Virtually all of those who said they would follow Jesus anywhere left Him as soon as the trouble started. Today, things have changed little as many of those who call themselves Christian won't follow Him much further than the first tough decision. Sure, "feelings" about how wonderful Jesus is are great, but what good are they if they don't last when the flesh starts calling. As a dad, I love it when my children tell me they love me, but nothing, and I mean NOTHING is as good as seeing them show it by their actions. And conversely, all the talk in the world about love means nothing if they walk out and do what I've lovingly asked them not to do. "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth." 3 John 1:4 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

If you ask the average person what the worst thing that could happen to them would be, they would tell you something that would involve their personal suffering. Humans don't like suffering much, and we will do just about anything to avoid it. That's unfortunate for the well-meaning Christian because suffering is quite surely part of our calling. God draws us into all types of difficult circumstances so we can pull others from eternal fire, to teach us different things, and to even help relieve the sufferings of others. The answer to the "worst possible things that could happen to us" question is not "suffering," but rather "disobedience." From that there is simply no hope if we remain in it! Now. honestly, how many openly disobedient Christians do you know? Believe it or not, the answer is not many, because true Christians, those that love the Lord like He loves them, would die suffering before they would openly disobey the One they love. Most "suffering avoiders" are just faking "Christian." "We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. For if the message spoken by angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him." Hebrews 2:1-3 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

"'Go to Bethel and sin; go to Gilgal and sin yet more. Bring your sacrifices every morning and your tithes every three years,. Burn leavened bread as a thank offering and brag about your freewill offerings--boast about them, you Israelites, for this is what you love to do,' declares the Lord." Amos 4:5 This passage may seem a little weird to the average person living in 2000-something, but it will make perfect sense when you think about this? Have you been bragging about the things you've done for others, or things you've supposedly done for God, when you were clearly doing things He wouldn't approve of in the mean time? Of all the things God shows us that He hates in the Scriptures, this is one of the greatest--a sinner who likes to brag about all their good deeds while they continue in their sin. The right thing to do is quite simple; stop your sin, and give without looking for anything in return--even from God Himself. Only deeds done with this type of heart and covered by the Blood of Jesus make any sense at all to God. Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

When Jesus walked this earth in bodily form, do you think He ever broke a blade of grass as He strolled along? What about the fish and the bread He ate, did they not give of themselves so that His purposes would be fulfilled? Did anyone cry for them, or did they simply do what they were created to do? The Scriptures are filled with examples where God's creation calls out to Him, praises Him, and brings glory to Him--all but one member of His creation that is! Man took on a sin nature the very moment we decided to go against His will. Now we have to struggle and cry out just to do what once was natural for man. Now, because Satan has blinded us, we don't want to die for God, we want to live for ourselves. Now, only through the hope we find in Jesus Christ is there even the slightest chance of us ever being able to bring Him Glory again. Only after we allow ourselves to be broken by His Spirit and redeemed by His blood can we ever really be alive again--alive and bringing Him Glory with every action, every thought, and every motive! And that's what we hope to do for all eternity! "He said in a loud voice, "Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water." Revelation 14:7 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

When you pray, whose agenda are you praying for? Are you praying to God and hoping He'll start working your list of miracles? If so, you'll be waiting a loooong time! That's not how God works at all. God has an agenda, and He's inviting us to join with Him in HIS work. The goal of prayer is not to advance our agendas, but to make us senstive to His agenda. Surely God is near us when we pray, but our prayers are only answered when they're in alignment with His will. "the Lord our God is near us whenever we pray to him? Deuteronomy 4:7b Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

"Call on His name. Make known His deeds among the peoples; make them remember that His name is exalted. Praise the LORD in song, for He has done glorious things; let this be known throughout the earth". (Isaiah 12:4-5) Friends, As we approach the Thanksgiving season, I am filled with gratitude for God’s incredible goodness. It is too easy to get caught up in the rhythm of work and forget to pause and thank Him for what He has accomplished. Your partnership in this ministry makes all the difference. Because of you, so many through Harvest Helps have heard that they are known, valued, and loved by God. This month, we want to lift up in prayer these souls who have reached out for support, and we ask you to do the same. We also pause to consider all the members of our community impacted by the thrift store with access to goods at reasonable prices, employment opportunities, and those God-moments of being salt and light in the most completely unexpected ways. Goodness, I love to hear those stories and I pray they keep coming! Your prayers and generosity allow us to continue this vital work of providing grace and love to those who need it most. Thank you for making a lasting impact. Some More Sticky Notes: I am leaving these off this month, because I want you to see this list of names below of people who have been seen, loved, and prayed for! They know Jesus loves them because meeting needs is a beautiful open door for the gospel. Blessings, Elizabeth Kilby

"But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves." - James 1:22 (NIV) Dear Friends, Recently, my wife and I completed a study of the Book of James, and it has been a powerful reminder that real faith shows itself through how we live. James, the brother of Jesus, doesn't focus on lofty ideas - he focuses on action . He challenges believers to put God's Word into practice: to speak with kindness, to show mercy to others, and to persevere through trials with joy. Each passage reminded us that faith is not proven by what we say we believe, but by how we live those beliefs out day by day. We were especially moved by James 2:17: "Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead." That verse brought us back to the heart of our walk with Christ and to the mission of Harvest Youth Ministries - serving others, meeting needs, and sharing the love of Jesus in practical ways. Our study challenged us to make sure our faith is active and visible, not just in our words, but in our compassion, generosity, and willingness to help those God places in our path. At Harvest Youth Ministries, we believe that every act of service - offering a meal, mentoring a teen, or simply praying with someone in need - is faith in motion. Through your generosity, prayers, and encouragement, you make that possible. Whether you've donated, volunteered, or lifted us up in prayer, you are helping us bring hope, love, and opportunity to those who need it most. From our hearts to yours, that you for the part you play in this ministry. Together, we are living out the message of James - proving that faith is alive when it moves, gives, and serves in Jesus' name. Blessings in Christ, Pastor Jim Kilby

Conform: To assume an outward appearance that does not accurately reflect what is really true on the inside. To put it in smaller words; "to live a lie." "Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy." Since you call on a Father who judges each man's work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear. For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God. Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart. For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. For, 'All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord stands forever.' And this is the word that was preached to you." 1 Peter 1:13-25 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate