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"What Gets You to Pray?"

DrGregory — Thur, 16 Aug 2007 19:12:09 GMT

Dear men of SSC,
Lately my life has been set into a whirlwind with many stressful (good & bad) events that has literally brought me to my knees. I always tended to pray quite frequently throughout the day on a variety of subjects and thoughts that come up. They are short and informal conversations with God. That is all good, however were I did find myself lacking in the prayer department is setting aside quite time with God (whether in the morning before starting my day or afternoon or evening) and just quietly praying to God all of my praises, concerns, needs... For me it has been a lot of stressful life events that has made me realize...God is refining this part of my relationship with Him to bring my relationship closer with Him. I have come to realize that setting aside daily proactive prayer time is much better in building my relationship with God than occasional reactive prayer time!
My prayer for any SSC men that are struggling like me to set aside to for the Lord is that we realize the relationship we are building with God now is for eternity!

"Would You Begin if You Knew the Cost?"

DrGregory — Thur, 21 Jun 2007 16:36:51 GMT

The question of listening to God and what He has told you just recently happened to me. I was at my office when my nephew (who rarely I see), comes in to get an adjustment...however as we started to talk I realized there was another reason he showed up to see me. He wanted me to write a note saying his girlfriend was at my office so she would not get kicked out of beauty college since she has missed a few days before. I could have easily written an excuse and been over with it! But, I listened in my heart and that God was saying NO this is wrong, and my mind was saying "I am not rewarding her for poor choices and missing school!" Boy, was my nephew mad at me! I explained to him that it was not right from a Godly perspective and ethically it was not right and I would not break God's or my principles! I also explained to him about being responsible and if school was that important to her, that she shouldn't have stayed out late the night before. My nephew is a lost child of God and I pray that the courage and trust I placed in the Lord showed my nephew an Godly example that he might remember...now or maybe later?

Day 104 "Learning Dependency on the Lord"

DrGregory — Thur, 14 Jun 2007 16:25:07 GMT

Good morning SSC men!
I don't know if many of you SSC men feel the way that I do, but as I am "growing" older and raising my own family, the trials and tribulations that I never experienced when I was younger, and thought I would never experience; have now bombarded my life! It is ONLY through prayer and TOTAL dependence on God and faithfully taking action steps that has carried my wife and I through the most challenging seasons of our lives which includes (from the death of my earthly father, birth of my 2nd son, stolen new car, 3 miscarriages, financial issues, in-law marriage issues, extended family issues, identity theft, business stresses to a new baby due in October). I have lost 16-18 lbs. and I have to admit the fasting is unintentional (stress tends to make me not want to eat as much and much cleaner...go figure??? God cleanses my heart both spiritually and physically ). After praying and kneeling at the cross and giving God all of my attention, then action steps must be faithfully taken. As a chiropractor (a natural health care provider) I also use exercise (I have 1GB of christian MP3 music that I listen to as I run and workout) for stress relief and to keep the body in balance from the stresses of the "world". This is how I am getting through this season of my life and I will always use this method until the day He calls me home. This is the type of season that will either break a marriage or bring it together stronger. My wife and I want to use it to build each other up, strengthen our marriage and give a Godly example to our children. I told her that I want to look back at this time and say "We did it ONLY through the grace & mercy & blessings of God!' He is writing our testimony (which will be an unbelievable one that ONLY God could plan) of His glory as I type. "Thank you God for loving us so much that you grabbed our attention to bring us closer to You!"

"Running to Your Purpose"

DrGregory — Wed, 30 May 2007 14:25:09 GMT

Wow! Another great topic! These daily devotionals are piercing my heart lately. I seem to be an over analyzer (and once a perfectionist, but children changed that real quick..."thank you Lord!") and have to remind myself..."just start running the race"! Even getting myself to write a response to these daily devotionals was a task due to over analysis. Lately what I have been finding out is that if I just I start "running the race", with perseverance, God steps in and helps me run for His glory! I feel like I am learning to "go up to the chariot".

"Making the Wrong Assumption"

DrGregory — Tue, 29 May 2007 14:49:23 GMT

As I grow and my family grows with time, I find myself asking questions and saying the same statements my parents said when I was a child (that I thought I would never say). Such as..., I feel that there is not enough time in the day to get the things I need done. I am finding that when I do not make time for the Lord and focus on my things, I get even more unfocused, less done and feel lost. I ask myself...Why can I find time to do (xxxxx) and not time to just sit still for 30 minutes to communicate with God? I think Satan trys to keep us busy with "things of the world and ourselves" to make us lose our focus with God and disturb our relationship from growing with Him. I am finding that I need to daily,...stop, listen and follow His path He has laid out just for me to get to His destination, and ignore the constant changing path the world is throwing out in front of me daily that has the wrong destination. Lately, God has been changing my attention from the world and back onto him, I just wished I would have not waited for Him to have to throw out the "warning lights" and would have taken the right path from the beginning! The analogy I use is every day it is like waking up to a fork in the road and you have to stop and decide which way you are going to travel? The way of the world or the way of our Lord? I am finding that it is much easier to choose the Lord's path, then to be constantly hanging "u-turns" to get back on His path!
"Let's follow the narrow path of the Lord!"

What Do You See During Times of Trouble?

DrGregory — Wed, 09 May 2007 16:50:08 GMT

Good morning SSC men!

I decided to go back to this topic because it seems to be what I need at this moment of my life while going through some times of troubles. The question asked was "How could you begin to look past the troubles and obstacles and see the goal today?" The first thing I realized as pastor Ty has stated many times in service is that "it is not if we get trials in our lives as Christians, but when we get them, and are we prepared for them?"

That is the first step when times of troubles strike. We should be better prepared for those times. I liken being a Christian to being a professional "whatever" (baseball player, contractor, CPA...), for me it is being a chiropractor, in that whatever we do as a profession, we should do it 100%+++ with Christ being our focus. A professional baseball player practices daily, works out, eats healthy & many other things we might not even know he does "behind the dugout"...to be the best he can in his profession. I know for me that I want to be THE BEST in my profession! Not to toot my own horn, but my patients do not even know how much extra time, energy & effort ("behind the dugout") I put into becoming that (from taking extra non-required seminars, reading journals/studies related to preventative health, to keeping up on the latest nutrition/supplements and fitness information...). This is not to bring glory to me, but to bring glory to God, knowing I am giving 100%+++ to the patients I serve for Him. But even more importantly we have to "practice" being THE BEST Christian daily, not just Sunday.

The next step is to make goals (written out and placed everywhere you can see them...on the bathroom mirror, at the office, in your planner...).

Then take some action steps to get you going towards those goals. Faith alone without Christian action is useless!

One step that I feel is the most important step, but is a continual step through the 3 other steps I just mentioned is to daily bring it all to the Lord in prayer to confess, repent, ask for His help, praise Him daily and have Him to fill you with His Holy Spirit and the fruits to keep you motivated & focused on the goals you have for here on earth and heaven.

Ultimately, men of SSC; our main goal is to get ourselves, our family and others to heaven. The temporary earthly goals we plan are great to have, but should be part of the heavenly plan to help us & others to be with our Lord forever!

Now..."Be prepared, get goals & get God!"

God Bless!
Dr. Greg

Upcoming Men's Breakfast - Don't Miss It

rdeklotz — Fri, 04 May 2007 19:42:21 GMT

I spoke with Milan Yerkovich yesterday.

He is going to speak on - Reframing Your Life and Relationships

Here is his outline:

1. A new way to look at relational issues
2. Do you have a memory of comfort?
3. Our relational history effects how we view our relationships today
4. How can you be a Secure Connector
5. Harmful relationship lessons impair How We Get Along
6. Behaviors that damage How We Get Along
7. Changes that bring Healthy Relationships

I am excited about this one. Milan has a lot to say to us as men.

Here is one thing I found out about him this week - He has a black belt in the martial arts and is an instructor locally.

We will have to be on our best behavior!

Eternal Perspective

rdeklotz — Fri, 04 May 2007 19:30:24 GMT

I can so relate! To often when trouble comes I get lost in the fog, seeing only the challenges, obstacles, costs, and demands.

I have learned to stop, ask God to help me see like He see's, asking for His perspective, an eternal perspective. This helps me so much, especially as I am making decisions about relationships, ministry, time, and money.

I pray Matthew 6:35 - "Seek first the Kingdom of God, and all these things will be given to you."

It is only then that I am able to rise above the fog, to the 10,000 foot view that only God can give me.

*National Day of Prayer**

Steve — Thur, 03 May 2007 20:47:58 GMT

SSC is open till 4:00 today for the National Day of Prayer.. Pray for our nations leaders...

Are You Repeating the History of Your Fathers?

DrGregory — Mon, 30 Apr 2007 15:30:39 GMT

Good morning fellow SSC men!
Before I even opened this devo this AM, my wife & I were just talking about me being "just like your father", and it was not about one of his better traits. Don't get me wrong, my earthly father was a great father and would have done anything for his 5 children if we asked him. There are many good traits my father taught me and there were some bad examples too, however I choose and try not to continue most of the bad traits, and try refine myself daily to be a better fatherly example for my boys. It's not easy! But I am trying, and when I discover I am about to repeat a trait, I try to stop it before it occurs or stop it immediately after my wife points it out to me. Of course the first option is the best! I find that for me the farther I get away from being with my Heavenly Father on a daily basis, the easier it is for me to regress back to an unwanted trait(s). God gave us His perfect instructions on how to live life and the more I read and reread His words, communicate throughout the day with Him, the more I get closer to being like His image He had planned for me. I ask him in prayer..."Lord, make me more like You and less of me!" God bless, stay close to God today and see how He will keep you from an unwanted trait!
Dr. Greg

A Real Heart Issue

DrGregory — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 15:42:43 GMT

I am using the message board to help get my heart & mind off to a focus on Christ in the morning before just "jumping out of bed and running out the door". It helps guide me and it gives me a way to journal my thoughts to focus on Christ, and hopefully encourage & help others who read my posts. Thanks again!
Dr. Greg

Missionary Work

attentionfreak — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 14:39:55 GMT

Hello Everyone,

I was wondering if the church had any weekend trips to Mexico to help build houses or any other missionary work happening anytime soon. I know a few other churches in the area go to Mexico occasionally to help build new buildings for orphanages. Does South Shores offer any opportunities like that?

Although I am not a contractor or builder in anyway, I believe I could offer my hands to sweat in the name of the lord.

Hope everyone is having a great day.

Ariel Esteban Gimenez

God Really Does Miracles

rdeklotz — Thur, 19 Apr 2007 21:48:26 GMT

Sometimes we are uncomfortable with identifying some things that occur in our lives as miracles.

In college, as a new believer, I experienced something that I could only describe as God's divine intervention in my everyday life.

After a night of studying for an important final, I walked over to the apartment of a girl I was dating to pick her up and walk to the final. As I walked I prayed that God would help me give 100% of my focus over the next 3 hours to the final, and that God would give me His direction in this relationship.

I arrived at her one room apartment at 7:30 AM, and after coming in for just a moment, we walked on to our final. During our 10 minute walk she was anxious and fidgety. Throughout the final I would look at her and she seemed uncomfortable. I just thought she was struggling with the test. I, on the other hand, was focused on the test and felt really comfortable with how I had done as we left.

As we walked back to her apartment, she blurted out, "Aren't you going to say anything?" "About what?", I said. "About the boy you saw in my apartment this morning," she said. "I didn't see anything" was my response.
As best as I can understand I looked right at this young man and never saw him. I was convinced in that moment that God had answered my simple prayer. He knew the pain, discouragement, and distraction seeing that young man would have caused me and He protected me from that. He also answered my other prayer, showing me just exactly what this girl was like.

God had done many miracles in my life since, but this one is still today one of the most memorable

Do You Believe God Sees Your Need(s)?

DrGregory — Thur, 19 Apr 2007 15:58:44 GMT

I use to think He didn't see my needs, but then again my prayer life was much to be desired, so He wasn't hearing me consistently. Then recently He has brought me to my never imagined. I thought I was prepared, I thought I was able to manage life and thought I had given him all of my heart and life after my father's death, but He new more about me than than I did. Now He is cleansing and refining the small portion of my heart and life that I would not give up. I now know that He is seeing & hearing my need(s) with my daily prayers of praise, thanks, forgiveness and requests for simple family needs. God does listen, we just have to "talk" to Him...daily!