" GOD IS ABLE "

Well welcome Aboard, This week we will be looking into the fact that MY/OUR God Is Able. Now I'm reminded of Solomon, when given the chance to have anything in the world he asked for WISDOM. " An Understanding heart " in order to lead well and to make right decisions. We can ask God for this same WISDOM. Now,Wisdom means practical Discernment, we must have the ability to make wise decisions in difficult circumstances. I'm blown away that Solomon asked for discernment to carry out his job; he did not ask God to do the job for him. We should not ask God to do for us what he wants to do through us. Instead we should ask God to give us the Wisdom to know what to do and the courage to follow through on it. Our God is Able to Rise Above any situation in our lives. No Christian can use the excuse that a temptation is unique to him or her. Listen, even Jesus was tempted! Thankfully, God does not allow His Children to be Tempted BEYOND the borders of their Limitations. Unfortunately, people sometimes grow so enamored by Sin that they become blind to the ESCAPE route the Spirit supplies. " Now to him who is ABLE to keep us from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy." God is ABLE He promised Abram descendants like the stars in the sky or the grains of sand on the seashore, too numerous to count. To appreciate the vast number of stars scattered through the sky's, you need to be, like Abram, away from any distractions. Or pick up a handful of sand and try to count the grains - it can't be done! Just when Abram was despairing of ever having an heir, God promised descendants too numerous to imagine. God's Blessings are beyond our Imaginations! OUR GOD IS ABLE. Until Next Time... Jim,

" WORD(S) "

Praise The Lord, I am so very grateful to be here with you this morning. I've had my personal time with the Lord at 4 am, as well as Praying for those on my Personal Daily Prayer List. I get excited thinking and Praying for others as my day is spent sharing with folks. When our speech is motivated by: Satan, it is full of: Bitter Jealousy, UN-Spiritual Thoughts and Ideas, Selfish Ambition, Earthly Concerns and Desires along with Disorder and Evil. God and His Wisdom: Love of Others, Righteousness, Mercy, Peace, Sincerity, Impartially, Submission, and consideration for others. When God gives his Word it's FOREVER, unlike Human Beings and their promises, now God's Promise is Reliable and certain to be Realized. I've come to truly recognize that God's Word keeps on Shepherding people forward within the boundaries of His Love and Providence - Through Instruction, Insight, and Inspiration. " BUT WHOEVER KEEPS HIS WORD,TRULY THE LOVE OF GOD IS PERFECTED IN HIM, BY THIS WE KNOW THAT WE ARE IN HIM " (1 John 2:5). Now, God's people demonstrate their LOVE for God not by Words but actions. This is not a matter of lip service. Those who know and Obey have God's Love Perfected or Matured in them, so they have a desire to do what God has said. Now, please bear with me another moment, it seems like almost every time one views a Movie or TV program you hear or see some kind of Obscenity. Obscenity and Coarse Joking are so common that we begin to take them for granted. Improper Language should have no place in the Christians Conversation because it does not Reflect God's Gracious Presence in us. How can we Praise God and remind others of His Goodness when we are Speaking Coarsely? LAST POINT: Putting a hand under the thigh was a sign of making a promise, much like shaking hands today. In the days of Jacob and Joseph a Promise was a Promise. A person's word carried as much force as a Written Contract today. Why is it that people today find it easy to say, " I DIDN'T MEAN THAT. " God's people, however, are to Speak the Truth and Live the Truth. Let your Words be as binding as a Written Contract. Until Next Time... Jim,

" THE TRUTH ABOUT WORRY "

I'm Praising the Lord as I was able to open up my eyes this morning. I'm Praising the Lord as I'm able to look out of my window and see much green as well as colors. Only the Father could have created such a world as this.Know matter where you are or what view you're looking at Thank God that there is not six feet of dirt upon you. Now this week the Lord put on my heart a subject that we have covered a couple of times in the past. Our title is: " THE TRUTH ABOUT WORRY. " As Believers I'm confident that we have all heard or read Philippians 4:6: " BE ANXIOUS FOR NOTHING, BUT IN EVERYTHING BY PRAYER AND SUPPLICATION, WITH THANKSGIVING, LET YOUR REQUEST BE MADE KNOWN TO GOD." Can anything be made any clearer for us... STOP WORRYING. Believers who take anxiety to God in Prayer discover the Peace Of God. We are also promised something even better: THE GOD OF PEACE Himself - His Protection, Presence, Comfort, and Encouragement. When the problem is Worry, the prescription is PRAYER, proper thinking, and proper responses. The opposite of Peace is Worry. The Greek Word for ANXIOUS means to have "A MIND DIVIDED" between legitimate thoughts and destructive thoughts. Destructive thoughts will choke out the word of God and cause believers to abandon Trust. " CASTING ALL YOUR CARE UPON HIM, FOR HE CARES FOR YOU " (1 Peter 5:7). This simple but profound formula can STOP WORRY in it's tracks: " DON'T WORRY PRAY! " But it has a special application here for people who are anxious about submitting to those in authority. The answer is to take these worries to the Lord in Prayer, CASTING ALL---CARE UPON HIM so He can manage each concern. The Word Of God Says that our steps are ordained by the Lord. Now I confess that I am often confused by events that sometime surround me. The Bible also says that " HOW THEN CAN MAN UNDERSTAND HIS WAYS? " Yes many things we will never understand; while others will fall into place in years to come as we look back and see how God was working. So don't worry if you don't understand everything as it happens. Instead, we should Trust that God Knows what he's doing, even if his timing or design is not clear to us. Until Next Time... Jim,

" WHEN TESTED "

Well, Come on in, May the God Lord Bless you and all of those in whom you care much about. This week we will be looking into " Testing." A TEST: A challenge or difficult situation imposed by God for the purpose of Strengthening Faith; Not to be confused with Temptation to Evil. (2) The act of putting God to the test, demanding that He prove Himself and His power in some way, as Satan attempted to persuade Jesus to do. (3) The act of one person's challenging another to prove himself by answering difficult questions, etc. Now Satan Tempts people to bring out their Worst; God may Test His Beloved ones to bring out their Best. The people closest to often find themselves in the midst of the biggest tests. But Christians must remember: God will only ask them to do what he will enable them to do. Christians are never impervious to temptation and sin. No Christian ever use the excuse that a Temptation is unique to him or her. Even Jesus was Tempted. Now as Born Again Christians, Thankfully, God does not allow His Children to be Tempted BEYOND the borders of their limitations unfortunately, people sometimes grow so enamored by sin that they become blind to the ESCAPE route the Spirit Supplies. When tested don't forget as God's people we can always trust in His provision. So you say that it's just a test, may I ask are you Passing the Test? We live in a Culture filled with Moral Depravity as well as Sin-Inducing Pressures? Now, Paul gave strong encouragement to the Corinthians about Temptation. He said: Wrong Desires and Temptations happen to everyone, so don't feel you've been singled out; (2) Others have resisted temptation, and so can you;(3) Any Temptation can be resisted because God will help you resist it. God helps you Resist Temptation by helping you (1) Recognize those people and situations that give you trouble, (2) Run from anything you know is wrong, (3) Choose to do only what is right, (4) Pray for God's help, and (5) Seek Friends who Love God and can offer help when you are Tempted. Running from a Tempting Situation is your first step on the way to Victory. Until Next Time... Jim,

" ACTIONS "

Greetings and salutations to you on this fine day that Our Lord has made. This week we will be looking into " ACTION. "

I believe that actions speak louder than words. Something that I often share with other men is: " What we do, our children will do in excess " good or bad. Parents help shape the world's future by the way we shape our children's values.

The first step helping children live rightly is for their parents to live rightly. Our actions are often dittoed by those close to us, especially our children. What kind of example are you setting for your children? I believe that we will be treated as we treat others. Now a forgiving spirit demonstrates that a person has received God's forgiveness. Jesus uses the picture of measuring grain in a basket to ensure the full amount. If we are critical rather than compassionate, we will also receive criticism. If we treat others generously, graciously, and compassionately, however, these qualities will come back to us in full measure.

We are to love others, not judge them. What do you do that marks you as a follower of God? The way you raise your children, demonstrate love for others, show concern for the poor, and live in devotion to God - these actions will leave visible marks for all to see.

While national groups are marked by customs and traditions, christians are marked by loving one another. Everything we do has consequences. It is vital to think before acting, to consider the effects of your choices. Think through your plans for today and consider what your long-range results will be. As we deal with others, we should keep godly principles in mind, always. We should act responsibly and justly with all people, friends and enemies alike.

LAST POINT: Complaining versus acting on problems, you know if we're honest, we hear folks complain about something daily. How easy it is for us to complain about our problems, even to God, while we refuse to act, change, and do what He requires. We don't even take the advise He has already given us. Do you ever feel that God has abandoned you? Check to see if there is anything He has already told you to do. You may not receive new guidance from God until you have acted on His previous directions.

Until Next Time...
Jim