 The Fullness of Time!
Do you ever get impatient or frustrated with God? If so, you are not alone! We see a great cloud of witnesses petitioning and questioning God's timing throughout the pages of scripture. The scriptures also tell us there is an appointed time for everything under the sun. How do we know when the time is right as God's children? God demonstrated that He knows the right time for every purpose. He sent Jesus into this world at just the right time. He also has a perfect plan for each of us in this current season, and He will not act too soon or too late but in the "fullness of time." God always acts in this world and our lives when His preparations are complete and ready. We must not be impatient or lose hope! Instead, we must be "joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer" (Rom.12:12) and always trust in the Lord. Friends, never forget; that God answers prayers and provides for our needs in "the fullness of time!" Only He knows the perfect time to fulfill His divine purpose for our lives. We must also remember there is a time for us to act! When God opens the doors for us, seize those moments. When He provides the opportunity, we should sow seeds of hope from the time, talent, and treasure we have been provided to bring Him glory. "So let's not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time, we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don't give up" (Gal. 6:9). Friends, our loving God always fulfills His promises in the fullness of time! Onward and Upward! Fr. Greg+
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 The Finale Commandment!
Loving others doesn’t always come easy. We could probably all agree that some people are almost impossible to love. I once heard it said, “I love that person just enough to get into heaven,” but that is not what Jesus said. Jesus tells us that loving others is not an option; it’s an obligation! Jesus says, “As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” Jesus said these words to his disciples at the Last Supper. This command to love one another was not a new concept; it first appeared back in the book of Leviticus. But the disciples saw a whole new way to love others. Jesus taught them in and through His life and death to love others sacrificially. Jesus’ way was the way of the cross. To love sacrificially commands us to go beyond the ordinary ways of helping people. It requires that we be willing to be inconvenienced and help anyone who has a need we can meet. It requires us to be ready to share the best of what we have, not just the old “junk” we no longer want or need. It requires us to be prepared to sacrifice something we value. So did the way of the cross! Friends, that kind of sacrificial love will draw others to Jesus and Glorify God because this selfish world rarely sees it and desperately needs it. So, strive to live out the final commandment and “walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God (Eph. 5:2).” That kind of love will bless you and Glorify God! Onward and Upward! Fr. Greg+  Focus on Him!
As the world returns to a pre-pandemic pace, many of us find ourselves living like Jesus' friend Martha, who was overwhelmed by so many things. It's so easy for us to become handcuffed to our calendars and daily to-do lists and slowly lose focus on what is most important. It's easy to forget Jesus' words to Martha and find ourselves "worried and distracted by many things." There is need for one thing! Jesus revealed the "necessary thing" when he told us, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself (Luke 10:27)." Friends, it is worth taking an inventory from time to time of what is most important in life and whether our lives reflect those priorities. We might ask ourselves, "Have I chosen a life where sending one more email takes priority over spending time with my family? Have I chosen a bigger paycheck at the expense of my physical and mental wellness? Have I taken time to sit at the feet of Jesus lately?" Life has changed in the last two years; that much is certain! Whether it turns out to be a change for better or worse depends on our ability to reevaluate our priorities, make decisions, and form habits that align with what matters most. Friends, as the pace of life continues to increase, remember to plan time in God's word, focus on Him, and He will reveal what's most important! Onward and Upward! Fr. Greg+  Keep Calm and Carry On!
Do you occasionally struggle with anger? We live in a broken world where sin is rampant, injustice is commonplace, and anger rages all around us. This growing trend can also cause believers to stumble into anger and sin. Struggling economies and widespread fear often cause irritation and frustration, but they can also 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 may 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 reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him 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 wisdom and grace. A calm, gentle reply can defuse most tense situations. Without taking time to process what was said, few of us will be able to respond wisely. When we are slow to anger, we can often gain an understanding of the situation and the hidden motives that a quick-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 character must mirror his. Love and understanding must overrule our need to defend our opinions. Preserving civility must, at times, replace our need to be right. So pause, Keep Calm and Carry On; all things are possible with Jesus as our counselor, defender, and protector. Grace and Peace, Fr. Greg+  Dealing With Doubt!
Have you ever doubted God? At some point, we probably all have or will. The Apostle Thomas was dealing with doubt after the Resurrection when Jesus said these words to him in this passage. Doubt can often come creeping in when our expectations are not met. Usually, when we believe God will act a certain way and He doesn't. That is often when we begin to question His love and wonder whether He has our best interest at heart. So, how should we deal with doubt? These are some sound principles for dealing with doubt when it occurs. First: discern the actual cause of your doubt. Is your doubt being caused because God isn't behaving like you think He should? It's a huge mistake to think of God as a genie 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). Secondly: share your doubts with other mature Christians. When we are separated from others and feel alone, our doubts become more ominous. That's why it's so important to be engaged at church and not just be a spectator. We must be around other worshipers who can help us and encourage us when we stumble or falter in your faith. That is the value of being a part of a body of believers. We must never forget "iron sharpens iron" as Proverbs 27:17 tells us. Finally, always view your doubts as an opportunity to grow spiritually. James 1:3 says that "the testing of your faith produces endurance." If you respond to doubt the right way, it can strengthen your faith. Remember that our doubts never diminish God's love for us. Friends, even when doubt creeps in, or when your faith flounders and you struggle to believe, God still believes in you! "If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself" (2Tim. 2:13). Remember these promises when dealing with doubt! Easter Blessings, 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 does not, we may often experience discouragement, depression, or even despair. How can one remain hopeful in this world of constant challenge and despair? First, we must remember the reason for our confidence: our relationship with Jesus! We are reborn into a living hope in Jesus' resurrection victory as His redeemed followers. 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. Secondly, we must spend time in God's Holy Word! Romans 15:4 says the Bible was written to give us encouragement and hope. The Psalms are a good place to turn when the world presses in on you and dims your hope. The Psalms express the writers' feelings and can provide us comfort and hope when needed. 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). Dear friends, when this fallen world or our circumstances begin to overwhelm us, place your hope and 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 hope and eternal hope. Thanks be to God! Easter Blessings, Fr. Greg+  Live Like An Overcomer!
Whatever you're facing in life, or whatever is coming in your future, God has already given you the faith for it. It may not look like it, and you may not feel like you have what it takes to overcome, but faith in God isn't based on our circumstances or how we feel. The enemy would love for you to believe that you don't have a chance in life, that you're too weak, too poor, too whatever. But our God has a different view of us. As God's children, He sees us through the eyes of love. God sees us not as what we are today or even what we could be tomorrow. God sees us by what He has invested in us! Seeing ourselves the way God sees us leads to a life of overwhelming victory. Friends, this encouraging verse hinges on faith. You can't just hear that God loves you and sees you as His child. You have to believe it! It takes faith! It takes faith to move forward and overcome the challenges of this life. But faith does you no good if you don't know how to release it. As believers, we must release our faith for it to work. We release our faith through our words, through our actions, and of course, through prayer. Friends, the truth is, the One in you is greater! But it's up to you to act! So, stretch your faith today and start seeing yourself as God sees you. It doesn't matter what the enemy wants you to see or how things might look. Our feeble faith enables us to overcome through the One living in us. So, live like an overcomer! "Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ (1Cor. 15:57)." Onward and Upward! Fr. Greg+  Fighting The Good Fight!
Have you ever thought about your record of wins and losses, accomplishments and failures? Let me ask you this, what would former bosses and coworkers say about you? Are you known for being courageous and bold? Do you have a history of open willingness to change? Do you confront the unknown with confidence and expectant hope of success? Do you volunteer for challenging assignments and tasks? When your leadership team or coworkers announce some change, do you grumble, complain, or resist, or eagerly embrace it? As Christians, why do we lack understanding of the need for spiritual training as the path to becoming spiritually fit and strong? Friends, as never before, this is a time to stand up and fight! It's time to start a disciplined regiment of intense spiritual training. It's time to start a strict daily diet of God's Word, commit to fervent prayer to renew your mind and change your thinking and behavior. If we hope to win the fight of faith in the world and the workplace, we must commit ourselves to a regiment of holiness and say "No" to self. We must commit to walking in love with God and man, and we must all expect a daily fight! We must fight and win over fear, doubt, and unbelief. We must fight and win over our emotions and do what is right because it's right, even when we don't feel like it. We also must fight and win over every temptation and test the enemy puts before us. Friends, I encourage you to confess today, that all things are possible with Jesus in your corner! So, stop complaining and start reigning! Start fighting the good fight of faith today! Onward and Upward! Fr. Greg+  Be A Fervent Servant!
What are you passionate about in your life? Is your passion and enthusiasm found in serving the Lord? If not, I pray Paul's words will stir your spirit today. This verse walks us through a short, easy progression to becoming the fervent servants we are called to be. First, it says we are not to be "lacking in zeal" meaning we must not be slothful or lazy. It then says, "keep your spiritual fervor," meaning we must remain passionate and enthusiastic in serving the Lord. Friends, serving the Lord is the key! Paul is reminding us we must be fully committed to loving and serving the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. That is where we discover the secret to a joyful life full of passion and zeal! So how should we serve the Lord? Well, first the Holy Spirit must reveal our gifting to us. Paul mentions these gifts of the spirit in the preceding verses of this chapter. We must then make sure our motivation to serve is right. We serve the Lord because of His great mercies toward us. Friends, that motivation moves us not to be lazy, but remain steadfast. Serving the Lord becomes our passion and purpose, so we naturally do it fervently. We must never forget that we are here to love and serve the Lord! The endless mercies of God call us to be diligent and sincere in our service to others. As Paul said to the Galatians, "let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up (Gal 6:9). So, rejoice exceedingly and be glad, for great is our reward in heaven when we hear the words, "Well done, good and faithful servant." Friends, the mercies of God, call us to be diligent. So be a fervent servant; it's the secret to a joy-filled Christian life! Onward and Upward! Fr. Greg+  Listen To Him!
Who are you listening to for truth and guidance to help you navigate the challenges of this world? There is a cacophony of voices in our world today seeking to fill your ears and mind with information. Research shows that both animal and human newborns can recognize and connect to their mothers' smell, face, and voice soon after birth. In the animal kingdom, that intimate bond often occurs within minutes. For humans, that recognition occurs within days. That connection or bond is vital for survival and critical for a healthy, wholesome life. In the passage before us today, Jesus refers to that divine recognition of the voice of God. All Christians have a unique connection and bond as God's children. That connection and ability to hear God's voice and discern the truth has never been more critical than today. As Christians, it's comforting to know that we belong to God and that we're able to hear His voice. We are His Children, the Called and Chosen ones. We hear His voice because He spoke us into being and has shared His Word and wisdom with us. Friends, the more time you spend with God, the more you will recognize His voice and understand the words He speaks to you. Whenever I meet a Christian who says, "I just don't hear God's voice, He never speaks to me," I know I am talking to a spiritual infant right away. Like any newborn, the new believer's senses take time to develop fully. I strongly encourage them to spend time alone with God daily, in prayer, and in His Word. I assure them that they will be able to recognize His still, small voice in time. I also assure them that they will be able to discern the truth as His child. Friends, God himself enables us to recognize His voice, and He will always provide us sound instruction, correction, approval, unconditional love, and compassion. So, nourish yourselves in God's Word and listen to Him! Onward and Upward! Fr. Greg+ |