Race Day.

This weekend was amazing! I got to do my 2nd cyclocross race, I played trombone in a musical (4 shows) and I had a hot date! Anyway, I haven't blogged in a while and figured it was about time. Hopefully I can get back in the habit. I am truly blessed :) And SO thankful for it...
BTW, didn't my mom get some great shots? I love the one with the blurry background. I think it's my fav! 

The Power of Confessing...

I'm learning about the power of confessing sins. My friend and I are both learning this. I think what I'm learning in particular, is the power of not only confessing my own sins, but confessing those sins that were done against me.

I mean this in the true sense of confessing when I speak of confessing sins that were done against me. Confessing, not gossiping, not slandering, nor anything that could resemble this in the slightest. The kind of sin that has been done against me gets so easily intertwined with my own sin. It is for that reason that it is confessed... it must be confessed.

What I am learning is to let Christ love me as he lives in a fellow believer. Skeletons, and the kind of sticky darkness that they can be, are the kinds of things that don't get talked about. In the VERY same instance they are the kinds of things that make me question God.

"How could you love me after this, God?!? After THIS? Are you sure you haven't made some mistake? Maybe you didn't see this one in your record book. How could you love me when I'm so vile?"

By not confessing, by not sharing with a fellow believer I'm basically not letting God love on me. I have truly believed that the dark places in my heart are too much for another person's ears to hear... well, that idea - that LIE- gets transferred over to my relationship with God. Namely, that it would be too much for God to hear as well. Fear of rejection basically from people, and Jesus.

Seeing Jesus love me through my friend is powerful. Shards of light got to break up and break into the darkest parts of who I am tonight. Healing occurs with confession. Strength comes with it as well. This only makes sense, because we are all stronger when we are healthy.

James 5:16
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.

1st John 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Greggy-D

Sometimes...

Sometimes, just sometimes...
it is possible to step outside of yourself.
Myself.
And realize that life is bigger than you are.
Bigger than I am.
That God make actually have you play
a role in someone else's life for a change
That you may have the opportunity to serve
in some capacity that is bigger
than figuring out a way
to accomplish your own
my own... selfish desires.

NIV Matthew 6:34
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Greggy-D

I become less... He becomes more.

My life. My wants. My desires. My goals.

Meaningless... if it isn't about God's Glory. Your will be done, oh God. Not my will, but yours. For it's only in your will that I am truly free. Free to live. Free to want. Free to desire. Free to dance.

Tonight, your holy spirit is a radiant candle within my heart. Reading in Hebrews... I'm astounded to think about the heavens, the very stars extinguishing their light- that they too will pass away, but you won't. They may seem eternal, but they are not; You are. You will fold up this heaven and earth like a garment and put out a new one. You have promised me so much Jesus. Help me to live my life in its entirety to your Glory. Guide my steps. Guide my wants. Guide my desires. I submit to you in humble adoration.

Yours.

Greggy-D

My God will not be shaken...

Though life can toss me about, though my emotions can be affected by life... God is my rock. He is my ever-present help when I struggle. In my darkest moments his light is at its most radiant. My God will not be shaken. I have joy in the midst of sorrow. I am his. I am loved and nothing can seperate me from his lovingkindness. If I have something to brag about it is only in Christ Jesus, and compared to knowing Him everything else is refuse. He is life. Jesus knows my heart better than I do and it is for that very reason that He is the only that can make it whole. He made it.

"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written:
'For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.'
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:35-39

Let this truth settle deep into my bones as I rest tonight. God let me drop my burdens and carry yours because you promise that yours is light. I need you.
Greggy-D

Have I mentioned...?

After stumbling upon (quite literally, www.stumbleupon.com) the cooking blog, bakingsheet.blogspot.com, I've decided it was high time I post something on mine about food. After all the culinary arts (and all things to do with food) are some of my deepest passions. The above is one of my most recent concoctions from my cuisine cauldron. Caribbean Jerk Tuna with tomatoes, and chunk avocado served with rice. For lunch I had that with a "premature vineyard" (i.e. read: grape juice :-), but I know it would be good with a nice red wine as well. It was delicious!

Anyway, I hope the pic and the descriptions make your mouth water... It does mine. :-)

Sir Gregory 

too much to think about...

Currently you might ask? Tired and grumpy, but overall it's been a good day. I'm just in need of a good bit of slumber.

We began today's adventure at 4am. That's right 4 am! Tossing and turning trying to get the last few drops of sleep that I can muster. I then head out to do my very first triathlon with my sister.

It rains.

Heavily.

The race is pretty much canceled. What's left of it after the barrage (sp?) of weather is a 5k run. I've never kept pace for that sort of distance so my goal was just to be able to run the entire time. I had 3-4 moments where I walked for about 20 feet at a time... but ran the entire length save for those. I finished it at an average speed of 9:20/mi. AWESOME! I hope only improve with time and more training.

Brunch with the incredibly supportive fam.

And afterwards, I went ahead and biked the course. It's just as well that it was canceled. I got a flat in the process. That would have been pretty frustrating to encounter on my first tri.

Rest and talking with a new friend in the afternoon.

My piano students gave thier spring recital this evening and I couldn't be prouder of them. They played wonderfully!

Leading on into the evening...

A buddy of mine was having his engagement party. I was more than happy to be there. Even though there was a good handful of folks that I didn't know there. Good food, good visiting, and a bit of karaoke. The older crowd (parents and the like) left and it was us "young-uns" left at the lake.

My sentiments? I think that if someone is going to drink excessively, then they automatically give up thier rights to get what they want and care for themselves. It reduces them to a state of infancy - complete with temper tantrums. Understandably, I'm WIPED because of the long day, and I'm just looking to go to bed. Karaoke continued well past inebbriation, and then the "liquored-ups" thought it'd be a fun idea to go out past 1am on the boat and cart around a bit. Does anyone else think this is a BAD IDEA? Eulogys don't need to be written after an engagement party. One of the sober folks took action by hiding the keys. That was good.

Sleep still wasn't happening because of all the drama, so I just left and drove home. 20 mins. (For the record... not the best idea to wake someone just to tell them they can sleep somewhere else. Why wake them?) I know my irritation has a lot to do with my perspective though.

So, tired and grumpy. But overall good day.


Following God is at my heartbeat right now. Specifically wondering about his direction for me in the future... :-/

So much on my mind, and it's a good thing that I'm headed to bed now. Rest will do this weary body and soul a lot of good.

May blessings arise for you and yours. Seek out Christ.