OUR JUDGMENT "

Good Day All,

This weeks topic is on the subject of " Desire ".
We all have wants and desires, but the question is what are
your true aspirations. I believe that it's essential that we
wrap our minds around this weeks subject.
" DESIRE " : (1) to long or hope for: (2) a strong wish: (3)
sexual urge or appetite, craving. eagerly wishing.

" JUDGMENT " : a decision or opinion given after judging;
the process of forming an opinion by discerning and comparing.

What do you truly desire, and are you seeking after
something that will please Jesus Christ? Whether a
" desire fulfilled " is good or bad depends on the characteristics.
It is "appetizing to the soul" to achieve worthwhile goals, but not all
goals are worth pursuing. We desire many things but when we set
our heart on something, you may lose your ability to assess it
objectively. With your desire blinding your judgment, you may
proceed with an unwise relationship, a wasteful purchase, or a poorly
conceived plan. Faithfulness is a virtue, and stubbornness is not.

People with selfish desires often seek to fulfill them in ruthless ways.
Examine your ambitions to see if they are Self-Centered or God-Centered.
Please make certain that you always fulfill your desires in ways that God
would approve.
You know if we rely on our own wisdom, we will make wrong choices. Now,
if we try to follow the spirit by our own effort, we will fail. Our only way to
freedom from our evil desires is through the empowering of the Holy Spirit.

In this life a greedy desire for the best of everything may lead us down a
path that we're truly not prepared for. This type of desire could lead one into
sinful surroundings. This type of burning desire for possessions and success
can cost our freedom and enjoyment of life. The prosperity we long for is
captivating; it can both entice us and also enslave us if our motives are not
in line with God's desires.

Now to sum things up for today:

Our heart - our feelings of love and desire - dictates to a great extent
how we live because we always find time to do what we enjoy. We are told
to " guard our heart above all else, making sure we concentrate on those
desires that will keep us on the right path. Make sure your affections push
you in the right direction. Put boundaries on your desires: Don't go after
everything you see. Look straight ahead, keep your eyes fixed on your
goal, and don't get sidetracked on detours that lead to sin.

Until Next time...

Jim

" IS ANYTHING IMPOSSIBLE "

Good Day to You,

This week it has been put on my heart to share what the Word Of God has to say regarding the word impossible. It's truly something that we all should deal with, after all how many times are we confronted with a situation that we deem an impossibility? Please remember that ............ " Nothing is impossible with God "

Man says that the word " Impossible " is defined: (1) Incapable of being or of occurring. Now that's pretty definite to me, but I'm inclined to side with the Lord. God can do the impossible and he doesn't need much from us to accomplish his plan for our lives. Who could believe that Abraham would have a son at 100 years of age - and live to raise his son to adulthood? I have to wonder just how many times I've talked myself out of a blessing that God had for me and my family. After all nothing is impossible with God, and the sooner this fact sinks into my heart the better for me and mine. You see we all talk a good game and it's time that we all harness the goodness of God.

Listen, doing the impossible is everyday business for our Lord and God. So let go and let God, and our big problems won't seem so impossible if we let God handle them. In our daily lives we face many apparently impossible situations that would be hopeless if we had to handle them with our limited strength. But the father specializes in working through us to achieve the impossible. What God promises, he delivers, and God delivers on time! You can have complete confidence that God will keep His promises. If you are waiting for God to answer some request or to fill some need, remain patient. No matter how impossible God's promises may seem, what He has said in His Word
will come true at the right time.

Do you recall when God's chosen people were trapped against the sea with no where to run? There was no apparent means of escape, but the Lord opened up a dry path through the sea. Sometimes we find ourselves caught in a problem and see no way out. Don't panic;
God can open up a way.

Until Next Time...

Jim

" Morals / Values "

Good Afternoon To You,

I believe that it's time that those of us who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, should take a stand. In order to know exactly where we stand we should be reading and studying the Word of God daily. We should also be conversing with the Lord Jesus Christ before we make any decision. We run into people throughout the day and I have to wonder what kind of impression we are leaving with them. Are we strong and firm in our beliefs or are we willing to except the beliefs of whomever we are conversing with. For this reason we must rely on the morals and values of Christ Jesus.

When is the last time that you had a morals tune up? Do you just take life for granted, do you say to yourself that it's none of my business. Admit to yourself and to God that you fit the human pattern and frequently fail to live up to your own standards (much more of God's standards).

Many people claim to believe in God while refusing to give up attitudes and actions that God denounces. FYI, God cannot be added to the values we already have. He must come first, and his word must shape all our actions and attitudes. God's values are opposed to that of society's, his plans frustrate the " way of the wicked" because his values are a contradiction of society's. Jesus turned organized humanity's values upside down when he proclaimed that " many who are first will be last; and the last first" (Matt 19:30) and that " who ever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it " (Matt. 16:25).

As Christians we are known as an unselfish lot. Now, don't be surprised when others don't understand your Christian values, but don't give in to theirs. The world's values/morals are often the opposite of God's values. This can cause Christians to feel like misfits. Consider carefully the things you cherish. if you value anything more than God, it becomes your golden calf and will one day drag you down. Let go of anything that interferes with your relationship with God.

UNTIL NEXT TIME...

Jim