The Blessed Life #16: Life Lines

The New Testament (NT) Church “devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer” (Acts 2:42). 

One of my favorite game shows is Who Wants to be a Millionaire. The trivia is fun (even though I don’t know 90% of the answers). It is interesting to consider the possibilities of what could be. And I love the life lines given to help with the difficult questions.

Life lines are not only available in game shows. God has blessed His faithful followers of Jesus Christ with life lines in real life. Therefore, this past month, we began something that the NT Church took advantage of to utilize the life lines mentioned in Acts 2:42ff, namely Life Groups. Life groups are basically small groups of people focused on doing the one thing that matters, life. 

Do you ever question what you are experiencing and how you are going to get through it? The reality is we all do. We might question how to deal with difficult people or struggles at work. We might question why certain things happen, and what our purpose is in life. The “apostles’ teaching” (aka Scripture) is the life line that gives us the answers to these questions and many others. Yet sometimes it can be challenging to comprehend exactly what God is telling us, which is why the NT Church studied Scripture together in small groups. Diana Bax, a life group member said, “I feel as if the study has given me a new under-standing of a purpose driven life: Why are we here? What plans does God have for my life? How can I serve others through my experiences (be it good or bad)? I feel more connected to the Bible study. Questions are being answered through group involvement. And it has been very eye opening to say the least.”  

The second life line that the NT Church took advantage of was fellowship. Samantha Miller was skeptical at first about life groups, “It’s not what I thought it would be...The camaraderie is fantastic.” Life Groups can be a lot of fun! Beyond that we all need encouragement from time to time. And this is where real, life-enriching relationships can form and develop. I have personally witnessed life group members being with others as they mourned the loss of a child, yet their biological family members were nowhere to be found. Life group member Alan McNeely said, “I am always encouraged when meeting with other brothers and sisters in Christ.” Again it is about helping you to do the one thing that matters, life.

A third life line that the NT Church took advantage of was helping others to jump the problems that came their way. This can take place by praying for one another that God would remove the struggle. And it can happen by personally being the answer to someone’s prayer. Life group member Cynthia Bible mentioned her group taking care of some of the hurting in our area just like the NT Church did.

Thus, I encourage you to take advantage of the life lines that are available to you here at ECC. Diana said, “I would encourage everyone to try it for a month and see what they can take from it.” God bless!

In His service,

            Matt

The Blessed Life #15: Armor for the Battle

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10).

At times it can be numbing to consider innocent individuals being beheaded on a regular basis by terrorists who continue to run free. For many of us, it’s appalling to think of how a person could even carry out the acts that we see on TV. Our enemy will seek to do anything that they can to demoralize us as a nation. And unfortunately, our enemy is not someone whom we can simply seek to avoid. If we don’t fight the battle on their territory they will bring the battle to us on ours just like they did on September 11, 2001.

The point of this article is not to consider the politics of the war we are involved in. The point is to recognize that all of us are in a battle that demands our attention. Scripture teaches that Satan is at war with us as believers (Rev. 12:17).

For non-Christians, the enemy has blinded their minds so that they are unable to recognize that they are even in a battle (2 Cor. 4:4). Meanwhile, he steals our joy, peace, love, hope, purpose, and ultimately our eternity. And unfortunately, a few of these things, our enemy has even been known to steal from us as believers.

Therefore, this article is a call to arms, for God has blessed us with all the resources needed to overcome and thus live the full life that Jesus promises in John 10:10. Thus, I encourage you to put on the full armor of God (Eph. 6:10-20).

When one carefully considers the armor of God, they realize that it is all about putting on Christ. Jesus is our belt of truth (John 14:6). Let His truth support you.

Jesus is our breastplate of righteousness (Rom. 13:14). No one is righteous by themselves. We all sin and fall short of God’s perfect standard. Yet as believers, we receive Jesus’ perfect righteousness (2 Cor. 5:21). Therefore, let His righteousness protect you.

Jesus guides our feet in peace (Luke 1:79). His peace keeps us calm and guides us through the middle of our storms. Let His peace equip you for the journey of life He has you on.

Jesus is our shield of faith (Heb. 12:2). The enemy may throw all sorts of arrows to take us out of the battle. Yet Jesus remains faithful to us. He will never leave us nor forsake us. So let His faithfulness protect you when the enemy attacks.

Jesus is the helmet of our salvation (Heb. 2:10). He began the work of our salvation and He will complete it (Heb. 12:2). Let His salvation reform you.

And Jesus is our sword of the Spirit as the Word made flesh (John 1:14). Our enemy will seek to attack us, but we can overcome him with the Word that is sharper than any two-edged sword (Heb. 4:12). So let His Word defend you. When we put on the full armor of God, we are able to enjoy the blessed life of joy, peace, love, hope, purpose, and ultimately eternal life.

In His service,

            Matt 

The Blessed Life #14: Healing to the Hurting

^“God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted” (Matt. 5:4 NLT).

Sometimes the pain that we go through in this life seems to be beyond anything that we can bear. It could come to us in the middle of the night as we receive a call that one of our loved ones is not doing well and probably not going to make it. Or it could come to us as a couple of men show up at our door in military attire to tell us that our son or daughter has been killed in combat. Or it could come to us through the death of a child or a miscarriage. Or it could come to us as we hear those dreaded words from the doctor, “You’ve got cancer.” Or our hurting might be the result of a job loss or a divorce in the family.

The reality of the matter is that all people go through times of suffering and hurting in this life. Scripture never questions this nor downplays it. And our realization of our pain actually gives proof to God’s existence (see http://eugenechristianchurch.blogspot.com/2013/10/i-dont-have-enough-faith-to-be-atheist_5525.html). Yet knowing that doesn’t necessarily make our pain any easier. However, God can bring healing to our hurts.

God knows and understands our suffering. Not a sparrow falls without Him knowing it (Matt. 10:29). Jesus Himself was “a Man of sorrows and familiar with suffering” (Isa. 53:3). Likewise, just because God knows what happens to us does not mean that He caused it to happen. God is not the author of evil (James 1:13). Even still God promises that He will make it work out for our good as Christians in the end (Rom. 8:28).

God cares about our suffering. Jesus sympathizes with our pain (Heb. 4:15). He too experienced painful emotions at the death of His friend Lazarus. John 11:35 has to be one of the most profound verses in the Bible: “Jesus wept.” Here our all-knowing God knew that soon He would raise Lazarus from the dead, yet He still experienced the same emotions that we do when we mourn. This should teach us to not deny our pain, and that He cares about what we are going through. 

Beyond these things, God wants us as faithful followers of Jesus Christ to know that He is with us in our pain, and that one day He will right every wrong that has ever happened. One writer said it like this: “Our comfort is derived from knowing not only He is on our side, but that He is by our side, though He can only be seen or felt with eyes of faith” (Victor Yap, The God of All Comfort).

Furthermore, Billy Graham said, “One of the most comforting truths in all the Bible to me as I travel from one part of the world to another is to know that God has stationed His heavenly guards to protect, guide, and lead me through life’s dangerous way. I cannot see these beings with my physical eyes, but I sense they are present every day” (Nelson’s Complete Book of Stories, Illustrations, & Quotes, p. 27).

Life is challenging; we all will face suffering at one point in time or another. However, if you are not a follower of Jesus Christ, I am left with one simply question for you: what hope or healing do you have in the midst of your pain? This is one of the many reasons that being a Christian truly is a blessed life.

Because of His love,

            Matt

The Blessed Life #13: A Firm Foundation

“For thus it stands in Scripture: Behold, I am laying in Zion a chosen, honored, precious chief Cornerstone, and he who believes in Him who adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Him shall never be disappointed or put to shame” (1 Peter 2:6 AMP).

This past month, a few individuals from Eugene Christian Church decided to do a little renovating in our church’s nursery. If you have ever done any renovating or remodeling then you probably know that things are virtually never as easy as you’d like, especially with older buildings. That was definitely the case here.

We decided to repaint our nursery and redo the beautiful hardwood floors that had been covered by carpet for several years. Unfortunately, there had been a roof leak in the one corner. But we thought, ah, no big deal we’ll just replace a few pieces of wood flooring and be done with it. Boy were we ever wrong! 

When the flooring was taken up, beyond the water damage, an old termite problem was discovered. Even though the termites have long since vacated the building, their damage was done. Before long, we discovered that both the outer floor joist support (aka bond joist) and a support beam in the basement had been seriously comprised by termite and water damage. We praise the Lord that we were able to catch the damage before anything further took place. Furthermore, we are thankful that the foundation is still solid.

This brings up an interesting question: how is the foundation of your life? A lot of people in our society tend to build their foundation upon their careers or finances, only to end up having their jobs outsourced or eliminated, or to lose their finances do to some unforeseen circumstance. Likewise, a lot of people tend to build their foundation on family or friends, only to have relational let downs. We could talk about several other things that people tend to build the foundation of their lives upon, only to end being disappointed.

However, for us as faithful followers of Jesus Christ, the foundation of our lives will never be washed away. We have chosen to build our lives upon the Rock, Jesus Christ (Matt. 7:24). So then when the storms of life come, we will be able to still stand our ground (Matt. 7:25).

If you would like to learn how you can have a life that remains strong regardless of what is happening in your life, I encourage you to join us on Sunday mornings 9:30-11:30 as we learn to build our lives upon the firm foundation of Jesus Christ (Eph. 2:19-22). God bless!

In His service,

            Matt 

The Blessed Life #12: Redemption of Time

While proudly showing off his new apartment to friends, a college student led the way into the den. “What is the big brass gong and hammer for?” one of his friends asked. “That is the talking clock,” the man replied. “How’s it work?” the friend asked.

“Watch,” the man said, then proceeded to give the gong an ear shattering pound with the hammer. Suddenly, someone screamed from the other side of the wall “Knock it off you idiot; it’s 2 o’clock in the morning! :) (Streiker, Nelson’s Big Book of Laughter , p. 425)

Time is something which affects every one of us. It marches on regardless of what is happening. Ever since we were conceived, our moments have paraded by; Seconds turn to minutes, hours, weeks, years, and before we know it, years turn into a lifetime. While it may seem like we have a long time to live, (especially to our younger readers) the reality is, our time is short. And once it’s gone, it’s gone forever.

Thus, I encourage you this new year to consider how you live. Many follow the ideology “Eat, drink and live for tomorrow we die.” However, it is not in our best interest to simply bury our heads in the sand to ignore the reality.

We have one life to live. I challenge you, live with no regrets—speak to those you’ve refused to for months or years. Live without fear. And be mindful of each action you take, word you say, and thought you think. What you do, you can never take back. Abraham Lincoln said, “In the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years.”

Yet, at the same time, we need to bear in mind our time on earth will end, and there is another life for us to live on the other side of the rainbow, so to speak. Therefore, the Apostle Paul admonishes us to “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.” (Eph. 5:15-16). 

Furthermore, Jesus instructed us to lay up treasures to precede us into the next life (Matt. 6:20). We attain these priceless treasures through serving and loving others, putting their needs in front of ours as Alan mentions. 

But in order for us to receive these treasures, we must first of all, have a personal, saving relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. Prior to receiving Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior, our lives were not quite what they needed to be. We were damaged goods as a result of our sins (Rom. 6:23). We were worse than the Christmas presents that some of us are returning. :) 

God did something about our damaged condition, though His Son, Jesus. He redeemed us from that lifestyle. Likewise, He redeems our eternity (Eph. 1:13-14).  

In His service,

            Matt

The Blessed Life #11: The Incarnation

“The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood. We saw the glory with our own eyes, the one-of-a-kind glory, like Father, like Son, generous inside and out, true from start to finish” (John 1:14 MSG).

December tends to be one of the busiest months of the year for most people. Businesses are frantically working to have all their merchandise available for us last minute Christmas shoppers. Elsewhere, people are picking out the perfect Christmas trees and decorating their houses. Meanwhile, people virtually across the globe will set aside their normal routines to go to Christmas parties, attend church services, sing Christmas songs, watch Christmas TV specials, and travel long distances to be with those whom you love.

I’ll admit, I love this time of year. I love the holiday delights. I love the joyous spirit which many people tend to have during these few weeks. And I love being able to spend time with my family members.

However, sometimes, the holidays are not quite so pleasant. Maybe you have gone through a difficult year: you have lost a job or some of your physical abilities. Or maybe you have lost a loved one. Or maybe the holidays have a way of reminding you of individuals who have passed away. Or maybe you are not looking forward to seeing certain individuals in your family that you will soon come in contact with.

Yet regardless of whether you are on a mountain top of joy or in the valley of despair, we all need to have an understanding of the real reason for the season. Rick Warren the author of the Purpose Driven Life said, “Right now there’s nothing more important for you to understand than the implications of Christmas for your life” (The Purpose of Christmas, p. 7). 

The real reason for the season is Jesus, God with us. It is about celebrating the incarnation: God coming to earth as a Man, in the form of a Baby lying in manger. One theologian explained the significance of the incarnation in the following way. “When Jesus came to this earth men saw in Him the splendor of God, and at the heart of that splendor was love. When Jesus came to this earth, men saw the wonder of God, and the wonder was love. They saw that God's glory and God's love were one and the same thing. The glory of God is not that of a (dictator type) eastern tyrant, but the splendor of love before which we fall not in abject terror but lost in wonder, love and praise” (Barclay, Daily Study Bible).

The incarnation is about God being always with us. It is about Jesus coming to earth, living the perfect life, and dying for our sins, so that we might have an eternal relationship with the One who will never leave us nor abandon us (Heb. 13:5). He is always with us who have received Him as Lord of our lives. 

He is with us when our boss is a jerk. He is with us when our baby is crying and we are having a hard time just to get out of bed. He is with us when we are having marriage problems. He is with us when family members get sick, and die.

He is with even when we are angry at Him for allowing certain things to happen. He is with us when we are struggling to trust Him. He is with us when we just don’t know what to do. He is with us as we are lying in the ICU and the doctors don't know what to do. And even when we take our last breath, He is with us.

So no matter how high or low in life we find ourselves, we as faithful followers of Jesus Christ, are never alone. He is with us just as He declared, “Surely I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matt. 28:20b NASB). That is the promise which the birth of Christ, the incarnation, reminds us of. May we never forget it; He is with us.

Because of His love,

            Matt 

The Blessed Life #10: A Lot to Be Thankful For

God’s promises are yes and Amen (so be it) to us who are faithful followers of Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 1:20). Meaning, what God promises He will fulfill. This is an amazing thing for us to be thankful for! On the other hand, it is so easy to listen to the news and find it hard to be thankful (the Ferguson unrest, the battle against ISIS, the Ebola crisis, natural disasters hitting various parts of our country and world, etc). Yet when we take and turn our attention to the promises of God our outlook changes!    

The original settlers of our nation looked to some of these promises and were able to have an attitude of gratitude. One passage that was particularly dear to the pilgrims was Psalm 107. In this Psalm, we find 5 reasons to be thankful.

First, God provides homes for the homeless (107:1-9). The Puritan pilgrims had been driven from their homes and were virtually hounded from place to place, but finally were able to set sail for a land that they could call home. The majority of us can be thankful for not experiencing homelessness or such unrest. On the other hand, “Apart from God we are like the prodigal son, who left his father's home to squander his substance in a far country” (Boice, Psalms Vol.3, p. 866). Yet the moment that we turn to the Father through Jesus Christ (John 14:6), we are blessed with an eternal home (John 14:2).

Second, God delivers us from oppression to freedom (107:10-16). The 16th century Governor William Bradford told of how the pilgrims were hunted and persecuted on every side. Some were taken and locked up in prison, others had their houses staked out night and day, and hardly escaped their enemies' hands; and the most were forced to flee, leaving their houses and habitations, and the means of their livelihood (Bradford, Of Plymouth Plantation, p. 10). Yet even still these individuals eventually made it to the land of the free. All of us go through periods or even seasons of oppression from time to time. Spiritually, every person was bound by the wages of their sins; yet when we receive Christ, He frees us from guilt, shame, and condemnation; and He grants us His favor (Luke 4:18-19).

Third, God delivers us from sickness to health (107:17-22). Most of the original pilgrims did not survive the trip across the ocean and the first winter, yet some did. And those individuals were extremely thankful that they did. Scripture teaches that the road to life is narrow and only a few find it (Matt. 7:14). Yet for those who do, they are blessed with deliverance from all physical aliments (Rev. 21:4). This is something that we who have a present active trust in Christ for our salvation can be thankful for (John 10:27-28).

Fourth, God delivers us from danger to safety (107:23-32). Can you imagine being out on those waters over a thousand miles from land as storms brewed on the horizon? It is hard to conceive what it must have been like for the Pilgrims to cross the Atlantic in a boat built back in the 1600s, with poor navigations skills. Yet God delivered them to the safety of dry land. Some of us have probably weathered floods, tornados, or earthquakes, etc. On the other hand, almost all people have gone through various storms like financial problems, health troubles, or a family crisis. Yet for us as Christians, God promises to still the storms when we call on Him. Sometimes He does this by literally calming the torrents of life, while other times He calms us by His presence through it all. Either way He delivers us.    

And fifth, God delivers us from trials to triumph (107:33-43). Even after all that the Pilgrims had gone through, their trials were not over. They experienced wars with the Indians, crops that failed, and sicknesses that returned. Yet through it all, God enabled them to survive. Whatever our trials maybe, we as Christians can know for a fact that God will work it out for our good (Rom. 8:28). The promises of God are yes and amen in Jesus Christ. Therefore, may we “Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His love endures forever” (Psalm 107:1).

In His service,

         Matt

The Blessed Life #9: Financial Freedom

 

One writer said, “Money still talks. Usually it says good-bye.” Can you relate with that? I know that I sure can. On the other hand, what would it be like to never have to be concerned about meeting your physical needs again? How would you feel if you knew for a fact that all of your financial issues for the rest of your earthly life were taken care of?

The Bible actually speaks of such a financial freedom.

•   “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want” (Ps. 23:1).
•  “Delight yourself in the LORD and He will give you the desires of your heart” (Ps. 37:4).
•  “My God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:19). 

 Please do not misunderstand me. The Bible does NOT teach that once you become a Christian that you will become a millionaire! If it does, then how does one explain millions of Christians living in poverty? And how does one explain why Jesus Himself was homeless (Matt. 8:20)? 

Likewise, the Bible is NOT opposed to individuals who have been able to acquire great physical wealth. There are several people of the true faith who were rich in the Bible: Abraham, David, Nicodemus, and Joseph of Arimathea.

On the other hand, what the Bible does teach is that no matter your financial situation, you can have a peace of mind that is greater than what any dollar amount could possibly offer you. I speak of this from personal experience.

Prior to attending Bible College, I worked in construction making about double what I do now as a minster. Yet the difference was even greater then as both my wife and I left everything behind to follow the Lord.

When we first started classes, we had no jobs lined up; we simply trusted that God would take care of us as His Word says. We were sure that His plan would include our working part-time. Yet no matter how hard we tried to find employment, nothing was working out.

Furthermore, our class load at the time was way more than what we had ever experienced when we received our Associates’ degrees. And if we would have reduced our class load then we would have lost our scholarships for tuition further compounding the problem. So after much prayer we felt the Lord telling us simply to trust Him through it all and He would provide for us.

And provide for us He did. We were able to graduate debt free. I’m not saying that trusting God’s provisions is always the easiest thing in the world, yet it is the most secure!  “If God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, He will certainly care for you...” (Matt. 6:30 NLT)

Therefore, let me ask you once more: do you want to experience true financial freedom? If you do the pathway to such freedom is simple: “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need” (Matt. 6:33 NLT).

In His service,

            Matt 

The Blessed Life #8: No Regrets

 On August 27th, the Todd Becker Foundation came to Eugene High School. During 2 events, Keith Becker shared his brother Todd’s story.  Todd was a high school senior who had a tremendous amount of potential only to die at the age of 18. As I listened to Keith share Todd’s story, probably the most impactful detail for me related to an opportunity Todd passed up on the last day of his life.

Todd was given an offer to have assurance of where he was going to spend eternity. Really the offer was much more than that. Todd had been offered a chance to have peace of mind throughout life, and especially during the moments of life’s end. Sadly, Todd refused.

The Apostle Paul said, “Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death” (2 Cor. 7:10).  I wonder, if Todd would have been able to reconsider his response with a knowledge of what would happen that night, would he have changed his mind, leading to a radically different outcome?

Interestingly, this was the very opportunity that another man had:

One morning, as a man named Alfred was reading the newspaper, he read the words of his own obituary! This happened as a result of a simple error on the part of the journalist, for Alfred’s brother was the one had just died. Needless to say this was a disturbing experience for Alfred, but what was most disturbing was what was written about him.

The newspaper described how Alfred was a terrible man, “a merchant of death,” making “his fortune by finding a way to kill the most people as ever before in the shortest time possible.” Thus, it described how it was a good thing for this man to be dead. This was definitely not how Alfred saw himself, even though he was partly responsible for others’ deaths as the inventor of dynamite.

Alfred’s life was changed that morning. It was like someone gave him as second chance at life to live with no regrets. So much so, that when Alfred did die 8 years later, his actual obituary read vastly different. In fact each year the world honors someone for taking up the cause which Alfred started: the Nobel Peace Prize.

What would you change if you were in this man’s life? What regrets do you live with that you wish you could leave behind? Sometimes our regrets do not surface until we come face to face with the reality of the life we have been living, like Alfred. Meanwhile still, other regrets only surface in the final moments of our lives. Any regret which you might have or could possibly have, can be erased.

Scripture promises that when we seek the Lord with a repentant heart, He will deliver us from all our fears and therefore enable us to live with no shame (Psalm 34:4-5). Likewise, Scripture gives us a great model of how to pass from this life with no regrets: past, present or future. “...Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:13b-14).

Therefore, I encourage you to turn your life over to Jesus Christ, and thus, leave your regrets behind.

In His service,

            Matt 

The Blessed Life #7: Second Chances

One individual said, “If you are lucky enough to get a second chance, don’t waste it.” The year will be starting anew this month for many individuals as they go back to school. For students this means that they can have a fresh start for overcoming bad grades or labels which they might have received from others, last school year. It is time for a fresh start, a second chance to make things right. Likewise, today can be a chance for all of us to have a second chance or a fresh start.

If all of us were honest, there have been points in life in which we wished that we could have a second chance. We wish that if we could go through what we did before; then, we would have never made the same mistake that we did. Maybe we think, “If only I had a second chance, I would not have said what I did.” Or “if only I had a second chance, I would have spent more time with my wife and kids, than working all those hours.”  Or “if only I could have told that certain someone that I loved them before they died.”

If you could do something over, what would it be? What are the second chances you are currently blessed with that you are taking for granted? You don’t have to experience a near death situation.

This reminds me of a person whom I know who is lucky to be alive. This individual suffered terribly in an automobile accident. He had broken bones and scars virtually from head to toe. He now has several rods and pins in his body, you might call him a heavy metal guy :). Truthfully, he should be dead today, yet God has given him a second chance at life.

Oh, I’m sure that there have been plenty of moments in which he wished that he had not survived the accident, yet why did he? Ultimately, that is a question which only God can answer. But the Bible does give us some clear clues of why—God gives second chances at life for two reasons.

First, God gives second chances so that we might get right with Him. In fact, this is the reason in which God allows a lot of things to happen in our lives—He wants us to wake up in order that we might take advantage of the opportunity which is before us—for none of us knows how much time we have left on this earth.

Scripture teaches that every person must come to repentance and into a saving relationship with His Son Jesus Christ in order to go to heaven when we die (2 Peter 3:9). God wants us to enjoy the Paradise which He has prepared for all who accept His offer. However, God’s second chances end when we die, “Each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment” (Heb. 9:27).  Therefore, if you have been given a second chance at life don’t waste it!

A second reason why God gives us second chances is to fulfill His purpose for our lives. God has a wonderful plan for our lives which can enable us to live with no regrets. God’s desires for us are greater than we could imagine. He has a plan for our lives to leave a lasting legacy. Therefore, I want to encourage you to consider the second chances which are before you, and don’t waste them, for this might be your last chance!

In His service,

         Matt 

The Blessed Life #6: A Band of Brothers

During World War II there was a Battalion called “Easy Company,” known later as “The Band of Brothers.” These men stepped up to help one another when tragedy struck their company. If these men had tried to go it alone, or do their own thing, every one of them would have lost their lives! These men needed to rely upon one another, helping each other by utilizing their own strengths yet orchestrated together; and when one was hurting or under fire, the rest of the company helped to carry that man’s load.

This would not be an easy task as they faced trial after trial after trial. Yet by each person giving their best while working as a team the work got done. And in the end, this Band of Brothers was triumphant as they stood united together.

Throughout life each one of us will encounter trials from time to time (although sometimes when it seems like the opposition continues to pound us in waves without giving us a chance to even catch our breath). When people try to go it on their own, sometimes they can be successful for a period of time. However, eventually, they will find themselves out numbered, encountering giants which are far superior to their abilities.

The Christian is not exempt from circumstances like these. In fact, often times the Christian will encounter more battles and of greater intensity than non-believers. However, that is where one of the most significant blessings of being a Christian surfaces! We are a part of a “Band of Brothers.”

As a “Band of Brothers” (and sisters), we are privileged to have others who can come alongside us when we are down. Our fellow Christians can help carry our burdens just as Scripture admonishes us (Gal. 6:2). Our fellow believers can encourage us and build us up when we are down (1 Thess. 5:11). Our fellow believers can offer us the comfort which our weary souls require (1 Thess. 4:18).

Often times what we need more than anything else is just someone to be our friend (1 John 1:7). Our fellow believers can help us overcome mistakes we have made (James 5:16). Meanwhile, our fellow believers can offer the acceptance and love we need (John 13:34).

Our fellow believers can tell us the truth so that we are not deceived by Satan (Eph. 4:25), the father of all lies (John 8:44). By knowing the truth we are able to be set free from the schemes of the evil one (John 8:32). Our fellow believers can offer us the wisdom which we need to make difficult decisions (Rom. 15:14). And they can help us to attain our God given purpose in life (Heb. 10:24).

We are not meant to live life all by ourselves. And thankfully, God has called all people to be a part of the “Band of Brothers” known as the church. Yes, none of us within the church are perfect. Yet within the church we are able to help one another and most importantly they can help us to begin a personal relationship with the One who is perfect, Jesus Christ. 

Therefore, I want to encourage you to come not only be a part of the church, but also, to join the True Band of Brothers, the individuals who are committed to partaking of blessings of being a sold-out believer in Jesus Christ. 

In His service,

            Matt 

The Blessed Life #5: 20/20 Vision

There is an old saying which states, “Hindsight is always 20/20.” It’s easy to look back over things which have happened and have a solid understanding of what we SHOULD have done. But what if we could see things before they happened with a similar clarity of vision? What if we could decrease the amount of mistakes which we make even by a small portion? What if we would be better able to seize the opportunities which come our way?

The Bible tells us that there is such a method and God has already given us as Christians direct access to it! “He has showered His kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding” (Eph. 1:8 NLT). We are able to comprehend great mysteries which mankind has pondered for centuries (Eph. 1:9).

The wisdom which God gives helps us to understand the right to do and gives us a knowledge of the wrong things to avoid (Pro. 2:10; 10:23). Furthermore, the wisdom which God blesses us with looks at acting accordingly, making the most of the opportunities we have been given (Col. 4:5).

God designed us to live by His wisdom. God gave King Solomon a blank check so to speak, and asked him if he could have anything in the world, what would it be. After Solomon had considered how to respond, he finally asked for wisdom to govern those whom God had placed in his care (1 Kings 3:9). This impressed the Lord so much that He told Solomon that since he asked for this, God would bless him with wealth, protection from his enemies, and a long life (1 Kings 3:11). While God does not promise us great physical riches in this life, He does promise to take care of us when seek His will for our lives (Matt. 6:31-34). 

Likewise, often times people do not enjoy the blessing of God’s wisdom because they are not currently following the Lord through a personal relationship with Him. “The reverent fear and worship of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and skill [the preceding and the first essential, the prerequisite and the alphabet]; a good understanding, wisdom, and meaning have all those who do [the will of the Lord]. Their praise of Him endures forever” (Psa. 111:10 AMP).

Therefore, some of us who are Christians enjoy this blessing of a 20/20 life on a normal basis, while even still other Christians have struggled to enjoy it. Yet, all that is required to utilize this blessing is to simply ask for it. “If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and He will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking” (James 1:5 NLT). Thus, what matter are you needing wisdom in? I encourage you to ask our all-knowing Lord.

Then once you have asked, you simply must be willing to listen for God’s response which generally comes through considering what God has already told us in His Word (Psa. 119:97-98), and through the still small voice of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 2:12). And then be willing to implement what He tells us because His vision is always 20/20.

 Because of His love,

            Matt