" DOING WHAT'S RIGHT "

This week we will be looking into our decision making process. Don't you think that it's time that we look into " DOING WHAT'S RIGHT. " So take a deep breath and let's get started. Now, will you give me your full attention for a few moments? Whether you've taken notice or not we make hundreds of decisions every day. How we react to a moral dilemma often exposes our real motives. OK, it's time to be real, I'm under the assumption that we are more worried about getting caught, you may be in a position that is less than honest. Let your fear of getting caught be a warning to do right. Are you worried about looking good or doing right? Admit your mistakes,and show that you are more interested in doing what is right than in looking good. Are you determined to do the right thing, do you have the courage to stand alone? Doing what is right will not always make you popular. Those who do right will be in the minority, but to obey God is more important than to obey people. I believe that a good or bad habit can be formed within 28-30 days. Persistent sin makes us forget what is right,now have you ever thought that I no longer know how to do what is right. The more one sins, the harder it will be to remember what God wants. The same is true for all of us. The longer we wait to deal with sin, the greater it holds onto us. Finally we forget what it means to do right. ARE YOU ON THE VERGE OF FORGETTING? Until next Time... Jim,

" INSPIRATION "

Good day to you. I have already prayed multiple times this day for those of you on my " Immediate Prayer List. " Isn't God good? Just think about it, You Woke Up This Morning, and yet many did not see the dawn nor will others see twilight. You see I am truly inspired to be a Child of God, as I have so much to look forward to each moment of the day. This week we will be looking into " INSPIRATION. "

First things first, the Bible is not a collection of stories, fables, myths, or merely human ideas about God. It's not a human book! Through the Holy Spirit, God revealed His person and plan to certain believers, who wrote down his message for His people. This process is known as INSPIRATION. The writers wrote from their own personal, historical, and cultural contexts. Although they used their own minds, languages, and styles, they wrote what the Holy Spirit wanted them to write. Scripture is completely trustworthy because God was in control of it's writing. Its words are entirely authoritative for our faith and lives.

The Bible is " GOD-BREATHED. " Read It, and use Its teachings to guide your conduct. The Bible is our standard for testing everything else that claims to be true. It is our safeguard against false teaching and our source of guidance for how we should live. " But just as you abound in everything, in faith and utterance and knowledge and in all eagerness and in the love we inspired in you, see that you abound in this gracious work also (2Corinthians 8:7).

The process in which the scriptures were written as stated in 2 Tim. 3:16 and 1 Pet 1:21. These chosen human authors were guided directly by the Holy Spirit, and the Scriptures themselves are the Words of God. As a Christian Doctrine, Inspiration guarantees that all the words of Scripture are completely Reliable and Without Error (see Inerrancy). It does not mean that God simply dictated the words to the human authors, though this is undoubtedly to some extent. Instead God guided the authors in such a way that their own personalities are discernible in their writings, while the truth and accuracy of their words are ensured.

Please open up your mind and rediscover the Word Of God. Question: How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a tim. Now how do you study the Word Of God... one word, or sentence at a time? Personally I'm Inspired by those who take the time to STUDY the Bible, as I recognize that I can learn from them.

Until next Time...
Jim,

" INNATE ABILITIES "

Well here we are again, another week has come and gone. And as always I have something to share with you of great importance.

This week we will be looking into our " INNATE ABILITIES. " All of us have special skills. God wants to fill us with His spirit so we will use them for His glory. Now think about your special talent(s) and abilities and the ways you could use them for God's work in the world.

A talent must be used or it will diminish. Everyone of God's people has been given Special Abilities. We are responsible to develop these abilities - even the ones not considered religious - and to use them for God's glory. Now we can become skilled through hard work and study, by watching others, and through practice. Work on your skills or abilities that could help your church and or the community. 

Now those who have ears, please listen. Jesus told us how to live until He comes: We must first watch for Him, work eagerly, and obey His commands. Now attitudes such as these are especially necessary for leaders. As I've watched those who lead me, I'm convinced that our Lord increases opportunities and responsibilities. The more resources, talents, and understanding we have, the more we are responsible to use them effectively. God will not hold us responsible for gifts He has not given us, but all of us have enough gifts and duties to keep us busy until Jesus comes.

When I think about our abilities my mind goes to the Word of God. How many of us regretfully do not live up to our Potential in God. I'm thinking of the parable of the LOANED MONEY, now the verse reads: " TO ONE HE GAVE FIVE TALENTS, TO ANOTHER, TWO, AND TO ANOTHER, ONE, EACH ACCORDING TO HIS OWN ABILITY; AND HE WENT ON HIS JOURNEY."

So that we're clear: A landowner was about to go on a journey, so he called upon some valued slaves and entrusted his possessions to them. Now this man divided the money (talents) among his servants according to their abilities in his eyes. Now the Master made very sure that no one received more or less than what he could handle. If they failed in his assignment, there excuse could not be that he was overwhelmed. Failure could only come from his own laziness or from hidden hatred for the master.

Now these talents can represent any kind of resource we are given. The Father gives us time, gifts, and other resources according to our abilities and he expects US to invest them wisely until He returns. We are responsible to use well what God has given us. The issue is not how much we have, but how well we use what we have.

Until next time,
Jim,

" PRAYER RELEASES STRESS "

Welcome, come on in and sit a spell. This week we will be looking into stress and how we can live a stress free life. What is stress and how is it characterized in the dictionary? [ pressure; strain; a force that tends to distort a body].

Difficult circumstances often lead to stress, and complaining is a natural response. When pressure comes your way, resist the temptation to make a quick escape. Instead, focus on God's power and wisdom to help you deal with the cause of your stress. Prayer can release our tensions in times of emotional stress.

Trusting God to be our Rock, Salvation, and Stronghold will change our entire outlook on life. No longer must we be held captive by resentment toward others when they hurt us. When we are resisting in God's strength, nothing can shake us. Resisting the pressure of the moment, satisfying immediate desires without pausing to consider the long-range consequences of what you are about to do.

When we see something we want, our first impulse is to get it. At first we feel intensely satisfied and sometimes even powerful because we have obtained what we set out to get. But immediate pleasure often loses sight of the future. We can avoid making mistakes by comparing the short-term satisfaction with its long-range consequences before we act. When we feel sexual pressure, a marriage vow may seem unimportant. We might feel such a great pressure in one area that nothing else seems to matter and we lose our perspective.

Getting through that short pressure-filled moment is often the most difficult part of overcoming a temptation. If we attempt to meet life's challenges with human effort alone, we will find the pressures and temptations around us too great to resist. We often focus our hope and confidence on some influential leader, failing to realize that in reality it is God who is in command.

Acknowledge God as your Commander In Chief, and avoid the temptation of relying too heavily on human leaders, regardless of their Spiritual Wisdom. Are we clear?

Until Next Time...
Jim,