I am reading a Devotional by the Duck Dynasty Flock – and it is great….   Willie was writing on this scripture below and it hit me in many areas of my Daily life that I thought I would share some of my inspirations about the verse (and a few experiences).
Luke: 5:19-20> 19. But they couldn’t reach him because of the crowd. So they went up to the roof and took off some tiles. Then they lowered the sick man on his mat down into the crowd, right in front of Jesus. 20. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the man, “Young man, your sins are forgiven.”
So my thoughts go to:  Do we really do whatever it takes in our daily lives to let people know about Jesus?   I have always believed that our ministry is the person in front of us at the present time.   That can mean the Grocery Checkout person – the Waitress or Waiter – The person taking your money at the Store – How about the person sitting next to you at Church – or the one you just passed on the Road.   When we look at doing ministry in this way – there is one key ingredient – it takes a little bit of our Time to accomplish the mission.
When I am driving:  I am one of those persons that gets from one spot to the next as fast as I can with very few stops.  In my work – I get to travel Wyoming allot and have had those moments when I should have stopped to help someone but knew it would slow me down – so I kept on going.   God has been working on me in this area – a few years back I went by a few of these in need -something happened.   When I got a few miles down, I was extremely prompted to turn around – God was at work and he knew that I struggled with taking a little bit of time out of my current mission of getting where I was going.
Let me explain what happened on a few of these encounters – God had a Mission for me to do.
I stopped for a Grandmother – Mom and Daughters… They had been there for a while and their first comment was.  You must be a Christian – we have been here for a while and no one has stopped – we have been praying for someone like you to stop.   My internal response was “WOW”
Another time it was blowing snow on I80 and I went past a stranded car – @ 5 miles down I had to turn around.  This couple was sitting in a very cold car and all they needed was a push to get them started (it only took me 2 minutes of my time).  They had been sitting there for a while.    (My personnel question to myself was – why did I not stop when I came upon them – they were colder a little bit longer because of me.)

Are you listening to those promptings from God – to do whatever it takes to help someone?   Are you one of those people who has a mission of their own and has a problem taking a little bit of time to do What God is calling you to do?

As in the scripture above – we should be looking for ways to help people in need – especially if it is the Healing that only Jesus can give!

Look for those moments and do Whatever it Takes!!

Bobbyg

I have been traveling for a week at the present time – so sorry it has taken me so long to write another Blog.   I am currently in Gatlinburg TN and the weather has finally turned nice – so Diane and I have enjoyed several walks.
On my way here I had the pleasure of listening to the Book “Happy Happy Happy” by Phil Robertson from Duck Dynasty.  It is a great read if you have not read it yet…   At the end he talks about the Great Commission that has been given to us at the end of Matthew.
Matthew: 28: 18-20 > 18 Then Jesus came to them. He said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 So you must go and make disciples of all nations. Baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach them to obey everything I have commanded you. And you can be sure that I am always with you, to the very end.”
Phil tells the stories of the people he has brought to Christ – and that he finds ways to tell them of Jesus Christ and his salvation…   In one part he is at the Astrodome in New Orleans and has spent @ one hour telling over 1,000 people how to use his duck calls – and then he proceeds to preach for 45 minutes from his Bible.   This is being Bold about what you Believe IN.
We drove through the Bible belt in KS and OK coming here – they have Big Bill Boards with messages about Jesus….   Someone has been Bold enough to put up the monies to post these messages.
When we arrived in Gatlinburg – we went for a walk downtown on Saturday….   There were these 2 guys that you HAD to pass by on the side walk and they were handing out Smiley Faces…  “Smile Jesus Loves You” – Along with the Smiley face was a Track to explain How to get to Heaven.  This took allot of Boldness – but they were handing out hundreds of them – and they had built a ministry in doing this.  http://sowersofseed.com
My biggest question to you is:   Do the people around you know that you are a Christian….   One of my biggest disappointments in my work was when a co-worker was complaining about Jesus Freaks and then looked at me and asked…  “You aren’t of them are you”?    I never want to get asked that again – but it has taken some Boldness to get me out of my comfort zone to make sure that it does not.

 So as you go forward this week – where does your Boldness come from – do the people around you know that you are a Christian?  Can you tell them about HIS saving Grace and how to get to heaven?

Bobbyg

 

On my last Blog I talked about Randy Gradishar sharing that what is required from us for Obedience to Christ is Simple.   Well my Daily devotion today addressed that topic – but expanded a little more into the fact that simplicity may require some courage on our part to make us successful.
Here is the Scripture that went with it:                  Joshua 1:6-8 – ⁶ Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them.⁷ “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. ⁸ Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
**This is the Devotion:  (by Cole R) –  “Fear enslaves and confines us.  Anxiety and worrying can devour our minds and take over our thoughts.  But God tells us not to fear and to be strong and courageous.  God wants us to lay our fears aside so we can have a life filled with things that are pleasing to Him.  Don’t think of being strong and courageous as being a hero of saving someone’s life, think of it as doing the little things.  Like maybe:
         **Paying for someone’s Coffee at Starbucks
         **Helping an Elderly lady at the gas pump
         **Saying Hello to someone in the Hallway at school or office
God needs you to be strong and courageous through the little things day by day.”
As you can see – it does not take much to be successful in our Obedience to Christ and have him be evident in our Daily lives.  We do not have a book of LAWS to follow to keep us going forward in the right direction – but we do have the Power of the Holy Spirit within us that will be our guide.

As you go forward this week – look for those simple things that will allow Christ to shine through you.  It does not have to be one of the items above – but please come up with something that will let your light shine.

          **Pay for the person’s meal behind you at McDonalds
          **Grabbing the Cart from someone in the Wal-Mart parking lot and take it inside or to the Cart return
          **Send someone a Card.
 Be Courageous in the Simple things you do this week…..
Bobbyg
 

This is our Fifth Conference and I have to admit – this is the first one that I have actually sat down and really enjoyed the whole event from the inside.   As the GMM CEO – I have always been concerned about different aspects of the Conference and rarely make it inside.  So I only get to enjoy a portion of the event…  never again will I miss out from enjoying it from the inside.    Normally I become so intense and rarely smile that it takes me several days to calm down – on several occasions I can walk by someone that I know – and not even recognize them……  (Just ask Lester)…
I had the pleasure of inviting a young man (Brexton) to join me this year and help me out…    It is sad to say that it sometimes takes the young men of this world to get us re-focused on the important stuff.   Because of Brexton I smiled a couple of times and committed to being on the inside during conference.   I do have to admit it was not easy and it still took me several days to un-wind – but it was amazing (My wife asked me if I was OK at the end – I was in a daze).
“Brexton – Thank You”
What I would like to present to everyone who may have been there are the 5 items that we would want you to take away from the conference and I am going to answer them personally….  So please take time to answer them also.
**If you were not at the Conference – these are areas that you should be working on at all time.

 “Radical Truth and Grace”

GMM 2014 Men’s Conference

•   “To stand up and band together”:   It was great to be in one room and get to worship with a large group of believers with one purpose – to praise the Lord…  The worship team did an Awesome Job at leading us – and if you did not know it – they came from 7 different Church’s.   So – Yes – it was an awesome time be able to Band together with a great group of MEN.
•  “With encouragement and the power that the Holy Spirit gives – all men will go back as warriors”:    I was personally blessed by all the messages the speakers brought…  I can tell you that the message brought out that Jesus is our Role model on going forward as men of God.  As Randy had stated – we need to finish well as Champions for Christ and that his obedience to him in our lives is simple…   *if someone is hungry – feed them.   If someone needs clothes – give them your Bronco Jacket….
• “Your Relationship with Christ would be enhanced to a new spiritual level”:  I have to tell you – I get the pleasure of working up to this one…   In planning for the Conference I get to experience the work of God first hand and it is amazing what that does for my personal relationship with him.  But Yes – My relationship with Christ was even taken to a higher level through the Conference.
• “Your ministry would be enhanced with a greater passion”:   This one I will have to work on – my ministry going forward is being tweaked some and there will be some extreme soul searching on where Christ will be taking that.   The Passion is still there – but at a greater level – not sure just yet – but I see Hope in the Future and Promise of a Greater Passion.
• “You would go forth and support your pastor and his vision”:    1^st and for most – you must belong to a Local church for this to Happen…..   I am proud to say that I go to Calvary Chapel and have an amazing Pastor by the name of Shaun Sells…  It is easy to support Shaun’s Vision and I really like him – he has a great sense of humor – but most of all – I really enjoy his interpretation of the Bible.   My act of worship this year will be to get to know Pastor Shaun so that I can help him in his vision.  I am excited to go forward in this church and I know that he supports me.   (Shaun – it may have to wait until June – I am gone the rest of the month for Mother’s day and Vacation in Tennessee).

So the challenge is to look at each of these items in your daily life and find ways to work on them 365 days a year.   GMM has come up with a new Card and on the front is:    “GMM365” – meaning we should be God’s Mighty Men every day…

If you would like some cards – please send me an email.

gmmgodsmightymen@yahoo.com

Bobbyg

I posted this a couple of months ago and would like to bring it forward once more…  enjoy
I have been enjoying talking about our GMM 2014 Men’s Conference theme this year “Radical Truth and Grace”.  https://godsmightymen.com/  — So several of the guys have come up with meaning for each of the (Radical – Truth – Grace) and I would like to share some of their insight…
Definitions:
Radical:   It literally means to get back to the origin or root.  It also means setting a foundation or going against the norm.  (Obviously the root we’re trying to get back to is Jesus)
Radical:

1.  Of or going to the root of origin: fundamental
2. Thorough going or extreme, especially as regards change from accepted or traditional forms
3. Favoring drastic political, economic, or social reforms
4. Forming a basis or foundation
5. Existing inherently in a thing or person

Truth:  When Christ came to Earth He did and said things against the norm.  He set a foundation of Truth for the Church.  He declared himself as the root of Salvation.
Truth:

1.  The true or actual state of a matter
2. Conformity with fact or reality: verity
3. A verified or indisputable fact, proposition, principle, or the like
4. The state or character of being true
5. Actuality or actual existence.

Grace:  The radical part of grace is so many Christians expect God to grant them grace while they then to Not give grace to others.  Grace doesn’t say what we are doing is Okay.  God’s grace says He will still love us DESPITE our sin and/or shortcomings and so we should demonstrate the same to others.
Grace:

1.  Favor or goodwill
2. A manifestation of favor, especially by a superior
3. Mercy: clemency: pardon
4. Elegance or beauty of form, manner, motion, or action.
5. A Pleasing or attractive quality or endowment.

The above is something to ponder on and see what you can come up with as how it pertains to you and how do you live it…
The best example I like to use is this story:
6They were saying this, testing Him, so that they might have grounds for accusing Him. But Jesus stooped down and with His finger wrote on the ground. 7But when they persisted in asking Him, He straightened up, and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8Again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. 9When they heard it, they began to go out one by one, beginning with the older ones, and He was left alone, and the woman, where she was, in the center of the court. 10Straightening up, Jesus said to her, “Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?” 11She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “I do not condemn you, either. Go. From now on sin no more.”]
It is the last part that I look at and see Radical Truth and Grace – Jesus did not condemn her – but at the same time he told her to go and sin no more…    Can we do the same???????

 As you look at your week —  look at doing the same – Truth normally comes easy for us to tell people what they should be doing – but the Giving Grace can be a bit harder…

 Bobbyg

My Pastor Shawn started a new Sermon series this week and he talked a little about 1 Thessalonians…   and told us we needed to read it about 42 times in the next few weeks (Well maybe not 42 times but allot).   In my study Bible is has a section for “Check List for Encouragers” and when you read the list – we should all have this gift or be working on how to be an Encourager…  The Scripture comes from 1 Thessalonians 5:  11-23.
1 Thessalonians 5:11-23  ¹¹ Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

Final Instructions

² 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. ¹⁴ And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. ¹⁵ Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.¹⁶ Rejoice always, ¹⁷ pray continually, ¹⁸ give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.¹⁹ Do not quench the Spirit. ²⁰ Do not treat prophecies with contempt ²¹ but test them all; hold on to what is good, ²² reject every kind of evil.²³ May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Here is a list of what some of the examples are:

•           Build each other up
•           Respect Leaders
•           Live in Peace
•           Warn the Idle
•           Encourage the timid
•           Help the Weak
•           Be Patient
•           Resist revenge
•           Be joyful
•           Pray continually
•           Give Thanks
•           Do not put out the Spirits Fire
•        Avoid every kind of evil
•           Count on the God’s Constant help

As you can see this is a long list of examples for us to build into our everyday lives… I have highlighted the one I would like to work on this week…   I would encourage you to pick one to work on this week..
It is going to be a great week to work on what you see as “Radical Truth and Grace” and these are some great ways to do it…
Hope to see you at the GMM Conference this weekend.
Bobbyg
 
 
 

 
From the Pres….   (Jim S)
GMM Brothers,
 God’s power is amazingly!
For we who believe His love and forgiveness is beyond all understanding.
There’s is no love stronger, more lasting and true then His. The promise of grace, love and forgiveness given by the resurrection is a blessing that should not end with our acceptance but is to be amplified and reflected in how we live.
              Tell all who are not saved, you can be forgiven!
 When we accept the forgiveness of Christ, it brings the wonderful gift of profound joy. In Christ we find rest for a weary heart, freedom from shame, and the hope for a glorious future.
 Turn your heart and soul toward Jesus. Confess your need for His love and allow the blood of His sacrifice to cover every part of your life.
 For He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9
 God Bless,

This is one of the biggest weekends for us – this is why we call ourselves Christians and our hope comes from Jesus as he goes through his obedience to the Cross…
Jesus is the one we use as an Example to show what “Radical Truth and Grace” means and we are to use him as our Example to live a Christ like life.
I have copied a few versus that have really inspired me this weekend :
From the book of John – it shows that through Jesus Glory of the being God’s only son that he was Grace and Truth that came to earth…
John 1:14
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
          This one I really liked – Moses had brought the Law and then there came Jesus – he was bringing change to a world that was not ready for it in those days – what he brought was a Radical Change…  something that no one was ready for…  it is one of those WOW moments….
The Word Made His Dwelling among Us
John1:  16For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace. 17For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ. 18No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.
          This verse tells it all about TRUTH – it is was sets us free from the earthly things of this world and brings us closer to Christ…   It is only through the truth that Jesus has brought and in his word we can see how to live in this world we are in at the present time….   I know through his truth – life becomes a who lot easier to take……………………..
John 8:32
Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
         This is the best part – GRACE –  it is a gift given to us that is free and not deserved but given to us anyway.   We are Saved and will have eternal life with him if only Believe…     Grace is an Action that you will see us focus on bringing that to life in our own lives…   The Big Question is:   Can we give Grace to all of those around us – just as Christ has given Grace to us…   It is by being in his word (Truth) that we can see how to do this…   Look at the life of Christ and see how he how he did this…    Giving Grace to all of those around us….
Eph 2:7-10  That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.  (8)  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:  (9)  Not of works, lest any man should boast.  (10)  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Grace is giving someone what they do not deserve — can you do that to those around you – it is not an easy concept to live up to – but when you your life exemplifies this – it is when you see Christ working through you – WOW….

 It is a great weekend….

“Radical Truth and Grace”

 
Bobbyg

A note from the GMM President:  Jim S.
The chronical of Jesus during His final days is a sad story.
 We are told of the last supper with those He loved. told of His betrayal, His pain and ultimately of His death.
 But there is more, for those of us who believe there is so much more! The story of Easter doesn’t end with a rock rolled in front of the tomb.
 It is the witnessed account of victory beyond this life and includes the triumph and joy of His Amazing Grace.

This Easter take a moment to gather with family and friends to reflect on the Radical Truth of His life and the gift of Grace we have been freely given.
 Have a Blessed and Happy Easter

 

I have a Daily Devotional that I read every day from the Duck Commander – it is awesome…   Willie just wrote a series of Devotionals about Joseph and it is one more person that reminded about our GMM 2014 Men’s Conference Theme…   You will see me writing about this theme up to May 3^rd.
“Radical Truth and Grace”                   As you know the story of Joseph and the Jealousy of his brothers had towards him, because of their father’s favoritism towards him…   Eventually they kidnapped him – dumped him in a pit – but then sold him into Slavery.  Some of us who have younger Brothers can relate to the Brothers and may have done the same if we could.  My youngest Brother was also favored – and by my Grand Parents also…. but we did not hurt him too much.
But now Joseph was different in another way – the Lord was with Joseph the whole time he was in captivity and he prospered in his circumstances…
Genesis: 39: 2 & 3 – 2The Lord was with Joseph so that he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master. 3When his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord gave him success in everything he did…………….
               The same can be for us if our focus is on Christ and we are in his word…. we can prosper through all the tough times and temptations.   When we look at the truth that Christ has given us and are obedient to his calling for us – we will be successful.   This is the Radical Truth of Joseph – he believed in the Lords calling on him and was Obedient to the path that was given to him.
Now comes the Radical Grace part of Joseph…   As you know the rest of the story – famine came upon the country and eventually his brothers had come to him for help.  Joseph had a choice to make – and he had the power to administer justice to his brothers and they would be deserving of it.   But what was his response???
Genesis 45: 4 > 7:  4Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come close to me.” When they had done so, he said, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! 5And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. 6For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will be no plowing and reaping. 7But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. ^A
 How many of us could have done what Joseph did – giving Grace to your brothers who do not deserve it.   But like Joseph we can do the same – Christ has given us the example of what Radical Grace truly is.

• Can we look back and see God’s hand at work in our Lives?
•  Can we respond the same way as Joseph did?
• Can we see Joy through all the trials and temptations that are put in our path?

 As you start your week – look at the story of Joseph and compare it to what Christ might have in store for you – but then make it your goal to respond as Joseph did – IN Obedience!!

“Radical Truth and Grace”

 Bobbyg