The King of Carrot Flowers

        I’m in Tanzania, I know I haven’t put up a blog for some time now, but trust me when I say things have been crazy in a very beautiful God glorifying way.   Yes, I am going to use that as an excuse with why I haven’t posted anything recently.  =)
              
        But let met tell you what’s up… I’m going to be home in two months!  While I am remaining in the present and not fantasizing about America, I have been praying for the Lord to teach me and work in my heart so that when I come home I remain the strong man of God He has molded me into this past year. 
              
        While praying for this I came across this dude named SAUL.  I was reading 1 Samuel and the failures of Saul stuck out to me, specifically the third strike of disobedience with God. 

        God told Saul to destroy the Amalekites, but rather than fulfilling the Lord’s word, he spared the enemy king and the livestock (15:17-11).

        After this third act of disobedience Samuel came to deliver the news that Saul was “out”.  Saul, who was always concerned more about his image before people than his standing before God, wanted to conceal his failure. 

        Samuel, with such great audacity, stared down the King of Israel and said, “Why did you not obey the Lord!  Why did you pounce on the plunder and do evil in the eyes of the Lord!” 

        Just like all men who are concerned more with their image than their standing before God, he tried to justify his ungodly actions by saying, “But I did obey the Lord! I completely destroyed the Amalekites and brought back Agag their King!  We took the best sheep and cattle, we even devoted the best of those cattle to God as a sacrifice!” 

        Samuel, shaking his head, simply replied, “Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice.” 

        Then the beauty and glory of God was revealed to Saul, which convicted him of his sinful nature and ugly heart.  Still trying to justify himself, Saul replied, “I was afraid of the people and so gave into them! Now I beg you, forgive me and come back with me!” 
 

        No!  I won’t let what people think of me affect the way I pray for strangers in Target, I don’t care if I am seen laughing or crying with the drug addict in Binghampton or Johnson City, so what if I am going to miss another year of college, or live a bit more minimally. 

        I love my Jesus so.  I am so in love, oh so in love.  My life isn’t merely a sacrifice so to earn my salvation.  Only a fool thinks they can put the perfect Lord of the Universe in their debt. 

        I do the things I do because I am so madly in love with my Dad that I want nothing more than to honor and respect Him.  I want to obey Him because He is my first and last love.  Jesus is one of the coolest dudes I have ever met and I want everyone to meet him. 

        Traveling for a year and loving people was not something I had to “get out of my system” before I return to the “real world.”  No, it was not a sacrifice, nor will I let it become one.  I am different.  I will always say yes to God.  So be ready for a different Grayson to come home.  Be ready family.  Be ready friends.