THE FAMILY GOOD NEWS-LETTER by Gene McGuire August, 2013

LABOR DAY NEWSLETTER

                                         The Family Good News-Letter
29th Year                                         September 2, 2013

Dear Friends and Family,

Since the Labor Day Holiday is upon us, I thought it might be appropriate to take a closer look at what we do to earn a living and what spiritual significance that activity might have. People usually divide occupations into two categories, religious and secular. When we think religious, the usual stereotypes come to mind . . . pastors, missionaries, gospel singer and evangelists. It might be beneficial for us to look at this subject from a different perspective. The reign of King David in Israel would be a good starting point.

     David wore two hats. He was both the spiritual as well as the so-called secular leader. This kind of arrangement is called a theocracy. I would like to share a short commentary with you from Thomas Nelson Publishers’ Daily Devotional Bible.  It treats the subject in a much better manner than I ever could. In addition, this approach helps me avoid the temptation to plagiarize. (SMILE)

     David was the king over a theocracy. He organized his people for religious duties as well as for what might be termed “secular” duties. In the theocracy, however, there was no distinction. Any assigned service was in essence a sacred duty, whether one was a soldier or priest. Duty toward the kingdom was duty toward God Who was over the kingdom. Such a thought should dominate the thoughts of the Christian. All of life is sacred. The believer is always on duty. Even in one’s chosen occupation, one is to be a dutiful Christian in the performance of his work. Working at a secular job to make a livelihood merely serves as a means by which one performs his overall duty toward God. The believer is never off duty in his moral obligation.

     Just in case some of you might exclaim “That Old Testament stuff doesn’t apply to me”, let’s talk a little New Testament!!!! Col. 3:23 tells us “Whatever may be your task, work at it heartily (from the soul), as (something done) for the Lord and not for men.” And if that doesn’t convince you, try on Col. 1:13 which informs us that “We have been translated from the Kingdom of darkness into the Kingdom of God’s own Son.”  Therefore, we Christians are not unlike the Hebrews who were subject to King David, we too live in a theocracy. However, there is a significant difference between the two monarchs. Our King is the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, the Savior of the World, the One True God, Jesus Christ.

                                                                     Have a Blessing and be a Blessing,

                                                                                        Gene

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There’s A Portion Set Aside For You! October, 2012

“Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me,” 2Kings 2: 9

The spiritual gifts are there for you.  Get before God…He has a lot more for you than you already have or know.  I do agree that your heart and your mind need to be right.  Some say you have to be holy.  Some say you have to be faithful.  Pick up the bible, pray…you will be led.

As I have traveled around, I admit that I have met people who had in their arsenal; gifts given by God!  I further admit that I began to question if I was in the wrong place.  However, as I prayed I knew that I wasn’t in the wrong place; that I could not blame my church or leadership that I did not have the things that I desired…I could only point the finger at myself.

I knew in my heart that I had a prophetic evangelistic gift and the fact that it had not fully manifested…was entirely my fault.

I am speaking about this because I know a lot of people have dealt with this. 

 

Here  you see that Elisha would not settle for less than a double portion of Elijah‘s anointing.

2 Kings 2:1-14

New International Version (NIV)

Elijah Taken Up to Heaven

2 When the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. ² Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here; the Lord has sent me to Bethel.”

But Elisha said, “As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel.

³ The company of the prophets at Bethel came out to Elisha and asked, “Do you know that the Lord is going to take your master from you today?”

“Yes, I know,” Elisha replied, “so be quiet.”

⁴ Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here, Elisha; the Lord has sent me to Jericho.”

And he replied, “As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So they went to Jericho.

⁵ The company of the prophets at Jericho went up to Elisha and asked him, “Do you know that the Lord is going to take your master from you today?”

“Yes, I know,” he replied, “so be quiet.”

⁶ Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here; the Lord has sent me to the Jordan.”

And he replied, “As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So the two of them walked on.

⁷ Fifty men from the company of the prophets went and stood at a distance, facing the place where Elijah and Elisha had stopped at the Jordan. ⁸ Elijah took his cloak, rolled it up and struck the water with it. The water divided to the right and to the left, and the two of them crossed over on dry ground.

⁹ When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?”

“Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit,” Elisha replied.

¹⁰ “You have asked a difficult thing,” Elijah said, “yet if you see me when I am taken from you, it will be yours—otherwise, it will not.”

¹¹ As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind. ¹² Elisha saw this and cried out, “My father! My father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!” And Elisha saw him no more. Then he took hold of his garment and tore it in two.

¹³ Elisha then picked up Elijah’s cloak that had fallen from him and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. ¹⁴ He took the cloak that had fallen from Elijah and struck the water with it. “Where now is the Lord, the God of Elijah?” he asked. When he struck the water, it divided to the right and to the left, and he crossed over.

I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. ⁵ For in him you have been enriched in every way—with all kinds of speech and with all knowledge— ⁶ God thus confirming our testimony about Christ among you. ⁷ Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. 1 Corinthians 1

 

 

 

 

 

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Directions For Prayer! August, 2012

Confess to one another therefore your faults (your slips, your false steps, your offenses, your sins) and pray [also] for one another, that you may be healed and restored [to a spiritual tone of mind and heart]. The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working]. James 5: 16

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LESSONS FROM THE CROSS! BY GENE McGUIRE JUNE 22. 2012

THE WORD OF   FORGIVENESS

When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified Him, along   with the criminals–one on His right, the other on His left. Jesus said,   “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” Luke   23:33-34

Prayer

Father, what a lesson   our Lord taught us in His first cry from the cross! We see the great loving   heart of Christ as He prayed for those who were putting Him to death. In   a sense, He is practicing what He preached when He told us to “love your   enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” Our Lord‘s enemies had just   driven nails into his body, and He asked You to forgive them. We’ve come   to Calvary‘s cross to be shown the way to forgive. Help us, Lord! We too   are frequently sinned against, but may we also seek to be   forgiving, and, in so doing, set an example for others. We ask this   in Jesus’ name.

Amen

Sincerely Yours, Gene McGuire

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A Memorial Day Prayer May, 2012

 

LORD BLESS OUR SOLDIERS , PRESERVE AND PROTECT THEM AND COVER THEM WITH THE BLOOD OF JESUS!   For Christ’s sake.  AMEN

 

Psalm 91

¹ Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.^[a]
2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”

³ Surely he will save you
from the fowler’s snare
and from the deadly pestilence.
⁴ He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
⁵ You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
⁶ nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.
⁷ A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.
⁸ You will only observe with your eyes
and see the punishment of the wicked.

⁹ If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,”
and you make the Most High your dwelling,
¹⁰ no harm will overtake you,
no disaster will come near your tent.
¹¹ For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;
¹² they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
¹³ You will tread on the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

¹⁴ “Because he^[b] loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
¹⁵ He will call on me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.
¹⁶ With long life I will satisfy him
and show him my salvation.”

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