Summer's Over Already! No More Sleeping In!

"Are You Forgetting Something"

Hey, Hey, Hey,

How are you today? I was thinking and praying for you today and decided that it would be a good time to update you on whats going on with me, as well as a few encouraging words that God put on my heart. I hope that your doing great and that God is really blessing you so much that it's overflowing to other people. I can't begin to thank you for your friendship and love to me over the years. Besides the Lord, you have been someone who has touched my heart and encouraged me more than I can even explain. Isn't God awesome. It never ceases to amaze me how He knows just what you need, and how He knows just WHO you need too. I'm not in any way saying that Jesus is not enough for me, because He is more than enough, but I also know that He gave us each other to bring glory to Himself through our worship, praise, friendships, fellowship, faithfulness, love, and so, so much more.

So what do you think about about this weather? At least here in Maine it has been a very mild summer compared to the past. Actually this whole year has been pretty strange. This past winter wasn't nearly as cold as years past either. I guess it's in God's hand, so I will just sit back and watch. Personally, I wouldn't mind having another year like this one, weather wise. We will just have to wait and see.

One thing I can say about this summer that it has been quite a bit less busy than previous summers. Why, you may ask? Well, a number of reasons really. I started out the summer with a car, a job, and a cell phone, but now have none of these. To make a long story short, at the beginning of the summer my manager asked me to resign because of a few physical problems that I have. That left me shocked because I honestly thought that I was working so hard. The manager told me that due to a little minor operation I had to have on the back of my leg, it slowed me down quite a bit for a few weeks. She said that they didn't want to have a workers comp claim on their hands, so they wanted to make it easier. ANYWAY, since then I have applied to several different jobs and staffing agencies, and have only had a part time job at The Center For Family Business (see picture to the left)at Husson College. Its a job with VERY FEW hours and VERY LOW wages. A few weeks after I lost my job, my car bit the dust. I wish that I understood what it was with me and used cars. I probably hold the record for having the most cars die on me. Its not like I don't take care of them. I always check the oil and have the filter changed when it needs to be. As much as I am able to afford to, I have the car maintained (when im able to afford it is the key phrase here). The only purpose that I have shared this with you, is so that you could pray about it for me. I'm not looking for a "pity party", but rather a "praying party". I think we all could use a good "praying party". Things are going to work out. I know they will, I just really need to learn some more patience. It is very hard to learn, but I will. God is GREAT!

I'm reaching another milestone this Monday, September 4th. I will be 28 years old. 28!!! Come on! Why 28? HA HA! Thats ok. I am so excited about my future that its not such a bad thing. Oh, I just remembered another prayer request. This isn't the easiest thing to say, but I am now officially on insulin for diabetes. It's not that my blood sugar has gotten higher, but rather that it has been too high for too long. I really hated to start. I asked my doctor if there was anything else that I could do, but she said not right now. There is a small possibility that if the sugar comes down I could get off it, but more than likely not for a while. I only have to take 25 units of Insulin, so thats not too much, and it doesn't hurt so thats good. Please pray that God would give me the strength that I need to deal with this in a healthy way.

Are You Forgetting Something

Through all of my struggles and trials this summer, I had to continue keeping my eyes on the Lord. That's LITERALLY all that I could to deal with my problems at the time. I can also tell you that the devil plagued me day after day trying to get me down and to lose my focus. It was tough. I admit that it still is. It was so easy sometimes to forget all of the promises and blessings that the Lord had already given me, and was still giving to me every day.

Let me ask you a question. When you are going through a hard struggle, is there a tendancy to forget the blessings that God has given you. Is it a struggle sometimes to remember what He said in His Word about trusting in Him with all of you heart, and resting in Him. Remember that God says in His Word "all things work together for good, to those who love God and are called according to his purpose (don't forget that last part. it's important too).

May I encourage you to read the book of Psalm chapter 119. It is a very long chapter, but it is such a great, encouraging chapter. The key verses that I want remind you of are as follows:

Psalm 119:16 "I will delight myself in your statutes; I WILL NOT FORGET THY WORD"

GO BACK TO THE WORD!! IT ALWAYS HELPS!

Psalm 119:17 "Deal bountifully with thy servant, that I may live, and keep thy word."

God knows that we're not perfect, but He still wants us to recognize that we can't live for Him without His constant care and supervision for us. Sometimes God needs to wake us up so that we can clearly see what He is trying to tell us.

Psalm 119:9-12 says "Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.

AND DON'T MISS THIS ONE:

Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes."

So can I remind you to never forget His Word, even in the hard times. Use His Word to encourage, uplift, and even correction when you need it.

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Well, thats it for me for this month. PLEASE DROP ME AN EMAIL at grojared@yahoo.com and let me know how you're doing.

Love and Prayers always,

Jared Grover

feel free to check out my blog at: www.beingjared.blogspot.com

The Challenger, The Challenged, and The Victor

How are you? It's been a long time since the last time I sent out a new Chronicles, and I'm so glad to have a chance to connect with you again. I have to admit that I really have been missing you lately. Life has been so very busy lately that any chance I get to stop and relax is a huge blessing. I hope that things are going great for you and that the Lord is truly blessing you immensely.

The pic to the left is a pic that I had taken at this years Maine Republican Convention. NO, this is not a political update on me, but if you want to know anything about where I stand, give me a call or email me.

I am thankful to have finished my 2nd year at Husson College majoring in Elementary Education. Things are going good, and I am doing better in my grades then I ever have in the past. What a blessing. BUT PLEASE don't stop praying because although I am doing better in my grades, it is still a huge struggle to do well. I am facing a few math classes that are going to be the hardest of all of my classes. I have never been good at math, but I am confident with your prayers and God's provision, I will do fine.

Since the last time I sent out another Chronicles, I had the privilege of attending an amazing student conference in Providence, Rhode Island called SICM (Student Institute for Campus Missions). SICM is a week long conference where college students from all over the eastern part of the country come together for a week to have some intense and life changing Bible studies, seminars on how to lead small group bible studies and worship times. During this week, we were all paired into small groups that were overseen by a campus pastor and a mentor. Please pray for Sharell, Veronica, and Demaris. They are awesome girls that really love the Lord and want to serve Him with all of their heart. I had an amazing time getting to know them and bonding with these precious sisters in the faith this special week.I gotta tell you, it was one of the most awesome times I have ever had with God's people in my life. I had heard a lot about SICM from a few of my friends who had attended in the past, but I had no idea how life changing it really was. I met some amazing people from all over the eastern part of the U.S. who undoubtedly will remain great friends for years to come. God did such a work in my heart that week. I really needed it. I prayed and asked God at the beginning of the week to help me to recieve a refreshing and a revival in my heart and mind, and man, did he ever answer my prayer.

For those of you who may not know, for the past year I have had the privilege of living with 3 other great christian guys in a nice little apartment here in Bangor, ME. Overall, it has been an amazing experience. My roommates names are Josh, Buster, and Eric. They all love the Lord with all of their hearts and we have all grown very close over the past year. Please pray for Josh, Eric and Buster, that the Lord would continue to bless them and help them as they seek to do His will for their lives. I know that they would appreciate it. What a blessing it has been to have these guys as roommates. My roommate Josh and I have started a bible study on the book of Ecclesiastes. I have always loved Ecclesiastes, but sometimes we have the tendancy to forget how applicable the Bible can be to our everyday lives. I still remember the first time that Ecclesiastes came to life for me. Pastor Chris Luppino was speaking out to River of Life Bible Camp and I was a camper in Senior camp. It is important for me to remind myself on a regular basis that my life is practically meaningless without my Lord as the center. Solomon says that "All is Vanity" under the sun. Think about that for a second. Aren't you thankful that we as believers can live under the SON instead of relying on the things that are useless under the SUN. It is so easy for me to rely on all of the "things" in my life, and all of the circumstances in my life for my happiness, but its when I look at the Lord that I see my real need, and my real happiness. I am reminded that God is good, and God is awesome, all because I trust in him, and seek to do His will in my life.

OH, and i couldn't end this Chronicle without showing off my cute little niece Mikaela Lynn Grover. I am now the proud Uncle of 3 nieces. Alexis, who is almost 2 and a half, Aireonna, who is about 4 months old now, and my newest niece to be born, Mikaela, who is now about a little over a month old. Mom had 6 boys. She always wished that she would have at least had 1 little girl, well, she didnt have one little daughter, but now she's got 3 little granddaughters. Watch out for grandma. Its so funny to call my mother grandma. Its just wierd. Well, here is a pic of me and little Mikaela. I will post some more pics with the other two beautiful little sweethearts sometime in the near future.

The Challenger, The Challenged, and The Victor

I can imagine that most of you, on a daily basis encounter challenges in your life. Over the past several weeks I have had a number of things discourage me, to be completely honest with you. It is SO INCREDIBLY EASY to get down sometimes. To feel defeated. To feel like you are accomplishing nothing and that you are just spinning your wheels. How many of you can relate to that. That is how I have felt over the past few months. I have struggled with my finances, my job, and some of my relationships. Through it all, I have had no choice but to look at my situations, evaluate them based on God's Word and prayer, and look to my Victor for help, comfort, and encouragement. That's all that I could do.

1 Corinthians 15:57 says "But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." I love this verse, and its nice because the very next verse, 1 Corinthians 15:58 just happens to be my own life verse. "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain, in the Lord."


Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory. See that is what my problem is most of the time. I am look everywhere else to find the victory to my struggles. I had to stop and tell myself that I was looking in all the wrong places for my victory. THANKS BE TO GOD, WHO GIVES US (ME) the VICTORY. THANKS BE TO GOD, WHO GIVES US (ME) THE VICTORY! ONE MORE TIME. THANKS BE TO GOD, WHO GIVES US (ME) THE VICTORY! Its not thanks be to our circumstances, or thanks be to our friends, or thanks be to our family, but THANKS BE TO GOD, WHO GIVES US THE VICTORY. I can imagine for some that is hard to remember, but for me, it is a lifesaver. Over the past few months dealing with being laid off from a job, and having financial problems (whats new, ha ha), and other problems, it has not been easy, but through it all, I know that God is going to give me the victory. Now remember, many times the victory is not always the victory that we want, and many times the victory does not come in OUR time, but in HIS time. That is the hardest thing to swallow. We have got to realize that as much as we think we know when we need the victory, many times Gods timing is completely different. Why? Because He is the only one that knows the best time for victory. Through it all, the Lord has made me stronger and more appreciative of His grace and mercy in my life. Most importantly, He has never let me down, and has got me through everything, from the easiest, to the hardest struggles of life. He can do the same for you. Just let him. Remind yourself to let the Lord have His way in your life. Let the Lord give you the victory or discouragement, struggles, sin, and so many other things. He is willing and able if you ask Him. That's what I have had to do with my struggles lately. Let Him take care of the details of the victory. THANKS BE TO GOD, WHO GIVES TO US THE VICTORY.


Prayer Requests

1. Please pray for my job situation. I need a good, steady, reliable job. 2. Please pray that I would stay focused on doing God's will and not my own will. 3. Please pray that I would remind myself everyday that God is in control, and that I can rest in His care and comfort in times of need. 4. Please pray that I am a witness and testimony to all of my friends and family

Well, that is another edition of the Grover Chronicles! I want you to know that I truly do miss you and am keeping you in my prayers. I thank you for your prayers for me. Please PLEASE PLEASE feel free to give me a phone call at 207-949-5418 anytime. Currently my cell phone is shut off, but if you try to call me in about a week or so it should be back up and running again. Thanks again, God Bless You, Keep Smiling, and remember that God Loves You and I do too.

Till He Comes,

Jared Grover :)