One-Shot Deal

One-Shot

Definition:
Achieved with a single attempt or action; done, produced, or occurring only once."a one-shot deal"

Our mighty Creator is so powerful and so perfect, it only took Him ONE SINGLE SHOT to make YOU. Because He is that awesome and makes no mistakes, YOU are a “one-shot deal”.  There is only one of you in this world. This was done unmistakably and for an amazing purpose, as God has a reason and a purpose for all His creations.

“I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well." -Psalm 139:14

Sometimes you may catch yourself wondering and trying to figure out what your purpose is or why you are even here on this earth? Difficult circumstances can easily drive you to questioning yourself and your place in this world. Some of you may actually be in a comfortable position, but still have that unsatisfying feeling that maybe you should try to be someone different or achieve something different. 

On a personal note, tons of people look at me and question my position today. Heck, I even sometimes wonder myself what I am doing. As a young female with plenty of God-given abilities and talents, I too wonder if working in the family firearm business is really where I am suppose to be.  I know, I know, I’m unique, right? Thankfully, I do realize that I am unique and I realize God has His purpose. When comments are made by others and self-questioning starts in my head, I simply answer - “God has me exactly where He wants me right now." :) 

To all you readers, I’m here to tell you to rest assured that if you are attempting to follow in His light and let Him be your life “overseer”, you are right where He wants you and He is currently, or will soon be, using you for a divine purpose. Divine purposes give you spiritual fulfillment and spiritual fulfillment always answers your questions of "why?" or "what?" Why am I here? What is my purpose?

God placed you here on this earth and gave you special talents and gifts that can be used for the good of people and purpose of shining His light. Never underestimate the position God has allowed you to be in. Plus, He opens new doors and takes you into a deeper spiritual journey as you continue to trust in Him and His purpose for you.

“I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my spokesman to the world.” -Jeremiah 1:5

God knew you before you were born. He knew all the wonderful and special parts about you. He knew that if you believed in Him and accepted Jesus into your heart, all the special parts He gave you would enable you to shine bright for Him.

Once you choose to let Him live in your heart, you are called to shine His Light in some form or fashion... to be a spokesman for Him - to not be afraid or ashamed of the gospel. You are called to stand out in a positive way and not fall into the ways of the world. If you simply stand out by being a faithful follower of Christ, you are serving your duty. 

 

Whether you chose Jesus earlier or later in life, He is now a part of YOU and Him being a part of you, separates you from being just like the average Jo Blow. You are a more special you than ever before. 

"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." -Romans 12:2
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“Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching’”-Romans 12:6-7

No matter what profession or job you may have, God can use you for His glory. Whether you are a missionary, preacher, teacher, salesman, doctor, financial advisor, entertainer, soldier, law-enforcement officer, cook, stay-at-home mom, etc., you have been given the the special talents you possess and the unique personality and heart you have by God, and He expects you to use them to help reach others and shine His light.

If you question your talents and traits you are blessed with, please take a moment and think about all the times you made someone smile or gave just out of the goodness of your heart. There are so many things someone can do or say that simply reflects His love. Big or small, it all counts and it’s the job you have been given by the Master. 

Never underestimate your purpose. Don’t get me wrong, it doesn’t hurt to aim for a bigger and better one! There is absolutely nothing wrong with having a greater desire, but be sure it’s for God’s glory and not your own. God rewards those who’s hearts are sincere. You never know where He may lead you!

“Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.”-Proverbs 16:3

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” -Ephesians 2:10

“You are diminished if you hide yourself under a bushel, keeping your skills, talents, insights, joy, and pain hidden away from others. God wants you to share yourself. He created you with a uniqueness that enriches the world when you give yourself to the community around you.” -Uknown

Remember, you are a one-shot deal - don’t diminish yourself!

Aside of the positions you are currently in and the roles you play, and if you take anything from this, please remember that you are absolutely made beautifully. No matter your race, no matter your sex, you have been given a special personality, special character traits and special interests that all make you YOU. Always remember to be proud of who you are, because you were fearfully and wonderfully made by an almighty God who loves each and every one of His unique children equally.

God wants you to be who He made you to be. Don’t settle for who others want you to be or expect you to be. Don’t settle for what satisfies the world, settle for what satisfies God. Don’t let the world’s intention for you override God’s original intention for you.

“Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.” -Matthew 10:29-31

Another reminder: It’s a slap in God’s face to insult or make fun of His creations. Never insult yourself and never insult someone different than you. Instead, be thankful for your qualities and abilities and appreciate those of others. Leave any judging behind, as that is the Lord’s job.

Important side note: When I say be “you”, I mean be the God-fearing, Christ-following “you” with no shame in your Christian game or in the positive qualities God has blessed you with. Unfortunately, we as humans are born into a sinful nature, so to actually be ourselves is technically not what we should be. Be aware that the ungodly will encourage others to “be themselves” and not care what others think, but it’s important for you to understand the difference between and know if the “you” you are being is the sinful “you” or the God-fearing “you”.  I just wanted to make sure this was clear before I leave you with this final following verse. :)

“To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of His calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by His power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.” -2 Thessalonians 1:11-12

GO IN CONFIDENCE, BE PROUD, AND BE YOUR ONE-SHOT DEAL SELF!

Thank you for taking time to read and I hope it blesses you in the year to come! 

Happy 2016!

~Lindsey Gray

Kill. Steal. Destroy.

KILL. STILL. DESTROY.

Do you ever feel like life is just bringing you down? The smallest things happen that just ruin your whole attitude and outlook on everything? These feelings my friend, come from a fellow with the name of Satan, better knows as “the devil” - God’s biggest enemy - OUR biggest enemy. He comes to KILL, STEAL, and DESTROY. Whether it’s a small thing in life, or big thing, Satan is always watching and ready to take advantage of any and all situations, especially unfortunate situations, so that he can bring us down and as far away from God as possible.

Whether our struggle is physical, mental, or spiritual, Satan is ready to take us down and bring us to our lowest. He knows where we are the weakest and he knows the easiest areas to get to us. He watches everything happen in our lives, waiting for the right opportunities. Whether it’s a relationship, financial struggle, health issue, etc., Satan throws thoughts in our heads in order to attack our emotions to make us struggle more than what we have to.

Have you ever been told you were exaggerating about something? Well, Satan causes you to exaggerate your problems. You’re problem may be huge or even life threatening, or it may me something small but that affects you greatly. I’m here to tell you NOTHING is too big for God. Satan only wants us to exaggerate our problems, which can cause us to dwell on them. This can easily suck the life and joy we have in Jesus out of us! He uses these tactics to distract you from the fact that God is mighty and in control, and is the only one who can bring joy when and where it is hard to find.

Satan comes to STEAL your joy, KILL your spirit, and DESTROY your hope, trust and faith in the one true God. 

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” -John 10:10

Many times, it is evident when you find yourself feeling brought down that it could be Satan just trying to make you see things in a negative way or trying to kill your positive spirit. These times, my friends, are the times you must verbally, out loud, tell Satan to back off and that God is fighting this battle for you and you have NOTHING to worry about.

Have you watched the movie War Room yet? If not, you are missing out on an AMAZING spiritual, life lesson. A mother/wife yells out to Satan something along the lines of “Get out of my house!” “You are no longer welcome!” “This is God’s territory now!” After that specific demand took place, boy did God work miracles in that home! You MUST resist the devil and turn to God if you want your joy back! He WILL flea when you use the power of the Holy Spirit in your heart to fight him off. God is the ultimate ruler and He always conquers.

Aside of the times when you know that it’s the enemy trying to attack you, there are other times he can be more sneaky. Ever heard of the phrase “a wolf in sheep’s clothing”? This is EXACTLY how Satan tries to sneak around and deceive you. He makes people/things/situations appear to be something they are not.

“No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.” -2 Corinthinans 11:14

“But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.” -2 Corinthians 11:3

More times than not, Satan comes dressed as what you would think to be good, God or a “God sign”. This can be the most confusing and frustrating thing you face when making decisions in life. You may think it’s God giving you His sign to do something or the Holy Spirit giving you comfort in a decision you’ve made or are about to make, when unfortunately, it could merely be Satan trying to steer you in the wrong and opposite direction God wants you to go. This happens a lot when you are being tempted to sin as well. The sin will sound justifiable while Satan is putting it into your head, but really, it’s not. No sin is justifiable. A sin is a sin and a sin is wrong. Period. (As a Christian, we know we are humans and will always have a sinful nature, however; it’s our job to do our best at recognizing a sin and controlling ourselves before we fall under it’s temptation.)

ANYWAY, the big question is, how do you know if it’s God or if it’s the enemy? The best answer I can provide is a fairly simple answer. It’s the only answer I have been given. Look at every single aspect of the situation/person/thing you are contemplating or considering and ask yourself if they line up with the Word of God and His teachings? Is it something God would be proud of and would it bring earthly blessings and Heavenly rewards to your table? If it is still unclear and to the point where the wolf could be disguised too well, take a deep look inside your heart and ask the Holy Spirit to give you a specific gut feeling of what’s right and what’s wrong. (If you spend time letting your lips and heart be silent, and simply allow God to speak to you, you will learn how to easily hear the Spirit whispering the right thing into your heart.) At the same time, during a time like this, answers may not come quickly and decisions may be postponed, but that’s why it is SO important for us to trust in the Lord and be PATIENT for His timing and His perfect plan. 

See, Satan is the opposite of God. God only brings goodness, comfort, and joy to our lives. Satan’s goal is to steal from you the joy and comfort that God provides and deceive you into following him instead. Unfortunately, allowing Satan to rule your life can only lead to negativity. He can completely destroy your life if you allow him.

Below are of few verses from God’s Word that reflect and reiterate that our Heavenly Father is loving and on your side, wants you to depend on Him, and is always there to fight for you when the enemy attempts to attack.

“But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.” - 2 Thessalonians 3:3

God is Good

"Good and upright is the Lord; Therefore He instructs sinners in the way." -Psalm 25:8

"For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in lovingkindness to all who call upon You." -Psalm 86:5

In order to allow God to fight your battles, you must learn the differences between God's ways and Satan’s ways and you must discover the tactics given through His Word to help you withstand the tempting and trying times.

“Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.” -Ephesians 6:11

The Armor of God

Ephesians 6:10-18

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God,so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powersof this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Thanks so much for taking time to read this lengthy note. I hope and pray it’s a message to you from God. Without a doubt, if you allow one spiritual seed to be planted in your life, God will give it the rain and sunshine you need in order to grow in your walk with Him.

~ Lindsey Gray

Are You Ready?

This picture has been stored away for a good little while, as I wanted to wait to share for a time it might could be beneficial. Maybe for advertisement? Maybe for inspiration? ...I kept struggling with thoughts about it and how I could use it without just simply posting a cute little gun picture. I could easily slap a “I Got My Gun at Colt’s” on it and use it as a promotional ad...but I just knew something more might could come from it.

Well, my instinct was right. It wasn’t until after the Paris attack and simply thinking about the world we are living in today, that God laid a strong clear message on my heart that I have not second guessed that I needed to share. I constantly struggle with wonder of how I could combine my faith with my work in a unique way to reach others. Pulling out a message that brings God and guns together isn’t always easy... but when you think about it, God is present in every way, shape or form and is relative to any and everything in life, so who was I to ever doubt He wouldn’t give me a light to shine?

THE PICTURE

There are two strong and meaningful words this picture depicts:

Readiness and Fearlessness

Readiness:

One of the top stratedgies in taking preventive measures to decrease the risk of being a victim of crime is to always be READY. When your walking down the ally in the dark, or walking in the sunshine in the park, one should ALWAYS be ready with their personal protection quickly available for draw. Owning and carrying your gun could easily one day save your life. If you missed the news lately, well, I’m here to inform you that crime isn’t getting any less and morals and values aren’t getting any better, and they aren’t going to. These days, you MUST be prepared and READY. 

Just like you have to be ready in times of crime and crisis, the Bible clearly states that we must be READY. If you haven’t read the book of Revelations, you might want to get with it! What’s going on in the world today is predicted cleary in God’s Word, and it endicates that the end of time on this earth is drawing near. 

"For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places." -Matthew 24:7

Yes, it’s scary and hard to think about, but so is eternal damnation (hell). I’m not writing this to scare you, but to encourage you to search deep within your heart and allow Jesus to enter your life. There is only hope and joy that comes from doing this. Those that choose to believe in Jesus Christ only have a postive future ahead... an eternal future in a place unfathamable that God has created for those who chose to believe (Heaven).

"Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life." -Matthew 25:46

Have you chosen eternal life? Are you ready for the end? Are you ready for when Jesus comes back?

"For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord." -1 Thessalonians 4:16-7

“But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only." -Matthew 24:36

It reminds me of an ole southern gospel song I love “Are you ready for the trumpets, are you ready for the call? Soon the angels will assemble and usher in the Son of God! Will He come and find you faithful or will He know your name at all? Are you ready for the trumpet? Are you ready for the Call?”

It is my prayer that you will search your heart and make sure you are ready. You never know when your time is up and it’s too late. God’s Word says every person will have the chance to believe and accept Jesus into their heart... please don’t pass your chance up. Believe and be READY! 

Fearlessness:

When you tote a gun, your confidence rises to the top and you feel like you can easily protect yourself and your family if need be. You feel like you are your own policeman able to save yourself. You are FEARLESS because you have protection and can hold your own (with the appropriate amount of training and practice of course). 

Well just as having a form of personal protection creates a sense of fearlessness, so does possessing Jesus in your heart. With everyday life situations, faith-based fearlessness is one of the perks of having God on your side, because we know He is in control and He is who hold’s your future, and a bright future at that. 

"For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control." -2 Timothy 1:7

With everything going on in the world, it is important that we as Christians do not lose sight of our focus and our purpose - focus on eternal life and living for Jesus, serve our purpose by telling others about Him. With our focus kept on Him and not too much on the world, we can still experience the peace and joy He brings (even during these terrible times). 

"I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” -John 16:33

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." -Phillippians 4:6-7

"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." -Isaiah 41:10

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." -Joshua 1:9

"I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears." -Psalm 34:4

READINESS and FEARLESSNESS

Do you have it in you?

"For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people." -Titus 2:11

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." - John 3:16

"Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned." -Mark 16:16

As we recongize and thank God for all his blessings in our lives, I felt led that this was the day to share. Over the past week and even on this very Thanksgiving day, my Facebook news feed has been overflowing with immediate prayer request needed for life-threatening illnesses and situations. The point is, you never know what life is going to bring or when your time on earth will be up; however, we must be prepared and THANKFUL that we CAN be prepared and THANKFUL He has a positive plan for us no matter the results, that is if you choose to believe and receive Christ!

Thanks for taking time to read and I pray this will be a blessing to you!

P.s. I did get my guns at Colt’s ;)

(Check out our major Thanksgiving sale going on this week and weekend!)

http://coltsguns.com/

Listen to this four-part harmony quartet sing a beautiful and powerful song!
"Are You Ready?" - Gold City

Let It Shine

True Light

John 1: 6-14
"There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that Light, so that through him all might believe. He himself was not the Light; he came only as a witness to the Light. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. The true Light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, children born of not natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God."

You see, when you allow Jesus to enter your heart, His special light is placed in you to shine throughout all the world - to those you encounter every day. You never know who needs a loving ray of sunshine to brighten their day or lift their spirits, so it's important that you allow His light to shine through you wherever and whenever. It's not always easy to shine His light in every moment of your life, as we are human and go through all types of our own ups and downs and emotions, but when you accept Him into your heart, rest assured that His light is in you and there is so much to shine, even through tough times. This light that only Christ-followers possess tends to shine even more during the harder times, as He is our one and only true comfort. Just remember, you are a special gem God has placed on the earth to sparkle with His love and grace. 

Matthew 5:14-16 

"Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in Heaven."

In Galatians chapter 5, the Bible gives clear understanding of what traits reveal the light of His glory and love. The heart of a Christian is the most beautiful heart their is and it should shine rays of Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self Control. Honesty, Purity, Generosity, Forgiving, Humility, Courage, Compassion, Contentment and Cheerfulness are a few other traits that fall under the category of God's shining love as well. The biggest one is Confidence. A heart full of Jesus should exude confidence and never be afraid to shine His precious and glorious light. Keep in mind though, confidence is different than arrogance! You don't want to act better than others because you have Jesus, you want to exemplify a special Jesus confidence that others would like to possess as well!

To allow this Light to exist in you and shine through you, it's important to first start in the heart, because the Light shines From The Inside Out. 

P.s. To you who already possess the Light but have not found yourself letting it shine lately, start being intimate with God, pray, read your Bible and give every part of your life over to Him. Your Light will brighten up and start to shine more throughout your days! 

Thanks so much for taking time to read. I hope it was a blessing to you and it's my prayer that you will search your heart, allow the Light to come in, and let it shine!

Listen to this fun little country classic by Donna Fargo!
"You Can't Be a Beacon If Your Light Don't Shine" 

~Lindsey Gray