Welcome to the adventure…

Posted on March 9, 2011 by admin

Thank you for checking out my new blog! This is where you will have the opportunity to join me as I will be sharing thoughts, ideas, dreams, and experiences. My prayer and encouragement for you is to join me in a “conversation” of sorts as I strive to write the best story I can through my life. What that means is that I invite you to interact with me through comments and email. We as sons and daughters of God are not meant to walk this journey alone and just as much as you may be encouraged by what you find here, I too am encouraged as you weigh in. Above you can read more about WHO I AM, my VISION, and WHERE I’VE BEEN.

I desire to see todays men and women, boys and girls AWAKENED and walking in our God-given identities…I have committed to step forward and live my life for something greater than myself…will you be so bold as to join me to not try to fix the world’s problems…rather INSPIRE A GENERATION to know that they have the ability to stand above the hardships, circumstance, and complacency of their current lives?!

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Fulfilling Our Destiny: Saying “YES!”

Posted on October 11, 2011 by Matt

After realizing and owning the foundational truths of KNOWING and LIVING as the sons and daughters of God that we are, we are able to tackle and seek answer for the questions;

“…how then do we fulfill our Purpose?” and

“…how do we become ‘People of Destiny?’”

So let’s dive in shall we;

In his writing to the Hebrews, Paul explains the journey of Abraham. This passage is based upon the complete FAITH that was demonstrated as the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. Yet, among the beauty of what Paul is saying, he also speaks of what it took for Abraham to move from where he was to what he was to become. What Abraham was and how he reached and lived a life of purpose and destiny based on his complete trust and obedience to God, not his own needs and circumstance:

“By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations whose architect and builder is God. By faith Abraham, even though he was past age – and Sarah herself was barren–was enabled to become a father because he considered him faithful who had made the promise. And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.” - Hebrews 11:8-12

The first quality of a true person living and walking a life of destiny is though far from perfect, when God calls they say “YES!” Abraham clearly heard the Word of the Lord and instead of putting off what he knew to be true, he stepped forth into it. Of course like many of us he had no idea what the journey would look like or what he would face. But, what Abraham held onto was the clear way that he knew without a shadow of a doubt that God had laid out the journey. Abraham wasn’t afraid to trust God. In fact he was so obedient to God, when he was asked to kill and sacrifice his own son Isaac, he was ready to lay down his anger, confusion and pain for the shear understanding and knowledge that God was sovereign and had his best interest in mind. Of course God was testing Abraham’s obedience and Isaac was spared.

So, how does this pertain to the aforementioned questions? Well, in order to stand up and accept what Jesus has done for us in reconciliation to the Father God, we should walk in the power of Christ and have no fear…absolutely no fear of anything outside of God and his best interest for us!

God will speak to each and every one of use…he has spoken to each and every one of us…and we need to walk in that light. As we step out the door in the morning we are confronted with people who need a listening ear, people who need a hand with something, people who need someone to pray with or for them. That is the smallest thing that I know that the Holy Spirit SHOUTS out eacha nd every moment. Our laziness, our attitude, our own agendas all too often get into the way. BUT, when we say “YES!” to taking the time to pray for someone when they come to mind or physically be with them in presence, we are then stepping into the gap and becoming the Church as God has designed it!

Where in our lives are we shying away from the call of God? Where have we been too busy to raise our kids, to pray with others, to volunteer with organizations that need YOUR skill set and abilities? Why are we shying away from these amazing things?

Many of us, myself included always default back to the idea where we like to know how things will go and what the exact steps will be like. If there’s pain of a rough spot, we want to know about it. We tend to hold back or give up when we are in over our heads with “life” or circumstance. BUT, when is it the last line of defence where we say, “that’s it!” and make a stand and persevere and step up to the challenges? This is the line where I have recently turned my attention to stand upon; to make my life count and invest EVERYTHING I represent and am able to do on. I have realized that the time is NOW and the future isn’t about waiting, it’s about moving headlong into.

Abraham never waited for the plan to be perfect! Paul writes that Abraham “obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.” This was a physical life move yet also a spiritual and emotional move in the same realm. EVERYTHING that Abraham was and eventually became was in that moment put on the line when he said in his heart that he would trust God and not let fear of the unknown take over and rob him of his destiny!

Where are the mighty warriors of God in this generation? Where are the tough guys whom are ready to fight for the widows and the orphans? Whose going to join me?!…in saying “YES!!”

Categories: 42nd Generation, Encouragement, The Call to BECOME | Leave a comment

Fulfilling Our Destiny: Created with Purpose!

Posted on October 4, 2011 by Matt

The big questions ALWAYS seem to arise; “Why am I here?”, “What is my purpose?”, “What am I supposed to do?”. Now, I’m not going to sugar coat some sort of right answer or 5 step ‘how to’ in order to find those very answers for those deep personal questions. BUT, what I am about to share are some key ingredients towards a life of wonder, awe, and adventure! I’ve been blessed to experience part or pieces of the entirety of what I’ll show you. In humility I say this, not some sort of “look at me” thing one bit!!

The experience is tough, the road is long, but the journey is worth it!

I once preached a sermon entitled “Fulfilling Our Destiny”. In the next number of blogs I’ll share about the realization and revelation I have had in the process of coming to figure out what my life is all about.

FIRST we need to start the crucial foundation of knowing we were actually created for a purpose to begin with;

We were created with a purpose!

“For when David had served God’s purposes in his own generation, he fell asleep.” – Acts 13:36a

“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works which God prepared in advance for us to do.” – Eph. 2:10

“For I know the plans I have for you”, declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and pray to me, and I will listen to you. you will find me when you seek me with all of your heart. I will be found by you”, declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather yo from all the nations and places where I have banished you”, declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you.” – Jer 29:11-14

 

You see, God has always wanted to glorify himself, he wants to make his name. He wants to make his grace and glory known. He created the Heavens and the earth to worship him. To reflect upon his hand and his being. So, he created Adam and he created Eve. Then in turn he created us, you and me. God not only created us…but he created us IN HIS OWN IMAGE. He also gave us choice, free will. He has given us the chance and freedom to ultimately choose to walk closely and intimately with him or even reject him. He has never intended us to be here to merely exist. He has always designed us to fit into creation and become the fore-runners of his glorious and powerful plan. There is absolutely no way we could be accidents or ‘random chance’. He has placed us in the very unique light of all of his esteemed creation. He is satisfied with us, being what we were created to be…beings sharing in his inheritance with him; just like a good Father!

Somehow in this whole process of man being here on earth, we have fallen to the desires of our flesh and believe the lies to ultimately fail God. We haven’t failed because of chance or default, but by our selfishness of there possibly being something more than God. The possibility of being God ourselves in our worlds of inward thinking.

Essentially this freedom of choice that the Lord has given us has ultimately caused chaos and death in our lives. We don’t have control, yet we strive so desperately for it. We are never satisfied when we have everything we could ever need…or even want! Our distance from God…SIN…has become this dividing factor in our lives. We possibly recognize amongst our turmoil, yet until we come to grips with emptiness and striving for purpose, we don’t really understand the true nature of God.

YET, amidst all of this personal confusion and wandering, we find ourselves in a bind as God has taken the amazing LOVE of the true Father that he is and extends it to meet us uniquely and crazily right where we are. He takes on flesh as one of us here at ground level to simply say, “I’m here, I’m with you, I understand, I LOVE YOU!”. In the form of a human, the Father sent his one and very precious son, Jesus to take on flesh and walk among us. I truly don’t feel we have grabbed the truth and passion of God as he did this, yet once we do start to come to grips, we slowly get more and more of a glimpse of who God truly is…the LOVING GOD we all seem to feel is so distant from the conditions of the world.

When we recognize what Jesus has done in taking our sins, our shortcomings upon himself to say, “You are forgiven, you have nothing left to prove, get up Man/Woman of God….stand up and walk…get over the past, enter into NEW LIFE!”, we then start to seek the true answer of the questions of purpose and destiny ion our own lives!!

If the scriptures are actually true and a guide for my life, then I know I have some amazing things flowing our of my life’s story. If what Jesus has taught and secured in all eternity is even remotely true, then can’t imagine the FREEDOM and PASSION I am able to walk with when I FULLY TRUST the Lord!

You see, we have all been reconciled to God the Father through Jesus himself. We all have nothing to hide from when we come to God through accepting what Jesus has done for us. When we say, “it is finished” and walk boldly to the throne of God and kneel with the attitude of “HERE I AM”, we are truly free from sin and death and finally able to walk into our purpose and destiny. There is absolutely nothing left to hide, to shy away from, to regret, to look back in fear from, etc, etc.

As David served his Godly purpose of simply LIVING HIS LIFE and we walk knowing that in being created in Jesus we have great works we will accomplish and we walk humbly knowing that God’s plan for us is in motion, we have nothing left but to LIVE OUR LIVES in the here and now!

Stay tuned for the next few blogs as I’ll go into what I believe are qualities of “People of Destiny”!

Categories: 42nd Generation, The Call to BECOME | Leave a comment

Bringing the Kingdom!

Posted on July 25, 2011 by Matt

You worship me, you preach my word, I’ll do the wonders” - God

When I first heard this quote, something in my mind of how I viewed God changed. This is what finally connected the God of the Bible to the God of today in my mind! Sure I know God never changes, but this simple sentence struck something within me as I reflect back on the footprints I’ve left behind and see when and where God showed up…when I was in souled out worship of HIM, not what I was doing (and giving him credit) and when I just opened my mouth and spoke truth out! That’s when the wonders came! That’s when the sick were healed and the broken hearted putting that long awaited smile on!!

When we look at the ‘Kingdom’ that Jesus is telling us about, why do we have such a hard time grasping it? I always thought it was good works and being ‘humble’. Being less so everyone can be more, yet being at the top of the chain in leadership so I could demonstrate that humility…well that was quite the contradictory life I found myself in. I dubbed it my season of being ‘pridefully humble’. I went to the extreme of works and expecting God to show up! So often people would be blessed, but I was still disappointed when the ‘miracles’ just weren’t there. I was wrapped up in the lies that I had something wrong with me. I felt that I was lacking something. But, in the last few weeks it has dawned on me that the only thing in the way of me and the fullness of power that God wanted to use through me was…well, me!

So what does this have to do with the ‘Kingdom’? Well, Jesus says that the kingdom isn’t something you are looking for or waiting for. It’s WITHIN you! (Luke 17:20-21) This idea I had of try to bring the Kingdom with my works and service was challenged. This vast, expansive, and divine Kingdom isn’t something I need to strive for or to do anything special for. It’s part of me, part my DNA. So, as revelation goes, I have a responsibility to search out the scriptures and match it to what my spirit is saying. Is there a connection?!

God’s Kingdom is everlasting, it has always existed (Daniel 4:3), it rules over all other kingdoms; the world has never existed without a savior!

The kingdom of God and the kingdom of Heaven are the same thing. Jesus speaks of both in different accounts. They both are scripturally the exact same thing with different ‘names’ so to speak.

And so, this ‘Kingdom’ that is apparently within me and what Jesus says is at hand (within reach) looks like what then here on earth?! Well, Jesus prays a prayer our churches pray every Sunday in Matthew 6:9-13. In verse 10 He prays boldly that the Kingdom COME and God’s will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. There is no doubt that his purpose and plan is for the earth to be exactly what he created it for in the first place. Not a place of peace and harmony so everyone gets along, but rather for His children (us) to share that beautiful inheritance with us!His plan has never altered; we are still in Plan A.

God wants ‘Israel’ to be that instrument here on earth to bring in His Kingdom. Israel isn’t this little plot of land in the Middle East, it’s the people of the nations, His beloved his children…Jews and Gentiles alike, we are all His beloved Israel!God used the natural Israel to show us the way as He is looking to spiritual Israel to take hold of this thing. The Church is who we are. And the Church is God is looking to for ushering in the Kingdom here on earth JUST as it is in Heaven. Bottom line!

So my question is; am I bringing in His glorious Kingdom in my own life? Truth is that I have absolutely no-one else to blame or to compare anything to! If Jesus’ words are true that the Kingdom is within me, then I have some work to do if there is death in my life. If people around me aren’t coming ALIVE in who they are, then I’m missing something. If I’m having a bad day and feel as though I need a day off to ‘deal’ with stuff, then I’m missing the point. If I’m holding on to things of the past and living in my own little party, then I’m missing the whole point!

All I have to do is SHOW UP for my own life! I have to be willing to choose the Kingdom before anything else when my head leaves my pillow in the morning. I have the responsibility to put others before myself in any circumstance. This world is much different than what we think once we start to look a little bit deeper into it all. If we only see our faults, fears, failures, and ultimately ourselves, then we’ve lost the plot. Might as well pray for God to take you up now! We are here for a much greater purpose than to survive! We are here to BRING the KINGDOM…come on Church!Let’s be that instrument that we are created to be. We’re the best plan God ever had! So let’s get over ourselves and LIVE THIS LIFE!!

The Kingdom work we are called to do is using what He’s given us for His glory!

Let’s start getting on our faces and stand in awe of the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. Let’s start allowing Him to guide us instead of striving for control in our own lives all the time. Let’s start sharing in that sweet victory that Jesus is asking us to share in with Him! Let’s start becoming the men and women of God that we are by speaking LIFE as Jesus taught us to.

And finally, let’s get over our own crap and step into FAITH as God is more than willing to show His wonders and miracles as soon as we get out of the way!!

Categories: 42nd Generation, The Call to BECOME | Leave a comment

What’s God’s Point?!

Posted on July 24, 2011 by Matt

In our humanity, we are wired with many questions of who we are and what this life is all about. And even so when we come to faith in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we still are hard pressed to find the answers to the same questions. We read the pages of the Bible and read of all the wonders and amazing stories of faith and great triumphs, yet we compare it to our current lives and we seem to notice a big difference. I was one who had a hard time understanding how a pre-existant, self-existant, all knowing, all powerful, omni-present, and loving God would have me on this earth to just pass the time! I never quite understood how such an amazing God could create me with so much intimacy and just place me here on earth to do some good work just to rescue me in the end from the very thing that he is sending me to do!! Seriously, have you thought about that?! Why would the Lord fill the Bible up to drip such amazing hope and love just to take all the Christians away? What does that prove?! How can something with so much freedom be limited as we tend to believe we are?

The Bible says that we are the apex of His genius. What makes us so different than all other creation is that God created us with something to live for. Adam was given a mandate…a responsibility…and that responsibility means there is something to do…and that “something to do” is a purpose filled life. You see angels were created to worship in the Heavenly places, animals were created to roam the earth, and Adam (man) was created to subdue all creation and have dominion over it all. Unlike angels, man had a choice…free will! That choice was simple; walk with God or walk away from God.

In Eden, it was perfect, every single thing. Adam walked with God in all His goodness. Everything that was there was FOR Adam! God wanted to share it…with Adam! He never created it for any other reason than to share it. If we were created with no choice, no free will, nothing would be rewarding for God. Nothing would choose Him. His loving heart for relationship would be very unsatisfied! So that “everything” was the greatest gift Adam could possibly receive. There was never anything he could do to earn it. It wasn’t a reward fro his hard work…it was an inheritance! Be fruitful and multiply is what the Lord said for Adam to do. Have it all.

But then the greatest tragedy happened…at least that’s what I’ve been told all these years! Eve ate of the fruit of the tree, the only thing that was forbidden in all creation. Adam just stood by and watched, silently, being deceived by the one who would steal the inheritance that was clearly Adam’s.

We often look at the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil as this thing that God was selfishly holding back for himself. But hold on, let’s take a closer look at it…

God created everything in the earth and called it GOOD, right? If everything He had made was good, then there was nothing bad, or ‘evil’. And if there was nothing evil in the earth, then there would be nothing to separate Adam from God and ultimately nothing to prove the FREE WILL! The Tree was placed in the garden as the SIGN of the FREE WILL! If there was no option to choose, Adam would be nothing greater than the animals that roamed the earth.

And so, back to the ‘fall’…Adam’s in quite the predicament now. The intimacy of Eden gone, the Inheritance lost and a life to live still as the apex and pinnacle point of God’s beautiful creation. Is the plot lost?! Is there a point to life now?! Satan (who rebelled against God and was able to convince 1/3 of the angels to join him) thought he had thwarted God’s plan. We so often mis-interpret this part of the story because we think this grand battle is between good and evil, between God and Satan. Well, that doesn’t make any sense when you look at the fact that God CREATED satan. Satan was an angel, God can smite Satan anytime he wants to. Why do we think Satan has all of this power when he clearly doesn’t?! The battle is between man and Satan…Satan was able to deceive Eve and Adam out of their inheritance. He had control of this earth. Genesis 3:14-15 says that Satan is cursed and that there will be enmity between him and the man (woman in context). God put that enmity there, not satan, HA!!

And so, with the plot lost and Satan laughing at his victory, God says to hold on a minute…”look down the line of history a bit…I have a second Adam”…and His name is CHRIST!! That’s right, God had a plan. Not a back-up plan, but THE PLAN still in motion! Incredible stuff, eh? Now how do we know this? Because God prophesies it in verse 15 (Genesis) when he says that the serpant (satan) will bruise his head, and the woman (Christ) will bruise his heel. Now, that’s victory! The lost restored!

So then, what does this have to do with me today?! Well, as Christ went to the grave (after Satan thought he had a second victory), he resurrected and conquered death! That prophesy fulfilled, Christ defeated Satan. Christ brought LIFE to this world. He created a way for us to be restored. Christ took all the sin of each and every person in the world upon himself and was that sacrifice to atone for all that has separated us from God. The LIFE that was won is all that is needed to walk a free life from death. In Christ (belief in him as that sacrifice for us) we share in that victory! The inheritance is restored through Jesus Christ. There is nothing we could possibly have done then or do now. That original charge of dominion over the earth is up to us now to grab it. Christ did what no human could do! In this kingdom, the Kingdom of God, we have the responsibility back to take this inheritance. We have no excuses now. There is NOTHING separating you from God and grabbing his blessed inheritance except for you not taking it!! Just to give you an idea of this inheritance…it’s 7 BILLION!! That’s right, 7 billion hearts and lives for you to gain, the nations!

So, what is God’s point in all of this?! He’s looking for a partner! He’s looking for someone to love, and bless! His greatest expression of that is to share His inheritance with us! He wants us to live in Eden, without having to do anything to deserve it. He wants His bride (the church) to partner with Him (Christ)! So let’s go claim our inheritance, shall we!!

Always remember, if there was no need for salvation, there would be no need for a savior! What a blessed LOVE story we find ourselves wrapped up in! All we have to do is show up!!

Categories: 42nd Generation | Leave a comment

Catching Up With My Heart

Posted on July 23, 2011 by Matt

A reflection of my life would show a gradual pattern of maturing and growth in year-long increments ever since I stepped out those high school doors nearly 10 years ago. The past 8 years have been the wild and incredible journey it was only because I was on a search. I was searching for something that my heart was craving. When I graduated I had “the job”. I had a life figured out for what a 19 year-old would see as a stable life. But then again as most 19 year olds, I had no idea what I really wanted. I had the door so wide open that I ran into it, soon realizing the trap that it really was.

At age 19 I saw what a life of complacency was. It only took me 6 months to realize that even though I didn’t know what there is to know about life, I could easily get by and live a great life. The only thing that would be attractive in that scenario for me would be that I had control! As I looked at my life: just graduated from high school, had a plan for life, and was in a controlled and comfortable lifestyle….I saw something missing! That missing link was that I still wasn’t satisfied. The deep and intimate yearnings in my heart and soul were crying out, saying that there is something more. And so, for the next 8 years I would be battling those feelings and longings.

Once I quit my job and stepped out on my first personal pilgrimage through a local discipleship/missions program, I realized my yearning was to find my purpose in this life! I knew that God had a purpose for me. He had a plan for me. I took his word in Jeremiah to heart! It made sense why complacency was not a question for me. To be honest I still don’t understand the whole change that happened that one day at work when I realized I needed an adventure! I was just ready for something new, exciting, and personal. All my life I have felt that pressure to settle down and live life. Maybe it was some sort of unconsious rebellion or something that started it, I really don’t know.

I’ve been alot of places, met alot of people, and experienced alot of amazing things. I have seemed to go to the other end of the spectrum since that day. I’ve been living out of a backpack, have had very little financial freedom, and seem to be a guy doing great things that a God that the North American Church would be proud of. Being a man on a pursuit, my life has looked quite different from most people I’ve met in my life’s journey. “Stable” and “solid Christians” get their training and settle in wherever it is that their “call” happens to be. They then live their life. They’re content and living happily. And so, there has been a wrecking in my heart as that’s the message I’ve been told over and over again…“why don’t you settle down?” “Haven’t you found your calling yet?!

These questions have taken such a toll on me. Many lies have rooted from them….Why am I so uncommited? Why don’t I ‘get it’ like everyone else? Why am I so unsettled when everyone else is so content where they are?

In accomplishing the “requirements” of 6 months at the G42 Leadership Academy, I have finally found what I’ve been looking for! I have come away and found the peace that my heart has been desiring. My life is all starting to make sense now in that even though I’ve continually gone through the stages of being “a new man”, this is something much deeper as my mind has finally caught up to my heart now!! God has revealed to me the grand scale, big picture! My destiny as you will..I wouldn’t say every detail laid out, rather the simple call to be the hands and feet of Jesus to a blind, ignorant, and lost generation.

As I look at the picture I see how simple it actually is. Yet, in it’s simplicity there is something so grand in it. There is a big part of the story that is just for ME! My story…the “life of Matt”. The exciting thing is that you may have a slice of it as well if you choose to step into your own potential and search the heart of God for you’re own personal, intimate and unique calling!

As you peruse my blogsite you are able to dig up part of what this picture is starting to take shape as in my life through wilderness adventures, serving overseas, and speaking the Word of the Lord when he directs me. I believe that if you search hard enough, you will see what the Lord has in store for YOU as well,  just as I have been able to myself. What you read on this site is my story and walk so please take it for what it’s worth.

I want to encourage you to look past your mindset and you’re need to have everything under control and “orderly” as you believe life should be to make it through safe and secure. You will be blessed as you will undoubtedly start seeing the deeper layers of your heart and you’re life’s message and purpose! Truthfully we overcomplicate things so much that the simple purpose becomes tainted and overlooked by our very own eyes…but I think that so often we miss the mark as all God really wants is His children searching out His heart. And if you embark on the scary journey as I admit I am personally on, maybe your mind will catch up with your heart as well!!

Categories: 42nd Generation, The Call to BECOME | Leave a comment