Growin' Up Gregory

I recently finished reading "Praying Circles Around Your Marriage" by Joel & Nina Schmidgall.  I heard them on a podcast talking about the book and knew that my marriage was something I wanted to focus on improving in 2020 and years to come so I did exactly what I ask my wife not to do - I got online and made an impulse buy.  Wait, it gets even better - I got two books for the price of two because they had a bundle special!  I probably would have fussed at her (see the reason for needing the book) for buying something on a whim like this but I'm trusting that the return on investment will be worth it...and I saved by doing the bundle LOL! Anyway, before I bore everyone, let me share a little about the book so you can decide for yourself if you should go get you a copy.  They offer seven 'circles' you can surround your marriage with to make you a better spouse, couple, and family (if that happens too).   P.S. - If you're dating, engaged, married, o...

No, I didn't let one of the kids title this post.  That's "Happy Thanksgiving!" backwards, unless I made a mistake that obviously spellcheck couldn't pick up on.  If you grew up in church, and possibly even if you didn't, you have likely heard these few verses numerous times throughout the year and especially around Thanksgiving: "Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in everything; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." - 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 While I truly believe that our actions (outside) come from our heart (inside), sometimes we have to train our heart how to feel and subsequently act.  If we simply turn these verses around and work from 18 to 16, would that have a different impact?  Let's see... Give thanks in everything . This does not mean that we are thankful for everything, rather that we are thankful in everything.  As children (immature beings), most of us were taught to express thanks for items we...

This week's session on prayer is focused on what is a favorite topic for most of us - ourselves.  While it is important to pray to honor God, for His kingdom, and seeking His will, part of the Model Prayer has a line where we pray for our personal daily needs.  But part of discerning what those needs should be is in seeking God's will first so that we can better understand our true needs. One such story of a prayer like this is found in Isaiah 38.  The prophet Isaiah delivered the news to King Hezekiah that he was dying and had only a short time to live.  Hezekiah did what many of us would do, immediately turned to God in prayer.  Why?  Because he wanted to live!  And he understood that the greatest need any of us have is for life itself. And look at how God answered Hezekiah's prayers - Isaiah received a word from the Lord to tell the king, "I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears.  Look, I am going to add fifteen years to your life....

Many of us (and with literally billions of users, don't act like you're not in this group) use social media on a regular basis to post, look at, or like pictures of ourselves, our friends, our pets, our kids, or any random object we find amusing at the moment.  With the movement of posting pictures of oneself becoming so popular that we've even gotten a new word from it, selfie.  But how does this selfie mentality fit into one's Christian walk?  One writer shared this, "The scene of someone being on their knees before God may be one of the only selfies that can convey humility." It's hard to only talk about me, me, me, and still be focused on God, God, God.  Shifting away from this selfie culture toward surrendering to God's will is necessary for spiritual growth.  We rarely think of the word surrender in any positive light.  But when it comes to surrendering to God's will in our life, it is vital. The Point:  Approach prayer with humble ...

This week in our Sunday school class, I asked the question:  "What's a name you associate with greatness?"  Instantly, one young guy responds, LeBron!  You can tell he's younger because even my much younger (brownie points!) wife spoke up and said that when she thinks of 23, she thinks of Michael Jordan.  We stopped the debate there in the interest of getting into the lesson as well as not starting an argument in church. While we all likely have different names that we associate with greatness, we all recognize the importance of having an honorable name.  "Without question, one name above all others deserves honor:  the name of God.  Jesus taught us to honor the name of God when we pray." The Point:  Our prayers are driven by the desire to honor God. This week's primary verse was Matthew 6:9b, "Hallowed be your name," as well as Psalm 96:1-9. Part 1 - Praise thru Proclamation In the Model Prayer, Jesus directs us to place praise at t...

In our College & Career Sunday school class this week, we started a series titled, "How to Pray."  I plan to try to and share the lessons each week in case anyone wants to follow along with us here...or you can come join us Sunday mornings at Tabernacle at 10 AM in room 218. Any good speaker, teacher, or presenter knows that the #1 rule of public speaking is to know your audience.  You don't want to prepare a discussion about retirement for preschoolers and a presentation themed with Disney princesses most likely wouldn't spark the interest of a group of businessmen.  In order for someone to prepare a dynamic and engaging presentation, they must know their audience, who they're preparing to talk to. The same is true in our prayer life.  The Point of this week's study is: "A right view of God fuels how we pray."  The conversations we engage in with our friends about are often focused on topics that interest them: their favorite team, favorite ...

1 Peter 4:10-11 - "Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve others, as good stewards of the varied grace of God.  If anyone speaks, let it be as one who speaks God's word; if anyone serves, let it be from the strength God provides, so that God may be glorified through Jesus Christ in everything.  To him be the glory and the power forever and ever.  Amen." God gives His children spiritual gifts, not for our sake, but for the sake of building up others.  He has given us all various gifts that we need in our services for Him.  Peter calls on each of us to be good stewards of the spiritual gifts that we have been given.  As a steward, we know that our duty is to manage the concerns of someone else.  That is to say that believers offer God service from the gifts that He has given to us.  We are stewards of His provision, not owners.  Those who spoke were to recognize that they were representing God's words and not their own opinions...

Part 1 of Showing Hospitality was shared yesterday if you want to read it first.  Otherwise, jump on in here. 1 Peter 4:8-9 - "Above all, maintain constant love for one another, since love covers a multitude of sins.  Be hospitable to one another without complaining." Love is not a feeling; it's a deep commitment for another's good that is shown through action.  The word translated "love" designates a decision of the will rather than an emotion.  Biblical love is often characterized by self-denying commitment.  Love covers a multitude of sins because of its readiness to forgive and its ability to breakdown walls of hostility and bring reconciliation. Like love (our highest command) hospitality is not a suggestion.  The above verse reads, "Be hospitable to one another."  It didn't offer an option of when convenient, when you feel like, when you want to - we are commanded to show hospitality.  But hospitality is more than a few simple acts,...

The City of Union is affectionately known as "The City of Hospitality."  But what does being hospitable really look like?  Hospitality is nothing new, and being hospitable is certainly a spiritual characteristic - actually a command that Christians must embrace as we welcome those coming to faith in Christ.  Our graciousness and hospitality to those outside our circle is what attracts people to the gospel that we profess.  So what does all this mean?  "Ground your service and love in hospitality." 1 Peter 4:7 - "The end of all things is near; therefore, be alert and sober-minded for prayer." First, let's look at where Peter is coming from with his declaration that "the end of all things is near" so that no one has the idea that he was some sort of crazy end times prophet kind of guy and to protect his credibility since he wrote this letter nearly 2,000 years ago.  Peter shared later in his writings (2 Peter 3:8) that the Lord's timeta...

I have made many mistakes in my life.  I have gotten a lot of things wrong, missed opportunities, missed chances, made bad choices, and done harmful and hurtful things.  But tonight, I saw fruit of at least something I'm getting right in this life. Each night, when I take Thomas to bed, we read a short Bible story and then after lights out we say our prayers.  I usually say the "first one" where I pray a typical adult prayer thanking God for what He's given us and asking Him to be with those we love.  And then Thomas will finish it up by saying his "second one" which will have a familiar ring to many: "Now I lay me down to sleep.  I pray the Lord my soul to keep.  If I should die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take." But tonight he told me that he had a different one.  I'm slightly fearful at this point given his mouth sometimes but at least no one in public will hear it lol.  He then proceeds to talk to God.  Let that...

I recently did something that I never thought would happen...or at least not any time soon.  I cut my workout days back from 5 days per week to 4.  Now I know for some people who aren't as into working out as I am, that doesn't sound like a big deal.  But excluding vacations and days to rest before races, I have honestly worked out at 5AM (or earlier) almost every weekday since February 2010.  My fitness and training was, and probably still is, an addiction.  And I honestly wasn't sure how I would handle not training that one day of the week.  I assumed that I would be sluggish, that it would mean I was lazy, and that I would instantly get weaker and fatter.  But none of that happened.  Actually, I feel more refreshed throughout the entire week and haven't noticed any drastic changes in my strength or size so far.   For someone who had always lived by the mantra that the more effort and work you put in, the more results you will get ...

Most of my close friends and family, especially my wife, are well aware that one of the words I'm not very good at saying to others is "No."  I have a tendency to make every effort possible to be everywhere and do everything that is asked of me.  Sadly, that is often at their expense because of the stress and pressure I put on myself to perform to an extremely high standard.  I don't know why that is, but I am working on it.  And oddly enough, today was one of those days that I officially unofficially said "No" to something that I had wanted for the past 18 months by allowing the deadline to pass by. In Fall 2016, as the presidential race heated up and politics in general took center stage, I began to pay a lot more attention to politics and our elected officials.  I began to read up on who they are, listened to what they were saying, and watched how they interacted with others.  I began studying up on politics in general to learn what impact certain posi...

I read a good article this morning titled, "Why Pray if God is in Control?" There were several good points but the closing line sums it up.  Michael Horton once said, "People ask me, 'Why pray if God is sovereign?' I respond, 'Why pray if He isn't?'" Sometimes we neglect prayer feeling like it won't do much, won't give us the answers we need, or we won't see the results we desire.  But we need to remember that prayer does change things.  It's an active tool calling out to the Creator.  Prayer may not always change what God has determined to happen, but it will strengthen our faith in Him, and that's always a good thing. I meet with someone most Thursdays to pray.  I've gotten there before in the midst of a stressful day and a million things going on.  But I can't tell you how much those few minutes of quiet time, of tuning out all the junk of the world help me weekly to focus on prayin...

Tonight, after a long, busy, hectic week, we all went to bed out of routine and a little later than normal.  Britt put Aubree down and Thomas was watching a cartoon until it went off.  Then he joined me in the recliner while I was watching some crime show.  That's when something special happened. I put Thomas to bed each night and we lay down and fall asleep together.  But tonight, for the first time in I don't know how long, he fell asleep laying in my arms.  I wasn't sure if he was totally out or not until I got up because he just went to sleep so calmly, so relaxed, and so peaceful.  As I made my way to bed, my mind was flooded with thoughts. I began to wonder, when was the last time I took a nap in my parents' arms?  Did either of us know that would be the last time?  How happy were each of us in that moment?  What would we have done differently if we knew?  As parents, we yearn to see our children grow up, be successful, be happy...

It seems like for the past few weeks all we've heard about has been storms.  The United States has been hit hard by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma and meteorologists are currently watching Jose to see what it's going to do.  These storms have caused many deaths and a tremendous amount of damage.  People have been glued to computers, phones, and the news to check on the both the anticipated track of these storms and the aftermath that they have left behind.  These storms are somewhat like our lives as it has been said that there are two kinds of people in this world; those in a storm, and those heading into a storm. In Exodus 2:23-25, there was a group of people, the Israelites, who had been being oppressed by the Egyptian king for many days.  When he died, they groaned and cried out for help.  Their cry to help came up to God.  And He heard their groaning and remembered his promise to them. Why were the Israelites, God's chosen people, being left to l...