Growin' Up Gregory

Each week during our Experiencing God study we are memorizing one verse.  The first week's verse is pictured above.  I want to really look into it and see how it applies to my life and possibly yours. Jesus is talking here as He tells us that He is the vine.  For plants, that is the source of their nutrients and their lifeline.  Just as the vines of a plant sustain the branches, the same is true for us.  Our ability to live and thrive comes from the vine, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  In the study, Blackaby writes, "Real Christianity is not merely a religion; it is a relationship with a Person."  The remaining, or abiding in some translations, means to stay around.  And for you to stay you must already be at your destination.  In this case, in order to remain in Christ, we must have already accepted salvation. The fruits that we bear are the fruits of the spirit; love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  Th

Our pastor has started the Experiencing God Bible Study at our church on Monday nights and though I'm only two days into it, I can see the potential that this study has.  I plan to share the most meaningful points form each day or week as I'm able here.  In our walk with the Lord, do we typically ask Him his will by saying What, When, How, Where, Who, and What will the outcome be?  Or do we trust Him enough to say "You go with me, tell me what to do one step at a time, I will do it"?  I have to be honest here and say that I fall into that first category more often than not.  As Brittnee and I put our house up for sale and make plans for the future about where to live, what size house to have, careers, and the things we want to do for Thomas (and other children if we decide), I've found myself asking God what's the outcome, what will the end be?  And in asking that I realize the weaknesses and gaps in my question.  I'm actually saying to God that if you

"For my life is spent with sorry, and my years with sighing; my strength fails because of my iniquity; and my bones waste away.  Because of all my adversaries I have become a reproach, especially to my neighbors, and an object of dread to my acquaintances; those who see me in the street flee from me." - Psalm 31:10-11 What powerful words here from David.  His life has become consumed with sorrow to the point that he feels his body is physically failing him.  On top of that, his friends and family have deserted him as well.  When pain and sorrow are so severe they begin to impact you physically it's not an easy situation to handle.  I remember clearly the day my grandmother passed.  There were honestly times when people came by to talk that day and we would be standing and I had to sit down because I felt all my strength leaving me.  I never felt as emotionally drained and worn down as I did that night.  Fortunately, I didn't have to deal with it alone as David did

Someone shared a devotion by Oswald Chambers this week that talked about how we all typically imagine that we would be able to handle any major crisis that could come up in our lives.  But the truth of the matter is that a major crisis only reveals what we are made of, it does not make us into something.  The phrase Chamber used was "If God gives the call, of course I will rise to the occasion."  Well it's not quite that simple.  How can you rise to the occasion if you're not prepared for the moment?  The greatest athletes don't just show up on game day.  Sometimes we see names we've never heard of come out and make big plays but I can assure you that it is not those guys' first time on the field.  They have put in years of training and practice to prepare for a shot at making a play or making a team.  The same is true in our Christian walk.  If we're not putting in time on the practice field, which may be your desk, a study, the dining room table, or

I try to live my life in such a way that people see that I have good life that has been blessed by God.  Yes, at times I'm stressed and when I get so many things going on at once, and that often shows but it's just tough to be pulled in multiple directions and not have some wear and tear from it.  The Bible does not teach us that our lives as a Christian will be easy, quite the contrary.  So when we are faced with trials and junk in our lives, how do we deal with it?  1 Peter 4:12-19 gives us a guide on how to handle hard times. 1.  We should expect persecution.  V. 12 tells us "do not be surprised at the fiery trial".  We cannot live our lives in fear every moment but we are being warned that at times bad things will happen in life.  We won't always have the answers but we need to be preparing ourselves daily for potential attack because we don't know when it's coming.  That is done through Bible study and prayer. 2.  We should rejoice in persecution.

Many of you may know the children's song "I Have Decided to Follow Jesus."  If not, it has a couple lines that read "I have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back, no turning back."  And if you'd like to listen to the song the link is below (I think): https://youtu.be/S8jvfdDtoqY In 1 Kings 19:19-21 we read the story of Elisha being called to follow Elijah.  When Elisha received the call he fully committed himself to following.  After having a farewell banquet, or modern day going away party, he slaughtered his oxen, burned his yokes, and plowing equipment.  Elisha made it nearly impossible for himself to turn back as he gave up his previous life and occupation of farming by destroying all those things to follow the call.  This was his public commitment that he was going to follow the prophet Elijah. I think sometimes we take the commitment to follow Jesus lightly and think that just saying it will sound good to others and make us feel better about ou

"Behold, I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me." - Revelation 3:20 Isn't it awesome that Jesus just knocks on the door.  He could have come in with a bang making a grand entrance kicking the door in.  Or He could have simply walked straight thru the door as a spirit.  But instead He knocks, giving us the option to invite Him in. Have you invited Jesus into your life?  If you haven't, consider doing so today.  You don't have to, it is a choice.  But the benefits of accepting Him as Lord and Savior are so amazing that I assure you, you will never regret it.