The Tyranny of a Small Word (blog from Mike P.) 

​​”But we know where he’s from.” ​Some of the people dismissed Jesus out of hand because they knew where he had been raised.​ ​”He is from Nazareth,​”​ they reasoned​… “​he can’t possibly be the Messiah: the one to follow.“​ How often do we do the same thing, keeping Jesus at a distance with simple nonsensical objections that almost always begin with “​but​”​?​

​”I’d love to follow Jesus, but…. ​”
​      ​ ​”I really need healing, but….​”
​      ​ ​​      ​ ​​”I want my life to ​c​hange, but….​”
​Whatever our struggles, whatever our failings​: habitual sins​,​ disordered attractions, addictions ​of one kind or another — Christ​’s​ love and mercy is far greater​!
He spends his eternity to overcome the strange time-bound​ tyranny of a very small word : but….
​________

Our brother Mike P. shared this thoughtful adaption from ​the 2017 Magnificat Lenten Companion, which refers to John 7.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=john%207&version=NIV​​​

Keep Praying, Like Believers! (post by Lester)

Good morning my Brothers in Christ! Been praying on what the Father would have me share. I want the Holy Spirit to be my guide!
There are brothers and sisters going through some difficult trials, to the point of praying for a miracle: for 15 more years of life on this side of Heaven… as did Hezekiah when he prayed to our Father for this. The eyes are seeing, and the ears are hearing what is on the outside. And it does not look promising.
But we have a God! And His Word says (1 Corithians 2:9 KJV): “But as it is written, Eye has not seen , nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them who love Him.” We are continuing to pray and hope with expectation for our Dearest Father, to move on behalf of our brothers and sisters for a miracle! (Like  Mark 5:22-43, with the woman with the issue of blood, and Jairus’ daughter.)
My brothers, don’t give up and don’t stop believing!
Lester

Fearfully & Wonderfully Made

Here is a moving and poignant testimony from our brother Ryan.  Let us keep this family in prayer!
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My wife gave birth to our third child about a month ago. All of us were sick during that time but none more than my wife. She had a chest cold along with a sinus infection. The birth caused both of her eardrums to rupture because of the sinus pressure which has temporarily damaged her hearing. If I had to guess her hearing is still only at about 50%.
It has been a rough month. I can’t have a conversation with my wife without speaking very loudly. It’s a strange thing because even though my wife is present with us, she seems to be absent in a way. Anybody that knows Susie will confirm the fact that she’s a very energetic and talkative person. Because of the lack of hearing and other residual effects from the birth, she does a lot of sleeping and sitting which is very unlike her. She watches us with eyes of someone who is looking into a room from outside the door that is eager to participate but can’t get in.
I say all this to make the point that we take so many of God’s blessings for granted. Before this happened, I don’t remember appreciating the simple but HUGE blessing such as hearing. Now I think about it everyday. I miss my wife and my kids miss their mom simply because she can’t hear very well.
I’m not sharing this to complain but just the opposite; to recognize and rejoice how we were all fearfully and wonderfully made! I know when Susie gets her hearing back, she will appreciate every word that enters it. And we will appreciate every word we speak to her.
You are blessed-
Ryan

The leadership recipe for success

GMM President Jim Schamerhorn shared this:
I read an article recently that made me think about our leadership team as a “recipe for success.”
God is the “Master Chef” who has equipped each of us with gifts for success in this life. He has blessed each with talents, abilities, strengths, sensitivities and perspective. They include a full range of human emotions or lack thereof to enable us to represent him to the best of our ability (according to the power that works within).
Think of a recipe when cooking or baking. We put together a number of different ingredients: the best flour, good salt, and tasty spices. But separately they cannot be complete or effective, as they are meant to be in combination.
For  instance, when experienced on its own, flour is bland and can leave an unpleasant taste.  However, when combined with sugar, yeast, milk and other ingredients… it brings forth an amazing and wonderful loaf of bread.
Individually each of our team brings their specific gifts or strengths that ensure the overall success of GMM. These are a group of good and Godly men the Lord has put together in a “recipe for success.” They form the ingredients of a strong & cohesive band of brothers. However, as with any good recipe the constituent parts need an opportunity to interact to experience the benefit of the good and final product.
I’m looking forward to seeing what God cooks with us.