Bob's
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Thursday - November 30, 2006 Whatever we get from the Lord is meant to be passed on. Every bit of wisdom, knowledge, and learning from the Word and by experience is to handed on to the next generation. It does not come by simple observation of us from our children, but must be taught. David failed to instruct his first two sons in the knowledge of God's Word that he had. Both of his sons tried to overthrow him and obtain the kingdom for themselves. David did succeed with his last son, Solomon. Solomon gained the throne as a gift from God and did not have to try to overthrow his father. Next to the Lord Jesus Himself, Solomon became the wisest man on the earth. Yet, Solomon failed to train his own son, Rehoboam. This ended in tragedy as Rehoboam divided the kingdom of Israel and brought problems into that nation, which still exist today. Learn from this. Don't just set a time to teach your children, but let each day be an opportunity to share with your children the great spiritual lessons seen in the experiences of life. Let your children be a Solomon, not a Rheboam.
Wednesday - November 29, 2006 I believe a great goal in the Christian life should be to make the Word of God practical in our everyday life. What good is the Bible if we cannot use it to change people's lives and help them in a very real way? We may know we are the righteousness of God, but that person still needs to make lunch for the children. We may know we are healed by the stripes of Jesus, but we need to use our healing to visit others and help them with their own problems. We live in two worlds. We cannot be so spiritually minded we are no natural good to others. We also cannot be so practical we miss the spiritual side of life. God wants us to be balanced in both spiritual and natural areas of our life. Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead and attended a party for him the next day. Paul could be supernaturally rescued from a shipwreck and yet gather up sticks for a fire. We have this treasure in earthen vessels. There is a time to be spiritual and also a time to interact with other people on a very human level. If Jesus and Paul could do both, so can you.
Friday - November 24, 2006 Today, the day after Thanksgiving, is the biggest shopping day in our country. My mom likes to go to the mall on this day just to stand and see the crowds of people in the halls and the stores. She likes to feel the "press" of people. I like to observe from a distance and do my shopping during the middle of the day and the middle of the week. This is a great season whether you like crowds or not. There is a wonderful sense in the air. It is more than just the "holiday spirit"; it is a knowing the world has found its Savior. Jesus has come and peace is available for anyone who will accept God's Son as Lord of their life. Enjoy your greatest gift before December 25th arrives. You can give gifts to others, but the greatest gift was given by God to you. Be thankful for Him today. Fellowship with Him today. He is not a gift for one day a year. He is yours always.
Thursday - November 23, 2006 Happy Thanksgiving! One good thing to think about and give thanks for today is the abundance of blessings we have as Americans. This is the only country we celebrate Thanksgiving and the most abundant and prosperous country in the world. The average American enjoys the upper 95% of the world's income and standard of living. Your scraps would be a big meal for billions of people in other parts of the world. This has come for no other reason than we have put God first in our nation. His name appears as the one we trust on our money. His name is above our own nation in our pledge of allegiance. Our abundance and prosperity has come because we have sought first the kingdom of God and all these things have been added to us. Now, what do you have to complain about? You have so much more to give thanks for.
Wednesday - November 22, 2006 Someone once asked me what good praise and worship was at the beginning of a church service. They did not much like music and wanted to move directly into the teaching of the Word of God. They were truly "Word people." I replied, "What good is plowing the field before planting?" Praise breaks up the hard ground and prepares it for the coming seed. When people come to church, their minds are on hundreds of different things from their children, to where will they go for lunch, to problems at the office tomorrow morning. Praise and worship unifies their thinking to the presence of God and softens their heart for learning God's Word. I think you can see the analogy. Our prayers and supplications are to be made with thanksgiving. Our meals are to be eaten after we have given thanks for the food. Why not the study of God's Word in our personal life? Try giving God some praise and worship before opening your Bible for daily study and meditation. This will prepare your heart for the seed you are about to receive.
Tuesday - November 21, 2006 It is more than coincidence that Thanksgiving comes just before the birthday of our Savior. Christmas comes about a month after the day we give thanks to God for all He has blessed us with. Perhaps this is a picture of what we should be doing. If we are looking for deliverance, salvation to come to a situation in our lives, we should begin many days ahead with thanksgiving and praise to God. As surely as Christmas comes after Thanksgiving, our deliverance will come after we begin to give God thanks. The walls did not fall until the marching and shouts were given. The enemy did not become confused and fight among themselves until the praisers were put in front of the army. We are to shout to God with the voice of triumph before the triumph comes. What is your problem today? Quit waiting for God to deliver you before you praise Him. Shout now and your walls will fall. See yourself a winner and begin to act like it. Then it will come to pass.
Monday - November 20, 2006 Why wait until Thursday, Thanksgiving Day, to thank and praise God? Psalms tells us to enter His gates with thanksgiving and come into his courts with praise. The beginning of the week is our gates and by Thursday we should be in the courts of God. Christians do not have one day a year to thank God. We are to praise God at all times. His praise is to continually be in our mouth. We are to rejoice in the Lord always and from the rising of the sun to its going down, we are to praise the name of the Lord. There is plenty to thank God for today. So, get started. Forget not all of God's benefits and pull into your remembrance all He has done for you through the years. By Thursday, you should be shouting about the goodness of your God.
Tuesday - November 14, 2006 I am speaking for two days in Colorado Springs at Andrew Wommack's ministry school, Charis Bible College. Pike's Peak is right outside the windows of the ministry. If God could create that beautiful mountain and sustain it for all these thousands of years, I am sure he can take care of me. I know if the mountain could speak it would tell of changes that have happened through the centuries. Yet, the mountain has remained the same. I can look at my own Christian life and I have seen many changes around me. I have seen ministers come and go. I have seen church members come and go. Many friends I used to have are gone and I do not know where they are. Yet, God has sustained me and kept me for all these years. My spiritual roots are deeper today, yet my Christian life is as secure and solid in God as it has ever been. God has never let me down in all the years I have served Him. I can truly say that God is my refuge. He has not changed and He has caused me to remain the same too. When you become discouraged with a changing world, look to the mountains.
Monday - November 13, 2006 Our Christmas outreach is quickly coming. We will be going to the Fairgrounds Pavilion on Saturday, December 9 to feed one thousand families and give them the simple plan of salvation. We are praying for the giving of food to open their hearts to receive Jesus. The food can change their lives for a few weeks. The Lord Jesus can change their lives forever. Join me in prayer and giving as we minister to parents and their children that day. It will cost $25 per family to feed them. Would you like to join us in giving? You may not go to our church. You may live in another city or state. But you can send your faith along with your financial seed and be a blessing. Address your gift to Grace Church. The address is on our web site. You may not be a member of our church, but you are a member of the Church.
Friday - November 10, 2006 It is a blessing to see the number of Christian made and Christian based movies which have come out and are coming. I think Hollywood may be getting the message. The viewing public wants movies which are entertaining and have a good message. Loretta and I are tired of seeing movies which looked good in the previews, but were boring or pointless when we went to see them. I am looking forward to seeing "The Nativity." I have thought for years, the church leaders could do a much better job of writing and directing movies about the Bible stories. It has finally come to pass. Mel Gibson may have his problems, but he sure was a pioneer in getting scripturally accurate movies on the screen. When a good movie comes out, we should support it by going and telling our friends about it. Let's take advantage of the moment.
Thursday - November 9, 2006 The problems in Pastor Ted Haggard's life brings to mind a question people often ask when a minister falls into sin. If he has asked for forgiveness, why should we not let him back into the pulpit? First of all, the minister did not enter the ministry immediately after his salvation. It takes time for a minister to develop after the new birth to the point he and God are ready to take that important step into the pulpit. When a minister falls into sin, it will take a time again to restore him back to that position of responsibility. Salvation is immediate. The ministry takes time. Forgiveness is immediate. Restoration takes time. A minister should leave the pulpit for a lengthy time and get a regular job like the congregation has. He needs to remind himself of what the people do every day and how difficult it is to make a living and tithe too. He needs to work on his relationship with God and his family. A good indicator to see if he is ready to reenter the ministry is whether his wife and family are ready for him to again take the reigns of ministry. Ministers, like anyone else, can recover. It just takes time to see the fruits of repentance.
Wednesday - November 8, 2006 I have been speaking today in a little church in Meno, Oklahoma. The town has only one intersection and the church is located there. The pastor is running around 400 in a town and surrounding community of 1500. Don't tell me you have problems. Circumstances and people are not your problem. Vision is your problem. Without a vision the people perish and so does the leader. A strong vision has built this church and people come from towns and communities all around. A good thing cannot be hidden. A good restaurant needs little advertising. The food speaks for itself. When you walk in faith, your spiritual integrity speaks for itself and people will beat a path to your door. Quit griping and begin looking for a vision for your life and calling. God will give it to you. Once you have found your calling and destiny, begin to live it by God's Word and He will cause it to come to pass. He that has begun a good work in your will complete it until the day of Jesus' coming.
Tuesday - November 7, 2006 Well, it has finally arrived, the day to vote. Now is the time to put your promises into action and vote your Christian, biblical values. This has certainly been a news-filled weekend. The report of the sexual sins of Pastor Ted Haggard has brought out an interesting viewpoint from those who favor homosexual rights and gay marriage. They are saying that Christians should be more tolerant with the viewpoints of homosexuals and their desire to marry. I do not mind having a love and concern for homosexuals, but this does not change my mind on the sin of homosexuality. If a minister has an affair with a woman, it should not change our view on extra marital affairs. We are to continue to love the sinner and hate the sin. Keep Pastor Haggard in your prayers and the church leadership at New Life Fellowship in Colorado. And, oh yes, vote today.
Monday - November 6, 2006 Well, November is in full swing and Thanksgiving and Christmas are coming very soon. This next Sunday we will begin receiving an offering fort the midtown outreach, December 9. We are asking you to give $25 per needy family. We will be giving each family a great amount of food and a toy for their children. James tells us this is a way to show the love of God to the world. By meeting a natural need we can open a door into their heart to receive Jesus as their Savior. A small gift can open the door to the great eternal gift of the new birth. This will be a special Christmas for not only them, but for you also. Remember the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, "It is more blessed to give than to receive." Join me in giving to these needy families and receiving the greater blessing this Christmas.
Friday - November 3, 2006 I am enjoying teaching this series on Sundays about integrity in business. I pray the sermon last week helped you to come to the conclusion that integrity does not start with someone else, it begins with you. Integrity is missing in the world and sadly it is missing in many Christians and churches. Let your life be different and begin to set a new standard for our community. Tulsa has always been known as a city greatly influenced by Christians. Let it also be known as a city that lives out its belief in Jesus Christ and the Word of God. It starts in your heart and then in your daily living. I want to thank those who brought someone to church last week who did not know Jesus. We had a great altar call and we saw more than usual accept the Lord in both morning services. Your faithfulness to attend, listen and bring others is the strength of our great church. I'll see you this Sunday to learn more about being a believer with integrity.
Thursday - November 2, 2006 Jesus spoke up to the religious leaders of His day for their inability to deliver the people from their needs. Jesus healed a woman on the Sabbath day and drew the anger of the Jewish elders. Jesus was not only telling them they were unable to heal, but that He could heal anyone, no matter what day it is. Why do we believe Sunday is such a holy day? Maybe it's because it is the day the disciples worshipped the Lord in the New Testament. Yet, one of Jesus' titles is the Lord that heals us, Jehovah Rapha. He does not have a different name for different days of the week. He keeps His titles each and every day. So, don't wait until Sunday to have your need met, or have someone pray for you. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. Call on Him today and you will receive your need met.
Wednesday - November 1, 2006 I will not let the election next Tuesday come and go without reminding you again and again to vote. Join millions of believers across the country, now called "value voters," and let your choice be known. Choose candidates who believe and stand for biblical issues. God has been interested in the nations of the world since nations began. The Lord had prophets to the nations in the Old Testament and Paul, Peter and John let their voice be heard before the Jewish and Roman leaders of their day. Your vote is the voice of God today.
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