GRACE

 Grace

If in me a light does shine,

Tis' because the Lord is mine.

Saved and sanctified within,

Serving humbly, now for Him.

I cannot claim His bloodstained robe,

except by grace on me bestowed.

My life falls short of all I owe,

I've surely missed the mark.

Sin takes it's toll for I have seen,

in me dark shadows stand between,

my God, my Lord and all that's clean,

Save grace that's made me whole.

Tis' grace that comes to those who seek,

the freedom of new life 's mystique.

The knowledge of the truth, the One,

Discovered through the Son.

Amazing grace, so undeserved,

Yet Jesus life and death reserved,

For us new life He has secured,

With Him we'll dwell through time!

And now for you, the Lord awaits,

your sin and sins He will replace,

With grace that others have embraced,

Now yours forevermore.

The everlasting crown now yours,

protects, preserves, makes heaven yours.

Ensures your presence on the shores, With Jesus there to dwell. (Gary Laws)

I Am His and He is Mine

 

I AM HIS AND HE IS MINE (Tune: 'He Leadeth Me')

1) Today I rose from slumber deep,

Anticipating vows to keep,

With Joy, I’ll go about the day,

Pursuing Him that leads the way.

Chorus

My strength to do comes from on high.

His love and power will never die.

My life and purpose redesigned,

For I am His and He is mine.

2) Now, many tasks I have been given.

Some big, some small, for all I’m driven,

To do the best that God assigns,

For I am His and He is mine.

3) With confidence I toil each day,

To meet the lost, declare the way.

That sinners might accept and win,

A home in Glory, new life begin.

4) And then when dawn turns in to dusk,

And I prepare to enter rest,

I then will meet the great Divine,

For I am His and He is mine.

(Gary Laws 2020)

What! Me Worry!

Christians are called to live in both the temporal and spiritual worlds simultaneously. In the temporal world, we scurry about doing our best to influence outcomes. However, in the spiritual world we come to know that outcomes are predetermined. In the temporal we worry ourselves, sometimes beyond measure. In the spiritual, we have peace that comes from knowing that God will prevail!
"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33 New International Version (©1984)
Take note that He says, "I HAVE overcome, not WILL overcome! It has already been accomplished!
From my book, 'That God May Use Me'.

Trusting God for a Better Life

Get Up, Get Ready

Rescue the Perishing

"Rescue the perishing, care for the dying,
Snatch them in pity from sin and the grave;
Weep ore' the erring one, lift up the fallen,
Tell them of Jesus, the mighty to save"
                                                         (Fanny Crosby)

Do we really weep ore' the erring one or do we tend to look upon them critically? Many of our soldiers in arms fall and give in to temptation. However, are we to just leave them on the battlefield to die or do we go to their aid, their rescue? Think about it.

Many of our spiritual comrades in arms need us. Many times they will be receptive to our 'Rescue Mission', sometimes not. We must try. We must go to their aid with the goal of restoring them to God's service.

Friend of the Friendless

Throughout our sphere of influence, one may find individuals who suffer loneliness, depression, anxiety, and personal loss. They are hurting. They, often, do not show it on the outside, but they are hurting, and in pain, nonetheless. Many have nowhere to turn, no one to talk to. They desperately need a friend who will listen to them and be of some encouragement.

If we ask God to bring these dear souls our way, He will do it. Then our opportunity begins...that is we now can become a true friend of the friendless. What a profound opportunity it is.

However, if we ask God to do this, we must always be looking for those he sends. To be a friend of the friendless...what a great ministry if we choose to seek it.

Someone needs you, today! Find them.

Birthday Thoughts

Today is my wife' s birthday! While gathering my thoughts, I became acutely aware of how blessed I have been over the 52 years we have been married.

Minister, wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother, she has  always been faithful to the responsibilities  God has given her. She excels in each.

Sue has met the challenges of life with a quiet determination that has been an example to all who know her.

Happy Birthday, Hon. I love you!

Wings Art Gallery

I am departing from my thoughts on Christian living for this one post. I would like to introduce you to my photographic art. Click on the link to view my gallery.
www.garylaws.smugmug.com

Is Something Missing in Your Life? by Gary Laws

So, you want to be a Christian, but you are not ready to give up control of your life to a being that you cannot see or touch. You truly believe that you have been doing just fine navigating the challenges of this life and it is hard for you to see how surrendering your will to another will bring you the peace you are seeking.

Often, those who are doing well in life are the most difficult ones to reach out to with this idea that everyone needs to acede to the wishes and desires of the creator.

First, everyone feels, deep in their spirit, a need for something more than this life is giving them. There is this void that has not been filled, a sense that you are incomplete. The Bible teaches that this is the condition of mankind. In it's pages we learn that all have sinned and come short of our creator's expectations of us. This sin has seperated us from a loving and merciful God and everyone needs to have this connection with the Almighty restored.

Second, God wants to bring all of His creation into fellowship with Him. He sent His son, Jesus Christ into this world as a demonstration of His love for all. Christ died for all and took upon Himdelf the sins of the world. This action has made it possible for all of us, regardless of our spiritual state, to be restored.

Third, when we seek and receive His forgiveness, God walks with us in every aspect of life. In a sense, He partners with us to make certain we become all that He wants us to be. In actuality, we are not 'giving up' anything, rather, we are allowing God to give us, as the Bible puts it, the 'abundant life'.

Fourth, we do not need to 'clean up our act' in order to recieve His forgiveness. We can come to Him, just as we are, and be made whole. Our behavior may change, but it will be a welcome change brought on by a desire to please Him.

Fifth, how can we acheive this? The Bible says, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1st John 1:9) In other words, we acknowledge to Him that we have broken His laws and He, in return, forgives us and brings us into His fellowship. We are made Christian!

Last, don't be concerned with giving up control of your life. With Christ, you are giving up nothing but you are gaining everything.  The good that you are experiencing in life will increase. Navigating the sometimes challenging circumstances life brings will always be doable because you have a Partner that faces these challenges with you. The 'void' you have been experiencing will be filled and you will be complete. Heaven will be yours and the promise of God to provide for His family in eternity, will be realized. Yes, something may be missing in your life!

Think about it, and as you do, know that you can come to Him right now! He is waiting to hear from you!

Moved!

In January, we moved from Florida to our new home in Stanton, Kentucky. We are looking forward to these days close to our daughter, Cathy, and her family.  My wife, Susan, is doing well. We are attending church at The Salvation Army of Lexington, Kentucky. It is a vibrant fellowship and we have been made to feel most welcome.

They Still Love You!

Today, I am thinking of all those wonderful people who have suffered strokes. Many people fail to fully understand those who are stroke survivors, especially those survivors who have suffered significant brain damage. There is a tendency to shy away from them or, somehow, to think they are mentally challenged, when, in fact, that may not be the case at all.

Perhaps they have difficulty speaking or they speak in a fashion others were never accustomed to hearing before. For many of their family and friends this is uncomfortable. They see their family member in a different light, perhaps.

This is especially true for teenagers and other youth who might be a bit embarrassed by their loved ones speech, demeanor, or actions.

One thing I would share with everyone....they are still the Dad, Mom, Grand mom and Grandpa you always knew! They may seem different on the outside, but, on the inside, they are still the same loving person you have always known. Make a special effort to let them know that you still love them and care about them.

Don't feed the loneliness they may feel by shying away from them. Remember, they still love YOU!

The 'Jericho Workshop' Concludes

The Jericho Workshop was conducted in Vero Beach, Florida on October 1-5. Hosted by The Salvation Army of Vero Beach, the workshop covered a full range of Biblical studies that foc

used on Joshua and the people of Israel at the battle of Jericho.

Central to the weeks teaching was the importance of God's people following the plan, which was given by God, and the strict requirement of obedience to God's instruction.

 

The workshop series consisted of four evening meetings with great singing and special music preliminary to each meeting. Sunday morning worship was the 5th and final session.

I am grateful to Majors Sam and Veronica Van Denberg, Corps Officers (pastors) at The Salvation Army, Dave May, Bandmaster, Major Linda Yeck of Minneapolis for providing special music. The Vero Beach Salvation Army Band was on duty each evening.  They featured a special composition of "Joshua Fit' the Battle of Jericho', which was written especially for these special meetings by David May. I trust that God touched the hearts of all those attending and that they will have found the workshop worthwhile.

Participants who attended three of the five sessions were awarded Certificates of Completion.

were awarded certificates of completion

 

Salvation Army Commando's ???

Yesterday, while 'surfing' the Web, I came across a headline which read, "Salvation Army sending Commandos to Nigeria in Search of Missing Girls!" I thought to myself that this illustrates some of the crazy stuff you can find on the internet!

Then I started mulling the thought over. As part of the Christian Church, would it be too far fetched to think of The Salvation Army sending elite fighting forces into troubled parts of the world for Jesus? After all, that is what aggressive evangelism is about, isn't it?

Now, to be clear, Salvation Army forces are 'Soldiers without Swords' who preach love and peace and, most importantly, deliverance from sin! If we had such an elite force, they would not be seeking to destroy God's creation....they would be seeking to save it!!!!

Of course, we DO have them! We call them soldiers and officers! Tens of thousands of them in 120 countries around the world. This is their mission....to save the lost!

Well, whether we call them soldiers, officers or, as the web article called them...commando's, be sure they are there fighting the forces of evil. They fight, not with hash-tags or military weapons, but with the Word of God!

Commando's...maybe not such a bad idea!

"Come, join our Army, to battle we go,
Jesus will help us to conquer the foe;
Fighting for right and opposing the wrong,
The Salvation Army is marching along.

Chorus
Marching along, marching along,
The Salvation Army is marching along;
Soldiers of Jesus, be valiant and strong;
The Salvation Army is marching along.

Come, join our Army, the foe must be driven;
To Jesus, our captain, the world shall be given;
Foes may surround us, we'll press through the throng;
The Salvation Army is marching along.

Come, join our Army, the foe we defy,
True to our colors, we'll fight till we die;
Saved from all sin is our war cry and song;
The Salvation Army is marching along.

Come, join our Army, and do not delay,
The time for enlisting is passing away;
Fierce is the battle, but victory will come;
The Salvation Army is marching along."