I had this question going through my head most of last night “What If?” and I was coming up with allot of What If’s….   This is a great question when you are looking at situations that you encounter and need to know what to do…
          I googled the Question “What if?” and here is some insight on one of the hits:

The Power of “What If” Questions

Almost all of us have experienced those sleepless nights running through scenario after scenario, wondering “what if.”

These “what ifs” don’t pay off. They remove your strength, undermine your influence, and make you bow to the negative. When given enough power, they can break you.

 But there’s another kind of “what if” question: the “what if” of possibility. Instead of weighing us down, these questions free us and empower us.

          As you can see this is a big question that can lead to a negative or positive result and it has allot of Power.  I would like to tell you that mine ended up on a positive note – but I do not want ask myself that question ever again in the middle of the night. 
 
    So some of the What If’s that were going through my head last night were:

1.  The Big one:  What if Jesus were to come today?  Am I ready? My answer was I think I am, but I want to make sure my Sons and Grandkids know about Jesus…
2. Pastor Shaun presented this question on Sunday which started My What If:   What if your dog walked in Chewing up a ten dollar bill?  Are you going to discipline the dog or give it grace?  I am not going to answer that one.
3. Then my mind went crazy:  LOL – What if I do not get to sleep?  What if I have to spend more time with people that need me? (Time is a valued commodity for me).  What if the Hail Ruined the Garden? (It is a big Garden that I help my son with).  And it kept going….

    I know in life we are going to have many of the “What If” questions and we should be ready to make them a positive outcome.  I finally ended up with this thought:  “through obedience and taking my “What If” to Christ then all will be well”.   So enjoy your experience of “What If” but try not to loose too much sleep?
 

So what is your “What if”?

Are they empowering you with a Positive outcome?

Is Christ at the Center of all your answers?

 

Bobbyg

 

            It is Cheyenne Frontier Days this week and I was doing some pondering while I was catching the Thunderbirds perform.  It made me think of all the Gifts that people have.
         The Thunderbirds have some unique and special gifts, whether it be the pilots or the people behind the scenes that put the computer programs together.   To be able to fly at 1,000 miles per hour in a group is just something great and special, but it takes several gifted people to make it work.  
          Then I thought about the gifts the Cowboys have at the Rodeo:  1. The Bull rider on a 3,000 pound bull trying to stay on for 8 seconds.  A couple of days ago only one Cowboy was able to stay on for 8 seconds – he has a gift.  2.  Steer ropers, this is a team effort.  It takes 2 cowboys in unison to rope a steer and get it the ground – this requires 2 special gifts working together. 
          One last example of Gifts during frontier days would be putting together a Pancake Breakfast for 10,000 people and you are only in line for 15 minutes  WOW.  This requires a special gift to bring together several different groups to become one great event.
 
          So now my question comes back to how am I using my Spiritual Gifts?

1.  Am I connected to a group of Christians as a Body of Christ, doing His work?    (Church – Non Profit Organization).
2. Am I alone utilizing my Gifts to those who are right in front of me?
3. Am I connected with one other Christian so that we can put our gifts together?
4. Am I utilizing my Gift to bring others together for one cause?

I am answering each of these questions in Private – but how do you see yourself measuring up to each of these…  
 Here a scripture on Spiritual Gifts:

1 Corinthians 12New International Version (NIV)

Concerning Spiritual Gifts

1 Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. 2 You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. 3 Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.

4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.

7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.

          As you can see it takes all types of different gifts to make up one Body or One Church.  The Church is made up of different people uniting all their Gifts for a Special Person “Jesus”.    Your gift may not be listed above – but you have been given gifts by the Holy Spirit that are unique to you.  You just need to recognize how God has made you special and engage. 
 

What Gifts do you have – are you a Thunderbird or a Cowboy or an Event Coordinator?

Are your gifts coming together with other people to make one Body?

Are you connecting your Gifts with one other Person?

Are your Gifts be utilized for the person in front of you?

Use your Gifts – do not let them be stagnate!

 

Bobbyg

Post from Bob W.
Hello, GMM blog readers.
Jillette Penn is half of the comedi​an​ magicians duo Penn and Teller ​; he is a brilliant man and an avowed atheist.
​ Here’s a frank and moving video worth watching ​ because of his perspective about “proselytizing”.  ​ ​In it, he tells of receiving the gift of a Bible and  his thoughts on Christian​ evangelism.
m.youtube.com/watch?v=6md638smQd8
 
​He doesn’t respect people who don’t proselytize!​
 
​So, when the opportunities come to share my faith, the questions are:

• am sincerely complimentary, polite, kind, and good to skeptics? 
• will I look a non-believer right in the eyes; or am I “defensive” about my faith?
• since I truly believe there’s a heaven and a hell, do I care enough about this other human being, made in the image of God, to take the risk of being “socially awkward”?
• how much do I have to hate someone, to believe everlasting life is possible, and yet not tell them the Gospel?

 
​Bob W.

           The World seems to be in Chaos at the present time….   Shootings – Politics – Spiritual Warfare.   The big Question is it what am I going to do to help in bringing the Chaos back into order.   I just listened to a powerful prayer from Franklin Graham praying for our Political Leaders as the Republican’s start their convention (He will be praying for the Democrat Convention next week).  This is one of the best ways I can help – “Prayer”.
          Pastor Shaun’s sermon this week asked the question:  “Are you more like Jesus or a Pharisee?”  As I go forward this must be a question that I need to ask myself several times and keep myself in check to my responses.  I do believe that Prayer is our biggest weapon, but we must also be active in helping bring the Chaos back into order.  Pastor Shaun shared the scripture below:

1^st Corithinians 13: 1>3

If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

I must respond to the Chaos in Love and my actions must be in a way that the people around me will see Jesus working through me.  As my friend Nick would say “Love Wins”.
 
Former Secretary of State – Condoleezza Rice shared a very strong prayer this week that we should all be praying: 

“But dear Heavenly Father, that is not the future we want for our country,” Rice prayed. “We do not want that division to continue to shadow our future, or the future of our children or our grandchildren. And so we turn to you. We know that there are no easy answers, but the answers will come through you.”

“As a nation and as a people, we need to race again toward you, into the embrace of your loving arms,” she continued. “Dear Heavenly Father, we pray for guidance, we pray for wisdom for our leaders, and we pray that each and every one of us will leave this place justified by faith and secure and confident in your deep, deep love for us.”

Concluding her prayer, Rice, who now teaches at Stanford University, hoped that Christians will “go out into the world as instruments of your peace” and “instruments of reconciliation.”

“And that each and every day, dear Heavenly Father, we will search and ask that we can be a blessing to one another, as you have been a blessing to us,” she said. “These things we ask in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.”

 

I know it is so tempting to respond in a judgmental way to put the blame on so many people for the Chaos and many of them deserve the blame.  But My prayer for myself is to be in check to make sure that I am a positive response in helping to bring order back into our World.
 So the one big question is:   Are you more like Jesus or a Pharisee?
 Bobbyg

        I listened to the song “God is on the Move” and I ask myself:  Do I see God on the Move?   When I look around me what do I see?  Can I identify the work  God is doing around me?   These are Big Questions that we should all be asking ourselves.
          Then I looked and I could see God Moving in Cheyenne – here are a couple of areas that God is moving in a Mighty Way.

1.  Pastor Jay M. of the Vineyard Church started a prayer mission to have churches praying for Cheyenne every day of the month and eventually every hour of the day.    If your church or ministry has not signed up for a day they need to soon. http://www.caecheyenne.org/covercheyenne.htm
2. The Franklin Graham Decision America 2016 tour coming to Cheyenne.  This tour is hitting every state in the United States and bringing a great message of Praying for our country, vote and get involved.   If you have not signed up to help or have not set aside the time to attend – you need too.  https://decisionamericatour.com/tour/wyoming/
3. I was contacted by the Producer of the Movie of “Voiceless” and he would like to bring the movie too Cheyenne.   It is a powerful movie on saving the lives of the unborn….   Check it out and sign up: http://joinvoiceless.com
4. When I look at my personal life – I see God on the move in my Relationships and giving me the 3 R’s….

 
    So I looked at the World around me and I am excited to see God Moving in some great areas and His timing is just right – but we know His timing is always at the right time when he moves.  The list above could go on – but I wanted to show some areas that everyone can see that God is on the Move and you can join Him.
 
If you have not listen to the song “God is on the Move” – please check it out and Listen to the Lyrics:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqsafpTaNIw   You will be moved – so enjoy…
 

So is God on the Move in your Life?

Can you see God Moving around You?

Have you joined God in what he is doing?

 

Bobbyg
I share this picture with you because this is another area God is on the Move and it is exciting to see Him moving in Pastor Ron’s life here in Cheyenne and then on the road. 
 

        Have you ever had one of those tough weeks when you are looking at the future and as you look into the future all you see is a tough path to go down.  I was having a hard time coming up with a topic for my blog this week – so I opened up one of the Our Daily Bread books and there on the first page was my topic…

“The Best is yet to come!”

    It talked about the story of Moses and when you look back on his life you know he was asking himself “Is there more to life – Does it get better?”  But as we know the rest of the Story – he did great things. 
 
          When I look at Moses story, I began looking at what God is doing in mine:  Does he talk to me as he did Moses? – Does he direct me as he did Moses? – Does he give me the strength as he did Moses? – Does he give me the Words as he did Moses?    Well the answer is Yes…  
          When I look at my last week I can see the times when God was doing His Moses encounters with me.

1. The driver from the Dealership that picked me up to take me to get our car that was fixed was one of them.   When I got in the car he had the radio really low but I could hear what was playing… “Old Time Christian Music”.  We ended up having a great talk and he goes to a church of one of my favorite pastors (Pastor Guy L.)  *This was a moment I needed a smile…
2. My 2am guys have been there at the right times this week to lift me up and take me forward.  God had given them the right words to speak to me that I needed to hear.

So as I pay attention to those moments when God is working in my life – I can see the Moses encounters that He has put there for me – they are really special.
 The verse in the Our Daily Bread was:  Deuteronomy 33:27 > The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath you are the everlasting arms; (this was just the first part of the verse). 
          We must always remember that Christ is our refuge and He will be there to make our lives even Better.
 

So do you see the Moses encounters in your life?

Do you know “The Best is yet to come”?

Is Christ your refuge and are His arms holding you up?

Bobbyg
PS:  The prayer at the bottom of Our Daily Bread:   O Lord my God, I praise You for all You have done in the past.  I look forward with thankfulness for all You will do in the future.  And I thank you for today and all Your blessings.    AMEN
 

     It was father’s day yesterday and I was reminded about my father on how he raised me.   My Dad raised me up as a Christian all my life – the scripture in this verse meant allot and was passed onto me from my Dad…  It helped me in raising my 3 sons>    Proverbs 22:7 > Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.
My Dad always made sure we made it to Church and he was took on a major role in helping in the Church.   His example showed me the importance of being active in our faith and when I became older I started expanding on what he taught me…  
This quote below would be my home when I was growing up…  I was that ten year old boy at times – especially when I became a teenager…    But people were able to see Jesus in my Dad despite how his son was acting – I was not the perfect Son growing up.   

 **A wise person truly said, “It ought to be as impossible to forget that there is a Christian in the house as it is to forget that there is a ten-year-old boy in it.” ~ Roger J. Squire 

          As I have become seasoned – I have been able to tell my Dad that because of him I am able to be where I am today.   I told him that when GMM became a thought in my brain – it started because of him…   He was my rock..
          My Dad has Altimerz (My description of Alzheimer’s) now and we have some good moments and some bad.   The major thing that I smile about is that he knows who I am when I walk in – that is such a blessing.  We have some great conversations now that go down many paths and I just enjoy taking it wherever he wants the conversation to go.   I take every moment I can to cherish the time I have with him now and make an effort to give him a hug and say I love him when I leave… (This makes him extremely uncomfortable – but I smile).
 
          Yesterday a good friend of mine (Choe H.) posted a note on his Facebook page that reminded me that we have a Heavenly Father that makes this all possible when we follow him.   Thank you Choe.

  “I’ve given a tribute to my fathers on earth. I’ve expressed my gratitude for being allowed to be an earthly father now, the greatest of all! Thank you father God for being the perfect father, showing me who you made me to be! I fail constantly and you still love me……I am blessed everyday by your love!”  Choe Hayes

 Choe also shared this song about our Heavenly Father from Chris Tomlin:

 **Good Good Father:  ENJOY   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqybaIesbuA

 

 No challenges today – but just sit back and Praise your Heavenly Father and then thank God for your earthly Father and if you are a Father —Just be Blessed.

 
 Bobbyg
 

          Well is has been an interesting week for me:   I had a question come up and I do not seem to have the answer.  I was glad when I went to a Men’s Advance on Friday and Saturday – IT HELPED…   OH – the Question:   “How do you see the people who interrupt your schedule?  Do you see them as a nuisance or as the reason for your life and ministry?”   Maybe that is two questions…
          This has been a problem for me recently – Loving those who are causing my life to be interrupted (Not my wife guys).   The battle seems to be raging strong at the present time – and people are looking at me to see how I react….     This is a hard one for me – but I know that I must finish well.   SO WHAT DO I DO?
           A Pastor friend shared this verse at the Men’s Advance that started to explain why I am struggling:   Ecclesiastes 3:11 – He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. 
          My Study Bible describes this as:  God has “set eternity in the human heart”.  This means we can never be completely satisfied with the earthly pleasures and pursuits.  Because we are created in God’s Image, (1) we have a spiritual thirst (2) we have eternal value (3) nothing but the eternal God can truly satisfy us. 
          So as I struggle with my issue – I need to understand that I must be looking at the One who has created all of these people who are interrupting me before I can be at peace about how they are affecting me.   Yes, the Battle is raging but God is in Control and he can handle the enemy.  I must focus on HIM and then look at the ones who are causing me to take pause.   The spiritual peace that I am seeking will only be accomplished when I allow Jesus to work in me –— then I will be satisfied with all of those who interrupt my schedule.   
***I do have to tell you that I have been blessed with a Powerful group of guys that surround me to help me get through my issues.
 
          Then my Pastor friend brought out the Love Chapter and what our response should be to those who I may have a problem with….  

• Love is Patient
• Love is Kind
• Love does not envy
• Love does not boast
• Love is not proud
• Love does not dishonor others
• Love is not self-seeking
• Love is not easily angered
• Love keeps no record of wrongs
• Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth
• Love always protects
• Love always trusts
• Love always hopes
• Love always perseveres
• Love never fails

  So the answer to my question is:   If I try to focus on these characteristics of loving those who are creating my issues then the ultimate result will be:  “I will make Jesus successful!”  He has made all things Beautiful…………
     I do believe that God has surrounded me with Great People who make up my life and ministry.   I just need to be open to the Holy Spirit working HIS Fruits within me so that those people can see Jesus. 
 

So how are those people that interrupt you affecting you?

Are you loving them the way you should?

Can those who are observing you – see Jesus in You?

 

Bobbyg
         
 
 
 
 

         I have Grace pouring through my head at the present moment and the Power it has over people.   I know that God’s gift of Grace is our Salvation and it is a gift of Life.  It changes who we are once we have accepted it.  This same Grace we can give to others and it will change the world….
**One thing that I do have to remember is that Grace is something we do not deserve but it is a Gift given Freely.
          For those of you who know me — You know that I describe Grace with $2 Dollar Bills and there are times it will change the heart of those receiving them.  I am not going to explain how this works for me – but someday you will have to connect with me for a cup of coffee and I will explain…
          At the Present time I am feeling the need to receive the Power of Grace – it is something that I do not deserve but a Gift that would be extremely grateful at the present time.    There are times in our lives that Receiving Grace can me the Gift of Humility that will Heal and give us strength.  
 
          Here is a verse that came up recently that explains the Power of Grace that we can have:

2^nd Corinthians 12:9 – But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

A portion of my Study Bible describes this verse about Paul as:  “Although God did not remove Paul’s physical affliction, he promised to demonstrate His power in Paul.  The fact that God’s power is displayed in weak people should give us courage.”    I really like this verse knowing what Paul had to go through and that we can have the same Power that was given to him. 
 
     The Song below from Matthew West in an extremely powerful one for me at the present time… As I read the Lyrics I can put myself in these moments of the Power of Grace winning in my life and the Grace that I so desperately need and desire.

Please enjoy the song………..

Grace Wins (By Matthew West):  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQqZltmA0eM

Lyrics are below….

 
         So as you can see — there is Power in Grace when we receive it and also when we give it away.   It is Healing in many ways especially when we take it and give it to somebody does not deserve it…
 

So do you feel the Power of Grace?

Are you giving others Grace and Healing Relationships?

Can you feel the Power Grace has in receiving it and accepting it knowing it is Life and Salvation?

Grace can be a Humbling experience that is required to Heal Me.

 

Bobbyg

 

In my weakest moment I see You Shaking Your head in disgrace I can read the disappointment Written all over Your face

 

Here come those whispers in my ear Saying, “who do you think you are?” Looks like you’re on your own from here ‘Cause grace could never reach that far

 

But in the shadow of that shame Beat down by all the blame I hear You call my name saying it’s not over And my heart starts to beat so loud now Drowning out the doubt I’m down, but I’m not out

 

There’s a war between guilt and grace And they’re fighting for a sacred space

But I’m living proof Grace wins every time No more lying down in death’s defeat

Now I’m rising up in Grace wins every time

 

Words can’t describe the way it feels When mercy floods a thirsty soul The broke inside begins to heal And grace returns what guilty stole

 

And in the shadow of that shame Beat down by all the blame I hear You call my name saying it’s not over And my heart starts to beat so loud now Drowning out the doubt I’m down, but I’m not out

 

There’s a war between guilt and grace And they’re fighting for a sacred space But I’m living proof Grace wins every time No more lying down in death’s defeat

Now I’m rising up in victory Singing, hallelujah Grace wins every time

 

For the prodigal son – Grace wins – For the woman at the well – Grace wins -For the blind man and the beggar – Grace wins – For always and forever – Grace wins  – For the lost out on the streets – Grace wins – For the worst part of you and me – Grace wins – For the thief on the cross – Grace wins – For a world that is lost

 

 

Here are the other 11  Things that Christians Need to Stop Doing….
Now. As I did with the previous ones I would like to look at number 12 and see if that was an issue for me.     In my past this was a major problem for me – I was extremely Legalistic and had no problem telling people what I thought.   Today is different – I have learned to accept people where they are and I am not trying to change them…  That would be the Holy Spirit’s Job.    They just need to see Jesus in me and working through me….  I am still a sinner who is working on how I can be better…  (I still do have Strong opinions and will share them when I believe the Spirit is guiding me with HIS Wisdom)…

So Please look at each of these (Below) and evaluate ourselves on how we are doing!!

Bobbyg
12. Quit your legalistic rants, knee-jerk reactions, and judgmentalism. “You’re turning people off. You’re making good news bad news. Jesus befriended sinners. Try it and great things will happen (Mark 2:17, Luke 5:27-32, 1 Timothy 1:15-16).”
 13. Quit calling yourself a Christian if you believe there are multiple paths that lead to salvation. “Jesus said that He’s the only way to heaven. If you don’t believe Him, you’re not a Christ-follower (John 14:6, 1 John 2:4).”
 14. Quit living like everybody’s going to heaven and nobody’s going to hell. “Jesus died so the whole world could be saved, but He said the path to heaven is narrow and few find it. And for the record, He preached more about hell than heaven … but He did it without using a bullhorn and manipulative scare tactics. #LeadLikeJesus (Matthew 7:13-14).”
 15. Quit acting like you’re better than those who don’t know Jesus. You’re not (Luke 18:19, Acts 10:34, Romans 2:11-13).  
16. Quit criticizing loving believers who take a biblical stand for godly morals. “Jesus didn’t call us to be politically correct. Develop some backbone. And yes, I said wimp. And yes, I will repent for calling you a wimp (Acts 4-6).”  
17. Quit pointing out the speck in your neighbor’s eye while ignoring the plank in your own eye. “By the way, I can hardly see my computer as I type this because of the log in my own eye (Matthew 7:3-5).”
18. Quit being a jerk, period. “Whatever your position is (on anything), if you can’t communicate it in love, you’re a clanging cymbal and your message is worthless. So yeah, I probably shouldn’t have called you a wimp in No. 16 (1 Corinthians 13).”  
19. Quit defending sin. Quit hating sinners. “These are equally important. Oh yeah, and lose your critical lens (Psalm 97:10, Matthew 22:37-39).”  
20. Quit using the phrase “he who’s without sin cast the first stone” out of context. “The next thing Jesus said was, “Go and sin no more” (John 8:1-11).”  
21. Quit using grace as a license to live however you want. “Jesus is grace, so don’t trample Him under your feet (Romans 6:1-2, 1 John 2:4, Hebrews 10:26-31).”  
22. Quit using the phrase (when inviting people to church) “come as you are” if you’re going to complain when they start showing up (Mark 2:17, Luke 5:27-32).