Unbroken

Why am I made broken?
I yearn to soon be whole.
When my life seems so broken
I know life carries on.


Why leave roads untaken?
Why part with life too soon?
When life seems so broken
I know life carries on.


Your dreams, to me, seem sunken.
I only wish things could be right.
When like seems so broken
Still life carries on.

Or does it?

We make the choice to live unbroken,
To fight against the world.
When life seems so broken
Love carries me on.

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To you whom I have never met, I love you with all my heart. I pray you know the joy of Jesus, and that others can learn it in your wake. And to all of you who read this today: choose to live unbroken against the chaos of this world. Don't give up. Don't ever give in. You were made with a purpose. You were not a mistaken. Jesus loves you so much. He will never let you go.


In Christ
-matt

Easter

So this is Easter weekend, and I'm quite honestly a bit annoyed rather than excited. Easter is the traditional holiday where Christians (and pretty much everyone who believes something God-ish) goes to some sort of church and thank God for coming to save us. My question is what makes this Sunday so special?

Please don't answer, A) Jesus died for our sins 2000 years ago and this is the day we celebrate it. or B) Because if everybody knows that you have to go to church with your family on Christmas and Easter.

I'm writing this after being prompted by a book which inquired as to why Christians live like God doesn't exist. And that's quite honestly how I view this "Holy Week".

For a few, we get all excited and celebrate the true meaning of the day, and there isn't anything wrong with that. But it seems to me as an excuse to be religious. People all over follow all the rules and thank Jesus for being the little baby from the manger that grew up to become my get-out-of-Hell-free card.

There isn't anything wrong with celebrating the good that Christ has done for us as Christians. But why do we limit it to Easter? Can't we talk about the Resurrection in November too? How bout May? or January? 

How many of us remember to thank God for being who he is? I know personally its a lot easier to just ask Him for things and thank Him if we get what we want. I'm not worthy for Christ's sacrifice. Yet he loves me all the same. That gift is mine to celebrate always, not just once a year.

After Easter is done, are we going to forget the God we claim to be working for?
I sure pray that we don't forget Him.
We need Him. Everyday.

-matt

Forgotten God

Book Review

Premise: (Back Cover)

"POWERFUL. When was the last time someone used that word to describe you?

It doesn't make sense that Almighty God would have children characterized by fear and insecurity. He put His Spirit in us so we could be known for our power (Acts 1:8, 2 Tim. 1:7). Sadly, most believers and churches are known for talent or intellect rather than supernatural power. What's worse is that we're okay with it.

Could it be that we've forgotten the One who distinguishes us from every religion and cult in the world?

Through solid scriptural support and compelling narrative, breakthrough author Francis Chan returns us to the Holy Spirit as the Bible describes Him. He reminds us that we were not created and saved merely to survive our time on earth. Chan contends that we've ignored the Spirit and are reaping the disastrous results.

It's time for the beloved church of Jesus Christ to reverse the trend of neglect. Let's pursue the Spirit-filled like of effectiveness God desires and we desire."

What I liked: This entire book was dead center. The Spirit was clearly at work when Chan penned these words. He looks at what Scripture has to say about the Holy Spirit, God we have seemingly put on a shelf and ignored. Read this with the right mindset and spirit and God will change you.

What I didn't like: The worst part about this book was also its strongest part. What made this book hard to read was how accurate it was. Words were said that were hard to swallow. The truth is, I'm not following the Spirit like I should be and this Godly rebuke stung at times. I know I'm not the only one in this boat. Be prepared for a hard read, but it is so worth it.

Favorite Passage:

"I think a lot of us need to forget about God's will for my life. God cares more about our response to His Spirit's leading today, in this moment, than about what we intend to do next year. In fact, the decisions we make next year will be profoundly affected by the degree to which we submit to the Spirit right now, in today's decisions. It is easy to use the phrase "God's will for my life" as an excuse for inaction or even disobedience. It's much less demanding to think about God's will for you future than it is to ask Him what He wants you to do in the next ten minutes. It's safer to commit to following Him someday instead of this day."

Random Passage:

"What if you could hear the voice of the Holy Spirit and He asked you to literally give everything you owned? What if He asked you to sell all of you possessions and give the money to the poor? Could you do it? Before you start explaining why He would never ask that of you, take a moment and answer the question honestly. It's not out of His character to ask for everything."

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If you're looking for a book that will force you to take God, and especially the Holy Spirit, seriously, then give this one a try.

In Christ,

-matt