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Don't Give Up

Pastor Jim Kilby • March 5, 2025

"Let us not grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time we

will reap a harvest if we do not give up." 

Galatians 6:9 (NIV)




Dear Friends,


As followers of Christ, we are called to be His hands and feet, reaching out to those in need with love, compassion, and generosity. Whether through small acts of kindness or larger gestures of service, every opportunity to help others is a chance to reflect God’s love. Sometimes, we may feel that our efforts are insignificant, but even the smallest act—an encouraging word, a helping hand, or a listening ear—can be used by God in powerful ways. He calls us to be faithful in whatever way we can, trusting that He will multiply our efforts for His glory.


At Harvest Youth Ministries, this is at the heart of what we do through all of our various ministry outlets. We believe that serving others is not just an action but a lifestyle that demonstrates the love of Christ. Whether it’s through providing practical help, offering a shoulder to lean on, or simply being present for someone who is struggling, we embrace every opportunity to make a difference. But our work doesn’t stop at meeting physical needs—we also seek to pray for people and share the gospel whenever God opens the door. True help is not just in what we can do for others, but in pointing them to the One who can truly transform their lives. 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." This is literally the verse that inspired me when we founded this organization.



Let us continue to walk in faith, always looking for ways to bless those around us and bring the hope of Christ into their lives. As Jesus says in Matthew 5:16, "Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." May we always be ready to serve, pray, and share the good news, trusting that God will use us to make an eternal impact for His kingdom. As always, thank YOU for the part you play in providing financial help, or just rooting us on in the heavenly realm!


Blessings in Christ,

Pastor Jim Kilby

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Champions?

By Pastor Jim Kilby • March 24, 2025
To a lot of young people, drinking as much alcohol as possible is just plain sport. It's fun to try to out drink your friends and still "maintain". Of course, many a young person who decides to drink to excess will be the old person of tomorrow with DUI arrests, liver problems, and all the other things that can come along with drinking. All that, plus God isn't happy about it either! Hmmmm... You think it's worth it? "Woe to those who rise early in the morning to run after their drinks, who stay up late at night till they are inflamed with wine." Isaiah 5:11 Woe to those who are heroes at drinking wine and champions at mixing drinks," Isaiah 5:22 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

“They're Jerks!"

By Pastor Jim Kilby • March 21, 2025
I hated to do it, but I kind of had to scold a young woman in front of a Bible study group today. She chose to say something unfitting about her parents in front of the group, and when I tried to stop her, she added "Anyway my older brother's a strong Christian and he completely agrees that they are jerks!" Since she chose the time and the place, I didn't feel like I had any choice. My response: "You are not honoring your parents with that kind of talk, and if your brother is bad-mouthing your parents to you, he's not half the Christian he thinks he is." You may not always agree with your parents, and in fact there will be hundreds of times when you don't agree with them at all. This fact does not give you the right to disregard the Lord's command to honor your mother and father. Tell them you disagree. Pray for yourself and for them. If necessary, talk to a pastor or youth leader about the issues in private. But never, never, speak ill of your mother and father in front of others. It does not honor them and it does not honor God. "Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord." Colossians 3:20 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

Forgotten?

By Pastor Jim Kilby • March 20, 2025
I've found that that majority of people who want nothing to do with religion are still interested in having their children learn the values and ethics that come along with it. For most Americans, that means that parents are usually not opposed to allowing their children to attend Vacation Bible Schools, youth groups, etc. This is interesting to me because one of two things generally occurs. Either the young person begins to believe that religion is only for children, and outgrows it as they begin struggling with sins, OR, they give their lives to Christ and have a dramatic effect on their homes, some even leading their parents to the Lord. As a father, if there's one thing I want for my children it's that they have a strong relationship with Christ. For the non-Christian father, unfortunately even the good things they want for their children will be worthless unless Christ creates a miracle in them! "The offspring of the wicked will never be mentioned again." Isaiah 14:20b  Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

Irritant!

By Pastor Jim Kilby • March 19, 2025
Mosquito's are a drag! This time of year they keep me from even being able to sit and read in my own backyard. Why can't they just leave me alone? Can't we come up with something to kill them all? And while I'm at it, what about these moths that fly around the light near my back door. I can't even open the door without a flock of them getting into the house. Can't they see I'm just trying to live my life without being bothered? As you re-read the paragraph above, insert "God" wherever you read the name of an insect. Is God just bugging YOU? Has the Lord Almighty become an irritant to the way YOU want to live your life? Not to worry, you're in good company--or should I say, bad company? Everyone who wants to control his life considers even the slightest mention of God a real drag. Those who want to give Him their lives can't get enough of Him. "I [God] am like a moth to Ephraim, like rot the people of Judah." Hosea 5:12  Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

No Good Thing?

By Pastor Jim Kilby • March 18, 2025
Of all things you've ever been given, ever accomplished, or ever learned, what is your favorite thing? What one thing stands out in your mind as the biggest, best or brightest possession you have, whether tangible or intangible? As a Christian, that one thing is supposed be your relationship with your Lord. If it's anything else, if it's anything other than what you have, then whether you realize it or not, you've been foolin' around on your God. I said to the Lord, "You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing." Psalm 16:8  Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

Satan Worship?

By Pastor Jim Kilby • March 17, 2025
It seems weird to me that anyone would even want to be worshiped. I guess I'm not even fully able to understand God desiring our worship because I cannot fathom being God or even god-like. I'm not a guy who's ever wanted anyone to worship me. The most I've ever wanted was for people to like me. I've even wondered if that was bad and often I've thought that maybe I should care less what people think about me. What seems even weirder than all that is that people would actually worship Satan. Don't they understand what he stands for? Don't they understand that he's never wiped a tear, but he's created nearly all of them! And then I recently got a shock when I learned that I often do worship Satan. How? He gets me to do it by prompting me to worship myself! When we put ourselves on our homemade thrones, we deny our God His rightful place in our lives, and we worship Satan (and the flesh) by proxy. His throne elevated above God's in our lives. And wasn't that the sin that caused him to be thrown from heaven in the first place? "You shall have no other gods before me." Exodus 20:3  Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

Dating 101

By Pastor Jim Kilby • March 14, 2025
Dating is not a concept you'll find in the Bible, so I'm constantly contacted by Christians who want biblical advice on dating. I'm not very well liked when I respond, but hey, the advice is free, they can take it or leave it! So, why don't they like me? Because I always say that dating is something you should not do until you are ready to marry, AND... that a Christian should NEVER date a non-Christian. Now for the reasoning... Dating is something Americans do to see if the other person fits their needs and desires. Christians should be trying to find out if GOD would have them meet the OTHER person's needs. And why not date non-Christians? Because people who date can fall into "like," and then into "love," and since you cannot marry a non-Christian, then why date one? "Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?" 2 Corinthians 6:14 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

Intercessor?

By Pastor Jim Kilby • March 13, 2025
Do you find that you only pray when times are tough? When you are praying, do you tend to focus on the problems or issues that are in YOUR life? While going to God with your troubles is a good thing, I find that most people seem to spend a lot of time focusing on themselves and their wants and needs and little time on prayer for others. I've found that I have a keen sense of focus in my prayer life if I shorten the parts about me, and focus more on prayers for people who I know need God's help. Become a servant in your prayer life and you'll see miracles in the lives of those you pray for, as well as in the way you see the world and God's work in it. "I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers." Ephesians 1:16 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

ALL CAPS?

By Pastor Jim Kilby • March 12, 2025
Have you ever heard that typing in all capital letters in an e-mail is a form of yelling? I learned it years ago when a "techi" friend of mine gently rebuked me for answering e-mail mail with my caps lock on! I've never forgotten the lesson, and have even learned to use it to my advantage as I capitalize an occasional word for emphasis. Whether in e-mail or in life, yelling is a poor way to communicate. Frankly, it's generally a cover-up for an inferiority complex or for someone who doesn't feel they are quite measuring up at the moment. As Christians, we never need to feel inferior to anyone, no matter what our earthly positon. Even the newest Christian has been given authority in Jesus' name. We need not raise our voices even if we are speaking to Satan himself. Take confidence in that. The Son's authority is enough... and Jesus' name is enough to break every stronghold on earth, especially if it's spoken gently! "For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness who is the head over every power and authority." Colossians 2:9-10 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate
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