When my daughters were little, I asked two of them to spend some time cleaning their room. I told them I'd be in to take a look later, which no doubt had them scrambling. I was a little surprised when they returned not ten minutes later and told me everything was clean. Smelling a rat, I walked into their room and knew things just had to be hidden beneath other things. Sure enough, beds, toy boxes, doll strollers and the like had all become vessels for everything but what belonged in them. My daughters will one day come to learn that daddy spent more than 20 years in the military and knows a little bit about how to inspect things! What I hope sinks in even better, however, is the conversation we had about honesty and integrity. Even if your parents are the worst inspectors on the planet, God still knows what you're up to! A lie is still a lie whether you get away with it or not. "A truthful witness gives honest testimony, but a false witness tells lies." Proverbs 12:17  Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

Some people will try to tell you that those who follow the Jewish and the Islamic religions are only different from Christians in how we look at a few simple things. Nothing could be further from the truth. While I deplore the hatred the followers of these religions attack each other with in countries all over the world, there is one incredible difference in what we believe. Christians believe Jesus is the long-awaited Christ, the only Savior mankind will ever receive. Jews and Muslims do not believe He was or is the Christ. If this were true, there would be no such thing as the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and everything Christians believe would be a lie. Certainly not a subtle difference! "Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ." Acts 5:42 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

“And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19 (NIV) Dear Friends,  One of the most surprising lessons I’ve learned in ministry is that God doesn’t always remove the need for faith. We often pray for enough resources to accomplish everything He has placed on our hearts, but many times He chooses a different path. Instead of providing every dollar in advance, He gives us just enough to take the next faithful step. Why? Because if we always had everything we needed, we might begin to trust our bank accounts more than we trust the One who provides. Scripture reminds us that, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9). The Apostle Paul even wrote that he had learned to be content in every circumstance because Christ was his strength—not his circumstances. At Harvest Youth Ministries, we’ve seen God provide again and again, often at just the right moment. While we certainly wouldn’t complain if He chose to send every resource we need tomorrow, we’re learning that the greater blessing is seeing His faithfulness unfold one step at a time. Perhaps the Lord allows seasons of need because they keep us humble, grateful, and dependent upon Him. Every answered prayer reminds us that this ministry belongs to Him, not to us. Every volunteer, every donated item, every financial gift, e very young person whose life is changed is evidence that God is still at work. Thank you for walking this journey with us. Your prayers, encouragement, and generosity are part of God’s provision, and we never take them for granted. Please continue praying that we will remain faithful stewards of what He entrusts to us and that we will always have the courage to follow where He leads—even when we can’t yet see how He will provide. We serve a God who has never failed us, and w e are confident He never will. Blessings in Christ, Pastor Jim Kilby

"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives... (Matthew 7:7-8) Friends, My kids are participating in the library’s summer reading challenge. Frankly, with my group of kids it isn’t much of a challenge because they all read daily anyway, but we’re here for it. These are fantastic teaching moments for us because when they complete the task, they still have to go into the library and ask for their prizes. Yes, I do, in fact, make them approach the counter and talk to the librarian themselves. My thinking is simple: if you aren’t willing to take that step, the prize remains out of reach. It reminded me of two different interactions I’ve had over the years. The first was with a man named Jeff. I have a huge amount of respect for him and the ministry he was leading. One day, when I was stopping by to chat with him, a man came by asking for some wood pallets that were not being used. Jeff very calmly told him no because the man had skipped a required meeting. Then Jeff explained his reasoning to me: always require something – handouts take away people’s dignity. The second interaction was with a Harvest Helps applicant who asked for some groceries. The situation shared was a tough one. I sent a form from a local food pantry that would allow me to go pick up food for the family and deliver it since transportation was an issue. That was nearly a month ago. I still haven’t received the completed form or any other communication about another solution. We try to ask good questions before making assumptions, and we try to be creative in our problem solving. Perhaps there is an obstacle we are unaware of. Even as I write this, another idea for getting that form filled out has come to mind. We know that need doesn't always translate into action. Fear, shame, hopelessness, and even simple exhaustion can keep people from taking the next step. That's why we want to remove every barrier we reasonably can. Sometimes there are legitimate obstacles, and when there are, we should do everything we can to help overcome them. But sometimes there isn't a barrier we can remove. Sometimes the next step belongs to the person asking for help. Help is a partnership. We do what we can, but the person asking for help has to participate too. That's when Jeff's words come back to me and I really understand the heart of his message. Sometimes we are overwhelmed by the number of applications we receive and by the responsibility of trying to meet those needs prayerfully and with the gospel front and center. Then there are the people who desperately need help but never send in the application. And sometimes, we are surprised by the people who won't take that one small, required step to receive what they need. Lord, give us wisdom in it all! Blessings, Elizabeth Kilby

"If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?" Matthew 6:30 Of all the indictments Jesus spoke about human nature, this one strikes me hardest. I know faith comes from God and I know the vehicle that carries it is His Word. I'm steeped in years of Bible study and still a mustard seed of faith is elusive to me when it comes to facing the lean days summer always brings to our ministry. I've prayed. I've worried! I've even picked up the phone many times to call some of our most generous givers, but my lack of humility always prevents me from making the call. You would think that being in ministry for so long would help me get a grip on how God works and yet I still find myself questioning God's blessings on our ministry. I wonder if He truly will continue to provide, and I even question my own faithfulness. "Have I done something to anger You?" I ask repeatedly. But fortunately Jesus always intercedes for me. If not, the Father might grow weary of my lack of faith. And the truth is that His provisions always seem to come at the moment of my weakest faith. Maybe that's how He keeps me from thinking I'm somehow responsible for any of our successes. And maybe He has a similar message for you. To our donors, thank you for your faithfulness and please know that it is most often Jesus working through YOU that the Father uses to teach me. Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

You may have been too young to remember, but at some point in your development you were probably in love with the people who cared for you. For many, that was mom or dad, or both. Some aren't so fortunate, but if you had absolutely anyone caring for you lovingly, you most likely reciprocated with love of your own. And then one day something happened. You realized you could actually get things done for you or given to you if you used the word "love" or maybe flashed your sad eyes. Or possibly you took the other road. You might have been one of those kids who threw fits until people relented! At any rate, if you're a Christian, it's time to stop the manipulation of those you say you love and do some growing up. Speak to each other in truthful ways and if you don't get your way, don't pout. That's life, and sometimes things just don't work out the way you wanted them. Think about the "love" you give and consider its source and its motive. "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." 1 Peter 1:22 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

When I was a young Christian I thought I could separate my Christian life from the life I had lived for so many years. Around my Christian friends, I would speak of Jesus, and around my other friends I'd speak of everything but Jesus! My actions simply weren't God-honoring. The truth is that anyone who does this is living two lies--one in each world! As the Spirit inside of me made me more uncomfortable, I began to understand how I was hurting Him. Soon I had only one life, and I wanted to live that life for Jesus alone. Don't get me wrong, I still have lots of non-Christian friends, but now Jesus is most often the conversation with them too! "This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 1 John 1:5-7  Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

sacred (skrd) adj. 1. Dedicated to or set apart for the worship of a deity. 2. Worthy of religious veneration: the sacred teachings of the Buddha. 3. Made or declared holy: sacred bread and wine. 4. Dedicated or devoted exclusively to a single use, purpose, or person: sacred to the memory of her sister; a private office sacred to the President. 5. Worthy of respect; venerable. 6. Of or relating to religious objects, rites, or practices. (From Dictionary.com) You may find this hard to believe, but of all the things we consider sacred in this world, and especially in our Christian faith, sex is one of the most sacred of all. Among other things, it's how God allows mere humans to be involved in the creation process. Honestly now, when you think of sex do you think of an incredibly sacred wedding gift from God Himself, or do you think of something dirty--something that's been used by the enemy to help destroy your life and the lives of others around you? Maybe if we began looking at sex for what it is instead of what it isn't, the words "sacred" and "sex" wouldn't seem so weird together. "And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD." Genesis 4:1 (KJV)  Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate