 True Discipleship
Jesus is not seeking halfhearted disciples. He explains that our love for Him should be so intense that, by comparison, all other relationships fall into second place. Jesus desires a supernatural takeover. He wants His followers to understand that He is the sovereign Lord, their ruler and master. Many attend church, listen to sermons, sing hymns, and then leave with thoughts of Jesus behind them. They might sing, "I surrender all," but it might as well be "I surrender very little; I surrender what is easy." True discipleship means giving Him everything. Friends, when we love Jesus more than anything or anyone, we find that our love for others, even our enemies, deepens. Jesus isn’t promoting hatred; He’s simply establishing God's divine order. We are to love Him above all else! He also said, "Whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple" (v. 27). Jesus meant we must die to self, daily! We must refuse to try to control our own destiny. In this way, death becomes a new way of life. Discipleship for a Christian is about aligning one’s life with Jesus. True discipleship involves recognizing that our default nature is to pursue anything but Him. It’s about choosing instead to renew our hearts, souls, and minds daily, to become more and more conformed to His likeness! Onward and Upward+ Fr. Greg
0 Comments
 Soul Rest
Today, millions of people will be off work celebrating Labor Day. Countless souls will seek rest through recreation and other activities as the long summer days get shorter. Where do you find rest for your weary soul? Where do you find rest from the labor and toils in your life? Jesus says, "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." The simplicity of Jesus's promise is both striking and refreshing. Unlike anything or anyone else in history, Jesus alone offers himself as the solution to our weary souls. What does come to Jesus mean? The meaning is revealed in Jesus' rebuke of those who witnessed His miracles yet refused to believe and follow Him. When Jesus says, "Come to me," he is saying, "Believe in who I claim to be and what I alone can do for you." That’s where our weary souls are tested before they can be rested. Saint Augustine once said: "You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in you". Friends, we must believe in Jesus and trust him! He doesn't provide us with details, but he does promise us the rest that we seek. So come to Jesus and find soul rest from your labors today and every day! Happy Labor Day! Fr. Greg  Strive to Arrive!
While traveling to Jerusalem, a person asked Jesus a simple question: “Lord, will those who are saved be few?” I imagine that person expected a clear answer, but Jesus focused on those who were listening. He wanted them to examine their lives. He began by emphasizing that they should focus on entering “through the narrow door.” Jesus’ words revealed that they could choose, but they should concentrate on the narrow doorway that pleases God. He stressed they must “strive to enter through the narrow door,” using a word that suggests a struggle. He said many “will seek to enter and will not be able.” Friends, once the master closes the door, it remains shut. He will only open it for those whose lives are right in His sight. In this sobering analogy, the people knocking on the door were shocked by the owner’s response. They reminded the master of the house of their lives and accomplishments. But he told them they had fallen short: “I tell you, I do not know where you are from.” Disqualified and rejected, they were told: “Depart from me, all you evildoers.” We must remember how easy it is to make wrong choices and assumptions. Make sure that you seek the narrow door and ensure your life is right with God, so He will open it. We must strive to arrive on the other side! Onward and Upward+ Fr. Greg  Perseverance
We can all agree that running a marathon is a good analogy for the Christian life. The race God has set before us can sometimes feel like a long, uphill climb, where each step and mile becomes more difficult. It's important to remember that this is a marathon, not a sprint; it won't finish in just a few minutes. The Christian life is a continuous spiritual test of perseverance from the cradle to the grave. We are called to shed anything heavy that can slow us down while running well, often meaning we must let go of sin, which acts as heavy baggage weighing us down. Friends, let’s be honest: it's easy to get discouraged and frustrated when the finish line seems far away and out of sight. As spiritual runners, we must keep our eyes focused on the road ahead. If we start to feel discouraged and look elsewhere, we slow down and doubt our ability to finish. Only by keeping our hearts and minds focused on Jesus can we remain determined. As believers, we are encouraged to “run with perseverance, fixing our eyes on Jesus.” Whenever we feel discouraged or frustrated and we want to give up, it's crucial to fix our eyes on Jesus. We must keep our eyes on the prize! Jesus will give us all the strength we need to faithfully complete the race before us. Onward and Upward+ Fr. Greg  Stay Alert
Remaining spiritually alert in a world full of distractions becomes more challenging each day. It's easy to get caught up in the daily grind and lose spiritual focus. We’ve all experienced moments of distraction, much like distracted drivers who fail to notice their surroundings. Sometimes, we need to hit the brakes suddenly to avoid an accident, often because we weren’t paying attention. Just as driving while distracted is dangerous, living out our faith without focus is equally risky. Our enemy prowls around looking to destroy us, so we must remain spiritually alert to prevent him from sneaking up on us. Friends, it’s important to pay attention to what’s happening around us. Stand firm in your faith with courage; resist the enemy, and he will flee. Remember, you are a child of God and have the authority given by Jesus to overcome any challenge! Consider the work God is doing in the lives of those around you. What assignments does God have for you? We must never forget that the enemy wants to disrupt both our lives and the lives of others. Pray for your family, friends, pastors, and the work you are involved in daily. Boldly ask God for the courage to stand against the enemy and resist him. Your spiritual alertness could make the difference between eternal life for you or someone else. Onward and Upward+ Fr. Greg  Guard Against Greed Do you struggle with greed or covetousness? The dictionary defines greed as “an excessive desire to acquire or possess more than what one needs or deserves, especially concerning material wealth.” Today's passage reminds us to examine how we manage our time, talent, and treasure. When we hoard our time, possessions, or wealth instead of using them to help others, we are living contrary to the Gospel. God doesn’t want to restrict us from possessions in this world; however, He does demand that our lives and possessions ultimately lead us closer to Him. Friends, while the Bible clearly warns us against greed and covetousness, it also encourages frugality and thriftiness. After feeding the multitudes, Jesus instructed His disciples, “Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.” Even though Jesus had the power to create anything, He lived frugally and without luxury. John Wesley had a great philosophy regarding money: “Make all you can; keep all you can; and give all you can.” Sadly, most people tend to get all they can, spend all they can, borrow all they can, and then give meagerly to the Lord. We must strive to be cheerful givers, remembering that only what’s done for the Kingdom will last forever. As martyr Jim Elliot wrote, "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep, to gain what he cannot lose." Onward and Upward+ Fr. Greg  Divine Focus
It’s easy to become chained to our calendars and daily to-do lists, slowly losing focus on what truly matters. We can easily forget Jesus' words to Martha, becoming “anxious and troubled about many things.” Jesus emphasized that there is only one necessary thing! He made this "necessary thing" clear when He said earlier in Luke's Gospel, “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's wise to periodically assess what is most important in our lives and whether our actions reflect those priorities. We must occasionally ask ourselves: “Have I allowed one more email to take precedence over spending time with my family? Have I prioritized a bigger paycheck at the expense of my physical and mental well-being? Have I taken the time to sit at Jesus' feet lately? Have I spent time in God’s Holy Word lately?” As the pace of life continues to quicken year after year, remember to make time for God's Word, focus on Him, and He will reveal what's necessary. Onward and Upward + Fr. Greg  Defeating Anxiety
Do you struggle with anxiety? Many people do! Anxiety is defined as a feeling of worry, nervousness, or uneasiness, typically about an imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome. It’s important to distinguish between concern and anxiety. While it’s normal to feel concerned from time to time, concern can motivate us to act and pursue positive changes; anxiety is the opposite. Anxiety is often negative and counterproductive, causing us to dwell on the past instead of looking ahead. Concern encourages us to trust in God and seek His purpose and plan, while anxiety often leaves us paralyzed. Friends, it's not God's desire for us to be controlled by our worries. While He may allow difficulties to deepen our faith and help us change negative habits or attitudes, He doesn’t want us to live in anxiety. The choice always lies with us. We will be confronted by unsettling events, and experiencing emotional reactions is a normal response. However, as God's children, we shouldn’t remain in that state. Instead of succumbing to anxiety, the health response is to pray. "Lord, I lay my problems at Your feet, show me how to respond! Reveal Your love, wisdom, and power." Prayer and petition are pathways to peace and freedom from anxiety. While prayer may not always change the situation, it will change us. So, pray, and then leave it at God's feet! Grace and Peace Fr. Greg  Cultivating Kindness
Would you consider yourself a kind person? God's message is clear: He calls us to be kind to one another. Kindness requires compassion and forgiveness. Kindness is love in action! It’s only through understanding the joys and sorrows of others that we create space for love to heal wounds. Holding grudges weighs us down and blocks the freedom that comes from extending forgiveness. By following Jesus's example, we can break the chains of bitterness and embrace the liberating power of love. Friends, every day we encounter countless opportunities to cultivate small acts of kindness. A smile can brighten someone's day, a listening ear can ease someone's burden, and a word of encouragement can lift someone's spirit. These simple acts of kindness can transform hearts and foster loving relationships. Let us not forget that we are called to love others as God loves us. His perfect love is unconditional, extravagant, and all-consuming. Today, may the words of this passage be our guiding light, reminding us to cultivate a conspiracy of kindness daily. Onward and Upward+ Fr. Greg  Sheep Among Wolves!
Most people struggle when faced with opposition or rejection. As Christians, we should anticipate occasional rejection. After reminding us that not everyone will accept the Good News, Jesus warned His disciples—and us—about the harshness of such rejection. Some will respond benignly by ignoring us and our message, while others will harbor hostile and vengeful attitudes toward the Good News and those who share it. Jesus cautions us that we will be like sheep among wolves. Friends, as Christians equipped and empowered by the Holy Spirit, we need to be strategic and wise in our approach. We must not allow opposition to surprise or discourage us. When we are harassed, criticized, or challenged, we should model Christ’s character by demonstrating patience, peace, and integrity. Even Saint Peter, known for his temper and rashness, eventually learned to embody these qualities. He wrote, "Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then, even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior and give honor to God when He judges the world" (1 Peter 2:12). We must be fearless, but not foolish! Remember, the world is watching us, so "be wise as serpents and as innocent as doves." Onward and Upward+ Fr. Greg |