God is Working in Our Lives

"The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way." - Psalm 37:23

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." - Romans 8:28

"Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ."
- Philippians 1:6

As we journey down the road of life, it has many twists and turns in it and also some mountaintop and valley experiences. In the midst of all this, we MUST see God's hand working throughout our lives.

Can we mess up God's plan for our lives? Sort of yes, and sort of no. We will do things that are NOT God's will; like sin, disobedience (which is sin), etc., that will get us off of God's track for our lives. But the moment we repent and seek Him, He works us back into His plan and will for our lives.

You may think - no, you don't understand, I messed up too bad for God to use me. No, that is not so!!! I have wrestled with that myself, but we need to remember that God is BIGGER than our mess-ups. And guess what? God KNEW you were going to mess up even BEFORE you messed up. He also KNEW when you would repent and had ALREADY laid out the path BEFOREHAND to get you back on track with His will for you -WOW!!!

Not only does God move in straightening out our mess-ups, but He also is moving in our everyday life as we walk with Him.

Over the years, I have had what I'll call "divine appointments" which simply means being at the right place at the right time because of following the LORD.

There are many times we don't even have a clue that God is directing our steps (we think we are), but then you look back and say ONLY GOD could have made that "divine appointment."

One example of this is in founding BibleFood Devotional 8 years ago in January 1998. I followed the LORD'S leading in starting BibleFood Devotional. At the time, it didn't seem like a big deal, just an act of obedience; literally, only sending the devotion out to a handful of people.

Out of that ONE act of obedience, I have had the following happen:

1. I have grown through reaching out to others.

2. I have made many real friends.

3. I have made many ministerial friends.

4. I met my wife in 1999. She was a member of BibleFood and had moved to the area where I lived (though we didn't know each other yet). She e-mailed me one day that she was looking for a church in the area. I recommended that she visit where I was attending. We became offline friends and in time, fell in love (no cyber dating for us). Let me state here that we were not looking to date each other; that happened in time, God's time! And what a blessing He gave me in Joyce (my wife).

5. Out of BibleFood Devotional was started another online ministry in January 2000 called "The Encourager," devotions specifically written for ministers, elders, others in church leadership positions. These devotionals get into more specific issues that face those in ministry. It is also viewed by many via the internet. www.geocities.com/biblefood/tearchive.html

6. “GodWillHelpYou” was started in 2001 - This was inspired by Jim trying to minister and help co-workers at a job. Then he saw the need for this ministry over the internet. This ministry is an outreach to the lost, bound, backslidden, and hurting, as well as the unsaved. www.biblefood.org/godwillhelpyou.html

7. I was inspired by how God used the internet with BibleFood to using it in the starting of Christian Pool Players Association in 2002. This was started to reach the lost and hurting in the “pool/billiards” environment through friendship evangelism and special events. This has grown to over 250 members throughout the USA and the world. Go to: www.christianpoolplayers.com

8. In 2005, I accepted the pastorate of “Community Fellowship Church” in Kane, PA. This came about through a member in Pennsylvania who receives BibleFood Devotional. I had mentioned I felt the LORD calling me to the pastorate (somewhere). She e-mailed me about a place in Kane, PA (where’s Kane, PA, was my first thought). Also, I thought that it’s got to be cold in Kane and I don’t like the cold (but I do like to obey God). Yes, I took the pastorate of a small church in the small town of Kane. By the way, due to the cold winters, Kane is known as the “Icebox of Pennsylvania.”

Church website is: www.communityfellowshipofkane.org and www.kanepa.org

9. Opportunities in 2006 have opened for me to minister overseas (short-term missions) in India, Africa, and Pakistan. This is something I have had on my heart for years!!!

There are other areas where God has done amazing things in my life and others just because of obeying Him in this ONE area.

The last thing (number 10) I would like to share on relating to BibleFood touches my heart deeply as it is so GOD! This will take a few lines to explain but I think it will be worth your reading.

10. Back in the spring of 2000 I was planning to register www.biblefood.com as it was available that winter and would be so much easier for you all to remember and/or find. Finally, later that spring when I was ready to register it, I found that it had been taken in March 2000, I just missed getting it!!!

I was upset about losing the name and checked to see who took it. I decided to e-mail the person who registered it. I explained to this person how I had been wanting it for a long time. We ended up becoming friends (real close friends). The website name became a non-issue, but our friendship became our main concern. Since that time, my wife and I met Bob and his wife Mary while on our vacation. Now we have known them for years, have been to their home a couple times on vacation, spoke at Bob’s church, and love and respect them both highly. I consider Bob my “BibleFood brother” and have been so blessed by his love for Christ and his knowledge of the Bible.

I decided, with my busy schedule and the many changes in my life time-wise, that it was time to ask Pastor Bob Jones to use his God-given gift in the Greek to bless the readers of BibleFood Devotional. He has written a number of devotions for us. Although we are separate ministries, we are also working together for the purpose of blessing the Body of Christ.

I did register BibleFood as www.biblefood.org (ORG)and Pastor Bob Jones is still www.biblefood.com (COM).
Isn't that AWESOME!!! :)

In closing, over the years since starting BibleFood Devotional, I want to say I have experienced many trials and lots of valley time; but through it all I know God is still God, He is still in control!!!

So whether things are looking bright or dark, remember God is ultimately in CONTROL!!! Let God be God and allow Him to move in your life!

Your prayers are ALWAYS welcome and appreciated.

In His Service,
Jim (jim@biblefood.ORG)

NOTE: A trip to India is planned in November 2006. (We need supporters – If so led please send support to GO Proclaim Ministries, Box 676, Kane, PA 16735 (Attention India).

I Don’t Deserve This

Have you ever heard anyone say, "I don't deserve this!!" Or better yet, have you ever heard yourself saying “I don’t deserve this”? And you may be right, there may be times in our lives that we were treated wrongly, gone through situations that weren’t fair, that weren’t right.

We expect life to be easy, to be fair; and it doesn’t always work out that way. In 1970, there was a song sung by Lynn Anderson – “I beg your pardon, I never promised you a rose garden.”

When we look around, we see people who are suffering for their wrong doings, and we may think that the thing they suffer from is what they deserve. For example, it is hard to think that a murderer does not deserve to spend time in jail. The guy at work who is always late and does a bad job probably deserves to lose his job.

deserve (verb) - To acquire as a result of one's behavior or effort: earn, gain, get, merit, win. To be worthy of; merit.

Psalm 28:4 - Give them according to their deeds, And according to the wickedness of their endeavors; Give them according to the work of their hands; Render to them what they deserve.

We understand when it is obvious that “bad” people suffer for their actions.

BUT I DON’T DESERVE THIS - That is really quite a statement and it may be ABSOLUTELY TRUE.

The Bible is absolutely FULL of examples of people who did mot DESERVE what happened to them.

Joseph was thrown in a pit by his brothers; sold as a slave in chains; thrown into jail, falsely accused by Potiphar’s wife, and forgotten about for years after he helped the King. Did he deserve this? The answer is very easy “NO.” Genesis 39:2 says, “The Lord was with Joseph.”

Daniel was shipped off to a foreign country, thrown into a lion's den, and hated by those that he worked with while he served the King. Did he deserve this? Again, “NO.” But look at the result when he was delivered from the circumstance that he “Did Not Deserve.” Daniel 6:26 - I make a decree that in every dominion of my kingdom men must tremble and fear before the God of Daniel. For He is the living God, And steadfast forever; His kingdom is the one which shall not be destroyed, And His dominion shall endure to the end.

John the Baptist was beheaded. Did he deserve this? Again, “NO.” Luke 7:28 – “For I say to you, among those born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he."

Paul was cast into jail, ship wrecked, stoned, and beaten with rods. Did he deserve this? Again, “NO,” Colossians 1:24 - “I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church.”

Our ultimate example: Did Jesus deserve to be beaten, whipped, stripped and then hung on a cross? NO, NO, NO! Hebrews 12:2 – “Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider Him who endured.”

None of these men DESERVED (earned) the treatment that they received; yet, even as great men of God, it happened.

“The undeserved circumstances, events, and treatment we face will either defeat us or develop us more into the likeness of Christ, depending on how we respond.”

“I have my rights” – you are absolutely correct.

Galatians 2:20 – “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”

IT IS NO LONGER I WHO LIVES – YOU ARE DEAD to this world, YOU ARE DEAD to the way the world conducts itself. You are alive in CHRIST. You have rights, every single thing that the WORD of GOD tells us are our rights.

We have a different set of RIGHTS. Luke 6:27 – “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you. 29 To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either.”

And it goes on to list some of our other RIGHTS as a Christian. We are told in Romans 12 that we are NOT to conform to this world. We are to be a different people. How different?

Galatians 5:22 – “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control.”

It is really all about having the right perspective and the right attitude.

I have slowly been reading Foxe’s Book of Martyrs – A woman watched her child scalped and then beheaded. Then they took her, whipped her, removing patches of skin. Then when she would still not deny Christ, they heated an iron chair till it was red hot, sat her in it; and she praised God while she cooked.

Thanking and praising God – that is quite a testimony!

Stephen in Acts 7:59 – “And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." 60 Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, "Lord, do not charge them with this sin." And when he had said this, he fell asleep.”

If we can keep a right attitude, we will not seek revenge on people.

Hebrews 10:30 – “For we know Him who said, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord. And again, "The Lord will judge His people."

I DON’T DESERVE THIS –

Think about this -- Do We Deserve Salvation?

Romans 3:23 – “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”

Romans 6:23 – “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Do we deserve to be called the Children of GOD?
Do we deserve to have a relationship with Almighty God, the creator of it all?
Do we deserve the blessings that HE gives us?
Do we deserve to have HIS HOLY SPIRIT dwelling within us?

I remember thinking how UNDESERVING of all this I was. It was during a praise and worship service in 1986 while I was attending Christ For The Nations. The presence of GOD was so real; yet with 2000 people around, it was just me and HIM. I began to cry when I realized Who I had been, who I was and who HE was. I did not deserve any of what He had given me. I didn’t deserve the love that HE had given me. From that experience, I have tried to keep an attitude of thankfulness. I could have died in 1975 in a car accident where I had been pronounced dead. I was not a Christian at that time. If it weren’t for HIS mercy, where would I be today?

I pray that each of us would always remember that, and that each of us would have an experience with Almighty God that would give us a true perspective of what we deserve.

CONCLUSION:
James 1:2 – “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”

Today's devotion is written by my brother Tom.
He too is a minister, and loves to teach God's Word.
To contact Tom by E-mail: tom@biblefood.org

To contact Jim by E-mail: jim@biblefood.org

Has God Failed You?

Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he [it is] that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
Deuteronomy 31:6

[Let your] conversation [be] without covetousness; [and be] content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.   
Hebrews 13:5
 
Have you ever felt like God failed you in an area that you were believing Him to move in, and the outcome just wasn't what you expected from God or His Word (the Bible)?

Some people are so sure they understand every aspect of God and scripture and what He (GOD)has promised them, that they will THINK they can demand God to do something they ask for because they think it is a "clear-cut promise." They THINK they can just claim it and it must happen!

I have even heard people say things along this line, "God if you don't do this, based on the Bible, then you are a liar, and I will no longer believe in you."  While they say they are not being irreverent but holding God to His promises, I think it is quite an irreverent way for a "man" to talk to God.

There are promises in the Bible that I personally have stood on and they never came to past. Maybe it was for someone's healing, or for a job, etc, But you know if it doesn't turn out the way we expected, the fault is not with God being a liar (what a terrible way to think) but with our FINITE mind not understanding what God was doing in a given circumstance.

One thing is for sure God did NOT fail us. The bottom line is that we misinterpreted scripture and God's will in a given situation. 

I like the strong words found in Romans 9:20 " Nay but O man [MERE MAN IN COMPARISON TO GOD],
who art thou that repliest [ANSWER, QUESTION, DISPUTE, ARGUE, CONTRADICTS] against God. Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, why hast thou made me thus?"

Also we see the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY correct Job on this very attitude in Job 40:2 - "Shall he [Job] that contendeth [FINDS FAULT, ARGUES] with the Almighty instruct [HAVE THE ANSWER FOR] Him?..." Job saw how wrong his attitude was and in verse 4 properly answered the LORD with, "Behold I am vile; what shall I answer Thee? I lay mine hands upon my mouth."

Boy can I relate to Job! I have needed to put my hand(s) over my mouth and repent of some attitudes and words I felt when God didn't do it the way I expected Him to.

Do you, for a moment, think God knew less than you what was best in a given situation, or why something happened and He didn't seem to intervene?

Do I have all the answers to all what happens around me and you? - NO!

But at least we need to NOT blame God or get upset with Him.

In the future when you stand before God and He reveals Himself in ALL your past situations, you sure will wish you had just trusted the LORD with that situation and just moved on!

We must realize our understanding of things is limited.
As I Cor. 13:12 states, "For now we see through a glass, darkly {obscurely, blurred]; but then face to face, now I know in part [fragmentary fashion, incompletely]; but then shall I know [fully, completely] even as also I am known."

Only in eternity, face-to-face with the LORD, will it all be crystal clear.

As we think on the words in today's devotion and the scripture passages referenced, let us look inside our hearts to see if we have have a wrong view of God and of those circumstances that we just don't understand. 

Today, by faith, GIVE them to the LORD and LEAVE them with the LORD, and MOVE ON with God's plan for you.

TRUST Him with them, and someday in this life, or more LIKELY in the life to come, He will make all those things crystal clear.

Just remember God has NOT failed you and He NEVER, NEVER, NEVER will!

AMEN!

Freedom To Be Free

"Stand fast therefore in the liberty [freedom] wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage". Galatians 5:1

In this passage, Paul is making a passionate appeal to the Christians of
Galatia to recognize the freedom they have by God's grace and to encourage
the Galatians to reject the false teaching of the *Judaizers. This was the
heresy Paul came against in his letter to the Galatians.  So many today fall
into a similar problem.  

* Note:
The Judaizers taught that Gentile believers could not be true
Christians unless they were circumcised and followed the Mosaic law.  

Interesting that we, as Christians, have liberty (KJV) or freedom
(Gk. eleutheria) to be free (Gk. eleeutheroo). Both of these words come
from the same Greek word "eleutheros".  This freedom happens at salvation.

You don't need to get FREE after you are saved, you need to learn how NOT
to put yourself under bondage of the law.

Why would such a statement even need to be said?
It was said to the Galatian Christians as they were having problems by
thinking of putting themselves under the law AFTER becoming Christians.

They got saved by Grace alone, through Faith alone, and NOW they're trying to please God by keeping "the law" of the Old Testament.

Fellow Christian, this freedom is already yours.  
Please, do not allow legalism to come or stay.

When we put ourselves under the law, we are acting as a child who has no
freedom of action.  A child must follow a set of rules as prescribed by his
parents or guardian.
 
Why? Because he is not old enough to act alone.
When we get saved we are no longer under the guardianship of the law.
When we put ourselves under the law, we are like adults putting ourselves
under rules that were made for children.
 
Spiritually, as Christians, we are to be living in dependence upon the indwelling Holy Spirit. We should obey the LORD and His word; not because the law forbids us to do wrong and commands us to do right, but because we're led by the Holy Spirit; it pleases the Lord Jesus; and because of our love for the LORD.   

(Note for youth: You are still under your parents in the natural, but the Holy Spirit wants to direct your spiritual life, if you'll ALLOW Him.)

What Christ did cannot be coupled with performance to earn salvation. All righteousness came through Jesus Christ alone.  Any addition implies that Christ's sacrifice is inadequate, insufficient, incomplete and unfinished.

Someone who has been made free in Christ can still live in bondage; but it is
because they are allowing themselves to be deceived and they and/or others
are putting them into bondage.

When we try to follow the law to feel that we are acceptably walking with
God, we are attempting to earn at least "part" of our salvation ourselves. When we do so, we are declaring that Jesus is no longer our righteousness
alone, but Jesus and law (which is wrong). The law and grace for salvation are incompatible!!! We're saved by Grace ALONE, through FAITH alone! Not by any laws or of our own doing.

We are FREE!  Don't buy into the lie that you must earn God's favor.  Don't come under bondage to legalism, Jesus made you to be FREE.

I would encourage all of you to take the time to read Galatians as it is only
six chapters long and will prove to be an epistle that will bring freedom to
your life.

Also please know, this is NOT a license to sin, quite the opposite.
I am free to not sin!!! WOW!!!

Romans 6:1,2 states:
"What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer herein?"

When I got saved GOD changed my want too's.

Praise God I don't want' to do those things that would be against God or the Bible!

Prayer:
Thank you LORD for your precious setting me free through becoming a
new creation (II Cor. 5:17). That you LORD that I'm free from sins power over my life.  I will not allow myself to come under the bondage of  legalism
in any form. Thank you for complete freedom in my Christian walk.
In Jesus' Name! Amen!

If you don't have this assurance of salvation please write me (jim@biblefood.org) or please go to:

www.gty.org/index.php?section=how_to_know_jesus_christ
www.thekristo.com/site/pp.asp?c=9oIDLROyGoF&b=409877
www.matthiasmedia.com.au/2wtl/

Getting Out of Your Comfort Zone

And Elisha sent a  messenger unto him, saying, Go and wash in the Jordan SEVEN TIMES, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean. But Naaman was wroth and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the Lord his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper. Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? May I not wash in them, and be clean? So he turned and went away in a rage.”
II Kings 5:10-12

Our example is found here in the Old Testament of someone needing to get out of their COMFORT ZONE is when Elisha, the Prophet told Naaman, captain of the host of the king of Syria, to dunk 7 times in the Jordan River, and he would be healed. HE DID NOT LIKE THAT! He thought he knew of better ways he could be healed than going into the Jordan River, but he needed to get out of his comfort zone (and likely some PRIDE), and into OBEDIENCE, he went to the Jordan and was healed. See II Kings 5:1-16.

An example in the New Testament is when Jesus spit on the ground, made mud and put the mud on the blind man’s eyes. I’m sure the blind man may have been UNCOMFORTABLE on his walk to the pool of Siloam, but he obeyed and was healed. See John 9:1-7

WE, TOO, NEED TO GET OUT OF OUR COMFORT ZONE.

This past year, I have personally had to “get out of my comfort zone.” This isn’t the first time God has had me get out of my comfort zone, and it won’t be the last for sure!

Hopefully, relating my situation will help encourage some of you to “get out of your comfort zone.” Just last week I shared this with one of our BibleFood members as she shared about God bringing her out of her comfort zone.

So I would like to share my recent situation that happened a little over a year ago when my wife and I moved from Acworth, Georgia (near Atlanta). This move was prompted by the LORD, as He was leading us to take a small church. Now, let it be said here, I love the warm weather of Georgia (hot), and though I grew up in Connecticut (cold), I ALWAYS hated the cold. In the 1980's, I pastored a church in Connecticut, then moved to Georgia in the 1990's and said I would never move back to Connecticut (too cold). So where does God call us to, but to the small town of Kane, Pennsylvania, (population 4,000) where it is COLDER than CT. It is called the "Icebox of Pennsylvania" due to its cold winters. On top of that, we left all our grown children and grandchildren (hard), not knowing one person in Kane. We sold our home (another story) and moved here without a home. We stayed in a member’s nice cabin out in the mountains for the first 2 months, then rented a house. As for the pastorate, we came up here knowing I would have no salary (nada) to start with, but that was fine as the LORD would provide. Still a year later, I am not on salary but do draw a small housing allowance (my wife works as transcriptionist). Our financial situation has been tight to say the least for the past year. 

Even though we “stepped out of our comfort zone” to be in the will of God, we still have some trying moments. With that being said, may this next thought be the one that sticks with you all and encourages your heart:

IT IS GREAT TO BE WHERE GOD WANTS YOU!
WE WOULDN'T TRADE ANY OF IT AS WE KNOW WE ARE IN THE WILL OF GOD.

So what is your “Comfort Zone”?

Here are a few areas to consider:

YOUR COMFORT ZONE may be being in a church where you
are NOT spiritually growing, but you have been there ALL of your life,
and the LORD is telling you to move on to a BIBLICAL CHURCH (not like you’re USED to).

YOUR COMFORT ZONE may be that God is calling you
to ANOTHER area of ministry than where you are presently.

YOUR COMFORT ZONE may be going from a two-income family
lifestyle to living on ONE income for the children’s sake or for some other reason.

YOUR COMFORT ZONE may be that you need to SACRIFICE
something that you really enjoy but you KNOW it is God (it will be WORTH IT!).

Jesus’ methods to get you and me out of our COMFORT ZONES and watch over our lives are oftenNOT the way we would do it, but OBEDIENCE to God’s ways will bring about His desired RESULTS and FRUIT in our lives.

Proverbs 16:9 says it so well,
“A man’s heart plans his way, but the LORD directs his steps”.

Whatever God tells you to do that affects your comfort zone,
it is for the GREATER GOOD OF YOU and the Body of Christ. God is NOT telling us to get out of our COMFORT ZONES to make our lives miserable.

HE IS TELLING US TO GET OUT OF OUR COMFORT ZONESO HE CAN DO A FRESH WORK IN OUR LIFE.

So open your heart to what God has for you and get out of your comfort zone.

If you sense God is leading you “out of your comfort zone”and whatever that means for you, be OBEDIENT to Him.

If that is where God wants you, it is the BEST place to be!  

In His Service,Jim (jim@biblefood.org)

My Salvation: A Rose Garden with Thorns!

"Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore." Psalm 16:11

This scripture has always been special to me. If I had to pick one scripture that I could relate to my salvation, it would be Psalm 16:11.

Today's devotional will be more of a testimonial as June 21, 2006, I have been saved for 31 years.

I was saved at a prayer meeting that my oldest brother had just started attending (that was a miracle in itself). Although this meeting was quite different than what I was used to, God met me there with the abundance of His LOVE, and I knew that the God I had hated all my life LOVED me ("…..we love Him because He first loved us - 1 John 4:19). I just couldn't resist His LOVE (John 3:16) and DRAWING me to Him. ("No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him…." - John 6:44).

I accepted Jesus as my LORD and Savior (Rom. 10:9,10) on June 21, 1975 and began my first 31 years of serving Jesus.

Although not all people have the same level of intensity when they get saved (and intensity means little in that respect), when I got saved the grass really did seem greener, the sky bluer. Finally, though previously I had wanted to die, I now had a reason to live!

As a new Christian (1975), I asked my parents to take me out of public high school and put me in a Catholic school, thinking that it would be the place for me. But in just one month, I felt that I really wanted to be back in public school with all my unsaved friends who were into drugs, alcohol, etc. I wanted no part of that lifestyle, but just knew that was where I belonged. Because this was where God wanted me, my unsaved friends at public school never did pull me down into sin. If they would have pulled me back down into sin, I believe God would have kept me out of that environment. Thanks be to God with His abundant grace and my love for Jesus, I did not fall back into the ways of my unsaved friends. I still spent some time with them, except when they did the drugs, alcohol, etc.; but most of my spare time was spent reading my Bible and praying.

By the time I was 16 years old, only a few months later, I had left the prayer group where I was saved because they did almost nothing to disciple me as a new believer, and I had become aware of carnal/flesh problems within the group.

From there I went to a small church group I learned about from a born again neighbor. This group had TWO leaders equal in authority (which I later saw can be a problem). I attended this group for awhile until one day one of the leaders gave a strange and short speech, grabbed his wife's hand, and left! I had just experienced something I didn't even know existed - a church split!

From that time on, God has led me, over the years, to various denominational and non-denominational churches. He has led me to attend various types of churches, which I believe has helped me to minister to those from different backgrounds.

On the personal side, my life wasn't a bed of roses and I don't believe God meant it to be. In 31 years I have seen and experienced religious deception through false teachers and false, ungodly manifestations. (Beware of manifestations that are unscriptural and magnify you, another person, or a group.) God, in His mercy, and my desire for truth got me out of those messes.

A few years back, I felt led to tell the pastor (now retired) I had in my late teens (in person and in an E-mail), that I was sorry for some of the stuff I may have put him through regarding my pride, thinking I knew so much when I really knew so little. I have also thanked him for staying faithful to the Word of God over the years and not being drawn away by the many winds of doctrine out there. ("That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, by which they lie in wait to deceive." - Ephesians 4:14)

In the past 31 years I have seen my family experience breakdowns (some ending in divorce). Also, close relatives die, including my mom who went to be with the LORD in her 50's with cancer. I have experienced backsliding (falling away from Jesus) to the extent where I was doing stuff I knew was wrong and sinful. But, again, God faithfully brought me out of those times into His loving arms.

I have had my battles with finances, depression, insomnia, etc., In some areas the victory is 100% manifested; but in other areas, I'm still trusting the LORD.

The bottom line is NO MATTER HOW ROUGH it gets at times, we should remember the words in the following scriptures: "….Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. - John 6:68 and "For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness." - Psalm 84:10

I say with GREAT JOY that MANY of my family members (nearly all immediate and many extended family members) are saved and living for Christ!

I would like to close with a few things I've learned during my first 31 years as a Christian:

1. Live humbly before God.
2. I keep in mind that I don't know very much and thank God for
what I do know.
3. Live today for Christ as if it is your LAST day! I've seen it
become the last day for many people over the last 31 years.
4. Study and follow the Word of God and not experiences that
may contradict the Bible. (II Timothy 2:15)
5. We can believe in every circumstance, good or bad (and both
will happen), that God will ultimately prove to be in control of
the situation! (Romans 8:28)
6. Respect godly leadership, but NEVER follow a man!
7. The importance of being part of a local body of believers. (Hebrews 10:25)
8. Be quick to forgive and quick to repent.
9. Do everything on God’s timetable –
Don’t rush ahead of God, don’t hesitate when He says GO.
10. Put Jesus first, Others second, and yourself last, and THEN you will truly experience the J.O.Y. of the LORD. (J.O.Y. is an acronym for Jesus, Others, Yourself)

My prayer is today’s devotional/testimony will minister to you and others.

Please feel free to pass this and any other devotions on to others.

In His Service (for 31 years),
Jim Mazzulla

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