My daughter informed me that she is sure that Mary Magdalene didn't walk slowly once she learned that Jesus' tomb was empty! "Daddy," she said, "I'll bet she ran like crazy to tell EVERYBODY!" It made me wonder, since He's still risen from the grave and desperately wants to reach a lost world, why do so many of His followers drag their feet as if they're not in a hurry to tell anybody that He's alive? "Early on the first day of the week, while it was till dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. So she came running to Simon Peter..." John 20:1-2a  Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

Suicide remains the second leading cause of death among teens (12-19) and although the explanations as to why seem to span far and wide, they really all do it for the same reason. They are searching for an escape because they feel they have no hope! Fellow believers, if these teens have no hope, is it not in some ways our fault? We are the "clay pots" that contain the only endearing hope there is! Peter put it this way: "But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect" 1 Peter 3:15 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

Often the enemy brings bad things our way to drive us away from God, and sometimes God even uses them to test our faith. Those who truly love the Lord will hang on all that much tighter when troubles come. Those "fair weather Christians" will move farther away, blaming God for their circumstances, no doubt claiming they deserve better. For those who truly trust in the Lord, their faith will increase through these tough times and they'll wind up even stronger than before. For those who turn their back on Him and seek comfort elsewhere, they wind up even worse off than they thought they were. “The sorrows of those will increase who run after other gods." Psalm 16:4a Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

How do you act when someone corrects you in front of your friends? If you're the typical teenager (or even the typical adult) you'll get an attitude bigger than the room you're in and even if you're in the wrong, you'll set them straight. The typical Christian surely struggles with pride in the same way, but God calls us to a higher standard. One of the best examples I've seen was when David (the one who killed Goliath and who eventually became King David) was treated very badly by someone he had blessed over and over. David flew into a rage and swore he would take revenge. Fortunately for David's newfound enemy, his enemy's wife was a wise woman and went out to beg King David to reconsider. David's response showed how a true child of God immediately listens to God's voice, even if He uses someone else's voice to speak. David said to Abigail, "Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, who has sent you today to meet me. May you be blessed for your good judgment and for keeping me from bloodshed this day and from avenging myself with my own hands." 1 Samuel 25:32-33 David's example of humility: Thank you, God! Bless you, friend! I was a fool! You saved me from my own stupidity! Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

"Be kind and compa ssionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." (Ephesians 4:32) Dear Friends, I was listening to a podcast the other day that talked about spiritual amnesia. It is the idea that as Christians, we tend to be forgetful. We might forget... ...we have been saved. ...what sinners we were and still are. ...that we STILL need a Savior. ...ways God has shown up and provided. It also lead me to think about something my husband often says when interacting with people in tough situations: they never wanted this. In fact, often times we forget to treat people with dignity because of their situations instead of remembering… …they are someone’s son or daughter. …they once were a coo-ing baby. …they never wanted their life to turn out this way. When we remember people’s humanity - when we can take a moment to picture them as a little child dancing or singing - we can remember to treat them with the respect God says they deserve. Yes, there are usually still consequences for life choices and behaviors, but instead of judgment we can meet people with grace and compassion. Some More Sticky Notes: Ms J- Received access to furniture she needs in her new apartment. Mr W - Received a bus pass to help him care for his two small children while in a shelter. Mr M – Received furniture help for himself and his young daughter Blessings, Elizabeth Kilby

"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. (Psalm 119:105) Dear Friends, Prayer and the Word of God are the lifelines of a Christian’s walk with the Lord. Prayer connects us directly to our Heavenly Father, inviting His wisdom, comfort, and strength into our daily lives. When we open the Bible, God speaks to us through His truth, reminding us of His promises and shaping our hearts to reflect His character. Together, prayer and Scripture create a living relationship with God, allowing us to both speak to Him and hear from Him. As the Psalmist declares, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105) above. When we stay rooted in prayer and God’s Word, we find the strength to stand firm against temptation, clarity when making decisions, and peace in the midst of trials. Scripture equips us with guidance, while prayer keeps our hearts aligned with God’s will. These practices don’t remove life’s difficulties, but they change how we walk through them—reminding us that we are never alone and that God’s Spirit is at work within us. On the other hand, when we neglect prayer and the Word, our hearts can quickly drift. Without the steady voice of Scripture, we begin to lean on our own understanding, which leads to confusion, fear, and discouragement. Without prayer, our burdens weigh heavier because we are no longer laying them at the feet of Jesus. Jesus Himself warned, “Apart from Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). Just as our physical bodies cannot thrive without food and water, our souls cannot thrive without daily communion with God through prayer and His Word. Let us be people who daily seek the Lord—who carve out time to pray, to read, to listen, and to grow. May we be reminded that prayer and the Word are not burdens but blessings, given to us so we may walk in God’s power, peace, and purpose. Blessings in Christ, Pastor Jim Kilby

I went camping with my family and happened to see something I haven't seen in a long time. I walked out of our campsite one night and saw the stars that surround our planet--the most amazing display of heavenly artistry! Why haven't I seen them in a while? They've been there every day of my life. Just like God Almighty, He's always there, working for the good of all who look His way. Just because you haven't seen Him lately doesn't mean He's not there--It may be that you're not looking! "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:13 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

Have you ever tried to gently share even a small portion of God's truth with someone and had them turn against you for it? If you've been a Christian even for a few days I'd bet something like that has happened to you. It is the state of the world to not only be blind to God's truth, but to actually be hostile toward it. People who are lost simply love the dark more than the light. Instead of getting angry or hurt, give thanks to God that He gave you sight and begin to pray more earnestly for those who are still in the dark. "Yet they say to God, 'Leave us alone! We have no desire to know your ways. Who is the Almighty, that we should serve him? What would we gain by praying to him?'" Job 21:14-15 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate