" APPROVAL "

Come on in, another week has come and gone and I have another message coming your way. We will be looking into " Approval " as our subject matter. Sometimes we avoid what is right because of what others might think. We must always obey God rather than seek the Approval Of Others. Whose praise do you seek? Maybe you live a life of much prestige and you don't put Jesus First In Your Life. Now the Stamp Of Approval that the world gives to those in this group means nothing to Jesus. He was concerned about God's Approval. This is a good principal for us. If God Approves, even though others don't, we should be content. I'm of the mind - set that we should be much more concerned about God's eternal acceptance than about the temporary approval of other people. Again, don't mistake God's patience with your sin as approval of it. History shows us in the Book Of Judges what Israel had to suffer because of failure to follow God wholeheartedly. God was supremely loving and patient with Israel, just as he is today. But we must not confuse his patience with us as approval or indifference to our sin. Beware of demanding your own way because eventually you may get it - along with all its painful consequences. Last Time I'll Make This Very Important Point: In his kindness God holds back his judgment, giving You, Me, People TIME TO REPENT.It is easy to mistake God's Patience for Approval of wrong way that we are living. Self-evaluation is difficult, and it is even more difficult to expose our conduct to God and let him tell us where we need to change. But as Christians we must pray constantly that God will point out our sins, so that he can heal them. Unfortunately, we are more likely to be amazed at God's patience with others than humbled at his patience with us. Until Next Time... Jim,

" MERCY "

I must Confess that this weeks subject is one that I find challenging at times. It is not my job to decide the outcome of any one's Prayer Concern, but to take them all to the Throne Of Grace. Having Mercy is something that must be practiced by me daily. For this reason I pray for The Perfect Will Of God Always. God's Mercy is unbelievable. It goes far beyond what we can imagine. Even if some have walked away from God in the past and ruined their lives, God will still take us back. If we listen God will give inward Spiritual Renewal (Circumcise Our Hearts). God wants to forgive us and bring us back to himself too. I'm afraid that some people will not learn this until their world has crashed in around them. Then the sorrow and pain seem to open their eyes to what God has been saying all along. Time for some honesty, are you separated from God by Sin? No matter how far you have wandered, God promises a fresh beginning if only you will turn to Him. Countless times throughout the Bible we see God showing his Love and Patience toward Men and Women in order to SAVE them. Although he realizes that their hearts are evil, he continues to try to reach them. When we sin or Fall Away From God, we surely deserve to be destroyed by his judgment. But God has promised Never Again to destroy everything on earth until the Judgment Day when Christ Returns to destroy evil forever. Now every change of season is a reminder of his promise. LAST POINT: Jesus tells us to: " Be Kind to One Another, Tender-Heart ed, Forgiving Each Other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you. " If you think for a moment, we see in the Lord's Prayer - " Forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our debtors." God does not forgive us we forgive others, but solely because of his great Mercy. As we come to understand his Mercy, however, we will want to be like him. Having received forgiveness, we will pass it on to others. Now, those who are unwilling to forgive even those who crucified him. Now, have Mercy on those who hurt you, even multiple times. Until Next Time... Jim,

" CHOOSING YOUR BATTLE (S) WISELY "

Please forgive me as the message usually goes out earlier in the day. Today I was attacked through my computer and I'm just getting back online. We all have choices to make on a daily basis but choosing the right Battle is something that we should be sure about. OK, let's get started, before David went to Battle, he inquired of God, asking for his presence and guidance. Too often we wait until we are in trouble before turning to God. By then the consequences of our actions are already unfolding. Do you ask for God's help only as a desperate last resort? Instead, go to him first! Like David, you may receive incredible help and avoid serious trouble. In this world that we live in, who knows if we will be thrust into another battle. Sinful people will unite to fight against God in a final display of rebellion. Many are already united against Christ and his people - those who stand for truth, peace, justice, and morality. Your personal battle with evil foreshadows the great pictured here, where God will meet evil and destroy it once and for all. Be Strong and Courageous as you battle against sin and evil: You are fighting on the winning side. In Battle and if you're right with God, you may hear that tiny voice saying. " Do not fear or be dismayed...for the battle is not yours but God's. " You know we may not fight an enemy army, but every day we battle temptation, pressure, and rulers... of this darkness who want us to rebel against God. Remember, as believers, we have God's spirit in us. If we ask for God's help when we face struggles, God will fight for us. And God always triumphs. How do we let God fight for us? (1) By realizing the battle is not ours, but God's (2) by recognizing human limitations and allowing God's strength to work throughout fears and weaknesses; (3) by making sure we are pursuing God's interests and not just our own selfish desires; (4) by asking God for help in our daily battles. Until Next Time... Jim,

" TIMING "

OK, here we are again another message only a day after yesterdays. I trust that My Lord and Savior knows exactly what he's doing. From our perspective, God sometimes seems slow to intervene on our behalf. But what might appear slow to us is good timing from God's perspective. It is easy to become impatient while waiting for God to act, but we must never give up on him. When God is silent and you are in deep anguish, follow the method in this Psalm. Please review the the great acts of God through biblical history; then review what he has done for you. Now this will remind you that God is at work, not only in history, but also in your life. God will act when he is ready. Children have difficulty grasping the concept of time. " It's Not Time Yet " is not a reason they easily understand because they only comprehend the present. As limited human beings, we can't understand God's perspective about time. We want everything now, unaware that God's timing is better. When God is ready, he will do what needs to be done, not what we would like him to do. We may be as impatient as Children, but we must not doubt the wisdom of God's Timing. Wait for God to reveal His Plan. Don't take matters into your own hands. LAST POINT: Jesus loved a certain family and often stayed with them. He knew their pain but did not respond immediately. His delay had a Specific Purpose. God's Timing, especially his delays, may make us think he is not answering or is not answering the way we want. But he will meet all our needs according to his perfect schedule and purpose. Patiently await his timing. Don't be like Mary and Martha. Until Next Time... Jim

" NO MORE HIDING "

We are a full day into a new week and I want you to know that you are very special in the eyes of The Lord Jesus Christ. This week we are looking into " HIDING " so strap in and let's get started. It would appear that man still doesn't get it. Allow me to take you back to the garden just for a moment. I chuckle with the thought of two humans covered with fig leaves trying to hide from the All-Seeing, All-Knowing God is truly humorous to me. How could they be so silly as to think that they could actually hide? Yet we do the same, acting as though God doesn't know what we're doing. Have the courage to share all you do and think with him. And don't try to hide - it can't be done. Honesty will strengthen your relationship with God. Job declared that he did not try to hide his sin as men often do. The fear that our sins will be discovered leads us to patterns of deception. We cover up with lies so that we will appear cool to others, please get this, we cannot hide from God. Question, do you try to keep people from seeing the real you? When you acknowledge your sins, you free yourself to receive forgiveness and a new life. I'd like to return to our friends in the Garden. Now, after Adam and Eve ate from the tree, they recognized that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loin coverings. You see Adam and Eve felt guilt and embarrassment. Now a guilty conscience is a warning signal God placed inside of us when we've done wrong. The worst step you could take is to eliminate the guilty feelings without eliminating the course. That would be like using a pain killer but not treating the disease. Be glad those guilty feelings are there. They make you aware of your sin so you can ask God's forgiveness and then correct your wrong doing. Until Next Time... Jim,

" FEAR "

Well hear we are again, another week that the Lord has made is upon us again. This past week we celebrated Thanksgiving and I'm reminded of how blessed I am. This week we will be looking into "Fear." Have you ever hear that we should have " FEAR OF THE LORD. " Well it means to have respect and reverence for God and to Be in awe of his majesty and power. Now, this is the starting point to finding real wisdom. Have you ever felt surrounded by the " Enemy " or faced over whelming odds? God is never intimidated by the size of the enemy or the complexity of a problem. Now, with God there is always an abundance of resources for us to resist any pressure so that we can win the battle. If God has called you to action, then bravely commit what resources you have to God, and rely upon him to lead you to victory. God gave Abram two reasons not to Fear and to have courage: (1) He Promised To Defend Abram (" I AM A SHIELD TO YOU "), and (2) HE Promised To Be Abram's " Reward." When you Fear what lies ahead, remember that God will stay with you through difficult times and that he has promised you great blessings. Fear is a dark shadow that envelopes us and ultimately Imprisons us within ourselves. Once again each of us has been a prisoner of Fear at one time or another Fear of rejection, misunderstanding, uncertainty, sickness, or even death. But we can conquer Fear by using the bright liberating light of the Lord who brings Salvation. If we want to dispel the darkness of Fear, let us remember with the psalmist that " The Lord Is My Light And My Salvation. " LAST POINT: Don't allow FEAR to paralyze you to the fact that you consider running from VS. praying about. When we face a difficult conflict, we can run about frantically or we can pause to pray. Which approach will be more effective. Until Next Time... Jim,