" MAKING WISE CHOICES "

Good Day to you and is all well in your camp, it's my prayer that things will truly start looking up for you. This week we will be looking into CHOICES. We are faced with challenges in our daily choices. We are often more concerned with making the easy choice than making the right one. Yet more often than not, the right choice is clear. Ask God to give you a Special Awareness in your choices today as well as renewed commitment to make the right ones. We must recognize that the little, day-to-day choices we make are very important. They prepare us to make the right choices when the big decisions come. The Wisdom to make the right choices in large matters is a gift from God. Understanding this should make us more conscious of the decisions we make and more willing to include God in our decision making process. Please don't take anything for granted, have you asked for His help with Today's decisions? I believe that we are all acutely aware that there are consequences to any action we take. What we do can set into motion a series of events that may continue long after we're gone. Unfortunately, when we are making a decision most of us think only of the immediate consequences. These are often misleading because they are short-lived. You probably don't know the long-term effects of most decisions you make. But shouldn't the fact that there will be long-term results cause you to think carefully and seek God's guidance as you make choices and take action today? LAST POINT: When you are faced with the choice, always choose to obey God.

THE ART OF " SATISFACTION "

OK, here we are again another week has come and gone, and I for one am so very grateful to be used by the Lord. Satisfaction is this weeks topic. When I think of Satisfaction or any other emotion, I've trained my mind to seek the Lord's Will. One of the best examples of satisfying our lust or need transpires between Esau and Jacob. Now Esau Traded the lasting benefits of his birthright for the immediate pleasure of food. As most of us do, he acted on impulse, satisfying his short term desire without pausing to consider the long-range consequences of what he was able to do. We can fall into the same trap. As human beings when we see something we want, our first impulse is to get it. At first we feel intensely satisfied and sometimes even powerful because we have obtained what we set out to get. But immediate pleasure often loses sight of the future. We can avoid making Esau's mistake by comparing the Satisfaction with it's long-range consequences before we act. Now Esau exaggerated his hunger. " I am about to die, " he said. This thought made his choice much easier because if he was starving, what good was an inheritance any way? The pressure of the moment distorted his perspective and made his decision seem urgent. We often experience similar pressures. Now, consider this when we feel sexual pressure, a Marriage Vow may seem unimportant. We might feel such great pressure in one area that nothing else,seems to matter and we lose our perspective. Getting through that short, pressure-filled moment is often is often the most difficult part of overcoming a temptation. LAST POINT: Don't be satisfied with your good deeds. Nor should we feel satisfied when our church only rejoices in the Salvation of its members or in the comfort of gathering for worship. We should grow in Love, Faith, and acts of service. Because the times are Critical, we must spend our days Wisely and Faithfully. Until Next Time... Jim,

" TO GIVE OR TO RECEIVE COUNSEL "

Blessings to you and those in whom you care most about. This week we're talking about giving or receiving Counsel. We all need someone in whom we can count on for their wisdom when we are stuck. I personally have a Small Group of Brothers in whom I value their Wisdom and Knowledge Immensely. We all from time to time re-read the Book Of Psalms and glean knowledge. You know, life has two roads, the life of the faithful person which is contrasted by the life of the faithless person. Those who diligently try to obey God's will are blessed. Now, God doesn't judge people on the basis of Race, Sex, or National Origin. He judges them on the basis of their faith in him and their response to his Revealed Will. Recognize that God's Wisdom guides their lives. In, contrast, those who don't trust and obey God have meaningless lives that blow away like dust. There are only two paths of life before us - God's way of obedience or the way of rebellion and destruction. Be sure to choose God's path because the path you choose determines how you will spend eternity. A good leader needs and uses wise counselors. One person's perspective and understanding is severely limited; he or she may not have all the facts or may be blinded by bias, emotions, or wrong impressions. To be a wise leader at home, at church, or at work, seek the counsel of others and be open to their advice. Then, after considering all the facts, make your decision. " The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man is he who listens to Counsel " (Prov. 12:15). Until Next Time... Jim,

SCRIPTURE(S)

SCRIPTURE: A term specifically applied to the Word Of God, which was given by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Christians include both the OT and NT under the term, while Jews refer only to the OT, i.e. the Hebrew Bible. Do you remember the account of when the religious leaders questioned Jesus about the resurrection? Listen it's vital that we understand the Scriptures. These religious leaders as always attempted to trip Jesus up (Matt 22:29-30). But Jesus answered and said to them, " You are mistaken, NOT Understanding The Scriptures nor the power of God. (30) " For the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. Now these so called learner'd men (Sadducee's) asked Jesus what marriage would be like in Heaven. Jesus responded in said fashion, that it is more important to understand GOD'S POWER than to know what heaven will be like. I imagine that in every generation and culture to this point ideas of Eternal Life tend to be based on images and experiences of their present life. Now, Jesus answered that these flawed ideas are caused by ignorance (Lack Of Knowledge) of God's Word. Hear Me, we must not make up our own ideas about eternity and Heaven by thinking of it and God in human terms. But we should employ all our mental powers on our relationship with God than about what Heaven will look like. Eventually we will find out, and it will be far beyond our greatest expectations. LAST POINT: As a Man, Jesus lived a perfect life, and so He is a Perfect example of how to live. As God, Jesus gives us the power to do what is right. It is possible to live a Godly Life - through following Christ. Until Next Time... Jim,