Superpowers in Christ

One show both my wife and I enjoyed while it was on the air was Smallville.  The premise behind the show was the story of Superman growing up in the town of Smallville before he became the person the comic books wrote about.  The show opened up a whole new world of adventures, friends, and background to what made Superman who he is.  As the storyline developed, it was revealed that the greatest source of Clark Kent's strength was the sun.

I instantly thought of the parallel to the Christian life when this part of the Superman story was revealed.  We, as Christians, also derive all our strength from the Son.  Without Jesus, we would just be lost souls bound for hell but through the actions of Jesus we qualify for eternity in heaven with Him just by believing and putting our faith in Him.  Our strength, protection, and direction are found completely in Him.  He, through the Godhead, is the complete source of our strength in this world.

Though I don't believe we will ever be able to fly, run faster than a speeding bullet, or become men of steel by believing in Jesus, I do believe that we will be able to conquer everything this world has to throw at us.  John 16:33 says, "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”  We have a strength through Jesus that many of us will never know or tap.  The superpowers we have in Jesus is the peace of knowing who is in control of our lives and constantly directing our paths.  We don't have to worry if we can handle our greatest struggles because we know that with Jesus by our side He can help us overcome.

In Deuteronomy 31, Moses speaks to the Israelites about going into the promised land giving them this encouragement in verse 6 saying, "Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”  In Hebrews 13:8 the Bible makes this statement, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever."  Therefore you can know that when you are in Jesus you can find comfort and trust in the continuing truth of the words of Moses to the Israelites.  God is always with you and will never leave or forsake you.  Put all your faith in the Son and discover the superhuman powers He will bring to your life.  


Blessings,


Greg

Are You Living a Philippians 4:8 Life?

Today, my wife and I enjoyed a day on the town to celebrate her birthday.  We had fun hanging out, watching a movie, shopping at baby stores, and eating at the Cheesecake Factory.  We truly had a wonderful day together to enjoy celebrating the life of my wife and also the life of our coming baby.  We enjoyed being able to relax and just hang out.  It was so nice to not have to worry about homework, chores, or bills during our outing.

While we were out, we went to both baby and maternity stores to check out all the many baby items and things we would need to consider over the next five months in preparation for the baby's arrival.  We had a lot of fun but we also were highly overwhelmed by the experience.  The whole idea of the shear volume of products and accessories for babies, not to mention the exorbitant prices, made both our heads spin.  From this shopping experience, we truly came to grips with the reality that our baby will be hear soon!  We were really beginning to doubt whether we could handle such a great responsibility.  We felt increasing fear on whether we could afford to raise a baby.  It all felt like too much to consider at once.  After escaping the baby stores, much of our fears subsided and we were able to enjoy the rest of the evening together.

On our way home, we talked about God's will for our lives and how we feel Him moving right now.  Now that our day was mostly over, the reality of being without a church home, feeling the distance from our families, the mountain of bills, the many household chores, and so much more were weighing heavy on our hearts.  So we discussed how God has been moving in the past few months.  Through our conversation together, we were able to identify the many great things God has been doing in us.  God has been constantly working in our hearts and preparing us for what He has in store even through the many struggles we have encountered.

We were able to agree that we feel peace about our choice to leave our former church and feel joy at the prospect of the new church home He is preparing for us.  We were able to see the ministries the Lord has given us at this time through my blog and our young adults small group.  Through talking, we were able to identify the blessings from our jobs and coworkers, new friends through a class I am taking, loving people who have came into our lives who support and encourage us, even when we feel far from our families, and most importantly we have been able to identify that God is constantly moving and working though us exactly where we are.

Though I do not know how everything is going to work out with this baby, I find peace in knowing that God does.  He has constantly been teaching me that He is in control and that I am not.  There is nothing I can do that will bring more blessing into my life than simply trusting and following Jesus' will and leadership in my life.  There is nothing I can do to pay the bills any better than when I trust Him with my finances and handle them the way He is leading me to.  I know some people view God as this distant detached being looking down on us but I am hear to proclaim that He is here and He wants to be intimately involved with each person's life.  I love the chorus to the Newsboys new song saying, "Our God's not dead, He's surely alive.  He's living on the inside, roaring like a lion."

Do I have many struggles in my life?  Yes.  Are there many times that I am unsure how everything is going to work out and wonder what direction I am supposed to take for my life?  Yes.  Do either of these things preclude God working in my life?  No!  My fears show my weakness and lack of faith but in no way speak to God's lack of strength or movement in my life.  When I sit down and examine my life, I can see the fingerprints of Jesus all over my life.  I know without a doubt that He is alive and moving in me, my wife, and the many friends and family in my life who also depend on Him for direction and strength.

So today, I just wanted to share with you that I understand how easy it is to see the struggles, the bad times, and the areas where you are lacking in your life.  The devil works so hard to bring us down by trying to make us focus on the things that we do wrong such as: missed devotions, not enough prayer in a day, missed opportunities, and so much more.  I hope that instead you will take the time to check out the blessings in your life.  I hope you will be able to identify how God has been and is working in your life, where He is lifting you up, and be able to realize that He is always ready to help heal and restore your heart to Him.  My hope is that you can realize how good and worthwhile focusing on those things are.  I leave you with this verse from Philippians 4:8 stating, "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things."

Blessings,

Greg

Tearing Out The Sin in Your Heart

Today, I spent my day removing wallpaper from the walls in a room at my job.  In removing wallpaper, I have learned that there is easy wallpaper and hard wallpaper.  I have seen wallpaper that is practically impossible to remove without destroying the walls and I have removed wallpaper that was already falling of the walls.

No matter what type of wallpaper you encounter there is still a few things you have to do for the walls to be ready for painting.  First, you have to remove the wallpaper.  Second, you have to make sure all the backing is off the wall.  Third, you have to make sure you have removed all the glue.  Fourth, you have to fix any holes, scrapes, or tears you might have made in the process of removing the paper.  Finally, you are able to prime and paint the walls to give them new life, color, and a whole new personality in your room.

As I thought about this extensive process involved in removing the wallpaper at my job, I thought about how these steps could also apply to removing sin from our lives.  First, we have to identify the sin in our lives that needs to be removed.  Second, we have to ask forgiveness for the sin in our lives.  Third, we need to ask the Lord to identify the many ways the sin has infiltrated our lives.  Fourth, we need to allow Jesus to heal the areas of our heart that has been damaged by the sin.  Finally, Jesus is able to take our hearts and revive them in Him bringing them to new life, passion, and praise for Him throughout our daily lives.

Here are some verses supporting the steps necessary to remove sin from your life:
1 John 1:9, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."  
Philippians 1:6, "And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ." 
Romans 12:2, "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."  
2 Corinthians 5:17, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come."
Acts 3:19-21, "Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago."


Blessings,


Greg

Walking with me Daily

This week has had its own set of challenges, blessings, trials, and joys.  My whole focus throughout has been to give the Lord praise and trust His daily guidance.  My day today began bad with me waking up late but ended well with me finishing a painting project I have been working on for a full week.  I am so glad that Jesus is with me on the good and bad days.  I am so glad that He is constantly guiding and preparing me with the many different moments I face throughout the day.  Isaiah 41:13, "For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, 'Fear not, I am the one who helps you.'”  

I have to admit though that as I sit here typing this blog tonight, I am completely and utterly exhausted.  I don't know if it is due to possible sickness, stress, bad sleep, or all three but I am grateful for the time of rest I am now receiving.  It doesn't matter if today is a mountain or a valley day for you today because Jesus will always meet you where you are.  He knows exactly what you need and will always provide for your good in light of the good of His kingdom.  Philippians 4:l9, "And my God will provide every need of yours according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus."

Blessings,

Greg

P.S.  I would love it if everyone who reads this would attempt to comment on this blog or others.  I have not received comments for my blogs in a long time and I am wondering if there is something wrong with the blogger commenting system.  Thank you for your help everyone.

Intricately Formed in the Womb

My wife and I are pregnant and in these past four months I have gained a deeper respect and love for the God who is daily growing and sustaining our precious child.  To see the baby, so tiny, moving it's little legs and hands on an ultrasound is incredible.  To think that we can create and birth babies without any help from a higher being is so incredibly arrogant to me.

I have been reading the little information tidbits on the pregnancy app that my wife installed on my phone.  I cannot even fathom how it is possible that our baby can be only 4 inches long at this point and yet already have developed internal organs and even begun to practice using it's lungs.  It's little heart is beating at around 150 bpm.  Through the ultrasound you can even see the baby's heart fluttering away through it's chest.

My father is an avid modeler.  He has built cars, airplanes, tanks, and so much more.  Currently he enjoys creating and painting tiny civil war soldiers.  My dad is so good at painting the intricate details that distinguish different uniforms, tools, and weapons.  Even with the skill my dad has to create these exquisite little soldiers, his skill is nothing compared to God's ability to arrange cells, which are smaller than we can see, to form a new life.

In our world today, it is so easy for us to believe that we rule our world and that it is our effort that determines what we will accomplish.  It is so easy to forget how small and fragile we once were and still are.  Our world seems perfectly content spreading the lie that our lives are our own and controlled by no one.  The problem with the false beliefs is that the Bible makes it clear that God is and will always be in control of everything in this universe.  No verse drives this point home better than Jeremiah 1:5, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations."  


As you sit at your computer tonight or maybe even this morning, remember who created you.  Consider the fact that God truly does know about who you will be and what will happen in your life.  Open yourself to the idea that He has plans for you and that they are even good.  Humble yourself to the fact that God's plans may not make sense to the world but always make sense for the Kingdom.  I am learning daily that the process of having a baby is an incredible blessing.  Take time today to thank God for forming you and making you uniquely special in the womb long ago. 


Blessings,


Greg

Strength Through Living Daily With Christ

A snow angel made on a four inch thick layer of ice over a creek bed.

As I sit here in the dimness of dawn, I look out at our yard which is now completely covered in snow and ice.  I praise God that the ice we did receive was not wet and did not stick to the power lines.  I praise God that I have been blessed with a home to keep me sheltered from the bitter cold that is outside my windows.  I praise Him for keeping me, my wife, my family, and my friends safe despite the dangerous weather conditions we have had for days.

I know that my Lord is always there for me.  He is protecting me in ways I will probably never know.  He is teaching me constantly about who He is.  I am so thankful that God is real, truly loves us, and actively seek to develop a close relationship with us daily.

To be honest, this month has been a one of great struggles for me.  There have been many times this month where I have struggled with how I am going to pay bills, what I should do in certain situation, leaps of faith I have had to take, and sin I have had to battle against.  All of these situations sought to encase me, like the ice outside my doorstep, in a cage of bitterness and frustration but as I learn to lean on the Lord more and more daily I see how He protects my heart and lifts me up in His strength.

I am truly beginning to understand what Paul meant when he said in Philippians 3:7-9, "But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.  What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him."  No trouble of this world matters with Christ at the helm of my life.  He is my sustainer and in understanding this I can truly live and believe Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."


No matter what situation you find yourself in today, I hope that you will put your complete faith in Jesus.  He is truly all you need in this world to live and live abundantly.  You will still face struggles in this life but Jesus will sustain you and keep you in each one.  He will walk beside you and help carry any burden you are facing.  All your struggles will truly be light with Jesus as your Savior and Lord.  


Blessings,


Greg 

Protection from the Cold of Sin

Yesterday, we got about twice as much snow as the meteorologist predicted we would.  In the morning, the forecast was for around an inch on the ground for our area.  What was not made clear by the meteorologist, was the fact that the snow would instantly stick to the roads and driveways because the road temperatures were below freezing.  Our town had not even laid any salt on the roads when the snow began. Within 15 minutes of the snow starting, all the flowerbeds, roofs, roads and driveways were covered with a slick layer of snow.

 I began to think about how easily sin can stick to straying or stumbling hearts as I looked at the stark contrast of a snow covered driveway and warm, mostly untouched, grass next to it.  Proverbs 4:23, "Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flows the springs of life." Are you allowing the springs of your heart to chill and be easily affected by the cold snow and ice of sin?  Or is your heart's springs hot with Christ's love allowing it to easily ward off the sinful cold of this world?

We have to keep working on our relationship and walk with Jesus to help protect us from the cold of sin in our hearts.  Though this is a daily need it does not have to be a constant struggle.  Jesus says in Matthew 11:28-30, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."  When you keep hearing around you how hard it is to follow Jesus and to do daily devotions, you begin to believe it yourself.  This scripture shows that growing a relationship with Christ is neither difficult or burdening.  In fact, it is the opposite.  Jesus Christ will strengthen you, fill you with lift your burdens, and walk with you to protect you from the daily attacks of the enemy.  


I hope that you will warm your heart up today in Christ.  Your time with Christ should be just as enjoyable and wonderful as curling up next to a fireplace on a cold winter day.  He will gently warm you inside and out.  He will keep you protected from the cold sins and temptations of this life.  He will feel you with peace and the assurance that you can make it through each day with Him by your side.  


Blessings,


Greg  

Jesus: Personality and All

Have you ever thought of Jesus with personality?  Have you ever considered Him telling jokes, hanging out with the boys, enjoying playing with children, and so much more?  It is so easy to read the Bible and view Jesus from a special, separated, holy, deity perspective.  We can easily miss his personality.   We can easily forget that He was human just like us.

I am reading a new book by John Eldredge called Beautiful Outlaw .  I am only five chapters into the book but I enjoying the new perspectives of scripture I have read many times.  It is such a comfort to me to know that Jesus truly does understand me.  He has lived like me.  He has experienced joy, anger, pain, love, friendship, struggles, and life.

If you do not know Him today, I hope you will try Him.  Jesus is like no other god this world has to offer.  He is real.  He wants to truly know you.  He loved you so much that He choose to live, die, and raise again to allow a way you could be saved from your sin.  You will never regret getting to know Jesus.

For those who already know Him as their Savior and Lord, I hope that you will learn to know Him as a friend and brother.  He always intended to have a close and real relationship with us.  He always intended for us to know Him through the Gospel accounts and this is evidenced by His giving us the Holy Spirit.  Through the Holy Spirit we can have Him directly in our heart.  I pray you would begin to truly know Him personality and all today.

Blessings,

Greg

Long Day at Work

Today was an incredibly long day at work.  I worked an eight hour shift and then attended a three hour Master Gardener class as a part of my job training.  I am so thankful that Jesus sustains me even on incredibly long days like today.  I know surviving a day that long without depending on the Lord isn't special but the thing is that I could not make it through a day that long and have joy without Jesus.  He is the one who keeps joy in my heart.  He is the only reason I can have a smile on my face.  It is on days like these that I really understand Colossians 3:23, which says, "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters."  


In whatever you face daily are you doing it unto the Lord?  Are you depending upon Him for your strength, joy, peace, and ability?  If not, I guessing that some of those long days have birthed in you resentment, frustration, and exhaustion.  I hope you will lay everything before the Lord tonight and allow Him to fill you with everything you need daily.  Jesus said, "whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”


Blessings,
Greg

Shoveling Poop

At my job, I have learned a lot of things about horses.  I have always loved horses but I honestly had not had the opportunity to have much contact or time with them till I got this job.  Today, I needed to work in the field because one of the things i have learned about horses is that though horse poo is considered black gold to gardens, too much of it can be bad for the pastures and unsanitary in the outbuildings.  So one of my weekly duties at my job is shoveling poo from  the outbuildings and pasture.

The holidays have put a damper on my coworker and I being able to complete this task.  We have had weeks of rain, vacations, and alternating busy schedules that have hampered us from doing this task.  Well we had planned to work on the pasture Wednesday but I saw the forecast this morning and it called for rain all day Wednesday.  So I decided that I needed to go out and clean up what I could myself.  Really it was a great day for doing this job because it was 50 and sunny, which is not the norm for winter in Indiana.

As I was sizing up my job, I began to realize how big a task I had before me.  I have to say that I am incredibly grateful for the person who invented the tractor.  I don't believe I could've made any sort of dent in the pasture without this handy farm device.  The shovel helped me to clean up large areas quickly, which is good since the pastures needed a lot of help.

I had plenty of time to think about life and God as I worked on cleaning up the pasture and I thought about all the times I had allowed my life to fill up with crap.  It is always so amazing to me how fast this can happen.  I try to walk faithfully in Christ and yet there are many times I let other things clutter my life and heart.  It is in these times that I have to surrender my heart back to Jesus and He helps me to remove the crap I have piled in my heart.

Have you taken your eyes off Jesus recently and allowed your heart to be filled with the crap of this world?  Come to Jesus today and allow Him to clean up your heart.  All you have to do is ask Him to forgiveness you for the sin that you have allowed to enter your heart.  He will not be harsh with you or rub your nose in your sins or failures but will gently and compassionately work to help your heart be restored to purity in Him.

Jesus is such a kind and loving Savior.  Though He can't tolerate blatant and unrepentant sin in our lives, He will always accept, with open arms, anyone who humbly comes to Him with a broken and repentant heart.  If you do not know Him as your Savior today, I hope today will be the day.  I promise that He will never fail you and that you will never regret trusting Him with your heart.

Blessings,

Greg

A New Year. A New Focus

This year so far for me has been one of chaos, stress, and tough decisions.  I have to admit that I have not handled it great and I have honestly wanted to hide in my bed instead of face the world a few times this month.  I'm tired, my mind is swimming with the many decisions and issues in my life, and I have had trouble focusing on the daily things I need to accomplish.  So far it has not been my year.

It is interesting though because even in all the craziness that has been my year so far, something significant has happened.  I have had to completely and fully depend on Jesus to get me through.  I am constantly dwelling on His strength and seeking His direction in the struggles that I am facing.  At night, I come home and take time to rest in His word and who He is.  In the morning, I give my day to Him and face the day relying on Him fully.

Though I have not enjoyed the many difficult challenges I have faced so far this year, I have found strength in leaning on Jesus throughout it.  All in all I would say that my year has been pretty good because I am learning to lean on Jesus daily.  I hope that this will become a habit that I will continue everyday because I have found that I can face anything when I depend on Jesus.

My wife and my life are on course to change drastically this year and I hope that through the many new changes we will be encountering, I can lean on Christ for everything.  Where is Jesus in your life?  Is He walking with you daily?  Do you depend upon Him for your strength and direction?  I hope in this new year you will follow Jesus only.  I hope He will lead you to a life of victory as you walk in strength through His guidance.  Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

Blessings,

Greg

Three and a Half Hours Later

The ominous entrance into the crawl space and my tools.

Last night, I spent three and a half hours attempting to unclog a drain that I had clogged.  My story begins with me setting up a romantic evening with my wife on Sunday.  I knew that we did not have the money to go out so I wanted to be able to create a romantic atmosphere at home.  My idea was to grill hot dogs, prepare sweet potato fries, and light a bond fire in the back yard.  I setup small tables so that we could eat outside and bask in the warmth of the bond fire on a cold winter night while talking and enjoying each other's company.  The night ultimately was a hit but there was one thing I didn't consider.

I did not consider that the ground would still be soft and muddy.  I had prepared all of this in my good tennis shoes and as the night went on I realized that I had caked my tennis shoes in a thick layer of mud.  After realizing the damage I was doing to my shoes, I quickly switched into my work boots and solved the problem.  My wife apparently did not have the same issue I had and ended up with her shoes being fine.  Well a couple days later I decided that I wanted to wash my shoes and take off the layers of mud to hopefully restore them to their former glory.

The kitchen sink seemed like the perfect candidate for accomplishing this task since it was freezing out side.  I was able to clean the first shoe with no problems but did not have time to get to the other shoe.  There was quite a bit of mud and debris going down the drain but the drain still seemed fine so I figured that everything was okay.

Well yesterday, after a long day at work, I decided to finish the other shoe before my wife got home from a late night of grading at school.  The shoe was cleaning off with no issues just like the first one until I noticed that my sink had stopped draining.  I thought maybe it was just a simple clog and proceeded to try and plunge it in hopes of a quick fix.

Needless to say the clog was by no means a quick fix and three and a half hours later, I was covered in a filth I can only describe as disgusting, I had been both under the sink and under the house, and I was no closer to unclogging my clog.  I finally gave up around 1am, took a very long and thorough shower, and proceeded to dream of the hundreds of dollars I would be paying to a plumber in the morning.

After a very slow start this morning, I finally bit the bullet and called the plumber to help me with my problem.  They were able to come out immediately and the plumber easily cleaned out the clog making me wish I had called him in the first place instead of wasting my time trying to repair it myself.  I was so thankful for his help and grateful that the visit was quick, effective, and relatively cheap compared to my nightmares of a large plumber bill. ;)

Through this Jesus was working hard on my heart to teach me the lesson that there I can't do everything on my own.  Many times in my life I have been able to get by on my own and I struggle with letting others help me.  This is also true in my Christian walk.  I think that I can get by on my own and be a good person without any help.  I tend to take my life in my own hands instead of allowing Jesus to lead me.  It is very hard to humble myself, admit i can't do it alone, and ask for help.

I am so thankful that Jesus understands and loves us even when we are prideful and stubborn.  He is patient even when we are not.  He has compassion with us when we out in exasperation.  He never puts us down in our failure but lifts us up in His strength.  I have to admit that I am so grateful that Jesus' grace is sufficient for me and that His power is made perfect in my weakness, 2 Corinthians 12:9.  

In whatever you are struggling with today, give it to the Lord.  Trust Him in your every struggle.  Don't end up three and half hours in or more and covered in filth before realizing you can't do it on your own like I did last night.  There is no struggle to big for Jesus to handle and no struggle to small for Him to care.

Thank you Jesus for your love and grace in my life.

Blessings,

Greg

Blessings of Life

Once again, I am so thankful for a string of 50 degree days in the middle of winter.  I know that they will not last but I am determined to enjoy them while they are here.  Have you ever had times when you looked back and realized that you did not appreciate a blessing you were given?  I hope today you will truly cherish the many blessing Jesus has placed in your life.  Tell that person who is special to you how much they mean.  Take time to thank God for the many possessions He has given you and the ways he has protected your finances in tough times.  Thank Him for your family, your friends, your church, His protection, moments of beautiful weather.  We have so many reasons to be thankful and some many opportunities to cherish His blessings.  Don't miss out on any blessings today.

In Him,

Greg

Careful to Walk in His Path

Today my wife and I had to make a tough decision to leave the church we were attending.  There seems to be lessons that the Lord teaches you that are not instantly understood.  Today's choice was difficult but the right one and had been coming for a while.  We leave our church with hopes of blessings and growth for them.  We have appreciated our time there and will cherish the memories of the wonderful way we were ministered too and loved on.

I know many of you may be asking why would leave if we feel this way.  The answer is that Jesus is moving us somewhere new.  I honestly don't understand completely but I do know that His will is best.  I completely trust in His ability to bring us to a new church that will meet our needs and grow us in a new way as we encounter a new stage in our lives.  I look forward to the church He is going to lead us to as I mourn leaving the church we called home for almost a year.  Though I do not always understand the directions of Jesus, I hope that I am in His will and following the direction he has for my life as I lead my family.

Whenever you feel the Lord leading you in a new direction, do not hesitate to follow Him.  He is good, kind, and faithful.  He will not lead you astray and you will only bring heartache upon yourself in choosing not to heed His will.  We all know what happened to Jonah when he chose to defy God's will.  I ask that you pray for us as we begin the process of seeking the church that the Lord has for us.  We want to be careful to heed His will in this matter and land exactly where He wants us to be.  I thank you all for your prayers and, as always, would love to know how I can pray for you.

Blessings,

Greg

Pursuit of only Him

I know it has been a while since I have written a blog entry. This is partly due to taking a much needed vacation, partly due to car woes, and partly due to not knowing what to write of recent. Please pray for my wife and I as we consider this new year and all that it has in store for us. There are going to be some huge changes in our lives this year and we still have quite a bit we need to get in order for those changes.

I am so thankful for those who have followed me in this blog. The Lord is definitely working in our hearts and lives daily. In this new year we are seeking a new direction of growth and discipleship in Jesus. Please pray that we would know where and how He is leading in our lives.

Thank you and blessings,

Greg

Another Year Gone

If you are older than 20, you have probably began to perceive that life seems to move faster the older you get. Here we are at the start of yet another new year and I am still trying to figure out what happened to the last one. It seemed like September to December just flew by in a blur. I don't know if this is due to getting older or due to our world demanding more work and less rest.

My wife and I had a wonderful Christmas vacation and I had a great time visiting with all my family. It is amazing how fast the week went. We did a whole bunch of driving and spent time with four different families and multiple friends. I have to say that as happy as I was to leave my home for this vacation, I was every bit as happy to be back home! The ironic part of a holiday vacation is that you typically need time to recover from it when you get home.

So as I sit here on my lunch at work, I take stock of last year. There were many highlights, successes, disappointments, and struggles. I am honestly glad to have 2011 over with and I am looking forward to the prospects of 2012.

I believe our Lord is going to work in a big way this year in light of the "end of the world" that everyone is talking about. I have to say that it would be wonderful if Christ came and everything was made right this year but it would be sad to think of the billions of unreached people for Christ in this world. I pray that this year would be marked by a massive revival for Jesus across the world and that people all around the globe would start living an authentic life for Christ!

Blessings and happy New Year,

Greg