Things are not what they always appear to be!

Romans 12:3 “For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.”

“Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us.”








What you see is a part of my personal history. The painting to the left is the British surrender at Yorktown…the one on the right is General Benjamin Lincoln. If you placed a picture of my grandfather next to it, you would think they were brothers. He is my great…many times grandfather, my mom did our genealogy and showed it to me when I was 7. I went around bragging about it and so she felt the need to give me “perspective”. He was not the best “tactician” when it came to battles, but very good at negotiations. If fact he was not doing well at the battle of Saratoga until another General came to the rescue and was considered the “hero” of the battle. That General was Benedict Arnold! A great General, but with a selling price!
 
Birthdays for me have always been more about “Focus” than “Festivities”! I mean I like to party with family, so I enjoy, but inside I do find I spend time to be introspective. Who am I: Am I where I want to be in character and in relationships? My Lord, my wife, and my kids? 
 
For me, the most important answer to that question is no. NO? Yes, no, because if it is “yes” I have ceased to grow and have been captured by pride and arrogance. I want to be all I can be for those in my life, starting with the Lord and then everybody else. If I think I have arrived I have deceived myself and all that is left is the regret I will experience at the end when the Lord shows me, “lovingly, yet honestly” that I believed the lie of the enemy. For that is what it is! A lie from the pit of hell that I can ever be all that I can be while still living in this flesh that is infected with the sin nature!
 
Born again yes! BUT still inhabiting a fallen vessel, that loves itself and sin. My inner man loves the Lord and His ways, so each birthday should see victories of the character, while counting down with anticipation that moment…for most through death, or for some (I hope, I hope) through the return of our King!  
 
The So What: Everyone says that on your birthday you get to do what you want…OK, I want to ask you one question and beg you to at least invest a moment to ask yourself – “How many births have I had?” Being born physically is nothing…it passes so fast! Just yesterday, I bought my first motorcycle…I was 13 years old… “Whoosh” this year I am 67! Spiritual life is FOREVER. It never ends. “Eternal life” includes “quality” not just quantity. God made our spirits to exist forever. The issue is where will you exist? God has made it possible to be with Him, if not, you will still exist, but separated from Him. He left that decision to you. Please, make sure you do! If you want to ask me, I will be glad to explain. You can email me at nategwm@gmail.com. I will be praying for you to experience a second birthday! 

Good News – Real News

Joe’s car broke down and he asked his wife if he could borrow her car for work the next day. She asked how will I get to work? He said he had arranged a ride for her and that his drive was so much farther, and she was not as safe a driver. She was hurt by this judgment, but chose to be gracious. When Joe got home, he did not look good, his wife asked what was wrong. He stammered, hemmed & hawed, then with a nervous smile said, “I have good news and bad news, which one do you want first?”. She said, “The good news”. He said, “I am sure you will be glad to hear the airbags work in your car!” 

Such is life! It usually carries a little of both sides of the news.

GOOD NEWS

Just the other day I experienced this. I was sent two notes from two individuals that I had come into contact with through ministry. One was from an individual that shared the night she attended a retreat I was leading, God opened her heart at the invitation and she just wanted me to know how her life had completely changed. I sent a note back thanking her for letting me know. I said, “We both know it was all the Holy Spirit that opened your heart, but it feels good to know He let me be part of that process!

That same day I received another message from a person I discipled, and he asked me if it was ok if the folks he was discipling could make copies of the discipleship manual I took him through. I asked him why he thought I would mind, I gave him a copy and told him to make copies for those he discipled. He told me he was worried that so many copies might get made that…he stopped because he heard me laughing. I said, “Brother do I wish”!

REAL NEWS

Later that same day our mail came. Long story, short: For some reason, when we refinanced our home for a much better rate to save money, the company we were with stopped paying our homeowners insurance. So, without letting us know they drained the surplus we had in our escrow account, and now our new mortgage payment was much more than we could afford. I spent the day on the phone, they admitted their mistake, and said “sorry”, but nothing else. I called home insurers and found a great price. Our mortgage is back to where it was, but we have no cushion in our account. Glad my confidence is in His supply, not my own, not the bank, nor a mortgage company.

SUPPORT: 

This is the one topic I really avoid because the world hears this nonstop from Church TV. DD and I have felt your incredible support through your desire to know how to pray for us and your communication with us. However, a friend called and apologized for forgetting to send support during the pandemic, and a man I disciple asked about where our support was, both challenged me to let my entire team know. So, I can honestly state that the past two years drained the funds we have and I have taken less for my salary lately. If the Holy Spirit leads you, and if you possess the ability to give a gift, we would appreciate it.

ATTITUDE: GOM? 

What is GOM? The last thing I ever wanted to become in my life was a “Grouchy Old Man”, but I see it happening. God has a great sense of humor. This update was finished this morning but I decided I would send it after Worship this morning when I returned home. At Church, I began a discussion with a friend and I shared with her about being a GOM. She laughed and said – “What you want is to be this kind of GOM = Glad Old Man! Thanks God for the gentle rebuke! So, what is a believer to do when they desire to change? Being honest and transparent is never fun…especially when you are failing! But this is the life I have committed to, so please pray for my attitude. I am allowing my health circumstances to control my inward character. I have lost some battles, but with Christ and your prayers, I will win the war!