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Grandma's Christmas Letter

Elizabeth Kilby • December 6, 2024

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.   (Hebrews 12:1-2, Emphasis mine)


Friends,


What a year! I want so badly to sit and type up a Christmas card letter for you, long-winded Grandma style, about all the people who have been helped by YOU through Harvest this year. I can just imagine my Grandma sitting at her computer, lovingly picking out the words to tell everyone how proud she was of her family and the things that had happened that year.


Since I can’t list names for privacy reasons, I want you to imagine with me the momma who got through the hard month and was able to feed her kids. There were so many grocery orders placed this year to help families through tough weeks or months. Take a minute to pray for the family who was living in a hotel. Celebrate for the man and his son who are in warm beds in their new apartment. Jump for joy over the woman who wanted a bus pass so she could make positive changes in her life. Consider the women who were able to come pick out clothing for their children and themselves when they left everything behind to flee to a shelter. Or how about the young woman who can get to work because multiple families came together to pay for her car repairs? Goodness, I’m grinning thinking of the woman who I was able to counsel while she made a lot of phone calls and was able to get her utility bill taken care of.


We have created a special Giving Tuesday / End of Year Giving page with a list of needs we are starting to see regularly in our community.  Your gift will allow us to have funds available when requests for clothing, groceries, bus passes, and other Harvest Helps needs are received. Toward the end of this year, we started getting referrals from some very large local organizations asking us to come alongside their clients and it has been such a joy to make those connections. I absolutely cannot wait to see what 2025 will look like and I am grateful you all are a part of the journey!  Find that Giving Page Here


Blessings,

Elizabeth Kilby



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The Trash Man?

By Pastor Jim Kilby • February 20, 2025
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

Blush?

By Pastor Jim Kilby • February 19, 2025
Blushing is something we don't seem to do much these days. Once upon a time, it was a common occurrence among those whose hearts were less worldly. Today, few blush because few have been wise enough to protect their hearts and minds from the things of this world. Practically everything is acceptable today, and even things that wouldn't have been done in secret in years gone by are proudly done openly today. Frankly, I'm not surprised when I see such things in the world. We were told these things would happen before the end. I am, however, quite surprised by how often they happen among those who call themselves Christians. Such things ought not be so. "I have written you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people--not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy or swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat." 1 Corinthians 5-11  Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

Betrayed?

By Pastor Jim Kilby • February 18, 2025
When Jesus spoke about the last days of life on Earth He was quite exacting in His description of how things would come to an end. One of the most striking descriptions for me was when He spoke of how believers would be betrayed by those close to them. I've personally felt the sting of betrayal a few times, and I'll have to admit the ones that really hurt are those who you believe would never do such a thing. The fact remains that even through tough times like these nothing changes with you and your Lord. Sure, you'll be persecuted by those close to you. Sure, times will be tougher as the last days unfold. Those times will seem unbearable, but only for a short while. Then, for all eternity, they'll be the fondest memories of how we faced persecution for our precious Savior! "You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. All men will hate you because of me. But not a hair of your head will perish. By standing firm you will gain life." Jesus of Nazareth (Luke 21:16-19 )  Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

Longing?

By Pastor Jim Kilby • February 17, 2025
Before I ever heard much about God, I knew there was something larger than myself. Whether I would look at the back of my own hand, or at the stars in the summer sky, it seemed obvious to me there was a Creator. Later, I would learn this longing was planted in my heart by that very Maker. He put it there to testify of His great love for me. Some years after that, I cried out for Him to save me from the disaster I had made of my life--to save my soul from an eternity separated from Him. I thank God for that great desire He put inside me to know who He is. I also thank Him that He didn't forget about me as I turned my back on Him for so many years. He put that longing in your heart too. Will you call His name as I did? "He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end." Ecclesiastes 3:11b Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

Trust?

By Pastor Jim Kilby • February 14, 2025
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

I Don't Get It!

By Pastor Jim Kilby • February 13, 2025
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

Overcome!

By Pastor Jim Kilby • February 12, 2025
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

Why?

By Pastor Jim Kilby • February 11, 2025
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

That's Too Hard!

By Pastor Jim Kilby • February 10, 2025
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
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