I have been looking at what does the Manger mean to me…..?????   Pastor Shaun started off a Christmas series this last Sunday at church and did a great job on explaining who Jesus really is and it helped me think about the Manger.
          This was one of the Miracles that is celebrated every year and at times it can be overshadowed by all of the busy events of the season and the real reason is forgotten.   It has taken me a while to start enjoying Christmas again because of the distractions that take us away from the real reason of Christmas, but retiring from the Post Office has really helped this year…..   Go Figure… and my Wife and Grandkids help allot also.
          I have been blessed with a great attitude of Christmas this year and decorated the outside of my home but  I would still like to find a Manager to put out front…. (If anyone can help please let me know). 
           To me the Manger has a meaning:   That is when God became Man just as I am and he dwelt among us.   At this time Jesus went through everything that I have to go through everyday and he showed me how I can LIVE.   
 This is one of my favorite songs about the Birth of Christ is > Enjoy and please listen to the words – just click on the button:

“Mary did you know” – By Pentatonix:  [button link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifCWN5pJGIE” newwindow=”yes”]

 

          This time of year I really enjoy listening to great songs about Jesus birth and the music goes full blast.   I have a couple of other favorite songs that I will share in my next few Blogs.   My wife has been giving me a hard time in the past few weeks about turning the TV to the Hallmark channel to really enjoy the stories of Christmas.   She says I am really getting soft – well maybe, but they have some really good movies. 
 
So my question to you is:

How are you dealing with Christmas – is it good or is it a struggle?

During this time of year – do you turn to all the great tools out there that bring the true meaning of Christmas?

When people greet you – do they see the reason for the Season in you?  

Enjoy saying “Merry Christmas!”

 
Bobbyg                              “Christmas is everyday”

 

 
 
 
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      A friend from the Post Office who is also retired posted this song and stated that it was not a normal Christmas Song – but it really fit the season.  I have to tell you it put me to tears listening to the song and for me it is all about Christmas.  Especially this part: 

The light you have – I pray we’ll find your light – will be in the heart – and hold it in our hearts.  To remember us that – when stars go out each night, – you are eternal star.

This is the Christ that I know and he is my eternal Light….   
Please listen to the song:  The Prayer by Celine Dion and Josh Groban Live: (click on this button)  [button link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbviXG_56ss” newwindow=”yes”] 
The words are below: 
      This upcoming year is going to be a year of change and leadership that we will have the pleasure of experiencing together.  But as Franklin Graham recently stated in a letter:   “America is still a sin-saturated and divided nation, and our leader himself is a leader with human flaws.  But only God can heal and restore a nation – and that comes through committed, faithful prayer”.   As the song stated let this be our prayer and when you read the words it points to Christ….   
Mike Pence stated after the election that he was “Grateful to God for His amazing Grace”.      AMEN
      As we start the Christmas season let us not forget the reason for the season – it is all about Jesus…  My prayer this Christmas season is that I am bold enough to tell people about the Light that leads me each day and keeps me safe – that is Christ.  
So this Christmas season what will be your prayer?

Who is your Light?

Who brings your wisdom and vision?

Where is your safe place?

 
Bobbyg

I pray you’ll be our eyes
And watch us where we go
And help us to be wise
In times when we don’t know

Let this be our prayer
As we go our way
Lead us to a place
Guide us with your Grace
To a place where we’ll be safe

La luce che tu dai
I pray we’ll find your light
Nel cuore restera
And hold it in our hearts
A ricordarci che
When stars go out each night
L’eterna stella sei

Nella mia preghiera
Let this be our prayer
Quanta fede c’e
When shadows fill our day
Lead us to a place
Guide us with your grace
Give us faith so we’ll be safe.

Sogniamo un mondo senza piu violenza
Un mondo di giustizia e di speranza
Ognuno dia la mano al suo vicino
Simbolo di pace e di fraternita

La forza che ci dai
We ask that life be kind
E’il desiderio che
And watch us from above
Ognuno trovi amore
We hope each soul will find
Intorno e dentro a se
Another soul to love

Let this be our prayer
Let this be our prayer
Just like every child
Just like every child

Needs to find a place,
Guide us with your grace
Give us faith so we’ll be safe

 

I just want to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving….    it has been a great year for me and I am extremely thankful for:

1. I have a Great wife who puts up with me.
2. I retired this year.
3. I was able to spend more time with my Grand Kids.
4. The GMM Conference was really good
5. The elections are over and we can now go forward.
6. The Franklin Graham – Decision America Tour that I helped with.

I was just getting started – so please think back on what you are Thankful for this year.
I want to share a song that I heard today:   “Angels Among Us…   This has been a year that it was really evident that I had 20,000 Angels looking out for me….  so enjoy:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_4Xfj2LRSA
Bobbyg
 

         I have experienced some situations over the years that have surprised me on when people pray at unusual circumstances (current and in the past).   I have to tell you that I am not really comfortable praying out loud in public such as Restaurants, Prayer meetings with Pastors, in front of a large crowds, and the list goes on.   I am getting better, but situations recently having me really thinking.
          Let me give you a few examples:

1.  Before I retired from the Post Office I experienced something that just really surprised me.   I called a secretary in Denver who was wanting a Gas Receipt that I could not find and she stated well let’s Pray about it.   Her Prayer was powerful over a lost receipt.
2. Just recently my wife was looking for a lost item in a dumpster behind a restaurant that was really important.  One of the employees came out to assist and then started praying to Jesus to help find the important item.   Within a few minutes the lost item was found – then the helper prayed and thanked Jesus. WOW
3. I was at a meeting recently and situations were presented before the group and the leader then asked someone to pray immediately for that situation.
4. I have a Pastor friend who will ask the waitress who is serving us if they need prayers before we to pray for the meal… (He always gets to pray).

This is something that I would not have done – but I have to tell you that I was really impressed with the people who prayed… 
 
So now back to my Question:  When is it Time to Pray?   The scripture states that we should be praying without ceasing –

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18:  1 Thessalonians 5:16-Rejoice always,  pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

So we should always be praying…  but after experiencing some of the situations described above – I believe that I need to be ready to be Bold in praying for people at any time (even out loud).  I know that this will take practice and Christ will be there to give me the words that are needed – “I just need to DO IT!”

So are you ready to Pray at any time?

Are you looking for those Situations where you can Pray?

Are you being Bold in your Prayer Life?

Remember the Scripture – Pray without ceasing.

 Bobbyg

     We had a great GMM Conference this last Saturday and there were great speakers – Matt Heard’s message was a Powerful message on LIFE.  But one of the Pastor Blasts that really spoke to me was from Pastor Daniel and his message about how God Works.  I have to tell you that Pastor Daniel was not able to finish his message before Lester pulled him off with the HOOK. 
          Pastor Daniel was explaining how God did his work when he created the world:

1. He created the Heavens – then he put the Stars in them.
2. He created the Seas – then he put the fish in them.
3. He created the Garden – then he put Adam and Eve in it.

He did not get to tell the rest of the story – so I get to finish it the way that I believe he was going to finish it for me.   We will have to take him off to the side and let him finish the rest of the story – then post it on the GMM Web Site. So now I get to finish the rest of the Story in my words…………
          I believe that he was going to tell me that God has created situations just for me and then placed me in them.  It may be on a daily situation or it could be on a long term situation.   My question to myself is:

1.  Can I see what He has created for me (Daily or Long Term)?
2. How am I doing – Adam and Eve failed am I doing the same?
3. Am I utilizing my Gifts to their fullest to accomplish what God has created for me?

These are going to be questions that I really need to focus and pray about.   I must be engaging if I am to be obedient to what God has placed me in.
 
Now the question for you is?

Where has God put you?

Can you see the situation that God has created for you?

How are you doing – are you utilizing your Talents to the upmost GOOD?

 
Bobbyg

         As a follow-up from last week’s blog about our GMM Conference Theme of “Relentless “ Engaging Men to be fully alive, I thought I would try to tackle what is “Relentless”.   Once again what does that mean – it is another action word that has a different meaning for each of us.  I looked up a Simple definition and here is what I came up with:

Simple Definition of relentless

1. Continuing without becoming weaker, less severe, etc.

2. remaining strict or determined.

     Well this did not help very much in trying to identify Relentless in my own personal life, so I did a further search on the meaning of Relentless.   I came across an article from Jon Bloom and this one really helped in trying to identify how I can become “Relentless” in my walk with Jesus.
          Please read and enjoy….
  Article by – Jon Bloom (he describes Relentless as Gritty)
He uses this scripture as an example of Relentless:

(1 Corinthians 15:58) Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

**Then here are some great examples he gives of people in the Bible”

The Bible is replete with gritty examples:

◾Noah building a huge ship over decades as he waited for the fulfillment of God’s promise.

◾Abraham and Sarah living like strangers in the land of promise and waiting a quarter century into old age as they waited for the fulfillment of God’s promised child.

◾Jacob serving his devious uncle, Laban, for many years as he waited for the fulfillment of God’s promises.

◾Joseph languishing in an Egyptian prison as he waited for the fulfillment of God’s promise.

◾Moses leading the recalcitrant Israelites in the wilderness for 40 years as he waited for the fulfillment of God’s promises.

◾And “time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David, Samuel, and the prophets” (Hebrews 11:32), and of Mary, the disciples, and Paul.

******And Jesus. Jesus, the man of such sorrows as we’ll never know, who in the garden, facing a horror that only God could experience, said to his Father, “not what I will, but what you will” (Mark 14:36) and moved with relentless determination to the cross. Never has more grit for the sake of love ever been seen.

    These examples have really challenged me on what I can to do achieve what God would have be do and go forward in a way that will glorify Him.   I do see that “Relentless” is a long term goal and something that will not happen in a moment – so I have to be patient. 
          ***I do have to tell you that I am excited to see what the Speakers have been enlightened with from the Holy Spirit this weekend as they explain what it means to them.    It is going to be an AWESOME SATURDAY MORNING>
 

I normally write a challenge – but the only thing I can challenge you with today is to come Saturday be BLESSED.

Bobbyg

          Part of the GMM Theme for this year’s Conference is: “Relentless” “Engaging men to be fully alive” – so the question is what does that mean.   It can mean allot of different things for each man – which includes me.   I have been struggling on how Christ would have me become fully alive – and he has given me some hints lately which I will share in a minute.
 
   For now here is what the GMM President has said about it:  (Jim S.)

We hope to challenge men to consider their role in “God’s Plan”.  God has called men to be role models and leaders in our homes, churches and communities.

 
   Our main speaker this year is Matt Heard and on his web site The Gathering is where we got the term of engaging men to be fully alive.  One of their goals is:

We exist to honor and glorify God by focusing our energies on, reaching out to our community, teaching the love and truth of the Bible, and sending as many as we can out into the world with the good news of forgiveness and life through Jesus Christ.

 
So as you see I have not really answered the question of what this means – but I can tell you at the conference it will be explained in a more meaningful way. 
 
          Now for me:  One way Christ has called me recently to be more engaged and fully alive has been with a new resolution that was put out by our City Council.   It was a non-discrimination bill that could affect Christians and what they believe in.  I have been forwarding emails about how to get engaged and how to help in trying to get this ordinance stopped, but I was not doing anything.   I was convicted while in a prayer moment to get engaged – so I did what I had been writing about.  I cannot tell you if I had any part in helping, but the City Council member I wrote to, passed an amendment to the resolution to protect Christians in their beliefs (I hope it is enough to help).
          During this process one of the Pastors (BK) stated that we may not have won, but I am praying that this will get Men to engage in presenting their Christian beliefs.   I enjoyed his saying to one of the opponents after telling them how well they did and how they were very well organized.  He stated that you may have “Awakened a Sleeping Giant”.
          My hope is that they have – it is time for Christians to speak out on what our Beliefs is Jesus are.   We cannot just sit back anymore and be doormat – we must be awakened and be engaged.  Once I became engaged I can tell you the feeling of being fully alive started to burn a little – it felt good.
 

So what does Engaging Men to be fully alive mean to you?

Are you engaging?

Christ has given us the Power to be Bold and share our Beliefs – are You?

 

Bobbyg

     About a month ago I was sitting in a waiting room at the hospital and just happen to start a conversation with the person next to me…   We ended up talking about our Faith and then the person asked me “Does God Speak to You?”  I had to pause for a second because I was not sure what I had gotten myself into.  But then the person went on to say that they had been told God only speaks to us through the Bible.   This person lives in the on a Ranch and during their prayer walk in the wilderness God will be speaking to them.  This person just wanted to reaffirm that they were hearing from God.
          I had to explain my experience when God started speaking to me.   It was not until I cleared my heart of some malice towards a person that I really wanted to be dead that He was able to speak to me.  I believe that we need to clear our Hearts before God can really reveal Himself to us.  When I started praying for the Salvation of this person I did not like – God Spoke.  I want you to know I had to look around in the Car to make sure no one else was there – I was driving north on I25.  
           So when I had breakfast with a really good Pastor Friend of mine yesterday he explained that God was speaking to him.   For two weeks I could not get in touch with him.   I asked him if he was on a Mission trip and out of the country (Not taking my call was not something that would happen – well maybe).   This Pastor has allot of wisdom when it comes to seeking God’s will in his life, so he went to God and asked Him about where he should be going.  He took two weeks off and shut everything off (including his phone) so that he could visit with God about Direction.   He now has this Glow that I believe must look like a Moses Glow when God spoke to him. 
 
          So I have learned that when you are Seeking God’s Presence and really want to visit with Him – You need some Wilderness Time.   You must clear your Heart of anything that would keep Him from being able to connect with you.  Then enjoy the conversation  He is going to reveal His will to you and it is a really great experience when you really talk to Jesus.  Then get ready for what He is going to say – When God Talks – You must listen and Obey. 
          I have to tell you that when God spoke to me – I was obedient to His call and was transformed and my relationship with Jesus was changed. 
 

So has Jesus been talking to you?

Have you cleared your heart so that you can hear His voice?

Be ready to be Obedient for what He is going to speak to you.

 

Bobbyg

 

         

     I normally do not get into politics when I write my blogs, but this week after hearing all of the accusations going around against both of the Presidential candidates I thought I would write something.  First of all I have already voted so that I can quit listening to all the new stuff coming out.  If you want to know who I voted for – that will have to be over a cup of coffee.
          My biggest question to myself is:   “Can Jesus use someone who is so Deplorable and broken?”  Both Candidates have a past that has come to the fore front to haunt them and it has made this campaign ugly.   But to answer my question I only have to look to the Bible to find the answer…

1.  Peter when he denied Jesus 3 times was broken the moment he did it.  Look what happened after this – Christ built his rock on Peter.
2. David committed murder and was an adulterer – with a repentant heart look what he wrote in Psalms.
3. Jonah tried to run away from God and ended up in a Fish – after he spent a little bit of quite time he became the Man that God could work through.
4. Paul –   Broken in so many ways and had a past of murdering Christians – what happened after an encounter with Christ – he became the most powerful asset for our Christian Faith.

 
     So back to my main Question to myself.   “Can Jesus use someone who is so Deplorable and broken?” and the answer is Yes He can.   I have been broken as have so many people around me – This is when Christ does His best work through us.   He has taken those bad situations we have encountered and molded us so that He can work through us in some very powerful ways. 
     One of the main responses I have to accomplish is to have a repentant heart – when that happens I hear the Voice of the Holy Spirit working inside of me.   This can happen to Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton also.   If they are repentant – they can become the Leader that Christ would have them be and they will be led by the Holy Spirit…  We must be praying that this will happen. 
 

Through all of this I must remember that God is in control and He knows who is going to take this Country forward.  He will use them for His purpose to accomplish His will.

I just need to Trust in HIM>>>

Bobbyg

As the GMM Team prepares for the upcoming 2016 Conference things seem to get more serious than what they should.   This morning after reading a few items on Facebook and my emails it reminded me that we have to stop and laugh at times.   Our GMM president recently posted something on his Facebook and he commented that it was “Good Silliness”.    
This is something that I kept in my achieves – enjoy reading and have a brighter day….

 The Fifteen Funniest Church Bulletin Bloopers!

1. The Low Self-Esteem Support Group will meet Thursday at 7:00.  Please use the back door.
2. Berth Belch, a missionary from Africa, will be speaking tonight.  Come her Bertha Belch all he way from Africa.
3. Weight Watchers will meet at 7 p.m.  Please use large double door at the side entrance.
4. Usher will eat latecomers.
5. Don’t let worry kill you off – let the church help.
6. Next Thursday there will be tryouts for the choir.  They need all the help they can get.
7. The outreach committee has enlisted 25 visitors to make calls on people who are not afflicted with any church.
8. Pastor is on vacation.  Massages can be given to the church secretary.
9. Potluck supper:  Prayer and medication to follow.
10. This being Easter Sunday, we will ask Mrs. Lewis to come forward and lay an egg on the altar.
11. A bean supper will be held on Tuesday evening in the church hall.  Music will follow.
12. Ladies, don’t forget the rummage sale.  It’s a chance to get rid of those things not worth keeping around the house.  Bring your husbands.    (This was my favorite)
13. The third verse of Blessed Assurance will be sung without musical accomplishment.
14. Announcement in a church bulletin for National Prayer & Fasting Conference.  “The cost for attending the Fasting & Prayer conference includes meals.”
15. Ladies Bible Study will be held Thursday morning at 10 am.  All ladies are invited to lunch in the fellowship hall after B. S. is done. 

So today – remember to laugh and while you are at it

– please pass it on to those you encounter and get them to laugh also.

Bobbyg