From My Knees

As I worshiped in my Antioch community this morning, God continued to reveal exciting things to me. The Spirit came to me saying "You are strongest from your knees." I've been in the Christian circle long enough to translate this Jesus-jargon into something about prayer. I thought initially I understood what God was telling me, but I persisted to ask for more. Let's explore this together, what does it mean to be "strongest from [our] knees"?

First let us consider the apparent division between the two parts of this sentence. "Strongest" carries a very positive connotation of power. It implies that we are mighty, but in what situation? From our knees. Kneeling demonstrates submissiveness, meekness, and humility. By kneeling before a Holy God we admit that we are under His sovereign rule and our very selves are secondary to His will.

The honest truth is that without God, we are powerless. God is all powerful. Isaiah 40:23 tells of how the strong of this world are nothing before the might of Our God. As much as we flee submission, we are called to it. We are called to be obedient to God in all circumstances. This obedience produces a humility in our souls that gives God room to work. A prideful person leaves little opportunity for God to be real in their lives.

To be strong is not something that we are inherently capable of. Our power comes from the Spirit of God that lives inside of us. Our access to God comes by means of prayer which is direct communication with Him. Nothing in us is worthy, but God communes with us because He wants us! He wants to be the power inside of us. With an invitation of this magnitude, how can we refuse to live a life under his authority. How can we refuse ultimate power. Let us live a life from our knees.
-matt

College Will Do That to You... Thanks Jesus

Coming into my first year at the wonderful institute of Texas A&M I wasn't quite sure what to expect from anything. I had a couple things nailed down to start with, or so I thought. I knew I would church shop for a couple months. I knew what I believed. I knew that I wasn't going to become complacent in my faith, but I certainly wouldn't ever become what you would call "radical".

Well here is a little confession. Everything that I knew has been turned upside down, and my faith has been strengthened because of it. Jesus ended up planting me at Antioch my very first Sunday in town and He has kept me there ever since. Over this semester I've really had my faith pushed to its limits, but not in the way I expected. Contrary to what I've heard, it isn't hard to keep your faith in college - with the caveat that you choose to pursue it. It wasn't a struggle for survival, it was a struggle for truth. 

If you talk to me today, I would hope that you see something different. If you ask my community of believers for testimony of my life in College Station, they'd be able to tell you. A lot of the things I wrote off as for the "charismaniacs" have become a huge part of my life. I will spare you the all the details, but know that I have seen an increase of God in my life in radical ways. Exhibit A, my favorite thing to do on weekends is walk around campus and the College Station area and pray for people and tell them about Jesus. That's weird... or at least it used to be, now it's a lifestyle.

I grew with a "safe" Christianity. Church attendance, service projects, and inviting a friend to D-Now were the norms. No one dared utter the words prophecy, visions, healings, miracles, etc. I've known Jesus for a while now, but I've only recently come into a fuller understanding of just what He is capable of. Jesus is always bigger than how big you say he is, always. 

For those of you coming to Aggieland as students in the coming years, I want you to know that Jesus is taking this campus by storm. When you enroll in this university you're enlisting as a Freedom fighter in this Revolution against the powers of darkness. The battle is real, and it is raging more fiercely that you or I can understand. 

For those of you whom God has sent elsewhere, I urge you to affix yourselves to the Jesus Christ of the Scriptures and to pray for the Holy Spirit's guidance in your life. God is just waiting to show you how good he is, just ask Him.

If you gather nothing else from this essay, heed Paul's cry to the Ephesians. "I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received." Let that challenge your soul. Ask, Seek, and Knock the Harvest is at hand.

-matt

Relentless

When you hear the word relentless, what comes to your mind first?

Got it?

There are generally two different conclusions that you might have come to. Relentless to you could resemble a mighty warrior. One who is willing to go the distance and continue to battle when times get tough, a hero of heroes. Relentless, on the other hand, could give you an image of a hurricane destroying everything that stands in its way, an utterly destructive force. One side favors a bold endurance that Hollywood loves to capture through film; the other of a darker side of brutality. 

Both views describe Our God.

The Father is relentless when it comes to how He loves his children. Jesus speaks of the shepherd who leaves the 99 to come and seek after the 1. The son is relentless when He allows Himself to be horrifically murdered in our place, refusing to give up on the long journey to the cross. The Holy Spirit is relentless as He convicts our souls and brings us to a place of repentance.

You see as a child of the Light, we walk in a confidence that God will never cease to chase after us, no matter how far away we stray. The scary side comes when He wants all of us. I know it's easy for us to talk of our love for God, but it becomes a struggle when He tries to take away "our stuff". Be it good, bad, or indifferent; we all have our one thing that we don't wont to let Jesus have. This ranges from everything from an idolatrous view of women to an overly zealous obsession with football that conflicts with our church attendance. You see Jesus is not okay with having a small part of our lives, He wants it all. Sounds a bit greedy from our perspective doesn't it? But when we really consider it, do we really deserve what we think we do?

If we want to turn this into a merit system then we fall into the red from the very beginning. Since the Fall, you and I are doomed to Hell to suffer for eternity. We don't have the right to even be in the presence of a Holy God because He cannot and does not tolerate sin of any form. We don't deserve that pay raise at work; we don't deserve that new car that just came off the line. We don't deserve to be blessed with financial earnings; we don't deserve to own a car at all. Yet we have been blessed with this and I for one take these things for granted way too often.

It's time we cast aside our Americanized entitlement syndrome. If we truly realize that we deserve nothing at all, the relentless love of Christ begins to overwhelm us in a beautiful way and the Gospel begins to work in our lives. This is love, not that we first loved God, but that He first loved us and gave His life as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. There is no greater love than this, a man who lays down his life for His friends. I [Christ] have come so that you may have life, and have it to the full. [cf1 John 4:10, Romans 5:8, John 15:3, John 10:10]. See what I'm saying? How incredible is this love that will stop at nothing, not even death?

If his Love has power over sin and death, who are we to upstage Him in any way? Who are we to shun his freely given grace? The relentless love of God demands we lay down everything and run to Him. When we think about it, why wouldn't we? There is nothing to lose and everything to gain in the free gift of the Cross.

God promises to come after those who reject this gift. He relentlessly pursues and destroys all who oppose Him. Luke 12:5 tells us that we aren't to fear man but fear God who can throw us into Hell if we choose to rebel against Him. The Relentlessness of Christ is coming to after you no matter what you do. The choice has been given to you, will you run to Christ or will you not?

-matt

Effective Prayer

John 14:12-14.

¹² Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. ¹³ And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. ¹⁴ You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

Let that sink in for a minute before proceeding. Pray that God would give you wisdom and discernment to interpret Christ's words correctly.

This passage has always provoked me, but I haven't ever given it much room in my soul to really work until this past week. I've been doing life with my Lifegroup (my small group community here at Texas A&M) and really diving into the Word of God and the power of the Holy Spirit. As I've grown and progressed in my walk with Jesus I've seen time and time again that He is faithful and fulfills everything that He has promised us.

That brings us to this passage in John in which Jesus tells us that He will do anything that we ask Him. He wants to work in our lives and through our lives. If we believed what Jesus had to say here, how would we live differently? We would become a people dependent on prayer and communion with God.

Whenever a close friend gets sick or we need a good grade on a test we have no problem with giving God a quick ring on our ill-used prayer line and ask Him to help us out, but when we offer those prayers, are we expecting His answer? Matthew 28:18 states that all authority has been given to Christ, Colossians 1:16 says that in Christ all things were made and now hold together. With those two scriptures in mind, we have evidence that Jesus has almighty sovereign power over everything, and thus is capable of answering any prayer. Romans 8:26 takes it a step further and says that the Holy Spirit inside of us prays for us, so in fact God is interceding on our behalf already.

God has an ample and vast supply with which to answer our prayers, and all He asks is that we believe He is able. We are called to ask confidently. James says when we ask God with doubt in our prayers we are like a ship tossed about in the waves. A lack of confidence reveals a lack of faith.

I know I can't fix anyone, and I don't want to. What I do mean to accomplish is that each of us would reexamine our prayer lives. Are we trusting God to reveal Himself in our lives? Do we live in such a way that we need Him? Do we have faith?

I promise you this: If you ask confidently in faith there is no limit to what God can do.  Matthew 17:20 says that we can hurl mountains into the sea with faith the size of a mustard sea. Pray on these things and ask God to come through in big ways, have faith, and He will.
-matt

A Stark Dichotomy

As I read through scripture again and again I find that the line between walking in righteousness and walking in sin is very clear. In John 1:5 darkness is reported to not even understand the light. 2 Kings 9:22 shows God's anger towards those who live in darkness. No peace can coincide with wickedness.

The bible calls followers of Christ to walk in a way that is completely different. Romans 6:2 asks this: "How can we who died to sin still live in it?" Read some of these passages for yourself and examine the vast difference between what God calls us to and how often we live up to that calling. Here's a hint, Romans 3:23 says that "all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God."

I know this post isn't driven by many insightful words, but I ask that scripture speak for itself in our lives.
Read John 1, 1 John 4, Romans 3, 5:20-6:2.

Those are just some places to start. The difference between living in truth and living in darkness leaves a huge disparity. Choose today to be children of the light.

-matt

A God of Prayer

It’s been a while since I last wrote, mostly due to my incessant stream of homework and my fairly crowded college life. It’s a constant struggle to get all of my work finished, simply because there is a lot of it. Not gunna lie, college is a lot harder than I want it to be.

               

My response to this onslaught of difficulties has been prayer. Jesus said that we could ask anything in his name and he would give it to us (cf. Matt. 7:7-11). That’s one of the promises of God that we don’t often pay attention to. In our minds, we put a box around God and arrogantly tell the Almighty Creator what He can and can’t do. Of course, we don’t ever phrase it that way. But think about it, when is the last time you wanted something, but figured God either a) didn’t care or b) couldn’t come through with it? I find myself guilty of both of those every single day.

Paul writes in 1 Thes. 5:17 that we are to pray without ceasing, which leads me to ask myself why I’m trying to limit God by limiting my prayers. If I only pray for the ordinary, why am I discontent when that’s all I get?

This past month at college has shown me a glimpse of what it looks like to pray big and to ask God to deliver, and He has. Many stories come to mind:

I prayed God would show me a church for me to plug into, and the Saturday night before service, He put several verses on my heart, predominately Jeremiah 29:12-13, and sure enough the church I attended the next day talked about just that. God has the answers.

I spent about 4 hours on the first half of my physics homework two weeks ago, and that was doing the easiest problems that I could find. As I was sitting down to finish it, I felt the spirit call me to speak with Him. So I ended up having an impromptu quiet time right there in the middle of my studying. I simply asked God for understanding, and finished the second half of my physics homework, the harder part, in 30 minutes. That was all God coming through.

 I left my bag with my bible and journal in the lobby while I was eating dinner one night. When I realized it was missing a while afterwards, I looked all over my room and then went down to look for it. It didn’t turn up, so I prayed that God would return it to me. Sure enough, I walked into my room, and right there on my bed was my bag with everything in it – the bed had been empty before I left. Miracles happen.

I have more examples, plenty, but those aren’t the point. The point is Jesus Christ answers prayer. Have faith and try it, you might be surprised at what you find.

-matt

Joy

Hebrews 12::2 says this:

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

This verse has only just become clear to me this morning. The apparent disconnect between the abomination that is the brutal death of Christ and this so being God's glorious plan did not mesh well with me. This weekend I prayed for a passionate love to return to my heart. I prayed that the joy of Christ would consume me, and it has. Because of this joy, I now know a glimpse of what the writer of Hebrews was referencing.

As a Christian, we are commanded to always be joyful (1 Thes. 5:16). If you think about it, we have the God of Creation living inside of us, so what reason would we possibly have to be discontent? We lose joy when we submit to the lies of the devil and take our focus away from the Cross, from Christ himself.

The solution is this: Follow Jesus by living joyfully, cast off stress and anxiety cf. Psalm 94:19, Eccl. 11:10, Matt 6:34, 1 Peter 5:17. If you have joy, the world will notice.

John 10:10 "I have come so that you may have life, and have it to the full."

Seize this promise!
John 16:33 "take heart, for I have overcome the world"
Christ has already been victorious, rejoice!


-matt

Undeserved

During my devotional time today I came across a few verses in the book of Romans that are rocking my world, so I thought I would share them with you. Romans 11:5-6 (NLT) says this:

It is the same today, for a few of the people of Israel have remained faithful because of God’s grace—his undeserved kindness in choosing them. And since it is through God’s kindness, then it is not by their good works. For in that case, God’s grace would not be what it really is—free and undeserved. 

Wow, did you catch the enormity of that passage? God has chosen to save people that don't deserve salvation. Grace isn't something that we can earn. I can't do enough to merit such a prize. Grace is a free gift. While we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). Doesn't that blow your mind? We deserve condemnation and eternal hell, yet we have a Rescuer, Jesus Christ, the Lord!

Grace is free, and it always will be. Why waste time caught up in religion or rules? They don't make us right. We are redeemed by the blood of Christ. The violent eternal death that I have earned has been forever stricken from my future. The Cross triumphs over what is fair. God's grace isn't fair. We shouldn't get it by any measure of logic or understanding, but here we are. I stand here today a joyful recipient of the grace of God. That is awesome, and I don't throw that word around cavalierly.

Ask yourself this: Am I trying to purchase grace or am I responding to the blood of Christ poured over me for my restitution between myself and God?

thanks for listening,
-matt

The Acts of the Apostles: An Essay on Boldness

Last night I hung out with my hall and watched a movie and got to know everybody. I can tell that they are going to be a fun group to be around, and this is going to be a great semester. We're all average college students, but Christ calls those who declare themselves to be followers of the Way to look radically different than what the status quo would account for.

In my devos this morning I read from the beginning of Acts, which is a very convicting and very applicable passage of scripture for my life right now. If you think about it, the disciples are going out to the people right outside their front door and preaching the Word boldly. Acts 3:12 says the Peter saw his opportunity and jumped on the chance to tell his community about Christ, crucified and resurrected. 

The disciples hadn't embarked on any missionary journeys yet, they were in their home town simply following the instructions of Christ. For me, College Station is my home, and this campus is my mission field. Let the truth of Acts 4:33 be said about my life, that I testified to the power of the Gospel with my very life. The thing I admire most about Peter is that he was an ordinary fisherman without any specific training (Acts 4:13) yet they preached the Gospel with such passion and severity that everyone was forced to react to them. As a Christian, your life should carry with it such influence that the people around you are forced to respond. My greatest fear for the Christian community of today is that they will become "ineffective and unproductive" (2 Peter 1:8).

Pray for passion. Pray for boldness. To all my collegiate buddies out there, pray that you would be a powerful testament to the Gospel of God's grace (Acts 20:24). In order to do this, we must combat our sinful nature. That means casting aside the fruits of the flesh (Galatians 5:19-21) and trading in our stained heart (Jeremiah 17:9) by continuing to transform our mind through immersion in the scriptures (Romans 12:2). It doesn't matter if you don't feel "called" to spend time in the Word. We aren't called to sit on the couch and watch tv, yet that seems to be a recurring theme in our lives. Read your Bible and let the power of God transform you. The Word of God is active! (Hebrews 4:12) and it will transform you.

Our mission field is right in front of us, and God has equipped us with everything we need to be His light to those around us (Ephesians 2:10). Christ impacted this world in such a way that we are forced to respond to His life. What is your response? Will you choose to accept his commission to us (Matthew 28:18-20) or will you choose to live in fear?

I've made my decision, and I pray that you step out boldly for Christ in your community today.
I challenge every single one of us to begin to pray for the people we come in contact with every day. Pray for your roommate, your suite mate, your hall, your dorm, and more. Pray big and accept the challenge of Christ. We are the body, let us move as one.
-matt

Stronger: An Essay on Human Fragility

I was talking with my discussion group at my Fish Camp about defining moments in our lives. There was an array of major changes in people's lives that really were incredible. One girl in particular, we'll call her Kim, told us about a rough relationship that she had just recently gotten out of. When asked why that qualified as a monumental moment in her life, she responded with, "I'm stronger now. Nobody can hurt me that bad anymore."
That broke my heart, and Kim isn't the only one under that illusion.

We live in a consumerism-based culture that lauds success and power. It's all about me doing better, being more successful, and being strong enough to step up to the challenge. The only problem with that mindset is that it in itself is an endless cycle. You're always working to get to the next level, but you never achieve a the level of success that you are searching for. The truth is that men and women can be strong, but God is always stronger. We must choose not to rely on ourself, but instead we must choose to rely on our God.

You see that's what Kim didn't understand. Kim thought that her trials had prepared her for what she still had to face. Trials do build strength when they are endured, but it isn't enough to defeat the prince of this world. We often try to block out the truth that Satan is an all out war against mankind. It's warfare. The Word tells us that our strongest offense is a firm grasp on the Truth. As Christians, we know that we are broken people that won't ever be good enough or strong enough to stand up against the armies of darkness. But we also know that those armies have already been beaten. We know that Christ's work on the cross and His resurrection from the grave mean that we don't have to be good enough. Christ is supreme. We've been saved from a mindless religion that demands our subservience to a set of rules and a morally acceptable life.

Jeff Johnson sings a song entitled Stronger, look at the chorus below;

You are stronger. You are stronger.
Sin is broken, You have saved me.
It is written, Christ is risen.
Jesus, You are Lord of all.

This is the truth that Kim was missing out on. She won't ever be strong enough, but Christ already is. He just asked that we accept His open invitation. If you're trying to fight your own battles out desperation, despair, or pride I beg you to stop! Flee from those battles and run to the feet of Jesus, who is mighty to save.

Jesus, I am weak, but You, You are stronger.

Your brother,
-matt

Awakening: An Essay on Spiritual Drought

I just spent the past two evenings attending a sort of apologetics seminar that dealt heavily with creation, the fall of man, and the flood. I was extremely interested and am grateful to have learned all that I did. New knowledge aside, this scientific affirmation of the facts of my faith did more than give me the mental fortitude to outstand the creeping doubts. No; this set of lessons awoken my soul.

You see for the past three months or so, I'd been slowly bottoming out spiritually. Time with God began to slowly deplete from several hours a day to none at all. I'd been out serving God and loving people as best I could, but I didn't spend nearly enough time taking care of myself as I should have. Physically and mentally I was fine, but spiritually I just was fading. We all hit these dry spells, but we naturally assume that they won't last very long. Three months later... I can't even count how many times I'd thought that the end was right around the corner.

I'd keep looking for things to bounce me back. I went on a few retreats and had fellowship with my peers. I was a leader on some of those retreats, and was able to live out my passions of leading and teaching. I had a time to relax and regather my thoughts on vacation, and then I had the ultimate spiritualness generator, a mission trip - and got nothing. My depleted tank was not filled.

But tonight I came to a realization. Spiritual contentedness is not something that is come upon by attending the proper church activities, and it doesn't come from living morally right. It comes from Jesus. As my friend Kenny taught us about the Flood, I saw the beauty of God's awesome power. I saw the depths of his tremendous love for men. I saw Jesus. You know when you're in church, and the sermon is preached and God just grabs you and changes your life regardless of the topic, thats what happened.

So now as I go into my first collegiate semester, as I set out from the home, church, and friends that I love; I am prepared for what life will throw at me. One of my biggest fears was entering this next stage of my life on a spiritual flat line, but God is good and takes care of His children.

If you get nothing out of this other than Matt is feeling good with God again, so be it, that's cool. But do consider a few things.
-Only we know what is going on in our own hearts, to others we usually look to have it all under control. It takes an honest self assessment to progress onto the solution to any problems in us.
-God is faithful. No matter how far away you ever feel He loves you, even enough to die so that you could have life forever and ever.
-Be a part of a wolf pack. As me and my friends discussed at an overnight lock-in at a church event, none of us has to do life on our own. We have brothers and sisters in Christ who are more than willing to do life with us and make the hard times more bearable. Without my brothers, theses past months would have been incredibly more painful and troublesome.

I hope this encourages your souls,
-matt

Adaptive Expectations

Hello again blogosphere. Now that I've had some time to process my adventures in Baja, Mexico I feel it pertinent to share it with you, my readers, so that you will share parts of my experience as well as God-willing learn something from what I have to share. To catch anyone else up, I went on a two week mission trip in July to La Paz, a city near the tip of the Baja peninsula in what turned out to be the middle-of-nowhere, Mexico. It was a great trip. We spent the first week working on a ranch with some incredible missionaries and then spent the final stage of our trip kayaking in the Sea of Cortes. I have plenty of stories, just ask me.

Now as with all mission trips, there is a certain expectation that is placed on them. It seems that everyone knows these unwritten rules about what mission trips are supposed to do. Mission trips are supposed  to change your life. Mission trips are supposed to rock your spiritual world and transform your soul. Mission trips are supposed to bring you back to God, no matter how far you've been.

I don't know where these expectations came from, but we all know that they are very real. Yet, why is it that I sit here and seem to see so little life change? Why is my spirituality still constant? Why am I just as far from God as I was before I left? Here is a better question: why do we forced our conjectures upon an Almighty God?

You see mission trips will rock your world in that special way, if God wants them to, and only if He does. We have no control over that. As Christians in our culture we seem to live for camps, retreats, and mission trips to fill our cup for just long enough until we make it to the next event. We grow to lazy or selfish to feed ourselves. We count on these "mountain top" experiences to be enough to keep us afloat. The Christian life has turned into a survival and not a battle.

But, God does not waste opportunities. He is always teaching us. Sometimes, we must adapt our expectations to meet the need He sees in us. That's what I had to learn this time. You see for me, God hadn't planned a grand spiritual awakening. He didn't speak word of prophecy over my life. But I have found that's just fine with me.

Spirituality isn't enough to make us people of God, so we mustn't limit our scope of successfulness to such a category. Anyone can be spiritual, and if you don't believe me, ask around. When we strip ourselves of our preconceived notions, we are able to look beyond any disappointed and truly see what God has in store for our eyes in the moment.

For me, I needed my life to be give more clarity. I need something to strive toward tangibly. Through this need I have discovered what are beginning to become my five core values. Passion, Intentionality, Adventure, Seeking, and Significance.

Passion: I want to be enjoying everything that I do. I want to be sure to be moving in a direction that ties in with what God has purposed me towards. I want to fulfill God's specific call on my life.

Intentionality: I don't want to waste any time that God has given me, I want to live out His Gospel with every part of my life. I want to make every relationship, conversation, and action display a purposeful and intentional desire to be Jesus to the world around me.

Adventure: I was created to be a risk taker. I want to do things others would call impossible. I want to live a life outside of my comfort zone. I don't seek danger, but I am more than willing to wrestle with it head on.

Seeking: I have an attitude that desires more, specifically when it comes to my walk with the Lord. I'm never at my finishing point on this earth. I want to be aware of that and I want to continue thirsting for more. I refuse to settle in my life for simply existing where I am, there is more, and I strive to continue searching out for more always.

Significance: Plain and simple, when my life is done, I want to have made a difference for Christ. I want my life to be so dynamic it is unforgettable. And I don't mean that its all about me, because clearly all of me strives to point towards Christ Jesus. I want a life that matters, not just existence.


So sure, I didn't experience that crazy growth that many connect to missions, but I don't care. There were moments on the trip that I will always remember. There were moments that will affect my life in the near future. Stories will be told. Laughter will be shared. But it all comes back to this adapted expectation.

Jesus does what He wants, no matter what you want. I learned some practical things about my life that I needed to know for who I will become. It wasn't as flashy or as dramatic as expected, but heck, I'll trade my expectations for His goodness any day. He goes above and beyond anything we could ever expect.

Keep you mind open to what God can do. Don't give up because you're stuck in a rut... still. Keep the faith, follow after Him. He wants you to continue to be increasing in your life, but not just spiritually. 2 Peter 1 tells of so many areas we must always be growing in.

I leave you with this. Don't be afraid to cast aside your own expectations and let Christ do what He wants. He is always in line with the plan the Father has created. Trust in the Lord and lean not on your own understanding. His way leads to true life.

thanks for reading,
-matt

Prayer Points

Prayer Points – Baja Mexico Team 2010

Just to keep everyone in the loop. I'll be going to Baja Mexico with a team of 10 students for two weeks starting July 11th. We'll be working with LeaderTreks which means it will be much more than just a mission trip. Here are some ways you can follow us in our journey and support us through prayer.

1 Peter 4:11. "If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen."

Daily Prayers

            Pray for:

·         Vulnerability between team members and unity for the team as a whole.

·         Wisdom for all members.

·         A willingness to take risks.

·         Spiritual growth.

·         A lasting impact to be left on ourselves and others.

Sunday July 11^th

·         Pray for protection and safe travel for the group as we fly into Mexico and then drive to our site in La Paz.

·         Team – Pray for the food team, led by Steven. This is our grocery shopping day and it is very critical we purchase all the necessary supplies. Pray for discernment and wisdom over this process.

Monday July 12^th

·         Pray for a quick adjustment into our new surroundings and a strong first day on the worksite. Also pray that as we promote the VBS on this day that as many children as possible are able to attend.

·         Team- Pray for the work team, led by Allie D and Alex. Pray for boldness and confidence as they pioneer the first day on the work site. The team needs this strong leadership to follow.

Tuesday July 13^th

·         Pray for team unity and vulnerability among all members. Let all walls preventing communication be removed starting with team time and continuing into all aspects of the day. Pray that we become fully united.

·         Team- Pray for the ministry, led by Bennett and Lauren. Tuesday is the first day of VBS so please pray for flexibility and patience as they direct the team and minister to the local children.

Wednesday July 14^th

·         Pray that the team would settle into a rhythm that is effective. This requires precise time management and coordination. Pray our schedule flows seamlessly.

·         Team- Pray for the adult leaders, Ash and Abby. Pray that God would continue to show them the specific roles dynamics they play into the team life. Ask for wisdom and guidance as they help the team continue in the right direction.

Thursday July 15^th

·         Pray that as a team we would press on towards specific goals and continue to take risks as we move forward on the worksite and at the VBS.

·         Team- Pray for the worship team led by Nathan. Pray that he would be able to encourage and energize the team by bringing a contagious worshipful spirit everywhere he goes.

Friday July 16^th

·         Pray that the team is able to finish strong in all areas. Also pray for joyful spirits and encouraged souls that will be confident and satisfied in the work we accomplish.

·         Team- Pray for the cleaning/water team led by Allie R and Ryan. Pray that they enable the team by promoting a “leave it better than you found it” lifestyle in all aspects of the day.

Saturday and Sunday July 17^th-18^th

·         Pray for a refreshing and relaxing weekend so that the team will be restored and ready for the challenging kayaking week ahead of them.

·         Pray for intentional relationships and intentional conversations so that the team would continue to grow closer to each other relationally.

·         Pray for the student leaders, Matt and Steph. Pray that they specifically would be emotionally and mentally refreshed. Pray that they would be able to effectively lead the team through this transition and into the week ahead of them.

Monday – Thursday July 19^th-22^nd

·         Pray that the team would rely on God’s strength and develop perseverance and endurance in the strenuous wilderness conditions.

·         Pray that the team would individually be more in step with the Spirit and willing to embrace new growth and change.

Friday July 23^rd

·         Pray for safe travel on the way home.

·         Pray that the team would continue to impact everyone around them for Christ. Pray that the missional lifestyle continues on even as the trip draws to an end.

Dive

I read through the Gospel of Matthew this week and I couldn't help but notice a continual pattern. Jesus' followers were willing to risk everything for Christ.

Joseph, upon discovering his future wife Mary was pregnant, obeyed the command of the Lord that came through an angel and married her anyway. When God came to him again and told him to flee to Egypt, again Joseph went immediately.

The first two disciples Simon Peter and Andrew, upon Christ's command to "follow me" dropped their nets and began to follow him. They were willing to leave their occupations, their source of money and livelihood, because Jesus asked them for everything.

Jesus tells Peter to come to him on the sea of Galilee. He responded by stepping out onto the raging sea to meet his Lord.

These are only a few examples of men who really grasped what it meant to follow God. I think the difference between them and the Christians of modern day is their boldness. They were willing to step out on faith and risk everything.

How many of you have heard something like, "I just want to know what God's plan is for my life"? This sentence in itself isn't bad, but too often with this question comes inactive people. Jesus has already given us plenty of instruction, but many of us perpetually sit at a crossroads.

Take a risk for the Gospel today. We might like a blueprint to our lives, but the odds are we aren't going to get one. Don't let your life hang in the middle, make a stand and be willing to answer the call of Christ.

-matt

Consume Me

What if all we are was given to God? What if we let Him consume us.

Oh the things He would do.

Watch this short video, let it speak to you.

-matt

Dear Prayer Warriors

THIS PAST TWO WEEKS HAS been pretty crazy. I had Collide JR/SR retreat (which was incredible. So glad I got to know Jonathan Bailey and just hang out with my brothers and sisters).  Then I became a certified diver (three days of diving for that in Dallas). I got back, did a full day at church on Sunday and then had Cinco Seis all week. (thats our Fifth to Sixth grade VBS-style week. I was the rec leader. Everyone loves the rec leader. It was sweet. I even got a ref jersey to complete the epicness). Even before that was done I left for yet another retreat with my freshman buddies. Swam, saw Toy Story 3, had some good conversations, did a whole mess of intense work at Surfside on our service project for Adrian, got lost on the way home, ate pizza directly before playing dodgeball, got home. Sunday did some mission trip work, lots of church, Toy Story 3 with the family (yes I've already seen it twice), and now I'm about to pass out.

The common denominator missing from that entire previous paragraph is rest. I'm uber lacking in that department which leads me to two more serious issues. Temptations are harder to fight when you're weary, and I've been having some hard days of late where victories are hard to come by more often than I'd like. Also my focus is waning. My mind should always be fixed on the things above, but earthly concerns have begun to affect me more and more. The good is that God has been at work in my life! He's shown me so much more about who I am becoming and my obligations to my friends around me. I've been diligent in keeping with reading the Word and I'm trekking through it again right now, hoping to finish up the minor prophets before the mission trip.

This is where you come in. If you're a prayer warrior and you just have a particular passion for this form of worship I ask this: put me in your daily prayers. I need strength and focus. Let the Spirit direct you in the rest of my needs else feel free to ask me. If you are the kind of guy or gal like me that forgets often to pray for people then do this: pray right now. Like stop reading this, shoot up a thirty second request, and be on your way. God hears all prayers and He loves to answer the call of His children.

God has so much good in store for me this summer, this support will go a long way. I don't mean to sound needy, but I know that I can count on ya'll to have my back. If you've ever appreciate anything I've had to write here, feel free to consider this a return investment for any wisdom you have received.

I love you guys,
Thanks and God be with you.
-matt

Represent: An essay on Philippians 2:14

Hey readers, it's been a while!
I'm afraid my summer posts will be a bit more scattered due to my pretty busy schedule, but I really do want to keep ya'll updated. What with a retreat and dive certification last week I didn't have a chance to use a computer. So here is my thoughts for today.

Philippians 2:14 says this, "Do everything without arguing or complaining..." I was really hit hard by this verse today. I had a lot of people come to me complaining and arguing today, and I got really frustrated. My immediate response was to call up a friend of mine and complain about all the people that were complaining to me. I was just fixing to do that when I remembered this verse. What is it to me if others are falling short of this command God has given us? The important thing is that we take it upon ourselves to maintain this attitude of Christ in our daily lives. As a Christian, we are never off duty from representing the Gospel of Jesus. Never. No exceptions.

When you get frustrated because your plans aren't working out...
don't complain.

When you're singled out or left behind...
don't complain.

When you're rebuked in a godly manner...
don't argue.

We're the representatives of the Lord of Heaven's Armies on this earth people! If we don't act differently then what is the point? Follow Jesus or don't. He'd rather have you on a side then sitting in the middle ground.

We all slip up because we're fallen people in a fallen world, but the man/woman of God perseveres. We will always struggle with taking the high road and not dropping into complaints and quarrels, but we have the obligation to struggle well.

A fellow representative of Christ,
-matt

Open the Gift

I'm really blessed to get the opportunity to share my summer with Abby and Danny Garnett, the youth interns at my church. This morning at our Junior High service Abby talked about taking the gift of salvation and doing something with it. After all, being a Christian is something that comes second nature to many of us - we just are, and we always have been. I echo here, Abby's challenge that she gave this morning: "Open the gift, dive into it, and experience God's plan for your life. Take the risk, it's worth it. I don't recall the name, but the lyrics to one of the worship songs this morning said something along the lines of don't tarry until you're all cleaned up because then you won't ever come. We're never going to have it all together, but we don't have to, just open the gift.

-matt

Amazing Faith: An Essay on the Summer

I know you've all seen the sport movies with the pivotal inspirational coaches speech. It's half time, the team is losing, and the coach convinces the team to believe that they can win. He tells them that they might not be the most talented, but that they want it more. Here is my valiant attempt at something of that sort:

We have set before us a great opportunity. The summer that we have been waiting for has finally arrived. We stand on the precipice of change. The determining factor is whether or not we will search for that change and progress forward in these hot months ahead. I would say that it is fair to say that many school-enrolled Christians really get a boost from this time of the year. We have our camps, mission trips, internships, and so on and so forth. We definitely get our fill of Jesus, and come August, we are ready to be that light in our school for Christ.

If I'm honest, I've grown to expect that sort of change during theses precious weeks of freedom. Every Christian grows over the summer right? Over this school year I have heard a resounded critique to that wishful statement. Growth is certainly attainable, but it starts with an investment. I would equate it to a poker game (bear with me, this is a flawed analogy). In a game of Blackjack, the player only stands to gain what he chooses to wager. If he bets $10 then he should for no reason expect a payoff of $100, that would be irrational. Our summer expectations should fit into place with this picture. The amount of faith we are willing to invest in Christ determines just how much and in which direction we will have the chance for growth.

Okay, so I know our faith isn't rationed into poker chips, so how does this pan out realistically? I maintain that the closer You are to Christ, the greater chance you have for growth. It only makes sense. Now don't misread this as me limiting Christ in any way. He is certainly able to do anything in any person's life. But in general, He works in those who are willing to work with Him. The Enemy certainly knows this, which is precisely why he attacks all the more vehemently when God's people are moving in big ways. If you want to hit a home run, then you must first step up to home plate. Expecting something that you haven't worked towards only leads to pipe dreams and wasted time.

What is it going to be?
If you want to experience God's glory, He will show you. He promises us greater things than we can imagine. Jesus said himself that we have been given the chance to do greater things than even He was able to do on earth. Do you believe that? If you aren't available to God, the chances He uses you are slim. When we place ourselves in sweet surrender at the foot of the Cross, the possibilities are endless.

I want that kind of summer. I hope and pray that you desire it as well. Read the Word, meditate on it, pray without ceasing, worship with your life, fast, love, be Christ to this world. The possibilities are endless.

Take me up on it,
-matt

Weekly Scripture

Isaiah 64:8

You, O Lord, you are Father.
We are the clay and You are the potter;
We are all the work of your hand.

-matt

Weekly Scripture

Proverbrs 26:18-19
 ¹⁸ Like a madman shooting
       firebrands or deadly arrows
 ¹⁹ is a man who deceives his neighbor
       and says, "I was only joking!"



sarcasm is more deadly than you think. use your words well.
-matt

An Essay on Temptation

When ever I think of the word temptation I equate it to a nagging problem or a minor annoyance. It doesn't really seem to be very powerful, but yet I fail and fall time and time again. It's not that I deny the existence of temptations, but yet I felt convicted that I don't really give them the proper respect.

What do I mean by respect? I was playing ultimate frisbee a few weeks ago and was involved in an intense game that went down to the wire. I figured that this one man on the opposing team wouldn't catch the frisbee if it were thrown at him, so I slacked in my defense and watched as the frisbee sailed over the field straight to my unguarded man and then was passed in the end-zone for the touchdown. I failed to respect my opponent, and paid for it in the end.

I believe that I don't treat temptation with the respect it deserves. I figure that if I won't ever get put in that situation, so I don't prepare for it. Sometimes I'm right, and temptation never materializes into any real pressing danger - and sometimes I'm not as lucky. The more invincible we think we are, the more prone we are to falling on our faces. 

Even the mighty fall. King David, a man after God's own heart, was caught in adultery. Judas Iscariot, a disciple of Christ, was torn away from his faithfulness to Christ by a greed for money. 

How do we stop it? I believe that a healthy fear and respect for our opponent is needed. Christianity today doesn't like to talk about Satan, or Hell, or even sin for that matter. It's all about the new you, the blessings God gives, and the eternal reward in Heaven someday. But you can't have good without the bad in this world.  God is good, and we are broken. 

It's taboo to talk about our struggles and be vulnerable. Jesus created us to be real people with real lives. As followers of the King we will be tempted in very real and very frightening ways. Upholding a veil of religiosity won't help anyone. We are given power over Satan and demons, but we are not to mock them. A fool disparages what he does not understand.

When you think again about temptation, be aware that it is real and out there. It's not a push over that you face, but a wicked adversary who doesn't fight fair. With Christ on our side, we have the choice for victory by being ever increasing in our godliness (see 1 Peter 1:3-11). God is on our side. We are in war. Struggle well.

-matt

The Finger of God

If you're looking for something to challenge your faith beyond the parameters of mainstream American Christianity then give this film a look. It's broken into ten parts on youtube. the first one is here.

I saw this as a call to radical faith, the faith Jesus was talking about in John 14:12.
I'd really like to know what you think of this, reply to this and tell me what's going on in your heart and in your soul.

In Christ Jesus,
-matt

Weekly Scripture

Psalm 119. All of it haha.

The basic summation of this psalm is simply that reliance on the Word is so crucial to us. It prevents us from sinning, it keeps us on the right path, it gives us wisdom, it prevents harm. With the Word in us we have power. Take a minute and really look in to what the Word says about itself.

-matt

Thinkings on Psalm 105

Before reading this, give Psalm 105 a quick read. Check? Alright moving on.

This psalm really began to connect with me this morning after reading it yesterday. Often times when we think about the Psalms, we remember the bold prayers of David and the brutal honesty that he shows with God. I love that about David and the other psalmists. They don't put up a front of religiosity, but instead invite God to meet them right where they are.

It is with that spirit that I enter into the reading of Psalm 105. For me it was the realization that tonight was Prom that finally showed me the connection. This psalm follows the story of the Israelites. It is the story of how God moved in them from their very beginnings. And that is where I find myself today. 

I now can reach a place of similar recollection like the psalmist. I look back on the days when I wondered what senior year would be like. I thought about how someday I would go to college. Now it is here. God has brought me from a passive junior high kid to a bold warrior for Christ. I know how Moses felt when he was called by God to do something extraordinary.  I know how Joshua felt when he was just an aid, but would eventually lead a nation.

Just like the psalmist, look back on your story. Where did you begin? Where are you now? For me I'm a senior in high school, and tonight is Prom, I'm on top of the world. But it doesn't stop there. The beauty of the psalms is that they haven't lost their relevance. The same cries of our forefathers reign today. I seek Him and my heart rejoices.

How will you know where to go if you don't remember where you have been?

Seek God and never forget to praise Him for bringing you to where you are today.

For we serve an awesome God worthy of all our praise.

His,

-matt

Blessed are: An Essay on the Beatitudes

In Matthew 5:1-11 (see here), Jesus talks about being blessed. More specifically, what it means to be blessed. Many of us have heard the list time and time again. It's a nice little group. Jesus introduces each of the beatitudes with the phrase "Blessed are...". I've come to realize that those two words have really faded into Christianese. Do we really know what it means to be blessed? We tend to lump it in somewhere around the category of "God loves those who are..." and there is a reward in there somewhere too. If we really think about it, I'd wager many of us can't quite grasp the true meaning. I'm not insisting that we don't know what Jesus is talking about, but I am saying that for myself at least, I had to take a closer look at the scriptures to understand it better.

Dictionary.com defines the verb bless like this:
bless
-verb (used with object), blessed or blest, bles·ing
1.  to consecrate or sanctify by a religious rite; make or pronounce holy.
2.  to request of god the bestowal of divine favor on
3.  to bestow good of any kind upon
4.  to extol as holy, glorify

So when Christ calls the persons in his descriptions "blessed", which of these is he talking about? After much soul searching and prayer, I believe that Christ is not bestowing just any "gift" upon the blessed (3). I also don't think he is petitioning God to bestow favor on them either (2). Definitions 1 and 4 are closer to what I believe Jesus is talking about. I would define blessed as a gift award by God beyond earthly comparison. These blessing seem to be linked to those that honor God by living a life honoring of him, a righteous (holy) life.

To be blessed is to have something given to you that is beyond human description. Children are often referred to as a blessing, and to Christian parents, God is entrusting them with the development and intimate relationships with beloved boys and girls. Anyone can be a parent, but to be blessed by receiving the gift of children is to go beyond the simple criterion and reach for something extraordinary.

The reality is that to be blessed by God is something impossible to quite fit into words. You'll know when God is at work in your life. The result of a life lived after him is that comfort of his eternal blessing of life forever with Him. Each one of us is blessed in so many ways, gifted beyond the normalities of common understanding. Ask God to show you just how much He is blessing you, you'll be surprised. All of creation was created for the purpose of glorifying God. He owns all of it. Simply by entrusting any of it to us is a blessing that should render us speechless.

Thank you Jesus for Your blessings in my life.
Blessed are the children of God, for they reap a reward that no ordinary person could earn.
-matt

Weekly Scripture

<sup>Matthew 5:1-11.


1</sup>Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him,²and he began to teach them saying: 
 ³"Blessed are the poor in spirit, 
      for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 
 ⁴Blessed are those who mourn, 
      for they will be comforted. 
 ⁵Blessed are the meek, 
      for they will inherit the earth. 
 ⁶Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, 
      for they will be filled. 
 ⁷Blessed are the merciful, 
      for they will be shown mercy. 
 ⁸Blessed are the pure in heart, 
      for they will see God. 
 ⁹Blessed are the peacemakers, 
      for they will be called sons of God. 
 ¹⁰Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, 
      for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
 ¹¹"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. ¹²Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

-matt

Safeguard

Ever have something that you don't want to let go of? answer: yes! Of course we do. Whether its a girlfriend/boyfriend, body image, a favorite video game, the internet, or a cell phone, we all have that something.

God says that it is better to take refuge in Him than anything else (Ps. 118:8,9.) For myself, it's easy to hear this and not practice it. I propose a fast. Why not try just for a day, two days, even a week, for giving up something you treasure for the ultimate treasure. Start small, limit your Facebook time to half an hour a day. Don't text after 9pm, etc.

It's not easy. But when life is easy, isn't that what we should fear? Jesus promised us trials and grace, not unlimited happiness. Rely on God and not technology, don't let your date control who you are before God.

Godbless,
-matt

Weekly Scripture

1 Chronicles 29:10-20
¹⁰ David praised the LORD in the presence of the whole assembly, saying, 
       "Praise be to you, O LORD, 
       God of our father Israel, 
       from everlasting to everlasting.

 ¹¹ Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power
       and the glory and the majesty and the splendor,
       for everything in heaven and earth is yours.
       Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom;
       you are exalted as head over all.

 ¹² Wealth and honor come from you;
       you are the ruler of all things.
       In your hands are strength and power
       to exalt and give strength to all.

 ¹³ Now, our God, we give you thanks,
       and praise your glorious name.

 ¹⁴ "But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand. ¹⁵ We are aliens and strangers in your sight, as were all our forefathers. Our days on earth are like a shadow, without hope. ¹⁶ O LORD our God, as for all this abundance that we have provided for building you a temple for your Holy Name, it comes from your hand, and all of it belongs to you. ¹⁷ I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity. All these things have I given willingly and with honest intent. And now I have seen with joy how willingly your people who are here have given to you. ¹⁸ O LORD, God of our fathers Abraham, Isaac and Israel, keep this desire in the hearts of your people forever, and keep their hearts loyal to you. ¹⁹ And give my son Solomon the wholehearted devotion to keep your commands, requirements and decrees and to do everything to build the palatial structure for which I have provided."

 ²⁰ Then David said to the whole assembly, "Praise the LORD your God." So they all praised the LORD, the God of their fathers; they bowed low and fell prostrate before the LORD and the king.

Weekly Scripture

Jeremiah 29:11-14, 44:5-6.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile." But they did not listen or pay attention; they did not turn from their wickedness or stop burning incense to other gods. Therefore, my fierce anger was poured out; it raged against the towns of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem and made them the desolate ruins they are today."

God gives us the option for a life blessed under his plan, we have to choose to accept that by seeking him wholeheartedly like He told us to.
Seek
-matt

I Don't Get It: An Essay on the Unexpected

Here's a bit for when God just doesn't make sense. I know I can relate to that. Things don't ever seem to really go according to plan, but I've come to realize that's the way I like it.

Exodus 15:24-25 - "Then the people complained and turned against Moses. 'What are we going to drink?' they demanded. So Moses cried out to the LORD for help, and the LORD showed him a piece of wood. Moses threw it into water, and this made the water good to drink."

If that isn't the one of the weirdest solutions to a problem you've ever heard of, then what is stranger? This is the same God who split a rock and let fresh water flow from it. This God turned water into wine. This God could have changed the water with the flick of his wrist, or just made usable water appear from anywhere He pleased. But instead, He chose to work in the most unconventional of ways.

If you haven't really though about it, the unexpected is the realm in which God truly thrives.

• No one expected the Red Sea to part for just long enough for an entire nation to walk through, but then collapse onto their enemies.
• No one expected a "runt" like David to defeat Goliath and become the mighty king of Israel
• No one expected God to enter this world in a manger, and leave it having beaten death forever.

Are you tracking with me? God likes to keep the world guessing. Nobody one-ups God. That's the way it should be. Ephesians 3:20 is a verse I hold with me all the time specifically for this reason. It says that Our God is a God who is able to do incredibly more than we could ever ask for or imagine. That's comforting to me.

Why should I worry about planning things out to the minute when God already has better things for me? Sometimes, like the wood for Moses, the solution is right in front of me and God wants to use the ordinary to work extraordinary feats. And then often times, the answer is not anywhere in sight, and I am called to trust.

Mankind places its trust in so many things. We trust our close friends, our looks, our money, but seldom is it shown clearly that we place our trust in God. That's hard. It's scary. But our God doesn't fit into a logical formula. You can't put God inside a box, He made the box.

My challenge to myself and to those reading along is this, live like you serve a God of the unexpected. What the world calls impossible should be different when compared to Christ's words in Luke 18:27, "... What is impossible with men is possible with God."

Live like you believe it.
-matt