Problem Thoughts:week 1 Overcoming Matthew 1:5 "Salmon was the father of Boaz by Rahab." The world's record largemouth bass was caught in a pond in Georgia in the 1930's and weighed 22 pounds and 4 ounces. It is amazing that after about 70 years, it has not been broken. The gene pool, food sources, and environment must have been perfect to grow a monster bass like that. The first chapter of Matthew tells us about the "gene pool" of Jesus, who was the only perfect man and also the Son of God. One of His ancestors was Rahab, a prostitute, another was Jacob, who was dishonest and cheated his own brother, and another was David, who had an affair with another man's wife, and had the man killed to cover it up. Your mother, dad, or another ancestor might have committed terrible crimes. You might have done so yourself and lived an ungodly life. Those things can discourage you and shut you down completely, but they don't have to. Tell the Lord what you have done. He knows anyway. Make things right with those you have hurt and begin to live for Him. Lord, I don't know how I can overcome my background, but I will take You at Your word and begin to live for You. Help me. Amen. Tip for the Day: Fishing plastic worms. After the cast, tighten your line and move the rod tip horizontal. Raise the rod vertical slowly. Next, take up the slack in your line as you move the rod to a horizontal position again and continue the process. This moves the bait forward, up, and down. Keep your index finger and thumb on the line to feel the slightest tap. When that comes, allow the bass to move off with the bait until the rod is horizontal, the line is tight, and your arms are fully extended. Then, jerk hard and hold on. Most of the fish I lose with plastic worms are not struck hard enough for the hook to get through the worm and into the hard jaw of the bass. Sincerely, Bob Green |
| Week 2Matthew 7: 7-8 Sportsmen are the most prepared people in the world. They will spend countless hours getting ready for the big hunt or fishing trip. Food plots are planted, dogs are trained, the right clothing is purchased, the tides are researched, hunting and fishing gear is checked and rechecked---whatever is necessary for a successful sporting trip will be done efficiently and diligently. Athletes will spend years training and conditioning their bodies and honing their skills to perform at the very peak of their abilities.....whatever it takes to be a winner will be done efficiently and diligently. As Christians we openly profess our faith and belief in Jesus Christ, but we spend so little time in earnest preparation for the challenges and struggles that confront us daily. So many times our lack of preparation causes us to miss the joy and peace of the fulfilled life God has promised us in Jesus Christ. God has provided all the tools we need to adequately prepare us for the "heaven on earth" experience promised to all believers who enter into a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. Those tools are His Holy Word (the Bible) and prayer. God reveals Himself to us in the scriptures and allows us to communicate with Him through prayer. I learned the importance and power of preparation through study and prayer from my mother. She has gone on to her reward, but what a legacy she has left for her loved ones. Her Bible was her blueprint for daily living. That bible is the only worldly possession of hers that I told my brothers that I wanted. As I read through her bible, I see many of her handwritten notations, but more importantly, it reminds me of her daily reading, study, and obedience to God's Word. My mother's prayer life was very unique. Her prayers were plain and simple---a conversation with a friend. She never prayed hoping God would hear an answer. She prayed knowing and expecting God to answer her prayers. She kept a list of prayer requests on her refrigerator. This list would include the person's name and the specific need for this person. Her prayer life was never for show or recognition, but I know what a prayer warrior she was when, over the years, people would come up to me and ask if I would have my mother put their name on her refrigerator. She lived a joy filled life anchored in study and prayer, prepared for whatever challenges this world brought her way. The challenge for all Christians is to prepare ourselves spiritually with the same diligence with which we prepare ourselves for sporting activities. When we seek God in the scriptures and communicate with Him in prayer, He opens the door for a fulfilled life. Tip for the sportsman: I don't hunt, but I would suggest that you don't stand between the hunter and what is being hunted. I haven't fished in years, but a good tip is to never fish in water above your shoulders if you can't swim. As a former athlete, I can tell you that you should play to win, but always remember that it is only a game and the outcome of the game has very little effect on who you are and what you can do for God's Kingdom. The game of life is the only game God desires for us to win! Sincerely, Bruce Yawn |
| Week 3John 15:2 The greatest, dramatic change in my life took place after being employed at Claude Howard Lumber Company for a few years. God used another employee at Howard to share with me the Gospel of Christ, and as a result of that, I received Him as my personal Lord and Savior. Then I began to grow in the Lord, read my Bible, and tell others about Christ. My desire is to tell others about Christ so that they would not die and go to Hell. Therefore, l would like to leave some steps of how to have Christ first in your lilfe, especially in these times with this economy. To Go To Heaven YOU MUST BE SAVED! HERE'S HOW... STEP ONE Face the fact that you are a sinner. For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God -Romans 3:23 For there is not a just manupon earth, that doeth good and sinneth not. -Ecclesiastes 7:20 STEP TWO Accept the fact that the wages of sin is death. For the wages of sin is death...(separation from God in Hell). -Romans 6:23a STEP THREE Place your trust in the fact that God loves you and Jesus died for you and that He arose in victory over death. But God commandeth (proved) his love toward us, in that , while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. -Romans 5:8 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. -Romans 10:9 STEP FOUR Trust Jesus and receive Him by personal invitation. But as many as received him (Christ), to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name. -John 1:12 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him... -Revelation 3:20a For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. -Romans 10:13 STEP FIVE Pray this prayer and Jesus Christ will come into your life as He has promised. Dear Heavenly Father, I know that I am a sinner. I cannot save myself. I ask you to come into my heart and save me from my sins. |
| Sincerely, Marvin Geiger |
