. " HELPING OTHERS "

Well here we are Wednesday Morning and I have one question, what happened to Tuesday? I guess it came and went while I took a moment to blink, talk about a busy day. Any way this week we will be looking into " HELPING OTHERS. " Alright let's get started, Sometimes we must get involved in a messy or painful situation in order to help others. We should be willing to act immediately when others need our help. Are you willing to allow God to help you? Now, when we face difficult or even frightening situations, we must be willing to let God help us. God gave many rules to His people - but not without reason. He did not withhold good from them; He only prohibited those acts that would bring them to ruin, all of us understand God's physical laws of nature. For example, jumping off a ten-story building means death because of the law of gravity. But some of us don't understand how God's Spiritual Laws work. God forbids us to do certain things because He wants to keep us from self-destruction. Next time you are drawn to a forbidden physical or emotional pleasure, remind yourself that its consequences might be suffering and separation from the God who is trying to help you. Why Jesus is qualified to help us. Because Jesus lived as a Man, we know that He fully understands our experiences and struggles. Because He is God, He has the power and authority to deliver us from Sin. Remember this, We can tell Jesus all our thoughts, feelings, and needs. He has been where we are now, and He has the ability to help. LAST POINT: Now, I've been taught that we must be careful to weigh both the words and the deeds of those who claim to offer spiritual help. Remember to ask for Wisdom, we have not because we ask not. Until Next Time... Jim,

" THE HEART "

OK, another week has come an gone, and I have another message for you. This week we are looking into The Heart, now we all have one but are we using it to our full potential. Jesus is knocking on the door of our hearts every time we sense we should turn to him. Jesus wants to have fellowship with us, and wants to open up to him. He is patient and persistent in trying to get through to us - not breaking and entering, but knocking. He allows us to decide whether or not to open our lives to Him. Do you intentionally keep his life-changing presence and power on the other side of the door? The Word Of God says: The intent of man's heart is evil from his youth. Countless times throughout the Bible we see God showing his Love and Patience toward men and women in order to save them. Although he realizes that their hearts are evil, he continues to try to reach them. When we sin or fall away from God, we surely deserve to be destroyed by His judgment. But God has promised never again to destroy everything on earth until the judgment day when Christ returns to destroy evil forever. Now every change of season is a reminder of his promise. THE FOOL HAS SAID IN HIS HEART, " THERE IS NO GOD" (Psalm 14:1). The true atheist is either foolish or wicked - foolish because he ignores the evidence that God exists or wicked because he refuses to live by God's truths. We become atheists in practice when we rely more on ourselves than on God. The fool mentioned here is someone who is aggressively perverse in his actions. To speak in direct defiance of God is utterly foolish according to the Bible. Last Point: Treasuring (Keeping) God's Word in Our Hearts is a deterrent to sin. This alone should inspire us to memorize Scripture. But memorization alone will not keep us from sin; we must also put God's Word to work in our lives, making it a vital guide for every thing we do. Until Next Time... Jim,

" OBEDIENCE "

Here we are again another week has come and gone,this week we will be looking into " Obedience." I believe that at one time or another we all may have had an issue with Obedience. Disobedience is Sin, and it breaks our fellowship with with God. But, fortunately, when we disobey, God is willing to forgive us and to restore our relationship with him. Adam and Eve failed to heed God's warning. They did not understand the reasons for his command, so they chose to act in another way that looked better to them. All of God's commands are for our own good, but we may not always understand the reasons behind them. People who trust God will obey because God asks them to whether or not they understand why God commands it. Have you ever wondered, why would God place a tree in the garden and then forbid Adam to eat from it? Father God wanted Adam to Obey, but God gave Adam the freedom to choose. Without choice, Adam would have been like a prisoner, and his Obedience would have been hollow. The two trees provided an exercise in choice, with rewards for choosing to obey and sad consequences for choosing to disobey. When you are faced with the choice, always choose to obey God. It's not enough to say we believe what is right; we must respond with action, doing what faith requires. " Faith without WORKS is useless (James 2:20). This means acting differently at home, school, and church. Simply talking about Obedience is not enough. Until next Time... Jim,

" COMPLAINING "

OK, strap in and let's get started with this weeks very important message. How often do you find yourself Complaining about something or someone? Be honest with yourself, I believe that we unconsciously complain as it has become a terrible habit with some of us? We have many examples in the WORD OF GOD of how we should carry ourselves in all situations. Now I'm reminded of the Israelite's when the Egyptian Army was bearing down upon them while their backs were against the sea. After watching God's powerful hand deliver them from Egypt, their only response was fear, whining, and despair. Where was Their Trust in God? By focusing on God's faithfulness in the past we can face crises with confidence rather than with fear and complaining. Complaining and Grumbling can do nothing to improve your situation. If anything we've learned from the Israelite's that the path to open rebellion against God begins with Dissatisfaction and Skepticism, then moves to Grumbling about both God and present circumstances. Next comes Bitterness and Resentment, followed finally by Rebellion and open Hostility. If you are often Dissatisfied, Skeptical, Complaining, or Bitter - Beware! These attitudes lead to Rebellion and Separation from God. Any choice to side against God is a step in the direction of letting go of him completely and making your own way through life. LAST POINT: I have to ask, do you complain about your problems instead of praying? Some problems can be solved by careful thought or by rearranging our priorities. Some can be solved by discussion and good counsel. But some problems can be solved only by prayer. We should make a determined effort to pray when we feel like complaining only raises our level of stress. PRAYER QUIETS OUR THOUGHTS AND EMOTIONS AND PREPARES US TO LISTEN. Until Next Time... Jim,

" GIVING UP "

This week we will be looking into why we should not Give Up. As Christians we should never Give Up on God. If we have a promise from God then it's rock solid. God knows the best time to act. When you feel that God has forgotten you in your troubles, please remember that God has a time schedule we can't see. Giving Up is never an option when you believe in God. I'm blown away by the woman who suffered for twelve long years with bleeding (perhaps a menstrual disorder). Now, in our times of desperation, we don't have to worry about the correct way to reach out to God. Like this Woman, we can simply reach out in faith. He will respond. " Untouchables " and had not been able to lead a normal life. But Jesus changed that and restored her, Glory To God. Sometimes we are tempted to give up on people or situations that have not changed for many years. God can change what seems unchangeable, giving new purpose and hope. Another point to share about not Giving Up. In the Gospels only Luke shares the fact that Jesus' sweat resembled drops of blood. Jesus was in extreme agony, but he did not give up or give in. He went right ahead with the Mission that He was tasked with. I Thank God Daily, in fact Multiple times daily. Our tendency is to want to give up and get out when the going gets rough. To trust God in the good times is commendable, but to trust him during the difficult times test us to our limits and exercises our faith. Now, in your struggles, large or small, trust that God is in control and that he will take care of you. Until Next Time... Jim,

" MAN " Dust From The Ground

Come on in and stay awhile, with the Lords help we just might learn something new about ourselves. In what way are we made in God's Image? God obviously did not create us exactly like himself because God has no physical body. Instead, we are reflections of God's glory. Some feel that our reason, Creativity, Speech, or Self-Determination is the Image Of God. More likely, it is our entire self that reflects the Image Of God. We will never be totally like God because He is our Supreme Creator. But we do have the ability to reflect His Character in our Love, Patience, Forgiveness and Faithfulness. Knowing that we are made in God's Image and thus share many of His Characteristics provide a solid basis for self-worth. Human worth is not based on Possessions, Achievements, Physical Attractiveness, or Public Acclaim, Instead it is based on being made in God's Image. Because we bear God's image, we can feel positive about ourselves. Criticizing or downgrading ourselves is Criticizing what God has made and Abilities He has given us. Knowing that you are a person of Worth helps you Love God, know him personally, and make a Valuable Contribution to those around you. Now, " Dust From The Ground " implies that there is nothing fancy about the chemical elements making up our bodies. The body is a lifeless shell until God brings it alive with his " Breath Of Life. " When God removes His Life-Giving breath, our bodies once again return to dust. Therefore our life and worth come from God's Spirit. Many boast of their achievements and abilities as though they were the originators of their own strengths. Others feel worthless because their abilities do not stand out. In reality our worth comes not from our achievements but from the God of the universe, who choose to give us the mysterious and miraculous gift of life, as he does. Until Next Time... Jim,

" ABILITIES "

" ABILITIES " The quality of being able: Power, Skill. All of us have Special Skills. God wants to fill us with His Spirit so we will use them for His Glory. Please think about your Special Talents and Abilities and the ways you can use them for God's work in the world. A TALENT MUST BE USED OR IT WILL DIMINISH. I love the way that the Word Of God explains things, for some reason many folks are afraid to dive into the Old Testament. Moses asked people with various abilities to help with the tabernacle. Every one of God's people has been given Special Abilities. We are responsible to develop these abilities - even the ones not considered religious - and to use them for God's Glory. We can become skilled through Study, by Watching Others, and through Practice. Work on your Skills or Abilities that could help your Church or Community. Invest your Abilities Wisely: Matthew 13:12 " FOR WHOEVER HAS, TO HIM MORE SHALL BE GIVEN, AND HE WILL HAVE AN ABUNDANCE; BUT WHOEVER DOES NOT HAVE, EVEN WHAT HE HAS SHALL BE TAKEN AWAY FROM HIM." Interpretation: This means that we are responsible to use well what we have. When people reject Jesus, their hardness of heart drives away or renders useless even the little understanding they had. LAST POINT: Please forgive me for being redundant regarding our God Given Abilities. At Salvation we are given Spiritual Gift(s). At birth we are likewise given an Ability or Two. None of us receive more or less than what we can handle. Now, if we fail in our assignments, our excuse should not be that we are Overwhelmed. Sometimes failure comes from just plain laziness. Our Talents represent any kind of Resource we are given. God gives us Time, Gifts, and other resources according to our Abilities, and expects us to Invest them Wisely until he returns. Now, we are responsible to use well what the Father has given us. The issue is not how much we have, but how well we use what we have. Until Next Time... Jim,