"THE WAY OF ALL FLESH "

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A BLESSED NEW YEAR TO YOU,

This week we will be looking into death, this is a message that the Lord put on my heart the first week in December. I feel that now is a good time to share it with you, as always it comes from the Word of God. One of my heroes in the faith, Paul, said that he would be confident in dying. He went on to expound that it would be better than living, because in death he would be removed from worldly troubles, and he would see Christ face-to-face.

Now, if you're not ready to die then you're not ready to live. Make certain of YOUR eternal destiny; then you will be free to serve - devoting your life to what really counts without fear of death. How to face death, as Christians, those of us who have a Born Again experience with Jesus Christ are confident. When we are resurrected, God will give us a transformed, eternal body suited to our new eternal life.

Now we all face limitations. Those who have physical, mental, or emotional disabilities are especially aware of this. Some may be blind, but they can see a new way to live. Some may be deaf, but they can hear God's Good News. Some may be lame, but they can walk in God's Love. Now this part is good, in addition they have the encouragement that those disabilities are only temporary. The Word of God tells us that we all will be given "new bodies" when Christ returns and that these bodies will be without disabilities, never to die or become sick. This can give us hope in our suffering.

 " EVEN THOUGH I WALK THROUGH THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH, I FEAR NO EVIL, FOR YOU ARE WITH ME; YOUR ROD AND YOUR STAFF, THEY COMFORT ME."

If our lives aren't the way we would like them to be now, we can't assume that change will come more easily later. When nearing death, we will respond to God the same way we have been responding all along. Coming face-to-face with death only shows us what we are really like. How do you want to face death?

Start facing life that way right now. Lord Willing I'll have part two ready for week.

Until Next time...
Jim

" HOW TO BE A BETTER HUSBAND "

Well hear we are again another week has come and gone. First I want to thank you so much for dropping by. We are in the Holiday Season and I want you to know that I wish you and your family the very best that the Lord Jesus has to offer.

This week we are looking at " How To Be A Better Husband ". According to the Bible, the man is the SPIRITUAL HEAD of the family, and his wife should acknowledge his leadership. Now, Real Spiritual Leadership involves Service. Men, just as Jesus served the disciples, even to the point of washing their feet, so the husband is to serve his wife. A wise and Christ-honoring husband will not take advantage of his leadership role, and a wise and Christ-honoring wife will not try to undermine her husband's leadership. Either approach causes disunity and friction in marriage.

A marriage in the Bible sense is a Holy Union: a living symbol, a precious relationship that needs tender, self-sacrificing care. Men, when a husband fails to be the Spiritual Leader in his family, his wife feels insecure. When a husband praises or admires another woman, his wife feels inferior and jealous. Now listen up; don't ever make this mistake when a husband lusts after another woman... His wife feels inadequate in trying to meet her husband's physical needs.

When a man is not considerate and respectful of his wife, his prayers will be hindered, because a living relationship with God depends on right relationships with others. Jesus said that if you have a problem with a fellow believer, you must make it right with that person before coming to worship. This principle carries over into family relationships. If we use our position to mistreat our wives then our relationships with the Father will suffer.

I've read and I know from experience, talking and praying with men for years that we don't always stand up at the plate. This advice given to young men is very important. In ancient Greek society, the role of the Husband/Father was not viewed as a nurturing role, but merely as a functional one. Many young men today have been raised in families where fathers have neglected their responsibilities to their wives and children. Husbands and Fathers who are good examples of Christian living are important role models for young men who need to see how it is done. Men let's try to do a better job of caring for the vessel (Our Wife) that God gave to each of us. Sometimes we're insensitive to our wives and our vessels crack I confess that I cracked my (Wife/Vessel) years ago. With God's help anything can be put together.

Remember God created the world and everything in it, also in Ezekiel 37:10 you'll see how he can put us back together again, when we fall apart.

Until Next Time...
Jim

" REVENGE CAN BE AN UNCONTROLLABLE MONSTER "

Happy Holidays To You,

 This week we will be talking about " REVENGE." Now, how often have you been tempted to strike back at another for an infraction towards you? Hopefully we will learn just how the Lord wants us to react. I believe that doing the right thing, acting accordingly we'll go far in God's eyes. God judges all sins and punishes appropriately, but not simply out of anger or vengeance. Rather, God's punishment is meant to correct us and restore our fellowship with him. When you're corrected, don't resent it. Instead, renew your fellowship with God. You know sometimes forgiving a personal attack shows more strength than lashing out in revenge. Trying to prove one's power and authority often proves only one's fear and self-doubt. REVENGE IS AN UNCONTROLLABLE CREATURE.

Please understand that each act of retaliation brings on another. It is a boomerang that cannot be thrown without cost to the thrower. The revenge cycle can be halted only by forgiveness. God alone has the right to be jealous and to carryout vengeance. Jealousy and vengeance may be surprising terms to associate with God. When humans are jealous and take vengeance, they are usually acting in a spirit of selfishness. But it is appropriate for God to insist on our complete allegiance, and it is just for him to punish unrepentant evildoers. His jealousy and vengeance are unmixed with selfishness. Their purpose is to remove sin and restore peace to the world. When tempted to return evil for evil, leave revenge to God and spare yourself the dreadful consequences of sin. In God's Kingdom revenge is unacceptable behavior, as is insulting a person, no matter how indirectly it is done. Rise above getting back at those who hurt you. Instead of reacting angrily to these people, PRAY FOR THEM. In our sinful world, it is often deemed acceptable by some to tear people down verbally or to get back at them if we feel hurt. Listen we are told plainly...You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge. " VENGEANCE IS MINE, AND RETRIBUTION, IN DUE TIME THEIR FOOT WILL SLIP " (Deut. 32:35).

 Until next Time...
 Jim,

" ARE YOU LIVING FOR MONEY "

Come on in, it's wonderful to see you today.

Today we are going to be talking about Man's affair with money. I'm predisposed into thinking that our integrity recurrently meets its match in money matters. We are called to be honest even in small details we could easily rationalize away. Please recognize that Heaven's riches are far more valuable than earthly wealth. I'm also reminded of the lottery a few days back, the 500 Million Dollar Power ball Jackpot. I believe that people were not in their right mind(s) and it saddens me that they put their trust in money and not in God.

Listen folks if we're not trustworthy with our money here (no matter how much or little we have), we'll be unqualified to handle the immense riches of God's Kingdom. Don't let your integrity slip in small matters, and it will not fail you in crucial decisions either. God's people should not live for money, because money will be worthless in eternity. And they should keep on guard constantly against greed, a sin that is always ready to take over their lives. " Every thing has a price " seems to be true in our world of bribes, wealth, and materialism.

Please pay attention, the only way to receive God's power is to turn from sin, ask God for forgiveness, and be filled with the Spirit of God. So folks no matter how much money you have, you can't buy the Holy Spirit's power. No amount of money can buy your SALVATION, forgiveness of sin, or God's power. Now these are only acquired by repentance and belief in Christ as Savior. You can tell much about a person's character by the way he or she handles money. The wicked person steals under the guise of borrowing. The righteous person gives generously to the needy. The wicked person, therefore, focuses on himself, while the righteous person looks to the welfare of others.

LAST POINT: To some money can represent pride, accomplishment and self-effort. Ironically, our attitudes just might prevent us from keeping the first commandment, to let nothing be more important than God. What barriers are keeping you from turning your life over to Christ? " THE STINGY ARE EAGER TO GET RICH AND ARE UNAWARE THAT POVERTY AWAITS THEM " (PROV 28:22 NIV).

 Until Next Time...
 Jim,