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

Many people have become discouraged by their church experience, many choosing to leave and never return. I meet teens nearly every day who are already sick of church and they're not even adults yet! The problem with this type of experience is not that Jesus is any less relevant or powerful today, but that some congregations are lacking a focus on Him. When people come together with a common love of the Lord, they don't want to say, "I never want to see you again!" They can't stand being apart from one another. If the Lord requires one of the "family" to leave, they've almost got to tear themselves apart! Find a church where Jesus is Lord and you'll find that type of Spirit at work! Find one where people continuously leave discouraged and you'll find man's spirit at work. "They all wept as they embraced him [Paul] and kissed him. What grieved them most was his statement that they would never see his face again. Then they accompanied him to the ship. After we had torn ourselves away from them, we put to sea and sailed straight to Cos." Acts 20:37-21:1a Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

Most teens (and adults too!) approach relationships asking the exact opposite question they should be asking. Often they come to me asking, "Do you think this could be the right person for me?" Instead, they should be asking, "Lord, am I the right person for him/her?" Selfish humans that we are, we want our needs to be met by all the people around us (and especially by our mates). Just think what a terrible condition we'd be in if Jesus would have taken that approach! If two people come together both looking to have all their needs met by the other, then nothing will be accomplished except for a load of power struggles, and a lot of crying and fighting! For a change of pace, try approaching your relationships from a Christian perspective and you just might find that the Lord is quite involved in them! "just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." Matthew 20:28 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

Who's the most important person in your church? Most people would immediately say their pastor or priest, but would that be true? What makes the boss more important than the janitor? The truth is that one is gifted in one thing, and another in something else. They are both equal and both equally important to the Body of Christ. You already know who preaches the sermons in your congregation. This week why not take a moment to find out who cleans the bathrooms and shake THEIR hand on the way out of the building--the pastor's sermon wouldn't have been half as good if he spent the whole week cleaning up the building... Or maybe it would have been better! "The eye cannot say to the hand, 'I don't need you!' And the head cannot say to the feet, 'I don't need you!' On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable" 1 Corinthians 12:21-22 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

Life is tough! You don't have to be more than a few years old before that realization no doubt comes full-force toward you. And although it's tough, there is also a lot to learn through those tough times. In fact, if you look back over your life to the times you've grown the most, I guarantee they will be some of the toughest times you've had. And the same is true of your walk with Christ. As you look back to the times you grew the closest to Him--the times when you were sure you had made great strides in the battle against sin, they'll be times when God tested you the most. Try to remember this truth the next time trouble comes your way. He is slowly but surely ridding you of your sinful ways. "Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin." 1 Peter 4:1 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate