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God in your day?
Elizabeth Kilby • October 7, 2022
Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. Proverbs 16:24
Friends,
One of my favorite text messages to receive is “you have no idea how badly I needed to hear that today.” You’re right, I don’t – but when I feel prompted to reach out to someone, to share a memory, or just say hi, I try to make sure I do it. So many times, it is received with joy, and it fills my spirit.
I sent a newsletter out recently then received an email letting me know the letter encouraged the recipient! At the end she said, “I pray you see God in your day!” I smiled and put my phone away because I was out with my kids and couldn’t respond right away, but her email was a balm to my soul and a smile kept creeping on to my face. Later I was able to tell her the words of encouragement WAS God in my day!
Aaron has had similar occasions where he has been lamenting a situation or hurdle and then, suddenly to us, but very known to God, someone has encouraged him in a weirdly specific way. It is always surprising when it happens, but God knows!
One time, a couple of years ago, I asked God for fruit. It was an oddly specific request, but a friend who knew I was having hard days with sick littles ones, called to tell me she had left dinner for me to pick up from the church. She was listing off what she left for me and then said, “oh, and there is a bag of fruit.” I just about cried.
All these reminders, through friends and even strangers, being faithful in the message or kindness God is prompting them, to do are so important. We have no idea when God is going to use something so simple to us to remind someone else, they are seen, they are loved, and we are glad they are alive today.
Do it. Right now. Whoever you’re thinking of, whatever kind thing – go send the message, write the note, make the call, cook the meal – just go do it. And let me know how it went!
In Christ,
Elizabeth Kilby
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Do you ever notice yourself treating other people differently because of their place in life? For instance, would you treat a homeless person differently than a popular person at your school or work? I'm not saying that you'd have to go up and talk to the homeless person the same as you would to a friend, but do you think about them differently on a basic level. Is one worth more to you than the other? I heard someone remark recently that it didn't matter how high they stacked up the trash can in their office "cause that's the trash man's problem!" I wonder what would happen if they found out that the president of the company was going to be emptying the trash that weekend. Would they be so insensitive? Just today I was helping my son empty the waste baskets in a doctor's office where he has the cleaning contract. In a million years I bet they'd ever imagine a preacher was emptying their trash? And just the same, we can't even imagine the lengths God has gone to to serve us. Should we seriously think of ourselves or our friends and relatives, as better than "the little people?" "For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you." Romans 12:3 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate
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Since I have a family and quite a few responsibilities to them, I like to keep a certain sum of money in my bank account for emergencies. I don't think that's wrong. In fact, I think it's biblical to save for a rainy day and to provide for one's family. The problem arises when we put an undue amount of trust and faith in things other than God, and that absolutely includes our bank accounts. Whether its parents, friends, money, or something else, if we put our trust in anything other than God our trust is misplaced. What is it that you trust in the most? "Whoever trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf." Proverbs 11:28 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate
Are you getting anything out of your time in the Scriptures? Many tell me that the Bible just doesn't make sense to them. They read, but nothing really hits them--nothing really changes in the way they think or act. The truth is that Bible study is just like any other study in many ways. First, you have to be ready to learn. If we approach the Bible with an "OK, I'm here -- teach me if you can" attitude, we'll never get anything out of it. What's more, we have to involve ourselves in our learning. Don't just open the Bible and try to immediately understand writings that are thousands of years old. Buy a Bible study book and read it along with your Bible. Purchase a study Bible with notes below the Scriptures and read the notes when you don't understand something. Once you get involved, you'll find that three things happen for sure. 1. You will know more about God. 2. You will know more about yourself. 3. You will know more about yourself and God. The bottom line: If you're not getting anything out of the Scriptures, maybe it's because you're not putting anything into it. "For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope." Romans 15:4 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate
Some days the world just kicks you in the teeth. It's like you wake up just like every other morning and before you know it, everything's gone wrong! Although I must admit most days are an awesome experience for me, I've had my share of days I'd rather forget, too! The world is a tough place to be sometimes, and the people that we run into can often make things even worse. For a Christian, it's even tougher. We face persecution for our faith, plus we have a higher calling to find joy in everything, and all the while we are supposed to be looking for opportunities to grow in Christ and even to share our faith. If you ever get down, just know this one thing. It's Jesus that gives us the power to make it through each and every day. And it's Jesus that ultimately will help us overcome the evil we see. "for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God." 1 John 5:4-5 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate
I had a young friend write me recently recounting a terrible tragedy that had fallen on her family. "Why?" the ink seemed to scream from the pages! And "why" is a question each of us will ask many times as bad things seem to have an uncanny way of happening to good people. The answer, probably easier to digest when we're not in the throws of the pain caused by tragedy, is fairly simple at it's root. There is much evil in the hearts of men. Although God calls all people to righteousness and holy living, many will seek a path of evil, blindly following the satanic calling they've embraced. God is not the author of evil... He is the antidote! "Though grace is shown to the wicked, they do not learn righteousness; even in a land of uprightness they go on doing evil and regard not the majesty of the Lord." Isaiah 26:10 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate
I receive an endless string of notes and e-mails from people who tell me they want to know the Lord, but just don't know how. I find they are easy notes to answer, because God has revealed Himself in so many ways I can simply point them to His Word and to prayer and they'll find what they are seeking. Unfortunately, far too many times I receive notes back that ask me if there is any other way, generally because they've tried reading the Bible occasionally and praying and that doesn't work. Of course, going to church seems like it's also too difficult for them. There are just too many other things to do on that day, and too many reasons they can't go! The short answer is this: Only those who are willing to give up everything and seek the Lord with their whole heart will ever find Him. The casual observer who intends to seek God on his own terms will never find Him. Imagine someone you called your best friend, but who you never called and never went to see--someone you clearly only casually were interested in knowing. Would they be your "best friend" for long? "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:13 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate
Harvest Youth Ministries (HYM) is an outreach aimed at young people; not a youth group. HYM is an IRS approved 501(c)(3) not-for-profit ministry. All donations are tax deductible as allowed by law.
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