Freshly Ground at The Grove

scripture and thoughts from Pastor Bobby

Two Sides To The Story

		Monday, 01 March 10 - 03:31 PM (GMT -06:00) By Bobby Sebastian in Bible Study

How many times have you heard the story from someone? You couldn’t believe how angry or upset you became. You steamed and stewed over it and even passed the story along to others. Their reaction was the same as yours. Unfortunately, all this emotion was over one side of the story. When you finally heard the other side, and their always tends to be another side, you felt like a fool. The other side changes everything. If only you had known the other side before you became so upset and shared it with others. This is probably the kind of thing Solomon had in mind when he wrote in Proverbs 18:17; “The first one to plead his cause seems right, until his neighbor comes and examines him.” Remember, there are always two sides to the story.

Examination or Consideration?

		Wednesday, 24 February 10 - 09:41 AM (GMT -06:00) By Bobby Sebastian in Bible Study

In Numbers chapter thirteen we find the very familiar story of the twelve spies. The Israelites reached the boarder of the Promised Land. They had God’s instructions. Before entering the land they decided to send twelve men to spy out the land. Now remember that no one doubted that God had said go take the land. No one doubted that this was the particular land He said to take. No one doubted that He meant for them to enter now. So the question I pose is, was it wrong to send the twelve spies? I believe the answer depends on the intent. God often speaks to us, either through His written word or by the Holy Spirit in our hearts. We know when He speaks to us. We know what He has said. We know how it applies to our life. Yet, we too send out our twelve spies to look into God’s instructions. Our twelve spies may be in our mind; complex thoughts and scenarios we vividly imagine. I believe that if our intent is to examine the will of God in order to wisely proceed, it is acceptable. If the twelve spies were sent in to examine how they would proceed in obeying God’s will then that would have been acceptable and wise. But, if our intent is to consider whether we will obey God, then that is wrong. The twelve spies were not completely open to God’s plan before they entered the land. They were open to any and all reasons for possible failure and applied their own human reasoning into the equation of obedience. We do the very same thing all the time. There is wisdom in examining the will of God for our life, but not in considering the will of God for our life. God has already considered it.

I Used To Like Them

		Monday, 08 February 10 - 03:46 PM (GMT -06:00) By Bobby Sebastian in Bible Study

 

People who write movie scripts love to frustrate the audience.  One particular plot always works; they pull you into wanting a relationship to work between two main characters.  Then, they find some way for things to unravel.  Often the plot involves a sinister associate who fabricates some falsehood and drives a wedge of mistrust or anger between the two people you want to see together.  What really drives you crazy is that the remedy seems so obvious; they just need to be honest and upfront about the information they’ve heard and discover the truth.  We watch in disbelief at how easily they accept inaccurate information as fact.  We yell at the screen, “Just ask them about what you heard!”  Unfortunately, this happens all too often in our own lives.  That is why Proverbs 16:28 says, “…a gossip separates friends.”   We need to learn not to believe those little morsels of bad news about our friends so easily.  We need to take the time to check the facts before we allow a bit of gossip ruin a good friendship.  Before you say, “I used to like them,” make sure you know the truth.

Freedom Is Not Easy

		Tuesday, 26 January 10 - 09:47 AM (GMT -06:00) By Bobby Sebastian in Bible Study

 

In Numbers 13 and 14 we have the story of twelve spies sent into the Promised Land.  The children of Israel have just escaped from Egypt where they lived as slaves for 400 years.  At last true freedom lies ahead for the taking.  God is directing them to go in and possess a land and a new way of life.  But this new land and way of life is not going to be easy.  Now they must learn to take care of themselves, work together, trust in God’s promises, and fight.  Out of the twelve spies all but two, Joshua and Caleb, return with a bad report.  The land is already occupied with people who are many, strong, and bigger than the Israelites.  Their new found freedom is going to be harder than they imagined.  Now they are facing a difficult decision, stand together, fight, being willing to risk utter failure or miraculous victory.  Sadly, they cried out for Egypt.  It was easier to live in slavery than be free.  In Egypt their masters provided them a job, land on which to live, food, and protection from outside forces.  I think of this biblical story when I hear people in America cry out to Washington to provide and take care of them.  With every new program and benefit which comes from government another piece of freedom disappears.  Government becomes the all powerful giver and sustainer, the master of our lives and we become slaves.  Remember, freedom is not easy.  It is not today nor has it ever been.  Freedom requires personal responsibility, hard work, and a willingness to risk failure along the way to success.

Always Stuck

		Monday, 18 January 10 - 09:14 AM (GMT -06:00) By Bobby Sebastian in Bible Study

Proverbs 15:19 says, “The way of the lazy man is like a hedge of thorns, but the way of the upright is a highway.”

 

I remember in my earlier years I enjoyed hunting.  Actually, I enjoyed being outside with friends, tromping through the woods and shooting my gun.  I really didn’t care whether I shot any game.  We had just as much fun throwing our hats into the air and filling them full with birdshot.  One thing I always avoided on those outings was briar-thickets.  I didn’t have a pair of those hunting pants with the special coating on the front that fended off all but the nastiest of thorns.  I painfully learned that once you walked into a thorny patch things quickly came to a halt. Scripture says that the speed of a lazy person looks like me in that briar patch. In comparison, the upright, or the person who carries on as they should, moves along as if they were on a four lane highway.  We all have bad days, but if you find yourself always behind, always bogged down, and you see life passing you by, maybe, just maybe you might be lazy.

Why We Give

		Friday, 15 January 10 - 09:51 AM (GMT -06:00) By Bobby Sebastian in Bible Study

This is  from Dr. David Jeremiah and I thought I would pass it along in today's blog.

Why We Give

And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD's. It is holy to the LORD.
Leviticus 27:30

 

Recommended Reading
1 Chr. 29:10-17

According to Forbes magazine's March 2009 ranking, Bill Gates, retired co-founder of the Microsoft Corporation, is the world's richest person with a net worth of approximately $40 billion--down from $58 billion in 2008. Suppose you were feeling particularly generous one day and offered Mr. Gates a penny to help with his daily expenses. He might take your penny so as not to offend you, but does he really need it? What is one cent compared to 40 billion dollars?

Comparing America's smallest coin with the world's largest fortune doesn't come close to equaling the disparity between God's wealth and our tithes and offerings. Does the God who owns everything (Job 41:11b; Haggai 2:8) need our money? Of course not. Why, then, do we give? We give a tenth (or more) of everything to the Lord as a reminder that nothing belongs to us--that everything we have comes from Him and belongs to Him. Giving is an obedient act of worship that reveals what we believe about that which we call "ours."

God doesn't need us to give for His sake, but we need to give for ours. Giving is how we remember how much we have been given.

Are you giving God what is right or what is left?
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Merry Christmas

		Thursday, 24 December 09 - 05:10 AM (GMT -06:00) By Bobby Sebastian in General

I and my family would like to wish you a very Merry Christmas.  We pray that your holiday is filled with love to warm your heart and home.  There is no way to express the gratitude we feel for all the cards, gifts, and kind wishes.  Most of all we are grateful for our Savior who was born into this world some two thousand years ago.  I hope we all remember to share His love to others, especially those less fortunate, during this speacial time of the year.  Merry Christmas!

Christmas Charity

		Monday, 07 December 09 - 01:46 PM (GMT -06:00) By Bobby Sebastian in Bible Study

 

When God sent his Son into the world it was the greatest act of charity known to mankind.  He saw our need and did not wait for us to hold out our hand, but instead He reached out to us.  Most of the charity we do as Christians is a response to those who come to us and ask.  During this time of year we especially enjoy helping others.   It is always a blessing to help those less fortunate and certainly commanded in Scripture.  But true Christmas charity is Christ-like.  Christ-like charity is seen in the parable of the “good Samaritan” (Luke 10:30-37).  The Samaritan did not wait to be asked, but proactively reached out.  I encourage all of us, not just during the Christmas season, but throughout the year, to look for those that have been overlooked by so many.  Proactively reach out and show true Christian charity.

"Memas"

		Wednesday, 02 December 09 - 01:21 PM (GMT -06:00) By Bobby Sebastian in Bible Study

Dr. David Jeremiah once referred to Christmas becoming “Memas.”  You know what that is.  When we push Jesus out of lives in order to make room for our busy schedules.  Our schedules are all about our diets, trips, parties, budgets, and favorite things to do.  It easily becomes all about “me” and Christmas becomes Memas.  Unfortunately, the more you fill your life with “me” the emptier you feel.  The Christ of Christmas is a Savior who gives.  He reaches out to those in need.  He emptied Himself while being the fullness of everything good.  What will this December look like for you?  My wish for you is that you have a merry “Christmas.”

 

Speak With A Heart Of Gratitude

		Tuesday, 03 November 09 - 07:12 AM (GMT -06:00) By Bobby Sebastian in Bible Study

 

In Luke 17 Jesus healed ten lepers but only one returned to thank Him.  Not only did he return to thank Jesus but it says he did so loudly glorifying the Lord.  Psalm 100:1 tells us to make a joyful shout to the Lord.  Having a grateful heart is one of the most dominate subjects in scripture.  We are reminded over and over to give thanks and speak with a heart of gratitude.  Why do we need so many reminders?  We naturally tend to dwell on the negatives, the hurts, the struggles, the discomforts, and disappointments.  We must learn to see the many things we have to thank God for everyday and then voice that heart of gratitude.  I read that the Pilgrims dug seven times more graves than living quarters.  Yet, they set aside a day to give thanks.  This week every time you find something about which to complain, ad a “but” to that complaint and find something to say with gratitude.  Researchers tell us that gratitude is the healthiest of all emotions.  That is just the way God designed us. 

 

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