 Speak I’m Listening!
Is God speaking to you today? Do you expect to hear from God when you read your Bible? Is reading your Bible daily just something to cross off your to-do list, or do you expect to hear from the Lord when you open it? Sermons, Bible studies, and personal quiet time in Scripture are all means the Lord uses to speak to us, strengthen us, comfort us, and encourage us in our walk with Him. But God’s Holy Word will only influence a faithful believer who’s ready to receive and respond to its message. Friends, to get the most from our time in God’s Word, we must first prepare our hearts to receive. That means coming into His courts ready to listen. This passage today tells the story of young Samuel’s encounter with God. The old priest Eli instructed young Samuel to say, “Speak, Lord, for Your servant is listening.” Those are valuable words for us all. Before you open your Bible, consider praying those words; then ask God to help you understand His message and apply it to your life. God’s Word is an amazing gift! It comforts the mourner, strengthens the faint-hearted, convicts the sinner, gives peace to the repentant, and brings joy to all who obey it. Invite God to speak into your life today. Onward and Upward + Fr. Greg
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 Take Refuge In Him!
Where do you turn for safety from life's storms? This psalm invites us to trust the Lord, experience His protection, and seek refuge in Him. David encourages us to follow his example and discover this for ourselves. Psalm 34 is a song of gratitude that we can sing when God delivers us from life's difficulties. However, David's happiness is only a preview of the eternal redemption God offers to everyone who believes in the everlasting refuge found in His Son, our Savior. Our loving Father promises great things to us, His children! He promises to deliver, nourish, sustain, and redeem all who repent and trust in His power to save. In response, we must honor Him, speak the truth, and humbly serve and obey. This glorious invitation is ours to receive, but it is also ours to extend! What unique opportunities has God provided to you to share His invitation with others? Who might God ask you to invite to His refuge and rescue today? Pray for the Lord to reveal those you can invite to find refuge in the blessings He offers us today and eternally. Invite them to come, taste, see, and take refuge in Him! Onward and Upward + Fr. Greg  Follow Me!
Who are you following today? There is a cacophony of voices in this world seeking to fill our ears and minds with lies and false information. Research shows animal and human newborns can recognize their mothers' voices very soon after birth. That bond is critical for our survival. As John chapter 10 reveals, learning to recognize and follow the Good Shepherd's voice is also critical for our survival. Friends, learning to discern his voice has never been more important than it is today! As followers, knowing we belong to the fold and can trust our Good Shepherd is comforting. The more time we spend in his presence, the clearer we can recognize his voice amid all the lies around us. Our Good Shepherd tells us, "The thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly (10:10)." If you’re looking for abundant life amid the litany of lies and broken promises today, I encourage you to listen to our Good Shepherd's voice in word and prayer daily. Let our Good Shepherd provide, protect, and direct your path with his unfailing love! Onward and Upward+ Fr. Greg  Start With Your Heart!
As we celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. King today, we recognize that there is still much work to be done. Prejudice, particularly racial prejudice, may be among the world's most prevalent sins. No matter where you go on this earth, you will find someone who dislikes another person. Although this manifests in countless ways every day, most people deny having any prejudice. We must all take a personal inventory, acknowledge, and confess our sins to advance racial reconciliation. All prejudice and hatred are rooted in the sinful human heart. Prejudice is not merely a skin problem; it is a sin problem! Friends, today's passage makes it clear: "The Lord sees not as man sees." People look at outward appearances, "but the LORD looks on the heart." So, where should we begin? We must always start by examining our hearts! After searching his heart, King David cried, "Create in ME a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me" (Psalm 51:10). Change must always begin within. As Christians, we each receive heart transplants that enable us to see others as He does. The Lord grants us the ability to perceive and connect with others beyond their outward appearance. We can then truly discover new commonalities through the power of His love. Friends, change always begins within, and it always starts in our hearts! Onward and Upward+ Fr. Greg  Seeking Clarity
Are you seeking clarity in your life? A gentleman once asked Mother Teresa to pray for him to find clarity. She said, “No, I will not do that.” When he asked why, she said, “Clarity is the last thing you are clinging to and must let go of.” The man replied that she seemed to have the clarity he longed for; she laughed and said, “I have never had clarity; what I have always had is trust. So, I will pray that you will trust God.” Clarity might help now; trust will help for a lifetime! The difference between clarity and trust is like the difference between a painkiller and true healing. We long for clarity because we want a quick fix. Friends, clarity may make us feel in control, but is that what we need most? If God gives us clarity, it may help with a choice or decision, but it may not help again. Trust in God lasts a lifetime! The security we long for doesn’t come from knowing the future but from trusting God. Clarity allows us to move on; trust allows God to move in! The fruit of clarity is a decision; the fruit of trust is a relationship! Which is more valuable in the long run? We want clarity; God wants us to come closer! The future may be unknown, but God’s character and promises aren’t. So, seek clarity in His presence, He is always trustworthy and will redeem your decisions for his glory and good! Onward and Upward + Fr. Greg  The Fullness of Time
Waiting on the Lord is always challenging! It seems all creation is waiting and wondering. Yet over and over, God shows that He knows the right time for all things. He has a perfect plan for every season and activity, and He never acts too soon or too late. We’ve all impatiently prayed about various needs and uncertainties in our lives. We likely know people who need God's help right now, and when they don't receive answers, it may seem as if He is doing nothing. But we must not be impatient or lose hope! We must keep praying, obeying, and trusting in God's perfect timing. Friends, we must never forget that God answers our prayers and provides for our needs in the "fullness of time" (Gal. 4:4). Only He knows the right time to fulfill His perfect plan and purposes. We must also remember there is a suitable time to act prayerfully. When God opens doors, seize the moment! When He provides an opportunity, sow seeds with the time, talent, and treasure you have been given. "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up" (Gal. 6:9). Remember, the Lord always fulfills His promises in the fullness of time. Happy Epiphany Fr. Greg  Trusting Through Transition
Happy New Year! As we begin a New Year, transitions often await us. Transitions are rarely easy! They mark the end of one part of your life's story and the beginning of another. Our faith is tested in transition as fear tries to creep in. Life is full of temporary peaks and valleys we must journey through to mature and grow our faith. The territory is often unknown, so we tend to focus on the transition rather than the destination. We often question God's providence during these seasons. As I thought about this, I was reminded of God's directions to His people in this passage. They listened but didn't hear. Friends, God often says things we ignore or don't want to hear. The disciples heard Jesus tell them what would happen to Him, but they didn't hear. If the passing years have taught me anything, it's that life's occasional transitions are necessary for our spiritual growth. When we fight them, we fight the future God has in mind for us. Life's transitions help prepare us for change! They stretch and grow our faith and trust in God's perfect plan for our lives. These passing seasons may take longer than we want, but we must forge ahead! So, hold fast to your faith, trust, and obedience through the New Year's transitions; the Lord promises never to leave or forsake us! HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! Fr. Greg  Let It Shine!
Now that the Winter Solstice has passed, daylight gradually increases after the longest dark days of the year. Just as the darkness in our days can cause depression, prolonged periods of despair can rob us of hope and our sense of direction. Despair, often viewed as an opposing force, is actually the absence of hope in our lives, just as darkness is the absence of light. We must learn to accept despair for what it is: a lack of hope. From that understanding, we can begin to find our way out of the darkness. Just as the light of a candle transforms a dark room, a glimmer of hope transforms lives. Friends, we must intentionally cultivate hope in dark days of despair. Numerous sources of hope surround us, such as our faith, our friends and family, and even the promise of a new day. It doesn’t have to be a grand or dramatic gesture; a simple glimmer of hope, like light, can often be enough. In times of despair, a thoughtful text, call, or card can encourage someone to overcome the darkness. Never underestimate the power of a glimmer of hope or the illuminating impact of the light of Christ in you. Let your light shine before others so that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven (Matthew 5:16). Happy New Year! Fr. Greg  God’s Advent Love!
No word may be more misunderstood or undervalued than “LOVE.” While we often associate love with feelings, it is much deeper than that. Love includes emotions, yet those emotions can be mismanaged. We may feel sentimental, but those desires can change quickly. We know our feelings, emotions, and sentiments can shift in an instant. In contrast, “God’s Love,” which is unlimited and unconditional, stays steady. This is the kind of enduring love that should be reflected in our lives as His children. Friends, to understand how to embody “God’s Love,” we should look to Jesus’ life and God’s teachings. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” This unparalleled love, initiated by God and shown through Jesus, should inspire us. “God’s Love” must serve as the foundation of our relationships with Him and with others. As we light the final Advent candle, let us shine “God’s Advent Love” into a dark world. Let us celebrate and share the true meaning of God’s Love through Christ Jesus always. Merry Christmas + Fr. Greg  Fullness of Joy!
As a bi-vocational priest and chaplain, I encounter countless people each week. One of the things I have noticed in recent years is a growing lack of joy in people’s lives. What is joy? Is it a feeling? An attitude? An emotion? Is it something we discover or find in life? Is it temporary or permanent? Is it internal or external? Is it possible that it's all of the above? Today's psalm reveals some answers. When it was written, things were not going well for Moses. He knew something was missing in the lives of God’s people, and he knew what it was: JOY! Moses, being a man of God, knew what to do: He went to the Lord in prayer. He boldly reminded the Lord that He was a God filled with unfailing love for His children. Moses then asked God to show His unfailing love, compassion, and pity. Moses knew only God could restore the joy of their salvation and the blessings that repentance brings. Friends, we are reminded of that joy in this third week of Advent. Often, hearts once filled with joy are empty because of sin and separation from God. When joy seems to be missing from your heart, take a thorough self-inventory and, if need be, repent. Then seek God’s forgiveness and reclaim the fullness of joy in His presence. Onward And Upward + Fr. Greg |