" CHANGE "

" Change: " To Make or become different. God's love is Changeless. His Love and Kindness is everlasting. God's mercy to all who trust him is just as permanent as mercy. When the love of others fails or disappoints us, we can rest in God's enduring love. God is our foundation in the midst of change. My God is rock-firm, strong, and unchanging. In our fast-paced world, friends come and go, and circumstances change. It's difficult to find a solid foundation that will not change. Those who devote their lives to achievements, cause, or possessions have their security that which is finite and changeable. The possessions that we work so hard to obtain will all pass away. But God is always present. Hope in Him. He will Never Fail. God the Father can work a change in even the hardest heart. When you are ready to give up hope on yourself or others, remember that God can work a complete change in even the most selfish personality. Jesus may ask you to change life's direction after finding him as your Lord and Savior. Finding Jesus may mean that your life must take a different direction, one that is responsive and obedient to God's Word. Are you willing to be led a different way? LAST POINT: Change doesn't always come quickly. We often expect quick changes in our lives and quick victories over sin. But our journey with God is a lifelong process, and the changes and victories may take time. It is easy to grow impatient with God and feel like giving up hope because things are moving too slowly. When we are close to a situation, it is difficult to see progress. But when we look back we can see that God never stopped working. Until Next Time... Jim,

" WRONG / WRONGDOING "

OK, let's get right down to it. We all must learn to discern right from wrong. When people do not carefully observe the distinction between good and evil destruction soon follows. It is easy for people to say, "No one can decide for anyone else what is really right or wrong." They may think getting drunk can't hurt them, extramarital sex isn't really wrong doesn't control them. But when we make excuses for our actions, we break down the distinction between right and wrong. If we do not take God's word, the Bible, as our standard, soon all moral choices will appeal fuzzy. Without God, we are headed for a breakdown and much suffering. Now, correcting yourself in the middle of doing wrong may bring hurt and disappointment, but it also will bring freedom from sin's control. Our wrongs always catch up with us. Sometimes we mistakenly think we can get away with doing wrong if no one sees or catches us. Sooner or later, however, doing wrong will catch up with us in most cases. Even if we are not caught in this life, we still have to face God and his evaluation of our actions. LAST POINT: Have you ever done something wrong without realizing it until later? Although your sin was unintentional, it was still sin. It's important for us to be aware of our unintentional sins so that we will not repeat them and so we can be forgiven for them. Until Next Time... Jim,

" Making Assumptions "

This week's message, about making assumptions is something that we all need to be cautious about. Don't assume that God will not work in a circumstance that has potential problems. You may not completely understand the situation, and God may intervene when you least expect it. In dealing with people, we must find out all the facts before making up our minds. We shouldn't automatically assume that their motives are wrong, even if their plans sound suspicious. As nations and as individuals, we would benefit from a similar approach to resolving conflicts. Assuming the worst about the intentions of others only brings trouble. Beware of reacting before you hear the whole story. Wrong assumptions lead to wrong conclusions. We dare not take our limited experiences and jump to conclusions about life in general. If you find yourself doubting God, remember that you don't have all the facts. God wants only the very best for your life. Many people endure great pain, but ultimately they find some greater good come(s) from it. When you're struggling don't assume the worst. LAST POINT: Don't assume you've married the wrong person, or that you may not be where you should be. Don't be like the Corinthians who were ready to make wholesale changes without thinking through the ramifications. Paul was writing to say that people should be Christians where they are. You can do God's work and demonstrate your faith anywhere. If You become a Christian after marriage, and your spouse is not a Believer, remember that you don't have to be married to a Christian to live for Christ. Don't assume that you are in the wrong place, or stuck with the wrong person. You may be just where God wants you (see 1 Cor 7:20). Until Next Time... Jim,

" RESULTS OF SIN "

Good day to you is all well in your life? This week we will be looking into a very serious matter, the Results Of Sin. Don't hesitate to remove sin from your life. Jesus used startling language to stress the importance of cutting sin out of our lives. Painful discipline is required of those of us who are his true followers. Giving up a relationship, job, or habit that is against God's Will may seem just as painful as cutting off a hand or foot. Our high goal, however, is worth any sacrifice; Christ is worth any possible loss Saints. Nothing should stand in the way of faith. We must be ruthless in removing sins from our lives why in order to avoid being stuck with them for eternity. Make your choices from an eternal perspective. When we discover sin in our lives, we must deal with it completely. When God points out sin, move quickly to remove it from your life. Sin may not seem costly at first, but there are always consequences. Sin's consequences can plague us long after the sin is committed. When we do something wrong, we may think we can escape unnoticed, only to discover later that the sin has been quietly breeding serious consequences. It's paramount that you believe that your Sin, won't go unnoticed! Sometimes we mistakenly think we can get away with doing wrong if no one sees or catches us in the act. Sooner or later, however, doing wrong will catch up with you or me. Even if we are not caught in this life, we will still have to face God and his evaluation of our actions. Now deal with the sin in your life for your sake. Until Next Time... Jim,

" TRUST "

Those of you who know me, are acutely aware of the fact that I believe in Truth. I love when Jesus taught about vows. Jesus emphasized the importance of telling the truth. Matthew 5:33 " Again, you have heard that the ancients were told, 'You shall not make false Vows, but shall fulfill your vows to the Lord' People were breaking promises and using sacred language casually and carelessly. keeping oaths and promises is important; it builds trust and makes committed human relationships possible. Now the Bible condemns making Vows or taking Oaths casually, giving your word while knowing that you won't keep it, or swearing falsely in God's name (Exodus 20:7; Leviticus 19:12; Numbers 30:1:2; Deuteronomy 19:16-20). Oaths are needed in certain situations only because we live in a sinful society that breeds distrust. When confronted by a distrusting truth, people often turn away and refuse to listen. When God's spirit points out needed changes in our lives, we must listen to him. Otherwise, we may be pushing the truth so far away that it no longer affects us. " Truth " who God reveals it to, some people do not understand God's Truth because they are not ready for it. God reveals Truth to people who will act on it, who will make it visible in their lives. When you talk with people about God, be aware that they will not understand if they are not ready. Be patient, taking every chance to tell them more of the truth about God, and praying that the Holy Spirit will open their minds and hearts to receive the truth and act on it. Until Next Time... Jim,