The Sailors Family

The less we are mesmerized by human voices, the more we are able to hear the Divine Voice.  -Richard Foster in Prayer

Sometimes it’s better to just be silent.  To listen.  To dwell.  To hear (To know).

It’s a practice not easily learned for all.  It was not an easy lesson for me.

As a young man, I would often argue with my dad and others.  Now that he is gone, I wish I would have listened more and offered less.  I thought I always had the right answer.  “Get a little bit of ‘Schooling’” he’d say, “and you think you know it all!”  Man I wish I had those times back.

I feel that way too about many of the men and women I’ve been around.  In small groups, Sunday School or many other environments, I would usually be the first to offer something.  I would “pose” as though I knew something and rattle off all types of things.  I wanted to be known as smart; someone you should listen to.  More of an ‘arm chair’ stance rather than coming from a place of experience or even knowledge sometimes.  I would even out right lie in order to seem smart.

Like I said, it took many years to learn to be silent.  It took a lot of pain and hurt.  Many people I hurt and many people who hurt me because of my offerings at an untimely moment.

Over the last several years I have been on the journey to master the discipline of silence.  There is still much to learn and it is not easy, but I am having some success (or so I am told).  With that silence, God is granting me wisdom (too, a journey) where now I am learning to offer words from a place of experience and knowledge, referring to someone who knows about a certain subject when need be or plainly saying, “I don’t know?”

Wow… how much pressure it takes off a person when they don’t have to have “all the answers.”  It’s great to be a part of a community like New Wilderness Adventures where I can be “me.”  Being a part of this community has taught me to be “me” everywhere else too.  I think Eldredge said in one of his books. “Let the world feel the weight of your glory!”

Being silent has drawn me closer to God too.  It’s funny but silence with God is synonymous with “hearing.”  It takes unplugging for me to hear most of the time.  And hearing, well that is a whole “nother” discipline.  

Mother Teresa once said:

We need to find God, and he cannot be found in noise and restlessness.  God is the friend of silence.  See how nature - trees, flowers, grass - grows in silence; see the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence…. We need silence to be able to touch souls.

Think about Christ.  He lived as a carpenter for 30 or so years before He choose to bring His ministry to the front.  For me personally, my time has yet to come.  I am in the company of great men at NWA as well as the allies around us.  I am excited to offer as God allows me to, but I am equally as excited to listen, learn and to hear!

Lord please continue to teach me the wisdom and discipline to be silent and to hear and to know when to offer from a place of wisdom, knowledge and strength!

“Be still, and know that I am God” Psalm 46:10

“Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue.” Provers 17:28

A great resource on this subject is: Power of Your Words by Robert Morris

Tags: Growing Up, Hearing, Silent Learning

The other day was really tough for Jackson and us as parents.  He found out he was going to be a big brother.  He was at Child Watch at our local YMCA and a kid their wouldn’t share with him.  This really hurt his feelings since we have been very animate about him sharing with his friends.   On top of all the changes we’ve been going through lately with the new house, living somewhere different etc…

All this, and the fact that he is 3 and is testing his limits, caused him to act up and have some bad behavior.  It was a tough day all around.  Lots of different punishment and understanding on our part to try to help and love him through the day.

Well after Jackson went to bed, Kryssy and I discussed the day.  Things we did right and things could have done better, areas we were wrong in, and our general desires for our Children etc….  It was a very emotional time and in a few short moments we hear Jackson.  He is awake..

YES!  We both really wanted to love on him and hold him.  It was like a competition to get to him, a wild race to see who could rescue him from his pooped diaper or whatever the issue was.  The discussion was done.  It was time for love!

Then God really spoke to me.  I felt Him say: “See, this is how I feel about you!  I want you to want me, so I can rescue you!”

I thought about the prodigal son (not that Jackson is that…may it never be) but about the Father in the story running to him and killing the fatted cow, putting the kingly robe on him and giving him his ring all in celebration of his return.

God loves us and desires to be with us.  To run to us.  To rescue us.  Is it too late?  Have you went to far?  No.  Not at all.  Christ Love can take care of everything.  Let God run to you!  I’d like to tell you how.  greg@newwildernessadventures.com 

Tags: God's Love

If you are around New Wilderness Adventures very long you will hear us talk a lot about walking with God, or following the “Wild Goose.”

“The wild goose embodies the untamable and unpredictable nature of the Spirit and is a reminder that the Spirit is a disturber as well as a comforter. It is a symbol for the Holy Spirit used by the Celtic peoples of Ireland and Scotland.” -Mark Batterson

It sounds so simple… just walk with God. We of course mean by that, that in a relationship you journey together… some place. Maybe it is getting to know someone better or it is being in a common mission, at any rate, it has movement and presupposes hearing, talking, knowing etc… “Relationship!”

The Holy Spirit is a disrupter. God wants you to know the truth, wants you free. There was a time several years ago that I was going through quite a lot of depression. I was doing a lot of lying at the time to cover it up. I lied to my employer and my employer found out about it. Called me on it. I was scared. He was very redemptive toward me yet very firm. It was a wake up call. A jog back to reality. It was a big disruption.

My friend Allison says, “A disruption for me is anything that gets me so completely unwound emotionally that it consumes me. Working for a newspaper and being mother to a small child, I’m used to getting “interrupted.” Disruption is more negative than that - word that a family member is sick, I’m going to have work late unexpectedly.

Sometimes…it is a good thing. Because often what I consider as a disruption turns out to be a mere interruption to allow me to focus on what’s truly important.”

Big D says, “I think a disruption is a lot like a distraction. Happens sometimes when you least expect it, and other times you put yourself into situations that you know will only lead to a disruption or distraction.

A disruption can also bring about change in your live. I remember a huge disruption in my life almost 3 years ago but it was totally positive and the outcome continually gets better. There are still small battle disruptions that can be negative but all things work out for the glory of God.”

This is what Ben had to say, “A disruption is an opportunity for change. While many times it may appear a bad thing, it’s always a time when God wants to show that He has all things under His control, and He will take the things that satan intends for evil to use for God’s Glory. I’ve learned much about when something unplanned happens to look for how God wants to use it.

An example from my recent trip to Yellowstone. We had planned out the day to go up around Mammoth Hot Springs and down to Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. Once we arrived at Mammoth Hot Springs we discovered that the road we were going to take to the Grand Canyon was closed. We had specifically planned that route to go through prime grizzly country, hoping to spot one. We could have been frustrated and upset, but we trusted that God had something else planned. We returned the way we came, and we found a fantastic opportunity to see a grizzly.

Also, on a missions trip to Africa we got stuck in Paris for 2 days (darn the bad luck ). Our first night half our group was upset and frustrated, and they went straight to bed. The other half of us looked at each other and said “we’re in Paris, we’re heading to town!” We had the opportunity to attend mass at Notre Dame, one of the most amazing experiences in my life. It was a reminder for me of deep things about God that I often forget. Those who were upset and frustrated at the disruption missed one of the most memorable things on the trip.

God uses all things to His Glory, even when it appears all is lost. He redeems everything that satan intends to use against us, making a fool of him. We just need to be paying attention to how God wants to work.

It’s all part of the adventure. We can allow the disruption to frustrate us and miss what God wants to do. Or we can look for the opportunity, trusting that God has a reason for allowing it.”

Dawn added, “Life is full of disruptions…Good and bad. An example of a disruption for me is My husband interupting me during worship time at church to tell me something that 1. I already knew and 2. that could have waited untill later…LOL But it seemed important enough to him to interupt me…so I took note. Listening intently rather than getting mad. Our … Read MoreREACTION to lifes disruptions say quite a bit. This I have learned also directs the affect a disruption can have. Life would be so mundane and boring without disruption of some sort. I know that all disruption is not so black and white…Thus

Keeping in mind that The Word says that ALL things work together for good to those who love God and Are thee called according to HIS purpose. Hes got me Covered!”

Finally, I want to just encourage you. Walk with God. Don’t look at disruption with the “glass half empty” mentality. Look at it as opportunity. Know that God often uses disruption from the status quo to grow us and move us closer to Him. Walk with God my friends. Follow the Wild Goose!

Tags: Disruption, Walk with God

Have you ever said something you regretted?  Or done something and after you were done you said, “why did I do that?”

I know I have…more times than I’d like to admit, we all have. (or at least I like to think so, it makes me feel better)

The other night I was with a group of people and I was joking around and said/did something a little off color.  I stuck my foot in my mouth.  Afterwards I started to think, “wow, I hope no one else heard that.”  “Why did you say that…” etc… usually it is followed by calling yourself names like, “you dummy, you idiot, you always do that” or something like that… I have time and time again beat myself up.  Worry if someone heard it, then begin to worry about who I should apologize to or if I should at all.  Of course if I apologize and they didn’t hear it, then once again.  Yup.. Birkenstock sandwich…

So, what do we do about this dilemma?

2 Corinthians 10:5b says “we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”

I wish I would have allowed those thoughts and actions to come under the Lordship of the Father.  To not have been drawn into that conversation and if I did speak to that conversation, at least bring the light of Christ into it.

I know one of the many questions and concerns that people have about speaking up and not joining in, is the questions and needs for acceptance.

“If I speak up against that or remove myself then I will be ostracized, looked down up and scorned.”

That is the truth… you may be ostracized.

Luke 21:12 says, “”But before all this, they will lay hands on you and persecute you. They will deliver you to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name.”

James 1:14-15 says, “but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.”

There is hope though.  Lots of great an awesome hope.  I stuck my foot in my mouth..yes..I said and did something that was not pleasing to God.  But, thank you Lord that I could go to Father God and ask for forgiveness and be forgiven. (Col 1:12-14) (1 John 1:7) Go here for more info on becoming a Christian

You’ve heard me say many many times that once you become a Christian then your heart is good.  (For more teaching on that go here) With that being true then all that Paul talks about in Romans 7 truly comes into sight.  I truly didn’t want to say what I said the other night.  It was not the desire of my Good Heart.  It came out of the flesh and then I regretted it.  It possibly came from a plant of Satan to mess up my witness with people around me that I possibly could minister to.  God convicted me on it.  But I didn’t and don’t carry guilt and condemnation.  That is from the pit of hell.  Christ does not bring condemnation.  Romans 8:1 says, “there is now no condemnation for those that are in Christ Jesus.”

I truly desire to say what is right and do what is right and have the courage to do that at all times no matter the cost.  I want that for all of you too.  To be a man or woman of honor, of nobility under Christ.

I am not worried about being ostracized anymore.  I’ve done that and made it through just fine.  For you young people who may be reading this, who seem to worry more about being accepted… pick your friends wisely.  You can be friendly and God like toward them without being drawn into their conversations and ways that may be unGodly.  Believe me, it is worth it.

Thomas a Kempis says in the Imitation of Christ, “If thou wilt make any progress in godliness, keep thyself in fear of God, and affect not too much liberty.  Restrain all thy senses under discipline and give not thyself over to foolish merit.  Give thyself to compunction of heart, and thou shalt gain much devotion thereby.” xxi:1

Tags: a Kempis, Foolishness, Right Action, Right Speech

This is the proverbial: “your children teaching you about God moment. ”

The other night, Kryssy, Jackson and I, as well as our friend Cortney and my brother went to the Kings Mountain Fireworks.  They were awesome and we had a great time.   However, while we were there Cortney began to have a tummy ache and the next few days, I also felt bad.

The night of the 4th, after the fireworks, while we were putting Jackson to bed, he said he wanted to pray for Ms. Cortney.  He said, “I thank you Lord for Ms Cortney to feel better!”   Then he said, “we better call her.  We better check and see mommy!”

Of course we thought it was cute and we put him to bed and all agreed we wanted Ms. Cortney to feel better.  The next day I felt a little sick on my tummy and then this morning my shoulder and tummy were hurting again.  Kryssy told Jackson and he really wanted to pray for me.  So he crawled up in my lap and rubbed my shoulder and prayed: “I thank you Lord for my Da Da to feel better.  For his shoulder and tummy to feel better.”  Then he looked at me and said with all expectancy, “do you feel better Da Da?”  I said how proud I was of him etc, but he keep insisting, “do you feel better Da Da?”

God brought Micah 7:7 to mind:

I will watch expectantly for the LORD;
I will wait for the God of my salvation
My God will hear me.

At our home we pray with faith and expectancy.  Our hope is in the Lord and Jackson knows that.  His faith and expectancy really challenged me to do the same when I go before God.  God says to, in Hebrews 4:16:

Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Jackson is bold and expectant.  I was challenged to see the proof in the pudding with today’s questions being: “Does Da Da feel better?”

YES

Tags: Children, Jackson, Praying

I’m introducing a New Category to my blog called: “Guest Series” where I will have people that have impacted me tell their stories, teach and share from their hearts. I hope my readers will enjoy this as much as I have enjoyed these people in my life.

My first guest is Sue Marotta from Colorado Springs. She is an amazing woman and really powerful woman of God. You check out her and her husband Basil’s ministry at: http://www.jericho-ministries.org/ They have really been a blessing to Kryssy and I. Sue is also the subject of one of my major sticking my foot in my mouth blunders in my life. But that is another story.

Longing to Belong!

Did you know that women have been designed by God to long to belong. God created man, took woman from him, then said, “now be one”.

God’s original design was that we would be one with each other…

Malachi 2:15 says, “Has not the LORD made them one? In flesh and spirit they are his. And why one? Because he was seeking godly offspring. So guard yourself in your spirit, and do not break faith with the wife of your youth.”

As I pondered this I realized that we, women, long to belong to a man, not because we are maladjusted and needy but it is part of our DNA. We long to love, to serve, to please and do it without thought. It satisfies us.

I have watched for years what a woman will do for a man. When it is as God designed it, it is holy, good, fulfilling and satisfying. However it has become so twisted by the layers of sin since the fall that most women are deceived into putting the man in their lives in the place of God. Only to find that no man can fill the longings that were intended to be fill by God alone. There is a holy union between man and woman created by God but it must never come before God. God will never take second place to anyone or anything.

So daughters of our great God, know your own heart. Love how God has designed you. Allow the Holy Spirit to teach you about your longings and don’t let the enemy deceive you. Pray for the men to understand this piece of your heart and honor it because it was designed for them.

The desire and longing for a man is God’s idea. It is to be a shadow of our relationship with God, a witness to the world of what a covenant with God is like.

Sue Marotta, Jericho Ministries

Tags: Jericho Ministries, Marriage, Sue Marotta, Women's Ministry

Take a look at this video:

We have so many people throughout our lives that speak “words of life” to us. Words of love, encouragement, truth, teaching, admonishment and blessings. So many different words that seem to always come right when we need them. Sometime they are painful and strike at our deepest places. I believe that God orchestrates it that way. I hope that we are all ready to invite God into those places.

I want my life to be about giving life. Not taking it. Nor do I want my life to be about resignation or anger. We are supposed to live life. We are supposed to be life givers. God designed us that way.

I am not always a life giver although I have it in my heart to always be one. I have made mistakes and stolen life from people. I have hurt many peoples feelings over the years. People I love and care about a lot. I have been wrong many times but I am thankful for God’s Grace. I hope everyone I have wronged will know that my heart is good toward them and that there has never been a malicious word or statement spoken.

This video was amazing for me. If you will remember in scripture, there is a precedence for people getting “re-named” In the Old Testament Jacob became Israel and several in the New Testament Saul became Paul and Peter was call The Rock.. there are many more. Take a look at this scripture:

Revelation 2:17 (New International Version)

¹⁷He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it.

John Eldredge in Wild at Heart talks a lot about the “new name.” A name that God knows us by and really reflects a lot of who we are. A name that God will give you once you begin to live every day and every moment for Him and with Him. This video was meaningful for me because it speaks to my name. It speaks to my calling of making “kings” out of men through mentoring and guiding.

We all need those mentors in our lives. It does not matter how old you are. I’ve mentored people of all ages. We all have had them at some point or the other. Someone (a mentor or someone looking to be mentored) is always looking at us, looking at what we do, how we act. What are we showing them? As I said earlier, I have not always offered the right thing and I have hurt people, but my prayer is that God would redeem those times where I have messed up and that everyone would seek healing and walk with the Lord.

I pray that we all are seeking God. If you want to know about how to have a relationship with Jesus Christ. Email me!
For more teaching go to iTunes and serch New Wilderness Adventures. Follow our podcasts. I think they will encourage you.

Tags: Crown Royal, New Name, Rev 2:17

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!

Tags: Invitation to Life, Love, Salvation