Just sort of thinkin'....

You know I've just kind of been thinking about some stuff over the last hour or so. I'm kind of wondering why it seems like I get more respect and sincerity from the unbelieving crowd than I do within so-called Christian circles. Around groups of professing Chrisians who are so involved in their church ministries and the like, and have therefore been raised around others like themselves and relate best (perhaps only) to these people, I feel like the blight in the midst of the cornifeld. Maybe I can't help it that our family has had a difficult time finding a church for most of my and my siblings existence. Maybe I can't use the big words or pun the corny religous jokes because I haven't been raised in this sort of environment and don't want to grieve God's Spirit within me. Maybe I don't "fit" socially into the religous cliche that Christianity in America seems to have become. But I do know one thing, I am a Christian saved only by God's grace. That sentence doesn't flow from a programmed mind. It flows from my heart since I know all that the Lord has brought me through but how He's used these things to strengthen my faith in Him. So, when it all comes down to it, I know that wherever I am in life and circumstance, faithfulness and obedience to the Lord precedes everything. In my weak and sinful humanity, I have no way of doing this apart from His grace. So, though I may lack the social fluff, I want to keep my focus on Christ and on living in a way that honors and glorifies Him. Master's or UW-RF, Public college or Private college, faithfulness to Christ should come front and center before anything else in my life. Lord, please help me to be content with wherever you place me, not being discontent, but realizing that you will guide and direct me and use whatever happens in accordance with you plans and purposes for me and every believer. Amen. -Josh

Lord, please grant me wisdom and understanding.

Wow. I feel really confused sometimes. I want to honor and glorify the Lord with the life that He has given me. However, I'm still frustrated by wicked temptations that constantly rage against my conscience and who I am in Christ. I try to constantly repent of these temptational thoughts and that makes me feel more and more sorrowful over my wicked flesh. I guess that I should really take joy in knowing that the Lord has already brought me to Himself and that the sin that still bothers me will only last temporarily. And I sure can't wait to spend eternity in heaven with the Savior who knows and loves me for who I am in Him and has forgiven me for the sinful humanity that still disturbs. Lord, please help me to honor and glorify You in my life throughout this summer. Help my life to be a genuine reflection, not of Josh Gilbert, but rather of the Father who's Spirit dwells within me. Please use me in whatever way you see as best. Amen. -Josh

It's been a while....

Well, I'm bummed that this is only the first time I've gotten around to writing on this thing since I've been home for summer break. Saturday, my family and I went to some old friends' of ours' grad parties-Sean Williams and Troy Lang. I liked Sean's a little better of the two, maybe since we've known Sean since Aaron and I were younguns. Haha. But ya, other than that I've just been workin hard at Culver's. I just put in a bunch of applications and Culver's was the only place that hired me so I feel like that was really providential. It's been pretty good so far, but I hope, and should be praying, to be a better testimony in the week's to come. I just feel like I don't know what I should say in some situations. I guess that I just have to trust that God's grace is suffficient and if I am truly being faithful to Him, He will take care of the rest.....And, dum,dum,dum, OChem starts Lordwilling tommorow, bright and early at 8:00 A.M. I think that anybody would be a little bit nervous preparing to take a class that they weren't able to succed in the first time, but I know that the Lord is gracious and that He works all things together for nthe good of those who please Him, so I really have nothing to worry about no matter how things apppear. I pray that the Lord will help me to be an obedient and respectful son, and encouraging and trustworthy sibling, a genuine example to my co-workers, and a light to dark world around me of His grace and mercy in bringing me and all believers to Himself when were trodding the same empty road as the rest of the world. This summer is more than a break....It's an opportunity!!!! An opportunity to show the world that only by God's grace, mercy, and love is my life any different from the rest. May He be glorified in my life. As I've said before, this is all I want. Just gotta stay focused and I pray that He will help me do so. Good-night. -Josh