Just Plain Thankful...

So again, I just look before this blank screen and have all of these swirling emotions and thoughts of what I want to say going through my head. It is funny because at first I really felt that I wasn't going to do this blog thing much, but now that I have done it several times I feel like I am beginning to enjoy it. It kinda is like an escape. I feel like I can be who I want to be and say whatever. I can say what I am truly thinking.

You know, even as I am sitting here typing what I am about to say... Satan is trying to prevent me from doing it. He is trying to throw me a curve ball to completely change the intent of this message. He wants me to not feel the way I do, and I REFUSE to let him have any power. God, give me the power over Satan. Remove him from where I am. Remove his power and influence. Help me to focus on Your face.

So, I originally started writing this blog to talk about thankfulness. And how, sitting in this moment and today, I just have been a sense of thankfulness. I have just been noticing so many small details of my life and how much I appreciate them and how blessed I am. Writing this blog, I am not sitting in the typical place that I usually am. I am usually sitting in the comfort of my own dorm room sitting in front of my laptop. However, this time, I am sitting in the office at the BCM. I was sitting here on facebook before doing some fun stuff, when I just got this urge to get these pressing feelings out. I am just plain thankful. That's what I just set my facebook status as. I was thinking how I know that not many things have gone "wrong" today. How I have had such a glorious day. You know, but then I got to thinking. No, not everything has gone "wrong" but I have had struggles. God just truly showed me yesterday that I do need to focus on Him and not put anything else above Him. I have been so guilty of that lately. But, today I have done my best to put God first.

As I am sitting here, I am enjoying listening to the "Tones of Joy" this amazing WKU choir that practices in the BCM on Thursday night. They are amazing. This has just added to how thankful I am. I am thankful that God blessed us with just amazingly different gifts. I am thankful that they can sing and I can sit here and enjoy it. I am also thankful for how much God let me work out my scedule after I fretted over a class that I should not have. God has just been amazingly apparent to me in the last few days and mostly just today. I love Him with all my heart. So to describe today... I am just plain thankful. Despite Satan and his attacks all day, now, and more to come later today, I am thankful for everything. Thank You, God. Thank you. That's is all I have to say. Despite struggles and trials, thank you. Again, Love me always, God. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

In and because of Jesus Christ,

Gregg

Selfish Living or Selfless Living?

So, I sit here looking at this blank empty space in which I can only begin to scratch the surface on something I want to talk about.  In recent days, and even weeks, God has been trying to give me a message. (not that He doesn't usually... but this is something big) However, me being the imperfect selfish human that I am, have not been listening.  Praise the Lord for Jesus and His forgiveness!

So, I just really feel like in several circumstances God has been really trying to shine through and show me His will; however, I have not been paying attention as well as ignoring Him.  As sad as that is... it is the truth.  I have been completely living with thoughts of what I want, what I want to accomplish, and MY plans.

HELLO!  I AM SO WRONG!  God, woke me up to this last night.  As I was prayerfully considering some possibilities of some stuff I have been dealing with in my personal life, I was just like God, this is ridiculous.  I have not been listening to You.  I prayed that He would use the Holy Spirit to show me what He wanted me to see.  After flipping through the concordance of my Bible for a while, I began getting frustrated.  I was like God, I want You, so show Yourself to Me.  You know what they say, "Be careful what you ask for."  Because man did he ever show Himself, and man did He step on my toes.  As I was sitting there discouraged... I looked over at my book shelf.  I saw my green book that my mom gave me for Christmas.  It is a copy of My Utmost for His Highest.  I have been trying to do the reading in it... however in past days it wasn't going so swell.  But, it is amazing how on a day to day basis it seems like whatever the text is... it usually fits... and it usually challenges me BIG time.  Well, yesterday's was no exception.

It's titled: Look Again and Think

After looking at the verse... I knew.  I knew I was in the presence of God.  

"Do not worry about your life... " Matthew 6:25

That's all He had to say.  I think my mouth hit the floor.  So, needless to say... I dived deep into the short devotional to see what God had in store.  Here is just a snippet of what the text contained... just a bit of what God told me.

"I say to you... do not worry about your life."  Our Lord says to be careful only about one thing - our relationship to HIM. But our common sense shouts loudly and says, "That is absurd, I must worry about my life" ... Jesus says you must not. Beware of allowing yourself to think that He says this while not understanding your circumstances.  Jesus Christ knows our circumstances better than we do, and He says we must not think about these things to the point where they become the primary concern of our life.  Whenever there are competing concerns in your life, be sure you always put your relationship to God first."

Again, I say I was floored.  I cried out to God for forgiveness.  I was like God, you know I haven't been living this way.  Help me to focus on the face of Jesus.  He is all I need.  

I always seem to do this.  I always seem to worry about circumstances.  God is bigger than circumstances.  Someone wise (my mom) once told me that worrying is calculating without God.  No matter the situation... whether it is about this or that or anything... none of it is worth an ounce of worry.  Jesus can take it away.  So, I prayed that God would take care of my worries that I had for today, and that I would not think about them and let them take priority over Him.  You know what?  God is faithful... He has truly shown Himself greatly to me today.  He allowed me to deal with the situation(s) very well.  I could have done none of it without HIM.... He is amazing.  I just can't wait for the day that I can physically and spiritually sit at the foot of the Great Throne and Praise HIM!  He is the WONDERFUL COUNSELOR and PROVIDER!  I am reminded of these lyrics, "Once I again I look upon the cross where He died, I am humbled my His mercy, and I'm broken inside.  Once again I pour out my life."

My I truly do that.  God has shown Himself to me.  He has also shown me a bit of His will and a little bit more of His Glory.  May all that I am be all His.  I am all His.  May I be selfless... not selfish.  God, continue to show me, You.  Continue to bring the praise upon Yourself.  May You be glorified.  Show me Your will.  May I follow it.  Love me as I know You do.

Gregg

Not Another Jonah

So, in recent weeks and even months, I have been thinking alot about what God has in store for me this summer.  I used to think that I was going to go to insurance school the first week after school let's out and take a test to get my insurance license.  However, one day I was sitting in the BCM with my brother and Sarah Sprinkle, when Bobby started talking about the Philippines and the possibility of going back. I can't really explain what happened next.  It was if God truly laid upon my heart that I need to do something for HIM this summer.  After sitting frustrated on that couch for a little while, one of the BCM interns helped me to find the NAMB's website to find out opportunities for this summer.

 

I don't want to go into the details of the location or anything... but that day I really did know that God was telling me to do something.  I just didn't know what.  After a few weeks of thinking of this one location to go and serve go at... I decided to talk with my parents about the idea.  Needless to say, I respect my parents with all my heart.  For goodness sakes... they are the reason I am here. Well besides God obviously.

 

After talking to them, they didn't really give me much of a response other then they really weren't hot on the idea.  Not because they don't want me to do what God wants me to do, but because they just had some general concerns and questions.  Because I love and respect my parents... I didn't blow them off and say well I'm doing it anyway.  I prayed that God would really not give me a peace if it wasn't meant to be.  You know what? God is faithful to answer.  I believe that God told me through circumstances and just life itself that maybe this place wasn't where he wanted me... however, I knew I was supposed to be serving Him somehow... someway.  Here is the thing... I also prayed... Here am I... send me.  Anywhere...

 

So, after a few days... I was still kinda clueless.  I was like okay God, show me what you want me to do.  I hadn't entirely ruled the option out... I just wanted to see where God would lead me.  So, one night I was on facebook.  While chatting with a good old friend and mentor... I believe God showed me what His plan was.  No, I am not going to say I knew then... because I didn't. As of then, it was just another option.

 

After spending a lot of time in prayer and just fellowship with God, especially on vacation in the mtns. in TN, I feel like God has def. lead me to a conclusion.  One part of the conclusion is that I can't make a wrong decision as long as I am seeking the Lord's will.  I was lead to a verse in Isaiah that says... no matter if you turn to the left or right, you will hear a command behind you saying this is the way... walk in it.  So, that is what I have decided to do.  From prayer and consideration, I am hopefully going to follow the second option, which if it comes to be... I will share later.

 

So, the next step which is the second part of the conclusion is to talk to my parents about my decision.  After weeks of waiting to tell my parents... I still haven't.  But, God has told me in the last week that I def. need to. Because every conversation with one of my mentors... or every message I have hears preached... all have led me to think of this.  Of how I know I need to serve HIM this summer, and how it is time to talk to the parents again.

 

So, how does the title fit?  Not ANOTHER JONAH.  I don't want to be like Jonah.  I don't want to say no to God.  I want to say yes.  I don't want to be Jonah and run from God.  I want to run to Him.  I want to give Him all that I am, daily.  May I in the days to have the wisdom of God in my decision and the boldness to talk to the parentals.  God, here am I.  Send me.

 

Matthew 16:24-25

Acts 1:8

Where to begin?...

Where to begin, I ask myself.  Where do I begin to fill another post with my thoughts, feelings, and anything that may be filling this brain of mine.  To be honest, I don't really know.  Sometimes, I feel like we just do these things to let others read them.  However, I really really want this new blog thing, to be a useful tool to me.  I want to be able to go back in the future and see how far God has taken me.  How much I have changed, and how good God is.  So, I feel like sometimes I go on these tangents about God.  But, then I thought, you know what, if I want to talk to God, then that is my business. Haha... But, how can anyone expect for me to want to talk about anything else then my Lord, my Savior, my Best Friend.  Something that always gives me chills are to think about the many things that God is.  He is the Lord.  He is my Savior, He is Love.  He is the beginning and the end.  He is the Alpha Omega, He is my father.  He is my provider, my sustainer, my giver of life.  He is the creator, He is brilliant.  I am nothing.  Yea, it's true.  I am absolutely nothing.  My best gifts and abilities are nothing more than a pile of crap.  That is without Jesus.  With the Holy Spirit, God has and continually makes me beautiful... For because of what Jesus did I can now confidently walk into God's presence... to His very throne.  Imagine that!  Me (nothing) walking into the presence of the Creator and Sustainer of the Universe!  The ONE who holds the world.  Who set it into motion.  You ask me... how can you believe that?!  I ask you... how can you not!  God has made Himself more evident then the moon is evident in the night sky.  God is indescribable.  

My life at the moment... is different.  God is challenging me in so many ways.  College... mmmhmm I guess what everyone says about it is really true.  It IS a defining moment.  All I know to say is, thank you Jesus for providing me with awesome leadership in high school that have helped me to figure out what I believe.  Not what anyone else does... but what I do.  Jesus!

Like I said... college is a defining time.  I have completely had so many new and exciting experiences.  This past semester I made so many new friends, experienced so many new things, and was blessed to have so many new opportunities and challenges arise.  I don't know what this semester will hold... or what life will hold in the future... all I know is that I am thankful. I am thankful that God is God.  I am thankful for Jesus.  I am thankful for my mentors, Ronald Wilson and Justin McClure.  I am also thankful for my parents... who love the Lord just as much as I do- who support me no matter what.  I am also thankful for my brother... who is such an example and great Christian brother.  I am thankful that I don't have to worry about tomorrow.  All I know is that I am willing.  I want my comfort to come from God.  I don't want to live my life in a boring sense of non-accomplishment.  I want Jesus to look at me one day and say, "Well done, my Good and Faithful Servant." And I don't believe that will result from sitting back and letting others try to harvest all the grain.  May I be His worker, doing His will.  I want to be uncomfortable, so that in Him I may find my comfort. 

My two desires are that I would be like Jesus Christ doing His will, and that I would look like Jesus Christ to you.  May I be just like Him... the one who took on the cross for me... and you.  The one who was perfect.  The one who needed nothing except the love of the Father.  The one who conquered death.  The One who says, "Take comfort, for I have overcome the World."  The One.  The Only One.  The Only Way.

Well, I guess I began where He told me to.  Now, where to end.... hmm... let's just wait and see what God has in store for me!  He is the Beginning and end and all! 

In Christ,

Gregg

God is Good

I know this is really short, really concise, and you are probably thinking why in the world are you taking the time to even bother saying this.  But, all I have to say is, "God is Good."  He reigns forevermore on a throne of glory and grace and beauty and power.  He is in control.  I say it again.  NO MATTER WHAT... "God is Good!"

Blessed by Grace

In weeks past, God has totally rocked my world with tons of new realizations.  He has begun to show me how truly blessed I am.  Why me?  Why should I be so blessed to have such great friends and family.  Why should I be so blessed as to have such an awesome Christian influence from my family and mentors.  Why am I so blessed to even be offered salvation.  God is one huge abundance of Love, and he just wants to Bless you.  He has continued to show Himself more and more to me.  He loves me.  He loves you.  He died for you.  I can't help but thank Him continuously and wonder why.  Why?  Why do you love me so much despite my imperfection.  Why?  Because you are so loving and perfect.  I will never fully understand why, but all I know is that I am trying to give God my all.  God, take me, use me, send me.  I want to be all His.  I don't need to know why.  I am just thankful for it.  I am just accepting how merciful He is to give me such grace.  Thank you Jesus for dying for me!  Thank you for the little things.  Thank you for things unseen and yet to come.  Thank you for not telling me things when I want to know them and making me wait.  I learn so much more that way.  Thank you for being God, and making me human.  I just want to serve you.  Thank you for allowing me to be in you presence.  You are King.  You sit upon a throne of Great Glory.  You are and will always victorious.  Lord, you are my true all in all.  Show me thy will... in you timing.  Like you told Job, You are God.  I was not there when You created the earth.  Who am I to question.  All I can say is thanks.  I am so blessed.  Thank you for a perfect Savior who LIVES!  JESUS CHRIST IS LORD!  HE LIVES!  I am so blessed!  Thank you Oh Great God!

In Jesus Name,

LET IT BE DONE (AMEN)