A note from Greg….
I got to sing and preach at Bradshaw State Prison in Henderson, TX yesterday. While my sons Jeffrey and Sean are in the hospital, I got to share w a bunch of broken men in orange jumpsuits just how real our God is and wants to be in our lives in the midst of the struggle. All that they needed was an assurance that this God thing is real. I had driven all night w no sleep and was exhausted and empty of myself. It was like begrudgingly agreeing to go fishing and watching the fish jump into the boat as over 230 prisoners boldly came forward to accept Christ. Over the last eight years, we typically have been sent to preach to the choir to strengthen and encourage the church body. This was a merciful and gracious gift from God to allow me a glimpse of what is to come. A new season. I have known the truth of Jesus Christ my whole life. I knew exactly what to do on Sunday but had no idea what to do on Monday and Tuesday and the rest of the week. And for a season of my life I was the prodigal son. I was salt that had lost its flavor. By God’s standard, He should have deemed me only good enough to be trampled underfoot. But by His grace and His mercy, what He did was get to work at putting the flavor back in the salt. That is what we are all seeing Him do in each of our lives! As we all go and proclaim the gospel, It’s amazing how often we are taking score and reviewing the math. God’s math in our lives. True worship comes from gratitude! Those Who have been forgiven much, love much. I love all y’all. Some have been given to sow, some have been given to water, it is God who brings the increase. Simon Simon, Satan has asked for you that he may suit you as wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith will not fail, and when you have returned to me you will strengthen your brethren. Luke 22:31
According to Ephesians 2:8+9
None of us have any reason that we can boast. Please know that I am not boasting a single bit here. Except in what God did in my life this week. I am so thankful for all of my friends in ministry, in this genre of music, whose shoulders I stand on to get to go do what God has given me to do.
I wanted to share the story with all of you as an encouragement. This prison ministry commitment that I had was a freebie. The CowboyChurch that I was in yesterday morning is like most other Cowboy Churches in the fact that they don’t take up a love offering. We don’t sell CDs we give them away. According to conventional wisdom there was no financial reason for me to try so hard to get there. With my boys in the hospital and the bus breaking down costing another $800 this week, there were several reasons why I could have canceled and no one would have blamed me for doing so. It was only God who established my thoughts and gave me a determination to try with all my might to get there. I was exhausted and worried and broke beyond words. It seems that that is when God said ‘now you’ll do’ In our weakness, He is strong. Financially, our weekend was miraculous and in ways that could never have imagined.
I am sure that you all have many stories like this. I just wanted to share this as a reminder that this thing that we all get to do is no small thing. And He provides every step of the way! Thank you for your prayers for my family. The girls and I have a few more dates to do here in Texas and will be home next Monday or Tuesday to be reunited with Diane Geoffrey and Sean we hope.
Continue to pray for our friends The Greg McDougal Family…..
