 Triumph Over Temptation!
Are you struggling with temptation as we begin this first week of Lent? Let’s be honest, we all face temptations from time to time. The world, the flesh and the devil tempt us daily. We must learn to claim God’s promises to triumph over our temptations. Many say, “I couldn't help myself; the temptation was too strong.” However, when we say this, we are essentially calling God a liar! God's Word assures us that He will always provide a way to escape temptation. This escape may not be easy; it might be painful or even embarrassing, but God promises a way out. Friends, when faced with temptation, we should first reach for our weapons! Our primary weapon, just as it was for Jesus in the wilderness, is the truth found in God's word. Truth is our antidote to temptation! As Joshua teaches us, “Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful” (Joshua 1:8). Satan isn’t intimidated by our opinions, but he is terrified by the truth. He knows that God’s Word is sharper than any two-edged sword and provides a means of escape. So, arm yourself with the truth found in God’s Word; it is our greatest weapon to triumph over temptation! Have a Blessed and Holy Lent+ Fr. Greg
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 Early Will I Seek You!
Let’s admit how we spend our time reveals what’s most important to us. It has never been easier to fill your life with things other than God, than today. They may even be good things, but they are not God, and He alone can satisfy our souls. Many seek people, places, and things to find peace, purpose, and contentment. Many may give God an hour on Sunday, but He isn’t the center of their lives; others are. All relationships are a blessing from God, but they can’t fill that God-shaped hole in our hearts. He alone can fill that void, and David knew it. Friends, this psalm is a beautiful prayer that reveals David’s priority and passion for God. Seeking after God means personally prioritizing your time for Him. There is no better way to start your day than in a prayerful conversation with the Lord. Our faith is not just a matter of our heads but our hearts. Examine and reflect on your priorities! When we think of all the things the Lord has done for us, it should move us to seek Him emotionally and earnestly. Reflecting on God’s unfailing love and faithfulness should motivate us to seek Him early and seek him often despite our faults and failures. Make today the day you renew and prioritize your commitment to the Lord. Onward and Upward+ Fr. Greg  Living By THE Rule!
Let's face it: there is no shortage of moralistic advice around us today. Even the Golden Rule is often misused and misquoted. We frequently hear, “Whatever you wish others would do for you, do also for them.” But that’s not what Jesus said. That version removes God from the picture, making Jesus’s teaching a Godless rule for good people. The Golden Rule goes much deeper, and it stretches up to heaven. It’s a God-centered Rule for His spirit-filled people. Jesus’s teaching requires far more effort, provides deeper motivation, and is intended for His follower's spiritual impact in our world. Friends, many world religions have taught a version of the Golden Rule, such as "Don’t do to others what you don’t want them to do to you.” The problem is that rule can be obeyed by doing nothing. Jesus’s command is far more demanding. It requires radical action and unconditional love toward others. If we focus on God in the Golden Rule, we find it’s not moral counsel intended to improve us. It’s a radical way of living that can only be followed by those who have experienced the profound generosity of God’s mercy through the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit. As we live into and model The Golden Rule, may our Godly example draw others into a saving knowledge of Christ Jesus. Onward and Upward+ Fr. Greg  Willing Obedience!
Discouragement can come in many forms, but often, Satan is the instigator. He wants us to focus on negative things instead of God. The enemy's favorite form of spiritual discouragement is the idea that we can’t fully please God. If you were to compile a list of what you thought you must do to please God, how long would your list be? We might be inclined to draft a long list that would be impossible to accomplish. That is the enemy's hope! What most pleases the Lord is our obedience, not our checklist. Friends, another common source of our discouragement is unanswered prayer. Let's face it: God often doesn’t answer prayer the way we want or with the timing we prefer. When that occurs, we might be inclined to relinquish our prayers or even the Lord Himself. The next time you feel disheartened or discouraged, redirect your focus to God and pray aloud: Thank Him for being with you through your past discouragements. Admit He’s in control, and then acknowledge that He loves you and works all things for your good, even if they haven't yet been revealed. Never forget, His ways are always better than our ways! Onward and Upward+ Fr. Greg  Inseparable Love
Are you currently struggling with sorrow, hardship, or loss? If so, the words in this passage can offer you encouragement and hope! They can help keep you steady in life's challenges, reassure you when you feel weary, and comfort you when you are suffering. Saint Paul understood that we would all sometimes feel as though God had abandoned us during our most challenging times. He reminds us numerous times in scripture and clearly states in these verses that nothing or no one can ever separate us from the love of God. Friends, scripture makes it clear that we will all experience difficulties, sorrows, and losses, but that doesn’t mean God has abandoned us or no longer loves us. So, how can we be confident in God's inseparable love when we are tempted to doubt? Saint Paul's words in these verses provide the answer: God's enduring love for us is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord! God demonstrated His unconditional love by sending Jesus to die for us while we were still sinners. We must look to the cross when we doubt God's love for us. There, we see His love poured out for us! His love encourages and empowers us to live boldly for the sake of His Kingdom. We must never forget God’s promises: His love endures forever, and His mercies are renewed each morning. Onward and Upward+ Fr. Greg  Be Comforted
Are you grieving today? Grief is something we all know too well. Each of us has faced the painful experience of saying goodbye to a loved one. You may have shed tears at the funeral of a parent, your spouse or endured the unimaginable heartache of burying a child. That journey through the valley of the shadow of death could have happened last week or years ago, but the ache often lingers. Unfortunately, many don’t know how to support those grieving. Well-meaning individuals often try to minimize pain with trite phrases or empty words. Jesus reminds us denying our pain provides little comfort. Friends, In God’s Kingdom, mourning reminds us of the comfort we can receive in times of need. When faced with the reality of death, "Jesus wept" (John 11). He mourned, and He grieves with us in our losses—whether it’s the loss of a spouse, child, or another loved one. Jesus stands beside us in our pain and sheds His tears with us. He came not only to weep with us but to redeem us. Our Savior faced death, submitted to it, and conquered it. Jesus' victory over death and the grave gives us hope; He is our living hope! We are assured that one day, we will inhabit a world free of grief, mourning, and death. Knowing Jesus has triumphed over death provides us comfort in our grief. Thanks be to God! Onward and Upward+ Fr. Greg Lord, amid the pain of our recent tragedies, grant us strength to endure each day, and remind us daily that Your power is made perfect in our weakness. Help us to lean on You and to trust in Your grace to sustain us each new day. Help us believe in Your power to bring restoration and beauty amid our fears and tears. Amen +  Peace and Contentment
Are you feeling overwhelmed by some situation or circumstance today? Are your emotions causing you to question the reliability of God's Word? If these questions resonate with you, take a moment to reflect on Paul's testimony. He discovered the profound secret of finding contentment in all things, regardless of his circumstances. This secret lies in uncovering a deep sense of peace that remains untouched by external factors. Each day and every new challenge allows us to choose a response. We can intentionally select joy over sadness, acceptance over anger, and courage over fear. Reflecting on my spiritual journey, I remember the years I spent allowing my circumstances and emotions to dictate my actions. Thankfully, the Holy Spirit opened my eyes to the truth that I could anchor myself in God's Word and find peace and steadfast faith. I learned to ask myself, "Lord, what are You trying to teach me through this?" During trials and challenges, I learned to trust God's promises. I encourage you to learn to trust the Lord in all your circumstances, good or bad. Remain firmly rooted in His Word for wisdom and direction. All believers can experience the same peace and contentment Paul knew, which surpasses all understanding. Onward and Upward, Fr. Greg  Start With Your Heart
As we celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. King this week, we recognize that there is still much work to be done. The truth is that prejudice, particularly racial prejudice, may be one of 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 daily, most people will deny having any prejudice. We must all take a personal inventory and 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 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 from within. As Christians and God’s new creations, we 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 appearances. We can then discover new commonalities based on the power of His love, which transcends all things. Friends, change always begins within, and it starts in our hearts! Onward and Upward+ Fr. Greg  Wait For It
Do you ever struggle with patience? More specifically, do you find it difficult to trust God to work things out in His timing rather than your own? This is a challenge I occasionally face in my life. That’s why I love the verse before us today. Here, God reminds us that if it seems like things are moving slowly, we should “wait for it; "it will surely come; it will not delay." There’s so much depth in the words: "if it seems slow," they indicate there will be times when we feel things are moving at a snail's pace. We may wonder, "Why is this taking so long?" Friends, let’s never forget that only God knows the perfect time to fulfill His divine plan and purpose for our lives. We must also remember that there are moments when we need to take action. When God opens doors for us, we should seize those opportunities. When He provides divine opportunity, we should sow seeds of hope using the time, talent, and treasures we've been given to bring Him glory. God always fulfills His perfect plans and promises in the fullness of time! While waiting, remember God is working in us, around us, and through us. So, trust in the Lord and “wait for it; it will surely come.” Onward and Upward+ Fr. Greg  Worthy of Worship
Everyone seems to worship something or someone. The question is not whether we worship but what or whom we choose to worship. It could be fame or fortune, power or prestige, a person or a purpose. It may be something we believe is more significant than ourselves—something that brings us hope, peace, joy, love, and satisfaction. Our desire to worship reveals our deep need for the one who created us, who is above and beyond us yet loves and cares for us. The Psalmist wrote, “Come, let us bow down in worship; let us kneel before the LORD our Maker.” He urges us to recognize and humbly offer praise to our Creator God. Once we acknowledge God as our Creator, we can understand Him as the source of all we have and will ever have. Then, our worship becomes centered on Him rather than on created things. Worship involves submitting our lives to God and recognizing His grace and holiness with awe and adoration for all He does for us. Friends, wise men still seek Jesus; wise men still bow before Him and worship Him! As you move into the new year, bow down and thank our maker, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords! Happy Epiphany Fr. Greg |