" OUR BEHAVIOR "

OK, here we are again, another week is upon us and I want to know are you ready to put your best foot forward?

This week we will be looking into our Behavior. How often do you consider yours? Self-Control (being sensible) is an important aspect in Christianity. OK, to stay above reproach, we need Wisdom, and Discernment to be Discreet, and to master our wills, tongues, and passions so that Christ will not be dishonored.

How's your self-control? Often we allow others' values and actions to dictate our attitudes and behavior. Have you ever made a wrong choice because you wanted to be like everyone else? Be careful that the values of your friends or "heroes" don't pull you away from what God says is right. When God's people want to be like unbelievers, we are heading for spiritual disaster.

How can we be perfect?
(1) In Character. In this life we cannot be flawless, but we can aspire to be as much like Jesus as possible.

(2)In holiness. Like the Pharisees, we are to separate ourselves from the world's sinful values. But unlike the Pharisees, we are to be devoted to God's desires rather than our own, and carry his Love and Mercy into the World.

(3) In Maturity. We can't achieve Christ-Like Character and Holy Living all at once, but we must grow toward Maturity and Wholeness. Just as we expect different behavior from a baby, a child, a teenager, and an adult, so God expects different behavior from us, depending on our stage of Spiritual Development.

(4) In Love. We can seek to Love others as completely as God Loves Us. We can be perfect if our behavior is appropriate for our maturity level - perfect, yet with much room to grow. Our tendency to sin must never deter us from striving to be more like Christ.

Christ calls all of his disciples to excel, to rise above mediocrity,and to mature in every area, becoming like him. Those who strive to become perfect will one day be perfect, even as Christ is Perfect.

LAST POINT: If we focus on our God's great Love for us, we will understand that he only restricts us from actions and attitudes that ultimately will harm us.

So be mindful of your behavior.

Until next Time...
Jim,

" COMPLAINING "

Good Day To You.

Time just seems to row along for me as I continue to seek the face of the Lord. Here we are at the dawning of another week and the Father has put another message on my heart especially for this week. Now as always I'll ask you to strap in and lets get started.

This weeks message is all about " Complaining." Are you aware that complaining disintegrates our faith in God? Take note that we complain at the drop of a hat. A negative attitude can cause one to rebel even more and thus bring about great trouble. It can erode one's faith in God and encourage us to move in the opposite of God. Complaining is the path to open rebellion against God.

Now this begins with dissatisfaction and skepticism. Then it moves to grumbling about God and present circumstances. Next comes bitterness and resentment, followed by rebellion and open hostility. If you are often dissatisfied, skeptical, complaining, or bitter - beware! These attitudes lead to rebellion and separation from God. Any choice to side against God is a step in the direction of letting go of Him completely and making your own way through life.

Why is it that we complain about our problems instead of praying first? Some problems can be solved by careful thought or by rearranging our priorities. Some can be solved by discussion and good counsel. But some problems can be solved only by prayer. We should make a determined effort to pray when we feel like complaining, because complaining only raises our level of stress. Prayer quiets our thoughts and emotions and prepares us to listen.

LAST POINT: In times of Danger, Shortages, and inconvenience we tend to complain. Now, why is that we don't remember that God provides our need(s)? 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.

Until Next Time...
Jim,

" EMOTIONS "

Welcome, come on in and stay awhile. I always enjoy the company. This week we will be looking into " EMOTIONS. " Emotions, we all have them, Love, Hate or even Despair. We can be emotional about many things and it's vital that we keep them in check. I'm reminded of an accounting in the word of God during a time of rebellion. Now, the negative opinion of ten men caused a great rebellion among God's people. Because it is human nature to accept opinion as fact, we must be especially careful when voicing our negative opinions. What we say may heavily influence the actions of those who trust us to give sound advice. Emotions can cause us to forget facts about God. When the voices of despair went up, everyone joined in. Their greatest fears were being realized. Losing their perspective, the people were caught up in the emotion of the moment, again forgetting what they knew about God's character. What if the people had spent as much energy moving forward as they did moving back? They could have enjoyed their land - instead they never even entered it. When a cry of despair goes up around you, consider the larger perspective before you join in. You have better ways to use your energy than to complain. Avoid rash promises in the heat of battle. In the heat of emotion or personal turmoil it is easy to make foolish promises to God. These promises may sound very Spiritual when we make them, but they may produce only guilt and frustration when we are forced to fulfill them. Making Spiritual " Deals " only brings disappointment. God does not want promises for the future but obedience for today. I still get blown away when I think about Job. He was truly a man of Faith, Patience, and Endurance. He was also known for his generosity as well as being a caring person, oh he was likewise very wealthy. Anyway Job received this news while he was still speaking, another also came and said, " Your Sons and your Daughters were eating and drinking wine, the roof fell in and killed all of your children." Job did not hide his overwhelming grief. He had not lost his faith in God; instead, his emotions showed that he was human and that he loved his family. God created our emotions, and it is not sinful or inappropriate to express them as Job did. If you have experienced a deep loss, a disappointment, or a heartbreak, admit your feelings to yourself and others, and grieve. Until next Time... Jim,

" ARE YOU SATISFIED "

Top Of The Morning To You, How are you doing on this day that the Lord has made? Know matter where you may be geographically in this world, and what the weather is like, as I said a moment ago...This Is The Day That The Lord Has Made. It's vital that you come to know the Lord and " Proclaim The Good News of His Salvation from day to day." This weeks title: " ARE YOU SATISFIED " "Satisfaction" is defined in this manner: (1) Payment through penance of punishment incurred by sin (2) Contentment,Gratification (3) Reparation for an insult (4) Settlement of a claim. In the Word of God we are told of two brothers Jacob and Esau. In this account Esau traded the lasting benefits of his birthright for immediate pleasure of food. He acted on impulse, satisfying his immediate desires without pausing to the long-range consequences of what he was about to do. We can fall into the same trap. 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 Esau's mistake by comparing the short-term satisfaction with its long-range consequences before we act. Now Esau exaggerated his hunger. " I Am About To Die," he said. This thought made his choice much easier because if he was starving, what good was an inheritance anyway? The pressure of the moment distorted his perspective and made his decision seem urgent. We often experience similar pressures. For example, when we feel sexual pressure, a Marriage Vow may seem unimportant. We might feel such 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. Until Next Time... Jim,