Mentoring Ministry - Dr. Bob Abramson » Encountering God

In All My Years

bob — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 13:30:10 +0000

I recently had a conversation with my seven-year-old grandson, Max. He was telling me about putting together a gift I had just given him for Christmas. He said to me, “In all my years I never had one of these.” I thought about how his words revealed so much about our perspectives on life. I am in the latter part of the sixth generation of my life, and “in all my years” I have learned many things, but this is among the most important. I have learned how short the time really is. This causes me think about the brief window I have to honor God. Honoring Him can translate to influence and fruitfulness. These two things are inherent in all of our efforts to honor the Lord. John 15:16 (NKJV) says, “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.”

What about you? What do you think about? Here are two questions for you to answer. First, in all your years that have come and gone, what has your life said about the One who so graciously saved you. Second, how will your life speak of God’s greatness in all your years to come? I’m Dr. Bob. “In all my years.” I cannot think if a better set of questions to ask.

In All My Years

Christ Was Love

bob — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 12:38:25 +0000

This is my Christmas Mentoring Minute. Unlike the others, I did not prepare it before I spoke it. I wanted it to come from my heart to yours. It is all about the true meaning of Christmas. My wife and ministry partner Nancy and I want to say, “Merry Christmas” to you and all who you love and care for.

With every blessing.
Dr. Bob and Nancy Abramson

CHRISTMAS LOVE
CHRISTWAS LOVE

Christ was Love-

Keep Your Hands Out of the Press.

bob — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 14:11:20 +0000

Here is an account of something amazing that happened many years ago in our church in the Fiji Islands. It was in a Sunday service that the Lord gave me a word of wisdom, which I spoke to the congregation. It was a specific warning that someone was to be careful not to put his or her hand inside a piece of machinery. It would be a dangerous thing to do. There was a young woman attending services that day, who heard the warning. She later testified that this word of wisdom came at such a timely moment. She said she worked in a print shop and the next morning, she was operating a large printing press when it became jammed. As she put her hand in the press to release the mechanism, she remembered the word of wisdom. She quickly pulled her hand back. At that very moment, the printing press cleared itself and came crashing down where her hand had been just a moment earlier. It would have crushed it. Psalms 18:30 (NKJV) says, “As for God, His way is perfect; The word of the LORD is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him.”

Our circumstances, desires and others’ expectations can press upon us greatly, bring potentially damaging pressure. In addition, there is always the press of temptation. I’m Dr. Bob. Keep your hands, and your thoughts, out of the press. Instead, place them safely in God’s grip. That’s what I call pressing advice to eliminate the press of life. So, here is the question. Have you neglected to heed what God has spoken to you, whether through a spiritual gift of someone else or in your private moments with the Lord? Think carefully. Then reflect on any adjustments you need to make. You can listen to additional Mentoring Minutes at www.mentoringminutes.com.

Keep Your Hands Out of the Press

Not Broken, Not Removed… Destroyed!

bob — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 12:56:13 +0000

I want to make it perfectly clear that God will go far beyond breaking or simply removing whatever has you bound. He will utterly destroy it! Isaiah 10:27 (NKJV) assures us of this. Isaiah, speaking for the Lord, said, “It shall come to pass in that day That his burden will be taken away from your shoulder, And his yoke from your neck, And the yoke will be destroyed because of the anointing oil.” In Psalm 91:14-16, God says, “Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name. {15} He shall call upon 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.”

With those words in mind, take your worship, combine it with God’s promises and reap your blessings. One thing I know about God’s power is this.God will not stop with breaking or temporarily removing your problem. He will utterly destroy it… forever. My advice is to start worshiping as you embrace these promises for your situation. Then, when He completely crushes and destroys what has you in bondage, start shouting. I’m Dr. Bob. That is the truth and it will set you free. You can listen to additional Mentoring Minutes at www.mentoringministry.com.

Not Broken. Not Removed. Destroyed!

“Fiyaaah!”

bob — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 13:08:53 +0000

I’m Dr. Bob and for just a Mentoring Minute I want to light your fire… Well, let’s change that to, I want to light your “Fiyaaah!” Here is something that might just do it. Recently, I was listening to my friend, Pastor Jamie Peters, who is a missionary in Africa. He was preaching a message in which described himself as “that crazy African preacher.” He spoke about how his experiences changed him into another man and he became filled with the fire of God. His biblical example in the sermon was a young King Saul, to whom the Prophet Samuel spoke words that predicted a radical change in his life. In 1 Samuel 10:6 (NKJV), the prophet said to Saul, “Then the Spirit of the LORD will come upon you, and you will prophesy with them and be turned into another man.” When the Holy Spirit comes upon you, there is the potential for you to become a completely different person. It is a promise from God. Open yourself up to a fresh filling of the Holy Spirit. You will be changed into someone very different. He will fill you with the fire of God, and you may find you cannot hold back a shout of “Fiyaaah!” Open your heart to God and invite the Holy Spirit to initiate this change. Then, shout “Fiyaaah!” There is nothing better than burning for Jesus. I’m Dr. Bob. Make yourself combustible and let it out with a shout! You can listen to additional Mentoring Minutes at www.mentoringministry.com

Fiyaaah

The Safest Way To Hell

Dr. Bob — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 12:05:43 +0000

I’m Dr. Bob and for must a Mentoring Minute, I would like to tell you about the safest way to hell. Listen to what C. S. Lewis wrote. “The safest way to hell is a gradual slide.” These are extremely enlightening words for someone who once surrendered to Jesus Christ as personal Lord and Savior, but has slowly backed away from living a life that demonstrates what he or she originally professed. Hebrews 10:26-27 (NLT) warns us that, “…if we deliberately continue sinning after we have received a full knowledge of the truth, there is no other sacrifice that will cover these sins. {27} There will be nothing to look forward to but the terrible expectation of God’s judgment and the raging fire that will consume his enemies.”

That is an amazingly straight and indisputable warning. In today’s society, we find it too easy to let the world and its ways influence us to slowly slide away from God and redirect our paths straight into hell. We must be aware and full of care not to let our lifestyles slide away from how we felt when we first came to know Jesus. We must treasure and protect the personal changes we made from that point on. I’m Dr. Bob, and that is a word of wisdom that sounds a clear warning. It is entirely worth heeding. You can listen to additional Mentoring Minutes at www.mentoringministry.com/blogs.

safest-way-to-hell 10-05-11

New Devotional Journal: “Reflections – Volume One”

bob — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 13:38:36 +0000

REFLECTIONS – Volume One is the first in a series of Dr. Bob’s devotional journals. They will challenge you to drive deeper into your relationship with God. Each of Dr. Abramson’s devotional subjects presents you with an insightful look at a slice of life. It then challenges you with “Spiritual Food for Thought.” Check it out on my BOOKSTORE, or go directly to Amazon.com.

Transplanted

bob — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 12:00:21 +0000

I’m Dr. Bob and for just a Mentoring Minute, let’s talk about gardening. Have you ever watched someone carefully transplant something from one spot in the garden to another? Did you notice how careful that person was to establish the roots firmly in fresh, wholesome soil, so the plant would flourish? Colossians 2:7 (NKJV) says you are to be “rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.” Psalms 92:13 (NKJV) says, “Those who are planted in the house of the LORD Shall flourish in the courts of our God.” Scripture clearly teaches the value of properly securing the plant into the soil. It also teaches the value of being properly secured into the soil of God’s own garden. So, here’s the issue. Since you were transplanted from darkness to light, have you done your part to flourish, as you should? Think about it and then do something today to reflect your new position in Christ. Make no mistake, you have been transplanted from soil that was dead of nutrients and filled with poisons. Now you can flourish in a garden filled with goodness and nourishment. I’m Dr. Bob. You can listen to additional Mentoring Minutes at www.mentoringministry.com.

transplanted-10-05-11

Whose Shadow?

bob — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 12:18:21 +0000

I’m Dr. Bob, and for just a Mentoring Minute, I would like to share with you one thing that amazes me. It is the choices people make. Many choose to walk in dark shadows, trying to conceal their sins, compromise and deliberate foolishness. To do so may seem attractive at the moment. It may bring feelings that temporarily mask the true nature of the coming consequences. However, the day inevitably arrives when poor choices cast their shadows, bringing darkness and perhaps even the shadow of death. Luke 1:79 records Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist, prophesying of his over his newborn son’s purpose, which would be to announce the Savior’s mission, to bring light to a darkened world. He said, “To give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” My advice is to get out from under, and stay out of those carnal and even demonic shadows that abound throughout our fallen world. Refuse to allow them to hover over you. Then, run under the shadow of the Almighty. It is a secret place reserved just for you. It is place of refuge and safety. There, God will be with you and cover you with an awesome display of His saving grace, protection and power. If you want to understand this better, read Psalm 91. It’s my favorite! Here is a final thought. A dark, shadowy path is dangerous, even when it seems right. Proverbs 14:12 and 16:25 say, “There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death. Head for the light. Amazingly, you will find it under “the shadow of the Almighty” (Psalm 91:1). I do not know how to explain this. I simply know it’s true. What shadows might shadows1).ht. Amazingly, you will find it under the shadow of the Amighty. I do not know how to explain this. I simply kno be hovering over you?

Whose Shadow?

Inside Out

bob — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 12:00:16 +0000

I’m Dr. Bob, and for just a Mentoring Minute, I want set the record straight. God never designed us to be shallow, superficial Christians. His plan was never to have lukewarm people in lukewarm churches. When we were born again, He changed us on the inside, so we could shine on the outside. In other words, He turned us inside out! He fashioned us to carry a deep, fiery zeal for Him, His Word and His work. Knowing this has caused me to understand the value of growing on the inside. Beyond that, it has given me an awareness of my need to fan the flames He put in me. (Ephesians 5:8-10 NLT) says, “For though your hearts were once full of darkness, now you are full of light from the Lord, and your behavior should show it! {9} For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true. {10} Try to find out what is pleasing to the Lord.” If God can get you growing on the inside, He knows you will be glowing on the outside. Take that to heart. If necessary, turn your thinking inside out, so it matches what God has done with your eternal destiny. Then, determine never to reverse the process. Keep growing on the inside. If you will, you can be sure you will be glowing on the outside. I’m Dr. Bob. That’s a Mentoring Minute that will light up your life and those around you. You can listen to additional Mentoring Minutes at www.mentoringministry.com/blogs.

inside-out