Howdy all!
I'm sorry for not posting anything for a while, but I've been incredibly busy this summer working all over the Northeast United States. I've been in every state in the region! I know this is a short post, but I don't have the time to talk about everything here. Please check the blog for my summer trip by going to www.newtestamentchurchpioneers.com and following the links to Team Northeast. My picture is there.
Thanks for all the continued prayers and support. See ya!
Your brother in Christ,
-Matt
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Ho, Right, Alleyo!
Howdy all!
It's been a good while since my last post! Sorry about that; I've been a little busy at New Testament Church Pioneer Training Camp! It's been a great week so far! I'm a bit tuckered out, but its good for me. Ha!
We've been doing so much this week: conducting Bible clubs, soul-winning and visitation, Physical training, camping, cooking, and so many other things. It has been a week of bonding as well. Each team is not only drawing close to their members, but also to each other. It's wonderful to know we have brothers and sisters to call on in a time of need and it is good to know that we are praying for one another.
Well, I've got another session coming in a few minutes. I'm going to have to run. Y'all take care and I'll do my best to keep you posted on what's going on. Take care!
Your brother in Christ,
-Matt
It's been a good while since my last post! Sorry about that; I've been a little busy at New Testament Church Pioneer Training Camp! It's been a great week so far! I'm a bit tuckered out, but its good for me. Ha!
We've been doing so much this week: conducting Bible clubs, soul-winning and visitation, Physical training, camping, cooking, and so many other things. It has been a week of bonding as well. Each team is not only drawing close to their members, but also to each other. It's wonderful to know we have brothers and sisters to call on in a time of need and it is good to know that we are praying for one another.
Well, I've got another session coming in a few minutes. I'm going to have to run. Y'all take care and I'll do my best to keep you posted on what's going on. Take care!
Your brother in Christ,
-Matt
Thursday, April 9, 2009
My Hiding Place and My Shield
Howdy All!
I know it's been too long since I last posted, but things are crazy here at the college! God has been blessing me so much lately, even amidst all the hustle and bustle of work, studies, and ministry. He's been so good to me! He has especially blessed me through His Word and that's what I want to address.
Last night, Pastor Sexton did something highly unusual. Instead of bringing a sermon, he took the time to read through the entire 119th Psalm, the longest chapter in the Bible. Instead of preaching, He allowed God's Word to speak for itself, and speak it did. I saw so much more than I had seen in this passage than ever before! Granted, I need to read it again and again, but It helped me so much. I praise the Lord for giving Pastor Sexton the wisdom to do that.
One verse that spoke to me specifically was verse 114. It says, "Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy Word." This is David speaking to the Lord. Over and over again, David refers to God in the Psalms as his hiding place or as his shield, but now the two names are side by side. This made me think about what these two names mean.
I started to compare the two in mind and this is what I came up with:
The Hiding Place is a place of calm.
The Shield is used in battle.
The Hiding Place is immovable.
The Shield can follow you, wherever you are.
The Hiding Place is a refuge.
The Shield is a protection.
The Hiding Place comforts you.
The Shield enables you.
The Hiding place is private.
The Shield is seen by all in battle.
The Hiding Place is where we run to.
The Shield is what we run with.
We dwell in the Hiding Place.
We cling to the Shield.
I know this is just a bunch of thoughts and it's not complete, but I hope it will be a blessing to anyone who reads it. God bless!
Your brother in Christ,
-Matt
I know it's been too long since I last posted, but things are crazy here at the college! God has been blessing me so much lately, even amidst all the hustle and bustle of work, studies, and ministry. He's been so good to me! He has especially blessed me through His Word and that's what I want to address.
Last night, Pastor Sexton did something highly unusual. Instead of bringing a sermon, he took the time to read through the entire 119th Psalm, the longest chapter in the Bible. Instead of preaching, He allowed God's Word to speak for itself, and speak it did. I saw so much more than I had seen in this passage than ever before! Granted, I need to read it again and again, but It helped me so much. I praise the Lord for giving Pastor Sexton the wisdom to do that.
One verse that spoke to me specifically was verse 114. It says, "Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy Word." This is David speaking to the Lord. Over and over again, David refers to God in the Psalms as his hiding place or as his shield, but now the two names are side by side. This made me think about what these two names mean.
I started to compare the two in mind and this is what I came up with:
The Hiding Place is a place of calm.
The Shield is used in battle.
The Hiding Place is immovable.
The Shield can follow you, wherever you are.
The Hiding Place is a refuge.
The Shield is a protection.
The Hiding Place comforts you.
The Shield enables you.
The Hiding place is private.
The Shield is seen by all in battle.
The Hiding Place is where we run to.
The Shield is what we run with.
We dwell in the Hiding Place.
We cling to the Shield.
I know this is just a bunch of thoughts and it's not complete, but I hope it will be a blessing to anyone who reads it. God bless!
Your brother in Christ,
-Matt
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
"...We wait for Light..."
Howdy All!
It's been a while since my last post! Sorry about that. God has been greatly blessing me this semester, in ways unforeseeable. Praise Him, He has given me the privilege to preach His Word and share the message of The Gospel with children and adults alike. I have had the honor of leading two children to Christ this semester, a joy which is without comparison! God has been so good to me!
In my devotions I have been studying in the book of Isaiah, a wonderful experience in of itself. God has shown me truth after truth in His word. Today, the truth He showed me was of a more convicting nature.
In Isaiah chapter 59, God paints a picture of a world bathed in darkness. He says that there are none that call for justice(v.4) and that all the people act according to evil (v.7).
Then, in verse 9, He shows their heart. The people say, "...we wait for light... but we walk in darkness...". These people are wanting the truth, but it is nowhere to be found. They stumble around in the dark, lost and without hope. This is like our world, today.
It is summed up the best in verse 14. The Bible says, "... truth is fallen in the street..."
The times have gotten so bad that what was once moral and good has fallen in the street. It has been cast out and trodden on. No one seems to care. That is a good description of our world.
However; God sees all this. He sees those that do not care about truth. He sees those that wait for light. And He has made a way for them. It says in verse 16, "And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him."
God has provided a light for those lost in darkness. he has provided a path for those that are wandering. He has made a way to salvation, which could not be found by man. Jesus Christ has come to this earth and paid for sin and iniquity on the Cross. He bore every sin away and paid the penalty of God's wrath on Calvary.
Now, who will tell the world?
These people are lost, but seeking the way. There are people in this world, that want to know God, but cannot find Him alone. Who will show them the way?
Will you? Will I?
This is the truth of God's Word: we have a mission and a command to go and tell what we have witnessed. It's time to follow God. Today is the day of salvation for some. Will you be the tool God uses to heal someone's broken soul?
That's alot to think about. I'll leave you with one last verse:
Luke 4:43 "And he said to them, I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also: for therefore am I sent."
This was Christ's purpose on earth. Now it is ours. The choice to fulfill it is yours.
Your brother in Christ,
-Matt
It's been a while since my last post! Sorry about that. God has been greatly blessing me this semester, in ways unforeseeable. Praise Him, He has given me the privilege to preach His Word and share the message of The Gospel with children and adults alike. I have had the honor of leading two children to Christ this semester, a joy which is without comparison! God has been so good to me!
In my devotions I have been studying in the book of Isaiah, a wonderful experience in of itself. God has shown me truth after truth in His word. Today, the truth He showed me was of a more convicting nature.
In Isaiah chapter 59, God paints a picture of a world bathed in darkness. He says that there are none that call for justice(v.4) and that all the people act according to evil (v.7).
Then, in verse 9, He shows their heart. The people say, "...we wait for light... but we walk in darkness...". These people are wanting the truth, but it is nowhere to be found. They stumble around in the dark, lost and without hope. This is like our world, today.
It is summed up the best in verse 14. The Bible says, "... truth is fallen in the street..."
The times have gotten so bad that what was once moral and good has fallen in the street. It has been cast out and trodden on. No one seems to care. That is a good description of our world.
However; God sees all this. He sees those that do not care about truth. He sees those that wait for light. And He has made a way for them. It says in verse 16, "And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him."
God has provided a light for those lost in darkness. he has provided a path for those that are wandering. He has made a way to salvation, which could not be found by man. Jesus Christ has come to this earth and paid for sin and iniquity on the Cross. He bore every sin away and paid the penalty of God's wrath on Calvary.
Now, who will tell the world?
These people are lost, but seeking the way. There are people in this world, that want to know God, but cannot find Him alone. Who will show them the way?
Will you? Will I?
This is the truth of God's Word: we have a mission and a command to go and tell what we have witnessed. It's time to follow God. Today is the day of salvation for some. Will you be the tool God uses to heal someone's broken soul?
That's alot to think about. I'll leave you with one last verse:
Luke 4:43 "And he said to them, I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also: for therefore am I sent."
This was Christ's purpose on earth. Now it is ours. The choice to fulfill it is yours.
Your brother in Christ,
-Matt
Thursday, January 22, 2009
"I Will..."
Howdy All!
God is good, is He not? It is amazing to see His hand, even through trials and discouragements! He is constantly with us, even when we cannot see Him. As I read through the Bible I see more and more of how God loves us and gave us so much. Praise His Holy Name!
As I read through the first chapter of Mark, these two words that make the title of this post stuck out to me: "I Will." I re-read the passage and began to dive into it. It's amazing how much is in the Word of God! This is the passage:
Mark 1:40
And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying to him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.
41 And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith to him, I will; be thou clean.
42 And as soon as he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed.
This is a simple account that shows the mission of Christ. A man came to Him, a leper, plague infesting his body. This man had no hope, as leprosy is incurable. Yet, he came to Christ in faith, knowing if only this man would will it so, he would be healed.
The next verse shows who Christ was in a way not many think of. It says that he had compassion on him and put his hand on him, and said, "I will."
He simply willed and it was so. Just like that, The Leper's life went from being hopeless to victorious! He was a dead man walking, but now He lived! What an amazing experience! What a Savior!
Just as the leper was cleansed, so are we, when we ask Christ if he would will it so. And the wonderful truth is, there will never be a day when Christ will not will it to be! Christ is always willing to accept anyone, no exceptions!
What an encouraging thought! Christ will always be there fro us, always ready to cleanse us from every spot! Amen!!!
Your brother in Christ,
-Matt
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