A Blessing for Today

"The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace." Numbers 6:24-26

Powerful video about our brothers & sisters in Christ in India

Watch this powerful video by Francis Chan about persecution of Christians in India - click here to watch.

A Poem on Living Life Coram Deo - “The Elixir”

This is a beautiful poem from Justin Taylor's blog.

George Herbert’s poem “The Elixir” is worth reading several times slowly:

Teach me, my God and King,
In all things Thee to see,
And what I do in anything,
To do it as for Thee.

Not rudely, as a beast,
To run into action;
But still to make Thee prepossest,
And give it his perfection.

A man that looks on glass,
On it may stay his eye,
Or, if he pleaseth, through it pass,
And then the heav’n espy.

All may of Thee partake;
Nothing can be so mean
Which with his tincture (for Thy sake)
Will not grow bright and clean.

A servant with this clause
Makes drudgery divine:
Who sweeps a room as for Thy laws,
Makes that and th’ action fine.

This is the famous stone
That turneth all to gold;
For that which God doth touch and own
Cannot for less be told.

Beautiful testimony from a man in Mississippi

Thought you might be blessed by a man from north Mississippi who God touched in a recent Life Action Summit.

“How can we make it 11 days?” That was the question I secretly asked myself 12 days ago. But out of commitment to my church, we went. Now, at the end of the summit, it would probably be easier to mention the areas the Lord did NOT meet me in, because of how He moved in me and my family’s life. He touched my heart as a husband . . . as a father . . . as a Christian . . . as a sinner. I have never been so tired yet so charged, so exhausted but so excited, or so spent but so ready to grow. I hope and I pray to look back at the time Life Action was here and be able to glorify and thank God for 3 main things: 1) That it was a crucial turning point in my personal walk with Christ, 2) That is was a crucial turning point in my marriage/family and 3) That was a crucial turning point for our church. Looking back, or asked to tell someone in a church that has a summit coming who’s asking “How can I make it 11 days?” I would say this . . . “I asked Him for eternity, how can I not give Him this time?” Thank you for all you gave and taught,

It's snowing again!

Looks like we are going to get a bunch of snow again! It has been snowing all day & is supposed to continue until tomorrow night.

Angela was supposed to fly to New Orleans today so that she could go to Baton Rouge & help my mother this week, but Southwest called yesterday afternoon and they had canceled all of their flight out of Chicago.

Check out BG's Facebook site for a short video of our house & the snow.

Going to Mississippi - FEB 16 - 22

We are headed to Brandon, Mississippi from February 16 - 22. Hoping to see lots of friends & attend church at First Brandon.

BG is speaking at a conference at Eagle Ridge COnference Center at Hinds CC on Saturday, February 20.

Hope to see you!

Impacting Those in Prison

We just received the following letter from a man in prison in Massachusetts:

"12-29-09

Dear Life Action Ministries,

First and foremost, thank you for caring enough about me to send me Revive magazine. As I sit here in prison, trying my best to find my way back to the Lord, it is things like Revive that are keeping my focus on the Lord and not the temptation that surrounds me.

Being a new Christian and being in jail is difficult. Unfortunately there is little to no spiritual support at this prison. The chaplain is more concerned with being a corrections officer than a spiritual leader. I depend on the Bible and magazines like yours to see me through this very difficult journey I am on.

I enjoyed very much the article on the Real Jesus being my Savior. I was so lost for so long. Pornography, drinking, lying, stealing, adultery—my life was a mess. My job, money and material things became my gods. I forgot who I was, I forgot who God was. Then I was arrested. I honestly believe it was God’s way of getting my attention. Believe me, he got my undivided attention. I had forgotten so much about God and Christ, and frankly I never in my wildest dreams thought that God would ever take me back.

While here in prison I borrowed a Bible and began to read. One character struck me hard, and that was Paul. After all the bad he had done he still went on to be one of the greatest disciples. At that point I realized I still had a chance. I finally realized that God actually loved me, and wanted to forgive me. It was then that I surrendered my life to Jesus.

Even though I have lost everything, money, car, friends, family, job, everything ... I realize now that none of it mattered. Not one thing I ever bought or wanted would help me honor God. When I walk out the doors of this prison in June 2011 I am going to be homeless, broke, no clothes, no car, no nothing. But I know God will provide for me!

In Revive magazine this month there was an ad for a workbook that caught my attention. It is called Seeking Him workbook. The questions that were asked in the ad for this book hit me right between the eyes. I answered yes to all of them. I am wondering if there is any way I could get a copy of this workbook. I have no money to send, I have nothing. All I can do is promise that when I get out, get a job and get stable that I could send money then. I am embarrassed to have to ask this, I feel like a heel and a beggar, but I have no other choice. If not, I understand.

Thank you again, you are making a huge difference in my life!

May God bless you all!"

You are having an impact across this nation.

Blessings on your day.
BG