Most of us have no problem sinning when the desire in our heart to go astray is stronger than our love for the Lord, but even the sins we like to commit will one day become a terrible burden for us. I must have had a thousand people come to me through the years and confess that their sins are so heavy they just can't carry them any longer. I have one friend whose son is nearing eighteen. He's been in jail repeatedly, quit school, and has practically bankrupted her with his antics. She cries daily because of her lack of ability to help him. Although it seems she's the victim, once you start talking to her you'll realize that she was sexually active as a young teen, did not marry, and has been more concerned about having fun than she has about raising her children well. See how it works... what once was enticing to her has now become a burden so heavy you can practically see it weigh her down as she walks. Sure, those sins you are pondering look fun right now, even God would readily admit that, but spare yourself the heartbreak and do it HIS WAY the first time! "My sins have been bound into a yoke; by his hand they were woven together. They have come upon my neck and the Lord has sapped my strength. He has handed me over to those I cannot withstand." Lamentations 1:14 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

I'm sorry to admit that I was pulled over by a police officer awhile ago and issued a speeding citation. What a humbling experience. I was taking a few teenagers home from a youth event and they were there in the car to witness it. I wasn't willfully speeding, but rather missed a new 25 mile per hour speed limit that was posted on a road I rarely travel on. Believe it or not, it honestly took me days to admit the simple fact that I broke the law and was punished fairly. I explained to the young people in my car how the sign was new, how the speed limit was too low, how the time of day made it hard to see, how the officer should be hunting down terrorists... Well, you get the picture. My defense mechanisms work perfectly well. It's too bad that while I'm so busy using them I cannot just see the simple truth. I broke the law and received the due penalty. Wouldn't true Biblical wisdom teach us to admit our sin and accept God's truthful judgment? Yea, and it only took me three days to figure that one out! "Why should any living man complain when punished for his sins?" Lamentations 3:39 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

There are more warnings in the Scriptures about the dangers of chasing wealth than any other, yet many still chase it will a vengeance today. What's more, there are similar warnings about not trusting in the wealth we do have, but rather being grateful for God's provision, trusting in Him and seeking His face daily! The result of doing the opposite is that what we once considered worth chasing above all instantly becomes worthless when God's judgment finally comes. What good is money when you're facing your Maker? And all the while we're chasing it; it turns us against every other thing in our lives--our own families, friends, and even our very own offspring. What should be valuable is thought a burden, and what should be taken with a grain of salt is pursued above God Himself. Is it any wonder our world is in such a disaster today? If you're out of balance in the pursuit of wealth (or anything else) above God, you can be sure of a similar fate. "How the gold has lost its luster, the fine gold becomes dull! The sacred gems are scattered at the head of every street. How the precious sons of Zion, once worth their weight in gold, are now considered as pots of clay [something cheap; of little value], the work of a potter's hands! Even jackals [stingy animals] offer their breasts to nurse their young, but my people have become heartless like ostriches in the desert. Because of thirst the infant's tongue sticks to the roof of its mouth; the children beg for bread, but no one gives it to them." Lamentations 4:1-4  Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

The Apostle Paul was a great preacher, teacher, and evangelist, but without the Holy Spirit working through Him he would have been none of these. Maybe you've also felt the urge of the Spirit to share the truth of Jesus with someone, and like so many before you, you've had mixed results. Maybe you've even felt so defeated by their response that you've decided not to go through the pain again. The two very simple things we need to remember are these. 1. We are ALL called to preach the word in love. 2. It is the Spirit who breaks the hearts and brings the harvest, not us. Even Paul couldn't have led one single person to Christ without the Father. I'm sure he heard more "no's" than all of us... and because of the way he persevered through the "no's" he heard more "yes's" than just about anyone in history. "The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul's message." Acts 16:14b  Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

"I'll get you my pretty... and your little dog too!" Do those famous words from the wicked witch sound like the motto of anyone in your generation who is hurt by someone else? Sure, we understand that we're not supposed to take our own vengeance, but it's so difficult! Even within the church people have a hard time just "turning the other cheek." What's worse, when we get outside of the church then we pull out all the stops if someone wrongs us. Well, in the church or outside of it, the only biblical response when someone hurts you is to bless them in return. That witch was called "wicked" for a reason! "Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse." Romans 12:14  Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. 7 So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. (1 Corinthians 3:6-7) Friends, Yesterday most of my family spent many hours in the car - at least two of those hours winding through back roads in Tennessee. One of the things we did to pass the time was spot churches. I’m fairly convinced there’s one church for every ten people in that part of the country! (We stayed in Crossville, TN, which also made me chuckle…welcome to the Bible belt.). Google told me this: Tennessee has a high concentration of small churches due to its history, demographics, and social structures. Many small churches are deeply rooted in rural communities, serving as vital centers for social, spiritual, and even economic support. The state's strong religious traditions, particularly among Protestant denominations, have historically led to the establishment of numerous congregations, often reflecting the diversity of religious beliefs within smaller, localized areas. Having spent many years in a small church, I can say there’s truth to the idea of the church functioning as a large family. There were always people willing to help with virtually anything - and likewise, we could offer that same willingness to help. The only downside comes when we start to compare ourselves to the churches around us, compete for attendees, or forget that different styles are not salvation issues. In ministry it is also easy to get distracted by the programs offered by organizations and think “we should do that” or “we should be more like them”. God has called Harvest to a specific mission: serving the local community through the Thrift Store, Harvest Helps, and telling our neighbors about Jesus along the way. Thank you for running THIS race with us! Some More Sticky Notes: Ms K - Received groceries for her family so she didn’t have to worry while recovering from surgery. Ms C. - Received car repairs and groceries so she could work and take care of her daughter. Ms S – is a domestic abuse survivor and given to pick out furniture for her new home and clothes for her kids. Blessings, Elizabeth Kilby

"The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9, NIV) Dear Friends, One of the most awe-inspiring and often overlooked attributes of our Heavenly Father is His long-suffering nature. Throughout Scripture, we see a God who is not quick to condemn, but slow to anger and rich in mercy. As it says in 2 Peter 3:9 (above). That verse captures the very heart of the gospel—a God who waits, who endures, and who loves us enough to give us time and space to turn toward Him. At Harvest Youth Ministries, this divine patience is something we seek to model every day. The youth who come through our doors or contact us through our websites often arrive with heavy burdens—stories of rejection, trauma, addiction, or simply being forgotten by the world around them. And yet, we believe that no story is too far gone, no heart too hard, and no life too broken for God to redeem. Because of your faithful support, we’re able to do more than offer encouragement—we provide real, tangible hope. We offer shelter for young women who have nowhere else to go. We provide life learning opportunities—skills like budgeting, emotional regulation, and decision-making—that help equip them for adulthood. We often connect them with job opportunities and mentors who walk alongside them as they grow in confidence and purpose. But most importantly, we surround them with the love of Christ. We speak truth. We listen without judgment. We pray with them. And we patiently wait, knowing that God is always working, even when progress is slow.  Your partnership in this ministry is not just financial—it’s deeply spiritual. You are helping us embody the patient love of God to a generation that desperately needs it. Thank you for believing in this mission, and for trusting that even small seeds of faith can grow into lives forever changed. As Galatians 6:9 reminds us, “Let us not grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Blessings in Christ, Pastor Jim Kilby

Nobody in their right mind would hesitate to say there is a war being waged on traditional values. Surely that was predicted since the beginning of time, and actually heralds the impending return of our Lord. What galls me is not that the world urges us to lay down our Christian values, but rather when those who profess that they know Jesus do it. Priests, pastors, elders, Sunday school teachers; you name it, there's someone at every level who claims to be a follower of Christ who will tell you that truth is relative and will not only "wink" at sin, but willfully sin themselves. God will not be mocked. A man reaps what He sows and a man who sows lies unfortunately can take many down with him. Surely sinful man will struggle against sin all the days of his life, but sinning on purpose is actually a sign a person does not know the Lord. "Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. He who does what is right is righteous, just as he [Jesus] is righteous. He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work. No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God." 1 John 3:7-9 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate