Tag Archives: jorylngrasser

Gospel Cowboys – Jorlyn A. Grasser

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“Seek good and not evil, that ye may live.” Amos 5:14

The Circle J Cowboy Church of Grayson County, Texas welcomes all. I love this place. They don’t care how you dress or what you drive—it could be a horse, Honda or a Harley. Everyone is welcomed with open arms and warm hearts.

They embrace the Cowboy Ten Commandments:
• Just one God
• Honor yer Ma and Pa
• No telling tales or gossiping
• Get yourself to Sunday meeting
• Put nothing before God
• No foolin’ around with another fellow’s gal
• No killin’
• Watch yer mouth
• Don’t take what ain’t yers
• Don’t be hankerin’ for yer buddy’s stuff

In Bible times, God used another cowboy named Amos to proclaim His message. Amos admitted he was no prophet. God told him what to say and he obeyed. Despite being clumsy with words and more comfortable with scrub stock, he appeared among the intellectuals of Bethel. He stepped from the backwoods to the avenues, using farm life and animal herding to illustrate his message. Society shuddered. Others shrugged it off.

The Israelites left farming behind, becoming urbanized. They came across as proud and self-absorbed. Scattered throughout their country were hidden shrines that God hated. At Bethel where once God communed with Abraham and Jacob, there was a temple to the golden calf. To all this, Amos pronounced the judgment of God, but his countrymen ignored his warnings.

People today ignore God’s warnings also. In spite of that fact, God continues to
spread His Words using any available person. His message is going out today in a
friendly, down-to-earth fashion using fancy gospel guitar pickin,’ as well as glorious choral arrangements.

One evangelist decked out in cowboy boots and a western-cut jacket holds his Bible above his head and exclaims, “This sixty-six shooter is the greatest weapon to use in difficult times. Loaded in my mind, each word becomes a bullet against the enemy’s sniper shots.”

With either cowboy boots or shiny shoes, take your feet to church this Sunday—church meaning ‘people’ getting together to worship. Receive God’s message and then proclaim it to those you see as you gallop through your busy week. Become a cowhand God can use—someone just like Amos.

Jorlyn A. Grasser is a freelance writer living in Knightdale, North Carolina. She has been published in Secret Place, Horizons, Seek, Evangel and other publications. Read Jorlyn’s devotions.

Embedded Rocks — Joryln Grasser

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“A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.” Ezekiel 36:26

The lighthouse winks periodically, its blaring horn warns ships. Lake Michigan’s water laps over the shores’ round rocks. I am having a rare playtime with my dad. He lets me wander, watching as I chase waves and then laughing as waves chase me. Dusk begins to settles. When I leave I carry a few, small rocks in my pocket as a trophy of our day.

Like my pocket rocks, rocks in the Bible play an important role in God’s story of His people. Abraham prepared to sacrifice his son, Isaac, on a rock alter, but God intervened. They reinforced with a huge stone the rock-hewed grave in which they buried Jesus. God intervened again and rolled it away. God’s plans for Moses changed when he disobeyed and struck the rock numerous times. The significance of each story teaching us today.

Since Bible times each year as the farmer prepared his field he encountered new rocks once deeply embedded. They broke loose and rose to the surface. These must be dealt with before planting can begin.

As the farmer prepares the field, even so God must prepare us. As believers, we must not allow sin to become embedded, its presence so obscure we refuse to acknowledge it. Bitterness and anger create rock solid formations. These refuse to diminish as we attempt to shovel aside the failures they create.

God is our only help. Forgiveness comes as we acknowledge Him as the cleansing source. He attacks sin one shovel full at a time, removing and tossing it beyond our reach.

Embedding our lives in Biblical truths creates deep craters of assurance. God’s Word provides peace. Each truth nugget builds confidence-sustaining stability. Our heavenly Father smiles as we test His promises. He honors our desire to embed His Word within. Soon, trophy verses become life’s stepping stone, each a solid rock we hold precious.

Daily living embedded in God’s Word provides solid footing when life’s waves lash against us. Our faith stands strong, as His Word becomes a “lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path”. (Psalm 119:105)



Jorlyn A. Grasser is a freelance writer living in Knightdale, North Carolina. She has been published in Secret Place, Horizons, Seek, Evangel and other publications. She enjoys playing the piano and spending time with her grandchildren.

One Minute Meditations for the culturally challenged and spiritually stuck. Daily devotions from the perspective of one man and one woman, delivered online and by email that inspire you to move beyond the “busy-ness” of life into an intimate relationship with God through an interactive friendship with the Father. Christian Devotions takes Christ from the heavens and places him in your heart.