" WHO DO YOU FELLOWSHIP WITH? "

Come on in and sit awhile, I've got something to share with you today.

We will be looking into good Christian fellowship. " FELLOWSHIP: " Companionship between people of the same background, goal(s), etc. A community in which people share whatever is held in common.

Now, it's important for us to be around other Christians. To neglect Christian meetings is to give up the encouragement of and for other Christians. Congenial social feelings is vital in the world of  Christians. We gather together to share our faith and to strengthen one another in the Lord. As we get closer to the " day " when Christ will return, we will face many Spiritual Struggles, and even times of Persecution. Anti-Christian forces will grow in strength.

Difficulties should never be excuses for MISSING CHURCH SERVICES. Rather, as difficulties arise, we should make an even greater effort to be faithful in our attendance. God desires to have FELLOWSHIP with us.The Word Of God also shows why we are afraid to have FELLOWSHIP with Him.

Question: why we are afraid of having it with God? Adam and Eve hid from God when they heard Him approaching. God wanted to be with them, but because of their sin they were afraid to show themselves. Sin had broken their close relationship with God, just as it has broken ours. But Jesus Christ, soon opens the way for us to renew our fellowship with him. God longs to be with us. He actively offers us His unconditional love. Our natural response is FEAR because we feel we can't live up to His standards. But understanding that He loves us, regardless of our faults, can help remove that dread.

Until Next Time...
Jim

" YEA BUT "

Good Morning All,

My body is racked with pain and I must confess that today is truly challenging for me. I had "My Personal Time" with the Lord, then my wife and I had our time of prayer. Also every Tuesday morning men come over for morning prayer.

Listen getting back to business, this week we will be looking into Forgiveness again.

FORGIVE: To give up resentment (2) Pardon, Absolve; allowing room for error or weakness.

Hebrews 8:12 " FOR I WILL BE MERCIFUL TO THEIR INIQUITIES, AND I WILL REMEMBER THEIR SINS NO MORE."

Forgiveness involves both attitudes and actions. If you find it difficult to feel forgiving toward someone who has hurt you, try responding with kind actions. If appropriate, tell this person that you would like to heal your relationship. Lend a helping hand. Send him or her a gift. Smile at him or her. Many times you will discover that right actions lead to right feelings.

How many times have you asked someone for forgiveness and you hear something like: You'll Do It Again; or I Forgive You, But; or I Can't Forgive You Right Now, or You Really Hurt Me? Listen, don't let anything keep you from forgiving others. If you are refusing to forgive people, you are missing a wonderful opportunity to experience joy and share it with others. Make your joy grow: Forgive somebody who has hurt you.

LAST POINT: How often should we forgive? You know the rabbis taught that the people should forgive those who offend them - but only three times. Peter, trying to be especially generous, asked Jesus if seven (the "perfect" number) was enough times to forgive another. But Jesus answered, "Seventy Times Seven" meaning that we shouldn't even keep track of how many times we forgive someone. We should always forgive those who are truly repentant, no matter how many times they ask. So in the future forget " YEA, BUT."

Until Next Time...
Jim

" FAILURES "

So how's your day going so far? Are you looking for things in your life to change in any way? I do know that "We Have Not Because We Ask Not," The Father Is Always Available To Us. I have Him on speed dial. This week we will be looking into " FAILURE. "

FAILURE: Lessons to be learned:
(1)Confess your sins when God reveals them to you;
(2)When you fail, refocus on God, deal with the problem, and move on.

God wants the cycle of sin, repentance, and forgiveness to strengthen us, not weaken us. The lessons we learn from our failures should make us better able to handle the same situation the second time around. Because God is eager to give us cleansing, forgiveness, and strength. The only way to lose is to give up. We can tell what kind of people we are by what we do on the second and third attempts.

Be careful what you call a victory. God may see it as a great failure because you may have disobeyed and lied to achieve your goal. Dishonest people soon begin to believe the lies they construct around themselves. Then they lose the ability to tell the difference between truth and lies. By believing your own lies you deceive yourself. You alienate yourself from God, and you will lose credibility in all your relationships. In the long run, honesty wins out.

Often, and if we're honest we may condemn our predecessors for their failures, but we are twice as guilty if we repeat the same mistakes that we recognize as failures. Often we are so ready to direct God's message at others that we can't see how it touches our own lives. Make sure you are willing to take your own advice as you teach or lead.

Until Next Time...
Jim

" BEING FAITHFUL "

Well here we are, another week has crept up upon us again.

Are you " BEING FAITHFUL? " Are you Faithful in the little things? First things first " The Lord Preserves The Faithful." All who believe in the Lord Jesus will be considered blameless when Jesus Christ returns.

Now, if you have Faith in Christ Jesus, even if it is weak, you are and will be saved." Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass " (1 Thess 5:20). He considered me faithful, putting me into service. As members in the Body of Christ we are called to do something positive in His Name.

Now consider this: people can feel so guilt-ridden by their past that they think God could never forgive and accept them. Now consider Paul's past. He scoffed at the teachings of Jesus (" Blasphemer ") and hunted down and murdered God's people (" A persecutor and a violent aggressor ") before coming to faith in Christ. God forgave Paul and used Paul mightily for His Kingdom. No matter how shameful your past, God also can forgive and use you.

LAST POINT: From 2 Timothy 2:2 " The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also." Now, if the Body of Christ were to consistently follow this advice, I believe that it would expand exponentially as well-taught believers would teach others and commission them, in turn, to teach still others.

Disciples need to be equipped to pass on their faith; our work is not done until new believers are able to make disciples of others. Are you hearing me? Now let's get it done.

Until Next Time...
Jim