Love Revealed, The Sharpening Stone of Our Lives

Today's Focus Scripture - Proverbs 27:17-19 and John 15:10-17

Proverbs 27:17-19
17 As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.
18 Whoever keeps the fig tree will eat its fruit; So he who waits on his master will be honored.
19 As in water face reflects face, So a man’s heart reveals the man.


John 15:10-17
10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.
11 These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.
12 “This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you.
13 Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.
14 You are My friends if you do what I command you.
15 No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you.
16 You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you.
17 This I command you, that you love one another.

Our lives must not be separated or isolated from one another.  As the Father loves Jesus and Jesus loves us, so too we love one another.  There is so much which can be said about this principle of loving each other as the Father and Jesus have loved us.  Let us love one another with the love of God shed abroad in our hearts.

Abound In This Grace Also - Serve In Love Toward One Another

Today's Focus Scripture - 2 Corinthians 8:1-9

The joke was really funny today.  Dial in to listen, or check out the RSS or iTunes links.

Ron's 15th Anniversary was today for him and his wonderful wife Stephanie.

2 Corinthians 8:1-9

1 Now, brethren, we wish to make known to you the grace of God which has been given in the churches of Macedonia,
2 that in a great ordeal of affliction their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed in the wealth of their liberality.
3 For I testify that according to their ability, and beyond their ability, they gave of their own accord,
4 begging us with much urging for the favor of participation in the support of the saints,
5 and this, not as we had expected, but they first gave themselves to the Lord and to us by the will of God.
6 So we urged Titus that as he had previously made a beginning, so he would also complete in you this gracious work as well.
7 But just as you abound in everything, in faith and utterance and knowledge and in all earnestness and in the love we inspired in you, see that you abound in this gracious work also.
8 I am not speaking this as a command, but as proving through the earnestness of others the sincerity of your love also.
9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.


Verse 6 is something to ponder, as Ron indicated.

Insisting in serving beyond one's personal abilities.  Copy the people of Macedonia in their faith and service toward each other and to Jesus.

Faith without works is dead.  So to is our service in that our works, our service toward one another is done in faith in serving Jesus overall.

Our sincerity is tested.  The Lord gave everything for our sake, so too we should give our all in service to one another.

Cast Out The Net - Obedience Allows For Success

Today's Focus Scripture - John 21:6 (From "God's Daily Word" Devotional)

"He said, 'Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.' When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish."

Other verses in the devotional
"Now go and strike Amalek and utterly destroy all that he has, and do not spare him; but put to death both man and woman, child and infant, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.’”(1 Samuel 15:3)

"But Samuel replied: 'Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams'" (1 Samuel 15:22).

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The Entire Devotional - CAST OUT THE NET

Very early in life (almost from birth) we are trained to be successful according to the world's definition of success. We are driven by goals and accomplishments from the day we take our first steps and ride our first bike. As we grow older, we are pressured to accumulate knowledge and "things" in order to prove our success. In our Christian walk, Jesus calls us to a new definition of success - one determined not by what we accomplish, acquire or understand, but by our simple yet complete obedience.

The disciples walked and talked with Jesus, but they still faced many challenges with faith and obedience. One morning after fishing all night without a catch, Jesus called from the shore.

John 21:6
"He said, 'Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.' When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish."

The disciples were successful that morning. But we must understand that the large number of fish did not define their success. They would have been successful even if the net remained empty. Oh how I wish more in ministry could grasp this truth! The disciples were successful the moment they were obedient and cast the net on the right side of the boat.

One thousand years earlier, King Saul was told to "attack the Amalekites and totally destroy everything that belongs to them" (1 Samuel 15:3). But Saul allowed the Amalekite king and the best livestock to survive. He tried to hide his disobedience by telling the prophet Samuel that the animals were for a sacrifice to God. "But Samuel replied: 'Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams'" (1 Samuel 15:22).

In any task we undertake for God, it's easy to become discouraged by our apparent lack of success. We often feel inadequate, and those feelings increase when our goals seem to be elusive. But we must remember that the outcome of the task is minor compared to our obedience. We have almost no ability to determine how our efforts fit into God's plan. God doesn't need our fish! He can accomplish His plan with the rocks if He chooses, but He desires our willful obedience and trust, though He knows our obedience will never be perfect and our trust will never be complete. Our Father desires a people who will bring Him glory as they love Him with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength.

Let's take our eyes off the accomplishment of the "catch" and what we can produce. Rather, let's focus on walking each step according to His leading. Let's love Him with an uncluttered heart and concentrate all our effort on obeying His call to cast out the net.

Have a Christ Centered Day!

Steve Troxel
God's Daily Word Ministries
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Eternity - Where Our Lord Exists - No Slackness Concerning His Promises

Today's Focus Scripture - 2 Peter 3: 8-15

A Word to be thankful for.

8 But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day.
9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.
10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up.
11 Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness,
12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat!
13 But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.
14 Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless,
15 and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation; just as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you,

Reading from this chapter in 2 Peter for the first time on the call.  And for added clarity verses 15-18 have been added to this blog.

16 as also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction.
17 You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men and fall from your own steadfastness,
18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Let us remain worshipful in our life toward our King.  The Word is alive and active.

God and His love are always waiting for us when we come into His courts with thanksgiving and praise in our hearts.

It is amazing the King of the Universe waits for us and accepts our times of heartfelt giving of worship to Him.

Ron is so faithful to us men of Grace to keep this phone call going daily for us to have a glimpse into God's word, into our family at Grace, and possibly for a path which all the men of Grace are on as a team, as a family together.

Lord, we ask a special blessing upon Ron for his faithfulness to us men of Grace.

Our Father is as close as a whispered prayer.

We Continue To Be Thankful - Bearing and Forgiving One Another

Good Joke today, call in to listen, you will enjoy it.

Today's Focus Scripture - Colossians 3:12-17

12 So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience;
13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.
14 Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.
15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.
16 Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
17 Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.

Today we continue to be thankful to the Lord for His goodness and mercies and forgiveness toward us.  We are reminded that God's Word, His precepts, ordinances, testimonies, commandments, statutes and judgments are all very good and profitable to us for training in righteousness.  His Word is a light unto our paths.

We are especially thankful for our Grace Church family, in that the Lord has us in a place ordained and planned for each one of us.

Thanksgiving, Prayer, Supplication, and Meditation - Be Anxious for Nothing

What we say and how we say it does not need to be filled with anxious ideas or concepts.

Today's Focus Scripture: Philippians 4:6-8

6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.

"LET" =  to make known in the Greek.

Let your requests be known to God.  And you will have peace that surpasses your understanding and your heart will be guarded against those anxious thoughts.

"When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, Your consolations delight my soul." ~ Psalm 94:19

Try not to complain, but rather meditate on what is good, just, of good report, lovely, and excellent things worthy of giving and offering thanksgiving and praise to God.

George Washington's 1789 Thanksgiving Proclamation
Thanksgiving Proclamation Link

Jubilant Hearts Bring Songs of Thanksgiving

Today's Focus Scripture Psalm 28

Let us be even more thankful because the Son has reconciled us to the Father.

Psalm 28

1 To You, O Lord, I call;
My rock, do not be deaf to me,
For if You are silent to me,
I will become like those who go down to the pit.
2 Hear the voice of my supplications when I cry to You for help,
When I lift up my hands toward Your holy sanctuary.
3 Do not drag me away with the wicked
And with those who work iniquity,
Who speak peace with their neighbors,
While evil is in their hearts.
4 Requite them according to their work and according to the evil of their practices;
Requite them according to the deeds of their hands;
Repay them their recompense.
5 Because they do not regard the works of the Lord
Nor the deeds of His hands,
He will tear them down and not build them up.
6 Blessed be the Lord,
Because He has heard the voice of my supplication.
7 The Lord is my strength and my shield;
My heart trusts in Him, and I am helped;
Therefore my heart exults,
And with my song I shall thank Him.
8 The Lord is their strength,
And He is a saving defense to His anointed.
9 Save Your people and bless Your inheritance;
Be their shepherd also, and carry them forever.

Today is a day of remembering that Jesus has reconciled us to the Father, to Himself.  Our Father, our King Jesus is in the business of reconciliation.

"For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life." ~ Romans 5:10


"Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God." ~ 2 Corinthians 5:17-20

Waiting For the Mercy of Our Lord Jesus Christ To Eternal Life

Today's Focus Scripture - Jude 17-25

"But you, beloved, ought to remember the words that were spoken beforehand by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, that they were saying to you, “In the last time there will be mockers, following after their own ungodly lusts.” These are the ones who cause divisions, worldly-minded, devoid of the Spirit.  But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life. And have mercy on some, who are doubting; save others, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy with fear, hating even the garment polluted by the flesh. Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen." ~ Jude 17-25

Have mercy on doubters and mockers as we also anxiously wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life.

Snatch the doubters out of the fire. 

Verses 18-23

18 that they were saying to you, “In the last time there will be mockers, following after their own ungodly lusts.” 19 These are the ones who cause divisions, worldly-minded, devoid of the Spirit. 20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life. 22 And have mercy on some, who are doubting; 23 save others, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy with fear, hating even the garment polluted by the flesh.

The Grace of God is Why We Are Who We Are

Today's Focus Scripture - Titus 3:1-9

"Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed, to malign no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing every consideration for all men. For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another. But when the kindness of God our Savior a

nd His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. This is a trustworthy statement; and concerning these things I want you to speak confidently, so that those who have believed God will be careful to engage in good deeds. These things are good and profitable for men. But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and strife and disputes about the Law, for they are unprofitable and worthless." ~ Titus 3:1-9 

God pours out His grace and mercy upon us.  We are not righteous in our own works.  We are righteous before God because of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross.

We cannot judge, nor do we have license to do so.  We are not on the throne, God is.

We were once as non-believers are.  Let us not condemn ourselves as non-believers do.

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God." ~ 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Please do not forget about Operation Christmas Child held by Samaritan's Purse.  

Go to this LINK to learn more about this ministry, and for instructions on how to pack a box or to make a donation. 

You can pick up a box at GCC or use any shoe box sized container to pack a box or two.

Grace Community Church is a drop off site for your box.  SCHEDULE OF DROP OFF TIMES

Bring one box of love or more.  

You will definitely bless a child somewhere in the world.

God Blesses Us So We Can Be a Blessing to Others

Concerning King Solomon, he asked God for wisdom.  His wisdom was known throughout the world.

Today's Focus Scripture - 2 Chronicles 9:8

Today's Devotional comes from "Cross the Bridge"

"Blessed be the Lord your God who delighted in you, setting you on His throne as king for the Lord your God; because your God loved Israel establishing them forever, therefore He made you king over them, to do justice and righteousness.”  ~ 2 Chronicles 9:8

God has blessed each and every one of us with special gifts, maybe not in the realm of King Solomon’s wisdom and riches, but nonetheless, a gift from God implanted within us for service to Him and to others.  

Everything we have can be used for living out the gospel and being a blessing to God.

The Queen of Sheba said something special to King Solomon because she recognized the blessings upon his life, bestowed upon him by God.  So then people will also take notice of our gifts from God to bless them and they will proclaim as the Queen of Sheba said, "Blessed be the Lord your God."

Today as we continue to honor our Veterans, we thank them for their service and sacrifice in serving to, and for our nation and its citizens, and to our way of living in the United States of America.  Moral and ethical living and standards which this nation was founded upon shall never be torn down by tyranny and socialism.

Let us remember them all, the men and women who have served, are serving, and for all the families of the military service members.

We pray God's blessings, protection, and provision for all in service to the military for this country, the United States of America.

GOD BLESS AMERICA - AND ALL HER LIBERTIES PROVIDED TO US BY OUR CREATOR

November 10, 2012

Several of us attended the funeral of our brother Jon's father today.  I have shared this scripture with Jon...and with you

Matthew 11

28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden , and I will give you rest . 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

The Spirit Intercedes For Us

Our focus scripture this morning was Romans 8:25-32

Ron emphasized the following concepts mentioned in this passage of scripture.

·         Perseverance

·         Weaknesses

·         Intercession

·         Delivered

·         Brethren

Romans 8:25-32
25 But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.
26 In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words;
27 and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;
30 and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.
31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?
32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?

Stand Fast Men

This morning, Roy and I began the call by praying and mourning for our brother Jon Pignatelli on the sudden loss of his father.  We love you and your family Jon, and pray for peace, comfort, and strength, and provision for you and your family over the days to come.

Our focus scripture this morning was 2 Thessalonians 2:13-17

Stand Fast
13 But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, 14 to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15 Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle.  16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, 17 comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work.

Thank you Lord, that even in our distress, you are with us.  You comfort us, You strengthen us, You lift us up.  We praise you Lord.  In victory or defeat, in sickness and in health, in prosperity and in poverty, we praise you.

Please join me in my prayers for our brother Jon and his family, our country, Israel, and all who need Jesus in their lives.

November 5, 2012 The first post

In April 2011, the Holy Spirit prompted me to be an encourager of men by offering a daily time of fellowship, humor, and most importantly, a daily dose of God's word.  As of this morning's call, there are 278 recorded Life Chat calls with almost 90 total hours of chat.

For the most part, it is a relatively small group of men from Grace Community Church in Southlake, Texas who take part.  But from the beginning it has been my hope that men from all over the globe would join us and be encouraged.  So to spread the word about Life Chat, I am starting this blog.

Life Chat calls take place at 8:30 A.M. Central Time, Monday through Friday and last 15 to 25 minutes.   Men can join us on the call, or listen to any of our daily recorded calls.  

To join us on the call:

(605) 562-3000
Access Code: 641804#

To hear one or more of the recorded calls:

(605) 562-3099
Access Code: 641804#
Reference number: # (for that day's call)

Or, if prefer, you can listen to any of the calls via podcast.  Use either of the following links:

RSS link: http://www.freeconferencecall.com/itunes/podcast.asp?id=6055623000:641804

 iTunes link: http://www.freeconferencecall.com/itunes/itunes.asp?id=6055623000:641804

I invite you to start your day in fellowship with us, or listening to the recording of our call.  God bless you and we look forward to you joining us.

Ron Rotthaus