" UNBELIEF / UNBELIEVERS "

Come on in and sit awhile, this week we are looking into " Unbelief / Unbelievers. " It must be said to those who don't believe in God, life on planet earth is all there is, and so it is natural for them to strive for all this world has to offer. This world's values: Money, Prestige, Power, and of course Pleasure. Now, for Apostle Paul, to live meant to develop Eternal Values and to tell others about Christ, who alone could help them see life from an Eternal Perspective. Paul's whole purpose in life was to speak out Boldly for Christ and to become more like Him. Therefore Paul could confidently say that dying would be even better than living, because in death he would be removed from worldly troubles, and he would see Christ face-to-face. If you're not ready to die, then you're not ready to live. Make certain of your Eternal Destiny; then you will be free to serve - devoting your life to what really counts, with fear of death. Now, " What will happen to the heathen who have never heard about Christ?" This question is often asked about God's justice. God " is a rewarder of those who seek Him." Those who sincerely seek God will find him! When you feel lost, it may be because you're looking everywhere but to God your help and guidance. It's time to take out a real insurance plan, with Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior. Until Next Time... Jim,

" OPPORTUNITIES "

Between you and me I sincerely appreciate the Opportunity that I have to share with you. This week we are looking into " Opportunities." And Paul comes to mind. Now, when Paul became a Servant of the Gospel, The Father gave him the Ability, to share effectively the gospel of Christ. You may not be an Apostle or even an Evangelist but God will give you Opportunities to tell others about Christ. And with said opportunities he will provide the Ability, Courage and Power. Whenever an Opportunity presents itself, make yourself available to God as his Servant. Now, as you focus on the person and his or her needs, God will communicate your caring attitude. Your words will be Natural, Loving, and Compelling. I have the opportunity to share with you as well as others around the globe. Until Next Time... Jim,

" SERVICE "

" SERVICE: " A valuable Action, Deed, or effort performed to satisfy a Need or to fulfill a demand. When I think of someone with a Servant's heart I think of Rebekah. Now Rebekah's Servant spirit was clearly demonstrated as she willingly and quickly drew water for Eliezer and his camels. The pots used for carrying water were large and heavy. It took a lot of water to satisfy a thirsty camel - up to 25 gallons per camel after a weeks travel. Seeing Rebekah go to work, Eliezer knew this was a woman with a heart for doing far more than the bare minimum. Do you have a Servant Spirit? When asked to help or when you see a need go beyond the minimum. Avoid excuses when God calls you to serve. Do you remember in the Book Of Judges in chapter 6 verse 14 - 16 " I Will Be With You, " God told Gideon, and God promised to give him the strength he needed to overcome the opposition. In spite of this clear promise for strength, Gideon made excuses seeing only his limitations and weaknesses, he failed to see how God could work through him. Like Gideon, we are called to serve God in specific ways. Although God promises us the tools and strength we need, we often make excuses. But reminding God of our limitations only implies that he does not know all about us or that he has made a mistake in evaluating our character. Don't spend time making excuses. Instead spend it doing what God wants. Until Next Time... Jim,

" RESPONSIBILITY IS YOURS "

Christians have both a privilege and a great responsibility, Paul and the Apostles received forgiveness ("Grace") as an undeserved privilege. But they also received the responsibility to share the message of God's forgiveness with others. God also graciously forgives our sins when we believe in him as Lord. In doing this, we are committing ourselves to begin a new life. Paul's new life also involved a God-given Responsibility - to witness about God's Good News to the world as a Missionary. Now, God may or may not call you to be an overseas missionary, but he does call you (and all believers) to witness to and be an example of the changed life that Jesus Christ has begun in you. We must pick up the gauntlet to keep the world alive for the next generation. Now, as Paul reached the end of his life, he could look back and know he had been faithful to God's call. Now it was time to pass the torch to the next generation, preparing, leaders to take his place so that world would continue to hear the Life - Changing message of Jesus Christ. Timothy was Paul's living legacy, a product of Paul's faithful teaching, discipleship, and example. Because of Paul's work with many believers,including timothy, the world is full of believers today who are also carrying on the work. What legacy will you leave behind? Whom are you training to carry on your work? It is our responsibility to do all we can do to keep the gospel message alive for the next generation. Until Next Time... Jim,

" CHRISTIANS WILL MISS THE TRIBULATION "

" TRIBULATION: " Affliction; Hardship; Trial(s) Tribulation: In general, an extended time of suffering or persecution. Specifically, The Great Tribulation, a period of SEVEN YEARS of Catastrophic divine judgments preceding the SECOND COMING OF CHRIST. Other views about the Tribulation: Some believe that Revelation 3:10 " Because you have kept the Word Of My Perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of Testing that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. " Some believe that " I also will keep you from the hour of testing " means there will be a future time of great tribulation from which True Believers will be spared. Others interpret this to mean that the church will go through the time of Tribulation and that God will keep them strong in the midst of it. Still others believe this refers to times of great distress in general, the church's suffering through the ages. Whatever the case,our emphasis should be on patiently obeying God no matter what we may face. Once again I believe that it's vital that you get this " The Great Tribulation " has been explained in several ways. Now some are of the mind-set and truly believe it refers to the suffering of believers through the ages; others believe that there is a specific time of intense tribulation yet to come. In either case, these believers come through their times of suffering by remaining loyal to God. Because they remain faithful, God will give them eternal life with him. As Born Again Christians it has been thrust upon our shoulders to Spread THE GOOD NEWS. It is my prayer that lives will be saved and therefore not subjected to the Tribulation nor Hell. Until Next Time... Jim,

" KNOW SIN TOO GREAT FOR GOD TO FORGIVE "

We all recognize what sin is and when we Sin. If you're anything like me I feel guilty when I Sin. Now, what can we do to get rid of guilt? So that we're not pointing a finger at you and me right now, King David was guilty of terrible sins-adultery, murder, lying-and yet he experienced the joy of forgiveness. We too can have the joy when we (1) Quit denying our guilt and recognize that we have sinned, (2) Admit our guilt to God and ask for His forgiveness, and (3) let go of our guilt and believe that God has forgiven us. This can be difficult when a Sin has taken root and grown over many years, when it is very serious, or when it involves others. We must remember that Jesus is willing and able to forgive every Sin. In view of the tremendous price he paid on the cross, it is arrogant to think that any of our Sins are too great for him to cover. Even though our faith is weak, our conscience is sensitive,and our memory haunts us, God's Word declares that sins confessed are Sins forgiven (1 John 1:9). Ask God to point out your sins (Psalm 139:23-24) (23) " Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my anxious thoughts; (24) And see if there be any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the Everlasting Way." Now, I'm of the mind that we all as David asked God to search for sin and point it out, even to the level of testing his thoughts. This we might look at as exploratory surgery for sin. Take a moment and think, how are we to recognize Sin unless God points it out? Then, when God shows us, we can repent and be forgiven. Maybe we should make this verse your prayer. if you ask the Lord to search your heart and your thoughts and to reveal your sin, you will be continuing on God's " Everlasting Way." Until Next Time... Jim,

" ALL AUTHORITY COMES FROM GOD "

Welcome as always it's great to share with you, and this week we are looking into " Authority." As you go through life understanding the lines of authority is important. Now, as you function with others in service to God,make sure the lines of authority between you and those you work with are clearly understood. Good Communication builds Good Relationships. As Men and Women of God, in a leadership role such as Dad and Mom or serving somewhere in the Body Of Christ is important. Now, we must be rooted in Moral Strength, so when we speak out against another's behavior we must maintain our authority. Now lack of moral backbone has become the source of trouble, bad behavior and such in many families for generations. The Word Of God teaches us that it takes Courage and Strength to Stand Firm in your Convictions and to confront wrongdoing in the face of opposition. When you believe something is wrong, do not let yourself be talked out of your position. Firmly attack the wrong and uphold the right. Now, God created lines of Authority in order for his created world to function smoothly. Although there must be lines of authority, even in marriage, there should NOT BE LINES OF SUPERIORITY. God created Men and Women with unique and complementary characteristics. One sex is not better than the other. We must not let the issue of authority and submission become a wedge to destroy oneness in marriage. Instead, we should use our unique gifts to strengthen our Marriages and to glorify God. Until Next Time... Jim,

" CONFESSION GOOD FOR THE SOUL "

OK here we are again time for some insight into God's Word. " CONFESSION:" To acknowledge, to admit to God that Me / You are guilty of a sin. A Believer who Confesses any sin to God is assured of receiving forgiveness from Him. Also to give evidence of one's faith. Confession is supposed to free us to enjoy fellowship with Christ. It should ease our consciences and lighten our cares. But some Christians do not understand how it works. They feel so guilty that they confess the same sins over and over; then they wonder if they might have forgotten something. Other Christians believe that God forgives them when they confess, but if they died with UN-Confessed Sins, they would be forever lost. These Christians do not understand that God wants to Forgive Us. He allowed his beloved Son to die just so he could offer us pardon(s). When we come to Christ, He Forgives all the sins we have committed or will ever commit. We don't need to confess the sins of the past all over again, and we don't need to fear that God will reject us if we don't keep our slate perfectly clean. Of course we should continue to confess our sins, but not because failure to do so will make us lose our Salvation. Our relationship with Christ is SECURE. Instead, we should confess so that we can enjoy maximum fellowship and joy with him. True Confession also involves a commitment not to continue in sin. We wouldn't be genuinely confessing our sins to God if we planned to commit them again and just wanted temporary forgiveness. We should also pray for strength to defeat temptation the next time we face it. Until next Time... Jim,

" THOUGHTS "

We have been down this road before and it seems that it's to our advantage to travel it once again. Ask yourself what preoccupies my mind. Now the first scripture that comes to mind is Isaiah 55:8 which reads " FOR MY THOUGHTS ARE NOT YOUR THOUGHTS, NOR ARE YOUR WAYS MY WAYS," declares the Lord. We work hard to keep our outward appearance attractive, but what is in our hearts is even more important. The way we are deep down (Where Others Can't See) matters much to God. What are you like inside? When people become Christians, God makes us different on the inside. I'm reminded of a caterpillar, who will go through a total and complete metamorphosis. Now we as Christians should strive daily to grow into what Christ wants us to be. We must change from our wicked ways. Besides " THE LORD KNOWS THE THOUGHTS OF MAN, THAT THEY ARE A MERE BREATH " (Psalm 94:11). Earlier I mentioned Isaiah 55:8, it is foolish for us to act as if we knew what God was planning. Understand that His Wisdom and Knowledge is far greater than's our's. But yet we are foolish to try to fit God into our mold - to make his plans and purpose conform to ours. Instead, we should strive to fit into his plans. LAST THOUGHT: Now, the importance of ridding wrong thoughts from our lives is vital, If we don't our path will lead to total destruction. It is easy to look back at our mistakes and recognize foolish plans while we are carrying them out because somehow then they seem appropriate to us. To get rid of foolish ideas before they turn into foolish actions requires eliminating our wrong thoughts and motives. Now failing to do this can cause us much grief. Until Next time... Jim,

" THROUGH CHRIST WE CAN FORGIVE "

Greetings and Salutations, it's always my pleasure sharing with you. This week we are looking into " Forgiveness " again. I'm the kind of man who believes every single word I read in the Bible. There is a scripture in a couple of the Gospels that means a great deal to me. " THEREFORE WE ARE GIVEN THE ABILITY TO FORGIVE AND FORGET TRANSGRESSIONS AGAINST US THROUGH CHRIST WHO STRENGTHENS US (Matthew 19:26; Luke 18:27). Now Hebrews 10:17 says: " AND THEIR SINS AND THEIR LAWLESS DEEDS I WILL REMEMBER NO MORE. " I shared this thought once before that the writer of the Book Of Hebrews and there were many qualified Heroes Of The Faith from my observation who may have written it. Now the author concludes this discussion with an effort to convince us with this powerful statement that God Will Remember Our Sins No More. Christ forgives completely, so there is no need to confess our past sins repeatedly. As Believers, we can be confident that the sins we confess and renounce are FORGIVEN AND FORGOTTEN. Now I believe you have all heard and read of King David's Sin. David was truly sorry for his adultery with Bathsheba and for murdering her husband to cover it up. He knew that his actions had hurt many people. But because David repented of those sins God mercifully forgave him. No sin is too great to be forgiven! Do you feel that you could never come close to God because you have done something terrible? God can and will forgive you of any sin. While God forgives us, however, he does not always erase the natural consequences of our sin. FINAL POINT: Revenge is an uncontrollable monster. Each act of retaliation brings another. It's a boomerang that cannot be thrown without cost to the thrower. The Revenge cycle can be halted only by forgiveness Until Next Time... Jim,

AGREEMENT / GIVING YOUR WORD

Blessings to you and yours, now it is my prayer that you ask the Lord Jesus Christ for the Wisdom to truly understand this weeks message. We will be looking into " KEEPING OUR PROMISE, OUR WORD. " Agreement / Covenant is a legally binding obligation (Promise). Throughout history God made covenants with people - he would keep his side if they would keep theirs. Point of fact God's chosen people the Israelites spent 40 years on a journey that should have lasted 11 days. Listen closely it wasn't distance that stood between them and the Promised Land. It was the condition of their hearts. Don't break the agreement you made to follow God. As mentioned Israel did not have to spend 40 years on the way to the Promised Land. Once again God sentenced them to wilderness wandering because they rejected his love, rebelled against his authority, ignored his commands for right living, and willfully broke their end of the agreement made in Exodus 19:8 and 24:3-8. In short, they disobeyed God. We often make life's journey more difficult than necessary by disobedience. Accept God's Love,Please read and follow his commands in the Bible, and make a promise to stick with God whatever your situation. You will find that your life will be less complicated and more rewarding. LAST POINT: Those of us who know Jesus as our Personal Lord and Savior must agree to God's plan for us. Now, if we are going to complete the task(s) God has given us, we must fully agree to his plan, pledge ourselves to obey it, and put his principles into action. Agreeing to God's plan means both knowing what the plan is (as found in the Bible) and carrying it out daily. Until Next Time... Jim,

" WHERE IS YOUR JOY "

OK, here we are again another week has come and gone and it's time to share. You know I love our time together, I sincerely feel alive. You know you should give it some more effort, be more intentional about Sharing Your Faith. " JOY: " Pleasure caused by the acquisition or expectation of good; delight; exultation; cause of joy or happiness. To rejoice, To be glad; To gladden. I was recently sharing with my accountability partner of my belief that those of us who know the Lord Jesus Christ as our Personal Savior, must recognize that He is always by our side. Paul's action's always spoke loudly. Now, it may seem strange that a man in prison would be telling the church to rejoice. But Paul's attitude teaches us an important lesson: Our inner attitudes do not have to reflect our outward circumstances. Paul was full of joy because he knew that no matter what happened to him, Jesus Christ was with him for Certain. Now I propose a question to you, do you know where joy is? Paul knew and so should those of us who are saved, know that Jesus Christ was with him for certain. Several times in this letter Philippians 4, Paul urged the people to be joyful, probably because they needed to hear this. It's easy to get discouraged about unpleasant circumstances or to take unimportant events too seriously. If you haven't been joyful lately, you may not be looking at life from the right perspective. JOY is a common theme in Christ's teachings - he wants us to be joyful. The key to immeasurable joy is living in intimate contact with Christ, the source of all joy. When we do, we will experience God's special care and protection and see the victory God brings even when defeat seems certain. Until Next Time... Jim,

THE ULTIMATE " SEPARATION "

Welcome, come on in and let's see what the Word Of God has to say about " Separation. " Please pay close attention Hell is Eternal Separation From God. " ETERNAL DESTRUCTION " is the Lake Of Fire and people who are Separated from God in Eternity No Longer Have Any Hope For SALVATION. The ultimate result of sin is unending Separation from God. Because human beings are created in God's image with an inborn thirst for fellowship with him, Separation from God will be the ultimate Torment and Misery. Sin always brings Misery, but in this life we can choose to repent and restore our relationship with God. In eternity there will be no longer for opportunity for repentance. If in this life we choose to be independent of God, in the next life we will be Separated from him forever. Nobody is forced to choose ETERNAL SEPARATION from God, and nobody suffers this fate by accident. Jesus invites all of us to open the door of our hearts to him. If we do this, we will enjoy everlasting fellowship with him. LAST POINT: Now, regarding Separation In Marriage... 1 Corinthians 7:15-16 (15) Yet if the unbelieving one leaves, let him leave; the brother or the sister is not under bondage in such cases, but God has called us to peace. (16) for how do you know, O Wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, O husband whether you will save your Wife? " Now this verse is misused by some as a loophole to get out of Marriage. But Paul's statements were given to encourage the Christian Spouse to try to get along with the Unbeliever and make the Marriage work. If, however, the unbelieving spouse insisted on leaving, Paul said to let him or her go. The only alternative would be for the Christian to deny his or her faith to preserve the Marriage, and that would be worse than dissolving the Marriage. Paul's chief purpose in writing this I believe was to urge the Married couples to seek unity, not Separation. Until Next Time... Jim,

" WITNESSING IS A MUST !!! "

To Witness is to give a testimony: A person who may be called to give testimony concerning an agreement or event that has been observed. Now, in the Bible, an animal or object, such as a mound, may also be designated as a witness in the sense that it is personified as an observer of the agreement or event, or viewed as a symbol on it. Our relatives are often the hardest people to tell about God. Yet we should look for opportunities to tell them what God is doing in our lives because we can have an important influence on them. Question for you: Do you take the time to Share with your Children? Do you have traditions - Special Dates or Special Places - to help your Children learn about God's work in your life? Do you take time to tell them what God has done for you - Forgiving and Saving you, answering your prayers, supplying your needs? Retelling your story will help keep memories of God's faithfulness alive in your family. Our responsibility to tell others about Jesus is witnessing. Now, we are to do it- whether it is next door or to another country - and make disciples. It is not an option, but a command to all who call Jesus "LORD." We are not all Evangelists in the formal sense, but we have all received gifts that we can use to help fulfill the Great Commission. As we obey, we have comfort in the knowledge that Jesus is always with us. Until Next Time... Jim,

" VENGEANCE....NEVER! "

Come on in an and stay awhile, this week we will be looking into a very serious subject " VENGEANCE. " This is an avenue that we should never traverse. Unfortunately vengeance started way back during the days of Adam and Eve. Their disobedience brought sin into the Human Race. They may have thought their sin - eating a piece of fruit - wasn't very bad, but notice how quickly their sinful nature developed in their children. Simply disobedience quickly degenerated into outright murder. Adam and Eve acted only against God, but Cain acted against both God and Man. A small sin has a way of growing out of control. Let God help you with your " Little " sins before they turn into tragedies. Cain was severely punished for this murder. God judges all sins and punishes appropriately, but not simply out of anger or Vengeance. Rather, God's punishment is meant to correct us and restore our fellowship with him. When you're corrected, don't resent it. Instead renew your fellowship with God. Our Lord and God is a Consuming Fire. Why because he is Morally Perfect, he hates sin and cannot accept those who practice it. Moses' sin kept him from entering the the Promised Land, and no Sacrifice could remove that judgment. Sin kept us from entering God's presence, but Jesus Christ paid the tariff for our sin and removed God's judgment forever by his death. Trusting in Jesus Christ will save you from God's anger and will allow you to begin a Personal Relationship with a verse of scripture: " YOU SHALL NOT TAKE VENGEANCE, NOR BEAR ANY GRUDGE AGAINST THE SONS OF YOUR PEOPLE, BUT YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF; i AM THE LORD " (Leviticus 19:18). Until Next Time... Jim,

" WHAT IS A SACRIFICE "

You know I sincerely enjoy sharing with you, the preparation keeps me in the Word Of God studying and learning. One may think of it as a Sacrifice. This week Lord Willing we will once and for all learn what a Sacrifice is. The word Sacrifice implies giving something that costs the giver in terms of self, time, or money. To give sacrificially requires more than a token effort or gift. God wants us to give voluntarily, but he wants it to mean something. Giving God what costs you nothing does not demonstrate commitment. Sacrifices / Offerings " Doing it for the right reasons, " now let's look back. God's Perfect Moral Nature demands that the penalty for sin be death; however, a person could offer an animal to God as a substitute for himself, symbolizing the person's faith in the merciful, forgiving God. But the people were offering sacrifices and forgetting their significance! The very act of sacrifice showed that they had once agreed to follow God wholeheartedly. But all this time their hearts were not in it. We may fall into the same pattern when we participate in Religious Activities, Tithe, or Attend Church out of Habit or Conformity rather than out of heartfelt love and obedience. God wants Righteousness, not Empty Ritual. LAST POINT: So that we're perfectly clear there are numerous places in the Bible where the theme " TO OBEY IS BETTER THAN SACRIFICE " is stated ( Psalm 40:6-8; 51:16, 17; Proverbs 21:3; Isaiah 1:11-17; Jeremiah 7:21-23; Hosea 6:6; Micah 6:6-8; Matthew 12:7; Mark 12:33; Hebrews 10:8,9). Now, what do you think, hopefully you checked out some of these verses for conformation. Was Samuel saying that Sacrifice is unimportant? No, I'm confident that he was urging Saul to look at his reasons for making the Sacrifice rather than at the Sacrifice itself. A Sacrifice was a Ritual transaction between Man and God that Physically demonstrated a between them. But if the person's heart was not truly repentant or if he truly did not love God, the Sacrifice was a hollow ritual. Religious ceremonies or rituals are empty unless they are performed with an attitude of Love and Obedience " Being Religious " (going to church, serving on a committee, or giving to a charity) is not enough if we do not act out of devotion and obedience to God. Until Next Time... Jim,

" ENVY / JEALOUSY "

We are going to look into Envy / Jealousy once again. As we all may need another dose of what God's thoughts are pertaining to Jealousy / Envy. Now, Jealousy can be difficult to recognize because our reasons for it seem to make sense. But left unchecked, jealousy grows quickly and leads to serious sins. The longer you cultivate jealous feelings, the harder it is to uproot them. The time to deal with jealously is when you notice yourself keeping score of what others have. Have you ever envied some one whom God has apparently singled out for Special Blessing? Now a sure cure for jealousy is to rejoice with those people, realizing that God uses his people in ways best suited to his purpose. Now, to covet is to desire another person's prosperity. We are not to set our desires on anything that belongs to someone else. Not only can such desires make us miserable, they can also lead us to other sins such as Stealing and a big one Adultery. Envying others is a non-productive usage of our time because God is able to provide everything we truly need, even if he does not always give us everything we want. Now to stop coveting, we need to practice being content with what we have. The Apostle Paul emphasizes the significance of contentment in Philippians 4:11. It is a matter of perspective. Instead of thinking about what we don't have, we should thank God for what he has given and strive to be content. After all, our most important possession is free and available to everyone - eternal through Christ. LAST POINT: When we are blinded by envy and hatred, it is almost impossible to see our own sin. Until Next Time... Jim,

" TODAY'S BATTLE "

Welcome to you and come on in and sit awhile, this week we will be looking into the subject of " Battle. " Now, I'm of the belief that we must fight for our lives and the lives of our loved ones. If you have ever read the Word Of God, sometimes our Fight / Battle is to the death. We have to be of the mindset that the enemy is trying to Kill /Destroy us. You must inquire of God and he will tell us exactly how to defeat our enemy. When we inquire of God, I'm confident that we will hear something like this. " Do Not Fear Or Be Dismayed ... For The Battle Is Not Yours But God's. " Now, we may not fight an enemy army everyday but we battle temptation, pressure, and " Rules...of this darkness " (Ephesians 6:12) 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 through our 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.

" DO YOU BELIEVE? "

Here we are again, another week has crept up upon us and that's a good thing. Have you truly asked yourself what you truly believe in? I am a Believer in Jesus Christ and I walk in Faith. Believing for every thing and that all things are possible in Jesus Christ. " BELIEVERS " Faithful ones in the New Testament, those who have placed their complete faith and trust in Christ for Salvation, realizing that they are unable to meet God's standards of righteousness by their own efforts. " And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that he is a rewarder of those who seek Him. " Believing that God exists is only the beginning; even the demons believe that much (James 2:19-20). God will not settle for mere acknowledgement of his existence. He wants a personal, and dynamic relationship with you that will transform your life. Those who seek God will find that they are rewarded with his Intimate Presence. " And all things you ask in Prayer, BELIEVING, You Will Receive. " Now this verse is not a guarantee that we get anything we want simply by asking Jesus and believing. God does not grant requests that would hurt us or others or that would violate his own nature or Will. Jesus' statement is not a blank check. To be fulfilled, our requests must be in Harmony with the Principles of God's Kingdom. THE STRONGER OUR BELIEF, THE MORE LIKELY OUR PRAYERS WILL BE IN LINE WITH GOD'S WILL, AND THEN GOD WILL BE HAPPY TO GRANT THEM. Last Point: To " Believe " is more than intellectual agreement that Jesus is God. It means to put our trust and confidence in him that he alone can save us. It is to put Christ in charge of our present plans and eternal destiny. Believing is both trusting his word as reliable, and relying on him for the power to change. If you have never trusted Christ, let this promise of everlasting life be yours - and believe. Until Next Time... Jim,

" QUESTION(S) "

This week we are looking into questions' Question: 1- To ask questions 2- Doubt, Dispute 3- To subject to analysis: Examine (Syn) Interrogate, Quiz, Query - Questioner. A most important question... Think back to the Gospels, those of you who have read them anyway. When Jesus was being challenged by the Pharisees, Herodians, and Sadducees who were asking questions, and always attempting to trap him. But Jesus turned the tables and asked them a penetrating but yet a thought provoking question - who they thought Christ, The Messiah was. The Pharisees knew that the Messiah would be a descendant of David, but they did not understand that he would be God Himself. Jesus quoted from Psalm 110:1 to show that The Messiah would be greater than David (Hebrews 1:13 uses the same text as proof of Christ's Deity). The most important question we will ever answer is what we believe about Christ. Other theological questions are irrelevant until we believe that Jesus is who he said he is. Sometimes we ask God questions and then receive no answer. This may be because God is saying No. We may have asked for knowledge beyond our ability to understand or accept. Those of you who know me well hear me speak of Job often. There are some true nuggets in the Book Of Job that just leap off the pages. JOB knew that his redeemer lived. Now, we all have read of the inquisition of Job by his three friends so to speak. Now Job was up to bat stating that his suffering would be more bearable if only he knew why it was it was happening. If there was sin for which he could repent, he would! He knew about the wicked and the fact that they would be punished; he also know God could vindicate him if so chose. In all his examples of the wicked in the world, his overriding desire was for God to clear his name, prove his righteousness, and explain why he was chosen to receive all this calamity. Job tried to make his friends see that questions about God, Life, and Justice are not as simple as they assumed. Until Next Time... Jim,

" THE HARM OF LUSTING "

In today's world there is nothing that we can take for granted, in other words Leave To Chance. It seems to me everywhere we turn it's violence and or some type of self gratification that is in the news. I for one have a broken heart when ever I turn on the news, my ears bleed so to speak and then it makes me weep. This weeks topic is Lust, as the weather gets warmer it seems that our mind-set turns into this direction. " BUT I SAY TO YOU THAT EVERYONE WHO LOOKS AT A WOMAN WITH LUST FOR HER HAS ALREADY COMMITTED ADULTERY WITH HER IN HIS HEART "(Matt. 5:28). Now old testament law said that it is wrong for a person to have sex with someone other than his or her Spouse (Exodus 20:14). But Jesus said that the desire to have sex with someone other than your Spouse is Mental Adultery and thus Sin. Jesus emphasized that if the act is wrong, then so is the intention. To be Faithful to your Spouse with your Body but not your Mind is to break the Trust so vital to a Strong Marriage. Jesus is not condemning Natural Interest in the opposite sex or even healthy sexual desire, but the deliberate and repeated filling of one's mind with fantasies that would be evil if acted out. Now, some are of the school of thought that if Lustful thoughts are sin, why shouldn't a person go ahead and do the lustful actions too? Acting out sinful desires is harmful in several ways: (1) It causes people to excuse sin rather than to just stop sinning; (2) It destroys marriages; (3) It is deliberate rebellion against God's Word; (4) It always hurts someone in addition to the sinner. Sinful Actions is more dangerous than sinful desire, and that is why desires should not be acted out. Nevertheless, Sinful Desire is just as damaging to righteousness. Left unchecked, Wrong Desires will result in Wrong Actions and turn people away from God. Until Next Time... Jim,

" ATTITUDES "

This week we are looking into " Attitudes " as we all need to update our thinking from time to time. We have attitudes about everything that comes our way. Now Attitude is defined in this manner: 1- Posture 2- A mental position or feeling with regard to a fact or state 3- The position of something in relation to something else. What should our attitude be like when approaching God? At the Father's command, Moses removed his sandals and covered his face. Taking off his shoes was an act of reverence, conveying his own unworthiness before God. God is our friend, but he is also our sovereign Lord. To approach him frivolously shows a look of respect and sincerity. When you come to God in Worship, do you approach him casually, or do you come as though you were invited guest before a king? If necessary, adjust your Attitude so it is suitable for approaching a holy God. Even when your situation appears dire, we must trust by having a positive attitude toward God. Now, one of the best examples that I can think of is Moses. He was leading his people out of bondage and assuring them all the way that God would provide. The people were hostile and despairing, but Moses encouraged them to watch the wonderful way God would rescue them. Moses had a positive attitude! When it looked as if they were trapped, Moses called upon God to intervene. We may not be chased by an army, but we may still feel trapped. Instead of giving in to despair, we should adopt Moses' attitude to " Stand by and see the salvation of the Lord which He will accomplish for you today. Until Next Time... Jim,

" THE NEEDY "

Boy, how time fly's the weeks seem to be moving as fast as a blink. As always it's my honor sharing the Word of God with you. This week we will continue our focus on the " Needy. " " I was a Father to the Needy " (Job 29:16). Regarding the Needy, God told his chosen people to help the poor among them when they arrived in the Promise Land. Now this was an important part of possessing the land. Many people conclude that people are poor through some fault of their own. This kind of reasoning makes it easy to close their hearts and hands to the Needy. But we are not to invent reasons for ignoring the poor. We are to respond to the needs no matter who or what was responsible for their condition. Who are the poor in your community? How could your church help them? If your church does not have a program to identify the poor and assist in fulfilling their needs, why not help start one? What can you do to help someone in need? God tells us to help the Poor among us. This is an important part of our growth and survival on planet earth. Now again, many people conclude that some folks are poor through some fault of their own. This kind of reasoning makes it easy to close their hearts and hands to the Needy. But we are not to invent reasons for ignoring the poor. We are to respond to their needs no matter who or what was responsible for their condition. Who are the poor in your community? How could your Local Body (Church) help them? If your church does not have a program to identify the poor and assist in fulfilling their needs, why not help start one? Here's a question that you must answer for yourself...What can you do to help someone in need? Until Next Time... Jim,

" POOR / NEEDY "

For the next two weeks we will be looking into what our Lord and God feels about the " Poor and Needy." Throughout the Old Testament God told his people to treat the Poor with justice. The powerless and poverty stricken are often looked upon as incompetent or lazy when, in fact, they may be victims of oppression and circumstance. God says we must do all we can to help these needy ones. His justice did not permit the Israelites his Chosen People to insist on profits or quick payment from those who were less fortunate. Instead his laws gave the poor every opportunity to better their situation, while providing humane options for those who couldn't. None of us is completely isolated from the poor. God wants us to treat them fairly and do our part to see that their needs are met. The Hebrew law code is noted for its fairness and social responsibility toward the poor. God insisted that the poor and powerless be well treated and given the chance to restore their fortunes. We should reflect God's concern for the poor by helping those less fortunate than ourselves. Right now you maybe feeling that I'm being a little redundant but this is vital that our mindset changes. We need to develop a proper attitude toward the poor. Now the need for believers to care for the poor is a constant theme in scripture. But often we do nothing, caught up in meeting our own needs and desires. Perhaps we don't see enough poverty to remember the needs of the poor. The world is filled with poor people, here and in other countries. What can you do to help? LAST POINT: Now the Bible supports and organized system of caring for the poor. God told his people to use their tithe every third year for those who were helpless, or poor. These regulations were designed to prevent the country from sinking under crushing poverty and oppression. Families were to help other family members, and towns were to help members of their community. National laws protected the rights of the poor, but helping the poor was also an active part of religious life. God counts on believers to provide for the needy. This will help you show your regard for God as creator of all people, share God's goodness with others, and draw them to him. It is a practical and essential way to make faith work in everyday life. Until Next Time... Jim,

" LISTEN TO YOUR CONSCIENCE "

So here we are again, another week is thrust upon us and our subject matter is " Conscience. " Moral obligation; the human awareness that evaluates an action, thought or word as right or wrong in relation to an objective standard. Conscience: moral sense, inner voice, the still small voice; so with this in mind, we should try to steer clear of actions forbidden by scripture, of course, but sometimes scripture is silent. Then we should follow our consciences " Whatever is not from faith is sin " means that to go against a conviction will leave a person with a guilty or uneasy conscience. When God shows us that something is wrong for us, we should avoid it. But we should not look down an other Christians who exercise their freedom in those areas. Now, how can you keep a good conscience? Treasure your faith in Christ more than anything else and do what you know is right. Each time you deliberately ignore your conscience, you are hardening your heart. Over a period of time your capacity to tell right from wrong will diminish. As you walk with God, he will speak to you through your conscience, letting you know the difference right and wrong. Be sure to act on those inner tugs so that you do what is right - then your conscience will remain clear. LAST POINT: I'm reminded of a very wealthy man of upright character who loves God. Now, in the midst of all the accusations, Job was able to declare that his conscience was clear. Only God's forgiveness and the determination to live rightly before God can bring a clear conscience. How important Job's record became as he was being accused. Like Job, we can't claim sinless lives, but we can claim forgiven lives. When we confess our sins to God, he forgives us. Then we can live with clear Consciences (1 John 1:9). Until Next Time... Jim

" HAVING COMPASSION "

Good Day To You, this week we are looking into " Compassion. " Compassion: Pathetic Feeling; Pity; Mercy-Compassionate. " The Lord's Loving kindnesses indeed never cease, for His Compassion's Never Fail." God willingly responds with help when we ask. Perhaps there is some sin in your life that you thought God would not forgive. God's steadfast Love and Mercy are greater than any sin, and he promises forgiveness. Do you respond to the needs of others? Do you remember when Jesus heals the paralytic? The paralytic's need moved his friends to action, and they brought him to Jesus. When you recognize someone's need, do you act? Now, we all know that many people have Physical and Spiritual needs you can meet, either by yourself or with others who are also concerned, human need moved these four men; let it also move you to compassionate action. We should show compassion instead of judging others. When others are caught in sin, are you quick to pass judgment? To do so is to act as though you have never sinned. It is God's role to judge, Not Ours. Our role is to show Forgiveness and Compassion. Be as Compassionate as God is to you. We must express genuine concern for others as we carry God's message to them. Only then will we faithfully represent Our Father in heaven. LAST POINT: Many have fallen away from God for various reason(s). The Word Of God says... " Now return to the Lord your God, for He is Gracious and Compassionate, Slow to Anger, abounding in loving kindness and relenting of evil. Never forget to ask for Wisdom, we have not because we ask not. Now have the Wisdom to show COMPASSION to another. Until Next Time... Jim,

" REGARDING UNBELIEVERS "

This week we will touch on Unbelief / Unbelievers. The attitude of trust and confidence that the Bible calls belief of faith (Hebrews 11:1,6) is not something we can obtain without help. Faith is a gift from God (Ephesians 2:8-9). No matter how much faith we have, we never reach the point of being self-sufficient. Faith is not stored away like money in the bank. Growing in the faith is a constant process of daily renewing our trust in Jesus. Almost everyone has relatives, family of some kind. Family Relationships are so important in God's eyes, now Paul says, that a person who neglects his or her family responsibilities has denied the faith. Are you doing your part to meet the needs of those included in your family circle? Don't become curious about unbelievers life-style. In this day and age we may find ourselves surrounded by unbelievers. Now, it is to easy to get drawn into the subtle temptations of seemingly harmless practices. Sometimes curiosity can cause us to stumble. Knowledge of evil is harmful if the evil becomes too tempting to resist. To resist curiosity about harmful practices shows discretion and obedience. LAST POINT: We shouldn't avoid unbelievers: Jesus didn't ask God to take believers out of the world but instead to use them in the world. Because Jesus sends us into the world, we should not try to escape from the world nor should we avoid all relationships with non-Christians. We are called to be Salt and Light, and we are to do the work that God sent us to do. Until Next Time... Jim,

" PRIDE "

PRIDE: defined in this manner; 1- Conceit; 2- justifiable self- respect; 3- elation over an act or possession; 4- haughty behavior; disdain; 5- ostentatious display - prideful. Now God will harshly judge those who are prejudiced or whose pride causes them to look down on others. No one should think too highly of themselves. In this world because of a persons status they may think to highly of themselves. Every group, even churches, will have those who think they are too wise or important to work hard. Gentle encouragement doesn't seem to help. Sometimes the best policy is to ignore them. They may think they are getting away with something, but their inactivity will be remembered by all who worked hard. Not every necessary job is a highly visible leadership role. Much of necessary labor of any effective enterprise considered by many to be dirty work. But such work is vital to getting any big task done. Engineers and Millionaires may design and finance an elegant building, but it is the bricklayers who get the work done. Pride causes us to want recognition. Are you content to be God's bricklayer, or do you resent the work God has given you? Wounded Pride makes us want to lash out. We sometimes strike out at blameless people who get in our way because we are embarrassed or our pride is hurt. Lashing out at others can be a sign that something is wrong with us. Don't allow your own hurt pride to lead you to hurt others. LAST POINT: Taking credit for accomplishments of others indicates that pride is controlling your life. When you notice pride taking a foothold, take immediate steps to put it in check by giving credit to those who deserve it. Until Next Time... Jim,

" CHOICES / DECISIONS "

We make all kinds of choices every day about every single thing. Don't make Excuses - Take Responsibility for the decisions you make. Weigh both positives and negatives when making your next choice. Often we let others' values and actions dictate our attitudes and behavior. Have you ever made a wrong choice because you wanted to be like everyone else? Be careful that the values of your friends or " heroes " don't pull you away from what God says is right. When God's people want to be like unbelievers, they are heading for spiritual disaster. We must be able to make wise decisions in difficult circumstances. Whenever we need Wisdom, we can pray to God, and he will generously supply what we need. Christians don't have to grope around in the dark, hoping to stumble upon answers. We can ask for God's Wisdom to guide our Choices. Our decisions can have lasting consequences. We have the option to choose to be close to the Father or to go our own way, but there are consequences resulting from our choice. In this world there are some who choose to reject God, and the Father allows them to do this. God does not usually stop us from making choices that are against his will. He allows us to declare our supposed independence from him, even though he knows that in time we will become slaves to our own rebellious choices - we will lose our freedom not to sin. Does life without God look like freedom to you? Look more closely. There is no worse slavery to sin. Until Next Time... Jim,

" FRUSTRATION "

OK, here we are again another week has come and gone. As always it's my honor to share with you once again, this week " Frustration " is our subject matter. Frustration: Discernment, or Dissatisfaction in, to render of no effect. Frustration comes from trying to fulfill rash vows, now let's check in with Jephthah's tragic vow. His vow brought him unspeakable grief. In the heart of emotion or personal turmoil it is easy to make foolish promises to God. These promises may sound very spiritual when we , but they may produce only guilt and frustration when we are forced to fulfill them. Making Spiritual "deals " only brings disappointment. God does not want promises for the future, but obedience for today. Frustration can lead to discouragement and fear, now these can become two of the greatest obstacles to completing God's work. Most often they can come where and when you least expect them. Discouragement eats away at our motivation and fear paralyzes us so we don't act at all. Recognize these common barriers. Remember that God's people in every age have faced problems and with God's help overcome them. By standing together with other believers, you can overcome fear and discouragement and complete God's will. When we are doing God's work, others may try to delay, confuse, or frustrate us, but we can proceed confidently. God will accomplish his purposes in our world, no matter who attempts to block them. Just as he watched over the Jewish Elders, so he watches over you. Concentrate on God's purpose and don't be side tracked by intrigues or slander. LAST POINT: The purpose of parental disciple is to help children grow, not to provoke them to anger or discouragement. I'm a grandfather and I can tell you that parenting is not easy - it takes lots of patience to raise children in a loving, Christ - honoring manner. But Frustration and Anger should not be causes for discipline. Instead, parents should act in love, treating their children as Jesus treats the people he loves. This is vital to children's development and to their understanding of what Christ is like. Until Next Time... Jim,

" PROMISES THAT YOU CAN COUNT ON "

This week I've been reminded of the Promises of God. Please do yourself a favor, take a moment to remember the Promises Of God. We should never anticipate how God is going to accomplish His Purposes. His ways are not ours (Isaiah 55:8-9). Never forget that Our Lords Word Never Changes, and Jesus Never Fails. " Because of His experiences on earth, He sympathizes with our struggles and joy " (Hebrews 4:15). My Father Said... I will cover you with the robe of Righteousness (Isaiah 6:10). If I am for you who can be against you? (Rom. 8:31); I have carved you in the palm of my hands (Isaiah 49:16); I will guide you (Isaiah 58:11); Thou you fall you shall not be utterly cast down (Psalm 37:24); I am your hope (Psalms 71:5); I will comfort you (Isaiah 61:2); Nothing can separate you from my Love (Rom.8:39); You will dwell in my house forever (Psalms 23:6); ** I will never leave you nor forsake you (Hebrews 13:5); I will call you by name (John 10:3); ** MY WORD IS TRUE (Psalm 119:160); I am your shield (Psalms 3:3); I am your helper (Heb.13:6); I will work all things for your good (Rom 8:28); I am Faithful (Heb 10:23); My strength is made perfect in weakness (II Cor 12:9); You are my child (John 1:12); *** I am able to do exceedingly abundantly above all you ask or think (Ephesian 3:20); My strength is made perfect in Weakness (II Cor. 12:9) The way to bring peace to a troubled heart is to focus on God's promises. Trust Him to do what He Says. " Promises That You Can Count On " is very comforting to me.

It's my prayer that you are having the best day that you can in the Lord. This week we are looking into " SELF-CONTROL. " What we say probably affects more people than any other action we take. It is not surprising, then to find that Proverbs gives special attention to words and how they are used. For common speech patterns are described in Proverbs. The first two should be copied, while the last two should be avoided. Now if you have not Mastered " SELF-CONTROL " if you do not Control what you say. Words can Cut and Destroy. In the book of James we can see that James recognized this truth when stated, " The tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things " (James 3:5). If you want to be Self-Control, begin with your tongue. Stop and Think before you React or Speak. If you can control this small but powerful member, you can Control the rest of your body. A person is a Slave to whatever Controls him or her. Many believe that freedom means doing anything we want. But no one is ever completely free in that sense. If we refuse to follow God, we will follow our own desires and become enslaved to what our bodies want. If we submit our lives to Christ, He will free us from slaves to Sin Christ frees us to serve him, a freedom that results in our ultimate good. LAST POINT: Listen the Word Of God tells us that the God who sent the Spirit, the by-products of the Spirit-Filled life are in perfect harmony with the intent of God's law. A person who exhibits the Fruit of the Spirit fulfills the law for better than a person who observes the rituals but has little love in his or her heart. Until Next Time... Jim,

" REPUTATION(S) "

Alright here we go again another week has come and gone. This week we are looking into " Reputation(s), each one of has a reputation but is it good or bad. Reputation is defined as: Having a good reputation is to be held in a place of public esteem or regard. One of our heroes of the faith is " Ruth " and her life exhibited admirable qualities: She was hard-working, loving, kind, faithful, and brave. These qualities gained for her a good reputation, but only because she displayed them consistently in all areas of her life. Wherever Ruth went or whatever she did, her character remained the same. Your reputation is formed by the people who watch you at work, in town, at home, in church. Now a good reputation comes by consistently living out the qualities you believe in - no matter what group of people or surroundings you are in. Question: How would God summarize your life up to now? Some defiantly claim that how they live is their own business. But scripture teaches that the way you live today will determine how you will be remembered by others and how you will be judged by God. What you do now does matter. It's easy to rate people on the basis on their official status and to be intimidated by powerful people. As believers we should not be intimidated by " Those who were of reputation " because all believers are equals in Christ. We should show respect to our Spiritual Leaders, but our ultimate allegiance must be to Christ. We are to serve him with our whole being. God doesn't rate us according to our status; he looks at the attitude of our hearts. LAST POINT: Reputations can be reflected by our life-style. Now if you read Titus 1:5-9 you will have an idea of what our character should be like. A person's life-style and relationships provide a window into his or her character. Until Next Time... Jim,

" THE FATHER RESPECTS ALL AGES "

Our God uses Ordinary People, no matter their age(s) when he calls. I love it that age is not a factor for our God, he can use anyone or anything. Now, I have a Prayer Partner who is not yet 20 who goes by the name of Nick. I think of him as a young Timothy and this puts me in mind of 1 Timothy 4:12 " LET NO ONE LOOK DOWN ON YOUR YOUTHFULNESS, BUT RATHER IN SPEECH, CONDUCT, LOVE,FAITH AND PURITY, SHOW YOURSELF AND EXAMPLE OF THOSE WHO BELIEVE." Young age is not a barrier to being used by God. In performing his miracles, Jesus usually preferred to work through people. Now, here he took what a young child offered and used it to accomplish one of the most spectacular miracles recorded in the gospels. Age is no barrier to Christ. Never think you are too young or old to be of service to God. " Another Example " Timothy was a young pastor. It would have been easy for older Christians to look down on him because of his youth. He had to earn the respect of his elders by setting an example in his Speech, Life, and Purity. Regardless of your age, God can use you. Whether you are young or old, don't think of your age as a handicap. Live so others can see Christ in you. Now, people often find it easy to dismiss the opinions of the elderly and avoid taking time to visit with them. But the fact that God commanded the Israelites to honor the elderly shows how seriously we should take the responsibility of respecting those older than we. Their Wisdom gained from experience can save us from many pitfalls. Old age is not a barrier to being used by God, and never forget it. " WISDOM IS WITH AGED MEN, WITH LONG LIFE IS UNDERSTANDING " (Job 12:12). " BOTH THE GREY - HAIRED AND THE AGED ARE AMONG US. " Last Point: Older people are filled with the Wisdom that comes experience. They are very capable of serving if given the chance and should be encouraged to do so. Believers are never allowed to retire from God's service. Those past retirement age should not assume that age alone disqualifies or excuses them from serving God. Until Next Time... Jim,

" I'M DONE "

My very best to you and to all in whom you care most about. I want you to know that I strive to be a person of Integrity. As a Man of My word all of you in whom I promised that I would Stand In The Gap Daily, I still do. This weeks title is " I'M DONE. " How many times have you heard someone say " I'M DONE? " Just as God finished the work of creation and Jesus finished the work of redemption, so the Trinity will finish the entire plan of Salvation by inviting the Redeemed into a New Creation. Then He said to me, " It Is Done, " I Am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give to the one who thirsts from the Spring of the Water of Life without costs " (Rev. 21:6). It Is Finished...until this time, a complicated system of sacrifices had atoned for sins. Sin separates people from God, and only through the sacrifice of an animal, a substitute, could people be forgiven and become clean before God. But people sin continually, so frequent sacrifices were required. Jesus, however, became the final and ultimate sacrifice for sin. The Word " FINISHED " is the same as " Paid In Full. " Jesus came to finish God's work of Salvation to Pay the Full Penalty for our Sins. Now with His death, the complex sacrificial system ended because Jesus took all sin upon himself. I love it that we can freely approach God because of what Jesus did for us. Those who believe in Jesus' Death and Resurrection can live eternally with God and escape the penalty that comes from sin. Now I love the way Dr. David Jeremiah puts it: [ Do you fear the idea of death? A biblical perspective will allow you to embrace it for what it is. Death doesn't begin eternal life, it simply ends earthly life.] LAST THOUGHT: When we know Jesus Christ, we don't need to Seek God by means of other religious, cults, or UN-Biblical Philosophies as Colossians were doing. Christ alone holds the answers ti the true meaning of life, because he is life. Christ is the unique source of knowledge and power for the Christian Life. No Christian needs anything in addition to what Christ has provided to be Saved. We are complete in him. Until Next Time... Jim,

" VICTORY "

Well here we are again, another week has come and gone which means a new message is upon my heart. This week we are looking into " VICTORY. " Those who honor God can be Victorious regardless of the odds. Now, when I think of Victory I'm reminded of Gideon. Victory depends upon obedience and commitment. Gideon's army simply watched as the army of Midian fell into Panic, Confusion, and Disordered Retreat. Not one man had to draw a sword to defeat the enemy. Gideon's small army could never have brought such a Victory in their own strength. God wanted to demonstrate to Israel that Victory depends not on strength or numbers, but on obedience and commitment to him. Temptation often comes after Victory. The devil, who tempted Adam and Eve in the garden, also tempted Jesus in the wilderness. Satan is a real being, a created but Rebellious Fallen Angel, and not a symbol or an idea. He constantly fights against God and those who follow and obey God. Jesus was a prime target for the devil's temptations. Satan succeed with Adam and Eve, and he hoped to succeed with Jesus too. We are very susceptible to sin after great Victories. It is then that we feel Confident, Relaxed, and Ready to Celebrate. If in that excitement, we let our defenses down, Satan can attack with all sorts of temptations. When you win, watch out. After the mountain peaks come the valleys. LAST THOUGHT: Victory can be looked at differently by God Almighty. Now, Saul thought he had won a great Victory over the Amalekites, but God saw it was a great failure because Saul had disobeyed him and then lied to Samuel about the results of the battle. Saul may have thought his lie wouldn't be detected. Saul was deceiving himself. 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 will alienate yourself from God, and will lose Credibility in all your Relationships. In the long run, honesty wins out. Until Next Time...

" THE WORLD "

This week we are looking into " The World " so please put on your listening ears. So saddle up and let's get going. The Creation Story teaches us about God and Ourselves. First, we learn about God: (1) He is creative; (2) As the Creator he is distinct from his creation; (3) He is eternal and in control of the world. We also learn about Ourselves: (1) since God chose to create us, we are valuable in his eyes; (2) We are more important than animals. " WORLD " Earth, humanity 1- The physical earth; 2- All the people who inhabit the earth; 3- The physical universe; 4- The system of Sin in the world under the control of Satan and the attitude and life styles of those who have not yet trusted in Christ for Salvation, or are opposed to him. Those who are tied to the world's system will lose everything when it collapses. What they have worked for a lifetime to build up will be destroyed in one hour. Those who work only for material rewards will have nothing when they die or when their possessions are destroyed. What can we take with us to the New Earth? Our Faith our Christian Character, and our Relationships with other Believers. These are more important than any amount of Money, Power, or Pleasure. The world hates Christians because Christian's values differ from the world's. Because Christ's followers don't cooperate with the world by joining in their sin, they are living accusations against the world's immorality. The world follows Satan's agenda and Satan is the avowed enemy of Jesus and his people. ****** IF YOU CHOOSE TO RESPOND, PLEASE USE MY g mail email account. ***** Until Next Time... Jim,

" LOVE edifies "

" LOVE covers all transgressions. " God delights to show mercy! He does not forgive grudgingly, but is glad when we repent and offers forgiveness to all who come back to him. Today you can confess your sins and receive his loving forgiveness. Don't be too proud to accept God's free offer. With false teaching and loose morals comes a particularly destructive disease - the loss of true love for God and others. Sin cools your love for God and others by turning your focus on yourself. You cannot truly love if you think only of yourself. " Greater Love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:13). We are to love each other as Jesus loved us, and he loved us enough to give his life for us. We may not have to die for someone, but there are other ways to practice Sacrificial Love: by Listening, Helping, Encouraging, and Giving. Think of someone in particular who needs this kind of love today. Give all the love you can, and then try to give a little more. Speaking...Teaching Love... Question, have you lost your Joy? Paul sensed that the Galatians had lost the joy of their salvation because of legalism. Legalism can take away joy because (1) it makes people feel guilty rather than loved; (2) it produces self-hatred rather than humility; (3) stresses performance over relationship; (4) it points out how far short we fall rather than how far we've come because of what Christ did for us. If you feel guilty and inadequate, check your focus. Are you living by faith in Christ or by trying to live up to the demands and expectations of others? Think about it. Until Next Time... Jim,

FRIEND, FRIENDSHIP

This week we will be looking into Friendship, the Lord this on my heart for this week. "FRIEND" One attached to another by respect or affection 2- Acquaintance 3- One who is not hostile 4- One who supports or favors something. Friends can be torn apart by Jealously. Jealously is a dividing force strong enough to tear apart the mightiest of nations or the closest of friends. It forces you to separate yourself from what you were longing for in the first place. When you find yourself becoming jealous of others, try thanking God for their good fortune. Before striking out in anger consider what you could lose a friend, a job, a spouse. Can you can imagine what the special relationship was like with Moses and God? Do you ever think that something like that happening again is remote? Well my Bible tells me that Jesus Christ is " THE SAME YESTERDAY, TODAY AND FOREVER " (Hebrews 13: 8). God and Moses talked face to face in the tent of Meeting, just as friends do. Have you ever asked yourself why did Moses find such favor with God? I've pondered and I'm certain that it truly was not because he was perfect, gifted, nor powerful. I realize it was just because the Father chose Moses, and Moses in turn relied whole heartedly on God's Wisdom and Direction. Friendship with God would be an honor as well as a true priviledge for me as I'm sure that it was for Moses. It was out of reach for the other Hebrews. But it is not out of reach for us today. Jesus called his Disciples and, by extension, all of his followers - his friends. He has called you to be his friend. Will you trust him as Moses did? LAST POINT: Because Jesus is Lord and Master,he should call us slaves; instead he calls us Friends. How comforting and Reassuring to be chosen as Christ's Friends. Because He is Lord and Master, we owe him our unqualified obedience, but most of all, Jesus asks us to obey him because we Love Him. Until Next Time... Jim,

" KNOW "

This week we are going to look into the word " Know " just maybe we may find out something new. Now, David said make me know your ways... David expressed his desire for guidance. How do we receive God's guidance? The first step is to want to be guided and to realize that God's Primary Guidance System is in his word the Bible. Psalm 119 tells of the endless knowledge found in God's Word. By reading it and constantly learning from it, we will gain the wisdom to perceive God's direction for our lives. We may be tempted to demand answers from God, but David asked for direction. When we are willing to seek God, learn from his Word, and obey his commands, then will we receive his specific guidance. (God) " He Knows The Secrets Of The Heart." War and Destruction are inevitable, but so is God's Final Victory. At that time, all will Stand Quietly before the Lord Almighty. How proper then, for us to be still now, reverently honoring Him and His power and majesty. Take time each day to be still and to exalt God. David asked God to search for Sin and Point it out, even to the level of testing his thoughts. This is exploratory surgery for Sin. How are we to recognize sin unless God points it out? Then, when God shows us, we can repent and be forgiven. Make this verse your prayer. If you ask the Father to search your heart and your thoughts and to reveal your sin, you will be continuing on God's " EVERLASTING WAY. " Until Next Time... Jim,

" ACCEPTABLE "

So another week has come and gone and it's time for this weeks message. This week we will be looking into " Acceptability. " God has good, acceptable, and perfect plans for his children. He wants us to be transformed people with renewed minds, living to honor and obey him. Because he wants only what is best for us, and because he gave his son to make our new lives possible, we should joyfully give ourselves as living sacrifices for his service. " LET THE WORDS OF MY MOUTH AND THE MEDITATION OF MY HEART BE ACCEPTABLE IN YOUR SIGHT, O LORD, MY ROCK AND MY REDEEMER " (Psalm 19:14). Would you change the way you live if you knew that every word and thought would be examined by God first? David asked that God approve his words and thoughts as thought they were offerings brought to the altar. As you begin each day, determine that God's love will guide what you say and how you think. Too often we are inclined to accept only the parts of God's Word that appeal to us and support our own agenda as, ignoring the teachings we don't like. We must accept all of God's Word as Absolute Truth. LAST POINT: Jesus accepts you just as you are... The Good News about Jesus is that He came to all, including the plain and ordinary. He comes to anyone with a humble heart humble enough to accept him. Whoever you are, whatever you do, you can have Jesus in your life. Don't think you need extraordinary qualifications - he accepts you as you are. Until Next Time... Jim,

" PERSEVERANCE "

This week we will be looking into the art of Perseverance. Now God's ultimate triumph should encourage God's people to remain faithful through every trial and persecution. They can do this, God promises, by trusting in Jesus and obeying the commands found in his Word. The secret to enduring, therefore, is trust and obedience. Trust God to give you patience to endure even the small trials you face daily; obey him even when obedience is unattractive or dangerous. Now Persistence,in theology is to remain true to one's faith in Christ, despite persecution and suffering. All true believers Persevere, though they may have a laps in their faith. Synonymous with steadfastness and endurance. In the Word Of God Paul reminds us that those who Patiently and Persistently do God's Will Find Eternal Life. He is not contradicting his earlier statement that Salvation comes by Faith alone (Rom.1:16-17). We are not Saved by our good deeds, please understand this. It took me a while to comprehend this in the beginning, but when we commit our lives fully to God, we want to please him and do His Will. As such, our good deeds are a grateful response to what God has done. Not a prerequisite to earning his grace. Last Point: In God's Perfect Timing, he will relieve our suffering and punish those who persecute us. CAN You Trust God's Timing? Until Next Time... Jim,

" HONOR "

Blessings to you and those in whom you care most about in this world. This week we are looking into " HONOR " and It's my prayer that we learn to Trust and Honor the Father in all things and in all ways. To Honor: to Regard or Treat with Honor; also Honor is having a Good Name; Reputation; Outward Respect and of course having Integrity. " Honor your Father and your Mother, that your days may be prolonged in the land which the Lord your God gives you " (Exodus 20:12). Now this is the First Commandment with a promise attached. To live in peace for generations in the promised land, the Israelites would need to respect authority and build strong families. But what does it mean to "Honor " parents? Partly, it means speaking well of them and politely to them. It also means acting in a way that shows them Courtesy and Respect (but not to obey them if this means disobedience to God). It means following their teaching and example of putting God first. Parents have a special place in God's sight even those who find it difficult to get along with their parents are still commanded to honor them. " For those who honor Me I will Honor " (1 Samuel 2:30). " For I am honored in the sight of the Lord, and my God is My Strength (Isaiah 49:5). Now, the term hypocrites, as used here, describes people who do good acts for appearances only - not out of compassion or other good motives. Their actions may be good, but their motives are hollow. These empty acts are their only reward, but God will reward those who are sincere in their faith. Until Next Time... Jim,

" MY IMPRESSIONS "

Good Day To You, It's my desire that all is well in your camp. Just in case you haven't heard it today you are loved as well as being very special to the Lord Jesus. Today we're looking into some of my impressions, just maybe you may here something that might spark something in you. If God is trying to perform a good work in you, rest assured that the devil is trying to foil it. Your enemies may seem visible enough to you at this junction in your life. Just take a moment and reflect about where your thoughts go when not on the things of God. The Love of Money, Love for Another, Any Addiction such as Pornography, or just a Good Clean Hobby. These are Symptoms, and Not The Cause. Never Forget that the author of all this misery is Satan, The Father of Lies himself. I'm convinced that he alone is our enemy. Now, I'm Impressed with one of my heroes in the faith, Nehemiah: He Prayed... " Lord, help me see how many ways Satan will attack me and try to destroy both me and your work. Make me wise to Satan's tactics. Give me Wisdom, what to do and think when being attacked." We must learn to depend on the Father for victory's in our lives. It's vital that we grasp the art of praying without ceasing. I can understand how sometimes we may feel like we're being swallowed up in our Troubles, Trials, Pressures, and Problems. But my God watches over me as he watched Jonah in the belly of the fish. Trials produce Testings, but from Testings come Testimonies. We never lose our message. Until Next Time... Jim,

" GIVE "

Good day to you, this week we will be looking into " Giving. " I have confidence in saying that we all have given at sometime in the past. But I also realize that motives for giving can change from moment to motive. To Give: to make a present of something 2- to grant or bestow by formal action 3- to put into possession of another for his use. " And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying all authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth " (Matt.28:18). God gave Jesus authority over heaven and earth. On the basis of that authority, Jesus told his disciples to make more disciples as they Preached, Baptized, and Taught. With this same authority, Jesus still commands us to tell others the good news and make them disciples for the Kingdom. Now, so that we're clear, we are to go - whether it is next door or to another country - and make disciples. It is not an option, but a command to all who call Jesus " LORD. " We are not all evangelists in the formal sense, but we have all received gifts that we can use to help fulfill the Great Commission. As we obey, we have comfort in the knowledge that Jesus is always with us. LAST THOUGHT: Jesus proclaims: " In everything I showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.' " Now, these words of Jesus are not recorded in the Gospels. Obviously, not all of us Jesus' words were written down; this saying may have been passed on orally through the apostles. John 21:25 " And there are also many things which Jesus did, which if they were written in detail, I suppose that even the world itself would not contain the books that would be written. " I also recommend the Gospel of John to be the very first to be read by those in whom I witness to as well as those who just surrendered their life to Jesus. READ JOHN'S GOSPEL AND BELIEVE. Until Next Time... Jim,

" CHECK YOUR MOTIVES "

OK, here we go again, it's time for us to truly CHECK OUR MOTIVES. I just love to hear the Lord's perspective before I mess up. It's to painful for me to look back and re-experience what happened because I didn't talk to God first. If our Motives are pure, we don't have to be afraid to ask great things from God. When we ask God for great power or ability, we need to examine our desires and get rid of any selfishness we find. To have the Holy Spirit's help, we must be willing to ask. Now, we must learn that an action that may not be wrong in itself can be sinful if it is motivated by greed, arrogance, or selfishness. Often our motives, not the action itself, contain the sin. Now I've learned from personal experience that we must constantly weigh our motives before we act. In dealing with people, we must find out all the facts before making up our minds. Now we shouldn't automatically assume that their motives are wrong, even if their plans sound suspicious. How we react to a Moral Dilemma often exposes our real Motives. Frequently we are more worried about getting caught than about doing what is right. Now, if you are worried about getting caught, you are probably in a position that is less than honest. Let your fear of getting caught be a warning to do right. Please be mindful that we can pay a huge price for carrying out a dishonest plan. LAST POINT: Before Criticizing someone else, we should pause long enough to discover our own Motives. Failing to do this can bring disastrous results. What is often labeled " CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM " may actually be DESTRUCTIVE JEALOUSLY, since the easiest way to raise our own status is to bring someone else down. Are you willing to question your Motives before you offer Criticism? Does the Critical Finger You Point Need To Be Pointed First Toward Yourself?

" SINCERITY "

Well here we are again, another week has come and gone. This week we are looking into being truly sincere with ourselves as well with others. Sincerity and truth are extremely valuable because they are so rare. Many people are deceivers, liars and flatterers; They think they will get what they want by deception. Now as king, David certainly faced his share of such people, who hoped to win his favor and gain advancement through flattery. When we feel as though sincerity and truth have nearly gone out of existence, we have one hope - The Word Of God. God's words are as flawless as refined silver. So listen carefully when He speaks. Jesus will reveal the sincerity of each person's work. Two sure ways to destroy a building are to tamper with the foundation and to build with inferior materials. The church must be built on Christ, not any other person or principle. Christ evaluate each minister's contribution to the life of the church, and The Day Of Judgment ("The Day") will reveal sincerity of each person's work. God will determine whether or not they have been faithful to Jesus' instructions. Good work will be rewarded; unfaithful or inferior work will be discounted. The idea that the builder " WILL BE SAVED, YET SO AS THROUGH FIRE " means that unfaithful workers will be saved, but like people escaping from a burning building. All their possessions (accomplishments) will be last. Prayerfully you now have a grasp of Sincerity. Until Next Time... Jim,

" SHOWING COMPASSION "

Welcome, this week we are looking into " Showing Compassion." The Lord's loving kindnesses indeed never cease, for His Compassion's Never Fail. " God willingly responds with help when we ask. Perhaps there is some sin in your life that you thought God would not forgive. God steadfast love and mercy are greater than any sin, and he promises forgiveness. God shows personal care for the hurting. We must express genuine concern for others as we carry God's message to them. Only then will we faithfully represent our Father in Heaven. God cares for the needy, the afflicted, and the weak because they are Precious to him. If God feels so strongly about these needy ones and loves them so deeply, how can we ignore their plight? Examine what you are doing to reach out with God's Love - are you ignoring their plight or are you meeting their needs? Do you remember when Jesus forgave an adulterous woman? Now she was caught in the act of adultery. Please listen as this will be a significant statement about judging others. Because Jesus upheld the legal penalty for adultery, stoning, he could not be accused of being against the law. But but by saying only a sinless person could throw the first stone,he highlighted the importance of Compassion and forgiveness. When others are caught in sin, are quick to pass judgment? To do so is to act as though you have never sinned. It is God's role to judge, not ours. Our role is to show forgiveness and Compassion. Know that I am here for you and it would be my honor to Pray for you and those in whom you care for. Until Next Time... Jim,

" PRAY / PRAYER "

Come on in and sit a spell, today we will be looking into Prayer. Lord Willing this week we will truly get an understanding of prayer. A prayer is a petition, supplication or praise addressed to God. Probably the best known from the Bible is the Lord's prayer, i.e. the prayer which Jesus taught his disciples as an example of how they should pray. I love it that the Apostles asked Jesus how to pray. Please take note in the order of his prayer. First Jesus Praised God; then he made His requests. Praising God first puts us in the right frame of mind to tell him about our needs. Too often our prayers are more like shopping lists than conversations. Now, we cannot spend all our time on our knees, but it is possible to have a prayerful attitude at all times. This attitude is built upon acknowledging our dependence on God, realizing his presence within us, and determining to obey him fully. Then we will find it natural to pray frequent, spontaneous; short prayers. A Prayerful attitude is not a substitute for regular times of prayer but should be an out growth of those times. LAST POINT: We must learn to wait upon the Lord as Solomon did. You see many months, maybe years, had passed since Solomon's prayer of dedication. Now Several other building projects had been completed well after the Temple. Then after all this time, God told Solomon that he had heard Solomon's Prayer. How often do we look for immediate answers to our Prayers and, when nothing happens, wonder if God has heard us? GOD DOES HEAR, AND HE WILL PROVIDE FOR US. We must trust that God will answer at the proper time. Until Next Time... Jim,

" KNOWLEDGE "

Come on in, this week we will be looking into " KNOWLEDGE." Definition of Knowledge: (1) Understanding gained by actual experience (2) Range of information (3) Clear perception of truth (4) Something learned and kept in mind. Knowing what is right and condemning what is wrong does not take the place of doing what is right. Now in this age of information, knowledge is plentiful, but wisdom is scarce. Wisdom means for more than simply knowing a lot. It is a basic attitude that affects every aspect of life. The foundation is to fear the Lord - to honor and respect God, to live in awe of his power, and to obey his word. Faith in God should be the controlling principle for your understanding of the world, your attitudes, and your actions. Trust in God - he will make you truly wise. Knowledge is not Salvation. You should know the Bible, but more important, you should understand the God whom the Bible reveals and the Salvation that God offers. Acknowledge that God is all - knowing, and he will judge all sin and pride, I'm aware that this may be hard for us, but it's vital that we leave judgment up to God. Resist the temptation to take justice into your own hands. God will weigh your deeds as well as the deeds of those who have wronged you. LAST POINT: One of the most annoying types of people is a know-it-all, a person who has a 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 give valuable insight and counsel. Learn how to learn from others. Remember, only god knows it all. Fools hate knowledge while wise men store up knowledge. Until Next Time... Jim,

" ARE YOU FOLLOWING HIM "

Is all right in your camp, are you ready for the return of Jesus? The end of all things is near, and I believe that we should live expectantly mainly because Jesus Christ is Coming. I get excited when I here these verses from John 10:27-29. (27) " My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; (28) and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of my hand. (29) My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. You know, I often wonder why I sin, yes I'm aware of our " ADAMIC NATURE " and I do repent when I sin. When we sin, it's like playing Russian Roulette with our life. Now, just as a shepherd protects his sheep, Jesus protects his people from eternal harm. While Believers can expect to suffer on earth, Satan cannot harm their souls or take away their eternal life with God. One might say that there are many reasons to be afraid here on earth because this is the devil's domain (1 Peter 5:8). But if you choose to follow Jesus, he will give you everlasting safety. LAST POINT: Lions attack the Sick, Young, or Straggling animals; They choose victims who are alone or just not ALERT. Peter warns us to watch out for Satan when we are suffering or being persecuted. Feeling alone, weak, helpless, and cut off from other Believers, so focused on our troubles that we forget to watch for danger, we are especially vulnerable to Satan's Attacks. During times of suffering, seek other Christians for support. Keep your eyes on Christ, and Resist the Devil. Then, says James, " He Will Flee From You " (James 4:7). Until Next Time... Jim,