An Encounter

The most amazing phenomenom...

The deepest desire that seems unattainable...

The farthest reach of man, beyond space or time...

…for you and I to encounter God.

How can we possibly encounter Who we cannot see or hear with human ability? 

How can we possibly touch the Divine, the Ancient of Days, the Alpha and Omega?

It is possible.  The Bible says it.  I have experienced it.

God…the Creator of the Heavens and the Earth, the Creator of YOU, wants to fellowship….wants to interact with YOU.

Let me tell you some ways I encounter the Living God, the One and Only God, the God that sent His Son, Jesus:

I observe creation.  I see the majesty and artistry of God.

I enjoy my family.  I see the love and the design of God.

I get away for solitude and silence.  I hear the voice and the sound of God.

I serve people.  I see the heart and passion of God.

I give of my resources and myself.  I see the generosity and the abundance of God.

I observe the culture deteriorate the world.  I see the need for God to redeem the world .

God is real.  He is true.  He is close.  

God is speaking today…to You.  He will touch You, hold You, walk with You.  

Put yourself in a posture where you may encounter Him.  

and…it does not have to be just once in a while when you walk in to a church.  It can be every day!

God loves you…so much.

He is waiting for you to encounter Him.

What Does God Want To Do?

The great tension.  

The tension between what I can do…and what God wants to do.

As a Pastor, I feel a responsibility to lead, to move, to build, to do.  I do not care much to just sit and pray and just read my Bible…and wait.  

I am action-oriented, goal-driven.  I want to show something for my days and my work.  And I think God honors hard work and planning - setting goals.  He made us to be passionate for what He has called us to do.  He made us with a need to accomplish great things - especially when we work to do it to honor Him.  

What God is teaching me, however, is to not get in front of Him - to give Him space to speak to me and to lead me.  

So, today I am going to start my work week differently than I usually do:

Instead of setting my own goals, I will listen for God’s voice for His goals for me

Instead of prioritizing my tasks, I will try to understand God’s heart and make that my priority

Instead of moving at a fast pace, I will slow down and sync with God’s pace

Instead of teaching from my leadership and experience, I will teach from God’s Word - He is the Great Leader and Teacher

If we all would have this “Holy Mindset”, it puts us in the correct order of position.  You see, God has indeed called us to lead, to build, to move, to accomplish.  But He wants to lead us.

What He has planned for your life and for your ministry is so much greater, more impacting than you or I could ever plan.  How great to know that we can trust His plan to follow as we work in partnership with Him.  

Instead of asking “What can I do", 

today ask “What does God want me to do?"

Worship God

Today, I am worshipping God just because.  You want to feel better? come before God with your worship.  You have a concern on your mind? Leave it…come and worship.  Something not working out the way you had hoped? Today…don’t talk to God about it…come before Him with worship and adoration.

  

Psalm 95:6

Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker.

Today is not the day to ask God to bless you; it’s the day to bless God.

Psalm 34

I will bless the Lord at all times, His praise shall continually be in my mouth. 

Have you failed God? Is your sin right before you? Don’t even let your sin our your failures block you from entering the very presence of God! Jesus has made a way! If you believe that Jesus is the Son of God and have put your trust only in Him to save you from your sin and from death, you belong to Him! His precious blood that He shed on the cross for your sins covers you.  

Hebrews 10:19-22

 And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus.  By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place.  And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house,  let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.

You too can approach a Holy, Righteous God and worship with no fear, no guilt, no shame! Because of His Son, Jesus.

Jesus, You are worthy of my worship.  Take my life.  Use me for Your Holy purposes.  I give to You today.  I adore You.  Nothing else in this world satisfies.  You satisfy over and over again, day by day.  You lead me in paths of righteousness for Your Name sake.  

You, O Lord are the focus on my attention, the center of my affection.  You have been so good to me.  I magnify You today.  It’s all about You.  I am here worshipping You in your presence.  

Matt's Prayer

Thank you, Lord for the good days - I look forward to them.

Thank you, Lord for the bad days - they remind me that good days are coming.

Thank you, Lord for strength - it comes from You.

Thank you, Lord for weakness - it forces me to rely on You.

Thank you, Lord for giving me purpose - it reinforces my daily agenda and it gets me up in the morning.

Thank you, Lord for sabbath - it quiets my spirit long enough to rest in Your love and Your power.

Thank you, Lord for speaking to me - I live by every word you impart.

Thank you, Lord for the times of silence - it builds my faith, and reminds me that You are working even when I can't seem to hear You.

Thank you, Lord for answered prayer - it proves Your faithfulness and Your generous nature.

Thank you, Lord for unanswered prayer - it teaches me to wait on Your timing.

I AM

Every time I think about my fears, my insecurities, my struggles, I realize that I am not enough.  

However, God tells me through His Holy Word that He is more than enough.

God declares to each one of us

I AM

I am fearful, I am limited.

I AM all sufficient. I AM all you have need of.

I am all alone.

I AM always with you.

I am not equipped and I am overwhelmed with resistance.

I AM a Mighty Fortress.

I AM your Sheild and Buckler.

I AM the Captain of the Hosts of all the heavenly armies.

I am anxious, I am not sure of the future.

I AM the Prince of Peace.

I AM the same yesterday, today, and forever.

I am not sure what is happening in the world.

I am not sure about the end of times.

I AM the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end.

I AM coming back again for you!

God Is Faithful

God, You are Faithful

You are faithful

You have always been faithful

When you called me to surrender my life to you

You were faithful

In all of Your promises

You have been faithful

Through some of my rough life transitions

You were faithful

At times, when I wanted to give up

You stayed faithful

When I have been unfaithful

You remained faithful

When I didn’t know at times how I was going to pay the bills

You were faithful

When wars and rumors of wars buzz through the news

You will be faithful

Though I am uncertain what lies ahead for me

You will be faithful