Greg's Thoughts

"Maturity"

Mon, 14 May 2012 19:04:00 GMT

I was recently in Ft Myers, FL ministering with Paul and the Lord really did incredible things while we were there. The atmosphere was charged with the tangible sense of His presence. Waves of worship moved to and fro all around us as we praised and sang to the Lord. It was quite a sight to see.

During our worship time on Saturday of that weekend, we were called upon to go throughout the crowd of people that had been called forward for prayer. We were to lay hands on them and agree with them for God's answer to their needs. I noticed that I ha not particularly heard the Lord over each person as I prayed for each one. I was searching and listening for instruction as I walked, but none was specifically given. Part of me wondered why, while another part of me was completely content.

Then I had a revelation.

It seems to me that as we grow in the Lord, the pattern of communication changes. When I first came I the Lord in 1984, He would speak to me so clearly and frequently. But I have noticed that as I've grown in Him, He doesn't speak as often regarding to others, or even personally. The one constant is that His love for me hasn't changes at all, but His expectation of me has.

The older we become in the Lord, the more He requires deeper, more confident faith on our end. We've walked long enough with Him to know His heart, His motives, His intentions, an His purpose for our success in life. These are foundations upon which we build our experiences with Him.

I have noticed this dynamic in marriage. When we first meet our spouse, we are in a constant state of discovery of them. We are learning how they communicate, how they process things, what makes them who they are interpersonally. The longer we grow with them, the less we need to figure out. We have been with them so long that we can "finish each others thoughts" as the saying goes. The same occurs between us and the Lord. The more we grow in Him, the less we need to understand from a foundational standpoint, what and why He does what He does. We have grown to a level of certainty the end result of the occurrences in our lives. We may not understand the process, but we do understand the purpose.

Perhaps you are going through a time of growth and refinement right now and you don't understand what is going on. Perhaps you've sought God and it seems like the heavens are closed and your prayers appear to stop at the ceiling. I submit to you that perhaps the Lord is silent because you really do know the final outcome of His purpose for your situation. He knows that you've walked with Him long enough to take comfort in His motive regarding your life (Jer. 29:11/Jer. 31:3/3 John 2). And if you know Then end result of His purpose for you, perhaps He expects you to simply trust in the thick of the process. Remember what Jesus said regarding Lazarus in John 11:4? ?This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.? In like fashion the process of growth is "not into death" even if it "feels" like it is, but for the glory of God AND for your good.

So cling to the confidence you have in the heart of God toward you. Rest in that, knowing that even though He seems silent, He isn't. Even though it feels like He's far away, He isn't. Even though it feels like He's simply watching you go through without working on your behalf, He isn't. Why? Because He promised, and He NEVER breaks a promise.

He has been, is, and will always be FAITHFUL.

He loves YOU.

Go THROUGH!

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 05:13:00 GMT

There is a favorite song I have that was written by my friend and brother Ron Kenoly which says, "If you catch hell, don't hold it. And if you're going through hell, don't stop!" Catchy, isn't it? Yes, catchy, but true. Many times when we face difficult and challenging times, the enemy tries his best to get us focused more on the difficulty than the promise of victory from the Lord. He loads us with discouragement and tries to dishearten us continuously. And because we become weary in the fight, many times he succeeds in getting us so focused on our pain that we just settle for the situation as it is. And if we give up and stop fighting the battle set before us, we trade Jesus' peace for the devil's chaos. That is NOT God's plan, nor His desire. One of the devil's most powerful weapons is that of persuasion. If he can persuade us into thinking a certain way, his way, he snares us. But if we hold on tightly to what we have believed even in the midst of struggles, we WILL come out on the other side standing stronger and taller than we did when we went into it. God has called us to be effective vessels of His glory and it behooves us to be fully convinced of who we are and Who's we are on a continual basis. Remember Daniel 11:32 "...the people who KNOW THEIR GOD will be strong and do great exploits." Pressing in to know the Lord daily will cause us to stand up in that reality and fortify us against the onslaught of the enemy. But many times we DO continue the fight and continue to stand, and it seems nothing is happening. That can cause us to become discouraged and disappointed. Listen, friend, God understands and knows that. It is NOT a light thing to Him. Many times we DON'T understand what's going on, but when I don't understand, I try my hardest to turn my fight towards fighting for His peace toward me instead of trying to understand. See, I believe that when we "fight" to understand instead of "fight" to remember, we exert energy that would be better spent on fighting for our peace in Him. And the harvest of THAT fight is a stronger fortification of our confidence in His love and promises toward us. And that, in turn, empowers us to remain victorious over the onslaught of the enemy. I remember something that my Pastor friend, Pastor Danny Chambers, told me a long time ago. He said, "When you go through a transition, KEEP YOUR PRAISE HIGH AND YOUR SERVICE STRONG." Keeping our praise high positions us in a place where the Lord can release His presence on our behalf, for the Lord, "inhabits the PRAISES of His people." Know this: Where the Lord has rulership, His word has the FINAL jurisdiction. Therefore, we enthrone the Lord on our praises and He in turn lays down a judgement against the enemy that is attacking. And just like Daniel, after praying for 21 days to understand the visions given him, was told that the day he set his heart to understand, the answer was given, sot it is with us. From the day we set our heart to enthrone the Lord on our praises and persist in it no matter how long it takes, His judgement against the enemy becomes effective and begins to reap a harvest. So take courage, my friend. It may be excruciating for you right now. It may be horribly tough. But remember: "IF YOU CATCH HELL, DON'T HOLD IT. AND IF YOU'RE GOING THROUGH HELL, DON'T STOP!!" Go THROUGH to the other side and stand strong. You ARE going to make it! Shalom, Greg

"Seasons"

Sat, 17 Dec 2011 15:33:00 GMT

Life happens. It is a very indiscriminate thing. It happens to each and every one of us. No one can escape it. It is sometimes very difficult to navigate through, but once you do, breathing becomes easier. The effects of life happening change like the seasons. At one point, you could be in the season of summer, where everything is warm and cozy. Other times you could be in the the season of winter, where things are cold and icy. Then there is the season of fall where things are falling and dying or you're in the season of spring where everything is coming back to life. Each warrants a different response. The tough part for us is to recognize what season it is that we are in. I know that for many, myself included, this is both the season of fall and spring. There are things in our lives that are falling away or coming to an end, while at the same time other things are beginning. We often end up in the "place of in between" and that leaves us floundering a bit until we can get our footing sure. Personally, I know that I am in a season where what I did vocationally is taking on a new expression. In like manner, my home is also taking on a new expression as well. With a son out on his own and a daughter about to be, both out of school and in the workplace, facing the empty nest syndrome, life can be a bit disconcerting. But it is there that we MUST remember the one constant in the midst of all of it. That is, the promise that God has of having plans for our lives that are for good, not for bad, to give us a future and a hope. But when you are in the place of in between, an intense battle ensues. It is the battle for the promise. For those who strive to live life according to the word of God, no matter how imperfectly, they strain to hear what the Spirit of God is saying regarding their lives at that time. And when they believe they have heard a word from the Lord, and the timing seems to match up with the promise, they take a step out of what was toward what will be. The thing is, during the transition process we have one foot in what was and one foot in what will be and are stuck in the middle until the other foot leaves the old and joins the foot that is in the new. That can be a really tough time, which is why you must war for the promise you heard from the Spirit of God as you step out. Never forget that the enemy ALWAYS has a "hath God said" up his sleeve. And if he can get that question to take root in our hearts, he can totally dismantle our faith, which is the anchor that keeps us in place. My point is this: Recognize what season you are in and respond accordingly. How will you know what is the correct response? You will know as you listen to the Spirit of God and trust that His heart and desire toward you is nothing less than YOUR good. If we can hold securely to that truth, it will make our transitions from one location to the other a lot more confident, even in the midst of trials, because the trials will most definitely come. But if you truly believe you have heard from the Lord, there is nothing you can't step into that He will not either confirm or redeem. You are safe with Him at ALL TIMES and ALL SEASONS, even when it doesn't "feel" like it. So the word for us today is "keep on holding on to the promise He has given you and DO NOT surrender it to the hands of the enemy." There is success waiting for us if we just take the step that God has confirmed in our hearts. Go for it! Greg

Get In Your Place

Sun, 15 May 2011 08:57:00 GMT

I really believe this is a word for some. If it applies to you, receive it. If it doesn't, pray for those for whom it is for.

I've never felt such an urgency in my spirit as I do right now about us all being in our place. The Lord is calling each and every one of us to OUR place. Sometimes it will mean digging your heals deeper into where you currently are now, making a deeper commitment to your place. Other times it will mean a change of position from where you are right now to where you are supposed to be. This is critical at this time because if you are out of YOUR place, it means you're in SOMEONE ELSE'S place, causing them to be misplaced. They can't occupy their place because you're in it. As soon as you move, you will free that space up for them to take. Until you do, there will remain a domino effect that will leave in it's wake a host of people that are potentially out of place.

GET IN YOUR PLACE!

It's time for us to seek the face of God to discover our place and dig into it with all that is in us. It is time. Many will not discover the fulness of their lives until they find their place. They will live frustrated lives trying hard to make where they are right now work for them. All it will lead to is a dead end and you will continue beating your head agains a brick wall until you stop, seek the face of God, discover where you truly are supposed to be, and get after it. Your life will remain a frustration or it will remain a temporary fulfillment for you. It will be like working hard and putting your pay into pockets with holes in them. You work hard, feel a sense of fulfillment, only to have that fulfillment drain away with nothing left to speak of.

It is time to stop beating a dead horse. I heard a phrase from a friend named Kevin Leel, which was, "If the horse is dead, dismount!" Why try to make live what has died? Don't try to resurrect a dead end. Move on to where the life is. However, this is something the must be submitted to the leading of the Holy Spirit. See, God is able to make the place where you are, YOUR place and He can breathe new life into it. But it is ONLY if it is where you are suppose to be in this hour.

I say again, "GET IN YOUR PLACE!"

And do not be afraid if you don't understand it all or know how you will make it. All you have to do is be where you're suppose to be and God will cause you to make it. Please just be obedient to His voice right now and let Him sort out the details. Be like Abraham, who was told by God to leave where he was and go to a land that would be shown to him at a later time. He left not knowing where he was going, but he knew God had called. He moved out in obedience. You must do the same.

It's time! "GET IN YOUR PLACE!"

Searching For Daylight...

Fri, 22 Apr 2011 06:47:00 GMT

There are seasons when we feel like we're just sort of existing, making no progress at all in our lives. Oftentimes when this occurs, it becomes very evident that what we focus on, we will experience. If we focus on fear, fear is what we will have. If we focus on joy, joy is what we will experience. The mind plays a vital role in the effect faith has in our lives. What do I mean by this? I mean, simply, that the word of God is clear when it says, "As a man thinks in his heart, so is he...(Prov. 23:7)" Faith may be present, available, and effective, but if you are convinced that no matter how much faith you have you will never succeed, you will never see the success that faith can provide. I am finding in this season of my life that persuasion is incomprehensibly powerful in life. It's sort of like a person who gets on an airplane and no matter the safety precautions, they will not be at peace. Or like the super model who just can't believe that they are attractive no matter how many successful photo shoots they perform. What is one to do?

I'm reminded of a person that I had spoken with many, many years ago that lived a totally negative life. Everything in their life, no matter what, would end up in the negative. Everything they looked at would be viewed through the lens of negativity. I tried on numerous occasions to point out the upside of their life, but no matter how hard I tried, they just couldn't see it. The last time I had seen this individual, they had picked their forehead raw because they just hated the way they looked. All I could do was hold them while they cried.

Why do we do things like this to ourselves?

Listen, the value you put on yourself is far greater than the value others put on you. The belief that your existence on this planet serves a purpose is far more important than the opinions of others. If you have a purpose, you have a reason to live. No purpose means no true living. Having a purpose is the makes the difference between living and just existing. Negative focus is an incredibly powerful force that has destroyed the lives of millions of people throughout the worlds existence. Negativity can lead to depression, which leads to more negativity, which leads.... you get the picture. It becomes a vicious cycle that seems to have no end. But if you believe that there is NO WAY that the Lord of life would place you on this planet just to take up space, breathe this air, and not have a purpose in it, you can survive AND thrive. I mean, just look at the order in creation. Plants, trees, animals, everything exists with some kind of divine order. Notice how the waves of the sea most typically come only to a specific point and recess back upon itself, and there is not anyone or anything stopping it from going further, at least not that we can identify. However, God said for the go thus far and no further and that's exactly what happens every time. Notice that most typically, the moon doesn't rise at the same time as the sun, but rather, the sun comes up for a certain time and then moves out of the way for the moon to take over. Now, if God would take the time to make sure that the planet functions with some kind of order, why would He not be able to bring some order to our lives?

Listen. No matter how horrible, irritating, frustrating, or whatever other word you would like to use to describe your life right now, God has a plan that really DOES make sense. It doesn't look like it right now, BELIEVE ME, but you and I have seen too much to believe otherwise. I know this is true. God has been faithful in the past and there is absolutely no way He will start being unfaithful to you now. So by all means possible, take courage and be encouraged with that. It may look like only darkness right now, but rest assured that daylight WILL shine again.

Just don't give up now. You've come so far already. You're SO close to your breakthrough. Dig your heels in deeper and hold on even tighter. And when you look up, you'll actually find that it's not you holding on to Him, but HIM holding on to YOU.

Keep Passion Alive!

Fri, 18 Mar 2011 05:20:00 GMT

Last night, I watched part of a show on tv where David Foster was playing music with some of his friends. It was SO compelling. And the talent? Forget about it! It was off the hook!! But what I found interesting about the whole encounter was what began to happen to me as I listened and watched. I was flooded with this wave of emotion emitting from the music. It was something that really took my breath away. There was a sweetness and a tenderness to the songs they played. When I paid particular attention to David Foster's playing, I could feel the emotion with which he played, be it ever so simple. And the brilliant collaboration of the instruments all together, the strings, brass, percussion, bass, guitar, piano, and vocals came across as two elements becoming one. The instruments alone made up one element and the vocals made the other. But when they sounded together, it was a little touch of heaven.

I was enthralled

But then I began to notice something else. I was taken back to the way I used to listen to music. I remember how it would take me to different levels of emotion and how it would "sing" my heart. I remember listening to David Foster's project that I believed was entitled "The Symphony Sessions" where I was taken away in my heart while listening to "Winter Games." Wow. And then the "Water Fountain Theme from the movie Secret of My Success." These two songs so impacted me that my wife Brenda, and I, had them played at our wedding. They carry such emotion.

But what got me was remembering my deep, deep passion and emotional connection to music and the me now that has seemed to have forgotten it a bit. Remembering that passion sometimes gets lost in the necessities of life and work. And when your vocation is in the area of your passion, oftentimes it ceases to be a passion and becomes a job. This is not because it's toilsome at all, but now it's being done out of necessity instead of pure joy. In the 15-20 minutes I listened, all the emotion and passion that I used to feel and experience came rushing back into my mind and heart and I've gotten hungry for it again.

This translates directly to our walk with God. Sometimes walking with the Lord and living and dealing with life can be in conflict. You begin to have to fight to keep things in the correct perspective. I mean, think back with me, won't you? When you first came to know God, what was it like? How excited were you? How passionate were you? What was it like for you to believe in Him and watch as He'd answer your prayers? Do you still have that passionate fire burning on the inside? If not, why not? Could it be that the very thing Jesus spoke about in Luke 8:8, 11-15, and in particular, verse 14? "Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity."

Now, please note that my focus is on the renewal of passion because of it being choked out in our lives. What is it that has choked out your passion? What is it that robs you of a passionate relationship with God? Can you identify it? I know that for me, I'm attempting to rekindle the fire that burned within my heart for the love of music, but more importantly, I'm striving to KEEP my relationship with God alive, passionate, and breath-taking. That's what He feels for me. I want to always feel that for Him as well.

Join me, won't you?

Greg

A Parental Rant

Thu, 10 Mar 2011 05:49:00 GMT

There is something that boggles my mind. Parenting and is quite a challenge in this day and age. It's a challenge with TWO parents, much less being a SINGLE parent. It's tough to watch kids grow up. They become more and more independent and seem to need you less and less as the years progress. The problem is that the more they grow up, the more they feel that they are so grown up that the respect for you as the parent seems to slowly drain away. Why is that?

I'm not talking about losing respect for you as a person. I'm not just talking about losing respect for your position as a father or a mother, and showing that disrespect by the way they speak, respond, and react to you. Yet they are the first ones to cry out "foul" whenever they "feel" disrespected. These are my questions:

Is it ok for you as the child to speak to the parent anyway you want, but get angry with them when they hold you accountable for it?

Is it ok for you as the child to sometimes snub your nose at them when they make a request of you, but just because it's "uncomfortable" for you, you gripe and moan about it?

Is it ok for you as the child to argue and fight with the parent because you disagree with them, yet require them not to raise their voice to you?

Is it ok for you as the child to mope and storm out of an area in the house and slam doors just because you disagree or dislike something that you were told?

I have heard the phrase, "You give respect, you get respect." But who is the one who defines respect for the family? Is it the child? Is it the parent? Actually, it's God. But who is the one who enforces that respect? Is it not the parent? If it is the parent, why do you as the child not offer that respect simply because you don't like the requirements? Where is the honor from the family to the parents? Where is it? Why does it feel as if the parents have to explain their decisions to those who are to be submitted to them? In the employment world, oftentimes there are decisions made by the boss that affects each and every employee and the employees are expected to follow the directives given, with or without an explanation. I am not advocating blind obedience, but rather a trusting of the office held by those parents that are doing all they can to follow the Lord. They are not perfect or flawless as parents, but they strive with all their might to be fair. So why, child, do you feel the right to respond to your parents as if they are your peer?

They are not your peer. Not to the extent you think.

Please note, child, your maturity is not a license to now begin to dishonor and disrespect the office of your parents. THEY ARE YOUR PARENTS AND DESERVE YOUR HONOR AND RESPECT, PERIOD. I'm not speaking of those parents who are idiots abusing their children and not caring. But is it wrong to think that those parents YOU KNOW are doing all they can to treat you with the respect that God requires, however flawed, and strive to be the kind of parents they were meant to be in God, to be esteemed higher than they are? Is that bad? And if so, why?

Why not honor and respect the office of a parent? The President of the United States may not act very stately, but there is a respect for the office of the President. Why has the role of the parent been made to be less than it should?

It's time for a change. Not a change to something more or something better, but BACK to something foundational. Let's be a family where there is clear leadership, honor, and respect. Let's go BACK to gracious speaking with one another in the home. It will be the best PROGRESSION we've ever made.

Just thinkin'

On Eagle's Wings

Thu, 27 Jan 2011 23:36:00 GMT

You know, life happens. It is indiscriminate as to who or how it affects us, and it always leaves us empty when it hits. It causes us to feel alone and abandoned at times, and yet we are expected to press on as if we were invincible. But the reality is that no one is invincible. Everyone is affected when "life" happens. Whe we're seemingly under the thumb of circumstances and situations, our perspective gets very cloudy, to say the least. We sometimes can't see any way out of the situation and hopelessness can begin to settle in. Even if the way things look is truly difficult, we can think that we will not survive it. However, that isn't always the case.

I remember a financial counselor friend of mine telling me years ago, "I know you're behind the 8 ball with your creditors, but remember that they can't eat you up! You WILL come out of this." That wasn't the least bit comforting at the time, even though it was true. For me, the most comforting thing would have been to receive an insane amount of finances to pay every one of my creditor in full! Now THAT would have been encouraging! But "life" doesn't always work that way. I mean, it does happen, but that isn't the norm. Working "through" tough times is really the norm of living. We must "do" life, not just simply exist while it tramples us.

Which brings me to the point of this article. How can we do life if our perspective is despair? How can we live if our perception of the light at the end of the tunnel of circumstance is really a speeding train heading straight for us? In order to do life and do it well, we must have a "higher perspective" than the one that faces us at the moment. The higher perspective can only truly come when we calm our hearts and be still long enough to notice. For example, have you ever observed how an eagle flies? You'll notice that it uses its wings only a little and then glides, riding on the wind. And it is often at that time that it is able to see from incredible heights what it needs to survive: food! From that elevated position it is able to locate precisely where their food is and find an end to their hunger for that moment. But what we don't see is that the eagle rides on "heat thurmals" rising from the earth surface. That's one of the things that keep it airborn. As long as it stays within the heat thurmal, it can see clearly how to survive.

So it is with you and I. God says in John 15:4-5, "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. 5. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing." And further in Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

The application is this: Christ is your "heat thurmal" and causes you to "mount up with wings as eagles (Isaiah 40:31)" so that you can see clearly how to make it through life's intrusions. Stopping and being still in your heart and mind is you waiting on that heat thurmal to lift you up above the circumstance so that you can see with a heavenly perspective instead of an earthly one. You don't have the power to do this by yourself, so God says you can do it by the power of Jesus as you abide and live and daily exist in the knowledge, understanding, and relationship with Him. And in turn, receiving Him to live, abide, and daily exist in you. He will lift you up and cause you to see as He sees. Therein lies YOUR hope for tomorrow.

Happy hunting!

"Steadfast.."

Mon, 27 Dec 2010 00:35:00 GMT

You know,time is a bit of a frustrating thing sometimes. It scurries on minding it's own business as well as affecting yours. It is always important and necessary to maintain the consistency of that which cannot be shaken. The confidence of the Lord's faithfulness at all times must NEVER be surrendered to the whim of circumstances. I believe me, as I'm sure many of you know, "stuff" always tries to shake that reality.

You MUST remember that at the foundation of your life is the never ending love of God toward you at ALL times. There wasn't anything you could do or have done in order to cause Him to love you more and there is nothing you can do to cause Him to love you any less. I encourage you to keep that at the forefront of your heart at all times. He loves you more than you could ever imagine.

His plans toward you are nothing less than good. Therefore, you can trust that He will never do anything in you life or to your life that is to result in your demise. It will ALWAYS be used for your good and for the good of the kingdom.

You never really know when the final tick of the clock will strike, so it is necessary to be ready to fight as needed for your confidence. NEVER give up to the enemy that which Jesus died and rose again to grant to you.

Your anointing individually is powerful, but when your anointing mingles together with the rest of the body of Messiah, it is much more difficult to stop. The anointing grows to astronomical sizes when joined together with others forth COMMON good. The old statement, "No man is an island" comes into play here. Life was never meant to be lived void of others. We all need each other and the enemy would want to discredit those connected to us in massive ways to cause dissension. We must wage war on that ugly enemy. Remaining steadfast in the midst of challenge is key to our survival. Steadfast in faith, steadfast in trust, steadfast in peace. Keep working hard to stand.

"Weary..."

Sun, 26 Dec 2010 12:00:00 GMT

I find myself at this time of life to be very tired. I live in an environment where smiles, words if encouragement and hope, joy, positivity, and faith are all expected. But what do you do when none of those attributes can be found? Where is your reprieve? Where is your rest?

Everywhere you turn there are people looking to you to be positive and up, but if you ever seem not to be that way, all of a sudden they come out of the woodwork with all of these well-intentioned words to build you up and encourage you. The problem is that most of the word they use come across as nothing more than a regurgitation of old Christian qliches that seem to hold no real life. What does the preacher do when HE feels hopeless? What does the prophet do when he seems to have lost his footing? Is there any opportunity for that man to be weak? Is it just ok for others to be weak and tired, but not for the "man of God?"

I don't really know right now. Life for me at this moment is frustrating and bothersome. I have blood pressure issues that few are even aware of and stress issues that I'm simply told to suck up and be a man about them. And that's to suggest that I'm less of a man because of my lack of dealing with issues the way THEY think I should.

Where is the peace? Where is the hope? Where is the joy? At this point, I really wish I knew.

Health issues creep up on me and threaten to take me out. Often I am unaware if how to deal with them. I have so much more that I can do with my life, but feel as if I can't even FIND the surface to barely scratch it.

It's in moments like these that I just want to retreat and run. But unfortunately I am not allowed to. Men of God never run, never retreat, never fail, and never make mistakes, right? At least that is what is portrayed. But what to do?

The Path...

Mon, 13 Dec 2010 11:15:00 GMT

In this season and time, there seems to be some kind of universal sense in almost everyone I have come in contact with lately. It's the sense of beginning to do what they have been called of the Lord to do. There is a sense of searching in the hearts of many wondering what on earth they are supposed to be about in the first place. I have felt this myself in this season as well, wondering what and where is my place in God's overall plan. What does my piece of the puzzle look like? What is the expression I'm supposed to contribute in His plan for the world?

I find this to be an extremely important question to answer because it really identifies with whom we are to partner with in order to accomplish our purpose. You see, nothing of what we are called to do in the earth today is to be done alone. God has called us all to work together for the advancement of His kingdom and for the building up of His body, the body of Messiah. If we do not have the proper alignments, we will hinder the effectiveness we are meant to have. It will mean the Lord will need to either make work what we have locked ourselves into, or He will have to work things differently in our lives to get us back on track. Never the less, in all of this, He will turn it around for our good and for the good of the Kingdom. I would just rather get it right the first time instead of having to take the "make up test," if you know what I mean.

In this season just before a brand mew year, I encourage you to join me in seeking the face of God for our purpose and the expression thereof. If we hear it right the first time, we will have less time to have to make up or catch up. There is a path for each and every one of us to walk. We do well to hear HIS voice and gather HIS plan in order to accurately walk it out.

A pastor friend of mine said years ago, "There are souls waiting on the other side of your obedience." I really try to take that to heart as much as possible. In this season, hear the voice of the Lord for your life. Patiently wait on what He tells you regardless of the things in your life that try to get you to rush His process. But once you hear, be faithful to OBEY His word regardless of how insurmountable or scary it may seem, if that is the case. If HE said you are to do thus and so, then you are guaranteed EVERYTHING He has declared over you.

THIS is the time when this generation needs you to be in YOUR place! Step up to the plate a take a swing. Who knows? You just might hit one out of the ballpark!

See you on the path...

G

Fighting for Faith

Tue, 30 Nov 2010 00:55:00 GMT

Today is a tough day. Each and every one of us have them, so welcome to reality, huh? And the crazy thing is you never know when they will show up. Stuff comes at you sideways and knocks you on you rear, and in that moment you have two choices: 1. stay down on the ground, curl up into a little ball, and pray that it all goes away soon, or 2. get up and start standing again.

You choose.

Something like that happened to me this thanksgiving. It was totally unwelcomed, uninvited, and far from desired, but came nonetheless. When the tailspin ensued, I found myself grasping for emotional stability and noticed in that moment how easy it is to want to gain comfort in anything else but the Lord. Needless to say, the battle has been great.

And that's exactly what it is even now: a battle.

But battling for what, is the question. Am I battling for mental stability? Am I battling for security? Am I battling for provision? No. I am battling for the faith to believe that God is greater than ANYTHING that could and will ever come against me, whether it be personal or corporately. I'm battling for the faith to believe that absolutely NOTHING escapes the all-seeing eyes of the Lord. He sees, He knows, and He IS involved. Emotions SCREAM loudly for me to run and escape. But it all still comes down to the words of Peter when Jesus asked if they were going to leave Him like the others: "Where else can we go, Lord? You alone have the words of eternal life." That really is the bottom line. Mental stability, security, provision, peace, joy, hope, confidence, all of these are found in the very capable hands of the Almighty, the Abba of our hearts.

Even when you are faced with the past as it rears it's pitiful ugly head yet again, He is STILL greater. And if your past blunders and sins have been removed from you in Jesus as far as the east is from the west, there is no need to blubber over it. Your past only has power over your future if you allow it, and you DON'T have to allow it. I don't have to allow it.

Strength is in the presence of the Lord. That's where I MUST run to. In so doing, I don't run from the issues, but rather I run into a place where I can see clearly how to deal with each and every one of them. The certainty of victory depends on the vantage point from which it is attempted. I'd rather attempt AND attain victory from God's vantage point instead of my own.

Fight for Faith!

G

Pressing Forward

Tue, 16 Nov 2010 10:12:00 GMT

At the time of this writing, I am on a plane heading home to Jacksonville, FL from Cincinnati, OH. We had an incredible time of worship this weekend, though not without it's challenges. One of the venues had issues that were out of our control, but affected what we do very directly and had to be overcome. Praise be to the Lord for bringing us success. God's presence was strong and powerful in our midst an many were blessed. At another venue this weekend, we were faced with exceptionally few issues and were even more free than before to enter into the presence of the Lord. That got me thinking.

Each time Paul and I go out to minister, there is always a sense of assignment that we feel. We know the Lord has called us to the place were we're going and that he has already prepared the way. That causes there to be great expectation and confidence in Him to accomplish exactly what He has declared for us. However, issues in the natural plague and attack our flesh all the time, causing us to potentially lose focus on what He has assigned for us and what He has declared and to instead focus on the problems coming against us. Once that happens, there is a battle that ensues and we must now fight to regain our stand in the Lord. But if we STAY focused on what God has declared and on what He has assigned for us, we will be better equipped to remain in position to be used by Him to accomplish His plan.

Case in point: Jesus declares to His disciples, "Let's go to the other side.". They all got into the boat and started across the see. As they went, Jesus went to sleep. But in the midst of the journey, the storm arose and the waves began to beat upon the boat. The winds began to blow increasingly and toss the boat around on the water. However, Jesus remained asleep until His disciples woke Him and asked Him, "Master! Don't You care that we Re perishing!?" Jesus rises and rebukes the storm and the waves and then turns to His disciples and said a most curious thing: "Why is it that you have no faith?"

I've heard it taught that Jesus was telling them that THEY had been given authority to calm the storm. And though I do subscribe to that thought to a degree, could it be that it was something much simpler than that?

I submit this: Jesus was telling them, "Listen, Guys. When I told you that we were going to the other side, I didn't say we'd get there if the weather permitted. I said we're going to the other side because we have an ASSIGNMENT to complete there. So next time, I want you to believe me when I DECLARE something to you, ok? Ok."

The point is this: Whatever God has declared over your life, put your TOTAL confidence in His word because it will SURELY come to pass exactly as He said. Understand that there will always be opposition to your stand for God and for the Kingdom, but if we stay in our position of victory regardless of experience, if w fight to hold on to what we KNOW God gas told us, we will see our God-given purpose become a reality.

Press forward toward that which God has declared, but leave the fulfillment of His word in His hands. You and I are not big enough, strong enough, wise enough, ANYTHING enough (smile) to make it happen. We do what is before us to do and watch Him be faith to "complete that which He has began in you."

Peace

G

"Welcome Into the Stuff"

Fri, 12 Nov 2010 20:39:00 GMT

There's a little phrase that sits in a frame on my desktop that I have sitting in from of me everyday. The phrase reads, "The man who KNEELS to God can STAND up to anything." That phrase is something that I try to practice everyday, though I don't always succeed. I mean, sometimes I come into the office and am more focused on welcoming the day instead of inviting the Lord of the day. Know what I mean? That's something that I really want to change.

It's sort of like stepping into a gun fight without putting bullets in the gun (ha)! That's not a good way to fight, but it's a great way to get slaughtered! And when we neglect kneeling before the Lord to welcome Him into our stuff, we become powerless to fight against the things that hit us. But welcoming God into the midst of our stuff, whatever our "stuff" is, gives us a much better perspective on how to view it. He empowers us to stand up in the midst of the stuff because we are able to see it from His perspective instead of our own.

Consider Elisha and his servant in 2 Kings 6:13-18. They were surrounded by the Syrian army and the servant became deathly afraid. Elisha told the man not to fear for "more are with us than are with them." He prayed for God to open the man's eyes, and when he did, the man saw the mountains full of horses and chariots of fire surrounding the Syrians. One perspective was that of the "stuff" while the other perspective was that of the Lord. Notice that the perspective they gave their attention to was the deciding factor in their victory or defeat. And because they were enabled to "see" from a different perspective, they walked out in victory.

If you're going through the "stuff" today, I encourage you to welcome the Lord into the midst of it and see from His perspective instead of what you're facing. What does God say about it? How does He see it? What's more is how does He see YOU in it? If you are willing to believe foudationally that God loves you, that He has your best in mind, that He's for you and not against you, that He is working on your behalf for good and not for evil, and are willing to fight for those foundational convictions, you will have positioned yourself to see CLEARLY from His perspective. These foundational convictions are to be the backdrop of our lives in Him from the beginning. The enemy knows this and tries to discredit God in our hearts all the time. If he succeeds in doing that, he weakens us at our core and then attacks with a vengeance.

Welcome God into your "stuff" today and see the salvation of your God. He's for you.

Peace

Reflections on How Cool God Is...

Tue, 09 Nov 2010 21:21:00 GMT

So many times, stuff happens, ya know? I was sitting in my office and some friends walked in with a guest. As I stood there talking to them, the Lord began to reveal some things about the guest, whom I'd never met before, to encourage them with. Now, I had just gotten back home from a major ministry trip with Paul Wilbur and had been met with our only vehicle being out of commission. We had no money to cover the repairs. I had a fight going on in the inside to just stay positive. And when you have to fight to stay positive and had just poured out of your spirit for 6 days straight, it really is a challenge. You're tired physically and still have to hear God to minister to others.

Kinda tough at times under those conditions.

But along comes the Holy Spirit to help. As I stood there conversing with them, the Lord began to show some things in this friends life that He wanted to encourage over. He began to speak as this tired keyboard person began to listen. He received the glory and a fellow member of the family of the Lord was encouraged and edified.

It's always amazing what the Lord can do even if you're not feeling like you're in a position to be used by the Holy Spirit. Just goes to show that it's not us, but it's all Him and however He desires to flow.

Just be available to Him even in your weakness.

God bless you richly!

G

Emotions vs Truth

Tue, 20 Jul 2010 03:19:00 GMT

At the time of this writing, this is a rather trying time on a very personal level. Ever been there? Ever felt like things just keep going wrong in certain areas no matter how hard you try to make them go right? I mean, you've done everything you know to do as well as you could, but no matter what, it seems that things strike against you and you find yourself on the ground again and again and again.

Why?

That's the question that continues to emerge from the rubble of frustration.

Unfortunately, more often than not, there are no answers to that monumental question. However, there is one thing to understand. That is this: we all have a common enemy and he doesn't ever play or fight fair. He doesn't know the meaning of courtesy or demilitarized zones. His is a "destroy at all costs" mentality. He hates you and me. For those of you who read this and are believers in Jesus, he hates the God you serve. He hates what you were created to do and to become and he wants you to become unproductive in all areas of your life. He fears your success in the Lord and wants you gone. But he's not just after you, he's after the seed you sow. He is after your seed.

Everything we do now is a seed planted into our future and will one day yield a harvest. The question is, "What kind of future are we planting for?" That is determined by the seeds of works and words you sow today. Life is a field, a fertile land, so be careful what you plant in it.

But sometimes when you plant seed in the ground, it just doesn't seem to be yielding anything no matter how you cultivate it. It seems like it's a struggle from the word go. Yet in other places in the field, other seed seems to sprout up with no problem. Why? I don't know. But the thing to remember is that you DID plant the right seed into the RIGHT soil. Therefore, no matter how long it takes, a good farmer will be certain to continue to do what he knows to do and to expect the harvest he has been wanting in due time. It doesn't matter what he feels or sees because he KNOWS how the laws of planting seeds in fertile soil works, and it always works. Therefore, what his emotions scream at him, he has a choice to make: Does he listen to the emotions or cling to the truth?

That's how things are for us. Our emotions scream at us, "Just give up! It's useless! You'll never win! Things will never change! Prayer won't work because it hasn't up to now! You're forsaken and done! You're wasting you time on this or that!" But WHAT DID GOD SAY? What did God say about His own word? "So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it." Isaiah 55:11. Now, did God say that His word wouldn't come back to Him void if it looks like it's working? No, He said it wouldn't come back to Him void PERIOD. And that includes HIS word that has come forth from YOUR mouth as well. His word is powerful seed planted in the soil of our hearts and released from our mouths. It is not dictated OR intimidated by what we FEEL with our emotions or SEE with our eyes.

I encourage you as I encourage myself with this note: BELIEVE GOD IN SPITE OF THE CIRCUMSTANCE.

Be blessed.

Surely You're Kidding!

Wed, 07 Jul 2010 18:32:00 GMT

I received an email this morning from Godtube that just about took my breath away and made my blood boil. It was a story about a mosque being built at Ground Zero in New York. The statement made by the proponent of the building of the mosque said that it would be used as "a bridge for peace between Muslims and Americans." He goes on to say that the people desiring to have the mosque there were outraged at the attack on 9/11 and that is why they are wanting to erect the mosque.

GodTube video

Oh really?? Hmmmmm.

Tell me, where was the outcry from them condemning the attacks on 9/11? Why has it taken 10 years or so for them to surface with an "attempt" to do something about it or make a statement about it? Where is the consideration for and sensitivity towards the families who lost members in the collapse of the buildings on that day? And why now when we have a President who has on different occasions admitted he is a Muslim? Why now when the President has CLEARLY shown a bent toward Muslims and TOTALLY against the foundations upon which this nation was founded? Please understand and let me be clear. There is nothing at all wrong with being Muslim in the sense of being a people group. But there is something totally wrong with setting up what would be considered a monument to the destruction and murder of innocent people. And that is precisely how this edifice would be perceived.

Something is wrong.

Something is wrong when a people group affiliated with another people group responsible for the innocent and unnecessary deaths of thousands who did nothing to provoke it, desires to erect an edifice that represents the very people who committed such crime. What's worse it that something is wrong when some of the people of the land have no problem with it.

But something else is even more wrong.

WHERE IS THE CHURCH? Where are the believers, who have been given the right to bear the name of Jesus, that will stand up against injustice? Where are the intercessors that will join arms and bow the knee to pray for this nation and for the rulership of God to be manifest in our midst? Where is the outcry of the church against the unrighteousness in government? Where is the church that will band together and make their voices known at the voting booths? Are WE really that asleep? Have we REALLY given up our nation because of personal fear? Are we more concerned about offending others above offending God? What are we, the church, doing? Why are we silent.

What has happened to our nation?

Is this the "change" that this nation desires to embrace? Where are the absolutes? Where are the standards? Is there anyone who will put their foot down on solid ground and say, "NO! NOT HERE, NOT NOW, NOT EVER!"? We are a nation of survivors, a nation of people proud to be free. We are a nation that stands up for truth and righteousness. We are a nation founded on a solid and unmovable foundation and liberty fortified and purchased by the blood of countless brave Americans who embody the essence of what this nation stands for.

There was a day when the law meant something. There was a day when a slap in the face like this would NEVER be tolerated, much less given an audience. There was a time when the decisions of leadership in this nation would be immediately contested by a voice so loud, it would have shaken the foundations of the earth and knocked it off of its axis! Where is that voice now? Where are the watchmen on the wall who declare with a loud voice, "NOT ON MY WATCH!"? Where are the proud Americans who would dare to stand up in the face of tyranny and join forces to protect this nation and its inhabitants from enemies both foreign AND domestic? Are we so asleep? Have we changed from being the proud majestic Eagle to the frog boiling in a little water with NO IDEA he will be dead in a matter of minutes?

Here stands one.

This is MY nation and we have power in the polls, in the voting booths, in the media, and in print, and we CANNOT allow our voices to be silent. "Our voices become silent when our hearts become cold." May it not be said of us. May we not sit idly by and watch our nation become a sleeping giant again. Let the sleeping giant sleep no more! Let the mighty warrior be released to do battle against the forces that want to strip us of our God-given identity.

WE ARE AMERICA!

Time....

Sat, 29 May 2010 10:12:00 GMT

I was just thinking today about time. Each of us has time as a commodity, but time can either be a asset or an enemy, at least in the natural. We are born and in TIME we grow up. We make choices and in TIME we find out if they are wise choices or unwise. We do actions and in TIME discover if they are profitable or not. We live and in TIME we die. And the time differential could be a matter of seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, or even years.

But the question that comes to mind is "What do we DO with the time we have?" Our response to time can determine how we survive in days to come. And our response to time will also determine if it is an asset or an enemy to our lives. What I mean is sometimes we wait and wait for the right time, only to realize that the TIME has passed us and no we must either catch up or wait for the next "wave" of time to come. Other times we become impatient because time seems to be taking way too long. And as a result, we launch out prematurely to bring to pass what we're waiting for, only to realize that what we've actually done is launched ourselves into an even longer waiting time. We launch out at the wrong moment only to be forced to wait longer for the correct time to move. To many, time will be a teacher, but to some it will be a task master. We are the deciding factor.

What should one do with time? Many of us have been waiting for the return of the Lord to explode in the sky above when every eye shall see Him and time has progressed further and further. But one thing is certain: HE IS COMING! We just don't know when, even though the whole world is groaning in waiting for His appearing. So what should we DO during the TIME?

What is it that you have been called to DO? Are doing it now? If not, why not? Are you where you are supposed to be right now? Do you know? Are you living the way you are supposed to be living right now during the TIME? Are the relationships that surround you the relationships that are supposed to be in your life right now? Are they adding to your purpose or subtracting from your purpose? ARE YOU LIVING ON PURPOSE RIGHT NOW, OR JUST EXISTING? Only YOU can answer these questions for you. No one can answer them for you. No one can answer them for me. I will say this, though, "I want to be living on purpose and not by accident." TIME is too short for anything less.

What about you?

Just sayin'.

G

Living Is A Choice Pt. 2

Tue, 06 Apr 2010 04:21:00 GMT

Recently I posted a blog about living life on purpose. In it, I attempted to focus on living life by choosing who to live it for. I was stating that living life for "things" is really a waste of life because things wear out and break down. Things are temporary and run out. But choosing to live life in God is something that is well worth it. Well here, I just want to discuss the rest of the thought.

Making the choice is one thing, but really living life is quite another.

One of my favorite movies of all time is "Braveheart". In that film there is a very pointed moment when Wallace says to the wife of Longshank's son this awesome phrase: "Every man dies, but not every man really lives.". MAN I love that statement. I love it because to many times we miss out on life because we never really choose to live it. We have been given this incredible life to live and we end up missing out on it for a myriad of reasons. Sometimes it's fear of taking risks. Sometimes it's too much over thinking, etc. Instead, we should be people who take life by the throat and drain it of every bit of experience we can.

We were created to be adventurous people who approach life fearlessly and boldly. I think of Paul the Apostle who said that he had "finished the course, run the race, and kept the faith" declaring that he had lived his life in God to the fullest, leaving no stone unturned. He had completely spent and poured out his life and knew that there was a crown of glory awaiting him. Another film that I also thought was kinda cool was "The Bucket List" with Jack Nicolson and Morgan Freeman. These two terminally ill guys become friends and ine DECIDES to make a list of all the things he wanted to do before he died and set out to do it, and take his friend with him. And before they died, that's exactly what they do.

But know this: we do NOT have to wait for some terminal illness or something to get after really living life. We shouldn't need anything like that to motivate us to go for it. We were BORN with that motivation!!

I want to be one who could say like Paul, that I, too, have finished my course, I have kept the faith, and I have run the race. I don't want the Lord to have to say to me, "You did good, Son, but this is what else I had for you that you could have done". And I'm not just talking about stuff we DO, but also the stuff we could experience!

All I'm trying to say in this thing is GO FOR IT! Don't let yourself be short changes in life. Remember that Jesus said He came to give us life AND THA LIFE MORE ABUNDANTLY. I challenge you to find the abundance He was speaking about, the abundance He has for YOU. Find your life in Him and begin to live that abundance His way, submitted to His will. If you'll do that, you'll find your life being SO MUCH MORE fulfilling.

And the world will be better for it!

GO FOR IT!!!

Peace

"Living Is A Choice"

Thu, 01 Apr 2010 18:54:00 GMT

I had a conversation with my wonderful son last night. It's one of those conversations that will last a lifetime. That conversation was rather pointed and spurred this thought in my heart. Many of the lives of people are lived at the mercy of circumstances, situation, issues, people's opinions, and the like, instead of being lived the way it was meant to live from the beginning. We were never meant to live our lives according to all of the those things, but rather to live our lives in fullness of what the Lord had intended for us to live. Now I know that many of us gain our life substance from what we do, and men are notorious for doing that. But I would like to suggest to us that we take a step back and look at what we're calling "living".

I know people who live to ride motorcycles. Their favorite thing is to get on their crotch rockets or hogs or what have you and feel the wind on their faces, throwing caution to the wind, and feeling free. Nothing wrong with that at all. Not in the least. Then there are people that live for the music and the stage. What drives them is the rush of the shouts of the crowd, the excitement of their name in lights, and the notoriety of their achievements. Their are people who live for sex, who live for food, you name it and there's bound to be someone who lives for it.

But here's a question.....

What happens when the motorcycles break down? What happens when the music stops and people are no longer cheering for you? What happens if something traumatic happens to your body and sex is no longer an option? What happens when you become too overweight to even enjoy food because is you attempt, you will die? You know what happens?

Your life ends.

If you live for money, eventually the money will run out. If you live for conquests of businesses, buildings, stocks and bonds, eventually there will be nothing more to conquer.

So what's my point? I'm glad you asked.

Look. Everything else we have in life to pour our energies into will require US to make happen. They are not self-sufficient and cannot stand on their own. They are powerless in life unless we do something with them. They need US to exist. But that's NOT what God has made available to us.

Deuteronomy 30:19-20, Moses said to the Children of Israel by the word of the Lord that God had placed before them LIFE and DEATH, BLESSING and CURSING. THEY had to make the choice of which they would take. There were consequences to both, but the choice was theirs. That same option stands before us today, everyday of our lives. If we CHOOSE to walk contrary to the word and the plans of God, we will experience the fruit of it. If we CHOOSE to walk in the ways the Lord has planned for us, we will experience the fruit of it. The question is: "WHICH FRUIT DO YOU WANT?" I mean, it's one thing to say YES to God, but it's a whole different thing to follow up our "yes" with obedience to His word and submission to His ways and plans.

It seems to be the "in" thing nowadays to "claim" to be a Christian without submitting to the plans of God in regards to that declaration. Therein lies our life. Walking WITH God is life. Walking WITHOUT God is death.

Listen. God says He came to give us life and that more abundantly (John 10:10). But remember that the life He offers has come at a high price and requires a high price from us as well. He said to "take up your cross and follow Me." All of us have a personal cross that we must carry in order to follow Him. For some, it's CHOOSING to lay down the desire for riding motorcycles IF it comes between them and God. For some, it's laying down eating food in excess IF it comes between them and God. For some, it's laying down the fame IF it comes between them and God. Do you see a pattern here? God has given us all good things to enjoy in this life and in the life to come. But the moment the "things" of this life become more important than living for and in obedience to Him, we have a major problem. He is to be FIRST and everything else second.

So what's YOUR cross? What do you hold dear to your heart that has become more dear to you than God? Are you willing to lay it down until things in your life are in the correct alignment? Would you be willing to lay it down forever if it is required? You have to choose.

I encourage US all to CHOOSE life.

Peace.