" WALKING A TIGHTROPE? "

So how was last week for you, is all well in your camp?

This week's message is sort of a warning or at least something for you to think about. Our title is " WALKING A TIGHTROPE". Question is: are you doing a balancing act between Sunday to Sunday? Is your Christian walk truly what you portray it to be?

Some of us are quick to slip on our Sunday go to meeting mask(s). When we walk through the Church doors, drive unto Church grounds, or even when we meet another believer when we're out and about do we quickly slip on our ever-ready mask. Per Dr. David Jeremiah: Do you pretend to be devoted to God to impress your family, friends, or church? I love this guy, he says hypocrisy is insincere. It's presenting an appearance of commitment that's not true.

Another thought, how many times per week or month do you pass along some information that you heard? We're told in the Word Of God that " YOU SHALL NOT BEAR A FALSE REPORT; DO NOT JOIN YOUR HAND WITH A WICKED MAN TO BE A MALICIOUS WITNESS." Listen, making up or spreading false reports was strictly forbidden by God. Gossip, slander, and false witnessing undermines families, strains neighborhood cooperation, and makes chaos of the justice system.

Destructive gossip still causes problems. Even if you don't initiate a lie you become responsible if you pass it along. Don't circulate rumors; squelch them.

LAST POINT: How are you walking through this life? Are you married and if so do you have a family? Now, what I'm about to share needs to be mentioned again, and again. As parents we shape the world's future by the way we shape our children's values. Never forget that our children are sponge-like. I'm of the school of thought that the first step toward helping children live rightly is for us, the parent(s) to live rightly. Your actions are often copied (Mirrored) by those closet to you. What kind of example are you setting for your children / grandchildren?

Until next Time...
Jim

" Built On Rock Or Sand "

Blessings on you and those in whom you care so much about. This week's message is real and one that we must take very serious. Question for you: Are You The Real Deal?

 " NOT EVERYONE WHO SAYS TO ME, 'LORD, LORD,' WILL ENTER THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN, BUT HE WHO DOES THE WILL OF MY FATHER WHO IS IN HEAVEN WILL ENTER."

Think about this for a moment, some self-professed athletes can "talk" a great game, but that tells you nothing about their athletic prowess. And not everyone who talks about heaven belongs to God's Kingdom. Jesus is more concerned about our walk than our talk. He wants us to do right, not just say the right words. Your house (which represents your life) will withstand the storms of life only if you do what is right instead of just talking about it. What you do cannot be separated from what you believe.

Now, to build " On The Rock " means to be a hearing responding disciple, not a phony, superficial one. Practicing obedience becomes the solid foundation to weather the storms of life demolish you or not. Listen, to keep ourselves unstained by this world, we need to commit ourselves to Christ's ethical and moral system, not the world's. We are not to adapt to the world's value system, which is based on money, power, and pleasure.

True Faith means nothing if we are contaminated with such values. We all must guard our tongues. No matter how spiritual we may think we are, we all could control our speech more effectively. The Word of God tells us that Jesus exposed those people who sounded religious but had No Personal Relationship with Him. On " That Day " (The Day Of Judgment), only our relationship with Christ -our acceptance of Him as Savior and our obedience to Him, will matter. Many people think that if they are "good" people and say religious things, they will be rewarded with eternal life. In reality, Faith In Christ is what will count at the judgment.

 LAST POINT: Jesus has told us how to live until He comes: We must watch for Him, work diligently, and obey His commands. Such attitudes are especially necessary for leaders. Watchful and faithful leaders will be given increased opportunities and responsibilities. Now, 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.

 Until Next Time...
 Jim

" STRONGMAN OF GOD "

This week we will be looking into why it's so very important for us to be the " Strongman " in our homes.

The " Strong Man " armor's up every single morning. He put's on the whole armor of God. Ephesians 6:11 " Put on all of God's armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all the strategies of the devil." 1 John 3:8-9 " The one who Practices Sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil.Vs 9 No one who is Born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in Him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God."

Now, if we're honest we all have areas where temptation is strong and habits are hard to conquer. These weaknesses give the devil a foothold. We must deal with our areas of vulnerability. If we are struggling with a particular sin, however, these verses are not directed at us, even if for the time we seem to keep on sinning.

Now, I believe that John is not talking about people whose victories are still incomplete; he is talking about people who make a practice of sinning and look for ways to justify it. Three steps are necessary to find victory over prevailing sin:
(1) Seek the Power Of The Holy Spirit and God's Word;
(2)Stay away from tempting situations;
(3) Seek the help of the body of Christ-be open to their willingness to hold you accountable and to Pray for You.

LAST POINT: " Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a Solitary Place, where He Prayed." Now Christian means " CHRIST-like," Jesus took time to pray. Finding time to pray is not easy for some, but prayer is the vital link between us and God, even if we have to get up very early in the morning to do it! Another thing spending time with God in prayer does is it nurtures a vital relationship and equips us to meet life's challenges and struggles.

DEVELOP THE DISCIPLINE OF SPENDING TIME ALONE WITH GOD. IT WILL HELP YOU TO GROW SPIRITUALLY AND BECOME MORE AND MORE LIKE CHRIST.

 Until next Time...
 Jim

" RELATIONSHIP(S) "

Top of the morning to you. Is all well in your camp? This week we are going to look into " Relationship(s)."

The Word of God shows the Fathers desire to have fellowship with us. The Word also shows why we are afraid to have fellowship with Him. I remember, Adam and Eve hid from God when they heard Him approaching after they committed sin. God wanted to be with them, but because of their sin they were afraid to show themselves. You see sin had broken their close relationship with God, just as it has broken ours. But Praise The Lord, Jesus Christ, God's Son, 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.

Broken relationships can hinder our relationship with God. If we have a problem or grievance with a friend, we should resolve the problem as soon as possible. We are hypocrites if we claim to love God while we hate others. Our attitudes toward others reflex our relationship with God (1 John 4:20). 

LAST POINT: Meeting another's need for food or shelter was and still is one of the most immediate and practical ways to obey God. It is also a time-honored relationship builder. Hebrews 13:2 suggests that we, like Abraham might actually entertain angels. Now, I believe that this should be on our mind the next time we have the opportunity to meet a strangers needs.

 Until Next Time...
 Jim