My Hiding Place

Thankful for our congregation.......

With Thanksgiving soon to be upon us, my heart’s desire is to express my thankfulness for you as a congregation. I have truly felt the prayers and the love of many church members during the past few weeks. Thank you for all your cards and letters of endearment---they have meant so much to me. Recently, Paula and I had the opportunity of going by the church sanctuary alone one night------- just to pray. However, we needed to go back and give our calling to Brent Baptist Church back to the Lord. As we came before the Lord and we began to weep over recent events, we were overcome with how even though the sanctuary was empty, it seemed so small and on Sundays when it is full it can seem so big. The aisle that one must take to come to the altar is yet only a few feet but so many hold back. Dearest Church, God has loved you with an unconditional love. His grace is all you need and it is there waiting just for you! As your Pastor, my heart is burdened for so many who are hurting and for many who need to lead a more yielded life for Jesus. It pains me as I see it in your faces but we are encouraged in Hebrews 4:16, to “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Paula and I went to receive grace and peace that surpassed all understanding. What do you need to go back to the altar for today? Bro. Greg

Storing up for the winter.....

This time of year, I always seek to prepare our home for winter. I normally stock up on candles, flashlights, extra food and toilet tissue. I do this mainly because I have found myself buried in snow with no electricity with all five kids and believe me it was no fun. So, I have learned to always "be prepared". Ironically, I had a few minutes to sit down at my kitchen table and watch my squirrel friends. For those of you who know me well, also know that I am fascinated with squirrels and have taken numerous pictures of them. However, this squirrel on a bright sunny day was doing what? He was storing up for the winter! I actually watched him bury 3 nuts under our swing set! He then meticulously, with his little hands moving ever so quickly, dug the hole, buried the nut and very creatively covered the hole with dirt and then placed a pretty leaf over the spot. I then began to really think about what all we as Christian store up. Sometimes we store up anger, bitterness, resentment and hurt. We can even store up our joy and laughter by not sharing our experiences with others. So, I pose the question--what are you storing up? What do you need to lay down and bury at the feet of Jesus? Where are you storing your hurts? Where are you offering up your joy? Have you meticulously buried something in your heart and then covered it up with a pretty leaf? Oh, how we all need to allow God's grace to flood over our souls. We need to turn loose of what we are holding onto and then store up God's grace so that we may then bestow God's grace onto others.

Romans 5:5.... and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.....

Grace to just begin!

For so long we have contemplated over the idea of beginning a blog. Ridiculous, I know--we just need to do it. It is a big committment. Once you start, it can seem daunting. However, God has laid it upon our hearts to use our blog as a ministry tool to encourage, uplift and edify others in the faith. We want our readers to know that Jesus is there for them--no matter what they are going through. He is just waiting to pour out more grace upon them to carry them through. May God's grace ever be so present in your life.