Whatever you face, whatever the obstacle, trial, tribulation, or test, worship Him.  The worse things get, the more you should worship.  It is easy to worship when things are good, even the worst of human beings can do that.  But what will you do & how will you respond when things go wrong?  Will you resort to the same old thing that humans have done since the dawn of time:  Blaming others, blaming God, living in the moment, walking by your feelings rather than by the Spirit, not being willing to give EVERYTHING, and I mean EVERYTHING, to Him?  Or will you simply surrender, worship Him, & say, as Jesus did, "Not my will, but yours"?  To worship while hell is raging around you is difficult, no doubt, & even contrary to common sense.  HOWEVER, know this:  worship changes the atmosphere.  And, it changes you.  Step out in faith & worship Him in spite of your troubles.  Then watch as He does miracles.  Perhaps the greatest miracle of all will NOT be what changes around you, but what changes IN you.   

How can I help people see what I have seen, or feel what I have felt with God?  God has moved so powerfully in my life & I want Him to do the same for others, especially in my church.  Far too often, people don't believe that He wants to do that, that He wants to move powerfully.  Far too often, people believe that He is some far off deity, sitting on a throne of arrogance, caring nothing for them or their situations.  People so often miss the small things: the beauty of a sunset, the change of seasons, a cool breeze, the birds singing.  To me, these things prove that God is always near, always working, always moving. 

Tomorrow I am conducting a wedding.  Each time I conduct one, I am reminded of how human marriage is a picture of the marriage between Jesus & His bride, the church.  As Paul states in Ephesians 5:32, this is a "profound mystery".  It's strange, especially as a man, to think of Jesus as my husband.  And it's strange as well to think of Jesus as husband to the entire church worldwide.  But in reality, it is really about relationship.  Jesus wants to be the most intimate relationship that we have, even more so than that of our spouses, significant others, friends, siblings, or parents.  He wants to be first in our lives, becoming that all-consuming passion that so often defines our earthly relationships.  Today, I challenge you to give Jesus your passion and your love, more than you give anyone else.  I challenge you to make Him your first love, and watch in amazement how your life changes.

Blessings.

Pastor 

Hey Guys!!  Welcome to my blog.  I am excited to be entering the blogosphere (finally).  My goal is to communicate more clearly with you & share my heart with you.  As my good friend & mentor Shane Warren says, "You can't over-communicate".  I hope to have an entry here every day, something to challenge you, inspire you, make you think, & help you grow in your walk with God.  Please feel free to leave comments, ask questions, or challenge me in return.  I leave you with this Word for today: 

Ephesians 1:15-19 -- "15 For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. 17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18 I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe."

I pray that the Holy Spirit will give you eyes to see & ears to hear what He is doing in your life.  May you go deeper in revelation today.

Pastor Greg