TEMPTATION / LURE

Good day to you. I must tell you that I feel so blessed as I just received a wonderful Praise Report from another Christian brother in the faith. Now, I have to ask you, how many times have you been tempted not to trust God.

 " KEEP WATCHING AND PRAYING THAT YOU MAY NOT ENTER INTO TEMPTATION; THE SPIRIT IS WILLING, BUT THE FLESH IS WEAK " (Matt. 26:41).

It's when I'm weak, temptation floods my way. Help me to automatically put on my armor when I open up my eyes. At the moment You allow me to rise up from my bed, may I seek Your face my Savior. Thank You for washing all of my sins away and therefore showing me that, You're the only stimulant that I need. You Lord are the one that I will call upon in times of enticement. You are becoming the coffee that I desire in the mornings, thank You for all You've done. Help me not to be selfish, and it's my pleasure to honor You Amen.

In a culture filled with moral depravity an sin inducing pressures of our world today we must be on our toes to the temptations of today. (1) wrong desires and temptations happen to everyone, so don't feel you've been singled out; (2) other's have resisted temptation and so can you; (3) any temptation can be resisted because God will help you to prevail. Our Father has already promised never to leave us, nor to forsake us. God helps you resist temptation by helping you (A) Recognize those people and situations that give you trouble, (B) Run from anything you know is wrong, (C) Choose to do only what is right, (D) Pray for God's help,and (E) Seek friends who love God and can offer help when you are tempted. Running from a tempting situation is your first step on the way to victory. Watching means being aware of the possibilities of temptation, sensitive to the subtleties and spiritually equipped to fight it. Because temptation strikes where we are most vulnerable, we can't resist it alone. Now prayer is essential because God's strength can shore up our defenses and defeat Satan's power.

 Until next Time...

 Jim,

" COMPLETE TRUST "

Welcome, now come on in, we're going to be discussing " FAITH " this week again.

I feel that someone really needs to hear this message. " ACCORDING TO YOUR FAITH WILL IT BE DONE TO YOU " (MATT 9:29).

 I'm reminded of an account in the Bible of two blind men. Jesus Heals the Blind and the Mute. Now, Jesus didn't respond immediately to these men's pleas. He waited to see if they had faith. I've come to the conclusion that not everyone who says he wants help really believes God can help him. Jesus may have waited and questioned these men to emphasize and increase their faith.

When you think that God is too slow in answering your prayers, consider that He might be testing you as He did the blind men. Then He touched their eyes, saying, " IT SHALL BE DONE ACCORDING TO YOUR FAITH " (Matt 9:29).

I believe that it's vital for you to know that because of our salvation and even our faith and gifts, we should respond with gratitude,praise, and joy. " FOR WE WALK BY FAITH, NOT BY SIGHT ". Now I believe we've all heard the account of the Centurion, a Roman Army Officer who was in charge of 100 men. This warrior approached Jesus not as a last resort or wizardry, but because he believed Jesus was sent from God. OK, in his time of need, it was natural for him to turn to Jesus. As an army captain, he daily delegated work and sent groups on missions, so this was how he chose to get his message to Jesus. You may be wondering why did this centurion, this warrior send Jewish Elders to Jesus instead of going himself? He was well aware of the Jewish hatred for Roman Soldiers, he may not have wanted to interrupt a Jewish gathering. Matthew 8:5 says the Roman centurion visited Jesus himself, while Luke 7:3 says he sent Jewish Elders to present his request to Jesus. In dealing with the messengers. Jesus was dealing with the centurion.

 LAST THOUGHTS: Now I've always believed that I was a man of much faith. For 12 years I suffered with extreme chronic pain daily, and could hardly walk without assistance. many people who cared for me prayed daily for God's intervention. For years they told me that I would walk, but in the back of my mind, I was hearing my doctors telling me that I would end up in a wheelchair. Finally I got into my quite place and had a heart to heart with Jesus, and I'm HEALED... For better or worse, our faith affects others. We cannot make another person a Christian, but we can do much through our Words, Actions, and love to give him or her a chance to respond to Christ. Look for opportunities to bring your friends to the Living Christ.

 Until next Time...

 Jim,

" COMFORT / UN ANXIETY "

Good Morning, Well as always it's so great that you saw fit to stop by today.

" COMFORT " consolation: freedom from pain, trouble, or anxiety: also something that gives such freedom. 

Now let's get started, we are instructed to comfort one another. Doing the Lord's work doesn't guarantee a comfortable life. Many people think that believing in God protects them from trouble, so when calamity appears, they question God's goodness and justice. We are promised that everything, even our discomfort, has meaning in God's plan. Real comfort is sacrificing yours to show love for another. When you love someone, you will do all you can to ensure the safety of that person and care for his or her needs, even at a cost to your personal comfort.

Now, this shows up most often in small actions - walking upstairs to get your spouse a glass of water, leaving work early to attend some function your child is involved in, or sacrificing your personal comfort to tend to the needs of a friend. Knowing that God keeps his promises can comfort you too. As we read the Word of God hopefully you are convinced that it is true. More important you realize that it is more than just stories; it is part of God's Word. In it The Father is revealing to you his plans for human history. Is your faith becoming too comfortable? Are you willing to totally obey God, what if the Lord tells you that he needs you to accomplish a task on the other side of the world, what would you do?

Now if you do completely understand that God may be trying to lead you to a place of greater service and usefulness for him. Don't allow the comfort and security of your present position make you miss God's plan for you. Don't give into society's pressures. Don't settle for comfort without commitment. Stand up against evil by living as God would have his people live.

FINAL POINT: Ways to become a better comforter to those in pain: (1) Don't talk just for the sake of talking; (2) don't sermonize by giving pat answers; (3) don't accuse or criticize; (4) put yourself in the other person's place; and (5) offer help and encouragement. The best comforters are those who know something about personal suffering.

Until Next Time...

Jim,

SERVANT / SERVANT HOOD

Do you have a servant spirit, now do you have a heart for doing far more than the bare minimum? When asked to help or when you see a need do you go beyond the minimum? The Father will use and He will lead us if we are available, are you? It is paramount that we follow the Word Of God. To effectively serve God you must fulfill the conditions of His word. Serving God is selfless, not self-centered. Again as believers, yes we are to be selfless rather than self-centered. Instead of expecting God to serve us, we are to serve Him, expecting nothing in return. We serve God for who He is, not for what we get from Him.

Christians I'm talking to you, I believe that every now and then we must all do a gut check. I'm afraid in life we find ourselves on auto-pilot going through life. Check the condition of your heart toward God. We can be very active in our work for God and still not give the heartfelt obedience he desires. The Father has a place for us all to serve. You don't have to be an ordained minister to have an important place in the Body Of Believers. No matter what your walk in life may be God can use you. God has given you an unique combination of talents. Use them to serve and honor Him. When you see others - even in carrying out ordinary tasks - you are serving God. Because ultimately we serve God, every job has dignity. We should put aside our own interest to serve other Christians. Again when we serve others, we are serving God.

We are called to serve God in specific ways.Although God promises us the tools and strength we need, we often make excuses. Confession Time... My hand's up. 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,

" ARE YOU WATCHING "

Greetings to you,

This week we will be talking about " Watching ".It's important that we are vigilant in our daily watch for the return of our Jesus Christ.

If you are watching, what are you watching for? Jesus tells us about remaining watchful, to the point that MATTHEW, MARK and LUKE chose to mention it in each of the Gospels. I am of the belief that every word in the Bible is life giving. Unfortunately we don't always discover it's value at the moment. Sad but true we sometimes just read words,therefore we miss what the Lord is trying to tell us at that specific moment in time.

Are you watching and waiting for the return of Jesus Christ our Lord? It is probably a good thing that we don't know exactly when Jesus Christ will return. Now let's be honest, if we knew the precise date, we might plan to keep sinning and then turn to the Father right at the end. When Jesus returns to take his people to Heaven, we must be ready. Spiritual preparation cannot be bought or borrowed at the last minute. Our relationship with the Father must be our own. Jesus' second coming will be swift and sudden. There will be no opportunity for last-minute repentance or bargaining. The choice we have already made will determine our eternal destiny. Jesus' purpose in telling us about his return is not to stimulate predictions and calculations about the date, but to warn us to be vigilant and prepared. Will you be ready? The only safe choice is to obey him today. God's coming judgment is as certain as Jesus' return to earth.

Jesus asks us to spend the time of waiting taking care of His people and doing His work here on earth, both within the church and outside it. Now readers this is the best way to prepare for the return of Jesus Christ. Remember the scriptures tell us that He's returning for His bride... The church, and He's looking for a bride without spot or wrinkle. Who is the church? Those of us who know Him as Lord and Savior, those who have a Personal Relationship with Him.

Until Next Time...

Jim,

(PART TWO) " The Way Of All Flesh "

Happy New year to you and all those whom you care so much about. I wish you the very best for 2013 and it's my wish that you will come to the realization that it's OK to ask the Lord for WISDOM.This week we're continuing with Part 2 of " The Way Of All Flesh ".

This is such an important topic I felt that I needed to expound on it another week. We are embarking on a brand new year, and as I've said before we're not guaranteed five minutes from now, so open up your mind and let's get started.

Why we should not fear death. Some points you may find redundant, but I feel are vital for you to wrap your arms around. As Born Again Christians we must be confident that the Father will not leave us in the grave. Many people fear death because they can neither control nor understand it. We can be assured that God will not forget us when we die. He will bring us to life again to live with him forever,to me this provides real security. Death does not have to represent a darkened door at the end of life, a passageway to an unknown and feared destiny.

But for God's people, again death is a bright pathway to a new and better life. Inquiry, why do we fear death? It is because of the pain we expect,the separation from loved ones, its surprise? God can help us deal with those fears. If you're listening God has shown us that death is not final, but is just another step in the eternal life we received when we follow Christ.

Planning for death is a concept that most people don't give a thought to. Many people avoid thinking about death. Now you're not being encouraged to think morbidly, but is helpful for you to think clearly about death. Hopefully we all will be reminded that their is still time for change, time to examine the direction of our lives and time to confess our sins and find forgiveness from God. Because all of us will eventually die, it makes sense to plan ahead and accept that we are going to be with God or not. I'm looking forward to experience God's mercy rather than his justice.

Until Next Time...

Jim

"THE WAY OF ALL FLESH "

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A BLESSED NEW YEAR TO YOU,

This week we will be looking into death, this is a message that the Lord put on my heart the first week in December. I feel that now is a good time to share it with you, as always it comes from the Word of God. One of my heroes in the faith, Paul, said that he would be confident in dying. He went on to expound that it would be better than living, because in death he would be removed from worldly troubles, and he would see Christ face-to-face.

Now, 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 without fear of death. How to face death, as Christians, those of us who have a Born Again experience with Jesus Christ are confident. When we are resurrected, God will give us a transformed, eternal body suited to our new eternal life.

Now we all face limitations. Those who have physical, mental, or emotional disabilities are especially aware of this. Some may be blind, but they can see a new way to live. Some may be deaf, but they can hear God's Good News. Some may be lame, but they can walk in God's Love. Now this part is good, in addition they have the encouragement that those disabilities are only temporary. The Word of God tells us that we all will be given "new bodies" when Christ returns and that these bodies will be without disabilities, never to die or become sick. This can give us hope in our suffering.

 " EVEN THOUGH I WALK THROUGH THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH, I FEAR NO EVIL, FOR YOU ARE WITH ME; YOUR ROD AND YOUR STAFF, THEY COMFORT ME."

If our lives aren't the way we would like them to be now, we can't assume that change will come more easily later. When nearing death, we will respond to God the same way we have been responding all along. Coming face-to-face with death only shows us what we are really like. How do you want to face death?

Start facing life that way right now. Lord Willing I'll have part two ready for week.

Until Next time...
Jim