10 GIVENS OF CHRISTMAS

Stephen Bly

Copyright(c)1996

Emmanuel: “God with us”

What does that mean?

It signifies that . . .

 1) God is not against you (Romans 8:31 ff).

 2) You are never alone (Matthew 28:20, Hebrews 13:5).

 3) You’d better toe the line (John 14:20, Ephesians 4:30).

 

 4) You have instant, available help (John 15:16).

 5) You are not the one in charge (Philippians 2:13).

 6) You cannot chase him away (John 15).

 7) There is someone more important than you to consider (Luke 22:42).

 8) You are where the action is (Matthew 1:18-25).

 9) He is close during tough times (Acts 7:55).

10) Everything in your life will turn out okay (Revelation 21:4).

What special marvel about the Christmas story do you contemplate this year?

HIGH-GRADE HONORS

By Stephen Bly

Some folks think of a gold mine as a deep cave lined with waves of 24-carat jewels. All they need is a crow bar to pry the treasures into big chunks. Then take their haul to the jeweler.

Doesn’t happen that way.

Fool's Gold

Most mines look like big dirt canyons. The gold’s so fine it can only be recovered by very pressurized, modern equipment. High prices and advanced technology combine to dig  out gold in places that in other eras would be considered worthless.

However, on occasion gold does litter some mine shafts.

Every so often a miner blasts into the center of a room-sized geode and he’s able to sack up almost pure gold by the shovels-full. Real high-grade stuff like that is rare to find. And near impossible to prevent theft. Valuable ore in chunks may line coat pockets and lunch pails. In fact, the term ‘high-grade’ evolved because of the rampant stealing of small particles of good ore by mine workers.

Not many of us work gold mines today. And everyone’s different in the temptations that harass him or her. But we all find ourselves in places where we have access to someone else’s goods. Whenever valuables of any sort are taken from an original owner for another’s own personal use, that’s high-grading. 

Did you used to make ends meet by stealing?

Well, no more! Get an honest job

so that you can help others who can’t work.

Ephesians 4:28 MSG

In our sloppy ethics society, refusal to steal means a moral upgrade, a God honoring pursuit.

Copyright©1993,2010 
Stephen Bly

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Have you ever gone searching for gold? Any luck?

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COMING MARCH 2012: Stuart Brannon's Final Shot

It's 1905. A lawman comes out of retirement to search for a missing U.S. Marshal friend and grapples with the game of golf on behalf of a celebrity tournament. 

HEIRS & HAIR BRANDS

On the Trail 

with Stephen Bly 

Copyright©1993,2009

When you hair brand cattle, you hold the branding iron against the critter long enough to burn the hair, but not the hide. This works as a quick, temporary trail brand when driving mixed herds.

But often a hair brand was a dishonest attempt to make an animal look properly branded. Later, the hair grows out, leaving no brand at all.

Claiming to be a follower of Jesus Christ is like being branded.

“You are marked with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit” (Ephesians 1:13).

The true imprint of the Holy Spirit marks your body, soul and spirit for life. From that day forward, you’re a child of God.

Unless you’re play-acting.

Some like calling themselves Christians or going to church on occasion, but have no intention of knowing God like a friend, seeking his guidance, or certainly not obeying him.

They may want to keep peace with a spouse. Or they feel they need to be a good role model for the kids. Or it keeps up appearances with significant others. So, they make like they’re standing up for Jesus when they’re really sitting down somewhere else inside. 

But sooner or later the hair grows out. True commitment is revealed. The charade’s over as they fall back into themselves, instead of into the arms of Jesus.

They may claim the faith just didn’t take. Truth is, they never submitted to the Lord’s heir brand.

His brand is the cross.

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NOW AVAILABLE:
Throw The Devil Off The Train

Autographed copies available through our website:
http://BlyBooks.com/store.htm  

WANT PEACE? FESS UP

Janet Chester Bly

Copyright©2008

To fight for peace, interrogate yourself, like King David did: “Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me?” (Psalm 42:5 NASB)

Figure out what’s wrong. Calculate what’s rumbling around inside that’s got you uptight, scattered, maybe hard to live with. Ask, “What’s the matter? Why do I feel this way?” Stay with it until you hone in on the key issue. A problem well-stated is half solved, so some say.

I stood before a group of young mothers and asked, “What one thing is your greatest struggle?”

A buzz of replies scattered around the room: “Being a good wife.” “Being a good mom.” “Knowing whether to work or not.” “Saving money.” Spending less.”

Delighted that these topics fit the theme of my prepared talks, I opened up my notes. But Shelley, an attractive and talented leader, slipped up her hand, let it down, then eased it up again. “I’ve read so much about self-image. Some of it has helped. I still don’t quite understand. How come I’m still trying to know myself, to like what I see? To feel at ease with whom I am?” She blushed as she glanced around the room.

Surprise registered on a number of faces. One by one, the other gals nodded agreement. Encouraged, Shelley added, “I’m afraid to attempt anything too ambitious while I battle questions like, ‘How do I look today?’ ‘How come so-and-so isn’t speaking to me?’ ‘How come I can’t do anything right?’ Do you ever get past this lack of confidence stage?”

She looked to me, a much older woman, to give advice and assurance. My mind whirled to sort out a semblance of wise words. Yet all I could think is that women my age struggle with similar challenges. In fact, aging changes can trigger more insecurities to overcome. What could I say that would help them gain perspective, to get a grip? To feel comfortable in their own skin? I knew well the spiritual journey balancing act. . .accept yourself, but also seek improvement. At the same time, forget yourself and reach out to others.

THE DALLY MAN

BY STEPHEN BLY

I could tell A.C. Buchanan was a dally man. It wasn’t the bow legs, the tan line across his forehead, or the calloused hands. It was, rather, the missing tip of his thumb that gave him away.

Cattlemen out west can be divided between those who tie their ropes hard and fast and those who dally. One group ties the end of their rope to their saddle horn before they ever leave the corral. For instance, when they rope a steer out on the range, in order to doctor it up, all they have to do is toss a loop over the critter and get their pony to shut it down. The steer dashes toward safety, but is brought down hard when he reaches the end of the rope. This way he’s not lost, unless the rope breaks.