I attended a couple of prayer meetings yesterday and we prayed allot about different issues that we encounter during Christmas in the first Prayer Group.   The Second Prayer group I attended we prayed for the City of Cheyenne and we have an outline on what to pray about.   I thought I would take each of these outline items and connect them into how to pray for Christmas this year….
Here they are…

• The Harvest:   Pray that more people will get to know Jesus during this Christmas Season.
• Power: Pray that the Power of the Holy Spirit will be working on the hearts on those who do not know Jesus and that they will have this desire to know more about Him.
• Unity: Pray that all the people will be united in sharing the good news of Jesus birth.
• Disciples: Pray that we can all be bold about what we believe during this time of year and share it.
• Fullness: Pray that we will be filled with the Christmas Spirit “Jesus” – and remember that this is when God chose to be among us.
• First Love – Love Others:   Pray that we remember that Love is the most important part of Christmas – First for Jesus and then for those who surround us (even the ones we do not like).
• Pastors: Pray that our Pastors are not overwhelmed during this Christmas Season and that they can enjoy it with their families.
• God’s Kingdom: Pray that this will be the time that everyone remembers the reason for the season — it is one of the two days that some attend church – make them welcome so that they desire to be part of the Family.
• Pray for God’s people in Cheyenne to be positioned strategically: Pray that the people of Cheyenne can be used. That the people will be open to God’s calling in helping others and know it…..
• For Our Leaders: Pray for our Leaders in all areas – The Church, In Washington DC, in our Local Government, and in our First Responders.   There may me other areas that you can think of – but this is a year that many of them will need our prayers.
• For Protection of Our Religious Freedoms: I like this one…. Pray that when we say “Merry Christmas” that no one gets in trouble.
• For the Church in Cheyenne to Pray: Pray that when a church has a Prayer meeting that people will actually come and Pray.
• Healing of Division: I like this one being the last one.   There are so many families that struggle with relationships and this is the time of year for them to get together…. So Pray that relationships may be healed during Christmas and that this may be a GREAT Time to Love each other.

OK – now it is time to pray – it is the most powerful tool that we have been gifted with! Remember as you pray about each of these topics make them yours…..

 

Bobbyg

As Christmas draws nearer it is that time of year that we hear Christmas songs and Sermons about Christmas.   It is a great time of year —- or is it?   My Sister the other day mentioned that she is going to miss our dad this year (he went home in January). So it is a time of year that will be hard for allot of people who have lost a loved one this year and there will be some tears shed for them.
A song this Sunday reminded me of the Comforter that is within us to help us get through the Sad Times and remember the Reason for the Season.
The Song is:                              (Lyrics Below) (Enjoy Listening)

Holy Spirit from: “Jesus Culture – Kim Walker-Smith”

[button link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFByOX8Fb0M” type=”big” newwindow=”yes”] Holy Spirit[/button]  

I used to be one of those Scrooges when it came to Christmas and there were times that I would make it unbearable for my wife. It had become so commercialized that we had forgot the reason for the season and I wanted everyone to know that.   I have to tell you that in the last 15 years I have become one who really enjoys Christmas. Now I do have to tell you that there has to be some way to get the Hall Mark Channel off of my TV. My wife and I really enjoy watching allot of the Christmas programs but I have become real sensitive in my older age and the tears will start rolling (I do blame the Holy Spirit – he is within me and allows me to really love a good Christmas show). **I have lost allot of Man points because of this – LOL.
But back to the Scrooge part of me….   It was the Holy Spirit working in my life that gave me the Joy of Christmas back into my Heart. I have realized that even though the Reason for the Season has gotten lost in the commercialization of Christmas – I am the only one who can make it a bad time of the year… With the Holy Spirit working in me – I can now enjoy the Birthday of Christ – even if my dad is not going to be here this year. The Presence of the Lord within me is the Greatest Christmas gift that I have been given.
Enjoy the Season…
Bobbyg
 

There’s nothing worth more

That could ever come close

No thing can compare

You’re our living hope

Your presence, Lord

I’ve tasted and seen

Of the sweetest of loves

Where my heart becomes free

And my shame is undone

Your presence, Lord

 

Holy Spirit, You are welcome here

Come flood this place and fill the atmosphere

Your glory, God, is what our hearts long for

To be overcome by Your presence, Lord

Your presence, Lord

 

There’s nothing worth more

That could ever come close

No thing can compare

You’re our living hope

Your presence, Lord

 

I’ve tasted and seen

Of the sweetest of loves

Where my heart becomes free

And my shame is undone

Your presence, Lord

 

Holy Spirit, You are welcome here

Come flood this place and fill the atmosphere

Your glory, God, is what our hearts long for

To be overcome by Your presence, Lord

Your presence, Lord

 

Let us become more aware of Your presence

Let us experience the glory of Your goodness

 

Holy Spirit, You are welcome here

Come flood this place and fill the atmosphere

Your glory, God, is what our hearts long for

To be overcome by Your presence, Lord

Our main speaker at this year’s GMM Conference talked about doing the extraordinary and how to get there.   This was his afternoon talk and he spoke about Peter walking on the water.

Matthew 14:22-33          Jesus Walks on the Water

Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it. Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.

What I was getting out of Dr. Doug’s second talk was that we as men need other men so that we can do that extraordinary thing.   If we try to do it on our own we will fail 99% of the time.   Peter had his boat full of men when he walked on water that were there for him.
 
One of the main reasons I went into Men’s ministry is that Men need Men to help them go forward.   Jesus has called us to do the extraordinary and it is very difficult to do this on our own. In Erwin’s McManus’s book “The Barbarian Way” he talks about Lions and Tigers.   Tigers are loners and do not hang out in a pride like Lions do.   If they were to go into battle against each other the Lions would always win (The Tigers are alone)  *Could you imagine if the Tigers got together to fight the Battle as a pride-  WOW…   That is the same of us Men….

Proverbs 27: 17 > As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.

As we go into battle alongside of each other it makes is much easier to win… or do the extraordinary that Jesus is calling us to do.   We do not always have to be the one walking on water – but we must be in the boat with the one who does. Your turn will come and those men will be there to help you take your extraordinary step of faith.
 
I have been blessed with a very big Boat of men that work with me to take those steps of faith that Jesus is calling us to do.   We help each other go forward and we are like a “Crash of Rhinos” that cannot be stopped. (That may be a theme some year)….   You would have to give me a call to know the meaning…
 

So do you have a Boat of Men?

Are you taking that nest step of faith to do the extraordinary?

Are you helping other men take that step?

 
Bobbyg

I attended a Men’s gathering at our church last Saturday and Pastor Ed Taylor from Calvary Aurora gave the message.   The title of the talks were “Where are You?” and he used the example of when God asked Adam “Where are You?”

Genesis 3: 8 & 9 – Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?”

Adam and Eve had just disobeyed God’s Commandment to not eat from the tree that was forbidden and now they were hiding from God.
The question that was asked of Adam could have been asked several times during this time of disobedience.
Adam where were you?

1. When Eve was being tempted by the serpent
2. When Eve was eating the apple
3. When you ate of the apple.

 
I named this Blog “Where are you Bobbyg?” because it made me think of the times that I may need to be asked this from God.  Some of the examples I came up with are.

• When I am asked to help at the church and come up with a reason not to help.
• When my sons get into trouble as – was I there to help or stand beside them.
• When my wife has a bad day at work and tells me about it when she comes home.
• A friend takes me to the side and explains his troubles in his marriage.
• **These are just a few examples but this question can be asked in all aspects of our daily life.

God has given us the Holy Spirit to help direct us to the right response when we are tasked with daily issues.   The question is: am I listening or am I being disobedient to what He is telling me to do.
My response should be as Isaiah responded… Isaiah 6:8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”

So when you look at your daily life is God asking you?

Where are you (your name)?

Are you willing to be have God send you?

Bobbyg
 

The 2017 GMM Conference was a great success and we had a great time…   Just a quick update on my last blog – I wrote about our Theme “Living the Legacy” and talked about a young man that was living the Legacy at the present time… He did pass away on Saturday night and now he has left an Awesome Legacy…
 
Now onto “The Power of a Young David!”   Pastor Jason shared the story of David and Goliath to the young men at the conference and there was a portion of his talk that I would like to share.   Jason talked about how young David was and how he made a difference to the men that were there with him.   If it was not for David the Older Men would have just stood around and done nothing because they were scared.   Because of David they followed him and won the battle…     Here are the verses I would like to share:

1 Samuel 17: 50>52

So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him. David ran and stood over him. He took hold of the Philistine’s sword and drew it from the sheath. After he killed him, he cut off his head with the sword. When the Philistines saw that their hero was dead, they turned and ran. Then the men of Israel and Judah surged forward with a shout and pursued the Philistines to the entrance of Gath and to the gates of Ekron.

 
Now you all know the rest of the story about David but as Pastor Jason shared it took a 16 year old young man to lead the other men into victory. David not only killed Goliath but he caused the enemy to turn and run and that is when the older men took courage and started to pursue the enemy. When I see our Young Men of today having “The Power of David” it gives me hope that they will be the one’s showing the older Men how to be courageous.  I see too many of my generation (older then 50) taking a seat and letting the younger Men fight the Battle. There is no such thing as retirement when we are fighting the spiritual battle.
So as look at my life – I try to pick out those young men who have helped me become bold and courageous (I have several).   I have to say that it humbles me when they are teaching me how to let others know about Jesus.   At the conference there were several young men from the University of Laramie that showed the strength of David (they were from Chi Alpha).   To see Young College Men sharing the gospel is a WOW moment.
 
So now about you:

Do you have Young Men helping you become Bold and Courageous?

Do you see the David’s that are part of your life?

Are you helping Young Men become David’s?

Bobbyg

The GMM Conference is only a few days away and with everything almost completed – I finally get some time to focus on what this year is about. As I am getting just a little bit older so are several of my friends and family members. All that means is that a few more of them have completed their journey are now in Heaven.
There have been a few special friends that passed away this year and the Theme of “Living the Legacy” (making a difference) really has come to light for me. Here are a few of the Men that made a difference:

1. My Dad: I always told my dad that he was the founder of GMM because he raised me to know the Jesus.  One special gift my dad had was that he met no strangers – if you were willing to talk he would visit…
2. Marty A.: If you were at the last year’s God’s Mighty Men’s conference you would have seen Marty helping at the Ticket table.  Marty had a gift of being a servant and if there was a need Marty would be there.
3. Pastor Bob C.: Pastor Bob was special to GMM – he was always looking for ways to help and his Pastor Blast was extremely unique and is on our Facebook Page. (it is a ways down on the page – https://www.facebook.com/FrontRangeGMM)  Pastor Bob was known throughout the Rodeo circuit and impacted many cowboys.

These men all had something in common – they made a difference and left a Legacy by Living the Legacy.   You knew they were different because of the impact on the people they encountered in helping make their lives better. At each of their life celebrations people stood up and gave testimony about how each of these men made a difference in their lives. These are the WOW moments.   People knew Jesus because of each of these men’s impact on their lives.
 
Now I would like to mention a young man that is “Living the Legacy” and making a difference today.   He is kind of a fourth son to me and is dying of cancer at the age of 38 but if you met him – he would change your life. The people that come to see him are more blessed then he was when they left. Steve was excited about telling people about Jesus and was looking for those moments to share his testimony.   Even through the pain you can see Jesus shining through him  Steve is a great example of what “Living the Legacy” (making a difference) is.   He is going to go to his eternal home in the next few days but his last few months were praising Jesus and sharing the gospel.   As Erwin McManus would say – Steve’s quiver of arrows will be empty when he goes home.
Of all these examples above it reminds me of the scripture:

2 Timothy 4:7

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

They all finished WELL……………………………………..   I could write stories on each of these men but you get a glimpse of what “Living the Legacy” means to me on these brief explanations of each of their lives.   They make me look at how do I Impact the lives that are in front of me and will my quiver of Arrows be empty when I go home.            Thank You.
See you Saturday.
Bobbyg

Every year I go hunting with some of my brothers, brother in-laws, sons, grandsons, nephews and great nephews for about a week. I do have to tell you that we do not take any guns so as not to take a chance of ruining a great hunting trip. If you shoot something the work starts….   We call it hunting so the ladies do not want to go – but they would if it was a great camping trip.   This is the guy’s week out.
We do this because it is really important for the guys in our family to just get to know each other better and have a great time.   By the way we shoot my bothers hat every year (we have done this for over 35 years) and we have created a tradition that the younger men count on. When we talk about “Living The Legacy” – this is exactly what we do with the young men that surround us. We Pray – We hold each other accountable for our Language (hunting camp Language can be questionable) and during the week there are times we can talk about our lives and how Jesus has impacted it.
 
I have to tell you that if you are not creating some “Man Time” you need to find a way to start it. The GMM Team has recognized that we as a group of men leading a Ministry also need some time together. We attempt to find some ways to just connect. It can be with a Cup of Coffee – Dinner – Fishing – or just a walk. I will tell you it can be hard at times to find TIME to connect, but we try to do our best to make some connect time during the year.
One of most important things in my life are my 2am guys… I have written a few blogs about this in the past and it is important that we as Men have a few of them.   These are the men that you can call at 2am and they will show up.   They are the men that will show up in times of trials and they will also hold you accountable. These men are a must for us guys…… I hope you can identify a few of them for yourself.
 

So how do you get “Man Time”?

Do you have a few 2am guys?

What traditions have you created that will make an impact on the others in your life? The shooting of my Brothers hat has a bigger impact on the younger men then what we expected….

 
Bobbyg
**By the way a Game Warden stopped us this year and asked how are hunting was doing. We said that we were having a great hunting trip – we did not bring any guns so we could not ruin it….   He just smiled………………….
 
 
 

I was in Spearfish SD over the weekend to visit my youngest son and we went to church at the Grace Fellowship church on Sunday. The Pastor’s sermon was on faith and the story of Moses being obedient to what God had commanded of him. The portion of his sermon that impacted me the most was: God had given Moses instructions on how to get water and Moses disobeyed Him and did it his way.

          Here are the verses:

Numbers 20: – 7 > 12. The Lord said to Moses, “Take the staff, and you and your brother Aaron gather the assembly together. Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water. You will bring water out of the rock for the community so they and their livestock can drink.” So Moses took the staff from the Lord’s presence, just as he commanded him. He and Aaron gathered the assembly together in front of the rock and Moses said to them, “Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?” Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff. Water gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank.  But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them.”

     Because Moses was not obedient to the specific instructions of God the Israelites lost their Blessing.
 
Then I started thinking about myself “Have I lost the Blessings of God?”…..   God still speaks directly to us today – not like he was speaking to Moses directly. I have heard his calling on my life in different ways, but I did have to get rid of allot of junk in my life to hear his voice (that is a different topic sometime in the future). What scares me the most is that if I am disobedient to the calling of Jesus – will that affect those around me? And will they lose the Blessing of God because of my Disobedience? WOW – something to really think about.
I have to tell you it has me really focused on what Jesus is telling me to specifically do and looking at what that means.   I believe that I have at times not been dis-obedient to what has been asked of me and I did lose the Blessing that could have been mine. I know that Moses is next to Jesus and I will be also – but this life will be allot better if I am obedient to HIS calling on me.
 

Have you lost your Blessings from God?

Are you being Obedient to what he is asking of you?

Have you caused those around you to lose their Blessings?

 
Bobbyg

Pastor Shaun was preaching out of Acts 10 on Sunday but there was a portion of his Scripture that really hit me with conviction of what I may be doing.
Here is the verses I will be writing about:

Acts 10: 27 > 29 – While talking with him, Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people. He said to them: “You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile. But God has shown me that I should not call anyone impure or unclean. So when I was sent for, I came without raising any objection.

     Pastor Shaun talked about how we are putting people in this category of Unclean People today. We are just as guilty as in the old days of being separated by are differences. Then Pastor Shaun did the unthinkable – he started talking about people we may consider Unclean today – It was convicting.
 
Here is a list I came up with.

1. How about Political parties (Democrat or Republican).
2. How about the Homeless People.
3. How about the people in Jail or on Probation.
4. How about someone from the LGBTQ.
5. One of my favorites right now – How about a football player who disrespects the National Anthem.
6. How about the poor or those who are on welfare.
7. How about people with addictions (Alcohol or Drugs).

**This list can be very long………..
I do have to tell you on a few of these I am guilty about putting them on my list of “The Unclean People”.   It is something that I really have to work on if I am going to show them the Love of Jesus.  Then I started wondering about how many lists of Unclean People I would be on…. Hmmmmmmm – I have to tell you that I would be on someone’s list.
 
There is one thing that all of us have in Common.   “We all need Jesus!” So we need to get rid of those lists then start doing as Peter did – Start telling them about the Love of Jesus…
 

So what does Your List of Unclean People look Like?

Do they see the Love Jesus coming through You?

Get rid of your lists today!

 Bobbyg

I have been reading the book “The Last Arrow (Save nothing for the next Life)” by Erwin McManus and I am really enjoying the book. It reminds me of how Erwin’s book the “Barbarian Way” got me back into doing ministry and working on getting GMM started.   The inspiring part of this book is that Erwin wrote it before he found out he had cancer – now the book is even more relevant to our daily lives.      You will have to get a copy and read it….
The verse > 2 Timothy 4:7 – I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith > came to mind as I am reading this book.   When we die and look back at our life – What will that look like? “Will we have finished the Race Well?”
Our theme for this year’s GMM conference is “Living the Legacy” and because of several funerals I have attended this year the theme has made a big impact on me. At each of these funerals several people stood up and talked about how the deceased had made an impact on their lives. The deceased had left a Legacy. So when I think about “Living the Legacy” I have to focus on what am I doing today so that when I die: Will there be someone standing up and explaining how I made a difference in their life…
 
I would like to share a few portions of the book…

• You must not allow fear to steal your future, and every day that you walk on this earth you must make sure you save nothing for the next life. You must never allow fear to keep you grounded. The moment you choose to play it safe, you’ve lost the game. Instead of running from your fears, lean into them, for on the other side of them is the future you long for. These moments form character and forge the future.
• The last Arrow is a call to never settle about what God intends to do with your life. You have to know what matters; you have to know who you are; you have to know what your life is to be given to. For in the end, the one thing where you must never settle for less is the calling that God has on your life, the purpose for which he has created you, the impact He designed you to make in the world.

So my question to you is:

Are you going to finish the Race Well?

How are you impacting the people in front of you?

Will your quiver be empty when you die?

 

Bobbyg