" 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