I get a substantial amount of mail from teens who say they don't "feel" like God is close to them. My typical response is that it doesn't really matter how we feel, if we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, then God is near. He is near because He says He is--period! Satan does some of his best work by making us believe his lies, and often he uses our emotions or how we "feel" to make us believe something is or isn't true. Frankly though, there is a little more to the story. Some people are consistently dishonest with God, and as a result, God isn't "near" them, in the sense that their prayers are not being taken seriously because of the sin in their lives. This does not mean that they are not "saved" or that the Holy Spirit is not in them, but rather that their inability to be honest with God has hurt their relationship with Him. Let's face it, being dishonest with God who already know everything is like living in a glass house and pretending you're not home when everyone can clearly see you are! It just doesn't make any sense. "The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth." Psalm 145:18 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

Have you ever been cut? I don't mean with a knife or anything like that. No, I mean have you REALLY been cut-- have you been cut by someone's words? I've had a few occasions to catch the sharp edge of someone's wrath, and I can tell you that even as a getting toward old man, I can still feel the sting of some things that were aimed my way in elementary school. No doubt high-school was the worst though. Not only did everybody catch a wound or two there, we also learned to dish them out very well! Words are something our Lord reminds us over and over again to be extremely careful with. The Scriptures tell us the power of both life and death are in the tongue. Whether it's with friends, enemies, family, or even total strangers, as Christians, let's make sure we use the life part and not the other! "Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing." Proverbs 12:18 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10 (NIV) Dear Friends, Have you ever noticed how God has a way of placing people in your path—often when it's least convenient? A neighbor with a flat tire. A coworker who seems withdrawn. A stranger who shares just a little too much in line at the store. It's easy to see these moments as interruptions… but what if they are invitations? With the realization that God is either in charge of everything, or He’s in charge of nothing, the people you encounter just can’t be accidents. People are placed in our lives with purpose—by a God who orchestrates everything for His glory and your growth. Ephesians 2:10 reminds us (above). Sometimes meeting needs is big—like helping someone move, giving financially, or stepping into a mentoring relationship. Other times, it's small—an encouraging word, a listening ear, or a silent prayer. But no act of kindness, done in Jesus’ name, is ever wasted. Throughout the Gospels, Jesus was often "interrupted." A bleeding woman reached for His cloak. A desperate father cried out for healing. A tax collector climbed a tree just to see Him. In every case, Jesus stopped. He saw the person, not the inconvenience. And He met them where they were. If we’re to walk as Jesus walked, we too must learn to slow down, to look around, and to listen for the Spirit’s prompting. That nudge you feel to call someone? Do it. That person you keep running into? Ask them how they’re really doing. You may just be the answer to someone’s prayer.  God uses people to reach people—and you never know when your obedience could be the turning point in someone’s life. When we remain open, available, and responsive, the ordinary moments become extraordinary. Blessings in Christ, Pastor Jim Kilby

Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me. (Matthew 25:40, NIV) Friends, Driving down I-35 has become a routine part of my day. Along the way, it’s impossible to miss the tents lining the road or the people at nearly every exit holding signs that read: “Need Help,” “Hungry,” “Homeless.” Honestly, there are times I just want to keep my head down, avoid eye contact, and continue on with my day. It’s not that I don’t care. It’s the feeling of being overwhelmed. There are so many people in need that I sometimes don’t even know where to begin. A friend recently asked if we knew anything about “the man on the corner,” and Aaron and I both responded, “Which one?” It's become such a common sight, and that reality is heartbreaking. So where am I going with this? There’s a quote I’ve shared before, often attributed to preacher Andy Stanley: “Do for one what you wish you could do for everyone.” That line has stuck with me. I know we can’t provide food or housing for every person in need—even just in Dayton. But I also know that refusing to help one person simply because we can’t help them all doesn’t make any sense. That’s where Harvest Helps comes in. We don’t have a multi-million dollar budget, but when applications come in, we do our best to thoughtfully evaluate each one. Sometimes, something as simple as a gas card can be life-changing—and that single act of support can ripple out into the wider community. Each of the names on the “sticky notes” is one person who has been seen and loved because of your generosity and given hope for another day. Thank you! Some More Sticky Notes: Mr R - Given one time rent help so he wasn't evicted! Miss C. Single mom given a gas card so she could continue to work! Miss S - Given help with a car payment so she didn't lose her transportation! Mr S - Given a gas card and food box when he missed a paycheck due to injury! Blessings, Elizabeth Kilby

A college student and friend of mine is majoring in "actuarial science," which are the big words to say she's learning all about insurance; how to figure out the odds of something terrible happening, etc, etc. Honestly, I think she's on a great career path because in today's world we want to insure everything! There are even laws that force us to insure things! I have car insurance on multiple vehicles, home insurance, health insurance, dental insurance, life insurance... need I go on? Let's face it, like most people, I spend enough on insurance in the course of a year to pay for at least one of the major disasters I'm trying to insure against! And while I'm not at all against insurance, I want to use it to make a point. As Christians we can insure things just like everyone else can, but is that where we should put our trust? Does our being "well insured" mean we are no longer called to live by faith? The Scriptures clearly tell us we simply cannot know what is coming tomorrow, but of this we can be sure: Jesus is coming again and even a mountain of insurance cannot change anything He has promised will happen. As end times draw nearer and Satan increases his attacks on God's people, all insurance will become worthless. Eventually things will become so confused I doubt we will even be able to buy insurance! For the mean time, I'll continue to insure what is intelligent to insure, but the only insurance I've ever had that is worth a grain of trust are the Words and the promises of Jesus! "And he [Jesus] was amazed at their lack of faith." Mark 6:6 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

What parent would take joy in watching their offspring treat others cruelly or severely? I believe that even parents of little skill try to teach their children to share and to give freely to those in need. What's interesting is that often when a church leader even so much as mentions giving, the majority of people simply close their ears (and their pocketbooks). I've heard from many a pastor or priest that the hate mail flows freely toward them in the days immediately following a message on giving. This is quite an indictment on the church since Jesus commanded us to "freely give." Like a loving parent, I believe our Heavenly Father withholds blessings from us because of our hard hearts toward those with less material wealth than us. How could He bless us if we refuse to open our hands and our hearts to give? Doing so would only make us harder and even less useful to the kingdom. "Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. Then there will be equality, as it is written: 'He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little.'" 2 Corinthians 8:13-15 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

Many would-be strong Christ followers forget one simple truth. They stretch and strive to do awesome things for God, while all the time forgetting that even the most awesome sounding accomplishment is worthless in God's eyes if it's done to receive man's applause. God can and will ordain each believer to do awesome works for Him, but often those works are done behind the scenes and without earthy recognition. Many times they are the tough jobs--the jobs that require sweat and blood. Those who understand these truths and seek only God's acclaim will gain much in heaven. Those who grandstand with their talents and abilities will lose even what they thought they had. "At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, 'Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?' He called a little child and had him stand among them. And he said: 'I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.'" Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

Flirting can be fun, but what happens when the person or thing you're flirting with starts chasing you? Are you prepared for the situation to rapidly accelerate until it has you trapped? Some enjoy flirting with other people's boyfriends, girlfriends, and the like. Some find themselves flirting with trouble in the form of drugs, or sex, or any one of a million other things. If I've learned anything in my life, it's probably that even flirting with sin is too much. We must look a lot like a fish nibbling on some tasty bait until the moment when Satan jerks the line and we find ourselves on a painful hook! "Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us." 1 Peter 2:11-12 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate