Light The Way, Lord...

Howdy all.

It's funny how God works, isn't it? He never gives you a dull moment. Just when you think you have it all figured out, He shows you what He has for you. Sometimes it isn't easy. Sometimes what He has for you hurts, but you know its best. 

In Homiletics, I've been studying John chapter 9. The emphasis of that chapter is Jesus Christ is the Light of the world. He holds the plan for our lives firmly in His hand and only He can show us which way we are to go. If we can learn to rest in Him, we can know what He has for us.

Why should we stumble in the dark, when we have The one, true Light? Like I said though, sometimes God's way isn't the easiest. When you come out of the dark and into the light it blinds and overwhelms you! But eventually, your eyes become accustomed to it, and you can't imagine being anywhere else. 

I praise the Lord for the fact that The True Light Will never go out.

Your brother in Christ,

-Matt

A Time Out To Thank God

Howdy y'all.

I'd like to take a moment just to stop and thank God for the many things He has been doing in my life. He truly is a great God, isn't He? To think, He would leave His throne in Heaven, after knowing my heart, come to this Earth and live a perfect life, only to give it up for me on the cross. Now I, being only a sinner, can come before The Almighty and call Him Father. He loves me more than I can comprehend and always will, no matter what. 

Who am I, that this God should love me? Who am I, that He should call me into His service? What have I done to earn this? Nothing. I will never fully understand His Grace, nor His Love, but I know that I have them fully, and will never forget it. 

I'm humbled by the thought. I'm blessed beyond all measure only because He loves me. And I love Him more and more because of it. I only pray that I can come close to glorifying Him with my life. And I hope you can do the same.

Your brother in Christ,

-Matt   

Stand Still as Another Decade Rolls By...

Drumroll please...

Howdy all, me again! Things are going swell at school. Classes are challenging, but that's what makes them fun! 

Today marks the end of another decade for me. Twenty years have gone by... It's a sobering thought. I look back over the years of my life and I wonder where all the time has gone? I have less than two years left here at Crown and then its off into the field (wherever that is). Meditating on the time I've spent, and looking back over the years at the things I've done for The Lord, I see how much more I could have done for Him, how much more I could have stepped out by faith, but didn't. 

It's a sad thought to be sure, but it reminds of the words of Paul in Philippians chapter three, verses twelve through fourteen:

12- Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. 
13- Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do,forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth to those things which are before,

14- I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. 

Now is not the time for regrets, but for resolution. My prayer is that if I should live another twenty years, each and every moment will be wholly committed to God's glory. In the words of William Borden, "No reserves, no retreats, no regrets." I may falter or even fail, but I'm gonna give it everything I've got. 

How about you?

Your brother in Christ,

-Matt

Yee-Haw! Back In The Saddle!

Howdy!

Me again, just jotting a few words while I have a minute. School is busier than ever! My schedule has been a jumbled mess for the last few days, but praise God, everything is beginning to straighten out! I'm back on The Crew, so I've been working my socks off here at the school, from open to close. It's been crazy! 

God has really been here for me lately. That's is an odd statement now that I think about, because God is always here, just like He promised! I guess He's just made Himself more visible to me lately. Every need I have had, He has supplied and I'm ready to prove my Lord yet again. I am praying about traveling with The New Testament Church Pioneers this summer and the only way I'll get to go and come back to Crown next year, is if God provides a way. 

I have no doubt God has big things planned for this year. The classes I'm taking are going to be big and exciting, and I will have more opportunity to serve Him than ever before! In the words of Dr. Holloway, "It's gonna be Big Time, son!"

Your brother in Christ,

  -Matt