" MAKING ASSUMPTIONS "

Assumptions, now if we are all honest we do this multiple times during the day about many different things. I learn so much from the Word Of God daily. 1 Corinthians 7:15-17 are the verses that I'm about to expound on. Now these verses are misused by some as a loophole to get out of marriage. Please take the time to reread 1 Corinthians 7:1-17, In the verses 7:15-17 Paul's statement was 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. I believe that Paul's chief purpose in writing this was to urge the married couples to seek unity, not separation (see 1 Peter 3:1-2). Apparently the Corinthians 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 (1 Corinthians 7:20). ONE LAST POINT: Don't assume your problems don't have solutions. I'm reminded of an example when Jesus asked Philip where they could buy a great amount of bread. Philip started assessing the probable cost. Jesus wanted to teach him that financial resources are not the most important ones. We can limit what God does in us by assuming what is and is not possible. Is there some impossible task that you believe God wants you to do? Don't let your estimate of what can't be done keep you from taking on this task. God can do the miraculous; trust him to provide the resources. Until Next Time... Jim,

" WHY ARE ANGELS NEEDED? "

This week we are looking into why angels are needed. Prayerfully you just may receive a better understanding of a particular fallen angel. I'm of the mind that most Believers are clueless of vital information regarding angels. I'm likewise of the mind-set that when we read we may miss pertinent information opposed to when we study. One might just ask what are angels and why are they needed? Now the conception and birth of Jesus Christ are supernatural events beyond human logic or reasoning. Because of this, God sent "Angels" to help certain people understand the significance of what was happening (see Matthew 2:13,19; Luke 1:11;26; 2:29). Angels are spiritual beings created by God who help carry out his work on earth. They bring God's message to people (Luke 1:26), Protect God's people(Daniel 6:22), Offer encouragement (Genesis 16:7ff), Give guidance (Exodus 14:19), Carry out punishment(2 Samuel 24:16), Patrol the earth (Zechariah 1:9-14), and fight the forces of evil (2 Kings 6:16-18; Revelation 20:1-2). There are both Good and Bad Angels (Revelation 12:7), but because bad angels are allied with the devil, they have considerably less power and authority than good angles. Eventually the main role of angles will be to offer continuous praise to God. Disguised as a crafty serpent, satan came to tempt Eve. Once again, Satan at one time was an angel who rebelled against God and was Thrown Out Of Heaven. As a created being. Satan has definite limitations. Although he is trying to tempt everyone from God, he will not be the final victor. In Genesis 3:14-14, God promised that satan will be crushed by one of the woman's offspring, the Messiah. LAST POINT: If God did not spare angels, or people who lived before the flood, or the citizens of Sodom and Gomorrah he would not spare false teachers. Now some people would have us believe that God will save all people he is so loving. But it is foolish to think that God will cancel the last judgment. We should be warned clearly that God judges sin and that unrepentant sinners cannot escape. Until Next Time... Jim,

" CHRISTIANITY "

Question, do others know that you are a Christian? I'm of the mind-set that we should not be Incognito Christians. How would I know if you're a believer? I would imagine at the time you gave your life to Christ within hours or days of you accepting Christ into your life you were challenged by satan. If your experience was anything like mine, I was getting thoughts like you're Not Saved. It's vital that you Believe, and Walk in your Salvation. Now, a Christian is anyone who has the Spirit Of God living in him and her. If you have sincerely Trusted Christ for your salvation and acknowledged him as Lord, then the Holy Spirit has come into your life, and you are a Christian. You won't know that the Holy Spirit has come if you are waiting for a certain feeling, you will know that he has come because Jesus Christ promised he would. When the Holy Spirit is working within you, you will believe that Jesus Christ is God's Son and that Eternal Life comes through him (1 John 5:5); you will begin to act as Christ directs (Romans 8:5; Galatians 5:22-23); you will find help in your daily problems and in your praying (Romans 8:26-27); you will be empowered to serve God and do his will (Acts 1:8; Romans 12:6ff); and you will become part of God's plan to build up his church (Ephesians 4:12-13). LAST POINT: Christianity is not limited to any race or group of people. Christ offers Salvation to all people without regard to nationality. God works all kinds of miracles to spread the gospel, using many languages as he calls all kinds of people to become his followers. No matter what your race, color,nationality, or language, God speaks to you. Those of you who call ourselves "Christians" we must realize that this means being Christ-Like. Are you Listening? Until Next Time... Jim,

" TIME TO MAKE YOUR DECISION "

Today we are looking into Making Decision(s). Prayerfully you will have another thought pattern regarding the actual process in making decisions. Now all of us make hundreds of choices every day. Most choices have no right or wrong attached to them, like what to wear or what to eat. But we always face decisions that carry a little more weight. We don't want to do wrong, and we don't want to cause others to do wrong, so the question is how can we make better decisions? We tend to make better choices with maturity: Now, one way to evaluate Spiritual Maturity is by looking at the choices we make. Many of the ways that our choices change is with personal growth. Mature choices versus immature choices, watch this...teaching others rather than just being taught; Developing depth of understanding rather than...struggling with the basics; Self-Evaluation rather than, Self-Criticism; Seeking unity rather than promoting disunity; Desiring spiritual challenges rather than desiring entertainment; careful study and observation rather than opinions and half-hearted efforts. Last Point: Principles for making sound decisions, there are three basic ones: (1) Get the facts before answering; (2) Be open to new ideas; (3) Make sure that you hear both sides of the story before judging. Now all three principles center around seeking additional information. This is difficult work, but the only alternative is prejudice - judging before getting the facts. Prayerfully we will be wiser in our decision process. Never forget to Prayer About Everything. Until Next Time... Jim,

" DO YOU HAVE TRUE COMMITMENT "

Good Day To You, This week we are looking into "Commitment." How often do we make a commitment to someone and then break it for selfish reasons of our own. God calls us to Commitment not Comfort. Faith in Christ brings great blessings but often great suffering too. Paul would suffer for his faith (see 2 Corinthians 11:23 -27). Once again I say God calls us to commitment, not to comfort. He promises to be with us through suffering and hardship, not to spare us from them. Something that we should never do is compromise our commitment to God. Okay watch this Pharaoh wanted a compromise. He would allow the Hebrews to sacrifice, but only if they would do it nearby. God's requirement, however, was firm: The Hebrews had to leave Egypt. Sometimes people urge believers to compromise and give only partial obedience to God's commands. But commitment and obedience to God cannot be negotiated. When it comes to obeying God, half measures just won't do. A promise to do or to give something is a " Commitment." A promise to be loyal to Someone or Something is also a commitment. Now lastly I believe that the attitude of someone who works very hard to do or support something is likewise a commitment. A promise is a promise; A vow is a vow and a commitment is a commitment. God wants our total commitment. Many people find it difficult to commit themselves to anything. They are tentative, indecisive, and afraid of responsibility. If you want peace, check to see if there is some area where you lack total commitment to God. Peace comes as a by-product of giving your life wholeheartedly to God. Until Next Time... Jim,

" CHILDREN FOLLOW THEIR PARENTS EXAMPLE(S) "

This weeks message is one that I believe each and every parent should pay close attention, this week as we are talking about " Family. " All human beings are related, going back to Adam and Eve. Mankind is a family that shares one flesh and blood. You must remember this if you when prejudice enters your mind or hatred invades your feelings. Please recognize the fact that each person is valuable and unique as we all are a creation of God. As Parents we help Shape the world's future by the way we shape our children's values. How often have you heard me say, What we do good or bad, our Children will do in excess. Now I believe the first step toward helping children live rightly is for the parents to live rightly. Our actions are often copied by those closest to us. What kind of example are you setting for your children? It is important to tell our children about God's work in our past and to help them see what he is doing right now. What are the Turning Points in your life where God intervened? What is God doing for you now? Your stories will form the foundations of your children's belief in God. What kind of legacy will you have? Sharing Spiritual experiences. 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. LAST POINT: I believe that it's vital for us to instruct, guide our family in following Christ. A good family life is a reward for following God, I believe in Family Altar (Family Devotions). The values outlined in God's Word include Love, Service, Honesty, Integrity, and Prayer. These help all relationships, and they are especially vital to home life. Is your home life heavenly or just crazy? Reading and obeying God's Word is a good place to start to make your family all that it should and could be. Until Next Time... Jim,

" WHY IS PRAYER IMPORTANT "

PRAYER: A Petition, Supplication or Praise addressed to God. Probably the best known from the Bible is the Lord's prayer. The prayer which Jesus taught his Disciples as an example of how they should pray. We must train ourselves into turning our worries into prayer. Always collect your thoughts and prayer. When we feel the pressure that can almost overwhelm us when about to face a difficult conflict, we can run about frantically or we can pause to pray. Which approach will be more effective. Now I believe in balancing prayer with action. A few weeks back I was reminded of God's people being chased by pharaoh's army as they left Egypt. They knew that they were being chased by one of the mightiest armies in the world. 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. " Now the Lord told Moses to stop praying and get moving! Prayer must have a vital place in our lives is also a place for action. Sometimes we know what to do, but we pray for more guidance as an excuse to postpone doing it. If we know what we should do, then it is time to get moving. LAST POINT: Imagine being " Anxious For Nothing "! It seems like an impossibility - we all have worries on the job, in our home, at school. But Paul's advice is to turn our worries into prayers. Do you want to worry less? Then Pray More! Whenever you start to worry stop and pray. Let God's peace guard your heart against anxiety. Until Next Time... Jim, ,