" WE ARE TO REMEMBER "

" REMEMBER:" To bring to mind or think of again: 1- Recollect 2- To keep from forgetting: Keep in mind 3- To convey greetings from 4- COMMEMORATE As we put a little age on us we tend to lose our thought(s) and we just can't remember what we were going to regale to one or more individuals. Something I find myself doing often. Now, how you live today will determine how you are remembered. Each of us is forging a reputation developing personal qualities by which we will be Remembered. 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. God says that I will remember my covenant. When Noah stepped out of the ark onto an earth that was devoid of human life. But God gave him a reassuring promise. This covenant had three parts: (1) Never again will a flood do such destruction; (2) As long as the earth remains, the seasons will always come as expected; (3) A rainbow will be visible when it rains as a sign to all that God will keep his promises. The earth's order and seasons are still preserved, and rainbows still remind us of God's faithfulness to his word. We are to remember 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? I always pray that they know the Lord Jesus Christ as their Personal Savior, and if not that a Believer will share the Good News with them. LAST POINT: What will people remember you for? When your life is over, will people remember more than just what was in your bank account or the number of years you lived? Until Next Time... Jim,

" SUFFERING "

Once again we are looking into " SUFFERING." (PAIN, MISERY, HARDSHIP). Suffering may come from obeying God. Sometimes hardship comes as a result of obeying God. Are you following God but still suffering - or suffering even worse than before? If your life is miserable, don't assume you have fallen out of God's favor. You may be suffering for doing good in an evil world. Anytime I think of suffering I'm reminded of Job. As we see calamity and suffering in the Book Of Job. It's important for us to remember that we live in a fallen world where good behavior is not always rewarded and bad behavior is not always punished. When we see a notorious criminal prospering or an innocent child in pain, we say, " That's Wrong." And it is. Sin has twisted justice and made our world unpredictable and ugly. The Book Of Job shows us a good man suffering for no apparent fault of his own. Sadly, our world is like that. But Job's story does not end like that. Job's story does not end in despair. Through Job's life, we can see that faith in God is justified even when our situations look hopeless. Faith-based on rewards or prosperity is hallow. To be unshaken, faith must be built on the confidence that God's ultimate purpose will come to pass. LAST POINT: How much must Believers endure? There is a price for being identified with Jesus. Along with the great treasures, Paul mentions the suffering that Christians must face. What kinds of suffering are we to endure? For first Century Believers, there was economic and social persecution and some even faced death. We too must pay a price for following Jesus. In many parts of today's world Christians face pressures just as severe as those faced by Christ's first followers. Even in countries where Christianity is tolerated or encouraged, Christians must not become complacent. To live as Jesus did - serving others, giving up one's own rights, resisting pressures to conform to the world - always exacts a price. Nothing we suffer, however, can compare to the great price that Jesus paid to Save us. Until Next Time... Jim,

" UNBELIEVERS "

An Unbeliever is someone who has no religious beliefs, or who do not follow a particular religion. I venture to guess that before the next 4 days have come and gone that some unbelievers will call upon the name of Jesus to be saved. " We know that God does not hear sinners, but if anyone is God-fearing and does His Will, He hears him" (John 9:31). Now, we are told in the Bible that God answers prayers based on whether they are asked according to His Will. The emphasis here is on God's Will, Not Our Will. When we communicate with God we don't demand what we want; rather we discuss with him what he wants for us. If we align our prayers to his will he will listen, and we can be certain that if he listens, he will give us a defined answer. So start PRAYING WITH CONFIDENCE! Now once again if unbelievers ask a prayer of God that is according to His Will, I'm of the mind that nothing can prevent God from answering such a prayer- -according to His Will. As a Man Of God, I have often wondered if I am working hard enough to do my part. Now once again an unbeliever is someone who has no religious beliefs, or who do not follow a particular religion. To those of you who don't believe in God, life on earth is all there is, and so it is natural for you to strive for this world's values-money, popularity, power, pleasure, and prestige. We as Christians must keep in mind that we are living in the End Times. Paul lived to develop eternal values and to tell others about Christ, in whom 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. Never forget that you may be the only Bible that a Weak Christian or an Unbeliever read's this day. Until Next Time... Jim,

" WHAT COMES FIRST? "

Good day to you, is all well in your camp? This week we will be looking into " What Comes First." it's vital that we always put God First. You may ask yourself how do I put God First in my life. In Deuteronomy 5:7 " You shall have no other gods before me." In other words, a god is whatever people put first in their lives. Some people literally worship other gods by joining cults or strange religions. In a more subtle way, many of us worship other gods by building our lives around something other than the one true God. If your greatest desire is for popularity, power, or money, you are devoting yourself to something other than God. Now to put God first, (1) Recognize what is taking his place in your life; (2) Renounce this substitute god as unworthy of your devotion; (3) Ask God for forgiveness; (4) Restructure your priorities so that love for God is the motive for everything you do; (5) Examine yourself daily to be sure that Father God is (excuse my slang) numero uno and you are giving God First Place. God should be the first place we turn when we are facing struggles or dilemmas. Trying to control our own lives without God's help leads to struggle and confusion. By contrast, when we stay in daily contact with the Lord we are less likely to create painful circumstances for ourselves. For this reason alone I wake up early (4 am) and I armor up, I pick up my Bible and then I pray for those in my sphere of influence. This is a lesson that we must fully learn. When struggles come our way, God wants us to come to him first, seeking his strength and guidance. Now, I can't say this enough. Guess what I'm going to say next? LAST POINT: Don't hit rock bottom before turning back to God. How much suffering we could have avoided if we just had trusted him! Turning to God shouldn't be the last resort; we should look to him for help each day. This isn't to say life will always be easy. There will be struggles, but God will give us the strength to live through them. Don't wait until you're at the end of your rope. Call on God first in every situation. Until Next Time... Jim,