Thought 4 Today

To be content with life, no matter the circumstances, would be heaven on earth for me. I've grown in this area for many years, but my high-strung Type A personality doesn't always lead to contentment. Instead, I'm always looking to move forward a little bit faster and do things a little bit better. When things don't go the way I had them planned in my head I can get irritated--and even angry. The answer, or should I say the secret, is in living your life completely trusting in Christ. I pray that the Lord is gracious enough to allow me to grow in my faith in this area. I only hope I don't get irritated with Him for taking longer than I'd like! "I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength." Philippians 4:12b-13  Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

Have you ever noticed how some people will learn you are a Christian and will embrace you, while others will immediately scorn you? It's not about YOU as much as it is about Christ, but it can still be quite painful to make someone so uncomfortable with your faith that they hate you for it. I learned long ago that my witness is to be faithful no matter what the result. It is God who draws sinners to Himself, and sometimes He uses us to testify to them even though it may only be as a judgement day witness that they clearly heard the gospel and refused it. "But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life." 1 Corinthians 2:14-16a Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

I've had some tough things happen to me in the last few weeks. As I look back, I suppose any one of them could have made me lose heart, but God seems to know when and where you can deal with the inevitable trouble that will come. No doubt He's right there with me as I face trials, and for each and every Christian, the same promise holds true. Life is tough, and if it's not tough right now, it will be soon. That's one of the wages of sin. Fortunately for those who trust in Jesus, our days of trouble will be short lived, followed by all eternity with the lover of our souls! "Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

"You're 18 now. Tell your parents to go to hell!" Does that sound like any advice you've heard before? Sometimes that type of advice doesn't wait for you to turn 18 either, it can start much earlier. And... sometimes "friends" can be led by stupidity as easily as the rest of us can! Still, at 18 teenagers in the United States are full-grown (at least legally), and can make their own decisions. I'm one for trying to build into my kids a sense of responsibility years before they're ever old enough to vote, but the fact remains that even a minister's kids can be irresponsible (yes it's true!). Unfortunately, a common misconception for Christian teens is that turning 18 means you no longer need to listen to your parents, or to even take their advice seriously. As a Christian, however, the opposite would be closer to the truth. As a Christ follower, you should honor your mother and father, and the command doesn't stop on an arbitrary birthday. If you're fortunate enough to have your parents live until you are old, then you'll still be honoring them when you're hair is gray. Sure, there will come a day when your parents will not have much control over your actions, but Christ is still your Lord--turning 18, or even turning 81 doesn't give you the right to be less of a Christian--if anything, if comes with the responsibility to be an even stronger one. "Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 'Honor your father and mother'--which is the first commandment with a promise-- 'that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on earth.'" Ephesians 6:1 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

Men, including very young men, are made differently than women. Our hearts tick to a different drummer, and our thoughts are radically different than the softer sex. Men love to compete, and even in nature the young males will compete with the older males for the affection of the females. With men, it's not always as much about the females as it is about the desire to win--to compete with someone and leave them wanting. As Christian men we can still compete in many things, but when it comes to older men we also need to have some respect. To fight and war against one another in the church is the same as fighting against God. Humility is a long-lost virtue in our world today, and Christian men need to be on the forefront of those bringing it back into vogue. So check your muscles and your testosterone at the door young man. Wimpy we don't need... but humble men will bless the Body of Christ and serve it the way it was intended to be served. "Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, 'God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.' Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." 1 Peter 5:5-7 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

There are some who like to sin in public. They are open about all types of abominations they commit and are often quite proud of them. As terrible as this may seem, it's not any more terrible than a seemingly upstanding person whose sins are more quiet, or are simply hidden better. We tend to be judgmental about the obvious sins of commission, while at the same moment overlooking our own sins. Jesus warned about such judgement quite often. Still, the early church had a problem with it, and I'm sure we still do today. Christians can be some of the most judgmental people on the earth, and often even more blind about their own failings. I've certainly been guilty of both... Painful as it may be, I praise God when He graciously points out my hypocrisy. Sin is ugly from every angle. Why make it worse by standing in the middle of it all the while pointing the finger of judgement at others? "The sins of some men are obvious, reaching the place of judgment ahead of them; the sins of others trail behind them." 1 Timothy 5:24 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

For someone who's walked with the Lord for years, this may seem like a silly statement, but I'm dumfounded when I hear someone say they don't believe in God. I simply cannot understand atheists. How could someone look into the cosmos or into the inner sanctums of his own heart and not see the workings of God. No matter whether I watch a baby be born or look at a DNA string, I see God's handiwork. They, on the other hand, see nothing more than chance. I think they're fools... and I thank God that He had was gracious to remove the blinders from my own eyes. I can't say I ever doubted there was a God... but I certainly had myself sitting in His seat! "The fool says in his heart, 'There is no God.'" Psalm 14:1 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

No doubt anniversaries of horrible events like September 11th will drive emotions to the surface for many. Thousands killed for what seems like no reason. And as terrible as that is, think of all the other nations withpeople being killed and martyred in even greater numbers. From mud slides to infanticide, death is everywhere--none will escape it. This nation threatens war against that one, another threatens retaliation. Earthquakes increase on an exponential level. The earth grows hotter. Some have drought, some have floods. While some have more than enough, others have nothing. Insane? Yes it is! And it's all a direct result of the sins of mankind. It won't be long now my brothers and sisters... it won't be long now. "You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains." Matthew 24:6-8 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate