This is a new year, and you have been blessed by God to be alive and part of it (Psalm 34:1). As you look back at the past year, I’m sure it is full of things which you regret and wished you could change. But once a deed is done, it is done (Ecclesiastes 11:3). However, obeying the word of God sets in place a new and better way of existence (Romans 6:1-23). Past deeds are forgotten by God and will never be brought up again (Hebrews 10:17). So yes, becoming a Christian has great advantages, and why wouldn’t a person not want to be a part of Jesus’ family? (Galatians 3:26-29).
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Now, here is the scary part: if obedience to the gospel isn’t done, all past deeds will be brought up at the Judgement, even if the person had quit doing them long ago (2 Corinthians 5:10). That will happen because the person is still in sin that sin hasn’t been washed away (Acts 22:16). So many aren’t aware of the danger they are in. We are speaking about eternity and all the souls that need God. Lost souls need to be saved and since no one is promised tomorrow, what are they waiting for? Now is the time to be honest with yourself, the soul you save will be your own (2 Thessalonians 1:7-10; Mark 16:15-16).

We can get rid of stress by saying no to projects that are too much for us. We must realize that our stress level shoots though the roof, when allowing others to over load us. The wise thing is to speak up and refuse to let men use us for dump trucks. People cannot know our limitations, so don’t let them be our judges. Make sure that relaxing time is left for self and above all things, learn to trust in God (Matthew 6:25-34; Luke 10:38-42; Philippians 4:6; Ephesians 5:15-16).
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Happy New Year!

In 1 Samuel chapter 25, we are introduced to Nabal, a selfish rich man. This guy oppressed his employees daily as they broke their backs with sweat and blood to keep him rich. In verse 8, David asked Nabal to help him out with food and supplies, since he had helped Nabal shepherds look after the livestock and keep them free from thieves and wolves. But Nabal insulted David saying, “you won’t get a crumb from me” (verse 10-11). David and his men then planned to kill Nabal, but the shepherds reported their intentions to Nabal wife. And she, being a sensible woman, brought the supplies to David without Nabal knowledge and stopped the slaughter of her husband. Later on, Nabal found out that his wife helped David, and he became angry and appeared to have suffered a stroke and he died (verse 35-38). After reading this story, I wonder just how many Nabal’s are living today. This man had plenty and was too stingy to share with others.

We have heard it many times before, a house burns down and people suffer injury or death. But then we see a fireman saying “there were no working smoke detectors in the house.”

Those words cause us to lament the lost of life or health because none took the time to do what was needed in order to protect themselves.

Well, let me use that example in another way. The Bible which is the word of God, is our smoke detector. Do you have one? And as for batteries, are you doing what His word commands you? You see, it is one thing to have a Bible in your house, but a totally different thing to be doing what it teaches (Luke 6:46; John 15:14, 8:31-32).

If we can be of help to you in learning God’s will for your life, let us help you with a Bible study (Acts 8:26-40, 16:11-15, 17:11).

​Far too many of our young men are wasting their lives away.

They will get a girl pregnant and take no responsibility (of course the girl shares the blame as well). There are young men who have no interest in getting a job because they find it too convenient to stay home and live off the parents. (And here is where parents share the blame). Some young men have no regard for the value of human life. They will grab a gun and battle over a few dollars or their so called interpretation of “respect.” All day long they hang with their buddies in the streets adding no value to the community; but certainly doing a great job making it look bad with their use of profanity, drinking, and loud music. Such conduct is a total waste of human life and embarrassment for the parents that raised them (Proverbs 10:1).
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Young man, you don’t have to waste your life away! You also don’t need low life people as friends. What you need is God. With Him you can learn the correct way to live and avoid the pit falls of life that have trapped so many (Ecclesiastes 12:1; Proverbs 3:1-26, 4:20-27, 6:20-35, 7:1-27, 10:1). Young man, with the help of God, you can turn your back on wrong doing (Prov. 4:10-19; Titus 2:6-8; 2 Timothy 2:22; Prov. 1:10-19; Joshua 24:15; Prov. 13:1; Psalm 34:12-17; Philippians 4:13).