December 18th, 2011

It was a beautiful day.

Not                                                             

due to a war sunny Texas seventy degrees,

Or                                                        

resulting from a gentle, caressing, heavenly breeze,

Instead                                                                           

because souls hopped land and skipped seas

To

witness a miracle: the sacred bonding of these.

The guests were quite delighted

(Even though I wasn't invited),

We were entertained and excited,

To see love so requited,

A duo cheerfully united.

 Seconds.Suns.Seasons.                                                  
                                   time has alarmingly quickly flown,
Yet it warms the soul to remember                                        
                                                           that we are never truly alone,

For time spent with loved ones                                    
                                                     is really time spent at home.

We anticipate the day                                                            
                                    when we meet again near Heaven's throne,

But today I caught a preview:                                                       
                                                 radiant light from your presence shone.

A joy transcending all words;                                               
                                            a peace by God's hand sown.

From this blessed soil, something...green I saw break through:

(As your lips claimed 'I do', reflecting hearts pure and true)

God's Spirit descended to bind a 'me' to a 'you',
Adhesive for two souls as the world threatens to unglue.
So to unholy desires bid 'So long!' and 'Adieu!'

And in regard to love, be certain to always outdo.

 For one formed from the two; life...

begins anew.

-G

Jammin'

I read Leviticus 24 today, but i'm too lazy to make my usual heading thing.  No formality today, i'm feeling too loosey-goosey.  Christmas is almost here, the kids are actually starting to learn a little bit (i think), and God is just too good.  I love praying with people, love pouring over scripture, love basketball practice, love life.  i'm sure satan will try to knock me out with one of those tremendous crashes that often follow a monumentous high, but for now i am secure in the Lord's hand.  (i'm sure getting out of bed in the morning will be a mountain to climb!)

But God is good.

i was, for possibly the first time in my life, spiritually uplifted by watching espn.  As a fan of Texas A&M sports, Rangers baseball, Spurs basketball, and both Texas NFL teams, these broadcasts typically tend to depress me.  However, today the conversation was about Tim Tebow.

Now i have to be honest, i really never was much of a Tebow fan.  i just didn't know if he was trustworthy.  But their conversation today only served to bolster my faith.  The debators mentioned a unique moment in the 3rd quarter of the Bears-Broncos game.  Tebow was miked up for the game, and they caught him in a moment of prayer.  He said "Win or lose, to You be the glory" (not exact...something to that effect).

They went on to mention pastors they knew, who saw God's purpose in Tebow's victories.  In each of Tim's games, he played terrible for 50 minutes.  But those ten minutes in the 4th quarter or overtime he was untouchable.  His completion percentage is under 50%.  Point: there is no possible way he could win this on his own.  There has to be supernatural intervention.  Wish i could delve into this further, but i gotta run!

-G

Preparing a Sermon

Romans 3:10

If you see light in me

It's no goodness of my own

My life is worthless if I

Don't place Jesus on the throne.

I do that by surrendering

My heart made of stone.

This means seeking out

The orphan whose family and friends have flown.

It's compassion plus loving action

To the man without a home,

It means loving the adulterers,

The murderers, they need to be shown

What it's like to be forgiven and loved

Instead of spoken to in a condescending tone.

Because surely we are like all of these,

Living in the world, yet also unknown

It means speaking the Gospel

In every place we roam

Our life and our breath,

Our food and our home,

They truly aren't ours,

They are merely on loan

They're all gifts to share

So his kingdom can be grown

A sense of urgency we need,

We can't afford to postpone

This moment is right

For his light to be shone,

So let's speak with authority

Through love---our microphone.

Our foolish sense of righteousness

Let us no longer condone.

We surely deserve to die

Around our neck a millstone.

So teach us Father, please

To see things as you do,

Let us not limit the Gospel

To our exclusive crew.

We convince ourselves we're right,

Yes we try to play you.

Blacks, Asians, Hispanics,

Homosexuals, the Jew,

Drug attics and child molesters,

You died to save them, too.

So break us, dear Lord

Tumble walls in our mind

Let us no longer condemn,

But like your Son: humble and kind,

Remind us that our lives

In Christ are redefined

Our sight colorblind

Pure love for all mankind

Our own will declined

Our programming redesigned

To give up everything and say

"Not my will but thine!"

So before we fall again,

Please heal our eyes blind

Teach us to ask WWJD?

Then follow unwavering behind.

Preaching tomorrow at Sandy Creek CoC.  Here is the subject matter.  

I Know It's Late

I have been quite slack on my daily posts lately.  I don't know why i put things in front of time with my GOD, as if it wasn't important if i spent time in his Word or not.

Father, forgive  me and fill me with a sense of passion for you.

Bless me with a hunger for you.

Give us a deep yearning for your Will, so much that we can't help but act on it.

Leviticus 19

I don't know where to begin.  I wish i would have kept up with this thing, but i guess it's a reminder of how much we miss when we spend time chasing things other than him.  Especially in Leviticus.  19:23 reads:

When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. ¹⁰ Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the foreigner. I am the LORD your God.

23:22 also mentions this.  He mentions the poor again.
The aliens.

I have to get some sleep, but i heard something on the radio about spiritual exercise, and thought i could use some today.

So many things happened today that i won't remember tomorrow.  So many different ways that you carried me through.  Thank you, Father.  Remind me.

-G

The Follow Up

I stayed up late last night writing and reading.  And I woke up this mornin' feeling like doing the same thing again.  So after a few e-mails, bathroom cleaning, and bowl of oatmeal (extra brown sugar), here I am.

Leviticus 14

So this stuff is interesting.  This chapter completes the previous chapter; all the methods for cleansing people with skin sores or houses with mildew are here.  I said interesting...curious might be a better word.  I want to know the symbolism behind a few things:

During the ceremony used to cleanse a person's infectious skin disease, the blood of a lamb is wiped on the lobe of the right ear, the thumb of his right hand, and the big toe of his right foot.  Soon after, a touch of oil is placed in the same place.  What is significant about these places?

Second, the process to atone for a house infested with mildew (atone for a house?) requires the use of two birds, some cedar, scarlet yarn, and hyssop.  Why scarlet yarn? Also, once the objects are all dipped in the blood of one of the birds and used to cleanse the house, the priest must release the remaining live bird into the open fields outside the town.  What's the deal with the bird?

Anyways, I'll try to write later, this was a good beginning to the day.

Lots of Thoughts

What is wrong with this world?

Leviticus 13

This was quite a long chapter, mostly pertaining to infectious skin diseases.  Verses 45-46 relate back to the story of the ten lepers.  A leper must live alone, outside the camp, with torn clothes and unkempt hair.  In addition to this, afflicted persons were required to cover their mouths and holler 'Unclean!' everywhere they went.

Sound familiar?

Grungy hair...ragged clothes...alone outside...

Sounds like someone is homeless.

Think about it for a second.  Doesn't every homeless person you see look like this?  And doesn't everything about them scream "UNCLEAN?!"

Yet these are the very people Christ sought out.

I did not intend to talk about this chapter this much.  But I like it!

I continue tonight from Proverbs 31.  I don't know who Lemuel was, but I assume his life was blessed if he listened to his mom at all.

O my son, O son of my womb,

O son of my vows,

do not spend you strength on women,

your vigor on those who ruin kings.

It is not for kings, O Lemuel-

not for kings to drink wine,

not for rulers to crave beer,

lest they drink and forget what the law decrees,

and deprive all the oppressed of their rights.

Give beer to those who are perishing,

wine to those who are in anguish;

let them drink and forget their poverty

and remember their misery no more.

Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves,

for the rights of all who are destitute.

Speak up and judge fairly;

defend the rights of the poor and needy.

-Proverbs 31:2-9



Dear Lord,

Please come to the aid of those who are so desperately calling out.  Often, unbeknownst to us, our souls cry out for you to save us from ourselves.

Fancy words do not work with you.  You see behind any facade we put on in front of people.  You know our hearts, our very souls.  You know all of my insecurities and fears, my hopes and dreams.  Please Father, awaken these dreams within me once again.

Teach us to dream once again.

Show us how to shatter our feeble, limited perceptions of who you are, and instead decide to seek your face earnestly.  We want to see your glory, to enter the Holy of Holies.  We long to be free from the constraints of our feeble flesh.  Open our eyes, Father, to the WAR that rages around us.  Show us the souls that are thirsty for living water and hungry for the bread of heaven.  Reveal to us things that are ETERNAL, that we may fix our eyes on you.

You know, Father, that my thoughts are cluttered and burdensome.  I long to call out to you day and night.  Save us according to your unfailing love.  Without you we are certainly lost.

Thank you for Jesus.

-G

Transcribin'

The Only Thing

by Chris Webb

I look down at my shoes and see they're getting older every day.

I make new friends but it feels like my old ones keep going away.

And nothing really stays the same-

Folks move

Grow up

Leave out

Work jobs

It seems like the only thing that never really changes here is God.

My city's building streets and tearing down the place I went to school.

Folks keep on movin'

Some go forward,

Some go backward, but they move.

From Ronald Regan to Obama,

From the Jerk to Lean and Rock,

Time keeps on turnin' like the world,

The only peace out here is God.

I check the clock

And chaos happens everyday.

People keep fallin',

This corruption in our churches and in our streets

The devil's callin'.

News gets more and more insane,

People keep gettin' stabbed and robbed,

And it seems like the only stable name to call on here is God.

My friends are busy all the time

My family's out

I'm all alone

It's late at night

I don't got nobody

I'm searching through my phone.

The folks I thought were down for me left me like a broken ipod,

And now there's no doubt in my mind that I can only trust in God.

There's nothing else,

There's no one there,

His words are what I will believe in!

When it's cold I gotta trust that he will wake me when I'm dreamin'!

When it's hot then I believe he'll send the wind and bring the rain,

And when nobody's down for me I'll lean on him to take the pain!

God take my brain and take the strain!

I need his voice to calm my screams

I need his touch to take my stress

I need his peace to never leave

I need his hands to hold my heart

I need his word to guide my life

So when i see these news reports

I'll hear him saying

"It's alright."

I've come to this conclusion:

Earth ain't earth without words from his lips.

Folks say God might not be real,

But he's the only thing that is!

This present time

These friends

This church

This poem

Will soon all be the past,

But i just realized that that only what you do for Christ will last.

My shoes are fake now,

My swag will lose it's touch in like two years,

But God's the only thing that was there, is here now, and will be there.

That means that movies money sex respect and weed are meaningless!

The songs we listen to

The conversations

All of it is HIS!

But like MJ man this is it!

If you don't live for Christ your dead!

I'm sorry!

How else could i say this?

Let's all get it through our heads that if it's not his Will we NEED NOT BE CONCERNED!

Money will go

Cars will break down

Friends will fall out

Couples will break up

Folks get old

The thing that sticks is your soul!

And that's the only thing worth keepin'!

And man Jesus died so that our souls could fly

And not be bleedin'!

So stop bleedin'!

And accept him!

Know that all you need is faith,

And if you just focus on following him then things will fall in place!

And things will change,

But turn away,

And know he's there through cold and hot,

And as this world keeps going mad

The only thing we need

is God.

So today's Chapter is Leviticus 12.  I read it...Purification After Childbirth.

I thought my time would be better spent transcribing this poem from the P4CM (Passion For Christ Movement).  Check it out on youtube to get the real effect.

Animals

Leviticus 11

Leviticus eleven is all about clean and unclean animals; what the Israelites could or could not eat.  He gives us a reason to be holy...because He is holy.

Something they said in worship today (I believe from James 5 about riches) reminded me of Luke 14:15-23.  It is the parable of the Great Banquet.  The Lord becomes angry when the invited guests decide not to come.  They weren't doing evil, they were already occupied enjoying their blessings.  One man gives up his place for a field, another for a few oxen, and yet another believes his wife is more important.  All of these are blessings. 

Gracious Father, please remove us from the comforts that we have grow so accustomed to.

Set our minds on things above, thing that are unseen and eternal and holy.  Reveal to us the blessings that you bestow that we thoughtlessly place above you.

Thanks for smiling on me.

-G

Thanksgiving...

Set me back a few days.  But I'm back on the ball now.

Leviticus 10

I actually read this chapter last night, but I just had to come back and write about it.  I don't know how far I will get (I'm getting sleeeeeepy), but I will hit a couple of points.

The heading reads:

The Death of Nadab and Abihu

I read these names and immediately thought 'A story about Aladdin's Monkey and his bro.  Let me hurry up and get through this.'

But The first three verses capture my attention.

Aaron's sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense; and they offered unauthorized fire before the LORD, contrary to his command.  So fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them, and they died before the LORD.  Moses then said to Aaron, "This is what the LORD spoke of when he said:

"'Among those who approach me

I will show myself holy;

in the sight of all the people

I will be honored.'"

Aaron remained silent.

Good response, Aaron.

I also notices verses ten and eleven, which really struck me:

"You must distinguish between the holy and the common, between the unclean and the clean, and you must teach the Israelites all the decrees the LORD has given them through Moses."

In our lives, how many things do we have, use, and ultimately worship that are common and unclean.  Things that are not used for holy purposes at all, but rather for our own edification and satisfaction.  Let's remove these things from our presence, rip them out of our lives, circumcise our hearts to God, so that we may be found blameless, holy, and pure.

Holy.

One heck of a word.

Holy Lord,

Your name is so beautiful.

Your deeds are holy and true, your love never failing.

Consume us, LORD.  Remove our impurities and our filth, our diseases and our selfish thinking.  Let your cleansing fire pour over our souls and draw us into your presence.

-G

i'm Sorry

i'm sorry that i've been a terrible friend.
A terrible son;
A terrible brother.
i'm sorry for all the times
i put my own needs over another's.

i had no idea how selfish i was,
i've learned every moment is important because
We have no idea how much time we are given
(Man's life is more than just what he has and does).

It's about who you are
About the people you love
About the family God gave you,
A sacred gift from above.

i've run far away
...
...
...
...
...
...
From who i really am,
i turned my back on you;
Time proved me a sham.

So please God, hear me!
Hear my insubstantial prayer.
My cries feel too weak
                                                                                                   there.
                                                                      up
To reach you                   way

i cry not for me,
But for the brothers i let fall,
For the sisters that i've hurt,
For faiths i caused to stall.

Now i ask for your forgiveness,
Please give my life to them
For i would live and die
Fighting to continue in my sin.

Please Father---please!
Please give them precious time.
Some peace, some comfort,
Some holiness of Thine.

Something for the season to come
When days grow cold, grow dim,
And it feels as if life is all but done,
That it's easier to sink than swim.

When he wonders how to fill the space,
When the night is void and lonely,
Reveal your Will to him, my God,
Lavish grace and power holy.

Free him from the demons!
Remind him life goes on!
May he not forget the lesson learned:
That time is here...




then gone.

Leviticus 7

When a man brings a fellowship offering, he must bring cakes of bread as a contribution to the Lord, but it is for the priests consumption.  God takes care of those who do his work, so should we.

Thoughts too heavy today.  I'm at a loss for words.

Silence is my prayer.

-G

Leviticus 6

Today was a day full of scripture.  And work.  I'll start with Leviticus 6.

According to verse two, if someone deceives his neighbor, or is in any way false toward him, he is guilty of sin.  That falsehood equates an unfaithfulness to the Lord.  If a sin was committed in this manner, not only was restitution required, but also an extra fifth.  And those are only the requirements as far as his neighbor is concerned.  He must then bring a guilt offering to the Lord.

The system was set up to make things right.

Next comes the burnt offering.  Three times the Lord repeats the same thing: "the fire on the altar must be kept burning."  Doesn't God require the same of us today?  A perpetual sacrifice? One that 'burns' without ceasing?

I want to quickly hit two verses that the Lord showed me today.

The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.

1 Corinthians 2:14

The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.

Psalm 119:130

Patience.

Sometimes we become frustrated when brothers and sisters are developing slowly, or just don't seem to be making progress at all.  Likewise, we try to preach the Good News, yet our ministry seems to be completely ineffective.  Just be patient, in time the Word of God will do it's work.

Blessed are those whose ways are blameless,

who walk according to the law of the LORD.

Blessed are they who keep his statutes

and seek him with all their heart.

They do nothing wrong;

they walk in his ways.

You have laid down precepts

that are to be fully obeyed.

Oh, that my ways were steadfast

in obeying your decrees!

Then I would not be put to shame

when I consider all your commands.

I will praise you with an upright heart

as I learn your righteous lasw.

I will obey your decrees;

do not utterly forsake me.

How can a young man keep his way pure?

By living according to your word.

I seek you with all my hear;

do not let me stray from your commands.

I have hidden your word in my heart

that I might not sin against you.

Praise be to you, O Lord;

teach me your decrees.

With my lips I recount

all the laws that come from your mouth.

I rejoice in following your statutes

as one rejoices in great riches.

I meditate on your precepts

and consider your ways.

I delight in your decrees;

I will not neglect your word.

-G

Leviticus 5

5:1 "If a person sins because he does not speak up when he hears a public charge to testify regarding something he has seen or learned about, he will be held responsible."

How many times do we break this commandment.

Father thank you for this weekend.

I'm beat.  The only way i'm gonna make it to tomorrow is by your hand.

I'm not beat.  Just weary.  Because you are my victory.

-G

A Day at Amazing Jake's

Leviticus 4

A sin offering took place, all of the fat had to be removed from the offering.  Why is that? Only the meat was burned. Odd.

Today will just have to be a little shorter.  Setting up for the Black Eyed Bees, watching practice, eating, playing games...it's been a long day.  But it was nice to be a kid again.  I mean, who doesn't like shooting their English teacher in a game of laser tag? Or knocking them into the wall in their go-kart (not bumper car lol)?   Good day, lots of fun.  Cody winning colorama was a bright spot also.  Anyways, g'night.

I thank you Father, for being faithful.

Thank you for smiling down upon us, even as the world seems to crash around us.  Please give me the strength to find joy in all situations.

Thank you for good news.  It brings joy to the soul.  Show me how to live according to your precepts.  Teach me how to walk along the paths of righteousness.  Give me a joyful and willing spirit, that I may serve you with all of my being.

And please continue to bless Mr. Nicholson and his family.  Please speak to him.  Comfort him in only the way you can.

My mind now becomes flooded with requests on the behalf of loved ones.  This world is such a dark and troubled place Father, deliver us.  We are sheep, alone and defenseless when we choose our own way.  But you are a stronghold, our salvation, our glory and our haven; our place of rest and peace in dangerous times.  I feel foolish God, I don't even know how to glorify your name right.  My words are completely inadequate; my actions bring me only shame and disgrace.  All day I slander your name despite my earnest longings to let your Spirit have it's way.

Forgive me Lord.

Turn my heart Adonni.  Please draw me near to you.

-G

Leviticus 3

This has been such a long day.  Patience on E.  I'm just not ok right now.   But I know I'm about to go to bed and it will all be a new day.  No complaining.

I can't even tell you what this chapter is about.  Another offering, some more sprinkling.

I'm so cynical and tired and...it's time to pray.

Dear God i need you now.

i'm worn down by the world, i'm worn down by my own selfishness, i'm worn down by the negativity of others.  And i don't think i'm really being that selfish, just realistic.  This generation is in deep trouble.  We pursue ourselves through all sorts of convenient outlets.  We have surrendered our minds, sold our bodies, and tainted our precious souls.  And it sorrows me to see it, to see how distant we are from God.  To see how many of us pursue ourselves in almost everything we do.  It gives me great sorrow to read Psalm 119 about delighting in the Lord's law, taking joy from obeying his precepts, and being satisfied by obeying his commands, and then turn around to see his people are often the farthest from these.  i'm done, this isn't beneficial.  Guess i'll go read.

-G

Leviticus 2

Something that stood out to me in this chapter is found in vs. 13.  "Season all of your grain offerings with salt.  Do not leave the salt of the covenant of your God out of your grain offerings; add salt to all your offerings."  Of course this brings to mind all of the verses pertaining to us being the salt of the earth.  It was odd to me that it is such a big deal though.  'the salt of the covenant of your God' sounds pretty important.  Why didn't he just say salt?

Now for my really exciting chapter of the day.  I googled how to pray today, and after looking through a couple of sites, I stumbled upon one that lead me to 2 Chronicles chapter 20.

Random, right?

The author (of the webpage) was trying to show the contrast between our prayers, and the prayers of the bible.  Sadly, our prayers are often very self-absorbed.  Next time you pray, or hear a prayer, pay attention to how many times you hear the words 'we,' 'me,' 'I,' and 'us.'  We come before God asking that he solve our problems and aid us in our time of need.  Not that that is wrong, but wouldn't you get tired if your son/daughter only came to you when they needed something?  We approach God with open hands, and leave with our open hands still demanding blessings.  Our prayers often focus around our problem, stating and restating the situation and our feelings about it.  The prayer begins to be directed to the problem rather than to God.  A majority (i'd say around 90%) of our prayer is about our dilemma, with only a small fraction of our words mentioning God.  Put one of our prayers up against the prayer of king Jehoshaphat (i always thought that was an odd name) in 2 Chronicles 20.  The difference is in his constant and deliberate praise rendered to God.  Instead of focusing on how bad the problem is, he focuses his eyes, his thoughts, and his attention toward God.  Just imagine if we approached challenges in our lives this way.  We compile a list of all the reasons why our problem is terrible and horrible, but if we spent that same amount of time reading through the Psalms, or dwelling upon other stories of God's awesome and magnificent deeds our doubts and fears would be calmed.

Enough.  Jehoshaphat hears that there are three armies headed toward the land of Judah with the intent of destroying them.  Jehoshaphat was alarmed, so his first reaction was to inquire of the LORD, then proclaim a fast for all of Judah.  His prayer will be mine for the day:

"O LORD, God of our fathers, are you not the God who is in heaven?  You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations.  Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you.  O our God, did you not drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend?  They have lived in it and have built in it a sanctuary for your Name, saying, 'If calamity comes upon us, whether the sword of judgment, or plague of famine, we will stand in your presence before this temple that bears your Name and will cry out to you in our distress, and you will hear us and save us.'

 But now here are men from Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir, whose territory you would not allow israel to invade when they came from Egypt; so they turned away from them and did not destroy them.  See how they are repaying us by coming to drive us out of the possession you gave us as an inheritance.  O our God, will you not judge them? For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us.  We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you."

I'll let you read the rest yourself. :)

-G

Mr. Nick

Leviticus 1

Why does Leviticus (or I guess God techinically) begin with the burnt offering?  How is that significant?

I'm so stinking pumped to be reading Leviticus.  It has 27 chapters, but I may begin to double up just to get on to some of the action.

On a happier note, I really am excited to finally have my Rosetta Stone account set up.  Finished the first lesson lickity-split.  I know God does things for a reason; this is why I wanted to have a Bible with the text parralleled in spanish.  Shoot, this is how I got through Leviticus the first time: by reading it in spanish to keep it interesting.

But, as I begin with the mentioning of offerings, I want to take a moment to absorb the fact that something had to die in order for the Lord's people to be reconciled to him.  Jesus was the one who paid that price for us today.

And so Lord, as I begin reading Leviticus, I ask that you bestow your blessing upon my studies.  Open my eyes, that I may learn from the text, that each day I seek to discover more about who you are.  Please bless Mr. Nicholson (I still have too much respect to call him Eddie) and his wife Donna.  Thank you so much for my family...for our health, for our joy, and for allowing me to grow up in a home that was not fractured.  Please surround the Nicholson family with your presence, and let your peace reign in their hearts.

Let your peace descend.

Let your peace fill the holes, let it heal the wounds, let it dispell all doubts.  Please Father, let your blessings flow over them.  Distance all of us from a security founded in the blessings of this world Father...and draw us nearer to you.

-G

Cougar Bball!!!

I have some great news.

The Cornerstone Christian Cougars are 0-1.

Of course that wasn't the great news. (DUH!)

The great news is that Bryan Pratt scored the first points of the season in grand fashion (a fadeaway of sorts after a rebound[he was boxing out!!!]).  The great news is that Luke Pollard hit an awesome 3-pointer.  The great news is that Caleb Cameron racked up a ton of rebounds.  The great news is that Gyumin Huang scored a Lebron-like lay-up from the free-throw line.  The great news is that Tyler Hesslip knows that the bank is open.  The great news is that Kolton Brunson wasn't number 5...it's an S for Super Slammer.  The great news is that Keith Fritz is a magnet for loose balls.  The great news is that Daylan Allen is the new Allen Iverson...on second thought...Allen Iverson is kindof a thug...how about the new Acie Law?!

I'm proud of our young men tonight.  Undermanned, outsized, and unwilling to let these or any other obstacles get in their path.

I salute you, men of courage.

Keep fighting, and never...never lose heart.

Set Apart

Exodus 40

So once the tabernacle was completed, God's presence descend and fill it in the form of a cloud.  I wonder why it was a cloud? There was also fire in the cloud at night.  Pretty cool, huh?  But then comes the important part...it was "in the sight of all the house of Israel during all their travels."  It was important that the people saw the glory of the LORD, that they understood that he was present at the Tent of Meeting, and that anytime the cloud (aka the presence of the LORD) lifted, the Lord's people were supposed to get up and follow!

As a side note...I love this word consecrate.  It pops up so many times in the old testament.  God's chosen leaders are constantly urging the people to consecrate themselves, and any time they did, the Lord let his power and might flow unbridled throughout Israel, demolishing any of their foes.  Psalm 28:8 The LORD is the strength of his people, a fortress of salvation for his anointed one.

 

I often revel in this salvation, this consecration that we, as Christians, undergo as a result of the blood of Christ.  Unfortunately, I am all too eager to identify myself as a sanctified priests, yet it is a tragedy that I am seldom willing to properly consecrate myself.  My consecration lacks finality.  I neglect my priestly duties because I...

Because I...

Most Holy and Righteous Father,

     I'm sorry for the minutes...and the hours...and the days...and the years I've spent running from you.  I hate the worldy things that I have so often turned to in an attempt to find satisfaction.  Please give me the strength to pursue you with a heart that yearns to understand what surrender means.  I long for a heart that has no room for earthly desires, but beats only to carry out your Will.  Because when life is over that is all that really matters.

Thanks for listening.

-G

Exodus Chapter 39

     So I decided that it would be a good idea to reflect on my daily chapter reading through this blog.  I have been trudging through the specifications of the tabernacle recently, and thankfully I am near the end.  Of course, Leviticus is next, but I'll climb that mountain when I get there.

Now back to Exodus 39.

This chapter is about the clothing of the priests.  I honestly skimmed through most of it, as it tends to be redundant at certain points.  I thought it was interesting that the headpiece they wore had 'HOLY TO THE LORD' engraved on it.  Holy...dedicated to and set apart for God.  What do I know of holy? Nada.

Gotta get to bed.  Gotta stop having wasted days.

-G

Something Different in the Air

Praise be to God our Father, the Giver of all things good.

I have started new posts 6 or 7 times since my last post, only to become trapped in a never-ending cycle of editing and revision that is truly unnecessary.

So this one is for real.

Rain has always been one of my favorite things in the world.  Naturally, this drought has been a weight upon my soul, a burden I'm sure the farmers, ranchers, and land owners of this nation feel a hundredfold greater than I do.  However, recently the Lord has opened up the sky, reviving the earth and the souls that dwell upon it.  I know it is likely far to late to benefit many crops, but it is a reminder that the unmerciful days of summer are finally beginning to yield to crisp autumn.

So begins another season of life.  A time when the leaves, temperature, and atmosphere undergo significant change, and I am forced to pause for a moment to reflect on the time passed, and how that affects my present in relation to who I want to be in the future.

I opened the book of Proverbs again a couple of days ago, eager to be filled with words a little heavier than the empty chatter of the television, the deceptive verses that clutter our music, and the often hollow words that we make-believe gives glory to God and furthers His Kingdom.  I see now, with the changing of the seasons, why my faith had been so shallow and meaningless...ultimately ineffective...recently.

The mocker seeks wisdom and finds none, but knowledge comes easily to the discerning.

-Proverbs 14:6

I realized that this verse applied directly to me (as all verses do, something I think we generally know but seldom actually believe).

Mocker: A counterfeit; one who challenges or denies.

Discerning: Showing outstanding judgement and understanding.

I asked and searched for wisdom constantly, but only now realized that it was impossible for me, a fake counterfeit, to attain it.  I was lovingly forming chains that bound me to finite things rather than my eternal Father. 

Praise be to God above, he opened my eyes.  I just had to see the seasons change.

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you for your revelations and your grace that keeps no record of wrongs.  Please continue to open my eyes to see you in everything around me.  However, do not let me become satisfied with these visions alone.  Rather, fill me with a hunger and a thirst, an urgency for my neighbor.  One that will not allow me to keep my mouth shut while sorrow and pain run rampant in this world, but compel me to speak words of life.  Thank you for the rain, for delivering me, and for loving me despite myself.  You are truly too good to me.

Your Child,

Greyson

Praying for the Lord's People

Verse of the day comes from Ephesians 6:18-20.  I have never really dwelt upon this passage, most likely because it is preceded by the armor of God, and is followed by the final greetings of the letter; you know, those closing statements with specific names that just beg to be skimmed over.  Yet here it is, nestled inbetween:

 ¹⁸ And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. ¹⁹ Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, ²⁰ for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

Keep on praying for all the Lord's people.  Because you know your brothers and sisters throughout the world are undergoing the same trials, and are being held captive by the same sins (2 Peter 5ish...i think).

I call up Devin Calhoun, and we start catching up and begin to pray before we hang up.  And as i am listening to Devin pray, suddenly Matthew 18:19 appears in my mind.  

¹⁹ “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.

At that moment peace came over me.  My eyes were opened, and i knew without a doubt that in that moment God was showering his blessings (in His own way, not necessarily worldly blessings mind you) down upon the people Devin was praying for.  Devin may have been the one actually speaking, but my soul was a mirror reflecting his pleas for peace and strength to rest on God's children.  I relaxed as God assured me that it was all in his hands, all we had to do was ask.

Prayer (as well as scripture, and probably many more things actually) has divine power (2 Cor. 10:4).

Dear God, i ask as the apostles did: 'Teach me how to pray'.

God Puts People in Places for Reasons

Sounds kinda stupid huh?  But it's true!

God puts certain people in very particular places for crucial and life-altering purposes.

I was reminded of this when I was sitting in the waiting room and Grandma Looch told a story from the delivery room.  The nurse who was assisting in the delivery told my aunt that she looked quite familiar, to which my aunt replied that she remembered her from an interview.

Linda's job is to oversee and execute the hiring of new nurses in several Houston hospitals.  She hired this woman!

More later.

Maybe.

Babygirl

My family seems so far away now.  That moment...retracing my steps over and over again in the hall corridors...it all seems like part of a dream.  I am miles and miles away from this morning, when I was able to stroke the beautiful, curly black head of my new cousin with her Dad and my sister. I wish I was still there, praying for HOLT,BABYGIRL and drinking deep from the well of my family's joy.

Yet life must go on, and in fact does.

Quickly.

Yet these brief moments force me to look beyond myself and realize that life is very important; that it is ultimately these moments that make us alive.

1) Watching the sunset from the top floor of MD Anderson with Josh.
2) Grant's face coming out of the delivery room.
3) Fresh fruits from the roadside.
4) A bird's eye view of 6.
5) Shade from the sun at the park, and fuzzy's tacos after a long, hot summer, all while speaking about God.
6) Working on the ceiling fans with Grandpa Holt.



This morning I beheld a pure life.

I touched it with my own hands.

Thank you, Babygirl, for reminding me I have a heart.

Waiting on a baby...

As I pace the halls of this hospital the gravity and importance of each and every day weighs heavy upon me. Just a few days ago I was a quarter mile away with Josh and Samantha. They stare death in the face every single day. My heart aches for them, for the trials that only seem to worsen, for the precious seconds and hours and days that they must helplessly watch pass by.
But then my throat tightens and my stomach twists as the gravity of Sam's words punch me in the gut:

"God chose me"

You mean to tell me you are dying of a rare cancer at the age of 21 and you are joyful because 'God chose you'?!?!

Well I can't say that I understand that feeling, or will ever have the measure of strength I saw displayed by Josh and Sam. But I believe they have learned a lesson I am only beginning to learn.

That life is a gift.

That each day is precious.

I'm ready for your first day little one.

I keep opening my Bible looking for some magnificent prayer or words of comfort.

But in this moment,as I hear the code blue announcement, I am reduced to nothing more than this simple prayer: "Your will be done Lord. Please, please dear God, protect my family. And now I turn it over to you. It was in your hands to begin with."