Deserted by His Closest Friends
55 In that hour Jesus said to the crowd, "Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? Every day I sat in the temple courts teaching, and you did not arrest me. 56 But this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled." Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.
Matthew 26:55-56(TNIV)
Do you ever feel alone? Have you ever felt deserted by the ones that you love the most; your friends that you would have never thought would ever leave you in times of trouble? Well, Jesus can relate to you today as He was deserted by His closest friends right there in the midst of giving His life away in order that we could have these discussions today, more than 2,000 years later about His incredible love. He was deserted while He was paying the penalty of sin, for you and for me, in order that we could experience the presence of God in our lives and in order that we could be restored and healed so we could begin our journey of knowing and loving our Creator in a very real way today. So don’t give up as your friends move away because they are in a story of their own and their journey is much different from yours, but hold on to the fact that you have a friend above all friends who has been where you are and who will never let you go! Walk in the midst of His incredible love today as you give your life away for the King.
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Friday, May 7, 2010
Silent
The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false evidence against Jesus so they could put him to death. But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward. Finally two came forward and declared, “This fellow said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’” Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, “Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you? But Jesus remained silent.
Matthew 26:59-63(TNIV)
As we study the words of Jesus in the book of Matthew, I think it is interesting to notice the times when Jesus intentionally did not speak in addition to looking at the words that He spoke. Here, before the Sanhedrin, Jesus, while being questioned, remained silent. I think that He remained silent because He knew that these lies and accusations and ridicule needed to take place in order for God’s will to be fulfilled. I think that Jesus remained silent as He really had nothing good to say to these men who had no desire really to know or to love God as they were too consumed with the worldly desires of power, influence and financial gain. I think that Jesus ultimately remained silent as a result of His extraordinary love for you and me since He knew that this ridiculous discussion among His enemies needed to happen in order for Him to restore our very hearts and our relationship with our Creator. If you think about it, Jesus did not have to sit there and take any of this, I mean, after all He is the Son of God, the Creator of the universe, all powerful and almighty God. He did this for you only because of His incredible, amazing and unfailing love for you. Are there times when you should remain silent knowing that nothing good will come out of your mouth? Are there times when other colleagues or friends or family speak the most untrue and horrible lies about you and you just want to lash out with your tongue in anger in hopes that you could somehow undo the words that they have just spoken against you? Maybe you should heed Jesus’ example here and remain silent, knowing full well that God is in control and that nothing can stop His pursuit of wanting the very best for your life. No words or actions that you can say or do will be more fulfilling than the abundance, mystery and completeness of Christ’s love living in and through your life. Prayerfully consider your words and actions today as you live out your love for Jesus!
Matthew 26:59-63(TNIV)
As we study the words of Jesus in the book of Matthew, I think it is interesting to notice the times when Jesus intentionally did not speak in addition to looking at the words that He spoke. Here, before the Sanhedrin, Jesus, while being questioned, remained silent. I think that He remained silent because He knew that these lies and accusations and ridicule needed to take place in order for God’s will to be fulfilled. I think that Jesus remained silent as He really had nothing good to say to these men who had no desire really to know or to love God as they were too consumed with the worldly desires of power, influence and financial gain. I think that Jesus ultimately remained silent as a result of His extraordinary love for you and me since He knew that this ridiculous discussion among His enemies needed to happen in order for Him to restore our very hearts and our relationship with our Creator. If you think about it, Jesus did not have to sit there and take any of this, I mean, after all He is the Son of God, the Creator of the universe, all powerful and almighty God. He did this for you only because of His incredible, amazing and unfailing love for you. Are there times when you should remain silent knowing that nothing good will come out of your mouth? Are there times when other colleagues or friends or family speak the most untrue and horrible lies about you and you just want to lash out with your tongue in anger in hopes that you could somehow undo the words that they have just spoken against you? Maybe you should heed Jesus’ example here and remain silent, knowing full well that God is in control and that nothing can stop His pursuit of wanting the very best for your life. No words or actions that you can say or do will be more fulfilling than the abundance, mystery and completeness of Christ’s love living in and through your life. Prayerfully consider your words and actions today as you live out your love for Jesus!
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Better to Trust than to Fight
52 "Put your sword back in its place," Jesus said to him, "for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. 53 Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? 54 But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?"
Matthew 26:52-54(TNIV)
The disciples, as Jesus was being arrested, prepared to fight with their swords in order to somehow stop the inevitable of Jesus being crucified for our sins. How often do we want to fight to try to somehow change God’s plan for our lives? How often do we stubbornly say no to God while He is secretly wooing us to move in a direction toward Him? No, that narrow road that He asks us to take is not always easy and in fact, the reshaping and restoration of our hearts to be more like His can at times be very painful and can seem like we are jumping off a cliff with no parachute; however, the truth of the matter is that in order for God’s dream to be fulfilled in your life, you must take the next step toward Him. Believe me, God will be there for you when you step out of your comfort zone into unfamiliar territory because what He wants more than anything is for you to have enough faith in Him to make a move. After you make that move, you will see and experience the love and power of God like never before in your life, He will catch you in His arms of love that will hold you tight and never let you go. Trust in Jesus today with your whole heart and take that next step in your Journey to know and love Him more!
Matthew 26:52-54(TNIV)
The disciples, as Jesus was being arrested, prepared to fight with their swords in order to somehow stop the inevitable of Jesus being crucified for our sins. How often do we want to fight to try to somehow change God’s plan for our lives? How often do we stubbornly say no to God while He is secretly wooing us to move in a direction toward Him? No, that narrow road that He asks us to take is not always easy and in fact, the reshaping and restoration of our hearts to be more like His can at times be very painful and can seem like we are jumping off a cliff with no parachute; however, the truth of the matter is that in order for God’s dream to be fulfilled in your life, you must take the next step toward Him. Believe me, God will be there for you when you step out of your comfort zone into unfamiliar territory because what He wants more than anything is for you to have enough faith in Him to make a move. After you make that move, you will see and experience the love and power of God like never before in your life, He will catch you in His arms of love that will hold you tight and never let you go. Trust in Jesus today with your whole heart and take that next step in your Journey to know and love Him more!
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Head On
45 Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour is near, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. 46 Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!" Matthew 26:45(TNIV)
It’s incredible to me to read Matthew’s account of Jesus here just before being pointed out by Judas in the start of the most amazing act of love and sacrifice that ever happened for you and me. The enthusiasm and determination to suffer and to give His life is so clear and yet very far from my understanding or comprehension. One thing that I do know for sure is that whatever God may be asking you to do today could not possibly be as bad or as hard as what Jesus had to go through more than 2000 years ago. So, with that in mind, face your challenges and opportunities to reflect God’s love today head on and know that you have a Comforter and Helper who lives inside of your heart of hearts who will give you the strength to press on for He has been there and He knows more than ever how to comfort you and carry you through!
It’s incredible to me to read Matthew’s account of Jesus here just before being pointed out by Judas in the start of the most amazing act of love and sacrifice that ever happened for you and me. The enthusiasm and determination to suffer and to give His life is so clear and yet very far from my understanding or comprehension. One thing that I do know for sure is that whatever God may be asking you to do today could not possibly be as bad or as hard as what Jesus had to go through more than 2000 years ago. So, with that in mind, face your challenges and opportunities to reflect God’s love today head on and know that you have a Comforter and Helper who lives inside of your heart of hearts who will give you the strength to press on for He has been there and He knows more than ever how to comfort you and carry you through!
Monday, March 8, 2010
Spirit is Willing - Flesh is Weak
40 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. "Couldn't you men keep watch with me for one hour?" he asked Peter. 41 "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak." Matthew 26:40-41(TNIV)
Sometimes we are only as good as our fleshly bodies will allow us to be. Oh how I can relate to the disciples here as there have been many times that in my spirit I had great intentions but at the end of the day I was way too tired and exhausted to carry them out. I read a book once entitled "Mind, Body and Spirit" that was written by a pastor here in the Charlotte area addressing this very issue. The author illustrated how important it is to engage not only your mind and Spirit but also your physical body, the better your shape the more that you will be able to do for God. Well, I feel pretty good today as I started my day in the gym at 6:00 and am now drinking a protein shake at my desk in hopes of rebuilding my muscles in order that my wife won’t be embarrassed to lay beside me at the pool in our building this spring. Seriously though, more important than that, I believe that God honors His children who look after their whole person, including physical shape and fitness. Start exercising your flesh today in order that your body will be able to keep up with the amazing dreams that play out in your Spirit and in your mind. Draw near today to only One who can give you the strength to endure and to live a loving life that reflects the amazing grace of Jesus.
Sometimes we are only as good as our fleshly bodies will allow us to be. Oh how I can relate to the disciples here as there have been many times that in my spirit I had great intentions but at the end of the day I was way too tired and exhausted to carry them out. I read a book once entitled "Mind, Body and Spirit" that was written by a pastor here in the Charlotte area addressing this very issue. The author illustrated how important it is to engage not only your mind and Spirit but also your physical body, the better your shape the more that you will be able to do for God. Well, I feel pretty good today as I started my day in the gym at 6:00 and am now drinking a protein shake at my desk in hopes of rebuilding my muscles in order that my wife won’t be embarrassed to lay beside me at the pool in our building this spring. Seriously though, more important than that, I believe that God honors His children who look after their whole person, including physical shape and fitness. Start exercising your flesh today in order that your body will be able to keep up with the amazing dreams that play out in your Spirit and in your mind. Draw near today to only One who can give you the strength to endure and to live a loving life that reflects the amazing grace of Jesus.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Celebration of Life
26 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take and eat; this is my body."
27 Then he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you. 28 This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom."
30 When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
Matthew 26:6-26-30(TNIV)
Many refer to the discipline that Jesus discusses here as communion. I like to refer to it as a celebration! A celebration of life and a remembrance of the incredible sacrifice that Jesus made for everyone who makes a conscious decision to embrace Him. One day, as Jesus describes here, all of us who have dared to enter in to this amazing journey of life with Christ will unite in heaven and there will be drinking of wine and singing and a perfect community of believers that are bonded together by the holy and perfect love of our Creator and Friend. Oh what a day that will be. The small glimpses that we experience on earth today; the experiences that bring joyful tears; the ones that give you goose bumps all over will happen all the time since your brokenness that causes a temporary separation from God will be healed and you will be made whole and complete forever in Him! Don’t ever forget the price that Jesus paid for you and be sure to anticipate the grand celebration that we will all experience one day with our Savior when He looks at us with tears in His eyes as a result of His incredible love and says “well done”.
27 Then he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you. 28 This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom."
30 When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
Matthew 26:6-26-30(TNIV)
Many refer to the discipline that Jesus discusses here as communion. I like to refer to it as a celebration! A celebration of life and a remembrance of the incredible sacrifice that Jesus made for everyone who makes a conscious decision to embrace Him. One day, as Jesus describes here, all of us who have dared to enter in to this amazing journey of life with Christ will unite in heaven and there will be drinking of wine and singing and a perfect community of believers that are bonded together by the holy and perfect love of our Creator and Friend. Oh what a day that will be. The small glimpses that we experience on earth today; the experiences that bring joyful tears; the ones that give you goose bumps all over will happen all the time since your brokenness that causes a temporary separation from God will be healed and you will be made whole and complete forever in Him! Don’t ever forget the price that Jesus paid for you and be sure to anticipate the grand celebration that we will all experience one day with our Savior when He looks at us with tears in His eyes as a result of His incredible love and says “well done”.
Monday, February 15, 2010
Effects of War
20 When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve. 21 And while they were eating, he said, "Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me."
22 They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, "Surely not I, Lord?"
23 Jesus replied, "The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. 24 The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born."
25 Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, "Surely not I, Rabbi?"
Jesus answered, "You have said so."
Matthew 26:6-20-25(TNIV)
Can you imagine how Jesus must have felt? In the heat of the battle, about to suffer more than you and I could ever imagine for the sake of restoring all of us to Himself and knowing full well that it was one of His closest friends, one of His inner circle of supporters that would betray Him. Don’t ever forget that we live in a world at war! There will be people that betray you because of your faith in Christ. Some of your closest friends will become victims of defeat to the enemy. There will be people who befriend you that will never really be your friend. Please know when this happens to you that you have a friend who sticks closer than a brother, a friend who has experienced this same kind of hurt and came out on the other side to help comfort you when you endure similar blows due to the brokenness of this world and the battle that we face. Stay connected to your power source today, let His love give you strength to press on and let His grace and mercy soothe your pain and comfort you as you journey to know and love Him more.
22 They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, "Surely not I, Lord?"
23 Jesus replied, "The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. 24 The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born."
25 Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, "Surely not I, Rabbi?"
Jesus answered, "You have said so."
Matthew 26:6-20-25(TNIV)
Can you imagine how Jesus must have felt? In the heat of the battle, about to suffer more than you and I could ever imagine for the sake of restoring all of us to Himself and knowing full well that it was one of His closest friends, one of His inner circle of supporters that would betray Him. Don’t ever forget that we live in a world at war! There will be people that betray you because of your faith in Christ. Some of your closest friends will become victims of defeat to the enemy. There will be people who befriend you that will never really be your friend. Please know when this happens to you that you have a friend who sticks closer than a brother, a friend who has experienced this same kind of hurt and came out on the other side to help comfort you when you endure similar blows due to the brokenness of this world and the battle that we face. Stay connected to your power source today, let His love give you strength to press on and let His grace and mercy soothe your pain and comfort you as you journey to know and love Him more.
Friday, February 12, 2010
Appointed Time
18 He replied, "Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, 'The Teacher says: My appointed time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.' " 19 So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover.
Matthew 26:6-18-19(TNIV)
Can you picture this? It’s an ordinary day and you set out in the morning with all of your plans, things to get done, goals to be accomplished, work tasks to be completed and at the last minute a group of Jesus’ disciples show up and all of your grand plans for the day take a 180 degree turn as Jesus Christ, The Messiah, the One the whole city is talking about is coming to your house to celebrate Passover. It was this man’s appointed time to help assist in the single most important event in history as it relates to our restoration and relationship with God. I am sure at the time that he had no idea how important this dinner was and how millions of people would continue to read about it more than 2,000 years later. Great artists have created portraits, books and movies have been written and even controversies have arisen about who was present at the Passover dinner that happened just prior to Jesus’ arrest and crucifixion. You know, today is no different, there is still a plan in place, an epic battle for the control and restoration of human hearts is happening all around you. Today is your appointed time to play your part, to reflect the love of the amazing Savior who lives inside. The result of your choices and intentionality of living out your faith in Christ could reap eternal rewards today for you and even more for a lost soul who desperately needs to see Jesus living in and through your life. This is your time – be conscious of the moving of God’s Spirit, that still small voice in your ear and the prompting on your heart to take action. You do not want to miss the incredible joy that our Father has planned for you today. Prepare your heart for action today as you learn to love Him more!
Matthew 26:6-18-19(TNIV)
Can you picture this? It’s an ordinary day and you set out in the morning with all of your plans, things to get done, goals to be accomplished, work tasks to be completed and at the last minute a group of Jesus’ disciples show up and all of your grand plans for the day take a 180 degree turn as Jesus Christ, The Messiah, the One the whole city is talking about is coming to your house to celebrate Passover. It was this man’s appointed time to help assist in the single most important event in history as it relates to our restoration and relationship with God. I am sure at the time that he had no idea how important this dinner was and how millions of people would continue to read about it more than 2,000 years later. Great artists have created portraits, books and movies have been written and even controversies have arisen about who was present at the Passover dinner that happened just prior to Jesus’ arrest and crucifixion. You know, today is no different, there is still a plan in place, an epic battle for the control and restoration of human hearts is happening all around you. Today is your appointed time to play your part, to reflect the love of the amazing Savior who lives inside. The result of your choices and intentionality of living out your faith in Christ could reap eternal rewards today for you and even more for a lost soul who desperately needs to see Jesus living in and through your life. This is your time – be conscious of the moving of God’s Spirit, that still small voice in your ear and the prompting on your heart to take action. You do not want to miss the incredible joy that our Father has planned for you today. Prepare your heart for action today as you learn to love Him more!
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
A Much Higher Calling
6 While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of Simon the Leper, 7 a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table.
8 When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. "Why this waste?" they asked. 9 "This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor."
10 Aware of this, Jesus said to them, "Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me. 11 The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me. 12 When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. 13 Truly I tell you, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her."
Matthew 26:6-13(TNIV)
I love this story as it confirms the idea that man’s ways are not always God’s way and that sometimes the most disturbing and ridiculous and illogical things that occur throughout the day can never be understood by us because God’s vision and perspective is so much greater than our limited view of the world. The perfume that this lady poured on Jesus could have paid all the expenses for a family for a year and yet it served a much higher calling and more divine purpose as it was being sacrificed in order that our beautiful Savior could be properly anointed prior to giving His very life over to humiliation and suffering on our behalf. Who at that table could have known what was about to occur? Who could have known that the events that were about to transpire in the coming days would live on in the lives of millions of people more than 2000 years later? Who could have foretold that the anointing of perfume in that alabaster jar would be the beginning of an event that would transform literally millions upon millions of people’s hearts and lives back into authentic relationship with their Creator? You never know what your Heavenly Father may be up to or how the small acts of kindness that you perform today may be used for such a high calling as to transform a person’s life or maybe many people’s lives back to the joy and perfect unity that happen in a relationship with Jesus Christ. So today, continue to respond to the Spirit’s prompting on your heart as there is a purpose for every little thing that you do and you may never know how far your kindness will reach as you faithfully reflect God’s love in the smallest of ways to the world around you. Pour your alabaster jar of God’s love onto another person today as you learn to love Him more!
8 When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. "Why this waste?" they asked. 9 "This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor."
10 Aware of this, Jesus said to them, "Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me. 11 The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me. 12 When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. 13 Truly I tell you, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her."
Matthew 26:6-13(TNIV)
I love this story as it confirms the idea that man’s ways are not always God’s way and that sometimes the most disturbing and ridiculous and illogical things that occur throughout the day can never be understood by us because God’s vision and perspective is so much greater than our limited view of the world. The perfume that this lady poured on Jesus could have paid all the expenses for a family for a year and yet it served a much higher calling and more divine purpose as it was being sacrificed in order that our beautiful Savior could be properly anointed prior to giving His very life over to humiliation and suffering on our behalf. Who at that table could have known what was about to occur? Who could have known that the events that were about to transpire in the coming days would live on in the lives of millions of people more than 2000 years later? Who could have foretold that the anointing of perfume in that alabaster jar would be the beginning of an event that would transform literally millions upon millions of people’s hearts and lives back into authentic relationship with their Creator? You never know what your Heavenly Father may be up to or how the small acts of kindness that you perform today may be used for such a high calling as to transform a person’s life or maybe many people’s lives back to the joy and perfect unity that happen in a relationship with Jesus Christ. So today, continue to respond to the Spirit’s prompting on your heart as there is a purpose for every little thing that you do and you may never know how far your kindness will reach as you faithfully reflect God’s love in the smallest of ways to the world around you. Pour your alabaster jar of God’s love onto another person today as you learn to love Him more!
Friday, February 5, 2010
Not So Bad
1 When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he said to his disciples, 2 "As you know, the Passover is two days away—and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified."
Matthew 26:1-2(TNIV)
Just when you think that life has really dealt you a crappy hand to play and right at the same time that you are wallowing in your sorrows and shaking your fist at God with a notion to scream at the top of your lungs the question why – right then, in that moment, try to remember the cross and all that Jesus endured in order that He could help to ease your pain and heal your brokenness and comfort you with His amazing love. Jesus suffered betrayal by His closest friends and He endured the worst case of humiliation that anyone has ever endured on this earth. He was beaten with razor sharp flogs to the point of death, made to carry His cross through the cheering crowd to Calvary Hill, spit on, mocked and treated worse than the scum of the earth. The crazy thing is that He knew ahead of time that all of this was going to happen and yet He, with the help of His Father, pressed on in order that His sacrifice could repair your broken relationship with God in such a way that you could be comforted and restored, even in the midst of whatever crises you find yourself facing today. Jesus loves you more than you could ever imagine. He has suffered much more than you, and today He is patiently waiting for you to reach out and take His gentle hand of love that will guide you through this time in your life, and when viewed through the lens of the cross, this turns out to be not so bad. Fall in love with Jesus today and let Him guide you and comfort you as you learn to love Him more.
Matthew 26:1-2(TNIV)
Just when you think that life has really dealt you a crappy hand to play and right at the same time that you are wallowing in your sorrows and shaking your fist at God with a notion to scream at the top of your lungs the question why – right then, in that moment, try to remember the cross and all that Jesus endured in order that He could help to ease your pain and heal your brokenness and comfort you with His amazing love. Jesus suffered betrayal by His closest friends and He endured the worst case of humiliation that anyone has ever endured on this earth. He was beaten with razor sharp flogs to the point of death, made to carry His cross through the cheering crowd to Calvary Hill, spit on, mocked and treated worse than the scum of the earth. The crazy thing is that He knew ahead of time that all of this was going to happen and yet He, with the help of His Father, pressed on in order that His sacrifice could repair your broken relationship with God in such a way that you could be comforted and restored, even in the midst of whatever crises you find yourself facing today. Jesus loves you more than you could ever imagine. He has suffered much more than you, and today He is patiently waiting for you to reach out and take His gentle hand of love that will guide you through this time in your life, and when viewed through the lens of the cross, this turns out to be not so bad. Fall in love with Jesus today and let Him guide you and comfort you as you learn to love Him more.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Sheep or Goat
31 "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
34 "Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'
37 "Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'
40 "The King will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.'
41 "Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.'
44 "They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?'
45 "He will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'
46 "Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life." Matthew 25:31-46(TNIV)
Are you a sheep or a goat? If you were to die today and before you know it be placed in front of this glorious throne with Jesus Christ in the judgment seat, His body still scarred and bruised from the incredible price that He paid for you, where would He put you, on the right or on the left? Truly if you have genuinely accepted His free gift of salvation into your heart of hearts then you will not be able to help but to act like the sheep in this story and in some small way be looking to give of yourself and to give of your resources to others as the acts of kindness that are evident in your life are not of your own doing but have everything to do with the one who lives inside of your soul. Maybe, you are a goat today but have ambitions to be a sheep at some time in your life when you have more time or when it is more convenient or when you are successful at cleaning up your act in preparation to live a Godly life. Listen, you will never be able to clean up your act without Jesus and no one knows how much longer they have on this earth. The truth of the matter is that you may not be here tomorrow and today may be your only opportunity to be Jesus to the world and to make a difference. Which side will you choose? Choose today and start living a life that abounds in love and adoration for the one who died to make you whole!
34 "Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'
37 "Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'
40 "The King will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.'
41 "Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.'
44 "They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?'
45 "He will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'
46 "Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life." Matthew 25:31-46(TNIV)
Are you a sheep or a goat? If you were to die today and before you know it be placed in front of this glorious throne with Jesus Christ in the judgment seat, His body still scarred and bruised from the incredible price that He paid for you, where would He put you, on the right or on the left? Truly if you have genuinely accepted His free gift of salvation into your heart of hearts then you will not be able to help but to act like the sheep in this story and in some small way be looking to give of yourself and to give of your resources to others as the acts of kindness that are evident in your life are not of your own doing but have everything to do with the one who lives inside of your soul. Maybe, you are a goat today but have ambitions to be a sheep at some time in your life when you have more time or when it is more convenient or when you are successful at cleaning up your act in preparation to live a Godly life. Listen, you will never be able to clean up your act without Jesus and no one knows how much longer they have on this earth. The truth of the matter is that you may not be here tomorrow and today may be your only opportunity to be Jesus to the world and to make a difference. Which side will you choose? Choose today and start living a life that abounds in love and adoration for the one who died to make you whole!
Saturday, January 30, 2010
New Project: Deck Your Heart: 30 Days with God
Journey Bread Readers:
I have started a new project that I believe in my heart will be a success. The project is called Deck Your Heart: 30 Days with God. The idea is to try to "live in the moment" each day instead of always dreaming about the future. I have a tendency to dream so much about future success that I miss the small blessings and opportunities to help people each day. With God's help, I am trying to stay connected to Him throughout the day and look for Him to show up and give me opportunities to live for Him, even in the smallest of events. The text as you will find contains victories and failures and struggles and is very raw - I believe that this type of story will appeal to a large group of people in the world who are tired of the fairy tale stories and who long for a story that they can relate to and from which they can learn. Attached are the first 3 days of the script that I have sent to Tate Publishing who has offered to give me a publishing contract for the book. In an effort to gauge the feasibility of meeting the author participation - financial investment for the book, I would be humbled if you could do the following:
1. Pray for me that God would give me the wisdom to continue to stay connected to Him and to be sensitive to His presence and direction, even in the smallest of events and goings on throughout the coming days, weeks and beyond.
2. Please read the first 3 days that are attached and shoot me a quick note if you would be willing to prayerfully consider partnering with me by offering a financial contribution that I will credit toward your pre-sale copy/copies once published.
3. Even if you are not in a position to financially support the project, I would love to hear your feedback on the idea.
Thanks so much for your support and for continuing on the Journey of knowing and loving our Creator!
Deck Your Heart
30 Days with God
Author: Matt Livigni
Day 1
Jumping In
Today started at 3:00 A.M. as I lie awake in bed nervous that I won’t wake up in time to read the first 5 chapters of a new book that we will be discussing in a block of 12 people at this great new church that Paula, my beautiful wife and I had just started attending several months ago. Normally, I would not have been such a procrastinator; however, my life has been very busy lately. Too busy to worry about the small stuff as my career in the tire business had recently been catapulted from being a successful, independent fleet salesman to managing a team of 14 professionals and being responsible for the business results in one of 4 regions in the U.S. smack dab in the middle of the worst economic downturn since the great depression. On top of that, I had just had my first book published in the past year and was hoping to somehow make it a success despite not having the first clue about how that was going to happen, but secretly believing that somehow it would as I just knew that God had big plans for that book, big plans for me and big plans for my future.
As I read the first 5 chapters of A Million Miles in a Thousand Years by Don Miller, I was intrigued by his writing style and could relate all too well to the stories that Don was telling. Don has a gift of being very raw and very transparent, he crossed all the boundaries of how a Christian book should look and feel and sound and yet there was something very special about the truthfulness of his writing, it is as if he was letting the reader peer deep into his soul where all of his insecurities, hurts, dreams, fears, successes and failures were held. The interesting thing about the memorable experiences of Don’s life was that the scenes that he described would not appear on the surface as anything that should be very memorable. They were small insignificant events that mattered most to him and that shaped who he was today. I thought about these small events through the lens of my own personal approach to life with the backdrop of all the big plans that God had (or maybe just I had) for my life and was immediately ashamed of how I had been approaching this journey of knowing and loving God. Right away I decided to change my approach and I remembered a series that Matt and Scott (the pastors at Watershed church) had just completed in December entitled Deck Your Heart.
Part of the Deck Your Heart series discusses this idea that God cares less about the “big” things in this life and more about the small, insignificant people and happenings of your day in which He strives to make His love known. The big things in life will take care of themselves if you indeed make a conscience effort to focus on the day to day activities, encounters, acquaintances and divine appointments in which God can use a heart that’s tuned in to Him and ready to reflect His love in order to make the most of our short time here on this earth. I had just written a daily devotional in December about this idea and so I went back and read what I had just written some 30 days or so earlier. Next came one of those ah-ha moments that hit me upside the head so hard that I could hardly sleep as I went back to bed to catch a few more hours of sleep before the 9:00 block meeting would begin. The words that I had written as part of a daily email ministry called Journey Bread about this idea of decking your heart were very well stated and very inspiring to read and yet practicing them in the daily grind had seemed to get lost in the shuffle as I went back to dreaming about the success of my region, the success of my book, the new relationships and all the people that we were going to have an impact on in our new home and new church in uptown Charlotte. Something needed to change and I was immediately inspired to start walking the talk and to begin to tune in to what God is doing right now, in the moment, in the smallest of the small activities and decisions of my day, in the seemingly mundane business meetings and all of the others events that just happen throughout the day, the events where God had shown up but I had not, the insignificant happenings of the day where God was waiting to give me an incredible gift of fulfilling my purpose for being here on this earth that I had missed altogether as a result of worrying and dreaming about tomorrow, the tomorrow that just might never come. In the book of Matthew 6:34(NIV), Jesus tells us: “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
I was excited to share this new idea about how I was going to approach life for the next 30 days with the new group with which I was meeting on Sunday morning. As I shared, I was received by these new friends with several deer in the headlight looks. It may had been a little too much to share in the very first meeting but to verbalize it meant a lot to me as I was excited to start this new journey of selfless living and tuning in to how God can use me in the most insignificant events of the day. I was excited to see what God would do if I just had the humility to be intentional about seeking Him and then selfishly I was excited to journal the daily events at the end of each day in order to publish this new book that will hopefully give you just a glimpse of what it is like to encounter God on His turf, with His direction on a daily basis.
The meeting was over and my day had begun. This would be the first Sunday that Paula and I haven’t fought about being late to church. The meeting ended at 10:00 and the service did not start until 10:30. The original plan was to have Paula drive herself and meet me at church, that way I could be on time and not have to worry about her not being ready in time. During the block meeting, Paula was texting me, asking for directions. The weather today was rainy and cold and I thought about this beautiful gift of love that God had given me in my wife trudging through the mud and rain alone to attend a new church where she did not yet know anyone and trying to find me in the midst of the crowd. My first encounter with God happened as I changed my plan and drove home to pick Paula up, knowing full well that we most likely would still be late. This was the first Sunday for as long as I can remember that we didn’t argue or fret about the time as Paula, surprised as she was, greeted me with a special kiss upon my arrival back at our uptown condo. My 30 day Journey had begun and it couldn’t have started in a better way.
Tears filled my eyes as I listened at church to Scott’s wife give the sermon, describing the needs and expectations of a woman. Self-sacrifice, strength and respectability were the 3 pillars that she described that hold a marriage together, all executed with the power of God who lives inside each and every one of us who believe and accept Him. I couldn’t help but reflect on the events of the morning as I grasped Paula’s hand during the service with tears of joy for the gift that God has given me in her and the abundant life that lies in wait as I strive to tune-in to Him in the coming days. I wondered how the morning would have gone if it were a normal Sunday that started with the needless stress of worrying about being late. I wondered how the message would have been received and how my actions might have looked through this new lens of stogies and stilettos(the current series on Sunday morning). I got it right today with a little help from above. I can’t wait to tune-in tomorrow and see what God will do.
Day 2
Head in the Clouds
My facebook status today read the following: “Matt is starting a 30 day journey of living in the small, insignificant moments each day – looking for God to show up and teach me to live, breath and love Him in the midst of His presence throughout each day by reflecting His awesome love to all who cross our path.” The day started with an email from Erica Parkerson, a D.J. from Newlife 91.9 responding to an email that I sent her on Saturday morning answering her request to share a love story. I sent her a copy from one of the devotions in my first book entitled Two Becoming One which described in detail the incredible gift of love that God has given me in my beautiful wife Paula. Her response was so awesome that it catapulted me right back up into the clouds, dreaming about bestselling books and who would be listening to the radio broadcast and maybe, just maybe this was the big break that I needed to get the Journey Bread book off the ground, as far as mass retail sales. So much for living in the moment as that email was all I needed to take my thoughts a million miles away from paying attention to how God would want to use me in the coming hours.
At my desk, I was formulating the response to Erica as she had a few more questions prior to reading my love story over the air, just then Carol, a colleague who had just befriended me on facebook appeared in the frame of my office door – “what an awesome status you had this morning” she said with a heartfelt expression on her face, I smiled and then quickly looked back down at my computer as I have become all too accustomed to doing in an effort to not have to make small talk in the office. So much for living in the moment, and for taking advantage of doors opened by God to reflect His love, share my story and be an encouragement in the moment for other people. No, it was back to the old Matt already, selfishly consumed with visions of grandeur about the future and having dreams so big that I completely missed an opportunity to make a difference right then and there in the midst of a miracle that God had performed in connecting Carol and me together in conversation about His love and grace.
The rest of the day at work is a blur as I once again was so consumed in my work and so consumed in seeing the tipping point for Journey Bread come to fruition that I most likely missed several opportunities to make a difference and to be there for someone else in need. That evening as I walked up the block to the Harris Teeter to grab a bottle of wine and some food to cook for dinner that evening, I passed several people along the way and passed them without even a glance or smile. I had developed the cold way of avoiding people that was all too prevalent in uptown. The city will teach you very quickly not to make eye contact as you are walking down the street, all it takes is one or two unsolicited conversations with a scam artist who has some long and drawn out story as to why you should give him whatever cash is in your pocket and feel good about it. I fell for this scam one too many times when we first moved to uptown Charlotte, and those early experiences helped me to develop this same cold avoidance toward other people that I thought was very insensitive and downright rude when we first moved here. I should mention here that I do, however, very much enjoy selective giving to the down and out on the city streets, the ones I deem to be authentic homeless folks – as if I have any idea who is really homeless and who isn’t and maybe it’s the unauthentic ones who need to see Jesus even more than the real street people do. Nevertheless, here I was passing by several other people who may have just needed a comforting smile to help to ease their hurt or calm their fears and I was not even able to do that this evening.
As I lay in bed that evening, I was wondering where God was in all of this today. Why didn’t Erica ever email me back? Why was I so tired, too tired to even journal my experiences for the day? Why do I get so caught up in dreaming so much about the future and about success and about having a bestselling book and being the number one region in the country? Why am I not more concerned about other people? Why am I so selfish? I prayed a prayer that evening that I could no way do any of this on my own and it was definitely going to take a miracle from God to intervene if any good was going to come from the next 29 days. I asked God’s forgiveness for my failures and fell fast asleep without even the thought of a kiss goodnight to my beautiful bride who lay next to me, the one I wrote about, the one who, I fear, may be even lonelier than I when my head gets stuck in the clouds and life goes on without me.
Day 3
Big City – Big Deal
One of Paula and my favorite cities in the U.S. is NYC. Paula would be packing her bags tomorrow if I told her that we were moving to Manhattan. I can’t see us living there since the cost of living is so high but I love to visit whether the trip is on business or pleasure. My standard reply when she brings up her dream of living in the city is that if we did that then we wouldn’t have anywhere to go to on vacation that we enjoy as much as New York. This never flies with her, and she will never let go of the dream until it is fulfilled. So, on Wednesday I had the opportunity to fly to New York to continue the negotiations of most likely the largest business deal that I have had the privilege of putting together in my 22 year career in the tire business. I was excited about furthering the negotiations but even more excited about the great rate that I found at a hotel in Chelsea as we normally stayed in NJ on these business trips to help minimize cost, but on this trip we were right in the middle of New York City, the place where all the action was, the place that would turn out to be the biggest distraction of my day.
On the plane, I had almost two hours of uninterrupted time, (this seems to be a luxury these days) and was excited to write day 2 of this book. Upon completion of the second chapter I was once again filled with awe and joy and incredible love for the God that I serve as the words just flowed onto the laptop screen with almost zero effort. You would have thought that I would be used to this by now since this incredible gift of journaling the lessons that God has been teaching me through His Word and through life experience over the past 4 years has never failed to show up when I, alongside God, have set aside time to reflect and share the thoughts that He has placed on my heart. I sent the completed chapter to the co-pastor of our new uptown church with a copy to my beautiful Paula as in writing the chapter I was reminded of how much I love her and how much better I could be as a husband if I could only figure out this God thing of living in the moment. Much to my surprise, Scott responded almost immediately with encouraging words and Paula responded at work the next day saying that I was much too hard on myself. These kinds of responses are what I live for, they are the fuel that keeps me motivated to continue on in the battle, they give me hope for the future and encouragement to keep writing and to keep trying to invest my short time on this earth in a way that will somehow leave a legacy of love and encouragement that people will remember and that reflects the One inside whose strength is made perfect in my weakness.
The bad thing about the city is that it is easy to get distracted by all of the energy and all of the people and all of the fancy restaurants with superb wine lists and authentic Italian food. It is easy to get lost in self-indulgence and that is what mostly happened the evening of day 3. At dinner with my colleague, the subject of the horrible tragedy in Haiti came up in conversation and from the tone of his voice it was as if he was quietly asking why. Why did this have to happen; why does God allow such terrible tragedy in the world. It would have been a perfect opportunity to explain the brokenness of the world and to tell Bill my story of how I was broken and how everyone and everything in this world is broken but how God has begun to heal and restore my broken heart into an amazing relationship with Him through a relationship with His son Jesus. Easy to write these words now but they were not so easy to speak when the opportunity presented itself because I was one too many glasses into the bottle of wine that we ordered for dinner and my thoughts and focus on what God was doing were long gone and had been replaced by the indulgences of New York City and the fine food and wine that we were feeding ourselves that evening. I muttered something to Bill’s questions like “we live in a broken world” and then quickly moved on to a more pleasant topic of discussion.
A late night to bed with an early start the next day, when one of the most important meetings of my career would take place meant that there would be no time to write my Journey Bread devotion in the morning. The guilt and disappointment that I used to feel when missing a morning had been long gone as I secretly wondered if any of the 400 or so people who are on the Journey Bread list ever read them anymore as it didn’t appear as if my Journey Bread email ministry was going anywhere. The book had only sold 500 or so copies and the investment that it would take to publish the other two devotional books that were almost complete appeared to be too much to make my dream of having a series of Journey Bread devotional books a reality. Part of me continues to hang on to this dream since every time I get discouraged God sends a small, unexpected message of encouragement through an unsolicited comment on the book or a heartfelt response to the morning devotion. God will not let me relinquish this dream and it is in those times of encouragement that I feel more alive than I have ever been and so full of hope and ambition for the future to fulfill my God-given purpose in this life. Maybe, just maybe, my timing is not God’s timing at all and I am convinced more than ever that there is a miracle around the corner just waiting to happen and that God is going to show up in a big way to help me realize my dreams and live to my full potential. Maybe, just maybe, I am in the midst of a miracle and God is just waiting for me to eliminate the distractions in my life in order that I can hear His whisper in my ear during the smallest most insignificant events of the day that will lead me to a life that changes people and makes a difference in this broken world.
Father, please help me to listen more for your direction and help me to always be ready to respond to the prompting of your Spirit on my heart to offer a smile or helping hand or encouraging word, whatever it is that you would want me to do. I pray for clarity and for the cleanness of my mind in order that I could hear your voice and respond. I love you Father – thank you for your Grace and for your love and thank you for the incredible journey that you have planned for all who trust in you and give you their life.
I have started a new project that I believe in my heart will be a success. The project is called Deck Your Heart: 30 Days with God. The idea is to try to "live in the moment" each day instead of always dreaming about the future. I have a tendency to dream so much about future success that I miss the small blessings and opportunities to help people each day. With God's help, I am trying to stay connected to Him throughout the day and look for Him to show up and give me opportunities to live for Him, even in the smallest of events. The text as you will find contains victories and failures and struggles and is very raw - I believe that this type of story will appeal to a large group of people in the world who are tired of the fairy tale stories and who long for a story that they can relate to and from which they can learn. Attached are the first 3 days of the script that I have sent to Tate Publishing who has offered to give me a publishing contract for the book. In an effort to gauge the feasibility of meeting the author participation - financial investment for the book, I would be humbled if you could do the following:
1. Pray for me that God would give me the wisdom to continue to stay connected to Him and to be sensitive to His presence and direction, even in the smallest of events and goings on throughout the coming days, weeks and beyond.
2. Please read the first 3 days that are attached and shoot me a quick note if you would be willing to prayerfully consider partnering with me by offering a financial contribution that I will credit toward your pre-sale copy/copies once published.
3. Even if you are not in a position to financially support the project, I would love to hear your feedback on the idea.
Thanks so much for your support and for continuing on the Journey of knowing and loving our Creator!
Deck Your Heart
30 Days with God
Author: Matt Livigni
Day 1
Jumping In
Today started at 3:00 A.M. as I lie awake in bed nervous that I won’t wake up in time to read the first 5 chapters of a new book that we will be discussing in a block of 12 people at this great new church that Paula, my beautiful wife and I had just started attending several months ago. Normally, I would not have been such a procrastinator; however, my life has been very busy lately. Too busy to worry about the small stuff as my career in the tire business had recently been catapulted from being a successful, independent fleet salesman to managing a team of 14 professionals and being responsible for the business results in one of 4 regions in the U.S. smack dab in the middle of the worst economic downturn since the great depression. On top of that, I had just had my first book published in the past year and was hoping to somehow make it a success despite not having the first clue about how that was going to happen, but secretly believing that somehow it would as I just knew that God had big plans for that book, big plans for me and big plans for my future.
As I read the first 5 chapters of A Million Miles in a Thousand Years by Don Miller, I was intrigued by his writing style and could relate all too well to the stories that Don was telling. Don has a gift of being very raw and very transparent, he crossed all the boundaries of how a Christian book should look and feel and sound and yet there was something very special about the truthfulness of his writing, it is as if he was letting the reader peer deep into his soul where all of his insecurities, hurts, dreams, fears, successes and failures were held. The interesting thing about the memorable experiences of Don’s life was that the scenes that he described would not appear on the surface as anything that should be very memorable. They were small insignificant events that mattered most to him and that shaped who he was today. I thought about these small events through the lens of my own personal approach to life with the backdrop of all the big plans that God had (or maybe just I had) for my life and was immediately ashamed of how I had been approaching this journey of knowing and loving God. Right away I decided to change my approach and I remembered a series that Matt and Scott (the pastors at Watershed church) had just completed in December entitled Deck Your Heart.
Part of the Deck Your Heart series discusses this idea that God cares less about the “big” things in this life and more about the small, insignificant people and happenings of your day in which He strives to make His love known. The big things in life will take care of themselves if you indeed make a conscience effort to focus on the day to day activities, encounters, acquaintances and divine appointments in which God can use a heart that’s tuned in to Him and ready to reflect His love in order to make the most of our short time here on this earth. I had just written a daily devotional in December about this idea and so I went back and read what I had just written some 30 days or so earlier. Next came one of those ah-ha moments that hit me upside the head so hard that I could hardly sleep as I went back to bed to catch a few more hours of sleep before the 9:00 block meeting would begin. The words that I had written as part of a daily email ministry called Journey Bread about this idea of decking your heart were very well stated and very inspiring to read and yet practicing them in the daily grind had seemed to get lost in the shuffle as I went back to dreaming about the success of my region, the success of my book, the new relationships and all the people that we were going to have an impact on in our new home and new church in uptown Charlotte. Something needed to change and I was immediately inspired to start walking the talk and to begin to tune in to what God is doing right now, in the moment, in the smallest of the small activities and decisions of my day, in the seemingly mundane business meetings and all of the others events that just happen throughout the day, the events where God had shown up but I had not, the insignificant happenings of the day where God was waiting to give me an incredible gift of fulfilling my purpose for being here on this earth that I had missed altogether as a result of worrying and dreaming about tomorrow, the tomorrow that just might never come. In the book of Matthew 6:34(NIV), Jesus tells us: “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
I was excited to share this new idea about how I was going to approach life for the next 30 days with the new group with which I was meeting on Sunday morning. As I shared, I was received by these new friends with several deer in the headlight looks. It may had been a little too much to share in the very first meeting but to verbalize it meant a lot to me as I was excited to start this new journey of selfless living and tuning in to how God can use me in the most insignificant events of the day. I was excited to see what God would do if I just had the humility to be intentional about seeking Him and then selfishly I was excited to journal the daily events at the end of each day in order to publish this new book that will hopefully give you just a glimpse of what it is like to encounter God on His turf, with His direction on a daily basis.
The meeting was over and my day had begun. This would be the first Sunday that Paula and I haven’t fought about being late to church. The meeting ended at 10:00 and the service did not start until 10:30. The original plan was to have Paula drive herself and meet me at church, that way I could be on time and not have to worry about her not being ready in time. During the block meeting, Paula was texting me, asking for directions. The weather today was rainy and cold and I thought about this beautiful gift of love that God had given me in my wife trudging through the mud and rain alone to attend a new church where she did not yet know anyone and trying to find me in the midst of the crowd. My first encounter with God happened as I changed my plan and drove home to pick Paula up, knowing full well that we most likely would still be late. This was the first Sunday for as long as I can remember that we didn’t argue or fret about the time as Paula, surprised as she was, greeted me with a special kiss upon my arrival back at our uptown condo. My 30 day Journey had begun and it couldn’t have started in a better way.
Tears filled my eyes as I listened at church to Scott’s wife give the sermon, describing the needs and expectations of a woman. Self-sacrifice, strength and respectability were the 3 pillars that she described that hold a marriage together, all executed with the power of God who lives inside each and every one of us who believe and accept Him. I couldn’t help but reflect on the events of the morning as I grasped Paula’s hand during the service with tears of joy for the gift that God has given me in her and the abundant life that lies in wait as I strive to tune-in to Him in the coming days. I wondered how the morning would have gone if it were a normal Sunday that started with the needless stress of worrying about being late. I wondered how the message would have been received and how my actions might have looked through this new lens of stogies and stilettos(the current series on Sunday morning). I got it right today with a little help from above. I can’t wait to tune-in tomorrow and see what God will do.
Day 2
Head in the Clouds
My facebook status today read the following: “Matt is starting a 30 day journey of living in the small, insignificant moments each day – looking for God to show up and teach me to live, breath and love Him in the midst of His presence throughout each day by reflecting His awesome love to all who cross our path.” The day started with an email from Erica Parkerson, a D.J. from Newlife 91.9 responding to an email that I sent her on Saturday morning answering her request to share a love story. I sent her a copy from one of the devotions in my first book entitled Two Becoming One which described in detail the incredible gift of love that God has given me in my beautiful wife Paula. Her response was so awesome that it catapulted me right back up into the clouds, dreaming about bestselling books and who would be listening to the radio broadcast and maybe, just maybe this was the big break that I needed to get the Journey Bread book off the ground, as far as mass retail sales. So much for living in the moment as that email was all I needed to take my thoughts a million miles away from paying attention to how God would want to use me in the coming hours.
At my desk, I was formulating the response to Erica as she had a few more questions prior to reading my love story over the air, just then Carol, a colleague who had just befriended me on facebook appeared in the frame of my office door – “what an awesome status you had this morning” she said with a heartfelt expression on her face, I smiled and then quickly looked back down at my computer as I have become all too accustomed to doing in an effort to not have to make small talk in the office. So much for living in the moment, and for taking advantage of doors opened by God to reflect His love, share my story and be an encouragement in the moment for other people. No, it was back to the old Matt already, selfishly consumed with visions of grandeur about the future and having dreams so big that I completely missed an opportunity to make a difference right then and there in the midst of a miracle that God had performed in connecting Carol and me together in conversation about His love and grace.
The rest of the day at work is a blur as I once again was so consumed in my work and so consumed in seeing the tipping point for Journey Bread come to fruition that I most likely missed several opportunities to make a difference and to be there for someone else in need. That evening as I walked up the block to the Harris Teeter to grab a bottle of wine and some food to cook for dinner that evening, I passed several people along the way and passed them without even a glance or smile. I had developed the cold way of avoiding people that was all too prevalent in uptown. The city will teach you very quickly not to make eye contact as you are walking down the street, all it takes is one or two unsolicited conversations with a scam artist who has some long and drawn out story as to why you should give him whatever cash is in your pocket and feel good about it. I fell for this scam one too many times when we first moved to uptown Charlotte, and those early experiences helped me to develop this same cold avoidance toward other people that I thought was very insensitive and downright rude when we first moved here. I should mention here that I do, however, very much enjoy selective giving to the down and out on the city streets, the ones I deem to be authentic homeless folks – as if I have any idea who is really homeless and who isn’t and maybe it’s the unauthentic ones who need to see Jesus even more than the real street people do. Nevertheless, here I was passing by several other people who may have just needed a comforting smile to help to ease their hurt or calm their fears and I was not even able to do that this evening.
As I lay in bed that evening, I was wondering where God was in all of this today. Why didn’t Erica ever email me back? Why was I so tired, too tired to even journal my experiences for the day? Why do I get so caught up in dreaming so much about the future and about success and about having a bestselling book and being the number one region in the country? Why am I not more concerned about other people? Why am I so selfish? I prayed a prayer that evening that I could no way do any of this on my own and it was definitely going to take a miracle from God to intervene if any good was going to come from the next 29 days. I asked God’s forgiveness for my failures and fell fast asleep without even the thought of a kiss goodnight to my beautiful bride who lay next to me, the one I wrote about, the one who, I fear, may be even lonelier than I when my head gets stuck in the clouds and life goes on without me.
Day 3
Big City – Big Deal
One of Paula and my favorite cities in the U.S. is NYC. Paula would be packing her bags tomorrow if I told her that we were moving to Manhattan. I can’t see us living there since the cost of living is so high but I love to visit whether the trip is on business or pleasure. My standard reply when she brings up her dream of living in the city is that if we did that then we wouldn’t have anywhere to go to on vacation that we enjoy as much as New York. This never flies with her, and she will never let go of the dream until it is fulfilled. So, on Wednesday I had the opportunity to fly to New York to continue the negotiations of most likely the largest business deal that I have had the privilege of putting together in my 22 year career in the tire business. I was excited about furthering the negotiations but even more excited about the great rate that I found at a hotel in Chelsea as we normally stayed in NJ on these business trips to help minimize cost, but on this trip we were right in the middle of New York City, the place where all the action was, the place that would turn out to be the biggest distraction of my day.
On the plane, I had almost two hours of uninterrupted time, (this seems to be a luxury these days) and was excited to write day 2 of this book. Upon completion of the second chapter I was once again filled with awe and joy and incredible love for the God that I serve as the words just flowed onto the laptop screen with almost zero effort. You would have thought that I would be used to this by now since this incredible gift of journaling the lessons that God has been teaching me through His Word and through life experience over the past 4 years has never failed to show up when I, alongside God, have set aside time to reflect and share the thoughts that He has placed on my heart. I sent the completed chapter to the co-pastor of our new uptown church with a copy to my beautiful Paula as in writing the chapter I was reminded of how much I love her and how much better I could be as a husband if I could only figure out this God thing of living in the moment. Much to my surprise, Scott responded almost immediately with encouraging words and Paula responded at work the next day saying that I was much too hard on myself. These kinds of responses are what I live for, they are the fuel that keeps me motivated to continue on in the battle, they give me hope for the future and encouragement to keep writing and to keep trying to invest my short time on this earth in a way that will somehow leave a legacy of love and encouragement that people will remember and that reflects the One inside whose strength is made perfect in my weakness.
The bad thing about the city is that it is easy to get distracted by all of the energy and all of the people and all of the fancy restaurants with superb wine lists and authentic Italian food. It is easy to get lost in self-indulgence and that is what mostly happened the evening of day 3. At dinner with my colleague, the subject of the horrible tragedy in Haiti came up in conversation and from the tone of his voice it was as if he was quietly asking why. Why did this have to happen; why does God allow such terrible tragedy in the world. It would have been a perfect opportunity to explain the brokenness of the world and to tell Bill my story of how I was broken and how everyone and everything in this world is broken but how God has begun to heal and restore my broken heart into an amazing relationship with Him through a relationship with His son Jesus. Easy to write these words now but they were not so easy to speak when the opportunity presented itself because I was one too many glasses into the bottle of wine that we ordered for dinner and my thoughts and focus on what God was doing were long gone and had been replaced by the indulgences of New York City and the fine food and wine that we were feeding ourselves that evening. I muttered something to Bill’s questions like “we live in a broken world” and then quickly moved on to a more pleasant topic of discussion.
A late night to bed with an early start the next day, when one of the most important meetings of my career would take place meant that there would be no time to write my Journey Bread devotion in the morning. The guilt and disappointment that I used to feel when missing a morning had been long gone as I secretly wondered if any of the 400 or so people who are on the Journey Bread list ever read them anymore as it didn’t appear as if my Journey Bread email ministry was going anywhere. The book had only sold 500 or so copies and the investment that it would take to publish the other two devotional books that were almost complete appeared to be too much to make my dream of having a series of Journey Bread devotional books a reality. Part of me continues to hang on to this dream since every time I get discouraged God sends a small, unexpected message of encouragement through an unsolicited comment on the book or a heartfelt response to the morning devotion. God will not let me relinquish this dream and it is in those times of encouragement that I feel more alive than I have ever been and so full of hope and ambition for the future to fulfill my God-given purpose in this life. Maybe, just maybe, my timing is not God’s timing at all and I am convinced more than ever that there is a miracle around the corner just waiting to happen and that God is going to show up in a big way to help me realize my dreams and live to my full potential. Maybe, just maybe, I am in the midst of a miracle and God is just waiting for me to eliminate the distractions in my life in order that I can hear His whisper in my ear during the smallest most insignificant events of the day that will lead me to a life that changes people and makes a difference in this broken world.
Father, please help me to listen more for your direction and help me to always be ready to respond to the prompting of your Spirit on my heart to offer a smile or helping hand or encouraging word, whatever it is that you would want me to do. I pray for clarity and for the cleanness of my mind in order that I could hear your voice and respond. I love you Father – thank you for your Grace and for your love and thank you for the incredible journey that you have planned for all who trust in you and give you their life.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Risk
14 -18"It's also like a man going off on an extended trip. He called his servants together and delegated responsibilities. To one he gave five thousand dollars, to another two thousand, to a third one thousand, depending on their abilities. Then he left. Right off, the first servant went to work and doubled his master's investment. The second did the same. But the man with the single thousand dug a hole and carefully buried his master's money.
19 -21"After a long absence, the master of those three servants came back and settled up with them. The one given five thousand dollars showed him how he had doubled his investment. His master commended him: 'Good work! You did your job well. From now on be my partner.'
22 -23"The servant with the two thousand showed how he also had doubled his master's investment. His master commended him: 'Good work! You did your job well. From now on be my partner.'
24 -25"The servant given one thousand said, 'Master, I know you have high standards and hate careless ways, that you demand the best and make no allowances for error. I was afraid I might disappoint you, so I found a good hiding place and secured your money. Here it is, safe and sound down to the last cent.'
26 -27"The master was furious. 'That's a terrible way to live! It's criminal to live cautiously like that! If you knew I was after the best, why did you do less than the least? The least you could have done would have been to invest the sum with the bankers, where at least I would have gotten a little interest.
28 -30"'Take the thousand and give it to the one who risked the most. And get rid of this "play-it-safe" who won't go out on a limb. Throw him out into utter darkness.'
Matthew 25:1-13(The Message)
The journey that you are on with God many times involves risk. In order for you to peel back the onion and really get to know the magnitude of God’s love, you will need to step out on a limb and trust that your Creator and Friend will be there to catch you if you fall. Successful people in this world will tell you that no one has ever achieved anything noteworthy without taking a risk to get there. This principle applies to business, to your relationships, to your finances, to your personal walk with Jesus, to every aspect of life. So, knowing this, I ask you, what is the risk that you need to take in order to continue on this narrow road of abundant life that your heart so longs for? What is God quietly whispering in your heart of hearts for you to do? Maybe it is coming clean on a secret sin that has been destroying you from the inside out, maybe it is forgiving that person that you just know will continue to tear your heart apart if you open the door once again, maybe the risk has to do with your finances as God could be asking you to invest in other people, in His work, in helping to fund the rebuilding of the horrible tragedy in Haiti? Whatever it is I encourage you to take that risk today, don’t wait any longer as God has big plans for your life and He wants to use your story to make a difference in this lost and lonely world that so desperately needs to experience His love.
19 -21"After a long absence, the master of those three servants came back and settled up with them. The one given five thousand dollars showed him how he had doubled his investment. His master commended him: 'Good work! You did your job well. From now on be my partner.'
22 -23"The servant with the two thousand showed how he also had doubled his master's investment. His master commended him: 'Good work! You did your job well. From now on be my partner.'
24 -25"The servant given one thousand said, 'Master, I know you have high standards and hate careless ways, that you demand the best and make no allowances for error. I was afraid I might disappoint you, so I found a good hiding place and secured your money. Here it is, safe and sound down to the last cent.'
26 -27"The master was furious. 'That's a terrible way to live! It's criminal to live cautiously like that! If you knew I was after the best, why did you do less than the least? The least you could have done would have been to invest the sum with the bankers, where at least I would have gotten a little interest.
28 -30"'Take the thousand and give it to the one who risked the most. And get rid of this "play-it-safe" who won't go out on a limb. Throw him out into utter darkness.'
Matthew 25:1-13(The Message)
The journey that you are on with God many times involves risk. In order for you to peel back the onion and really get to know the magnitude of God’s love, you will need to step out on a limb and trust that your Creator and Friend will be there to catch you if you fall. Successful people in this world will tell you that no one has ever achieved anything noteworthy without taking a risk to get there. This principle applies to business, to your relationships, to your finances, to your personal walk with Jesus, to every aspect of life. So, knowing this, I ask you, what is the risk that you need to take in order to continue on this narrow road of abundant life that your heart so longs for? What is God quietly whispering in your heart of hearts for you to do? Maybe it is coming clean on a secret sin that has been destroying you from the inside out, maybe it is forgiving that person that you just know will continue to tear your heart apart if you open the door once again, maybe the risk has to do with your finances as God could be asking you to invest in other people, in His work, in helping to fund the rebuilding of the horrible tragedy in Haiti? Whatever it is I encourage you to take that risk today, don’t wait any longer as God has big plans for your life and He wants to use your story to make a difference in this lost and lonely world that so desperately needs to experience His love.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Hypocrisy
45 "Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? 46 It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. 47 Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. 48 But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, 'My master is staying away a long time,' 49 and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards. 50 The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. 51 He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Matthew 24:45-51
As I drove to the office this morning, I passed a sign on a local church which read: “If you love Jesus, then come on in”. I was taken back a bit by this message as it seemed a little hypocritical to me when you view it through the lens of who Jesus really is. You see, I believe that Jesus would want all people to walk through the doors of that church whether they loved Him or not. I mean, after all, His desire is for all to come to repentance isn’t it? Does He not love us and does He not show His unconditional love and saving grace, even when our hearts are not yet aligned with His perfect will and direction for our lives? Did He not die a horrible death on a cross in order that you and I could be free of the evil and bondage of this world which does indeed cause separation from God? It was not until Christ first loved us that we were even able to begin to understand what it means to love Him back. As we read here in this chapter, there will be a day when it is too late to accept His love and to begin living your life with abundance and purpose. Jesus will be back one day, and when that happens the bell will sound, the fat lady will sing and your time to accept this most incredible gift of love in your life will be over as Jesus will take His own back to paradise and you can read on as to what will happen to the rest. Don’t wait another day; start living your life for the King today!
Matthew 24:45-51
As I drove to the office this morning, I passed a sign on a local church which read: “If you love Jesus, then come on in”. I was taken back a bit by this message as it seemed a little hypocritical to me when you view it through the lens of who Jesus really is. You see, I believe that Jesus would want all people to walk through the doors of that church whether they loved Him or not. I mean, after all, His desire is for all to come to repentance isn’t it? Does He not love us and does He not show His unconditional love and saving grace, even when our hearts are not yet aligned with His perfect will and direction for our lives? Did He not die a horrible death on a cross in order that you and I could be free of the evil and bondage of this world which does indeed cause separation from God? It was not until Christ first loved us that we were even able to begin to understand what it means to love Him back. As we read here in this chapter, there will be a day when it is too late to accept His love and to begin living your life with abundance and purpose. Jesus will be back one day, and when that happens the bell will sound, the fat lady will sing and your time to accept this most incredible gift of love in your life will be over as Jesus will take His own back to paradise and you can read on as to what will happen to the rest. Don’t wait another day; start living your life for the King today!
Monday, January 4, 2010
Refocus in the New Year
42 "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. 43 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.
Matthew 24:42-44
As we begin a new year with new dreams and new ideas as to what will happen in 2010, it is good to remember how this life is just a dress rehearsal for eternal life with God. We will be reunited with our Creator in perfect unity and perfect oneness. This will all happen after the appointed time when Jesus returns to finish what He started and to take every man and woman who has trusted in Him back to paradise where you will be rewarded for the effort that you have put forth to advance His kingdom and reflect His love onto a lost world in need. Maybe it is time, this year, to refocus your priorities to things that will matter, not just in this life, but in the life to come. Maybe it is time, as you begin this gift of another incredible year of relationship and restoration with your Savior, to start giving all that you have received from your Father in heaven away to others in order that the people God has placed in your life can also enjoy this incredible gift of abundant and eternal life in Jesus. Maybe it is time to start forgiving others, the way that you have been forgiven; maybe it is time to start loving others, the way that you have been unconditionally loved. Maybe it is time to start expressing to others all that God has done for you and to begin thinking of others as more important than yourself in order that they could see God for who He really is, living in and through your very life. As we read here in the book of Matthew, no one really knows how much time is left or when Jesus will return - let’s not waste any more time my brothers and sisters in Christ, start living your life for Jesus today! Happy New Year!
Matthew 24:42-44
As we begin a new year with new dreams and new ideas as to what will happen in 2010, it is good to remember how this life is just a dress rehearsal for eternal life with God. We will be reunited with our Creator in perfect unity and perfect oneness. This will all happen after the appointed time when Jesus returns to finish what He started and to take every man and woman who has trusted in Him back to paradise where you will be rewarded for the effort that you have put forth to advance His kingdom and reflect His love onto a lost world in need. Maybe it is time, this year, to refocus your priorities to things that will matter, not just in this life, but in the life to come. Maybe it is time, as you begin this gift of another incredible year of relationship and restoration with your Savior, to start giving all that you have received from your Father in heaven away to others in order that the people God has placed in your life can also enjoy this incredible gift of abundant and eternal life in Jesus. Maybe it is time to start forgiving others, the way that you have been forgiven; maybe it is time to start loving others, the way that you have been unconditionally loved. Maybe it is time to start expressing to others all that God has done for you and to begin thinking of others as more important than yourself in order that they could see God for who He really is, living in and through your very life. As we read here in the book of Matthew, no one really knows how much time is left or when Jesus will return - let’s not waste any more time my brothers and sisters in Christ, start living your life for Jesus today! Happy New Year!
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