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

"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

There have been hundreds of millions of self-help books sold in the last twenty years (give or take a few million), many of which I was required to read in college, and some I've been required to memorize in secular positions I've held. Now many Christian authors have put out similar books, most containing a formula to employ to help build this or that area of your spiritual life. Although the author's motives are often pure, the truth is that no self-help book will ever change a human into something he is not. All are sinners! No amount of self-help (even Christian focused self-help) will amount to anything if the Spirit of God is not the author of the change. We need Spirit-help, not self-help. The only book that will help you is one that tells you how to be less focused on you and more focused on Him! There are some awesome Christian authors out there, but if you're reading a book by any author who tells you that "you can do it," throw it out. Then, go find one that tells you that "HE CAN DO IT" as you draw near to Him. Even Jesus needed the Spirit to guide Him (Luke 4:1-2 et al). Are we to believe there is anything in us that is greater than He? "The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life." Jesus of Nazareth (John 6:63) Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

If you've even spent any time around the U.S. Department of State, you'll learn a few things about the workings of the world you just can't learn elsewhere. It's the headquarters for our nation's ambassadors, and for diplomatic relations with all other nations we recognize as legitimate. Most of those countries will have a U.S. Ambassador stationed in their country within one of our embassies. I was involved with U.S. Ambassadors in some of my military positions and can tell you they are a special breed. They walk the walk, talk the talk, and do only what their government would have him do. Could you even for a moment imagine one of our ambassadors sitting in a restaurant in the country they're stationed in and complaining about their job or their government? Never! That's because ambassadors do the bidding of the one's who sent them. They do it the way they're expected to, and they never forget who they work for. Ambassadors for Jesus could take a lesson from this example. "We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." 2 Corinthians 5:20-21 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

I'm often humbled as I read of the incredible faith of young people in the Bible. How could a young boy like David even consider standing before Goliath? Or what about Mary, facing ridicule and possible death as she became pregnant with Jesus and claimed to still be a virgin? The truth is that we have a real misconception about faith. We believe that we have the ability to gain faith through doing good deeds, but the truth is that God is always giving out faith--We simply need to spend time with Him in order to get it! David, Mary, and all the other's you can think of did the same thing. They spent time alone with God, through His Word and through prayer they became a friend to Him. The result was their incredible faith, but it was never their goal. Knowing and pleasing God was always their goal! It must be ours as well. "Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ." Romans 10:17  Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

Before I met Jesus I used to wonder about my future a lot. Where would I live? What would I be doing? Who would I marry, etc. Whenever I made a life decision I always had to overthink everything! I've found that my relationship with Christ has changed much of those questions for me. Sure, I'm already married now so that's not a question, but beyond the basic questions is a greater principle. Walking in faith is sooo much easier! I just don't wonder too much about anything other than how I can be faithful to God TODAY! Does it really matter where/when/how God uses me or takes me? That's really up to Him! I've found that the reason I used to worry so much is because I was walking in the dark. When you're trying to make it through life (or just across the room) in total darkness, every step must be carefully and stressfully considered. When you're in the light, everything seems so simple! When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." John 8:12 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate