 Our Advent Peace! Are the ongoing challenges of the past few years still robbing you of peace today? It seems stress and anxiety have become the new normal in this non-stop, high-speed world. Whether it is work, relationships, politics, or a combination of many things, it seems everyone is struggling under constant tension and stress. As Christians, we are not assured of a life free of strife or duress. Nor are we assured of smooth paths and calm waters. But God does assure us if we will keep our minds faithfully focused on Him and His Word, we can know peace amid the most stressful seasons in our lives. The prophet Isaiah, in his song of praise to the Lord, provides us with a timeless and priceless promise today. This verse promises that God will provide His perfect peace when we trust Him, obey Him, and faithfully stay focused on Him. God’s perfect peace passes all human understanding! It exceeds all human wisdom and knowledge found in today’s self-help books and publications. Friends, if you will follow the advice of Isaiah, you too can experience perfect peace in this stressful world. So, ask the Holy Spirit to renew and fix your focus on the Lord. In this second week of Advent, we are reminded that true peace is found in Jesus, our Prince of Peace. So, trust in the Lord, keep your eyes focused on Jesus, and let His perfect peace fill your heart, mind, and soul! The Peace of the Lord be with you! Fr. Greg+
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 Our Advent Hope!
What are you placing your hope in today? Webster's dictionary defines hope as: "to desire with expectation of obtainment or fulfillment." If you are looking for hope today from our government, science, medicine, or anything other than Jesus, you are setting yourself up for disappointment. How can one remain hopeful in this dark, broken world of deception and despair? Our hope and confidence are nurtured and strengthened through a personal relationship with Jesus! We redeemed believers have been reborn into a living hope in Jesus' resurrection victory. Friends, the Bible was written to provide us with encouragement and hope! When this world presses in on you and dims your hope, the Psalms are always a good place to turn. The Psalms express the writers' feelings and can provide comfort and hope. So, when things seem hopeless, open your Bible; it is our hope handbook, then immerse yourself in God's Word! Always remember our loving God has given us a living hope in Jesus, and He also provides us grace and encouragement for each day of our journey. On this first Sunday of Advent, we are reminded our hope is found in Jesus; he alone has overcome the world and is with us till the end of the ages. Jesus is Our Advent Hope! Onward and Upward! Fr. Greg+  Give Thanks and Praise!
There are certainly times, and circumstances in our lives, when rejoicing and giving thanks are hard to do. Have you ever wondered why God says It is “good” to give thanks? Because giving God thanks readjusts our focus. When we praise and thank the Lord, the hardships and difficulties of everyday life don’t feel as heavy. Instead of obsessing over challenges, God and His goodness become the center of our focus. Just as important, we gain awareness of our dependence upon the Lord and become more appreciative of His continued care and provision for us in all things. Friends, gratitude helps release our anxieties. We rarely feel grateful when burdened, but that is when we need to offer God our most heartfelt gratitude. A remarkable physical, emotional, and spiritual change occurs at that moment. At that moment, our burdens seem lighter, the internal churning stops, and we can pause and rejoice in the Lord. Friends, offering thanksgiving reinforces our faith! Recalling our blessings and the times God has expressed His goodness toward us reminds us of His faithfulness. By reflecting on the times God has worked in our past provides strength for today and hope for tomorrow. So, the next time you feel overwhelmed by life, remember what occurs from offering God thanksgiving and praise, and then lift your voice in heartfelt gratitude for what Jesus did for us on the cross. Happy Thanksgiving! Fr. Greg+ A Beautiful Thanksgiving Prayer from the Book of Common Prayer Accept, O Lord, our thanks and praise for all that you have done for us. We thank you for the splendor of the whole creation, for the beauty of this world, for the wonder of life, and for the mystery of love. We thank you for the blessing of family and friends, and for the loving care which surrounds us on every side. We thank you for setting us at tasks that demand our best efforts, and for leading us to accomplishments that satisfy and delight us. We thank you also for those disappointments and failures that lead us to acknowledge our dependence on you alone. Above all, we thank you for your Son Jesus Christ; for the truth of his Word and the example of his life; for his steadfast obedience, by which he overcame temptation; for his dying, through which he conquered death; and for his rising to life again, in which we are raised to the life of your kingdom. Grant us the gift of your Spirit, that we may know Christ and make him known; and through him, at all times and in all places, may give thanks to you in all things. Amen.  Cultivating Faithfulness!
How would you rate your faithfulness? Is it growing and flourishing, or weak and undernourished? Our faithfulness is rooted in trusting the Lord. Trusting in the Lord is easy when life is sunny, pleasant, and going our way. However, our faith can quickly become uprooted when life is stormy and things are not going as we desire. Yet the Lord helps us grow our faith in difficult circumstances and seasons. To do that, we must be willing to submit to His perfect plan instead of getting frustrated and forcing our will. Friends, the Lord wants us to trust and draw near to Him with a peaceful spirit. We must then wait patiently and faithfully for His will to take root and grow forth. Even if we do not see growth and change taking place, God is at work in us and through us. Our objective is to stay focused on Jesus and faithfully continue doing what the Lord has called us to do in and out of season. In that process, growth pains allow us to develop Christlike character and show the world what Jesus’ transforming love and power can bring about in those he nourishes. The fruit of faithfulness matures when we confidently believe God is in control and is working all things for our good and His glory. Then when the harvest takes place, we will hear, “well done, good and faithful servant,” enter the joy of your master! Onward and Upward! Fr. Greg+  A Thorn in the Flesh!
Life is full of thorns and thistles! Almost daily, we face sticky and prickly situations, be it people with issues or complex challenges that poke and prod us. Many have speculated about Paul’s thorn for centuries. He never said what it was, but whatever it was, it caused him great anguish and kept him humble. He also asked God to remove it from his life three times! The thorns and thistles of this world first appeared way back in the Garden when Adam and Eve failed to heed God’s warning, and the curse was cast. Friends, every Christian should accept that there will be thorns and thistles in this life. What thorny situations are you facing today? Is someone’s prickly behavior causing you pain and discomfort? Are you going around with a “burr” under your saddle or a thorn in your side? Like Paul, maybe you have asked God to remove the thorn, but still, it remains! If so, I would encourage you to pray and ask God to show you His divine purpose for the thorn. Paul also tells us as believers, “That all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose (Rom 8:28).” Just like Paul, we must walk humbly and trust in God’s grace! We must never forget that God’s purpose and grace are far bigger than any thorn in the flesh. Onward and Upward! Fr. Greg+  Godly Time Management!
Who could not use some time management improvement? Time is our most valuable commodity since it is irreversible and irreplaceable. As Christians, we should always give careful consideration as to how we manage our time. Time is a gift from God, which means we are not owners; we are only stewards who will one day give an account of how well we used the time entrusted to us. Those who are wise; realize all their days belong to the Lord, and they are careful about how they use them. They want to know and understand God’s will, so they seek His guidance each morning through fellowship with Him through His Holy Word and prayer. Sadly, many don’t give much thought to how they manage life’s most priceless commodity. Many are unproductive and lazy, pursuing their own foolish plans and pleasures. And many who are busy and successful by worldly standards are wasting their time if their planners are not aligned with God’s will. Friends, to make the most of our time, we must begin each day with the Lord and ask Him to direct our plans. Remember, we must all present a time card at the end of this earthly journey! No one wants to arrive in heaven and discover that although they were always busy, they failed to invest their time wisely for eternity. Seek Godly time management, and let the Lord keep your planner and order your steps! Onward and Upward! Fr. Greg+  Our Only Hope!
What are you placing your hope in today? Many put their hope in themselves or in other people, places, or things. The truth is, as Christians, we live in what may appear at times to be hopeless days. The more complex our lives become, the easier it is to become isolated and self-centered. God wants us to get our minds off ourselves and onto Him! Friends, the Lord is our only refuge and hope in this dark and fallen world. Confusion and hopelessness are sure to follow when we isolate and begin to rely on our limited wisdom and perspective. In these challenging days, we must look to God's divine promises, found, and revealed in His Holy Word. Think about how the early church responded to its challenges, difficulties, and fears. They went forward boldly, even willing to lose their lives because they knew the gospel was their only hope. When relentless persecution broke out against them in Jerusalem, they scattered and took the gospel wherever they went. God does not want us to shrink back from our difficulties and focus on ourselves. It was, for a time, such as this that we have been called to model HOPE through the salvation message of Jesus. So do not give up, give in, or lose heart; our hope is, and always has been in the Lord the maker of heaven and earth! Onward and Upward! Fr. Greg+  Transforming Glory!
At some point in life, most will ask themselves, why am I here? Some worldly theories suggest we merely take up space and return to nothingness when we die. There are also those who believe we are masters of our own destiny. Both are untrue! The Lord has placed us on this earth to fulfill His divine purpose. God has a unique plan and purpose for every living thing. As Christians, we all share one common purpose: to be conformed more to Christ's likeness everyday. That process begins on earth and will be completed when we reach heaven. Most of the work the Lord does in us on this earthly journey centers on our character. He shows and reveals how to be loving, compassionate, and kind like Jesus. We might think it is hard or, at times, impossible. But the truth is, the Holy Spirit indwells us as believers and then lives the life of Christ through us. We must only submit to His guidance. We should respond to all seasons of life with one question: "How can God use this to make me more like Jesus?" Friends, the Lord is behind everything that happens to us. The Lord either directly instigates the situation or allows it to take place. All our trials and triumphs are part of God's transforming glory. They are all used to fulfill His purpose in shaping a life that will fully reflect His love and glory to a dying world. Onward and Upward! Fr. Greg+  Aim High!
We live in a world where requirements and standards are expected! High standards are usually expected in employment, membership, promotion, or status conditions. In the workplace, those standards often are measured by performance reviews. Employees will generally exceed, meet, or fail to meet performance expectations. Most leaders would tell you the number of employees who exceed is far smaller than the group who only meets or fails to meet their required standards. Today, it seems many are content to only meet minimal standards. Look at the quality of most products and services in recent years. It’s rare to find a highly-motivated workforce that is in the pursuit of Godly excellence. Friends, as Christian leaders and employees, we must ask ourselves, “Who am I striving to please?” In Paul’s letter to the Colossians, he challenged them to aim high. He encouraged them to see and perform their work as a task done for the Lord, not for man. When viewed from this perspective, our work and the things we do at work take on a whole new meaning. We must never forget; that our God is a God of excellence! Just look at the world around you and see the wonder of His glorious creation. Friends, I encourage you to serve and glorify God in your work. Strive to please and honor Him in all you do! As servant leaders and employees, commit to excellence and always aim high for God’s Glory! Onward and Upward! Fr. Greg+  See Beyond the Seed!
Whether you're a gardener or not, you've probably planted seeds. 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, "What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it (Mark 4:30)? The parable of the tiny mustard seed provides a glorious example of kingdom growth potential. Though the mustard seed was the smallest of seeds known to Jesus' listeners, what could it teach us today? Jesus then said, "yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants" our faith, like the kingdom of God, can be compared to the tiny mustard seed. Although it starts small, its growth potential is remarkable. Friends, the same growth potential God places in the tiny mustard seed exists in every believer. When you feel alone in your stand for Christ, never forget that the power of God at work in the tiny mustard seed is the same power at work in you. Never be discouraged or intimidated if your kingdom efforts seem small or insignificant. Remember, 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 than we could ever imagine or expect. So, remain faithful, and see beyond the seed! Let the SON shine upon you and keep nourishing your faith by His life-giving promises! Onward and Upward, Fr. Greg+ |