EveryLifeMatters: Overcoming Life Obstacles

By Pastor Gregg Crisp and Jode Dereemer

"EveryLifeMatters" is a compelling book about choices and change. Author Reverend Gregory "Gregg" A. Crisp shares life lessons that he has learned through his experiences as a pastor and jail chaplain, while also sharing real life stories of hurt, pain, loss, and addiction. This is a life-changing book that reminds readers that without God, we can never find salvation or the power to obtain strength and complete freedom.

This book shares tools that work. It shares hope and reminds readers that there is a way to break free from debilitating addictions, poor lifestyles, and bad choices. It is possible to change for the better. Pastor Gregg openly shares what helped him transform his life, and what has helped countless others do the same. This is a profound, honest testimony to the power God. The book shares meaningful insight into how to find freedom through Christ. Get ready to start your own personal journey and overcome the obstacles that stand in the way of the life you deserve.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Sep 27, 2021
• ISBN: 9781098396336

Book preview

Introduction

Hebrews 4:12

For the word of God is living and active, and sharper than

any two-edged sword, even penetrating as far as the

division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and

able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

You cannot twist scripture, a verse, to fit you. Rather, you twist, you change, you fit to Scripture. Now, please do not misunderstand, that is not to say that we cannot stand upon a certain verse and make it our own personal verse. And for our life that most definitely can be a good thing when are applying it correctly. John 10:10 is a verse I stand on and apply to my life quite often. What I am saying is that we need to conform ourselves, our situation, to scripture. Then apply it to our lives.

We would also do well to see the whole context in which it was written. Who was it written too? What is the Greek or Hebrew meaning of certain words? Is it figurative or literal? Is it a promise for all people past/present/future, is it an example directed towards a certain people? Is it indeed a promise or simply a principle? God’s Word is full of promises for sure, but not every word is necessarily a promise.

Jeremiah 3:15

"Then I will give you shepherds after My own heart, who

will feed you knowledge and understanding.

This is why we need Pastors: Men, pastors, reverends, overseers, deacons, elders, who will Shepard and guide us in the Word. Trained men, not women. Sorry ladies, but Scripture is noticeably clear that no women is ever to be a pastor or the leader of a church. I challenge you to read 1st & 2nd Timothy, Titus, 1 Corinthians as to the Apostle Paul’s qualifications for leaders. Pastors are to be men. Sorry, but God said it, not me or my personal view. Truth is truth.

The world conforms to God, not the other way around.

Romans 12:2

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed

by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what

the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and

perfect.

Harsh, yes, but the truth never-the-less. Now before you get all upset or your feelings hurt. Know that I do not hate women. Nor am I anti-feminism. However, we each have our role. The world, not God, has blurred and distorted those roles. There are things that I, as a man, cannot do, such as childbearing. There are things that women cannot do. And that is okay. That is how God designed it, and who am I to question His ways? The point I want to get across is: Embrace who you are. Embrace your gender -man or woman. Women have value as women. Men have value as men. Women have talents as women. Men have talents as men. We are not all created equal in our genders. How boring that would be if we all did the same thing, felt the same way, understood the same way. Talk about being a robot. Truth is truth. It is good and okay that men and women are different. I am just defining roles here. However, this book is about, concentrates on, addiction, sexual pervrsion, destruction, death, bad choices, and about the complete freedom and change of heart, desires, emotions, purpose, and goals that only come through a willingness to change and a total surrender to God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. This book is about transformation.

Now I see all too often folks claiming something as one of God’s promises, when in truth it is not a promise. It was written as an example, to a certain people, at a certain time, for their benefit. This is another reason that folks need a good pastor. One that can accurately present the Word of truth.

2 Timothy 2:15

Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a worker

who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the

word of truth.

So, let us look at Jeremiah 29:11. A great verse. Many Christians stand on this verse. Guess what, it is a principle not a promise. It was a promise for the children of Israel. We have it as an example. Of course, God wants the best for us. He wants us to have a great future, but He will not override things like your freewill and choice. And, of course, obedience to God is essential.

Yes, of course God knows the plans He has for us. And ultimately, He will give us a glorious future. But as we walk out our lives on this crazy earth, let us remember that the best growth comes through persevering through trials, not escaping them entirely. And when we learn perseverance, we find surprising joy.

Jeremiah 29:11

For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord,

‘plans for prosperity and not for disaster, to give you a

future and a hope.

Your life may suck, but that is because of choices you made, not God. This verse is a Biblical principle not a promise. God will not wave a magic wand and make your life perfect. Yes, it is true, that God will bring good from any of our storms, and He will intervene if we allow Him to, but often there are some conditions. Otherwise, we would all be a bunch of spoiled brats. Even the Israelites had some conditions on them concerning this verse.

As well, we have some conditions also. Such as, are we genuinely pursuing after God? Are we obedient in all things? Is God the absolute first in our life? These are questions we must ask ourselves before we can expect anything from God.

And we do wrong to demand anything of God. Yes, stand in faith on His promises. Believing, with faith, and gratitude.

Present your needs not your demands. An entitled spoiled child demands. A humble servant asks. Ask in faith.

It is my hope and prayer that through this book that you will be drawn closer to God. Through many personal stories of addiction, death, and devastation I can only hope that you find the same change and victory that I enjoy today.

It is my prayer that as I show you what has worked for me that you will find true freedom and an abundant life. An abundant life that only can be found in God through Christ.

It is my prayer that you will search the scriptures to see if what I say lines up with God’s Word. I do not make everything clear, on purpose, in hopes that you will search out the scriptures yourself to gain the full answer and knowledge.

Freedom is waiting. With God it is absolutely possible. You have value. You are important. I care! I love you deeply through Christ my Lord and Savior.

Sincerely,

Reverend Gregory Allen Crisp or Pastor Gregg

John 10:10 (KJV)

The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to

destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they

might have it more abundantly.

Chapter One

Family Matters

Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Ephesians 5:21

Family: A group of individuals who are united by a blood

bond and/or even by a Covenant marriage. Period!

Family Matters to God!

Romans 12:10

" Be devoted to one another in love.

Honor one another above yourselves."

Through sex (God ordained) the bond of a relationship is solidified. You will create bonds with whomever you have sex with. The bonds can be physical, emotional, or spiritual. See Philemon 1:10b Until/unless you break All premarital sexual bonds, they are and will be a stumbling block to you. Break those chains. It is important that you do so. God created it that way. A bond is formed through sexual acts.

I recall a sexual encounter flooding my mind once. I was in the local jail teaching a class on and about families when waves of reminders and feelings of a sexual encounter from 30 years ago hit me. I cannot even remember a name. It was only one of my foolish one-night stands. But what we did obviously still had a hold on me. Every detail flooded my mind.

As a pastor, as a jail chaplain, I thought I had dealt with all the demons from my past -apparently not. I had to and needed to break that bond permanently and immediately. And I knew that it is very scriptural to break all bonds that can so easily hinder our walk with God and our current life. So, right there, right then, I silently prayed to God. I broke every bond and any hold that person held over me. Almost immediately I felt a weight lift from me. We need to break all our emotional and sexual bonds before we enter the covenant of marriage. It is important spiritually, but it will be extremely healthy emotionally, and even physically, in our marriage. Remove all stumbling blocks.

Matthew 18:18

Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

A husband and wife are a family. In God’s great design (through marriage, sex, emotions, spiritually, and even more) a man and a woman become one. How greater could the bond be? It cannot.

Marriage is a serious decision. From the beginning, in Genesis 2:24, the Bible explains, that is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh. Mark 10:8 says, So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Such a drastic union cannot be undertaken lightly.

So, they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, let no one separate.

Matthew 19:6

There is no plan B. Divorce is a word that should never be spoken, muttered, or even thought of. That word Divorce spoken aloud will bring doubt, questioning, separation, and destruction. That is why a marriage should be well thought out and not based on lust, sexual attraction, or necessity. We would do well to ask ourselves the question, Can I commit to this person for the rest of my life? Honesty is crucial. God even say’s not to be unequally-yoked this applies in marriage.

Commitment means 100%, on good or bad days, on happy or sad days, on prosperous or poor days, on healthy or unhealthy days. No matter what comes your way. Your marriage is a vow. More than a vow, it is a Covenant. A covenant marriage. God does not break Covenants, and neither should we.

In a perfect world the family, a spouse, and children are well thought out by both adults -a husband and wife. Balanced emotion and wisdom with detailed plans and patience. In the scheme of things, in life, families are a big deal. Going-in we should know that marriage through God’s design is a permanent, lifelong, a covenant. God hates divorce,

Proverbs 31:10-11

An excellent wife, who can find her? For her worth is far above jewels. The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. She does him good and not evil All the days of her life. …

Proverbs 23:25

Let your father and your mother be glad.

And let her rejoice who gave birth to you.

Proverbs 19:13-14

A foolish son is destruction to his father,

And the quarrels of a wife are a constant dripping.

House and wealth are an inheritance from fathers,

But a prudent wife is from the Lord.

Divorce is a word and action that should never be thought of, mentioned, or acted upon. There is no plan B for marriage. It is a lifetime deal and commitment. A covenant!

Now, with that being said, there are exceedingly rare marriages where there are no other options but to separate or divorce. Cases of adultery, married out of lust, married for sex, married for poor or for ungodly reasons, addiction, physical or mental abuse, sexual impurity, safety, and mental illness may be good reasons to leave and divorce. God does not want you to stay stuck in an unhealthy relationship. However, with God there can be healing and restoration in every situation.

Sadly, in today’s world, we see more and more couples simply living together. Playing marriage but without the commitment. Covenant, of marriage is not seemingly even a consideration. Projecting a family to the neighbors but missing the loyalty of family.

When a couple is not married it is as if one or both of them still have that ship tied up outside in case the waters get to muddled inside. We can jump in our boat and sail off.

It is as if they left their car in the driveway, running and all gassed up, ready for their escape if things should get rough or unhappy. There is truly little commitment. Maybe it is based on lust, sex, feelings, or financial ease only. A relationship this does not make.

Divorce often happens because, we say that we are no longer happy. God never promised that you would always be happy. But you say that you just are not feeling it anymore. Guess what, there were probably doubts from the start. You are in it for the benefits but lack the commitment.

You know what? Happiness is very temporary. But Joy is ever present. A constant. A gift from God through good or bad times. And life is hard. It is God’s Joy and our commitment that get us through. God wants us to be happy, of course, but only when we are obedient and following Him. Ultimately though, He wants us to rely on His joy. Our lives will be full of tough times. God never promised Us a rose garden.

James 1:2-4

Consider it all joy, my brothers, and sisters, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

1 Peter 1:6

In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials,

Couples, through covenant marriage, with or without children, become a family. A unit, one, for ever and ever. Family is a very deep and important part of God’s plan. For God there is no plan B. A 100% commitment. Good, happy, bad, sad, easy, or hard, there is no turning back.

From the very beginning, from man’s creation, at the creation of the universe God made the family a staple, a huge part of creation.

Moms are very much like Jesus; full of love, forgiveness, often without consequence, nurturing, compassionate, empathetic, with grace and mercy whether we deserve it or not. Moms are a great example of Jesus’ unconditional love. A mom will defend, take undeserved blame, and guard their child at all costs. A mom will lay down her life for her children. In this regard mom’s exemplify Christ!

What did Christ do? He gave up His life! He was obedient to God, took our blame and punishment, took our garbage, and gave His very life for us. What incredible unselfish love. Jesus enabled us through His life and death to be reconciled to God. Does this not mirror a mother? Actually, moms mirror God’s and Christ’s unconditional love. Love for you! Love for everyone that would call upon the name of Jesus and surrender their lives to Him.

EveryLifeMatters!

2 Peter 3:9

The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not willing for any to perish, but for all to come to repentance.

Dads tend to be more like God, or should be, in the characteristics of discipline, logic, wisdom tempered with love, forgiveness with consequence, protection, providing, guarding, quieter and unemotional but loving their wife, kids, and family very deeply.

A special note: Married couples, there is no greater relationship on earth than that of your spouse. Yes, your children are