Jesus gave us a command in Mt 28 to spread the Gospel–the Good News. Let’s start with Stanly County. Tell your friends to go to http://tinyurl.com/SCforJesus.
Let’s win Stanly County For Jesus Christ!
Do it in the Mighty name of Christ Jesus.
I have a friend, Jon Harris, that is going to be going on an 11-month mission trip to 11 different countries. The mission trip is called The World race. In his blog post “A little Broken, A little Blessed “, Jon expresses “I’m scared. I’m afraid. I don’t know if I will get what I need for the race…I cry to God to help me. But I hear no answer. I cry out in tears to Jesus. But no answer. Just peace, encouragement, or simply it will be ok is all I need.” Many times we are called by God to do something for His Kingdom, but then it feels like God steps away and is no longer with us. We feel like Jon does; we feel “scared that through everything I will be left here with nothing, still broken and scared. ALONE” We start to break down within our spirit.
It is in the lowest, darkness times of our life that God is preparing us to do something great! He has to humble us before we surrender everything to Him.
This is what I told Jon, but it goes for everyone of us–no matter what you are going through.
Jon,
Just remember that God said that He would never leave us or forsake us. He will provide our every need. All we have to do is TRUST. We have to trust Him. Trusting means not worrying and not trying to “fix” the situation. Trusting is surrendering yourself and all that you are to God. Total Abandonment! Trusting means not doubting God. When you start doubting God, you start putting limits on what God will do. When you fully rely on God, you place no limits on God, and He is free to move as He KNOWS is right. God is all powerful, and He can do anything that He wants; but humans can limit the work that God does by doubting God.
Lord, I pray for my brother Jon. Lord thank you for the work that you have called him to do abroad. Thank you for saving him and giving him a testimony to share with others. Lord, surround Jon with love and comfort. Give him peace within. Let Him know that “every little thing is going to be alright” just as the song by Delirious says. Lord protect his heart. Help Jon to focus on the work that You have called him to and not on the financial aspect. I pray for funds to flood in for support. I pray that you will take care of the funding, and I trust that you will. I have seen you do it; what is stopping You from doing it again? NOTHING! God I ask that You rise up in power! Cast out any doubt, fear, and brokenness. This I pray in the mighty name of Jesus! ~Amen
Jon, Just keep fighting the good fight. Do not back down. Go after God like never before. Do not let a moment in time go by without worshiping God in Spirit and in Truth for His awesomeness! Just keep the faith man!
-matthew
When God seems to be silent and not moving is when He is moving and working the most. The power of God come in the stillness!
Trust God through it all. Divorce, separation, death of a loved one, financial struggles…..nothing it too BIG for God my friend! Only trust Him. Only Trust Him!
Here is the song that I mentioned to Jon:
Every Little Thing
Everything must change
Theres a mirror
showing me the ugly truth
These bones they ache with holy fire
But Ive got nothing to give, just a life to live
If your world is without colour
I will carry you, if you carry meEvery little things gonna be alright
Every little things gonna be alright [x2]Theres no-one else to blame
I live my life between the fire and the flame
Ive built my house where the ocean meets the land
Its time to live again, pull my dreams out of the sandLet your world be full of colour
I will carry you, if you carry meWhen its all falling down on you
Youre crying out but youre breaking in two
When its all crashing down on you
When theres nothing you can do
There is someone who can carry you
God Bless you all!
-matthew
The third annual Stanly County PRAYS will be Jan. 24 beginning at 4 p.m. in the Stanly County Agri-Civic Center auditorium.
The purpose of the event is to bring the community together in a mindset of prayer as a way to address challenges faced by the entire community.
When the event first started in 2008, the goal was to pray for the drought the county was facing.
“There were between 600 and 800 people that came together to pray, and it is amazing to see how God has worked through that. The lakes and rivers within the county have not dried up but continue to flow,” said The Rev. Keith Allen, pastor of Norwood Church of God.
“This year, we’re facing a different kind of drought. So many, even within Stanly County, are being hit hard by the economic crisis the nation is facing, and we hope to see God move in a similar way with a similar response.”
This year, the event will include scripture readings, testimonials, praise and worship songs, as well as traditional hymns. It is a free event that is open to any and everyone.
“There are no restrictions as far as who can attend. It doesn’t matter your cultural background, your ethnicity, your denomination or if you’re a Christian. This is a time for everyone to come together to pray for the needs of the community,” Allen said.
Several churches within the county have partnered with the Stanly County YMCA to sponsor the event. A donation will be collected at the end of the service, the proceeds for which will be given to local charities such as the Stanly Community Christian Ministry, the Pregnancy Resource Center and others.
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Can a movie change the world? No, but it can move the people who will.
To Save A Life is more than a movie. It’s the difference people can make when they use their influence and time for others — whether in their family, neighborhood, campus, community or world. To Save A Life dares — no, inspires — people to care.
To Save A Life is an indie movie about the real-life challenges of teens and the choices they face.
Ever since Jake Taylor was a kid, he was the type of guy you couldn’t help but like. For Jake, life is good. He has a ton of friends, a basketball scholarship, a hot girlfriend and a really bright future. Not much to get down about, right?
Enter Roger Dawson. He was Jake’s childhood best friend before Jake’s growing popularity pushed him out. Tired of not fitting in and having a place to belong, Roger walks onto campus and, with a gun in his pocket and pain in his heart, makes a tragic move.
Jake is devastated by what Roger has done, and something in him changes. In seeking answers in his own life, one question plagues him the most: Could I have saved him? He finds himself deeply compelled to reach out to kids on the fringe – kids who aren’t viewed as cool enough. But this decision among other things, threatens Jake’s world. He may lose his friends, his scholarship and even his reputation by asking “What do I want my life to be about?”
In select theaters nationwide January 22, 2010
© 2010 To Save A Life, New Song Pictures. All Rights Reserved.
My fiancée Paige just posted her first blog post on her blog last night. Check it out: click here.
If you would like to subscribe to her blog, enter your email address on the right side of the page, and follow the directions. Every time she posts a new blog, an email will be sent right to you with the blog post.
God bless,
-Matthew
True worship is abandoning the things of this world and not relying on material things and surrendering our lives to God and His perfect Will.
It is only when we live by the Will of God and not our own that we can find peace in the midst of all of the chaos.
Below is a great song called “What If His People Prayed” by Casting Crowns.
What if the armies of the Lord
Picked up and dusted off their swords
Vowed to set the captive free
And not let satan have one more
What if the Church, for heaven’s sake
Finally stepped up to the plate
Took a stand upon God’s promise
And stormed hell’s rusty gatesChorus I:
What if His people prayed
And those who bear His name
Would humbly seek His faith, yeah
And turn from their old waysAnd what would happen if we prayed
For those raised up to lead the way
Then maybe kids in school could pray
And unborn children see light of dayWhat if the life that we pursue
Came from a hunger for the truth
What if the family turned to Jesus
Stopped asking Oprah what to doChorus I:
What if His people prayed
And those who bear His name
Would humbly seek His face yeah
And turn from their own way
Chorus II:
He said that He would hear
His promise has been made
He’ll answer loud and clear, yeah
If only we would prayBridge:
If My people called by My name
If they’ll humble themselves and pray
If My people called by My name
If they’ll humble themselves and prayChoruses:
What if His people prayed
And those who bear His name
Would humbly seek His face, yeah
And turn from their old ways
He said that He would hear
His promise has been made
He’ll answer loud and clear yeah
If only we would pray
Many times we all look to someone besides God. We may look to ourselves, family, friends, or even Oprah. We need to “seek first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness” [Matthew 6:33]. Prayer is an important factor in living a Godly life. It is the very connection between the created and the Creator Almighty God.
Let’s draw near to God in this new year and ask what He would have us do. He will never forsake you. Only trust and obey. It is that simple. Do not let your fleshly desires get in the way; when that happens you start to limit what God can do. Seek only His will and that is when God has no limit!
This is an amazing mystery how this ice went upward on the trees from a creek off Rt 27W/Paul Heavner Road in Vale, NC. The ice goes up about 20-30 feet. It is unique and there is no other ice or snow around the area.
Now if God is not awesome!
