Feb 16 2009
The Invitation
This past weekend, Kryssy and I were really blessed to have the opportunity to go to Bonclarken Conference Center in Flat Rock NC. It definitely was God’s blessing because they provided us a place to stay in their new Lodge as well as a meal. We really had a restful time. This was not something I had planned. I was out doing some scouting for a Marriage Conference for NWA and while talking with them on the phone, they invited us to stay as their guest. It was a cool and God sent invitation.
It was an Invitation to Life!
Christ says in John 10:10b that, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” Go and search scripture, over and over we see an Invitation to Life. However, many people choose the opposite and many people think that Christianity is not about life, joy and happiness but a set of rules and regulations that will take life away and make things miserable. On the contrary.
This seems to be a constant conversation I am having with non-Christian friends. They will say to me, “Greg, how are you and Kryssy so happy?” With the assumption being that because we live off of little to nothing and that they assume that being “devout” means boredom and hellacious rules… Once again, on the contrary…
Kryssy and I are so happy because our hope is in the Lord and we believe contentedly in his promise that he “will never desert you (us), nor will I ever forsake you (us).” Hebrews 13:5 And he hasn’t!
Kryssy and I are extremely blessed and happy. Yes scripture has “rules” as one might say. But as I tell people that ask me about this, it’s not about the “rules” it is about the “relationship,” because when you know that God’s heart toward you is good; that he is not trying to squash you or throw lightning bolts at you, the “rules” are really not “rules” at all but rather like a highway map leading you to your destination. “Rules” are not guilt or condemnation but rather instructions for a happy and good life! Romans 8:1 says, “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
Recently Kryssy and I started dieting. I have always hated dieting. It was like hell to me but I knew it was time. Back in the fall I weighed myself and I was up to 250lbs+. Wow.. I am only 5′10″. Which the book says I should weigh like 165lbs. (I’m shooting for 190lbs) 250lbs was too much and I had been feeling bad, sick and not good. No energy and depressed. I really felt like it was time to do something about it. So I turned it all over to God and asked for help. As Christ helped me through the pornography addiction I had many years ago, I felt Christ say, “take my hand and we will walk through this together.” It was an invitation. “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
As I look over my 31 years of life, I see it full of different invitations. They come daily. Many are competing. Many bad invitations (especially competing for my heart and time in the morning) Some are good, some are great but I think God is in the business of inviting us into His Holy Best. That is what I desire for me and my family. His Holy Best!
The only way to experience His Holy Best is through relationship with Christ. To begin the journey of saying no to the invitations that will hurt you, take you away from God and saying yes to the invitations of life. Your heart matters to God. It needs to matter to you. Do something for your heart! Do it today. Walk with God into it.
I invite you to contact me about this invitation. I’d love to sit down and talk with you about it or talk on the phone and tell you about all the life, grace and love God has brought me into and all of the pain, hurt and distress he has brought me out of!
