 Seeing Beyond The Seed
Whether you’re a gardener or not, you’ve probably planted seeds at some point in your life. It’s fascinating to see the first tender sprouts poke through the soil and reach for the sun. The daily growth is magical to watch until, at last, the fruit is ready to be harvested or the flower blooms in brilliant color. So, what can gardening teach us about growing our faith and the kingdom of God? Jesus says, “With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable shall we use for it? (Mark 4:30). The parable of the mustard seed provides us a glorious example of growth. Though the mustard seed was the smallest of seeds known to Jesus’ listeners, what could it teach us today? Jesus went on to say, “yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs” our faith, like the kingdom of God can be compared to that little mustard seed. Although it starts small its growth potential is truly remarkable. Friends, the same growth potential that God places in the little mustard seed, exist within every believer. When you feel alone in your stand for Christ, never forget that the power of God at work in the little mustard seed is the same power at work within you. Never should you be intimidated if your kingdom efforts seem small or insignificant. Remember, that God’s kingdom has other faithful followers all around us. Your faith, no matter how small, can join with the faith of others to accomplish far more for God’s kingdom than we could ever imagine or expect. So, remain faithful and see beyond the seed! Let the SON shine upon you and through you, and keep nourishing your faith daily by His life-giving promises! Grace and peace always, Fr. Greg+
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 Our Faith Family
The need to belong and be part of a community has probably never been more important than now after months of isolation and social separation. Being disconnected from our biological or church families has taken a heavy toll on us all. A person may have many acquaintances and be involved in a number of organizations and activities, but that’s not the same as the feeling of belonging. Long ago Jesus redefined God’s new family plan when He said “Anyone who does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother (Mark 3:35).” Later Saint Paul, would assure the early Christians in Ephesus that being “in Christ” through faith made them part of the family of God’s people and His household. The same is true for us today. Today God’s household is the church, our faith family. Everyone who is a follower of Jesus needs to find a home and a church family with other faithful believers. That’s not always easy. There may have been times or even right now, when you have felt isolated, like a foreigner or a stranger. Perhaps the church you are now attending has not been as welcoming as you would have liked. You may even be tempted to give up on it. But being among God’s family is His will and gift to you. Being an active part of a church family is a crucial part of our discipleship. Once we do find our place in God’s family, we likewise need to become ambassadors of Christ to welcome others. Brothers and sisters, the benefit of belonging in God’s family and being in His household is a two-way street. Not only are we blessed, but we are called to actively welcome others. Friends, it’s only by giving the gift away that we are able to keep it and grow our faith family. Grace and peace always, Fr. Greg+  Lest We Forget
For many in America, Memorial Day marks the start of summer, sun-drenched days, warm evenings, picnics, and vacations. Unfortunately, many fail to reflect on the deeper meaning of this day. The willingness of men and women to answer our nation’s call, knowing the risks they face, yet willing to give their lives to protect and defend this nation we love. What extraordinary examples of service over self! Jesus spoke of such sacrifice in John 15:12–13: “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lays down his life for his friends.” On this special day, we call Memorial Day, we remember the men and women lost defending our freedom. Their heroic sacrifices have guaranteed the religious and civil freedoms that we all enjoy today, that some in our culture take for granted. Recently, I had the honor of spending the day with the last living Medal of Honor recipient from WWII, US Marine Woody Williams, who received our nation’s highest honor for his bravery on Iwo Jima. As I listened to his humble reflections after blessing the new Gold Star Family Memorial, I was reminded of the sacrifices made by “a few good men.” The fight for that small island in the Pacific caused 26,000 casualties and cost 6,800 lives. It’s hard to fathom what those brave men had to endure in the darkest moments of battle if they hadn’t had their brothers at their side. Friends, we are no different. The battles are different for sure, but nonetheless, they are battles. Today we’re battling illnesses, the loss of loved ones, and addictions. We are battling an enemy who has come to kill, steal and destroy. But we are not in the fight alone! We must fight in the Lord because the battle is His. We must always remember that Jesus has defeated darkness. But we dare not fight without the armor needed to defeat the enemy if we are to be victorious. And like our military, we must never leave behind our fellow believers in the struggle. We are to always support and encourage them! As Christians, let us not forget today the brave men and women who fought and died for us. We must remember them and always have reverent hearts for them, “Lest we Forget.” The Scriptures say to give honor to whom honor is due, and these American heroes truly deserve our honor and heartfelt thanks. And dear brothers and sisters, let us never take for granted the greatest sacrifice, the death at Calvary of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who provides our eternal victory! Grace and peace always Fr. Greg+  Our Constant Companion
“If you love me, obey my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you” (John 14:15-17 NLT). Most of us don’t like being alone for long periods of time. The truth is, we were not designed to live in isolation. At the very beginning, God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone” (Gen. 2:18). But sometimes situations in life leave us isolated and separated from others. Or perhaps we simply feel lonely, even though we are not. Whatever your situation might be, if you are a believer, you are never alone. Jesus, knowing that His followers would feel abandoned and alone after His crucifixion and ascension, promised to send an Advocate who would never leave them, the Spirit of truth. The same One who came to them at Pentecost still abides with every believer today. He has been sent to walk with us as our comforter, our enabler and constant companion. The indwelling Holy Spirit, unlike human companions, is perfectly adequate to meet our every need. Since He knows us intimately, He can comfort us in pain and loss when no one else can. Anytime we find ourselves perplexed; He knows exactly what we should do. And since the future is visible to His eyes, He is aware of all the details that concern us. Our constant companion has also promised to guide us every step of the way, calming our fears and helping us overcome our inadequacies. Since we were created for God, it is only through His Spirit that we are made complete. He is the believer’s answer to aloneness: He’s always available and will never leave or forsake us. When others let you down, the Comforter, our advocate and constant companion is always present to lift us up with a quick reminder that with Him living within us, we are never alone. Grace and peace always, Fr. Greg+  Divine Peace
Have you ever been on a lake during a storm? I have, and it is a terrifying experience. As the winds and waves raged, the boat was tossed around like a toy while the rain came down in sheets as lightning and thunder filled the sky. However, at the same time not far under the surface, where the storm had no effect, all was calm and quiet. That is what the peace of Jesus is like. It’s not an absence of life’s storms, conflicts, or troubles but a deep calmness in the midst of those circumstances. Just before Jesus’ death, He comforted His disciples with these calming words from this well know passage from John’s Gospel. He wasn’t saying that their circumstances would be tranquil and serene. But to the contrary, they were about to go through some tremendous storms and trials, but Jesus’ peace would provide the calming strength to sustain them through all they would face. Jesus offers us the very same peace; however, we must choose it. Friends, all of us will experience inner doubts, worry, and turmoil during distressing situations, yet as believers, we don’t have to cling to those feelings. Instead, we can choose to accept Jesus’ offer of divine peace which passes all understanding. If we want that peace, we must develop a more personable relationship with Him. The more personally we know Him, trust Him, and obey Him, the greater our peace becomes. After telling His disciples not to be troubled, Jesus then said, “Believe in God, believe also in Me.” If we have faith in His unconditional love, we know that He has control of our every situation, and we know that all things work out for our good. I pray that you will surrender every fear and anxiety to Jesus today and I pray that you will allow Him to guard your hearts and minds with His divine peace. Grace and peace always, Fr. Greg+  Our Living Hope
Webster's dictionary defines hope as: “to desire with expectation of obtainment or fulfillment.” Hope is a belief or expectation that something will happen. If it doesn’t, we may experience discouragement, depression, or even despair. In this world of constant challenge and despair, how can one remain hopeful? First, we must remember the reason for our confidence: our relationship with Jesus! As redeemed believers, we are reborn into a living hope in Jesus’ resurrection victory. In Jesus, we are new creations, no longer prisoners to this world of sin and death. With the promised Holy Spirit dwelling in us, we are co-heirs with our living Savior and our true eternal home is in heaven with Him. Second, we must spend time in God’s Holy Word! Romans 15:4 says the Bible was written to give us encouragement and hope. When the world presses in on you and dims your hope, the Psalms are a good place to turn. The Psalms, express the writers’ feelings and can provide us comfort and hope. Finally, always remember and rely on the Lord’s faithfulness. Trusting in God will always turn out for our good, always! Our God has given us a living hope in Jesus and He also gives us grace for each day of our journey. As the redeemed, we shouldn’t react to our trials as the world does. Instead, we are to live by faith in the “confidence in what we hope for” (Heb. 11:1). Friends, when this fallen world or our circumstances begin to overwhelm us, focus on Jesus. Look for encouragement in God’s word and remember God’s promises to us in Christ Jesus (Eph. 1:3-8). Jesus promised to be with us to the end of the ages, for He alone is our living, eternal hope! Grace and peace always, Fr. Greg+  Love Refreshes Hearts
The Apostle Paul is writing from prison to his close friend and believer Philemon, who was thought to be a wealthy leader of the Colossian church. Paul’s purpose for this letter was to convince Philemon to forgive his runaway slave (Onesimus) and to accept him back as a brother in Christ. He starts this short letter acknowledging and praising Philemon for his faith and its impact on others. Imagine your pastor or maybe your boss saying to you in front of others “Your tender and compassionate love, affection, and support have given me great joy and encouragement because you have refreshed (revived, lifted up, encouraged) the hearts of others (family, friends, coworkers).” What a kind and motivating compliment that would be! As Christians, we should strive to be loving, compassionate, encouraging, and supportive to all. As a Pastor, I often have to address conflicts and other personal issues in people’s lives. Daily I pray for God’s grace and ask Him to help me love and encourage others. Specifically, I ask the Holy Spirit to help me “walk in love as Christ loved us” and show me how to refresh the hearts of others. I also ask the Holy Spirit to help me manage my emotions so I do not allow them to lead me outside God’s circle of love and to be silent when I am upset, frustrated, or angry. I also ask God to help me be sensitive and empathetic towards others at all times. I’ve come to realize far too often as leaders, teachers, or parents, we often fail to refresh and lift up the spirits of others. Dear friends, ask God to speak to you about any relationship in your life that you can become a source of love and compassion. Look for ways to refresh the hearts of others and recommit to live and work in the “Circle of Love,” and then watch as God changes you and the world around you. Grace and peace always, Fr. Greg+  Dealing with Doubt
Have you ever doubted God? At some point we probably all have. Doubts often come creeping in when our expectations aren’t met. Usually when we believe God will act a certain way, but He doesn’t. Then we start to question His love and wonder whether He truly has our best interest at heart. How should we deal with doubt? Here are some sound principles for dealing with doubts! First: discern the cause of your doubt. Is your doubt being caused because God isn’t behaving like you think He should in your life. It’s a big mistake to think of God as a genie or a divine bellhop who responds to our every beck and call. Our loving God is not like that, He says “my ways are higher than your ways and My thoughts are higher than your thoughts” (Isa. 55:9). Second: share your doubts with another mature Christian. When we are separated from others and feel all alone, our doubts become larger and more ominous. That’s why it is so important to be in church and not just be a spectator but be engaged with other worshipers who can help you and encourage you whenever you stumble or falter in your faith. That is the value of being a part of the body of believers, we must never forget “iron sharpens iron” as Proverbs 27:17 tells us. Finally: view your doubt as an opportunity to grow. James 1:3 says that “the testing of your faith produces endurance.” That is also true about doubt. If you respond to doubt the right way, then it can actually make your faith stronger. Remember that our doubts never diminish God’s love for us. Friends, even when doubts creep in, or when your faith flounders and you struggle to believe in God, He still believes in you, “If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself” (2Tim. 2:13). Remember these comforting words when dealing with doubt! Grace and peace always, Fr. Greg+  Keep Calm and Carry On
“Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but one who has a hasty temper exalts folly” (Proverbs 14:29). We live in a broken world where sin is rampant, injustice is common, and anger and violence rage all around us. This growing trend can also cause us to fall into sin and anger. Struggling economies and widespread fear cause frustration, but these difficulties with people can present challenges on a more personal level. Although we cannot change the situations around us, altering our responses to them is possible. When hurt by someone else’s words or actions, we might be tempted to hurl a sarcastic reply or harbor resentment. But as followers of Jesus, we are called to model his life: “When he was abused, he did not return abuse; when he suffered, he did not threaten; but he entrusted himself to the one who judges justly” (1 Peter 2:23). Today’s verse from the book of Proverbs emphasizes the value of being slow to anger. This is especially important when facing verbal attacks. Quiet listening protects us from speaking rashly and offers us the opportunity to seek God’s help as Jesus would. A calm gentle reply can defuse most tense situations, but without taking time to process what was said, few of us will be able to answer wisely. When we are slow to anger, we can gain an understanding of the situation and the hidden motives that a hot-tempered person can’t objectively comprehend. Such a calm response is unnatural, but that shouldn’t surprise us since the one who modeled it was Jesus. As Jesus followers, our priorities must mirror his. Love and understanding must overrule our need to defend our opinions. Preserving civility must at times replace safeguarding our need to be right. So, Keep Calm and Carry On, with Jesus as our defender and protector it's always possible. Grace and peace always, Fr. Greg+  Lack Follows Separation!
“After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need.” The parable of the Prodigal Son provides many life lessons. We learned that as long as the wayward son lived in his father’s house, he lacked nothing. But not long after he left, he was broke. Then the famine (economic downturn) came and he was in serious need. This Kingdom Principle of Separation and Lack was born in the Garden of Eden. Before Adam and Eve disobeyed God, lack didn’t exist on this earth. They lived in rich abundance and had everything they needed. Like the father of the Prodigal Son, God provided for their every need. When they chose to rebel against the Lord and disobey, sin came into the world and separated them from His presence. Lack, difficulty, and death soon followed. This Kingdom Principle of Lack and Separation can be broken down into three simple but proven steps: (1) Rebellion and disobedience lead to sin; (2) sin leads to separation from God, His protection and provision; (3) separation from our loving Father leads to lack, need, spiritual bankruptcy and insufficiency. Are you living in a state of lack and spiritual separation from God today? If so, I encourage you to come to your senses, repent and come back to our Father’s house! Like the Prodigal Son, commit to living life with God in abundant fellowship today. It was after all, God’s original plan. Remember friends, “the thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy (John10:10). Jesus came so we could have life and have it abundantly in this broken world today, and in heaven forever. Grace and peace always, Fr. Greg+ |