" PAIN AND SUFFERING "

Good Day To You, it's my prayer that all is well in your sphere of influence. This week we are looking int Pain and Suffering. Many of us are presently dealing with Pain and Suffering. I'd like to believe that we all have heard the story of JOB. The Suffering and Pain that this man went through was unbearable for the most of us. Job was experiencing Extreme Physical Pain as well as Grief over the loss of his Family and Possessions. Now he can't be blamed for wishing he were dead. Job's grief placed him at the crossroads of his faith. Shattering many misconceptions about God such as:(he makes you rich, always keeps you from Trouble and Pain, or Protects your Loved Ones). Job was driven back to the basics of his faith in God. He only had two choices: (1) He could curse God and give up, (2) He could trust God and draw strength from him to continue. Some of you know, that I Suffer Daily with Chronic Pain. As I shared above and the Word Of God is very graphic of what he experienced even if you are one of our Lords best, great suffering can come your way. To have a right set of doctrines is not enough. To know what to believe is not all that is required to please God. Truth untested by life's experiences may become Static and Stagnant. Suffering can bring a dynamic quality to life. Just as it's said a drought can drive the roots of a tree deeper to find water, so suffering can drive us beyond Superficial Acceptance of Truth to Dependence On God for Hope and Life. When we see a Christian Brother or Sister Suffering today, we can respond in one of these ways. (1) We can say, as Job's friends did, that this is a test to help the poor develop more patience and trust in God.(2) We can help the person in need. Although many governments today have their own programs for helping those in need, this is no excuse for ignoring the poor and needy within our reach. Until next Time... Jim,

" SPIRITUAL REBIRTH "

Welcome on in, I wish you the very best that My Lord and God has to offer. I believe that it's very important that we stay on target. In this life those of us who are Born Again Christians recognize that we are in a Daily Spiritual Battle. Salvation: Deliverance In General, rescue or deliverance from danger. Now, the Bible is primarily a historical account of how God has provided mankind with Salvation from eternal death, which is the penalty of Sin. Salvation has always been bestowed by the Grace of God through Faith. Now those of OT times expressed their faith by following the provisions of OT law, or by their obedience to God. Since the advent of Christ, those who trust in Him are Saved at the moment of their confession of faith and are no longer slaves to sin. They enjoy the benefit of an intimate relationship with God through the presence of Christ and the Holy Spirit in their lives. In the future, all Believers will enjoy Eternal Life In Heaven. We are " Born Of God " when the Holy Spirit lives in us and gives us Jesus' New Life. Being Born Again is more than a fresh start; it is a Rebirth, receiving a new family name based on Christ's Death For Us. When this happens, God forgives us and totally accepts us; the Holy Spirit gives us new minds and hearts, lives in us, and begins helping us to become like Christ. Our perspective changes too because we have a mind that is renewed day by day by the Holy Spirit. So we must begin to think and act differently. " No one who is Born Of God Practices Sin " means that true believers do not make a practice of sinning,nor do they become indifference to God's Moral Law. All believers still sin, but they are working to gain victory over sin. " His Seed Abides In Him " means that True Believers do not make a practice of sinning because God's new life has been born into them. Now, does your life confirm or contradict what you say you believe? Until Next Time... Jim,

" WHY KEEP PROMISES "

Today's message is one that is necessary to repeat. This is the second or third time that our Lord has challenged me to share this subject with you. Our Word, Oath or Vow which ever way you wish to state it is very important to the Lord God. Now, Jesus also told His followers not to use them - that their word alone should be enough (James 5:12). Are you known as a person of your word? Truthfulness seems so rare that we feel we must end our statements with " I Promise. " If we tell the truth all the time, we will have less pressure to back up our words with an Oath or Promise. In My studies in the Word Of God I've learned that putting a hand under the thigh was a sign of making a Promise, much like shaking hands today. Few things were written in their culture, so a person's word then carried as much force as a Written Contract today. People seem to 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. Moses reminded the people that their promises to God and others must be kept. Your word must be as binding as your signature. Breaking a Vow meant a Broken Trust and a Broken Relationship. Trust is still the basis of our relationships with God and others. A broken promise today is just as harmful as it was in Moses' day. Now, I suggest that we Think before we promise anything. Those who know me well are not put off when they hear me respond " WE'LL SEE. " Until Next Time... Jim,

" KNOWLEDGE "

Well hear we are again, another week has come and gone. This week we will be looking into " Knowledge. " We all have 24 hours in a day filled with opportunities to grow,serve and be productive. Yet it is easy to waste time, letting life slip from our grasp. Refuse to be a lazy person sleeping or fretting away the hours meant for productive work. See time as God's gift and seize your opportunities to live diligently for him. " Wise Men Store Up Knowledge, But the mouth of the foolish, ruin is at hands " (Prov.10:14). "A wise man is strong, and a man of Knowledge increases power" (Prov. 24:5). Now, the athlete who thinks - who assesses the situation and plans strategies - has an advantage over a physically stronger but unthinking opponent. and Wisdom, not muscle, is certainly why God has put people in charge of the animal kingdom. We exercise regularly and eat well to build our strength, but do we take equal pains to develop wisdom? Because wisdom is a part of strength, it pays to attain it. One of the most annoying types of people is a know-it-all. A person who has dogmatic opinion about everything, is closed to anything new, resents discipline,and refuses to learn. Solomon calls this kind of person a fool. Don't be a know-it-all. Instead, be open to the advice of others, especially those who know you well and can be valuable insight and counsel. Learn how to learn from others. remember, only God knows it all. A point of Wisdom... Now, in the Book of proverbs, the " Simple - Minded " or a fool is not someone with a MENTAL deficiency but someone with a Character deficiency (such as Rebellion, Laziness, or Anger). The fool is not Stupid, but he or she is unable to tell right from wrong or good from bad. Until next Time... Jim,