I attend a Men’s Bible Study on Tuesday night at the Cheyenne Alliance Church and we have been going over the 7 promises of a Promise Keeper.   This week’s promise was:   A Promise Keeper is committed to building strong marriages and families through love, protection and biblical values.   I was amazed at the wisdom that was shared from all of the guys that were there and I just have to pass it on…
           First of all the main Scripture was Ephesians 5:25 and 6:4…
                    **Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.     
                    **Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.
    One of the main comments was:  That the Lord in our lives is a must for us to be the Husbands/Fathers that we are meant to be.     But here are some bits of wisdom that came forth:

1.  There are those times that we seem to look at our wives and ask the question – Where is the wife that I thought I married…  The real point should be:   “We need to be the Husband that our wives thought that they had married.”  –  When this happens, then our wives will be the ones we knew we married…     WOW…..
2. There is the book out about knowing your spouse’s love language… it is a great read and must for us Husbands/Dads.   We have to know what her love language is and then truly understand how to do it.   One more item is that we should also know what our children’s love language is.  They need this from us in a big way….
3. Are we willing to do what Christ did for all of us?   Can we give up our lives for our families – this includes not just death but – our time – our possessions…………  This list can go on.
4. One more item that sort of goes along with number 3…   What is it that we cherish that keeps us from having the Relationship that is required of us from Christ with our families?     Is it our Buddies night out – our Truck – Hunting – Fantasy Football – Sports?     We need to identify that area and be willing to give it up for our Family.

As you can see this was a Powerful night of wisdom and challenges for each of us to take home and be the person Christ would have be…

 So as you look at the list above – search out which area that you may need to improve on and work on it this week…

Bobbyg

          I was thinking about what this year should be about…. our 2015 theme for GMM Conference (God’s Mighty Men) is “True Identity “ –  This is going to be a powerful topic coming up on November 15^th.      But for me hit as    “The Year of Jesus” – there has been a couple of items that have passed by me that tweaked this…
           My Dad gets a News Letter from my Uncle Andy who is a Pastor in Wheatland and it had a couple of sayings that I really liked.

1.  2014 is about over a new beginning is coming.  The phrase from Philippians 1:21, sticks to my conscience:   “For me to live is Christ and to die is gain.”  Does that phrase have meaning in 2015?  Is there a change in living for Christ going to happen?  Every year can be, if we choose a year where more of Christ’s attributes are seen in us.  Praise God we can all grow in Christ, look like Christ, talk like Christ and be ready for “gain”!       (In His Great Love…………. Andy)
2. Another year is passing and he has not returned.  Yet daily we’re brought closer to that for which we’ve yearned.  Our hearts with longing ponder when we will see the face of Him whose daily mercies our thankful hearts can trace.  Yet looking through the lattice, unseen to mortal eyes, each thought and action knowing, He every motive tries.  With arms outstretched in waiting we view another year and ask, “O Savior, is it the blessed crowning year?”  To be forever with Him, the One our hearts adore, delighting in His presence, desiring nothing more.  While we wait, beloved, let us not fall behind before the dawn is darkest more testing’s yet you’ll find.  But keep ahead the glory, ne’er let it fade from view.  The Lord of glory comes – What will He find in you?   (Article in the News Letter).

 These are some great items to ponder as you look at the coming 2015 year.. 
          Pastor Shawn in his sermon came up with this saying that is a really great one to practice that fell into the sayings above for 2015. 

“Rapture Practice”

We should always eagerly await the coming of Jesus as if he were coming today to take us Home..   AMEN

Bobbyg

     The New Year is coming (2015) and it is that time of year when people start making resolutions or promises that they intend to keep to better themselves:

1.  I promise to lose 45 pounds
2. I promise to exercise more
3. I promise to do my daily studies
4. I promise to spend more time with the family

The list goes on……
           I have always struggled in making New Year’s resolutions because there is a very good chance that I will fail in keeping them.  In Matthew Jesus talks about making Vows/Oaths and it states that you should be extremely careful in making them.
          Matthew 5: 33 thru 37> Oaths:   33 “Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.’ 34 But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. 36 And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. 37 All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one
    So as you see – making an Oath is not recommended – but a simple yes or no should be our response in what we do in 2015.
           I would like to expand on what I have done in the past – not so much as an Oath – but an Act of Obedience:
          I read this scripture a few years back in my Quiet time (I do get some of these in – maybe not daily) and it challenged me in my Obedience to the Leaders of the Church.
          1 Thessalonians 5: 12-13>  12 Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. 13 Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other.
      This scripture spoke to me because of some issues that I was having with the Leadership of the church at the time….  (We all have these moments in our life).   So as an ACT of Obedience – I felt that I needed to fall under the Leadership of the church for a year…  when the year was over then I would evaluate my relationship with the Leaders.   We all need to do this all the time and not just for a short period of time of one year – and that is  ” Obedience to what the Holy Spirit is prompting us to do”.             Unity with Love is essential if Christ is going to be able to do His work through us.    I learned allot that year..

 So my challenge to you is:   Do not make that New Year’s Resolution – but instead find an area that you are struggling with and Make an Act of Obedience to correct it…

Bobbyg

      I had gotten out of the Christmas Spirit of giving gifts on Christmas day until my Grand Kids came…    I had seen so many people going into Debt to buy just the right gift for everyone (Family – Friends – Co-Workers – Paper boy and the most important one of all –  the Mail Man).  When I observed my boys and their families going into Debt to buy me a Gift – I said enough – we need to celebrate the most important gift of all “Jesus”.   So we quit giving each other Gifts….
       My wife blew it this year and gave me a gift a couple of weeks ago -she had stated that she had a surprise for me and that normally scares me to death most of the time.   Then she handed me this book – “Reflections” – I was in tears before I could open it up…   It was a book of all the Blogs that I have written in the last couple of years.    All the way from “The Making of the Bed” – to    “How is Your Relationship with Christ”  –  to   “Do Mosquitoes have Free Will”.
          Inside the front cover was a dedication that had be Bawling – “For my husband in celebration of our 40 years together.  We make God smile everyday as we try to become the Man and Woman He has called us to be – as individuals together.”  She has been an inspiration for several of my Blogs and there are times she will hand me something and state – this would be something great to write about.   There are times I have to tell her Women are from Venus and Men are from Mars – How am I supposed to explain this one to the guys.      **Now I have to rethink that aspect of giving gifts when they come in a treasured package as this one.
           So now back to the Greatest Gift of all – besides my Wonderful Wife – our greatest Gift this time of year is “Jesus”.     This is a gift that will keep on giving and will have an eternal reward. 

          So as you are shopping to buy that perfect Gift – remember to add the one Gift that should always come on Christmas Day….

Happy Birthday

JESUS

Please find a Christmas Eve Church Service this Wednesday and enjoy celebrating the birth of our Lord and Savior.

Bobbyg

 PS –  My Grandkids can tell you the Reason for the Season – they are AWESOME. Then they enjoy the gifts from their PaPa and NaNa….  we do spoil them some.
 
 
 

     When you look at the story of Saul (later to be called Paul) and how zealous he was in what he thought was God’s Work – it makes me think – Do we do the same today – but in a different way????   
          Are we in the category of being Zealous for the wrong Cause?    A couple of my personnel Examples:

1.  Looking at other Christians and Denominations and trying to figure out if they are doing it the right way to make it to Heaven?  I have to tell you – I was one of them.
2. Do we look at a Bible Study and if it does not meet our specific style of study or the right BOOK….  Is your thinking that there is only one way that GOD would have us study?   I used to be here also.
3. Here was one of my biggest obstructions in sharing Jesus….    Do we see ourselves as needing to know so much about the Bible that we forget to share the good news with others?   I needed to know more about the Bible before I could share it – I was a Zealot on Knowledge and scared I would not have the right scripture when it came to sharing Jesus.

**The Big question – What is Really Important?
 Most of us know the story of how Paul was transformed – here is a small portion of his story
Acts 9:3-6> 3 As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” 5 “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked.“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. 6 “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
      So do we need this type of encounter with Jesus for us to Change….    Paul’s transformation included just a couple of experiences to put him on this Awesome Journey for Jesus.

1.  After meeting Jesus his beliefs and actions were Radically Transformed…  He seen Jesus in a different way.
2. He had a great teacher in Ananias to Help him understand the teachings of Jesus and he seen the Obedience that was required of Ananias to go forward to encounter a Saul.
3. Saul’s Confession to Faith was immediate and Bold – he wasted no time in correcting the Harm that he did and without considering the consequences of telling the GOOD NEWS>     Please read the rest of the Story about “Paul”.

 We also can have the “Paul Transformation” – We just need to look at where are energy is placed and see if it is blocking what Christ would have us do.

So today – sit down and make that list and then focus on whether it is spreading the GOOD NEW of Jesus.

Bobbyg

          In my Studies I am reading the Promise Keepers study Bible and I have been in Matthew and Acts.   There is a Bio on Matthew in Chapter 9 and it names him as the Spoiler.   Matthew is someone who did not fit the mold of the rest of the Disciples – He was a Tax Collector/Publican not a Fisherman/Carpenter/Laborer.   Does that sound familiar if it were today – someone from the IRS or even worse a Politician…   what could be worse to bring into a Christian organization?
          Here is the scripture of when Matthew was called:
                    Matthew 9:  9-13>   9 As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him. 10 While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. 11 When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 12 On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 13 But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
          I have to tell you – I do not believe it would be any different today if we were to call a Matthew to join in our Mission.  I have called on a Matthew type to join me and the challenges came.  Some of the guys really questioned the Wisdom of bringing someone on board that would cause so much controversy.   I need to tell you that every organization needs a Matthew – it is essential that we are in Check of ministering to all.  Just to let you know – we have an Awesome GMM TEAM – and they come from all areas of life and different denominations.  God does some powerful work through their Uniqueness and Unity…
           I have really enjoyed reading the Bio on Matthew – He must have felt like the outsider coming in.   But after being touched by Jesus – his perspectives and priorities were turned upside down.  One of the sections in the Bio about Matthew should be How God is using us:
  “God used Matthew without regard for his background, employment history or former way of life.   And God can use you too.  What you perceive as liabilities to God’s work in you are merely the same excuses that Matthew could have spouted as reasons why he shouldn’t have been trained as a disciple.  Yet God often turns the things we consider liabilities into assets for his kingdom.  Only God can accomplish this great feat.  He will take any life, regardless of background, success or failure, and turn it into something useful for his kingdom.
           I have been around several men and they all have their unique gifts that make them special.   And as Matthew – God uses them where they are at – Matthew was able to minister to Tax Collectors and Publicans when no one else could.  That is how he uses us – right where we are……….. 

So now look at yourself – ARE YOU THE Spoiler?

Is God using you because of your uniqueness?

Can you be described as a Matthew?

If yes – then you are right where God would have you – he will do some great works through you because of your Liabilities.

Enjoy the Journey as Matthew did!

 Bobbyg

 

 
         

    This is the Season to really check out your relationship with Jesus – Does he have your Heart?   Today’s worship at church was really good and then Mike G. challenged us to make our Relationship with Jesus a much stronger one.  This time of year whether you be a Pastor or Lay Person – we get caught up in all the stuff that the Christmas Season Brings.
One of the songs that we sang was Oh How HE Loves Us……   here is a section of it.

And we are His portion and He is our prize,

Drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes,

If his grace is an ocean, we’re all sinking.

And Heaven meets earth like an unforeseen kiss,

And my heart turns violently inside of my chest,

I don’t have time to maintain these regrets,

When I think about the way…

He loves us,

When you think of what the Reason for the Season is — Your Heart should be on fire for the gift that was given to us.
           The other song that we sang was Here’s MY Heart Lord….    Can you answer this one with a Yes….    The portion of the song that really touched me was: 

You are more than enough

You are here, You are love

You are hope, You are grace

You’re all I have, You’re everything

When you have truly given you’re Heart to Jesus – He is all that you need… 
 

 So now comes the Challenge that Mike G. gave:

Where is your Heart this Christmas Season – Have you given it to Jesus – If Yes = then make this a Season of Building an Extreme Relationship with HIM.

Bobbyg

           We had an interesting discussion last night at our Bible study – well just a portion of it.   We were discussing the 1^st Promise of a Promise Keeper:  but one of the scriptures talked about God’s Discipline:            
  Hebrews 12: 4-11.  God Disciplines His Children:  4 In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5 And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says,“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,   6 because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.  7 Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? 8 If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. 9 Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! 10 They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. 11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
        So it was brought up – Does God Really discipline or just take away our blessings…   Great Question –   and a tough one to comprehend.   I do believe that God Disciplines us – but now the question comes up “What does that look like?”  I truthfully have to tell you I do not know….   Does he cause an accident to happen to get your attention – Does he take away your job or monies or possessions?  Great questions that I do not have an answer to.
           This morning in my quiet time studies I was reading Acts 5 – now if you want to see God punish someone – just read the story about Ananias and Sapphira:
          Acts 5: 1-10.  Ananias and Sapphira:   Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. 2 With his wife’s full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles’ feet. 3 Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? 4 Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings but to God.” 5 When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened. 6 Then some young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him.  7 About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 Peter asked her, “Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?” “Yes,” she said, “that is the price.”  9 Peter said to her, “How could you conspire to test the Spirit of the Lord? Listen! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also.”  10 At that moment she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband.
          They were punished for lying about the property that they had sold and they died because of their deceit.    Does God do that today????   Once again I cannot answer that.    But after our discussion it has gotten my attention – Do I want to be disciplined by God?   I know if he does it is because He loves me and wants the best for me – so I should consider it as Joy.    If my God loves me that much – that He would do everything he could to keep me in his arms – then He must really love me – PURE JOY>        So think about this – Does God Discipline?

 As you go about your week – think about the things that you have done that may deserve Discipline and turn to God and be Forgiven.  Do not wait for the punishment to come…

 Bobbyg
 

I am normally one of those HUM Bug type of people when Christmas roles around – I do not like:   Happy Holidays – Merry Xmas – and the focus going towards what am I going to buy for this person.    I know what Christmas is about and it seems to get missed…..    It is about the Birth of Christ…
          Well I have Grand Kids now and I have had to tweak my attitude a little – I do enjoy buying them gifts and watching their faces when they open them.  I do have to tell you – if you ask my Grand Kids what Christmas is about – they will give you the correct answer. 
           There is a song that Go Fish sings that gets me going each year:  enjoy….

“Christmas with a Capital C” by Go Fish Guys  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkIj94yepfU

           I hope you listened to the song – I can always make it through The Christmas Season after playing this a few times…
           My Tweaking recently has taken me down a different path on Christmas – it made me think “what a better time to express my belief”.   I have learned that when some tells me Happy Holidays – I can reply with a “Merry Christmas”.   I have learned that this is all it takes, they will know where my faith is by the words I SPEAK.  At work the other day some of the employees were decorating their windows and asked me about what I wanted to do with mine.   I had a big smile and said that I would like to put a Manger scene on my window.   You know most of the time it only takes a few words about the real meaning of Christmas to get people to think about the REASON FOR THE SEASON.
           Just a quick note – this is the first year I actually put lights on my front porch…..   It now shines to show that I really do not have to be a HUM Bug type of person this time of year…          

 So this Christmas Season enjoy just sharing a few words with the people you encounter.   A simple “Merry Christmas” can go a long ways in sharing your faith.

Bobbyg
 
 
 
         

Last week I was able to enjoy a trip to Torrington for work….  someone forgot to put everything on the truck and I got the pleasure of delivering the rest.   I enjoy my driving time – it is a time to Worship and Pray for me and with my new job I do not get to do it that often.
          To get back to my topic “Hope can be Shocking” – I was listening to KLove and they were doing a fund raiser for the people of Detroit.  This is one of the hardest areas that has been hit with unemployment in the USA.   If you have been looking for a Mission Trip – you do not have to look far…. there are several areas in the USA that need our Help.   (Google Detroit and you will see the need).   But one of the Speakers stated that allot of people in Detroit have lost their Hope and when they are presented with the Hope of Jesus — it is shocking.  
           KLove put together a song about Hope from several Artists and it is must song to listen to….  http://www.godtube.com/watch/?v=0EC9BJNU     Hope can Change everything – it was also written for the Detroit area.
           So now my question goes back to us…  What are we doing to give people HOPE?   My Grandkids spent last week with me and Diane – one of the projects that they did was put together a Christmas box for someone who would not get to enjoy Christmas.   This was one of those WOW moments again…   They really got into thinking about what they would put into this Box that someone would need that they did not have.   It took them 2 hours of shopping to come up with the perfect Gift for someone…. (I smiled when they placed a tooth brush and tooth paste into the Box – and they also put in a special gift and lots of other items).   We can learn from our Children around us – we need to have hearts such as theirs.
           One of my Special verses is Hebrews 11:1 – “Now Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”   This is a verse that keeps evolving as I get older – I always thought I knew what it meant, but as I experience life it becomes clearer on the intensity of what HOPE Means and the meaning keeps changing.
          This weeks sermon Shaun had one verse that hit this also – it was also from Hebrews…  7:18 – The former regulation is set aside because it was a weak and useless – (for the law made nothing perfect) – and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God.        That better hope is Jesus….    now can you imagine what Detroit would be like if they all were able to receive the Gift of Jesus this Year….   another WOW moment.   But this would be a Gift for everyone that does not know Jesus..  Hope can be Shocking when you first experience it – all of your past is forgiven and you can go forward in the arms of Jesus.

 So Going back to my question – What are you doing to bring Hope into the lives of people?  Go make a Christmas Box and tell someone you care about them and that there is HOPE…

Bobbyg