Hey everyone,
This is another article I've written recently, thought I'd posted for you guys here as well......
My family and I attended a conference with the 3DM ministry
team mid-January. While there, one of the main topics of discussion was
family and the role that family plays in ministry.
One thing in particular was the concept of “Family ON
Mission.” This concept is similar to what I shared on Christmas Eve
when I spoke about precious moments we can have as families. Basically
what I believe this concept shows us is that every family is called to a
certain mission or purpose in life. While each family member may have
different passions and desires in life there is always some type of task
that God has brought them together to live out in their life together.
I believe in my family it is to “remain in HIS
love” (Jn 15:9). In everything we do, whether we are at home watching
TV, at church together, out shopping, or at the park with our daughter;
we are called to make every effort to live out this mission. It is God’s
purpose for our lives.
Each and every family has something similar that God has given them as a
mission and purpose for their lives. As a church, we also have a
calling as a church “Family ON Mission.” It is
our task both as families and church families to seek God’s guidance to
know what our Mission is. So the question is, are you willing to ask
HIM?
More to come…
Blessings in Christ,
Matt, Director of Family Ministries
Monday, February 17, 2014
Reflections; The Journey- Parable of the Barren Fig
Here is an article that I wrote for my Church Newsletter, I thought I would post it here for you guys as well...
From The Journey,
Greetings in Christ and Welcome to “The Journey,”
I read a scripture the other day that really made me think, it’s about the “The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree.” It’s found in Luke 13:6-9 and Jesus shares it in the midst of pleading with the people to repent and believe.
Simply put, a man plants a fig tree in his vineyard, after three years it bears no figs, the man tells his gardener to cut it down but the gardener asks the man to leave it one more year so he can give it some special attention and says ‘if it still bears no figs after another year then you can cut it down.’
Interesting parable, isn’t it? As I thought about this parable, the word ‘caretaker’ kept coming to mind. It took me a while to process these two things, but here is what I received. The Man is God, Jesus is the gardener/caretaker, and the fig tree is man.
You see, Jesus is constantly taking care of us, interceding with God on our behalf, asking for more time to mold us into the fruit bearing ‘Fig tree’ God created each of us to be. We are called to repent and believe in God. When we choose not to accept this we ‘bear no fruit.’ I believe the same concept applies to our great calling to ‘go forth and make disciples.’
So my question for you this month is “Are you bearing the fruit God has called you to bear or is Jesus interceding with God asking for one more year?”
Continue the Journey,
Matt, Director of Family Ministries
From The Journey,
Greetings in Christ and Welcome to “The Journey,”
I read a scripture the other day that really made me think, it’s about the “The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree.” It’s found in Luke 13:6-9 and Jesus shares it in the midst of pleading with the people to repent and believe.
Simply put, a man plants a fig tree in his vineyard, after three years it bears no figs, the man tells his gardener to cut it down but the gardener asks the man to leave it one more year so he can give it some special attention and says ‘if it still bears no figs after another year then you can cut it down.’
Interesting parable, isn’t it? As I thought about this parable, the word ‘caretaker’ kept coming to mind. It took me a while to process these two things, but here is what I received. The Man is God, Jesus is the gardener/caretaker, and the fig tree is man.
You see, Jesus is constantly taking care of us, interceding with God on our behalf, asking for more time to mold us into the fruit bearing ‘Fig tree’ God created each of us to be. We are called to repent and believe in God. When we choose not to accept this we ‘bear no fruit.’ I believe the same concept applies to our great calling to ‘go forth and make disciples.’
So my question for you this month is “Are you bearing the fruit God has called you to bear or is Jesus interceding with God asking for one more year?”
Continue the Journey,
Matt, Director of Family Ministries
The Puzzle
Hello Everyone,
It's been about a month since I last posted something and right now Momma and Leyla are sleeping in the Living room so I thought I'd take the opportunity to write a post. We'll see if I get it done before they wake up :-).
Last night will I was following up with some good friends on facebook, I commented on a post about searching for Gods will and a 10,000 piece puzzle. The comment helped me make a spiritual connection between God's will, our lives and a puzzle. I'm sure people have done this before but I thought I'd share with you all my revelation...
The status post was about how sometimes finding Gods will is like trying to finish a 10,000 piece puzzle while blind folded. At first I was laughing but after a while it seems as though it was really something I needed to pay attention to so I did and I responded with what I thought God wanted me to write for this particular person but in reality it was something I needed to hear as well, thus why I am now bringing you what God has brought me :-)...
Truthfully finding Gods will is never really that simple and there are specific things that we need to work through before we can actually find Gods will. I know in my life there have been several occasions in which this was true. It was only when I found contenment in my own life did the eyes of my heart open up to Gods will for my family and I and why we are where we are at in life today. But let me keep on track here...
Finding Gods will can often feel like a 10,000 piece puzzle; We work hard to find one particular piece of the puzzle and it always seems like it's not even there when in reality it is we just can't see it right then. It seems like there is something about human nature that just seems to block out whats right there in front of us and nothing we do seems to work.
I know for me when I work on puzzles with my wife, I'm sitting there searching for that one piece that I just can't move forward without finding; out of the blue Traci says try looking at a different part of the puzzle for a second or two. Reluctantly I drop what I'm doing and focus on a different part of the puzzle and end up connecting more pieces of the picture together then I ever would have keeping my focus on that one piece.
Usually once I've connected those other pieces, that one piece that I'd probably still be looking for is found (typically by Traci) in the midst of everything else and is the link to finishing the rest of the puzzle.
It is interesting to think about this in the spiritual context, (at least for me) if the puzzle is Gods will and the puzzle pieces are the steps we have to take in order to find Gods will for our lives, then maybe we aren't meant to see that part of Gods will yet and we need to be patient live our lives faithfully putting together the bigger picture. In the end, Gods will is still consistently being revealed to us through our faithfulness to seek HIM in our hearts and eventually that one missing piece will come to us in the most unexpected way.
So here's my challenge for you, take time in the next few days to ask God, am I focusing to much on finding that one particular piece to the puzzle? If the answer is yes, then try looking at another part of the puzzle, maybe in the end that will lead to the answer you seek...
It's been about a month since I last posted something and right now Momma and Leyla are sleeping in the Living room so I thought I'd take the opportunity to write a post. We'll see if I get it done before they wake up :-).
Last night will I was following up with some good friends on facebook, I commented on a post about searching for Gods will and a 10,000 piece puzzle. The comment helped me make a spiritual connection between God's will, our lives and a puzzle. I'm sure people have done this before but I thought I'd share with you all my revelation...
The status post was about how sometimes finding Gods will is like trying to finish a 10,000 piece puzzle while blind folded. At first I was laughing but after a while it seems as though it was really something I needed to pay attention to so I did and I responded with what I thought God wanted me to write for this particular person but in reality it was something I needed to hear as well, thus why I am now bringing you what God has brought me :-)...
Truthfully finding Gods will is never really that simple and there are specific things that we need to work through before we can actually find Gods will. I know in my life there have been several occasions in which this was true. It was only when I found contenment in my own life did the eyes of my heart open up to Gods will for my family and I and why we are where we are at in life today. But let me keep on track here...
Finding Gods will can often feel like a 10,000 piece puzzle; We work hard to find one particular piece of the puzzle and it always seems like it's not even there when in reality it is we just can't see it right then. It seems like there is something about human nature that just seems to block out whats right there in front of us and nothing we do seems to work.
I know for me when I work on puzzles with my wife, I'm sitting there searching for that one piece that I just can't move forward without finding; out of the blue Traci says try looking at a different part of the puzzle for a second or two. Reluctantly I drop what I'm doing and focus on a different part of the puzzle and end up connecting more pieces of the picture together then I ever would have keeping my focus on that one piece.
Usually once I've connected those other pieces, that one piece that I'd probably still be looking for is found (typically by Traci) in the midst of everything else and is the link to finishing the rest of the puzzle.
It is interesting to think about this in the spiritual context, (at least for me) if the puzzle is Gods will and the puzzle pieces are the steps we have to take in order to find Gods will for our lives, then maybe we aren't meant to see that part of Gods will yet and we need to be patient live our lives faithfully putting together the bigger picture. In the end, Gods will is still consistently being revealed to us through our faithfulness to seek HIM in our hearts and eventually that one missing piece will come to us in the most unexpected way.
So here's my challenge for you, take time in the next few days to ask God, am I focusing to much on finding that one particular piece to the puzzle? If the answer is yes, then try looking at another part of the puzzle, maybe in the end that will lead to the answer you seek...
Thanks again for visiting "The Gathering Room"
Stand Strong and continue to believe the teachings given to
you... (2 Thes. 2:15b NCV),
M.E
Thursday, January 16, 2014
Joy in the City
Hello Again,
I wrote this article for the Church Newsletter for January, and should be posting a fresh new article in the coming days for you all. But for now let me know your thoughts on this one...
It begins with “a great wave of persecution…sweeping over the church in Jerusalem...” Acts 8:1b. The Believers were forced out of the city into the regions of Judea and Samaria and a Man named Saul traveled around with on goal in mind, destroy this new church.
Interestingly enough where ever the believers scattered, people heard the news about Jesus and the life he lived.
One man named Phillip whom many considered the first evangelist was forced into the city of Samaria and his story is the one I’ve been thinking about lately.
He confidently shared the good news with the people in Samaria and they listened in awe of the stories he was teaching. He performed miracles, healed the sick and drove out many evil spirits. In the end, “there was great Joy in that city,” Acts 8:8.
This one verse made me think, is our church making this kind of impact on the City we live in? The New Testament church impacted people where ever they went no matter what they were going through, Lives were continually transformed and multitudes were saved on a daily basis.
Here is another question, is this a trend most churches set today? I believe that 2014 is the year we will show that we will be a church that brings great joy to this city. What do you think?
I wrote this article for the Church Newsletter for January, and should be posting a fresh new article in the coming days for you all. But for now let me know your thoughts on this one...
There is a story in Acts
chapter 8 that has been on my mind lately and I thought I’d share it with you
all this month. It is an interesting tale to say the least but it has a
powerful message that I believe is an encouragement to us.
It begins with “a great wave of persecution…sweeping over the church in Jerusalem...” Acts 8:1b. The Believers were forced out of the city into the regions of Judea and Samaria and a Man named Saul traveled around with on goal in mind, destroy this new church.
Interestingly enough where ever the believers scattered, people heard the news about Jesus and the life he lived.
One man named Phillip whom many considered the first evangelist was forced into the city of Samaria and his story is the one I’ve been thinking about lately.
He confidently shared the good news with the people in Samaria and they listened in awe of the stories he was teaching. He performed miracles, healed the sick and drove out many evil spirits. In the end, “there was great Joy in that city,” Acts 8:8.
This one verse made me think, is our church making this kind of impact on the City we live in? The New Testament church impacted people where ever they went no matter what they were going through, Lives were continually transformed and multitudes were saved on a daily basis.
Here is another question, is this a trend most churches set today? I believe that 2014 is the year we will show that we will be a church that brings great joy to this city. What do you think?
Stay tuned for some more about what God has given me to share with you...
Thanks again for visiting "The Gathering Room"
Stand Strong and continue to believe the teachings given to
you... (2 Thes. 2:15b NCV),
M.E
A Christmas Blessing
Hello Everyone,
I wrote this post back in December for my Church Newsletter, I want to elaborate on this a little bit but wanted to get the original posted for you...
I wrote this post back in December for my Church Newsletter, I want to elaborate on this a little bit but wanted to get the original posted for you...
Who can believe it? Christmas
is only weeks away and God is ready to move in the lives of many. In years
past, Christmas has always been a very busy season leaving really no time for
me personally to enjoy what the holiday is all about.
For my family, Christmas was
all about family and the celebration of our Saviors birth, Even though we had
many Christmas’s with little to nothing my parents always made sure we found
the Christmas spirit somehow, usually in the form of The Christmas Tree and the
reading of The Christmas Story.
As I began to enter into the
ministry in some way or another, that Innocent outlook on Christmas began to
take a back seat as I saw suffering, pain and sorrow. I felt it was my duty to
do whatever I could to help people see what I saw as a child. In doing so, I
became too focused on bringing that idea to others that I lost sight of it in
my own heart.
Last year that changed, for the
first time since I was a child I began to see that innocent image of Christmas
again, this revelation came in the form of my daughter, Leyla. Her birth has
forever reminded me of the Joy Christmas brings me and I encourage you to
search for what truly does the same for you and to embrace that Christmas
Spirit as a Child of God.
“O father, may I find again the dreams of Childhood when thoughts of
YOU filled ME with peace and I longed to know YOU more. Give ME a faith that
trusts YOU implicitly.”
Well I hope you enjoyed the original posting, more to come soon, well hopefully...
Thanks again for visiting "The Gathering Room"
Stand Strong and continue to believe the teachings given to
you... (2 Thes. 2:15b NCV),
M.E
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