Cluttered Heart, Inconsistent Walk

My wife and I are not particularly great at keeping up with the chores in our house.  Our main motivation to clean the house, is in response to people coming over.  Luckily we have people come over weekly so the house never gets insanely bad but there have been many times when we have run out of most of our clothes and dishes.  Sometimes our dirty house can be blamed on busy schedules.  Sometimes it is due to tiredness and apathy.  But mostly it is because we are undisciplined and lazy when it comes to maintaining the cleanliness of our home.  As I sit hear planning out the many cleaning tasks I need to accomplish today, the Lord nails me with this question, "Is this the only part of your life that is undisciplined and unkept?"  I shutter knowing that much more than my house ends up dirty and cluttered due to laziness and lack of discipline.

There have been so many times that I have made it through the week only doing what was necessary in my prayer and devotion times with God.  My Christian walk would best be exemplified by a rider on a fast horse barely hanging on as the world rushes by.  I tend to choose TV over reading, music or contemplative silence, and social interaction over intense time alone with God.  I often times substitute a Christian book over reading the Bible and many times prefer sermons to having to wrestle with the truth's in scripture myself.

I do rely on the Lord daily and constantly put my hope and security in Him.  I know that He is daily guiding my life, my job, my friends, and my opportunities for ministry at church.  I wrestle greatly with the scriptures through podcast, music, and books as I seek to walk more like Him.  I love talking to God and seek to know more about Him daily but I tend to fail in the task of listening.  The problem I most suffer from is inconsistency.  One day I will be walking closely in God the whole day and another day I will think very little about Him or my walk.

Have you ever struggled with this?  Do you find yourself missing days and maybe even weeks without thinking about or focusing on who God is and how He is working in your life?  Have you ever taken a self inventory to find that your heart had been filled with things that do not belong there?  Have you ever woke up to the realization that you were far away from the narrow road and in need of much direction to find your way back to the heart of Jesus?  If you can answer, "yes" to any of these, then I am here to tell you, your not alone.

I believe even the most fervent Christian struggles and strays occasionally.  Even Paul said, "I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do."  You are not the first and will not be the last to have times of struggle in your walk with the Lord.  I beg you not to believe the lie saying, "you must not be in Christ if you have struggled in your walk or been tempted."  The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 10:13, "No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it."  Hebrews 12 is also a great chapter to read to help encourage you in your walk with Jesus.


Though our body, minds, and souls are weak at time, there is perfect strength in Jesus.  I find that the days I am closest to Him is when I rely on Him fully for all parts of my day.  We can walk without God daily but we cannot fully live or reach our full potential without God.  He knows what we are capable of and what will bring us the greatest joy in life.  He knows how to lift us up and set our feet in right paths that we may live fully in Him and for His kingdom daily.  If you ever feel like your heart and your walk are a mess, then submit yourself fully to Jesus and allow Him to pick you up, dust you off, and prepare you for a closer walk with Him today.


Blessings,


Greg

Taking off the Mask to Reveal an Authentic Life

To say that today was a difficult day, would be an understatement.  I was scheduled to do an employee training today and the second part of the day focused on workplace violence.  Well our higher-ups devised a role-play to immerse our group in a workplace violence situation.  Let's suffice it to say that it was the most realistic and traumatic role play I have ever encountered.  I do not believe there was anybody in the room who did not fully believe the events that unfolded in front of us.  To make the role-play scenario as realistic as possibly the leadership involved used difficult information that we all were aware of and the trust we had in our leaders to draw us in and help us believe it.  They were most effective, which could be viewed as both a positive and negative thing depending on who you talk to.

For my part of it, I realized how much direct and intense confrontation, like the scenario displayed today, still terrifies me.  I do not like direct confrontation or anything that causes my friends or family pain.  I do not know how to deal with people going off and would rather run away and not have to deal with it than to stand and face the situation being presented.  Today was the first time in a long time that I had to deal with all the emotions involved in a confrontation situation like that.  I instantly felt sick, my heart was racing, and I began shaking, though not enough for others to see.  I was very familiar with the feeling because I had experienced it many times throughout grade school and in my life.

In responding as I did, a flood of memories directly related to conflict both in my family, friends, school, and workplace surfaced to my mind.  I was taken back to all the many times in my life that I had to deal with direct conflict and my reaction was the same most of the time.  I would avoid confrontation at any cost.  You see I hide behind a mask that projects that I am a very strong and powerful person filled with great comebacks and strength but the reality is I hate confrontation and would rather run and hide.  Realizing this about yourself is both difficult and sobering.

I am so thankful that we were in a safe environment filled with therapist and coworkers in whom I trust and respect.  I was able to deal with my emotions and reactions in a healthy way without judgment from those around me.  I felt encouraged in our shared distressed and knew that I could trust each one of the people in that class with anything I was experiencing or dealing with.

My God has blessed me with a job I love, people whom I respect, and a workplace that is safe because of the trust I have in my fellow coworkers.  I was able to see many of my friends and colleagues in a new light today.  I was able to see them at their core.  I honestly have to say that they were beautiful in their vulnerability.  All the masks came off today during this session.  They were real.  They were authentic.  Though not everything experienced was pretty or joyful, it was true.

The Lord helped show me through this experience how important it is for me take off the masks I wear to be fully authentic in my own walk and life each day.  I am who I am even if that person is terrified by certain things.  I will best minister and affect those around me by owning an authentic walk and life.  Life is not always pretty and sometimes we are dealing with stuff that is difficult.  The Lord showed me that we best honor him by living both our high and low times authentically because He shines brightest to the world in the moments we feel weakest and yet lean fully in Him.  "For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Corinthians 12:10


Blessings,


Greg

Love like a Dog

Have you ever looked at the love and devotion of your dog and wondered if God gave them to us as an example of how we should love Him.  A dog longs for his master's return at the end of a work day.  A dog longs to spend as much time as possible with it's master.  A dog never wants to be far away from it's  master.  I dog passionately defends and protects its master.  A dog lives for it's masters touch and sign of affection.  A dog comes quickly and excitedly at it's master's beckon and call.  A dog truly loves and worships it's master.

I heard a poem once by Taylor Mali called, Falling in Love is Like Owning a Dog by Taylor Mali

First of all, it’s a big responsibility,
especially in a city like New York.
So think long and hard before deciding on love.
On the other hand, love gives you a sense of security:
when you’re walking down the street late at night
and you have a leash on love
ain’t no one going to mess with you.

Love doesn’t like being left alone for long.
But come home and love is always happy to see you.
It may break a few things accidentally in its passion for life,
but you can never be mad at love for long.

Is love good all the time?
No! No! Love can be bad. Bad, love, bad! Very bad love.

Sometimes love just wants to go for a nice long walk.
It runs you around the block and leaves you panting.
It pulls you in several different directions at once,
or winds around and around you
until you’re all wound up and can’t move.

But love makes you meet people wherever you go.
People who have nothing in common but love
stop and talk to each other on the street.

Throw things away and love will bring them back,
again, and again, and again.
But most of all, love needs love, lots of it.
And in return, love loves you and never stops.

I know it may not be a great correlation but I think it is worth mentioning.  I have learned a lot about love from my dog.  I happen to believe that God is instrumental in teaching me those things through my dog though I have not always enjoyed the lessons.  I love my dog and she loves me and I would like to think that I can better understand how to love and live life in Christ through my dog.  Dog's never seem to run out of love.  Dog's never seem to run out of devotion.  And dog's always want to be near you each day.  We could learn a lot in our relationship with Jesus.  Just Saying.

Blessings,

Greg

Cornered by Time

Have you ever felt like your life is too busy?  Do you ever find yourself getting to the end of your day and realizing that there were so many things that you intended to do and never got to?  I have an intense desire for either more hours in the day our an extended weekend but I know that even if either one of those wishes were granted I would only fill them with other things.  I would like to say that I manage time well but honestly I do not.  A more accurate statement would be that I survive each day by the skin of my teeth and am lucky if I get all I intended to do done.

In all this craziness that is my day, I find myself skipping a much needed quiet time with my Savior.  I spend much of my day at work listening to Christian music, podcast sermons, and audio bible chapters but none of these things qualify as quiet time.  I never seem to take the time to just dwell in God.  I always seem to be busy to worship and relish in His glory.  I wrestle with what He is teaching me and how he is leading my heart daily and yet I spend my rest time in tv, shopping, laziness, and games.

All of these things have contributed to my lack of posts in the last few days.  I get to the end of my day and want to rest.  I want to do nothing.  No chores, no devotions, and no spiritual searching.  Have you ever been there?  I am so thankful that God is gracious to call my heart back to Him.  He is so loving to convict me of my distance from Him.  I find that I have to be able to give all of my life to Him both my work, my ministry, and music, and my rest, my relaxation, and my entertainment.

Lord, help me to focus completely on you.  May I give my all to you.  May I rest in you always.   Please forgive me for my selfishness with the time I am given.  May I learn how to truly be still and know you. I love you and thank you for all you teach me daily.  Amen

Blessings,

Greg

Blessings Amid Pruning

Big Bertha last winter

It feels great to finally be able to lay down and enjoy the last couple hours of my weekend.  This weekend I had the pleasure of my parents visiting our home for the second time since we have lived in the house.  I am so glad that they were able to find time to come up and hang out with us.  My dad even brought up a pole trimmer so we could prune the huge oak tree in our front yard.  Both Dad and I realized very quickly that trying to saw limbs with the pole fully extended is quite a task.  We managed to cut down about a dozen small and medium sized limbs that drastically improved the appearance or "big bertha" as we affectionately refer to her.  We had a wonderful evening and enjoyed spending saturday with them also.  Saturday night, I helped my wife with some of her homework and then we were able to relax a little.  Today has gone by in a blur as we went to church, watched courageous, worked on some yard and house work, and then I was able to eat with one of the young adults from my church ministry.

Needless to say my week has passed by in a flash.  There are definitely times in life where I wish I could slow down time and just cherish the moments I have, especially when it is with family.  It is hard being an adult and living hours away from my family at times.  There is such comfort in spending time with the people whom you have known your whole life.  It is s wonderful to have peace in knowing that they will love you and accept you no matter what.  It is great to know that these people understand and accept you.  That they have known you since you were born and share more memories of your life than anyone else on this planet.  How nice it is to know that you can bring anything to them without receiving judgment.  

I know that not everyone has a family like this available to them and that helps me to cherish that much more the time I have with my family.  For those in Christ who do not have families like this, take solace in being fully accepted into the family of Christ.  We can find peace in knowing the Jesus will always love and protect us.  We have assurance that Jesus will teach and lead us in the right paths.  We can trust that He will always be there to give us strength in the hard times to encourage, strengthen, and uplift us.  We can find security in knowing that even when we feel pain as he prunes us, like I did my oak tree, that He does it for our good and does it for our health and growth.   We can know that He will never leave or forsake us.  We can trust that in our darkest of times, facing even death, He will be next to us to guide us and protect us.  We have a good, loving, and merciful God!  

I am so grateful for the loving friends and family I have in my life.  My God has been so generous to surround me with people in who I can trust and depend on.  He has given me a family through my church to help sustain my wife and I for the times we miss home and can't be there.  My Lord has most completely blessed me in my wife and the love and support she gives me.  I am so thankful for her love and the family that I have been given through my marriage to her.  My Lord has graciously provided me a job that I love and a boss who teaches and uplifts me daily.  It feels so wonderful to know you are appreciated at your job and to love the people you work with.  I do not deserve any of these many blessings that the Lord has given me and yet by His grace I have still received them.  

Trust in Jesus today and know that you will never regret it.  You have not known love till you have known Jesus.  You have not known grace till you have known Jesus.  And you have never truly understood or received forgiveness until you have known Jesus.  Trust in Him today if you have not before.  Lay your life at His feet, ask forgiveness for your sins, and walk passionately with Him till you meet Him in heaven. 

One of my favorite passages in the Bible is one many people know.  This passage so wonderfully lays out the beautiful love of our Savior and God.  I leave you with Psalm 23.  Please take the time to read it slowly.  Drink it in, swish it around in your mind, and let it sit there as you take in all the many facets and beautiful pieces of the passage.  

 ¹The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
 ²He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
 ³He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
   for his name’s sake.

 ⁴Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
   I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
   your rod and your staff,
   they comfort me.

 ⁵You prepare a table before me
   in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
   my cup overflows.
⁶Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
   all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
    forever.

Blessings,

Greg

     

Holding Hands to Share the Heart of Christ

On my way home for lunch today, I heard a story, on Klove, about a couple who had been married 72 years dying from a car accident.  They had both sustained severe injuries from the accident and were put in the ICU at the local hospital.  The nurses put the couple in the ICU room together and as their children got there they saw their parents holding hands.  Their kids recount how this couple had loved being together and dearly loved each other their whole lives.  The man died a little first and the son recounted that his father had stopped breathing and yet the heart monitor was still beating.  He asked the nurse why the heart monitor was still beating and she said it was because the heart beat of the wife was beating through his hand and being pickup up by the equipment.

As I felt the joy of love and brokenness of loss all at the same time, the Lord laid on my heart how we are all to be like this to those dead in sin around us.  Many times we try our best to stay away from the sinners around us because we are afraid that we will be tainted or brought down by them.  Jesus said the opposite should be true though because we are to be the ones to go out and make disciples and we are the ones who are to be the light and salt of the world.  How can they see and experience the beating heart of Christ unless we share it with them?  We have to love them and share our heart for Christ with this dying world.  It is by doing this that the Holy Spirit can come in repair and restart a sinner's soul for Jesus.

Have you been sharing Jesus with others?  Have you been loving the sick, the sinners, the hurting and holding their hand in the struggle of life.  Have you been showing them the love of Christ that is in you?  Or have you been keeping Jesus' love to yourself?  If you have been hiding Jesus' love, maybe it is because you are scared of what people's reaction will be.  Maybe because you want Jesus' love all to yourself.  Maybe because you do not realize the power of the Savior's heart beating in you.

I once saw a skit where a person on stage received Jesus' love, which they could hold in their hands.  At first they admired it, held it close, and cherished it but when someone else came along they decided to share it.  When they shared Jesus' love, the love of Jesus that the person had shared became almost bigger than they could carry.  As each person went on to share the love of Jesus, they would slowly walk off the stage with their hands overfilled with Jesus' love.  This continued on for three or four people and each person who shared the love of Jesus ended up with the love they had been given being greatly increased.  The final person in this skit to receive the love of Jesus loved it so much that when the next person came along they decided not to share it.  After the last person, who had not received the love of Christ, left the stage, Jesus' love disappeared from the person's hands who had hoarded it.

The point of the skit, as I'm sure most of you realized, is that the love of Jesus can only continue to grow in you when you share it with others.  Jesus said in Mark 2:17, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners."  We have to meet people where they are.  We have to love them both by telling them about the saving grace of Jesus and by meeting their needs.  By extending out a hand of love to the hurting world around us, we will be able to share the most important thing we have, which is the beating heart of love and salvation through our wonderful Savior Jesus within us.


Blessings,


Greg

Heart Preparation from Sin's Winter Cold

When I woke up this morning it was cold and rainy. I don't know about you but my body is slow starting on a day like this.  It is completely unrealistic for me to expect that i will wake up and instantly be ready for the day when it is cold and wet outside.  I have to prepare for this kind of day properly to be able to function throughout it. It requires me to get up a bit earlier than usual.  I stand in the shower a bit longer than usual to get my temperature regulated.  I especially need a cup of coffee, on a morning like this, to engage the final start up process in my body and get my engines fully burning.   Can you relate to this?

The Lord got me thinking today about how unrealistic it is for me to also expect that i will fully be able to dive into prayer and worship quickly.   I mean think about it.  If I have been immersed in a cold and sinful world throughout my day or week, would it make sense for me to be instantly ready for prayer, devotion, or worship time?  No!  I need to take the time to reconnect with God.  I have to bring my heart's focus back on my creator and Lord.   Now how long I have to spend doing this depends on how deeply immersed into the world I have allowed myself to become.  But the point is, I will have to do it.

With the understanding that this is true, why do we get so frustrated when we aren't instantly in the zone with God in our quiet times?  Just like when I don't take the time to fully prepare for a cold and wet morning and pay the price, a lack of closeness with the Lord will be the result of me not preparing myself to rest in Him and know Him during my quiet time.  You may be saying about now that I don't know your crazy schedule and the small amount of time you have available for the Lord and you might be right but one thing I have learned is that I always make time for what is important including the time to prepare for the task I want to do.  Can I expect to cook a full meal without preparing the ingredients?  Can I expect my car to stay in good condition if I don't take the time to check my fluids, tires, and brakes?  Can I expect to share a deep intimate relationship with my wife if I never put any time into loving on her, learning more about her, and connecting to her?  Then why would it be any different with connecting to Jesus?

We live in a culture that wants everything done quickly and with the least amount of hassle possible.  We buy frozen skillet creations instead of fixing a meal ourselves.  We let the mechanic take care of our cars instead of personally tending to it's ?ime it takes to learn how to love them.  Then we wonder why it is so hard for us to connect to God.  We wonder why the Christian book we just read instead of the Bible still seems inadequate.  We wonder why little prayers with no depth or substance are not drawing us closer.

One of my favorite things about Jesus' relationship with His Father, was His desire to go off on His own to spend time with His Father frequently.  Every single part of Jesus' life reflected His relationship with His Father.  The Bible is very clear that prayer and knowledge of the scriptures was incredibly important to Jesus.  If this was so for Jesus, would it not stand to reason that it would also be necessary for us?  Before facing the temptation, Jesus fasted and prayed for forty days.  A fast is intended to be a time of sacrifice to grow closer to God.  Though Jesus was weakened and hungry physically, He had spent those forty days being strengthened spiritually.  Can you imagine the close relationship that Jesus shared during that time of fasting and focusing only on His Father?  Though He was the Son of God, He still made it a priority to spend time away from others and the world to talk with His Father.  

Now winter is upon us and we are all frantically preparing our homes and wardrobes for the cold.  As you do this, think about how you are preparing you heart to meet with God.  Think about how you are insulating your heart for Christ against the cold sin of this world.  Think about how you are putting on layers of scriptures to shield you from the bitter cold of temptation.  We live in a world that seeks to lead us to the eternal wintery torture of Hell.  Have you prepared yourself in the Lord to survive this world?  Are you trusting Him as your one and only guide?  Have you prepared your heart to only follow His narrow way?

Blessings,

Greg