" BEING AFRAID "

This week we will be looking into " BEING AFRAID."

"Afraid" is:
(1) being filled with fear or apprehension
(2) Filled with concern or regret over an unwanted situation

When Jesus walked on the sea, He was able to do it as He is God. He knows that all things are possible and so should we. Now, when Peter finally recognized that it was Jesus walking on the sea opposed to a ghost. He immediately jumped out of the boat without regard for His own safety. You see He was focused on Jesus and His faith was was high. Why is our Faith like a surfers wave? We must always keep our eyes on Christ, and we will never have to fear anything.

Jesus' Inner Circle could not hold in their fear when they saw someone walking across the surface of the water not only because they suspected a GHOST. Mark says it was because their hearts were hard (Mark 6:52). Even though they have just witnessed the miraculous feeding of the multitude, they failed to apply that experience of Jesus' power to this situation. Now, when we humans do wrong, our impulse is to hide (If they are still sensitive to sin). Sin disrupts a person's relationship with others and with God. Still, God seeks a relationship.

When the Father makes a promise to us we must never doubt. Now, Abram wasn't promised wealth or fame; he already had that. Why would Abram be afraid? Perhaps he feared revenge from the kings he had defeated. God gave him two good reasons for courage: (1) He promised to defend Abram ("I am a Shield to you"), and (2) He promised to be Abram's "Reward." When you fear what lies ahead, remember that God will stay with you through difficult times and that he has promised you great blessings.

Until Next Time...
Jim

" A PROMISE IS A PROMISE "

Greetings, It's my prayer that all is well in your camp on this day that our Lord has made. Know that you are very special to Him as well as to me. Continue to seek the face of Jesus often.

Now this weeks message title is " A Promise is a Promise." " PROMISE " Is a pledge to do or not to do something specified.

God's promises are unchanging and trustworthy. When promising Abraham a son, God took an oath in His own name. The oath was as good as God's name, and God's name was as good as His divine nature. Apparently lying is a commonplace thing now days. I wish to make it very clear that God does not lie. As a Christian I'm here to tell you that the foundation of my faith is trust in God's character. Because God is Truth, He is the source of all Truth, and He CANNOT LIE. Believing in Him leads to godliness, living a God-honoring life-style.

The eternal life that God has promised will be ours, because He keeps His promises. Build your faith on the foundation of a trustworthy God who never lies.

(2) " Honor your Father and Mother which is the First Commandment with a Promise,(3) So that it may be well with you, and that you may live long on the earth." (Ephesians 6:2-3);Exodus 20:12

This is the first commandment with a promise attached. To live in peace for generations in the Promised Land, the Israelite's would need to respect authority and build strong families. But what does it mean to " HONOR " parents? It means speaking well of them and politely to them. It also means acting in a way that shows them courtesy and respect ( but not to obey them if this means disobedience to God). It means following their teaching and example of putting God first.

Now, parents have a special place in God's sight. Even who find it difficult to get along with their parents are still commanded to honor them. GOD ALWAYS KEEPS HIS PROMISES, NO MATTER HOW LONG IT MAY TAKE.

Until Next Time...
Jim

" AGE IS A VALUABLE THING "

Welcome Aboard folks, as always it's great being able to share with you again.

This week we will be looking into age, and this weeks title is " AGE IS A VALUABLE THING. " Some societies honor their elders. They respect their wisdom, defer to their authority, and pay attention to their comfort and happiness. This is how Christians should act.

Where elders are respected, long life is a blessing, not a burden to them. " Wisdom is with aged men, with long life is understanding " (Job 12:12). " BOTH THE GREY-HAIRED AND THE AGED ARE ON OUR SIDE, MEN EVEN OLDER THAN YOUR FATHER "(Job 15:10).

We have the responsibility to honor the elderly. My friend David went the extra mile and put on a whole addition to his home to honor and care for his wife's parents some years back. People often find it easy to dismiss the opinion of the elderly and avoid taking time to visit with them. But the fact that God commanded the Israelite's to honor the elderly shows how seriously we should take the responsibility of respecting those older than we. Their wisdom gained from experience can save us from many pitfalls.

It seems to me that our society values youthfulness over wisdom and potential contributions by the elderly are often ignored. Now, as Christians, we should reverse those whenever we can. Encourage older people to share their wisdom and experience. Listen carefully when they speak. Offer them your friendship and help them find ways to continue to serve God. Honoring God is not limited to young people who seem to have unlimited strength and energy. Even in old age, devoted believers can produce spiritual fruit. There are many faithful older people who continue to have a fresh outlook and can teach us from a lifetime experience of serving God.

Seek out an elderly friend or relative to tell you about his or her experiences with the Lord and challenge you to new heights of Spiritual Growth. Never allow your age to disqualify you from serving God.

Until Next Time...
Jim

" THE MIND "

OK, here we are again another week has come and gone. This week we will be looking into the MIND. You know once upon a time I read a book called " Think And Grow Rich " 36 years ago at the age of 30 and I was UN-SAVED and very impressed with this reading. I wonder just how many lives that I could have touched if I was reading the Bible daily as a born again Christian. What we feed into our minds is just as important as what we feed our bodies.

Now the kinds of books we read, the people we talk with, the music we listen to, and the films we watch are all part of our mental diet. Be discerning because what you feed your mind influences your total health and Well-Being. Thus, a strong desire to discover knowledge is a mark of Wisdom.

Again what we put into our minds determine what comes out in our Words and Actions. Paul tells us in the Word of God to program our minds with thoughts that are True, Honorable, Right, Pure, Lovely, of Good Repute, Excellent, and Praiseworthy. Do you have problems with IMPURE THOUGHTS and DAYDREAMS? Again I say examine what you are putting into your mind through Television, Books, Conversations, Movies, and Magazines. Replace harmful input with wholesome material.

Above all, read God's Word and pray. Ask God to help you focus your mind on what is Good and pure. It takes practice, but it can be done. One may ask how do I renew my mind? Christians are called to " Not To Be Conformed To This World," with its behavior and customs that are usually selfish and often corrupting. I thank the Lord that many Christians wisely decide that much worldly behavior is off limits for them. Our refusal to conform to this world's values, however, must go even deeper than the level of behavior and customs - it must be firmly planted in our minds - " Be Transformed By The Renewing Of Your Mind." It is possible to avoid most worldly customs and still be Proud, Covetous, Selfish, Stubborn, and Arrogant. Only when the Holy Spirit Renews, Reeducates, and Redirects our Minds are we Truly Transformed.

Work at it, now keep your Wits about you.

Until Next Time...
 Jim