Then Comes the Moment We Ask

January 27, 2014 by 2 Comments

Faith, Belief, LukeThe apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” (Luke 17:5 NASB)

Following a period of traveling around the countryside and observing Jesus teaching, healing and disrupting many of the prevailing attitudes and opinions of the day, the disciples found themselves dismayed and amazed.

These men were ordinary people who had been leading ordinary lives until they encountered a man named Jesus who called them out of the place they were in and bid them to follow Him.  In most cases, they were not well educated or remarkable.  They simply had enough faith in that moment to recognize that Jesus was someone that they could trust their lives to and that He was sent by God to them.

So began their journey and their education.  They quickly discovered that this man Jesus was like no one else that they had ever encountered.  He had power to heal the sick, to cast out demons and even to bring the dead back to life.  And his teaching was unlike anything they had ever heard before.  He took the law and the words of the prophets and taught them in a way that cut right to the heart of a man and his motivations.

Suddenly, it did not matter where you were born, what you looked like, how much money you had or even that you were physically whole.  Jesus’ message seemed to be for everyone and he emphasized this by spending more time with those in the margins of society than with those in power.  He paid particular attention to those who had the greatest needs and seemed to have no patience for the rules and regulations of the Pharisees, angering them on several occasions.

By the 17th Chapter of Luke, it is clear that the disciples’ heads are spinning.  The spark of faith that led them to follow Jesus has yet to fan into the flame that will ignite the early church and they are struggling to wrap their hearts and minds around all that Jesus is teaching and showing them.  I can hear the eagerness and consternation in their voices as they finally say to Jesus “increase our faith!”

They are, in effect, asking for the Lord to help them understand.  They want clarification.  They want answers and explanations.  But most of all, they want their faith to grow so that they may follow and serve the Lord and do the very difficult things that He has been teaching and asking them to do.

I believe a similar moment comes to all believers.  A moment when we may be puzzled and perplexed, buffeted and battered but still honestly wanting to do the will of our Lord.  And we recognize that it is not in us or of us that we may accomplish His great work.  It is only by the power of the Spirit of the living God that we may accomplish His will and it will require us to put our faith to the test.  And small though our faith may be, it can do mighty things when it is placed upon the one who is eternal and unshakable.

Charles Spurgeon said “The eye cannot see itself. Did you ever see your own eye? In a mirror you may have done so, but that was only a reflection of it. And you may, in like manner, see the evidence of your faith, but you cannot look at the faith itself. Faith looks away to itself to the object of faith, even to Christ.”

Are you struggling?  Are you questioning?  Are you seeking and honestly trying to understand?  Cry out to God and ask Him to increase your faith and then put all that you have in His care.  Keep walking with Him, one step at a time, and watch as your small faith placed in a mighty God can do miraculous things.

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2014: The Year of I Just Don’t Know

January 6, 2014 by Leave a Comment
trust, obey, faith

I have questions..

The way God works never ceases to surprise me.  Just when I think that perhaps I am on a certain path and heading in a certain direction, something comes along and everything changes.

Looking back at 2013, it was a year of intense spiritual and personal growth.  The Lord booted me out of complacency and into action and this blog was one of the most visible results of that upheaval.  And if you had asked me last Fall what I thought 2014 was going to look like I would have told you “more time writing, more blogging and an expansion of Matthew515.com”.

And up until around Thanksgiving I would have stuck with that answer.  But then, the new job came along at the end of September and I started working 6 days every other week.  I also lost my weekdays off and those were the days that I used to get the majority of my writing done.  Work got busier and busier and although I tried to stick with the same posting schedule, I just couldn’t keep up.  I was soon exhausted and worn out.  Something was going to have to give.

So in the month of December I made the decision to take a few weeks off from writing and to rest my mind and body a little bit.  It seems to have worked because I’m excited about writing again and I feel a spurt of mental and creative energy that I haven’t felt in several months.  I’ve got several topics lined up to write about and I’m also working on another guest poster for later this month that I think will genuinely benefit anyone who reads his work.

That being said, my job really hasn’t slowed down any and the powers that be have told us that everyone in my department is on six day workweeks until further notice.  And I’m still a Sunday School teacher, AWANA Club worker, Choir member, Church Secretary and Husband.  My responsibilities have not lessened and my time to write has not increased.

For now, the answer seems to be for me to write as I have time and energy to do so and to not try and keep a set schedule of three posts a week.  This is a big change from where I thought I would be at this point and I admit I’m having a hard time with it.  I’m praying that the Lord would give me wisdom in this area and for me not to be discouraged because things aren’t as I thought they would be.  I don’t know how many times the Lord has to show me that His timetable is not the same as mine but it’s a lesson that I am still learning.

As per the title for today, I really don’t know how 2014 is going to turn out for Matthew515 or for anything else.  And as far as that goes, I guess you could insert any future date in the title and it would still work.  No one knows what tomorrow will bring and only in hindsight do we gain a sense of perspective on what the Lord has been doing.  I know that He is working for my good and that is enough.  I will keep going and  keep trusting His unseen hand.

Apologies all around, then, if my posts aren’t regular and updates don’t happen as often as I would like them to.  I hope and pray that I will be able to get back to three posts a week at some point in the future but as to when that might be, only the Lord knows.  And I’m okay with that.

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No Matter How Much You Ask, God Will Never Give You More

December 9, 2013 by 4 Comments

Time, Faith, God's willIf there’s one thing that I could use a lot more of, it’s time.  If I had more time I could write more blog posts about God and the amazing things that He does.  If I had more time I could get involved in an array of worthwhile causes and charities.  If I had more time I could spend it with my parents, family and friends that I love as often as I wanted.  More time seems to be the easy answer to much of what I view as an obstacle to God’s glory.

Of course with my very limited view and finite mind, what appears to be an obstruction to me is nothing of the sort to our Heavenly Father.  He’s working and He desires to use me in His work if I will just remain humble and obedient.  Can I walk day by day, in faith and at peace with God and man?

He has told you, O man, what is good;
And what does the Lord require of you
But to do justice, to love kindness,
And to walk humbly with your God? (Micah 6:8 NASB)

With that in mind, perhaps what I need is not more time at all.  What I really need and what God really wants me to learn from all of this is just to trust him.

My perspective needs to be a Godly one.  Instead of wishing for more time I should be praying for more faith, more hope and more love.  And what are the tools that God uses to grow my faith?  Often times they are trials, tribulations and obstacles.  The very things that I say I need more time to overcome and get around are the very things that God can use to bring me closer to Him.

Is my desire to really know Him better and to see Him more clearly or is it merely to be comfortable and blessed?  Honestly?  I think it’s more the latter than the former, and that’s a problem.  Knowing God brings blessings and God loves giving His children good gifts.  But if my desire is the gift and the blessing more so than the Giver then I need to check my priorities.

I must recommit to walking by faith, day by day.  I must have wisdom enough to realize that God has granted me the strength I need to make it through each day and to accomplish the work that He has given me to do.  And I must not worry and fret about the trials and obstacles in my life.  God is bigger than they are and perhaps through them, He is trying to teach me to rely on Him even more.

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If You Know Nothing Else, Know This One Thing

November 20, 2013 by 2 Comments

the character of GodOk, I admit it.  I am not as well-adjusted as I look.  I am prone to bouts of worry and I tend to over think and over analyze just about everything.  I regularly spend so much time focused on the thoughts and ideas that are banging around inside my head that I miss what is going on right in front of me.

I’ve also been known to fall victim to my own fears and doubts.  I fear failure, both for myself and my endeavors, and I doubt my ability to do what’s required of me.  Can I really be the faithful follower that God has asked me to be?  Can I really love my wife as I should; unconditionally and without reservation?  And can I really continue to write and speak about the Truth when I am so often persuaded by a lie?

Spoken more plainly, why does God choose to use us to carry out His plans when we are so weak and prone to failure?

The answer, I am learning, has far more to do with the nature and character of God than it has to do with anything about us.

From a personal perspective, the more I get to know Him, the better I see His nature and understand His character.  And if there is one awesome truth that God has given me a glimpse of lately it is that He cannot fail, He cannot lose and He is always faithful.  He is constant when I am wayward.  He is loving when I am unkind.  He is victorious through the most horrific of circumstances and there is absolutely nothing that He cannot do.

God is not surprised.  God is not overwhelmed.  God is not tired.  And God’s purposes are always accomplished in His time and in His way.

To know that I am privileged to be a part of His divine plan for redemption and that He is patiently working through me is a marvelous thing.  Although there is still so much that I don’t understand I am beginning to realize that as I am faithful and obedient, God will  provide me with exactly what I need to do His work, when I need it.  Instead of focusing on my weakness, my fear and my doubts, I will instead focus on His strength, His glory and His love.

This is a fundamentally important and necessary shift in my perspective that must take place if I am to walk in a manner that pleases God.  What does the writer of Hebrews say?

“And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:6 NASB)

We must have faith in the character and nature of God.  The only way to have that faith is to get to know Him and to let Him be Lord in every area of our lives.  We must continually seek Him and never stop following hard after Him.

“Lord, may we strive to know you ever better.  May we be faithful followers.  May we seek you first and always.  And may the desire of our hearts be to grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ our Savior.  Amen.”

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The Lesson I Learned from a Tiny Frog

November 5, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Tiny Frog in My Kitchen

Mr. Frog could comfortably sit on that quarter with room to spare.

One evening not too long ago as I sat in my recliner, laptop in hand and working, I decided that I needed a short break to stretch my legs.  I headed towards the kitchen for a glass of water and a snack but didn’t make it too far in the doorway before I stopped short.

There on the floor, just out from the fridge, sat something very curious looking.  Because of its small size and grayish color my first assumption was that it was a ball of fuzz (a dust bunny) that just happened to be in the shape of a tiny frog.  The only puzzling aspect of my conclusion was that I had been in the kitchen not two hours before and had since been alone in the house.  Since dust bunnies normally originate from underneath the refrigerator, I was confused as to how one had gotten to it’s present location which was several feet away.

Thinking that I should definitely tidy up before my wife made it home I took a few steps closer and was amazed to discover that the “dust bunny” was actually the smallest frog that I had ever seen.  Noticing his dusty feet, I guessed that he must have been hiding underneath the fridge until very recently.  And he was now sitting in my kitchen floor!

Not wanting to miss the chance to record the little guy for posterity, (mostly to show my wife later) I ran and got my digital camera.  After a couple of pictures in which the tiny frog posed obediently and without protest, I realized that without some sort of familiar object the sense of scale was lost.  There was really no way to tell just how small the frog was from the picture.  That was when I had the bright idea to introduce some spare change to the situation.

You can see from the picture that accompanies this post that the tiny frog would have comfortably fit on top of a quarter with room to spare.

Not wanting to endanger the frog’s life when we let the cat back in later in the evening, I decided to embark on a rescue mission.  I grabbed the smallest cup that I could find and gently placed my hand behind the frog with the cup in front of him.  Thinking the frog would jump into the cup I was very surprised when he suddenly jumped up onto the lip of the cup and seemed to be very contented to say there.

For the short trip through the kitchen and across the porch to the edge of the sidewalk the tiny frog sat very regally on his perch until I lowered the cup to the ground.  With a quick series of motions he hopped off of the cup and disappeared into the dewy dampness of the lawn.  Feeling quite pleased with myself, I turned to head back inside the house when I got the strangest impression in my mind.

I was just like that tiny little frog.

Like my little friend, in the trials of life I often loose my way and end up in places that I have no business being in.  How often had I been completely and hopelessly out of sorts, stuck somewhere unfamiliar after coming through dark times and dirty places?  How many times had I looked up and realized that I was so tiny and the situation that I was in was so big and so much beyond me that I couldn’t even hope to see the end?  And how many times has my Heavenly Father stepped in to pick me up and bring me back to where I needed to be, gently and with loving care?

Every single time.  That’s how many.

 

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What does “discipleship” really mean?

September 25, 2013 by Leave a Comment

discipleship,christianity,faithI recently attended a seminar called “D21”, short for “Discipleship for the 21st Century”.  I really didn’t know what to expect but I decided it would be a good thing to go and learn all that I could.

There were 5 different classes offered.  After a brief introduction in the main sanctuary we all chose a class to attend for the evening based on what was most relevant to us.  I chose the “Simple Discipleship” course which was aimed at small group bible study and Sunday School teachers who were looking to learn more about discipleship.

Over the course of about 2 hours we discussed the state of discipleship in our modern churches (more on that in a minute) and then focused on a few very easy questions and methods that literally anyone can use to help someone else in their walk with Christ.  Stories were shared.  Ideas were verbalized.  Real love and real prayer for one another occurred in that classroom before it was all said and done and it was a great experience that I hope I never forget.

But let’s back up for a second.  What, in its purest form, is discipleship?  Simply put, it is one individual sharing of themselves with another individual for the cause of Christ.  We simply need to tell of God’s great mercy and provision in our own lives and then ask what God is doing in their life.  It doesn’t require programs.  It doesn’t require literature.  It doesn’t even require education or training.

Don’t believe me?  Go check out Mark 5: 1-20.  This is the passage of scripture our teacher for the evening opened up with and it gives a powerful example.  It tells the story of a demon possessed man who accosted Jesus almost as soon as he got out his boat in a region called the Gerasenes.  If you know the story then you know that the man was in a bad way and no one could restrain him and he spent his days by wailing and shouting and hurting himself with stones.  Jesus healed the man and set him free from his demonic possession and the man wanted to stay with Jesus and worship Him.

But Jesus didn’t let him.  Jesus said in verse 19 “Go home to your people and report to them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He had mercy on you.”  Jesus was asking him to become a disciple and a witness and to tell his story of redemption and freedom.  The really important part is this: How much discipleship training had this man had? (zero)  How many days had this man spent in church and Bible study?(zero)  How much time had passed since he became a believer before the Lord asked him to go? (not very much)

What this man had was a powerful encounter with Lord Jesus Christ that forever changed his life.

Right now, today, we have even more than that man had.  We have the living Holy Spirit who, if we allow Him, moves and works in our lives.  We also have our own individual stories of how the Lord saved us and called us out of darkness and we need to share them with each other as a way of strengthening and encouraging other believers.

And to show you an example of how God works, I recorded Monday’s video blog that Thursday morning.  At the close of that blog I talked about how we need to share what God is doing in our lives because it shows us a fuller picture of God’s great love and is so very encouraging.  Thursday evening I went to the discipleship seminar and what did we end up talking about?  We talked about sharpening each other spiritually by sharing what God was doing in our lives!

Do you think God is trying to tell me (and us) something?

Now ask yourself, how much of this type of simple discipleship is going on in your church.  How much of this type of simple discipleship are you personally involved in?  And, if the answer to either question is “not very much” or “not any” then where do you start?

What this type of simple discipleship requires is relationship, connection and trust.  It requires getting to know someone a little bit by making an effort to be friendly, helpful and concerned.  It requires us asking questions about another person’s well being and actually being interested in what they say.  It also requires that we open up about what’s going on in our lives.  And then, as we begin to forge connections with those around us we are given the opportunity to share Christ; with another believer for edification and with an unbeliever for salvation.

So, I have a challenge for you and for me.  The challenge is this: Ask someone how it’s going with them spiritually.  And then be ready to follow up if they don’t have an answer to that question or if their answer is not a good one.  Start with someone you already know well, like your spouse or a close friend and work from there.  Take small steps towards sharing the God that is alive in your life and and I guarantee that God will bless your effort.

So, are you ready to start practicing simple discipleship?

 

 

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The very first video blog for Matthew515

September 23, 2013 by 1 Comment

encouragement,faith,christianityClearly, I still have much to learn.  Watch the video, you will see what I mean.  But, like the Chinese proverb says, “the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step”, this is only the beginning.  Everyone has to start somewhere, and this is where I’m starting.  Thankfully, through Christ in me, it won’t be where I end.

I cover three brief points in the video that I think are so very important.

1. You are not alone.  You are part of the family of God and a member of the body of Christ.

2. Be an encouragement and be a light, wherever you are.

3. Everyone has questions but that shouldn’t stop us from moving forward together in Faith.

Six short minutes for this first video.   Short videos are easier to watch anywhere and frankly easier to digest.  I sincerely hope that it blesses you.

I’m thankful for this life that God has given me and for this work that He is allowing me to be a part of.  I continue to hope and pray that God can use Matthew515 for His glory and for our benefit.

Please let me know what you thought of this very first video blog and if you have any suggestions for the future.  I would love to hear from you.

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Go With What You Know: Know All You Can

September 11, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Bible study,learning,faith in actionAs Christians, we are called to act on our faith.  Certainly, what we believe is very important, but it is our speech and our actions that ultimately show the world God’s love in a personal way.

Go with What You Know

I have been in more than one conversation lately where the speaker expressed some confusion over finding God’s will for their life.  This is something we all struggle with from time to time.  Regrettably, it is all too easy to become anxious in our searching and to let the search become our focus.  In doing so, we overlook God’s provision and blessing that is sufficient for today.   We lose our joy and our simple moment by moment dependence on God because we’re looking in the wrong place and in the wrong way.

God reveals His plan as we are ready to receive it and on His timetable.  Our God is a God of order.  His order always includes our surrender and obedience first and then His word to us second.  He will not give us a fresh word until we’ve been obedient with that which He has already given us.  If there is something that we have not dealt with, some sin or matter of faith that we are not acting on, then we can’t expect God to speak beyond the place that we have stopped.

God is pleased when we seek His plan for our life.  Even better, however, is when we seek God Himself above anything and everything else.  The moment we try to get away from “Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness” (Matthew 6:33a) is the moment we take our eyes off of Him and, like Peter, start to sink in the waves of our circumstances.

Go with what you know.  Live each day in simple reliance on our Heavenly Father and seek Him above and beyond anything else.  “and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33b)

Know all You Can

Even as we seek to live in simple reliance on God we never have an excuse to stop learning, cease growing or stand still in our faith.  I believe an honest and true search for the face of God will encompass as much study, prayer and learning time as we can muster, and will continue even into the next life where finally see Him face to face.

That’s why we simply don’t have time to be distracted.  God is so big, so wonderful and so amazing that spending the time to get to know Him is always to our benefit.  God wants to bless His children by using them to bless others and by giving them more of Himself.  That can only happen as we strive to know Him ever better and understand His love ever greater.

No matter where you are in your journey of faith, the principles remain the same.  Seek God first and above all.   Love Him with your whole heart and let nothing stand between you and Him.  Learn all you can about your Heavenly Father by spending time with Him and His children and grow strong in your faith and your knowledge of God.

Are you searching for God and His will in your life right now?  What obstacles seem to be in the way?  What’s keeping you from being exactly what God would have you to be?

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The Goal Post

August 31, 2013 by 1 Comment

Goals,Dreams,PrayersDespite the title, this post is not going to be about football.  (Although it is rather appropriate considering today is opening day for most college football teams.)  More specifically, this is going to be a post about goals for Matthew515.com with a look back at the previous month.

I want to be completely transparent about Matthew515.com. As the site grows and begins to accept donations and generate income I will, at the end of each month, post those numbers here for all to see.  My hope and prayer is that the site be self sufficient and generate income for my family and to the glory of God’s kingdom as I try to do what He has called me to do.

A word about supporting the site:  Any book or product you see with linked text is an Amazon link.  If you click the link and end up purchasing a product through Amazon this site will get a small percentage of that sale.  Likewise the Amazon banner on the right side of the page; if you click it and then buy anything from Amazon the site gets a small percentage.  It’s a very quick and easy way of supporting the site that doesn’t cost you anything extra.

I have also set a goal for unique visitors each month.  It’s a big goal, and frankly, it’s probably impossible for me alone.  Thankfully, I am not alone.  I have placed my faith and my trust in the Lord and I believe in setting goals that only God can accomplish.  That way, there’s no doubt that He provided and He gets all the credit and all the glory.  I am praying for 10,000 unique visitors per month as a site goal.  Like I said, it’s a very big goal.

August is the first complete month for Matthew515.com after the site was completed on July 23rd.  This being the last day of the month I will post the numbers for August and when we reach the end of September I will post those numbers and so on.  This will give us a very real picture of how the site is growing, how God is working, and hopefully be of interest to you as well.

This has been and will continue to be a journey of faith.  I am excited about what God is going to do and I look forward to each step along the way.  I will work like it’s up to me and pray like it’s up to God and leave the results to Him.  I want to be found faithful and I want to do exactly what God has called me to do.   Please pray for me and my family as we continue this journey.

And now for the numbers:

Unique Visitors: 759 (This is the number we are praying will one day meet or exceed 10,000.  We have a long way to go but this is an excellent start!)

Number of Visits: 1,521 (Avg. of 2.0 visits per person)

Pages viewed: 7,458 (Avg. of 4.9 pages per visit)

Income: $1.57 (Via Google Adsense Ads viewed)

 

Thus ends our first monthly summary and I appreciate you taking the time to read it and to support the site and the ministry.  As always, please leave any comments or suggestions in the spaces below.

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