tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58089890548929345042024-03-20T22:23:42.053-04:00His Path, DailyPersonal blog on my Christian faith and journey. Check out our full site at https://hispathdaily.com for more resources and information!Matthew Gasperonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492467760748615196noreply@blogger.comBlogger408125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5808989054892934504.post-9273753350464481702024-03-16T18:41:00.004-04:002024-03-16T18:41:34.640-04:00Preparing our Heart<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj6n-VTmwUajUtzttX2QaqtYwY9RVbEvWCw0D0RDtAzmcxwFrbM8Fek9HWoXDehWANz-TSv7wjjGfYrcOT9fdze-Av50LD__tJ_qbxxC7vfGytf8VXZSFe4f8jwPte7hszXRKE3B9mdxq58UIhCqlvCHdaJY_xjgUINtHpjvfMbTDkDeaTlS3FacaaytWQ" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="448" data-original-width="750" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj6n-VTmwUajUtzttX2QaqtYwY9RVbEvWCw0D0RDtAzmcxwFrbM8Fek9HWoXDehWANz-TSv7wjjGfYrcOT9fdze-Av50LD__tJ_qbxxC7vfGytf8VXZSFe4f8jwPte7hszXRKE3B9mdxq58UIhCqlvCHdaJY_xjgUINtHpjvfMbTDkDeaTlS3FacaaytWQ=w400-h239" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"The Arrogance of Rehoboam"<br />Hans Holbein the Younger</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Reading through the kings of Israel can be a rollercoaster of highs and lows with how they were regarded as godly (or godless) leaders. In fact, many positives and "highs" are still tainted with sin.<p></p><p>Some, like Rehoboam, not much good is to be said. In fact, when we read 2 Chronicles 12:14, we read: "And he did evil because he did not <b>prepare his heart</b> to seek the LORD."</p><p><i>... did not prepare his heart to seek the LORD ...</i></p><p>In other translations like ESV, we see "set his heart," but I find the King James (and NKJV) striking here as it is more clear about action, and not just direction.</p><p>Yet, what does this practically look like?</p><p>Later, we see another story, one of Jehoshaphat. Here is an example of those highs mixed with lows. While we could get into those stories, I just want to draw our attention to 2 Chronicles 19:3, again in NKJV:</p><p>“Nevertheless, good things are found in you, in that you have removed the wooden images from the land and have <b>prepared your heart </b>to seek God.”</p><p>What was this preparing?</p><p>Tearing down of idols, <b>repenting </b>from sin...</p><p>Is that really a surprise though, as this is the consistent message throughout Scripture, as even the first words of Jesus recorded during his ministry were to "repent."</p><p>Contrary to the often incomplete gospel message of the day, while God/Jesus is indeed loving, He still commands (and demands) that we first repent as our first step to prepare to receive the Gospel. We all have sinned and fallen short of the life that God has commanded us to live, yet in His mercy and grace, forgiveness is offered, but we must turn away, repent, and thus "prepare our heart" to receive Him; otherwise, we are hoping in a false gospel that will never save us.</p><p>... yet even as saved Christians, we must live a life of ongoing preparing and repenting on this pilgrimage here on earth. It is laborious but glorious!</p><p>Prepare your heart...</p><p>His, Matthew</p>Matthew Gasperonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492467760748615196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5808989054892934504.post-48065308300972569022023-10-08T20:48:00.000-04:002023-10-08T20:48:01.086-04:00Lessons Learned<p>As we sat down to begin reading through Deuteronomy as a family today, I was reminded yet again by the importance of seeing Scripture as a mirror, not just a portrait of others. It's easy to miss the lessons and guidance that God is trying to impart to us if we don't take the time to reflect.</p><p>In particular, today's reading from the first chapter reminded me to look back on my past experiences.</p><p>As Moses was preparing the Israelites to enter the promised land, He spent time reminding them of their past sins and charging them not to repeat them.</p><p>We too should take heed and not let our failures and lessons from the past to go to waste. This doesn't mean dwelling on our mistakes or shortcomings, but rather using them as an opportunity to learn and grow.</p><p>So today I encourage you to take a moment to reflect as well. May we repent from our sins, learn, and thank God for His forgiveness.</p><p>Moses was but a shadow of the one true leader, Christ Jesus, who leads us into a new and eternal promised land. May we seek His wisdom and guidance, learn from our past experiences, and walk confidently as pilgrims on our way home to our final promised land. May we stay close and true, so we can arrive in safety ... </p><blockquote><p>"The Lord has been pleased to prescribe to us a rule of life, in which we ought to test our own dispositions, and examine our own consciences, in order that we may thereby be stimulated to repentance, and may learn to fear his judgment." - John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, Book 2, Chapter 8, Section 2.</p></blockquote>Matthew Gasperonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492467760748615196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5808989054892934504.post-62511070393542011122023-09-30T21:36:00.000-04:002023-09-30T21:36:59.035-04:00Promises in Ezekiel<p> In the book of Ezekiel, there's a recurring theme where God warns about impending judgment against His enemies, emphasizing that when it eventually happens, "they will know I am the LORD."</p><p><br /></p><p>Then in chapter 34, there are beautiful passages about God seeking out His people and promising a covenant of peace, which seems to be a dual promise related to the upcoming Messiah.</p><p><br /></p><p>Amidst this, hidden in verse 27, we see a very different “they shall know that I am the LORD” </p><p><br /></p><blockquote><p>“And the trees of the field shall yield their fruit, and the earth shall yield its increase, and they shall be secure in their land. And they shall know that I am the LORD, when I break the bars of their yoke, and deliver them from the hand of those who enslaved them.”</p></blockquote><p><br /></p><p>This verse to me is a powerful reminder of how God can simultaneously convey both wrath and love - as His wrath is just, and His love is unwavering.</p><p><br /></p><p>May we show ourselves to be true to our profession of faith as we persevere to the end, and see the power and justice of God as our freedom from sin becomes complete, and we rest in His perfect peace eternally … </p>Matthew Gasperonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492467760748615196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5808989054892934504.post-74154882185452078182023-09-06T18:45:00.005-04:002023-09-06T18:45:48.965-04:00Saved by Grace<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ9RSZ8g_MInnB65AWlNdS_DBh8GfmNl-4pj8CDvD6fdcLc2hy1aCtEXHJCT8Pck9LMKO-ejO69XoKKD3X8SV-hE3h8QnN9GvqEQYnEUQnf1O3_JZRTaO6ZhHlCzFL3pcLuDuAPrrvaAcTM6Sw_0az13wTBSBl0tx9VvPB_rOB6D1MIhEqNl-9L_O1m-A/s2645/_F3A4009b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1764" data-original-width="2645" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ9RSZ8g_MInnB65AWlNdS_DBh8GfmNl-4pj8CDvD6fdcLc2hy1aCtEXHJCT8Pck9LMKO-ejO69XoKKD3X8SV-hE3h8QnN9GvqEQYnEUQnf1O3_JZRTaO6ZhHlCzFL3pcLuDuAPrrvaAcTM6Sw_0az13wTBSBl0tx9VvPB_rOB6D1MIhEqNl-9L_O1m-A/w400-h266/_F3A4009b.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />It is ironic that despite my clear understanding that I am saved by grace, and not by my works, I still find myself striving in my own strength and the ways of the first Adam, rather than resting in Christ. Lord, please continue to show mercy to me a sinner, in constant need of Your grace.<div><br /></div><div>His,</div><div>~Matthew</div>Matthew Gasperonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492467760748615196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5808989054892934504.post-92137179979917687942023-09-04T10:35:00.000-04:002023-09-04T10:35:00.719-04:00Yet Not I But Through Christ in meIsaiah 26:7 states, "The path of the righteous is level; you make level the way of the righteous." In a life that can sometimes feel uneven, the promise of a level path is comforting and appealing. Thus, we might assume that we must be righteous to have this "level path," right?<br /><br />This verse is an excellent example of why we must see Christ in all of His word, not just in the New Testament. As John 1:1 states, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."<br /><br />It is easy for our minds to focus on striving towards our own sanctification and living a life of practical holiness in an attempt to become righteous enough to have a more level path. However, we can never be righteous apart from Christ because He is our righteousness.<br /><br />Let us focus on Him, trust Him, submit to Him as Lord and Savior, and His perfect righteousness, which we never deserved, will be ours.<br /><br />Although our path may not always be as level as we desire (although I do believe that God blesses obedience even here on earth when He wants to), there is a "level" path that leads to abiding in Christ and to Glory.<br /><br />That is level enough for me.<br /><br />His, ~Matt<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hwc2d1Xt8gM" width="320" youtube-src-id="hwc2d1Xt8gM"></iframe></div><br /><p><br /></p>Matthew Gasperonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492467760748615196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5808989054892934504.post-6187366244800142642023-07-24T20:30:00.001-04:002023-07-24T20:30:06.876-04:00Leading Others<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9CAf_2X--H1U23uE9i_zP_wdD7qG_hmjw365qs0zvGh0MjoPDQ2L_xM4bc55BoCh15G4q4GB9DjMiEsxhwHwzQ0ac-g_sL6Kv2r_9q5MXC-BQ0x7ypPhwm9219xr5nJpltRy2_zbcrWB2UJ7t68tuBHy572DZF2xkZfbB-9u3_bVq-X1kNEm7X-uK98c/s720/56862382_10218813792640348_6212217903542960128_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="720" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9CAf_2X--H1U23uE9i_zP_wdD7qG_hmjw365qs0zvGh0MjoPDQ2L_xM4bc55BoCh15G4q4GB9DjMiEsxhwHwzQ0ac-g_sL6Kv2r_9q5MXC-BQ0x7ypPhwm9219xr5nJpltRy2_zbcrWB2UJ7t68tuBHy572DZF2xkZfbB-9u3_bVq-X1kNEm7X-uK98c/w400-h300/56862382_10218813792640348_6212217903542960128_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />This picture always makes me smile! One of my daughters loves dance, and ballet in particular. My youngest decided she wanted to learn from her, and while the love and joy is easily captured in this picture, so are their different "styles"!<p></p><p>While a simple and minor example, it was a reminder to me of the importance to lead well. We can't be sure that when we lead, everyone will follow ...</p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>... but some will.</i></span></p><p>Many are leaders in this world (home, businesses, churches, etc.) yet many are leaders that don't even know it, and others are following us.</p><p>Jeroboam was a leader too, in Israel, and he knew it! Yet his legacy is one of the most tragic of them all. <b>He made Israel sin.</b></p><p></p><blockquote>And he will give Israel up because of the sins of Jeroboam, which he sinned <i>and made Israel to sin</i>.” (1 Kings 14:16 )</blockquote><p></p><p>In fact, we read in Mark a stark warning about leading others into sin ...</p><p></p><blockquote>“Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea. (Mark 9:42)</blockquote><p></p><p>It is one thing for the "blind to lead the blind", but for those that profess Christ, may we bring glory to Christ by walking in the Light as He is Light. (1 John 1:7)</p><p>Lead like others are watching, because they are ... </p><p>His,<br />~Matt</p>Matthew Gasperonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492467760748615196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5808989054892934504.post-42422632692375375882023-07-23T16:30:00.001-04:002023-07-23T16:30:36.074-04:00What is my Foundation?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>My hope is built on nothing less</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>than Jesus' blood and righteousness;</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>I dare not trust the sweetest frame,</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>but wholly lean on Jesus' name.</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>On Christ, the solid rock, I stand</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>all other ground is sinking sand</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i>My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i>Edward Mole (1834)</i></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjadS_ZvvHjs6Nsg8B1JyZFk2WPYwliP9j3fJYxG-7192vfCyu8kFZ3yzAcz_GmecZIojRxWsfj_C27S_PkqO3zdUHBIV-CSFwimgGD6m59DjZj15Lmta9IVhIkSQYf8VZ5brvGAV1wS_eiyCYY54Ckp3tp20A6COa7s101lavTghbstgqoWyHEYBEtEpM/s2048/299747640_10228035323492856_6567264274020192518_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjadS_ZvvHjs6Nsg8B1JyZFk2WPYwliP9j3fJYxG-7192vfCyu8kFZ3yzAcz_GmecZIojRxWsfj_C27S_PkqO3zdUHBIV-CSFwimgGD6m59DjZj15Lmta9IVhIkSQYf8VZ5brvGAV1wS_eiyCYY54Ckp3tp20A6COa7s101lavTghbstgqoWyHEYBEtEpM/w300-h400/299747640_10228035323492856_6567264274020192518_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p>Sitting under the preaching of Isaiah at church, we have now been going through the oracles against the nations for the last several weeks. We see so clearly the repercussions (and emptiness) of putting our hope in anything or anyone other than God. When being asked today "What is your foundation?" I was compelled to take inventory ... </p><p>There is nothing wrong with answering (and frankly as believers I hope we can often answer): "The storms blow, but I feel my feet firmly on the Rock."</p><p>Much has been going on in my life ... and while I know without a doubt my feet are on the Rock (as He placed me there) I do feel as though I've left the windows open, the moonroof on my car open, and even the garage open, as I sit inside on my wet couch watching my lawn chairs get blown around ... !</p><p>In a storm, when you shut the windows as the winds begin to roar, the silence itself gives us a sense of protection. It reminds us that while a storm rages outside, you are safe inside. So too is what we have in Christ ...</p><p></p><blockquote>Hebrews 4:16 - Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.</blockquote><p></p><p>So as I saw my lawn chairs blowing around, I realized that in my desire for control and self-sufficiency (things that always seem to creep back in) my eyes and hope were shifting away from my only true Deliverer. So I drew near to the Throne of Grace ... </p><p>Even with my rain soaked house, sitting with the LORD in quiet reflection, prayer, writing this very journal entry, and meditation on His Word, His sovereign care seems to have simply closed the windows and dried my wet home. The storms are still there, but I can take a deep breath in His loving protection as I watch the storms from the safety of my Shelter ... </p><p>Always keep checking your windows ... </p><p>His,<br />~Matt</p><p><i>The picture of the cave you see? It's not quite a cave actually - it's only about the side of my fist! My daughter dug a tunnel on the beach, and when placing my phone inside to take a picture, it revealed a much different perspective! One that may seem beautiful, interesting, larger than it is, and perhaps even somewhat solid - but a single wave destroyed this as if it never existed. Choose your Foundation well.</i></p><p><br /></p>Matthew Gasperonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492467760748615196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5808989054892934504.post-5942664859714207792023-05-18T20:12:00.006-04:002023-05-18T20:14:29.023-04:00The Names of God<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmnYQb6uHWn-5dPqJGblX1slzUF7qLLZ1T4srpiZx9jMqWcLKoNG2ymAkRchVJRJx8tCuQgxdIYyfSKScvFDR4qljA0saVvOgWmd81e20HtCSjTZce8rYGbbpzMWqXELz1ruCz-1kG9_RcTTbTkxPtcOkeBJ0Vx2yUzQR7-eKgrSiXtEP4LOShuqFu/s2048/274917569_10227113070677112_8714689861346501890_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1150" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmnYQb6uHWn-5dPqJGblX1slzUF7qLLZ1T4srpiZx9jMqWcLKoNG2ymAkRchVJRJx8tCuQgxdIYyfSKScvFDR4qljA0saVvOgWmd81e20HtCSjTZce8rYGbbpzMWqXELz1ruCz-1kG9_RcTTbTkxPtcOkeBJ0Vx2yUzQR7-eKgrSiXtEP4LOShuqFu/w400-h225/274917569_10227113070677112_8714689861346501890_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><div>The study of the Names of God in the Bible has always been a refreshing endeavor. Recently, I decided to utilize the increasingly popular ChatGPT to generate a list of the 50 most referenced names of God in Scripture, and it did a commendable job!</div><div><br /></div><div>As I printed out this list and began reading through the Names in succession, my interest quickly transformed into inspiration. With each subsequent reading of the Bible, these names resonate with me more profoundly, striking a deep chord within.</div><div><br /></div><div>Therefore, I felt compelled to share this simple and organized list (courtesy of ChatGPT) for a couple reasons, and perhaps even more based on your own reflections:</div><div><br /></div><div>1) If you are a newer Christian, unfamiliar with God's Word, or simply seeking to deepen your understanding of God, I encourage you to read through these names and explore the accompanying references. Immerse yourself in this astonishing Truth!</div><div><br /></div><div>2) For those who are already acquainted with these Names, I invite you to take a moment and slowly meditate on them, allowing your mind and heart to journey to the specific instances where these names are revealed in Scripture. May the Holy Spirit use this time of meditation to illuminate, uplift, and perhaps even convict you. Let His Name mold you into the likeness of the Name above all Names, Jesus Christ.</div></div><div><br /></div><div><div>Here are 50 names and titles of God in the Bible, their meanings, and corresponding references:</div><div><br /></div><div>1. Yahweh (or Jehovah): The self-existing One, "I Am who I Am."</div><div> - Exodus 3:14-15; Psalm 83:18; Isaiah 42:8</div><div><br /></div><div>2. Elohim: The strong and mighty God, Creator of the universe.</div><div> - Genesis 1:1; Psalm 19:1; Isaiah 40:28</div><div><br /></div><div>3. Adonai: The Lord, Master, and Owner of all.</div><div> - Psalm 110:1; Isaiah 6:1; Malachi 3:1</div><div><br /></div><div>4. El Shaddai: God Almighty, the All-Sufficient One.</div><div> - Genesis 17:1; Exodus 6:3; Job 5:17</div><div><br /></div><div>5. El Elyon: The Most High God, the exalted and sovereign One.</div><div> - Genesis 14:18-22; Psalm 57:2; Daniel 4:34-35</div><div><br /></div><div>6. Jehovah Jireh: The Lord will provide.</div><div> - Genesis 22:14</div><div><br /></div><div>7. Jehovah Rapha: The Lord who heals.</div><div> - Exodus 15:26; Psalm 103:3; Isaiah 53:5</div><div><br /></div><div>8. Jehovah Nissi: The Lord is my banner, my victory.</div><div> - Exodus 17:15</div><div><br /></div><div>9. Jehovah Shalom: The Lord is peace.</div><div> - Judges 6:24</div><div><br /></div><div>10. Jehovah Rohi: The Lord is my shepherd, who guides and cares for His people.</div><div> - Psalm 23:1; Ezekiel 34:11-16</div><div><br /></div><div>11. Jehovah Tsidkenu: The Lord our righteousness.</div><div> - Jeremiah 23:6; 1 Corinthians 1:30</div><div><br /></div><div>12. Jehovah Shammah: The Lord is present.</div><div> - Ezekiel 48:35</div><div><br /></div><div>13. Jehovah Sabaoth: The Lord of hosts, the God of armies.</div><div> - 1 Samuel 1:3; Isaiah 6:3</div><div><br /></div><div>14. El Olam: The Everlasting God, the eternal One.</div><div> - Genesis 21:33; Psalm 90:1-2</div><div><br /></div><div>15. Abba Father: A term of endearment meaning "Father," indicating a close and intimate relationship.</div><div> - Romans 8:15; Galatians 4:6</div><div><br /></div><div>16. Ancient of Days: The eternal and ageless One.</div><div> - Daniel 7:9, 13, 22</div><div><br /></div><div>17. Father of Lights: The source of all good and perfect gifts.</div><div> - James 1:17</div><div><br /></div><div>18. I Am: Signifying God's eternal and unchanging nature.</div><div> - Exodus 3:14; John 8:58</div><div><br /></div><div>19. Rock of Ages: A firm and unchanging foundation.</div><div> - Isaiah 26:4</div><div><br /></div><div>20. Holy One of Israel: Emphasizing God's holiness and His covenant relationship with Israel.</div><div> - Isaiah 1:4; Psalm 71:22</div><div><br /></div><div>21. King of Kings: The ruler and sovereign over all earthly kings and kingdoms.</div><div> - 1 Timothy 6:15; Revelation 17:14</div><div><br /></div><div>22. Lord of Lords: The supreme authority over all lords and rulers.</div><div> - 1 Timothy 6:15; Revelation 19:16</div><div><br /></div><div>23. Alpha and Omega: The beginning and the end, the first and the last.</div><div> - Revelation 1:8; 21:6; 22:13</div><div><br /></div><div>24. The Word: The divine expression and revelation of God.</div><div> - John 1:1; Revelation 19:13</div><div><br /></div><div>25. The Truth: The embodiment and source of all truth.</div><div> - John 14:6</div><div><br /></div><div>26. The Way: The path and means of salvation and access to God.</div><div> - John 14:6</div><div><br /></div><div>27. The Life: The source and sustainer of all life.</div><div> - John 14:6; 1 John 5:20</div><div><br /></div><div>28. The Good Shepherd: The caring and guiding protector of His flock.</div><div> - John 10:11, 14</div><div><br /></div><div>29. The Lamb of God: The sacrificial Lamb who takes away the sins of the world.</div><div> - John 1:29; Revelation 5:6</div><div><br /></div><div>30. The Bread of Life: The spiritual sustenance and nourishment for our souls.</div><div> - John 6:35</div><div><br /></div><div>31. The Light of the World: The illuminator of truth and the dispeller of darkness.</div><div> - John 8:12</div><div><br /></div><div>32. The Resurrection and the Life: The source of eternal life and victory over death.</div><div> - John 11:25</div><div><br /></div><div>33. The Vine: The source of spiritual nourishment and vitality for believers.</div><div> - John 15:1</div><div><br /></div><div>34. The Door: The entrance to salvation and a relationship with God.</div><div> - John 10:9</div><div><br /></div><div>35. The High Priest: The mediator between God and humanity, who intercedes on our behalf.</div><div> - Hebrews 4:14</div><div><br /></div><div>36. The Advocate: The defender and counselor who speaks on behalf of believers.</div><div> - 1 John 2:1</div><div><br /></div><div>37. The Redeemer: The one who buys back and delivers from bondage.</div><div> - Job 19:25; Isaiah 59:20</div><div><br /></div><div>38. The Comforter: The Holy Spirit, who provides comfort, guidance, and strength.</div><div> - John 14:26</div><div><br /></div><div>39. The Prince of Peace: The giver of true peace and reconciliation.</div><div> - Isaiah 9:6</div><div><br /></div><div>40. The Everlasting Father: The eternal and caring Father who loves and nurtures His children.</div><div> - Isaiah 9:6</div><div><br /></div><div>41. The Mighty One: The all-powerful and mighty God.</div><div> - Isaiah 60:16</div><div><br /></div><div>42. The Judge: The righteous and just Judge of all the earth.</div><div> - Psalm 50:6; James 4:12</div><div><br /></div><div>43. The Potter: The divine craftsman who molds and shapes our lives.</div><div> - Isaiah 64:8; Jeremiah 18:6</div><div><br /></div><div>44. The Husband: The loving and faithful Husband who establishes a covenant relationship with His people.</div><div> - Isaiah 54:5; Hosea 2:16</div><div><br /></div><div>45. The Lion of the Tribe of Judah: The conquering and victorious Lion.</div><div> - Revelation 5:5</div><div><br /></div><div>46. The Cornerstone: The foundational stone upon which everything is built.</div><div> - Psalm 118:22; Ephesians 2:20</div><div><br /></div><div>47. The Shepherd and Overseer of Souls: The caring Shepherd who watches over and guides our souls.</div><div> - 1 Peter 2:25</div><div><br /></div><div>48. The Suffering Servant: The Messiah who willingly suffered for the redemption of humanity.</div><div> - Isaiah 53:3-5</div><div><br /></div><div>49. The Author and Finisher of our Faith: The originator and perfecter of our faith.</div><div> - Hebrews 12:2</div><div><br /></div><div>50. The Great I Am: The eternal and self-existing God.</div><div> - John 8:58; Exodus 3:14</div><div><br /></div><div>May these names and titles help remind you of the different aspects of God's character, nature, and relationship with His creation. May exploring these names deepen your understanding and reverence for Him.</div></div><div><br /></div><div>His,</div><div>~Matthew</div>Matthew Gasperonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492467760748615196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5808989054892934504.post-48189291108801566952023-02-25T09:33:00.001-05:002023-02-25T09:33:15.070-05:00Obedience to Fortune<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIXpCwHpIe24SWx2zHs8--zghJUsy67otoQkpX3sc2l2InE2AQfCUR7SDuXhuEmj7GRcmjPuZQ2hfPK_o4rfokUJ0Zy7YE0hQyLqrzyehCycx3LKnpWyFwH4R5gghbQ3uuStlNt8vgpmSS9eTIYdWVqUqNDw1b2Ede1ZGWqIIC0N-H_ohOpl0yjzJG/s1772/83130178_10221134187848778_3617014379137990656_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1472" data-original-width="1772" height="333" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIXpCwHpIe24SWx2zHs8--zghJUsy67otoQkpX3sc2l2InE2AQfCUR7SDuXhuEmj7GRcmjPuZQ2hfPK_o4rfokUJ0Zy7YE0hQyLqrzyehCycx3LKnpWyFwH4R5gghbQ3uuStlNt8vgpmSS9eTIYdWVqUqNDw1b2Ede1ZGWqIIC0N-H_ohOpl0yjzJG/w400-h333/83130178_10221134187848778_3617014379137990656_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>Reading through Numbers I got to a well known story starting in Chapter 22; the story of Balaam, who was commissioned (paid) by Balak to curse God's people in hopes to be rid of them. One of the earlier passages really perplexed me for a while (and no, it wasn't about the talking donkey - that one actually doesn't really perplex me - but that's for another post!), it was an earlier passage - and I'll explain (hopefully shortly) - but first the passage:</p><p></p><blockquote><p><i>God said to Balaam, “You shall not go with them. You shall not curse the people, for they are blessed.” So Balaam rose in the morning and said to the princes of Balak, “Go to your own land, for the LORD has refused to let me go with you.” So the princes of Moab rose and went to Balak and said, “Balaam refuses to come with us.”</i></p><p><i>Once again Balak sent princes, more in number and more honorable than these. And they came to Balaam and said to him, “Thus says Balak the son of Zippor: ‘Let nothing hinder you from coming to me, for I will surely do you great honor, and whatever you say to me I will do. Come, curse this people for me.’” But Balaam answered and said to the servants of Balak, “Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the command of the LORD my God to do less or more. So you, too, please stay here tonight, that I may know what more the LORD will say to me.” And God came to Balaam at night and said to him, “If the men have come to call you, rise, go with them; but only do what I tell you.” So Balaam rose in the morning and saddled his donkey and went with the princes of Moab. (Numbers 22:12–21 ESV)</i></p></blockquote><p></p><p>The reason this perplexed me is because shortly after this, God heavily rebuked Balaam for going ... in fact right after this passage we read: "But God’s anger was kindled because he went..."</p><p>But didn't God just tell him to go? Didn't Balaam seem to want to honor God with his decision? Well, it seems not really ... </p><p>Later passages (even outside Numbers) reveal the heart of Balaam (i.e. 2 Peter 2:15, Joshua 13:22) ... essentially a 'hired diviner' seeking gain from sin. Yet even with this knowledge I wanted (and struggled) to see what went wrong in this moment for Balaam. I understand he wasn't on the right side, but in "this" passage - what happened?</p><p>The answer is simple - and reveals how little we know of sin, obedience, and the holiness of God. Maybe this stands out to you (like it does to me now) very clearly - and that is a wonderful thing!</p><p><b>God did not tell him to go.</b></p><p>But He did you may say!</p><p>No, He let him go after he asked a second time - and was going to use this blunder for His glory regardless - but the exchange goes like this:</p><p><i>Balaam Asked.<br />God said No.<br /><b>(Something Happened)</b><br />Balaam Asked Again.</i></p><p>What was that something?</p><p>Well - look at the Text. Balak sent more princes (both in number and honor) and I'm sure some nice loot to go along with this 2nd plea for help as well. To which Balaam responds ... "Hmm ... well ... God did say no ... but ... let me check again to REALLY make sure He meant no."</p><p>Why did he bother even asking again? This was not because of a revelation from God, not because some prophet came to speak to him, not because of some internal conviction by the Spirit ... no ... because an internal conviction of greed - more honor and bling showed up.</p><p>Earlier I mentioned that this reveals how little we know of true holiness and true obedience to God ... at least for me. We can read past this so many times, and should simply be stopped in our tracks and think to ourselves "Balaam, God said no. Full stop. You don't need to ask again!"</p><p>Now, for those of us that understand this (now or always) when reading this passage, what does that mean for us today?</p><p>I may not be a medium, or a diviner of other gods, or seeking money to make off God - but I still know unfortunately what it means to not walk in full obedience to God. We may not have direct revelation of God, but we have His enduring Word to read and follow.</p><p>May this be a reminder for us how easy it is to walk in weak faith, not trusting the things that God clearly has spoken in His Word. May we cling to His promises (and His commands!) repenting from our sin, and resting in the freedom of forgiveness through Christ Alone. May we always be found striving to walk in obedience and not trying to resist the Holy Spirit as He sanctifies us during this journey.</p><p>Be well church!</p><p>His,<br />~Matthew</p>Matthew Gasperonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492467760748615196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5808989054892934504.post-63674950812057526912023-02-22T16:51:00.000-05:002023-02-22T16:51:01.670-05:00Standards<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9F1_5hIYaUVTL5FDjOl_azWZ-Cc1_7PF8caSsnT3D13vOKokAM9th4mbhRpm0myF__0ymaZLIkRq6sFp-pwP-2Z65_E1H117EpTWiXceRJ7iOoK5RVGdGIVYjH0Flz-ecIcCs4wwXszjQxvdAwwL41SgMJDivbT7LtURpXK1CltyjlCIHTMONrh9C/s2048/1956741_10203336150308963_66003082_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1366" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9F1_5hIYaUVTL5FDjOl_azWZ-Cc1_7PF8caSsnT3D13vOKokAM9th4mbhRpm0myF__0ymaZLIkRq6sFp-pwP-2Z65_E1H117EpTWiXceRJ7iOoK5RVGdGIVYjH0Flz-ecIcCs4wwXszjQxvdAwwL41SgMJDivbT7LtURpXK1CltyjlCIHTMONrh9C/w400-h266/1956741_10203336150308963_66003082_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><i></i></p><blockquote><i>Thus did the people of Israel. According to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so they camped by their standards, and so they set out, each one in his clan, according to his fathers’ house. (Numbers 2:34 ESV)</i></blockquote><p></p><p>It has always been striking to me to imagine God's redeemed people, marching with standards identifying them to their lineage - and not a geopolitical group. Sure, it is true, that this was set before God warned (and then instituted) their first king - and at that time they were indeed wanting a human to lead and rule over them to be "just like all the other nations" (1 Samuel 8:19-20)</p><p>Today, even with well-meaning Christians, I often see nationalism held at a dangerously high standard. Sure, many will say that this is not their heart, and that they are just engaging in politics and being a voice for Christianity, religious freedom, and morality. These things are good - and we should be engaged - but all too often I don't see scales balanced when I observe from the outside.</p><p>I was also struck today chatting with my daughter this morning on reflections even later in the book of Numbers - speaking of being called to equip and fight (and not be ones choosing comfort, when we should be at war). Reminded me of 2 Samuel 11:1, when David was "at home" while his nation was at war (which lead to an incident with a woman, Bathsheba, that lead to vile sin of adultery and murder).</p><p>So I just ask ... of myself as well ... when we "march on" and "raise our banners" ... who's banner are we truly raising? Who's war are we truly fighting? A war of pride, nationalism, comfort, flesh and blood ... or are we trying to reach and save the lost?</p><p>If we truly believe that human souls are marching into hell by droves, should that not take priority? Is not the great commission from our LORD Himself to make disciples? (Mt. 28:19-20)</p><p><i></i></p><blockquote><i>Go therefore and <b>make disciples</b> of all nations, <b>baptizing them</b> in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, <b>teaching them to observe all that I have commanded</b> you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19–20 ESV)</i></blockquote><p></p><p>The front lines seem to be holding fast to Truth (not as defined by culture, but as defined by the very Word of God revealed in Scripture) so that we can accurately teach them what was commanded. Then of course discipling them - in hopes that God will regenerate their hearts, turn them to repentance, and see the joy of them publicly declaring themselves to be His in baptism.</p><p>What does this result in? What is our purpose and reward? I think WSC#1 defines it well ... </p><p></p><blockquote><i>Q. What is the chief end of man?<br />A. Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.<br />(Westminster Shorter Catechism, Question 1)</i></blockquote><p> Keep marching on Christian - but let us make sure we are marching to the right Standard ...</p><p>His,<br />~Matthew</p><p></p>Matthew Gasperonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492467760748615196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5808989054892934504.post-68517045166957501912023-02-21T12:59:00.004-05:002023-02-21T12:59:56.578-05:00Seeing the End<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWXxAbLzPw8qcs6aSGEJWE_AFyCph8oyJCGF8KhwqDhKKXExJDY0SoRHEkuyv4Fp_5NJoRa6EYKWsBw-DcJkV_wR_6texL9_J7-67u_1F6NqsVGvCx-5hlX4bxsU0urJt7HNdgA9NFMEqEhCnlYfECz8qvaEQ5u33OHJMO6dqOXLGUvF4N3Fug1bvt/s1600/IMG_1161.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWXxAbLzPw8qcs6aSGEJWE_AFyCph8oyJCGF8KhwqDhKKXExJDY0SoRHEkuyv4Fp_5NJoRa6EYKWsBw-DcJkV_wR_6texL9_J7-67u_1F6NqsVGvCx-5hlX4bxsU0urJt7HNdgA9NFMEqEhCnlYfECz8qvaEQ5u33OHJMO6dqOXLGUvF4N3Fug1bvt/w225-h400/IMG_1161.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p>Recently on Facebook I reconnected with an old friend. As I started to browse her posts and catch up, I was struck by something quite unexpected ... cancer.</p><p>From my perspective, this story began today, and the "today" was much brighter than when this all began. The recent posts were filled with phrases like "caught early" and "cancer free". It took me a while to get back to when this all started, and the farther back I got, the more clouded, uncertain, and shocking the story became; until I finally reached the initial frightening post of "I have cancer."</p><p>What I knew today, made a great difference on what I read about the past.</p><p>While for any of us, tomorrow (even the rest of today) is not promised; there is much of her story (and ours) that lay ahead. Ahead in the unknown ... a world I don't often like to think about. As someone who battles anxiety, the word "unknown" is not a friend. Yet there is a Friend who does know, and while from my perspective, the story is not written, for Him it is.</p><p>So many of us (myself included) are tempted to hold on to the temporal ... this small slice of eternity we experience here on this earth. It is no wonder the unknown, and the trials (that Christ said we would experience) often temp us to fix our gaze on them ...</p><p>Yet there is another end, an end that I put hope into (not a wish, like wishing I can balance the budget another month), but a solid hope from a promise keeping God - one that any one reading this can have if they turn to Christ, submit, and repent.</p><p>May we not come to Christ to get an "abundant life" ... or come to Christ to be free of anxiety ... or come to Christ to "be happy"... or even come to Christ to be healed.</p><p>Indeed those things "may" happen, but that is not the promise. We come for a healing from something even more deadly, and that is sin - a disease that pays dividends not just in this life, but the life to come. </p><p>A bill that has been paid in blood by the Son of God ...</p><p>Yet we can't just recognize that "in general" ... this is personal. God cannot be in the presence of sin, or He simply wouldn't be just (any more just than a corrupt judge who lets criminals go on the basis of feeling bad for them). So do we live "wishing" that He will forgive our sins, while we change absolutely nothing? Clinging to some religious belief of our parents? Putting the cross in our back pocket as a crumpled ticket to heaven? Or do we submit to Him as LORD, follow His teaching, living in the eternal hope that out of love and grace alone, knowing that while the wages of sin is death, that the bill has been paid in full by Jesus Christ Himself.</p><p>That's a hope I can cling to.</p><p>So while I don't know what tomorrow holds, I do know Who holds it. The tapestry weaved by His sovereign Hand is something I can only see from behind right now - to me a tangled and confusing web of threads ... but alas, that day will come, when I can see the front of it and the light of His greater plan will be revealed ... </p><p>I may not understand my journey all the time, I may not have the answers, but I'll put my trust in the One that does.</p><p>His,<br />~Matthew</p><blockquote><p><i>The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price. (Revelation 22:17 ESV)</i></p></blockquote>Matthew Gasperonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492467760748615196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5808989054892934504.post-34062847679785230102023-02-16T14:56:00.005-05:002023-02-17T10:41:32.366-05:00Distinguish and Teach<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ_aEgVuExuNbWikBZvJ6vEq6q4asNlVtW4dFOWfgNcQtgw7sJGS_aHgozaFUSvOhNoPl0sIbATZrZQLUeFesflrjb5I5tTvNi-C16FrlbO6siELyrtQEGNi1uJii9m2DjwVfJFDxUDdhDeJX_fONISZO-OAmmEUR1Qlm5MesIwVZozCcJgHOazMU8/s3455/3D26475E-DC2C-4863-8361-60DFC7F6B8BB.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1943" data-original-width="3455" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ_aEgVuExuNbWikBZvJ6vEq6q4asNlVtW4dFOWfgNcQtgw7sJGS_aHgozaFUSvOhNoPl0sIbATZrZQLUeFesflrjb5I5tTvNi-C16FrlbO6siELyrtQEGNi1uJii9m2DjwVfJFDxUDdhDeJX_fONISZO-OAmmEUR1Qlm5MesIwVZozCcJgHOazMU8/w400-h225/3D26475E-DC2C-4863-8361-60DFC7F6B8BB.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><p>For context sake, shortly after the death of Aaron's two sons for violating God's law seemingly moments after they took office as priests, the LORD spoke to Aaron:</p><p></p><blockquote><i>You are to distinguish between the holy and the common, and between the unclean and the clean, and you are to teach the people of Israel all the statutes that the LORD has spoken to them by Moses.” - (Leviticus 10:10–11 ESV)</i></blockquote><p></p><p>I think this instruction served also as a warning and reminder to Aaron considering this followed what all just took place. While we want to be careful not to take a specific message given for someone else and try to apply it to us (inappropriately), we clearly can learn and get to know the character of God through these instructions. In this case however, I think it is safe to say with other Scripture supporting that we too are called to "distinguish" and "teach" others.</p><p>Yet how can we distinguish if we don't understand the measuring Tool? How can we instruct if we don't understand the Material?</p><p>It is also critical to remind ourselves that in order to distinguish and teach the difference between sin and righteousness, and properly share the Word of God, we must know it ourselves as well. We too, like them, must study, pray, and meditate.</p><p>Life indeed will get busy - and will try and teach a lesson of its own; that it is too busy to spend time with our LORD, when the real need is quite the opposite!</p><p>May we all - like I needed to hear this morning - be reminded and draw near to the LORD. Both for ourselves, and for where God calls us to go ... </p><p>His,<br />~Matthew</p>Matthew Gasperonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492467760748615196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5808989054892934504.post-91109977268233758262023-02-07T19:36:00.003-05:002023-02-07T19:36:24.894-05:00Struggling to See<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-VOJSWuMIZ6CjfX05U5-1dYmehP41shLV1DB6XsFAhawKf7s9nGvmnunR867Cha3xV9wYwe3SVNyu3hFBgafr2AddMPjRD_ictEYxG869DCTJryQCxR1tPVAjDJ8xjXlCkWjqSplAqugwYBO8PH75TFWdMq4DQVnSjdfFWb4Raxlmc1Udb-k_6BkR/s2048/IMG_8150.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-VOJSWuMIZ6CjfX05U5-1dYmehP41shLV1DB6XsFAhawKf7s9nGvmnunR867Cha3xV9wYwe3SVNyu3hFBgafr2AddMPjRD_ictEYxG869DCTJryQCxR1tPVAjDJ8xjXlCkWjqSplAqugwYBO8PH75TFWdMq4DQVnSjdfFWb4Raxlmc1Udb-k_6BkR/w400-h225/IMG_8150.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>Shortly after some (more) miracles, that Jesus displayed to reveal the truth of His Message and Himself, we see the disciples struggle to understand ... </p><p>Jesus responds ... </p><p></p><blockquote>Having eyes do you not see, and having ears do you not hear? And do you not remember? When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” They said to him, “Twelve.” “And the seven for the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” And they said to him, “Seven.” And he said to them, “Do you not yet understand?” (Mark 8:18-21 ESV)</blockquote><p>... don't you understand that you are standing before the King of Kings, Creator of all, God Himself?</p><p></p><blockquote>He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. (Colossians 1:15–20 ESV)</blockquote><p></p><p></p><p>In reading this passage, and going through some struggles of my own (and burdens being carried, many unnecessarily) I can't help but hear Christ through His Words here stir and convict me by way of reminder ... reminder of all He has done, and all of who He is ... </p><p>"Do you not yet understand, Matthew?"</p><p>Increase my faith, LORD.</p><p>His,<br />~Matthew</p>Matthew Gasperonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492467760748615196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5808989054892934504.post-65905993264823051742023-01-03T15:13:00.000-05:002023-01-03T15:13:27.329-05:00Identification<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5e4p8w_K5khoqk_A6qpdN1WzhywkiMWFeN7l7Hij0Sa13TuzwVRfBTQ0fUQ1gs-1Ja5jTWdLtlmdkxr50DEDIyFH40i9sdiB86_zc7h9LQlOnYcb1Xny3SVYdLqkVIoC-WcVBlPmCX9VEt-6zosDm-Ju7LmbICFhMdhdkb7-Ubd9Lmbz2K788jX-7/s720/27331622_10215340526050854_220294311465842751_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5e4p8w_K5khoqk_A6qpdN1WzhywkiMWFeN7l7Hij0Sa13TuzwVRfBTQ0fUQ1gs-1Ja5jTWdLtlmdkxr50DEDIyFH40i9sdiB86_zc7h9LQlOnYcb1Xny3SVYdLqkVIoC-WcVBlPmCX9VEt-6zosDm-Ju7LmbICFhMdhdkb7-Ubd9Lmbz2K788jX-7/s320/27331622_10215340526050854_220294311465842751_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>For about 10 years I traveled for work a handful of times a year to various places across the globe. I was very sure to keep my passport safe during the journey as I didn't want to lose that piece of identification! In a close 2nd place was probably my little stuffed friends (ok, my children's stuffed friends!) that I kept close, but that is another story for another time! Oh the adventures Sammy, Spots, Shelly and others had ... </p><p>Anyway, I digress ... !</p><p>Reading through Genesis, in particular chapter 27, we see another type of identification.</p><p>Jacob and Esau fight for the birthright blessing, fearing/despising each other for the prize, their mother Rebekah fans this battle into flame as the instigator, Esau wanting Jacob dead over it, and even Rebekah's thought at the end of the chapter, how she speaks of loathing her life if Esau rebels against her direction in marriage.</p><p>It's a mess ... </p><p>Let us not mistake the importance of birthrights, or obedience, or a desire for our children to follow the LORD - yet that is not what was happening there. The focus was not on the ordinance or command from the LORD, but rather pride, affirmation, and identification in the wrong things.</p><p>I want a blessing ... <br />I want it more ...<br />I will be embarrassed if ... <br />I will hate myself if ...<br />I will hate him if ... </p><p>A lot of wanting and wills not of the LORD ... </p><p>Oh how this speaks of our own identity crises we have today! We get lost in ourselves, and there is only One we need to get lost in ... or rather found in. May we stop trying to seek the affirmation of this world and simply seek Him. Our identity is in Christ, and that is sufficient.</p><p>Be well church.</p><p>His,<br />~Matt</p><p><i>On a side note, if you have the time, consider this book by Matthew Henry. This version is great as it has as great intro into from J. I. Packer that really sets up Henry's writing. Solid and encouraging book on how a life of duty, is actually a life of delight ... </i></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgJxhItJ0pG9Wb09a7OBigP9l60LGhoGUPMmVvRZEK3xIG5XdAQ8BB-lJFl8zi_fprWRitYzMmIVCzgwqKp1OC58l4AdvEb24fCFHjFYWqprGh7RPF42tQIci_UgofcS_9eWTH7zJcWA5O0sU7OpikNBHhwCzMsMF34-eB-133DJF9xjZRybTUaTFhO" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="328" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgJxhItJ0pG9Wb09a7OBigP9l60LGhoGUPMmVvRZEK3xIG5XdAQ8BB-lJFl8zi_fprWRitYzMmIVCzgwqKp1OC58l4AdvEb24fCFHjFYWqprGh7RPF42tQIci_UgofcS_9eWTH7zJcWA5O0sU7OpikNBHhwCzMsMF34-eB-133DJF9xjZRybTUaTFhO" width="158" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p></p>Matthew Gasperonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492467760748615196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5808989054892934504.post-8883764826335965262022-12-28T19:44:00.000-05:002022-12-28T19:44:12.935-05:00Two Choices<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvau3UJATmogmIzp6nrqBqFRi1er7A0z-_SHvMb7upkOjzH_Fkl8KlAlR8r5GbTYJulNUGRBDEPE94NH9VYqvB3JSiwnvzCifP0cdXzt_7NANTJ4b3tHFkXhBQRSL3XGKkL1js_dzSFEreM0q79Ms7VLG4UmaDN2TfHKFpk2AVbbFdOU3t_qIt82bZ/s2047/FullSizeR%20(2).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2046" data-original-width="2047" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvau3UJATmogmIzp6nrqBqFRi1er7A0z-_SHvMb7upkOjzH_Fkl8KlAlR8r5GbTYJulNUGRBDEPE94NH9VYqvB3JSiwnvzCifP0cdXzt_7NANTJ4b3tHFkXhBQRSL3XGKkL1js_dzSFEreM0q79Ms7VLG4UmaDN2TfHKFpk2AVbbFdOU3t_qIt82bZ/s320/FullSizeR%20(2).jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i>Then once more you shall see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve him. (Malachi 3:18)</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Reading through Malachi I was reminded of the clear distinctions we read between God's children, and everyone else. Simple, clear, yet eternally significant ... </div><i><div><i><br /></i></div>Children of Wrath vs. Children of God</i><br /><i>The Fool vs. The Wise</i><br /><i>The Righteous vs. The Wicked</i><div><i>Sheep vs. Goats</i><p>Here in this passage we see again a contrast with the Righteous and the Wicked, but defined a bit further between those that serve, and do not serve God. Ultimately that indeed is our choice ... to serve, or not to serve. It is more than an identity, it's an action ... much like we read in the fourteenth chapter of John, <b>if we love Him ... we will obey Him.</b></p><p><i>And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” (Joshua 24:15)</i></p><p>May we not treat our salvation as casually as a coin flip ... may we declare with sincerity, declaration, and resolve the same words that Joshua declared:</p><p></p><blockquote>Choose wisely ... and daily ... </blockquote><p>His,<br />~Matthew</p></div>Matthew Gasperonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492467760748615196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5808989054892934504.post-20466961731999452112022-12-23T18:34:00.000-05:002022-12-23T18:36:26.906-05:00Devising Evil<div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1AF7wdfOVq0JdJsJsHZduYVy3WSMyZ7TX" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1AF7wdfOVq0JdJsJsHZduYVy3WSMyZ7TX" style="max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"><br></div><blockquote><b><br>Zechariah 7:10 & 8:17</b></blockquote><blockquote><br>do not oppress the widow, the fatherless, the sojourner, or the poor, and let none of you<i> devise evil against another in your heart</i>.”</blockquote><blockquote><br>do not<i> devise evil in your hearts against one another</i>, and love no false oath, for all these things I hate, declares the LORD.”</blockquote><div style="text-align: left;"><div><br></div><div>It is good to reflect and remember, that like Jesus spoke of many times in His sermon on the mount (beginning in Matthew chapter 5), the line in the sand for sin and evil is far earlier than what we may say or do.</div><div><br></div><div><b> … it is first in our head and hearts</b>.</div><div><br></div><div>Twice in Zechariah, as noted above, we see the warning of divising (conceiving, imagining, inventing) - evil in our hearts. May we not take comfort that we are not sinning if we hold our tongue or withhold certain actions. We must realize even the churning in our hearts of hatred, bitterness, and contempt; the harsh conversations we privately rehearse in our head with those that hurt us or aggravate us - is sin.</div><div><br></div><div>So easily can we excuse our venting through imagination as innocent - and even admire our self control when we withhold all the evil in<span style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; display: inline !important;"> our hearts.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; display: inline !important;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; display: inline !important;">We must repent.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; display: inline !important;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; display: inline !important;">Yet … while we strive for living a life of practical holiness, this wickedness is something too that Christ came to die for on the cross. No thought so vile, is unable to be killed on the cross at Calvary.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; display: inline !important;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; display: inline !important;">Hate your sin - and take comfort in the cross!</span></div><div><span style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; display: inline !important;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; display: inline !important;">His,</span></div><div><span style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; display: inline !important;">Matthew</span></div><div><span style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; display: inline !important;"><br></span></div><div></div></div>Matthew Gasperonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492467760748615196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5808989054892934504.post-46593026767321392502022-12-21T16:40:00.018-05:002022-12-21T18:33:55.756-05:00What are we looking for?<p><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"> <img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/production-domaincom-v1-0-6/136/587136/qByTPDxb/e9ef8100063d4bd6a4852084aa249b37" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border-style: none; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--kv-ee-body-font-family,"Nunito Sans","Open Sans",sans-serif); font-size: 20px; font-style: var(--kv-ee-body-font-style,normal); font-weight: var(--kv-ee-body-font-weight,normal); vertical-align: middle; width: 770px;" /></span></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him. If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and glorify him at once. Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You will seek me, and just as I said to the Jews, so now I also say to you, ‘Where I am going you cannot come.’ John 13:31–33 (ESV)</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">In this passage, near the beginning of a 5 chapter section as Jesus goes on to discuss Christian community, abiding in Christ, and even His high priestly prayer, I was caught by four simple words: "you will seek me".</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">It was written as an assumption for those that are His disciples, and it remains true today for us - but the question is, do we?</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Do we seek after our interest, our peace, our joy, our satisfaction, our pleasure, our contentment, our understanding, our perspective ... </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">... or do we simply seek Him?</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Do we try to understand God with our own lens of who we think He is or who He should be? Or do we simply submit to Him and His Word?</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I remember watching my dad and my son get excitied as they were looking for a simple oncoming truck in hopes to get a good sounding of that big horn! It was fun! Yet He is infinately more holy and fulfilling - do we even seek him as much as that?</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">So many other passages that would cover this subject more deeply, yet He speaks through them all ...</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">His,</span></p><p><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">~Matt</span></p>Matthew Gasperonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492467760748615196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5808989054892934504.post-37543672350609037232022-12-21T16:40:00.001-05:002022-12-21T16:40:07.610-05:00The Unending Good News of the Gospel<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqK2hmTxD3_XoEkew_pvikjuLM6juJPL62gQOGcPtzKe3OrHYoKqd3Zia4QU5q4Fya1rVOCvSKDH2GrYBDdS7v49YpJ79-b1H2Uq82ceJVFWz6p6AA38NyyK3YaLZY390LJn_-1TLqIl_CVVtJ8BOCmdLd3tmP1XktErPNYm1bTPy1u3xqYbsWl97n/s1069/Capture.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="557" data-original-width="1069" height="334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqK2hmTxD3_XoEkew_pvikjuLM6juJPL62gQOGcPtzKe3OrHYoKqd3Zia4QU5q4Fya1rVOCvSKDH2GrYBDdS7v49YpJ79-b1H2Uq82ceJVFWz6p6AA38NyyK3YaLZY390LJn_-1TLqIl_CVVtJ8BOCmdLd3tmP1XktErPNYm1bTPy1u3xqYbsWl97n/w640-h334/Capture.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; white-space: pre-wrap;">I was reminded yet again this week of the power of the Gospel, not just to save, but to keep ... </span></p><div class="kv-ee-post-text kv-ee-article--md" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: calc(1.25rem*var(--kv-ee-global-font-size-factor)); line-height: calc(2rem*var(--kv-ee-global-font-size-factor)); margin-bottom: 2rem;"><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--kv-ee-body-font-family,"Nunito Sans","Open Sans",sans-serif); font-size: calc(1rem*var(--kv-ee-global-font-size-factor)); font-style: var(--kv-ee-body-font-style,normal); font-weight: var(--kv-ee-body-font-weight,normal); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: break-word;">Reading through Jeremiah, I came across a likely familiar passage ... </p><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--kv-ee-body-font-family,"Nunito Sans","Open Sans",sans-serif); font-style: var(--kv-ee-body-font-style,normal); font-weight: var(--kv-ee-body-font-weight,normal);" /><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--kv-ee-body-font-family,"Nunito Sans","Open Sans",sans-serif); font-size: calc(1rem*var(--kv-ee-global-font-size-factor)); font-style: var(--kv-ee-body-font-style,normal); font-weight: var(--kv-ee-body-font-weight,normal); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: break-word;">Jeremiah 4:3–4</p><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--kv-ee-body-font-family,"Nunito Sans","Open Sans",sans-serif); font-style: var(--kv-ee-body-font-style,normal); font-weight: var(--kv-ee-body-font-weight,normal);" /><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--kv-ee-body-font-family,"Nunito Sans","Open Sans",sans-serif); font-size: calc(1rem*var(--kv-ee-global-font-size-factor)); font-style: var(--kv-ee-body-font-style,normal); font-weight: var(--kv-ee-body-font-weight,normal); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: break-word;">For thus says the LORD to the men of Judah and Jerusalem:</p><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--kv-ee-body-font-family,"Nunito Sans","Open Sans",sans-serif); font-style: var(--kv-ee-body-font-style,normal); font-weight: var(--kv-ee-body-font-weight,normal);" /><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--kv-ee-body-font-family,"Nunito Sans","Open Sans",sans-serif); font-size: calc(1rem*var(--kv-ee-global-font-size-factor)); font-style: var(--kv-ee-body-font-style,normal); font-weight: var(--kv-ee-body-font-weight,normal); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: break-word;"> “Break up your fallow ground,</p><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--kv-ee-body-font-family,"Nunito Sans","Open Sans",sans-serif); font-size: calc(1rem*var(--kv-ee-global-font-size-factor)); font-style: var(--kv-ee-body-font-style,normal); font-weight: var(--kv-ee-body-font-weight,normal); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: break-word;"> and sow not among thorns.</p><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--kv-ee-body-font-family,"Nunito Sans","Open Sans",sans-serif); font-size: calc(1rem*var(--kv-ee-global-font-size-factor)); font-style: var(--kv-ee-body-font-style,normal); font-weight: var(--kv-ee-body-font-weight,normal); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: break-word;"> Circumcise yourselves to the LORD;</p><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--kv-ee-body-font-family,"Nunito Sans","Open Sans",sans-serif); font-size: calc(1rem*var(--kv-ee-global-font-size-factor)); font-style: var(--kv-ee-body-font-style,normal); font-weight: var(--kv-ee-body-font-weight,normal); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: break-word;"> remove the foreskin of your hearts,</p><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--kv-ee-body-font-family,"Nunito Sans","Open Sans",sans-serif); font-size: calc(1rem*var(--kv-ee-global-font-size-factor)); font-style: var(--kv-ee-body-font-style,normal); font-weight: var(--kv-ee-body-font-weight,normal); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: break-word;"> O men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem;</p><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--kv-ee-body-font-family,"Nunito Sans","Open Sans",sans-serif); font-size: calc(1rem*var(--kv-ee-global-font-size-factor)); font-style: var(--kv-ee-body-font-style,normal); font-weight: var(--kv-ee-body-font-weight,normal); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: break-word;"> lest my wrath go forth like fire,</p><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--kv-ee-body-font-family,"Nunito Sans","Open Sans",sans-serif); font-size: calc(1rem*var(--kv-ee-global-font-size-factor)); font-style: var(--kv-ee-body-font-style,normal); font-weight: var(--kv-ee-body-font-weight,normal); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: break-word;"> and burn with none to quench it,</p><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--kv-ee-body-font-family,"Nunito Sans","Open Sans",sans-serif); font-size: calc(1rem*var(--kv-ee-global-font-size-factor)); font-style: var(--kv-ee-body-font-style,normal); font-weight: var(--kv-ee-body-font-weight,normal); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: break-word;"> because of the evil of your deeds.” (ESV)</p><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--kv-ee-body-font-family,"Nunito Sans","Open Sans",sans-serif); font-style: var(--kv-ee-body-font-style,normal); font-weight: var(--kv-ee-body-font-weight,normal);" /><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--kv-ee-body-font-family,"Nunito Sans","Open Sans",sans-serif); font-size: calc(1rem*var(--kv-ee-global-font-size-factor)); font-style: var(--kv-ee-body-font-style,normal); font-weight: var(--kv-ee-body-font-weight,normal); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: break-word;"><em style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--kv-ee-body-font-family,"Nunito Sans","Open Sans",sans-serif); font-weight: var(--kv-ee-body-font-weight,normal);">Pause for a moment and let the Holy Spirit work in you as you read these words again.</em></p><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--kv-ee-body-font-family,"Nunito Sans","Open Sans",sans-serif); font-style: var(--kv-ee-body-font-style,normal); font-weight: var(--kv-ee-body-font-weight,normal);" /><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--kv-ee-body-font-family,"Nunito Sans","Open Sans",sans-serif); font-size: calc(1rem*var(--kv-ee-global-font-size-factor)); font-style: var(--kv-ee-body-font-style,normal); font-weight: var(--kv-ee-body-font-weight,normal); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: break-word;">Our church had their yearly missions conferenece, and we had the blessing and privledge to hear not only from several missionaries, but also a guest pastor each night as well. One thing that struck me hearing the Word of God preached daily from Sunday through Friday, was how much I needed to hear The Gospel again ... and again ... </p><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--kv-ee-body-font-family,"Nunito Sans","Open Sans",sans-serif); font-style: var(--kv-ee-body-font-style,normal); font-weight: var(--kv-ee-body-font-weight,normal);" /><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--kv-ee-body-font-family,"Nunito Sans","Open Sans",sans-serif); font-size: calc(1rem*var(--kv-ee-global-font-size-factor)); font-style: var(--kv-ee-body-font-style,normal); font-weight: var(--kv-ee-body-font-weight,normal); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: break-word;">We, like my daugther, may try and effort to dig, till, and turn up the fallow ground that so easily can create foreskin and calsouses around our hearts. We try to airate the soil of our heart with His Word, trying to remove weeds, and tend our garden well.</p><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--kv-ee-body-font-family,"Nunito Sans","Open Sans",sans-serif); font-style: var(--kv-ee-body-font-style,normal); font-weight: var(--kv-ee-body-font-weight,normal);" /><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--kv-ee-body-font-family,"Nunito Sans","Open Sans",sans-serif); font-size: calc(1rem*var(--kv-ee-global-font-size-factor)); font-style: var(--kv-ee-body-font-style,normal); font-weight: var(--kv-ee-body-font-weight,normal); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: break-word;">Yet - while repentence and obedience are aboslutely necessary, we too easily can live a life thinking that it is our efforts that get us 'back on track' with Him. Yet that is not how it works ... that is not the Gospel. We were <span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--kv-ee-body-font-family,"Nunito Sans","Open Sans",sans-serif); font-style: var(--kv-ee-body-font-style,normal); font-weight: 700;">dead</span> - "<u style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--kv-ee-body-font-family,"Nunito Sans","Open Sans",sans-serif); font-style: var(--kv-ee-body-font-style,normal); font-weight: var(--kv-ee-body-font-weight,normal);">but God</u>" (Ephesians 2) ... in fact later on in Jeremiah (31:31-34) we are reminded that only God can circumcize our hearts.</p><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--kv-ee-body-font-family,"Nunito Sans","Open Sans",sans-serif); font-size: calc(1rem*var(--kv-ee-global-font-size-factor)); font-style: var(--kv-ee-body-font-style,normal); font-weight: var(--kv-ee-body-font-weight,normal); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: break-word;"><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--kv-ee-body-font-family,"Nunito Sans","Open Sans",sans-serif); font-style: var(--kv-ee-body-font-style,normal); font-weight: var(--kv-ee-body-font-weight,normal);" />We cannot break the fallow ground of our hearts in our strength.</p><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--kv-ee-body-font-family,"Nunito Sans","Open Sans",sans-serif); font-style: var(--kv-ee-body-font-style,normal); font-weight: var(--kv-ee-body-font-weight,normal);" /><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--kv-ee-body-font-family,"Nunito Sans","Open Sans",sans-serif); font-size: calc(1rem*var(--kv-ee-global-font-size-factor)); font-style: var(--kv-ee-body-font-style,normal); font-weight: var(--kv-ee-body-font-weight,normal); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: break-word;">As I listened to the missionary stories, as I listened to the messages, as I shed tears, I reflected on the beauty of the Gospel ... preached again, and again ...</p><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--kv-ee-body-font-family,"Nunito Sans","Open Sans",sans-serif); font-style: var(--kv-ee-body-font-style,normal); font-weight: var(--kv-ee-body-font-weight,normal);" /><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--kv-ee-body-font-family,"Nunito Sans","Open Sans",sans-serif); font-size: calc(1rem*var(--kv-ee-global-font-size-factor)); font-style: var(--kv-ee-body-font-style,normal); font-weight: var(--kv-ee-body-font-weight,normal); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: break-word;">Try as we might, we will never acheive worthiness before God.</p><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--kv-ee-body-font-family,"Nunito Sans","Open Sans",sans-serif); font-size: calc(1rem*var(--kv-ee-global-font-size-factor)); font-style: var(--kv-ee-body-font-style,normal); font-weight: var(--kv-ee-body-font-weight,normal); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: break-word;"><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--kv-ee-body-font-family,"Nunito Sans","Open Sans",sans-serif); font-style: var(--kv-ee-body-font-style,normal); font-weight: var(--kv-ee-body-font-weight,normal);" /><u style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--kv-ee-body-font-family,"Nunito Sans","Open Sans",sans-serif); font-style: var(--kv-ee-body-font-style,normal); font-weight: var(--kv-ee-body-font-weight,normal);">But God</u> ... through Jesus Christ ... not only did He take upon Him my sins, but he imputed to me His Righeteousness ... so that before a just and holy God, I can stand spotless. Not because I am, but because Jesus was in my place.</p><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--kv-ee-body-font-family,"Nunito Sans","Open Sans",sans-serif); font-style: var(--kv-ee-body-font-style,normal); font-weight: var(--kv-ee-body-font-weight,normal);" /><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--kv-ee-body-font-family,"Nunito Sans","Open Sans",sans-serif); font-size: calc(1rem*var(--kv-ee-global-font-size-factor)); font-style: var(--kv-ee-body-font-style,normal); font-weight: var(--kv-ee-body-font-weight,normal); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: break-word;">Oh how He loves us ... no darkness in the world today compares to the Son of God being nailed to a cross of shame, tortured, mocked, and murdered ... all so our sins can justly be paid, and we can be with our Creator.</p><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--kv-ee-body-font-family,"Nunito Sans","Open Sans",sans-serif); font-style: var(--kv-ee-body-font-style,normal); font-weight: var(--kv-ee-body-font-weight,normal);" /><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--kv-ee-body-font-family,"Nunito Sans","Open Sans",sans-serif); font-size: calc(1rem*var(--kv-ee-global-font-size-factor)); font-style: var(--kv-ee-body-font-style,normal); font-weight: var(--kv-ee-body-font-weight,normal); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: break-word;">Zephaniah 3:17</p><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--kv-ee-body-font-family,"Nunito Sans","Open Sans",sans-serif); font-style: var(--kv-ee-body-font-style,normal); font-weight: var(--kv-ee-body-font-weight,normal);" /><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--kv-ee-body-font-family,"Nunito Sans","Open Sans",sans-serif); font-size: calc(1rem*var(--kv-ee-global-font-size-factor)); font-style: var(--kv-ee-body-font-style,normal); font-weight: var(--kv-ee-body-font-weight,normal); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: break-word;"> The LORD your God is in your midst,</p><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--kv-ee-body-font-family,"Nunito Sans","Open Sans",sans-serif); font-size: calc(1rem*var(--kv-ee-global-font-size-factor)); font-style: var(--kv-ee-body-font-style,normal); font-weight: var(--kv-ee-body-font-weight,normal); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: break-word;"> a mighty one who will save;</p><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--kv-ee-body-font-family,"Nunito Sans","Open Sans",sans-serif); font-size: calc(1rem*var(--kv-ee-global-font-size-factor)); font-style: var(--kv-ee-body-font-style,normal); font-weight: var(--kv-ee-body-font-weight,normal); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: break-word;"> he will rejoice over you with gladness;</p><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--kv-ee-body-font-family,"Nunito Sans","Open Sans",sans-serif); font-size: calc(1rem*var(--kv-ee-global-font-size-factor)); font-style: var(--kv-ee-body-font-style,normal); font-weight: var(--kv-ee-body-font-weight,normal); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: break-word;"> he will quiet you by his love;</p><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--kv-ee-body-font-family,"Nunito Sans","Open Sans",sans-serif); font-size: calc(1rem*var(--kv-ee-global-font-size-factor)); font-style: var(--kv-ee-body-font-style,normal); font-weight: var(--kv-ee-body-font-weight,normal); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: break-word;"> he will exult over you with loud singing. (ESV)</p><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--kv-ee-body-font-family,"Nunito Sans","Open Sans",sans-serif); font-style: var(--kv-ee-body-font-style,normal); font-weight: var(--kv-ee-body-font-weight,normal);" /><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--kv-ee-body-font-family,"Nunito Sans","Open Sans",sans-serif); font-size: calc(1rem*var(--kv-ee-global-font-size-factor)); font-style: var(--kv-ee-body-font-style,normal); font-weight: var(--kv-ee-body-font-weight,normal); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: break-word;">It was THIS message - not my note taking, challenges, my list of ways to apply the messages and step more out in faith (as good and needed as that is) ... but it was The Gospel, that yet again melted my heart that is so prone to wander, and so prone to becoming calloused and hard ... </p><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--kv-ee-body-font-family,"Nunito Sans","Open Sans",sans-serif); font-style: var(--kv-ee-body-font-style,normal); font-weight: var(--kv-ee-body-font-weight,normal);" /><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--kv-ee-body-font-family,"Nunito Sans","Open Sans",sans-serif); font-size: calc(1rem*var(--kv-ee-global-font-size-factor)); font-style: var(--kv-ee-body-font-style,normal); font-weight: var(--kv-ee-body-font-weight,normal); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: break-word;">Oh sweet Jesus! Thank you ... </p><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--kv-ee-body-font-family,"Nunito Sans","Open Sans",sans-serif); font-style: var(--kv-ee-body-font-style,normal); font-weight: var(--kv-ee-body-font-weight,normal);" /><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--kv-ee-body-font-family,"Nunito Sans","Open Sans",sans-serif); font-size: calc(1rem*var(--kv-ee-global-font-size-factor)); font-style: var(--kv-ee-body-font-style,normal); font-weight: var(--kv-ee-body-font-weight,normal); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: break-word;">Bathe in The Gospel Christian - not just for salvation and the wrath to come, but for our ongoing sanctification that can be done no other way but through the Grace of God working in us throught the Holy Spirit since we stand righteous before the Father through the blood of His Son ... </p><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--kv-ee-body-font-family,"Nunito Sans","Open Sans",sans-serif); font-style: var(--kv-ee-body-font-style,normal); font-weight: var(--kv-ee-body-font-weight,normal);" /><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--kv-ee-body-font-family,"Nunito Sans","Open Sans",sans-serif); font-size: calc(1rem*var(--kv-ee-global-font-size-factor)); font-style: var(--kv-ee-body-font-style,normal); font-weight: var(--kv-ee-body-font-weight,normal); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: break-word;">Amen and Amen</p><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--kv-ee-body-font-family,"Nunito Sans","Open Sans",sans-serif); font-style: var(--kv-ee-body-font-style,normal); font-weight: var(--kv-ee-body-font-weight,normal);" /><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--kv-ee-body-font-family,"Nunito Sans","Open Sans",sans-serif); font-size: calc(1rem*var(--kv-ee-global-font-size-factor)); font-style: var(--kv-ee-body-font-style,normal); font-weight: var(--kv-ee-body-font-weight,normal); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: break-word;">His,</p><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--kv-ee-body-font-family,"Nunito Sans","Open Sans",sans-serif); font-size: calc(1rem*var(--kv-ee-global-font-size-factor)); font-style: var(--kv-ee-body-font-style,normal); font-weight: var(--kv-ee-body-font-weight,normal); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: break-word;">~Matthew</p></div>Matthew Gasperonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492467760748615196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5808989054892934504.post-40270367035297421122022-12-21T16:38:00.008-05:002022-12-21T16:38:57.378-05:00Hail to the One True Victor!<p> <img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/production-domaincom-v1-0-6/136/587136/qByTPDxb/e5123ebb12304bb3a7c5fc76a98d398c" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border-style: none; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--kv-ee-body-font-family,"Nunito Sans","Open Sans",sans-serif); font-size: 20px; font-style: var(--kv-ee-body-font-style,normal); font-weight: var(--kv-ee-body-font-weight,normal); vertical-align: middle; width: 770px;" /></p><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: 20px;" /><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: 20px;" /><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: calc(1rem*var(--kv-ee-global-font-size-factor)); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: break-word;">I was reflecting this morning about fight songs, cheerleading, fans, concerts, and other various events that we attend where we see "praise". The object(s) of said praise often are on the field, on the stage, on the television, or even those that politically align with our views.</p><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: 20px;" /><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: calc(1rem*var(--kv-ee-global-font-size-factor)); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: break-word;">As a Christian, I too praise. We were designed to praise after all!</p><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: calc(1rem*var(--kv-ee-global-font-size-factor)); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: break-word;">Yet I have been told in the past that my devotion to His Word (whether memorization, teaching my children, or my own worship) is "disturbing and uncomfortable".</p><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: 20px;" /><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: calc(1rem*var(--kv-ee-global-font-size-factor)); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: break-word;">Reminds me of when Jesus was making His triumphal entry into Jerusalem, as many were praising Jesus, His adversaries told Him to make them stop:</p><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: 20px;" /><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: calc(1rem*var(--kv-ee-global-font-size-factor)); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: break-word;">He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.” (Luke 19:40)</p><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: 20px;" /><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: calc(1rem*var(--kv-ee-global-font-size-factor)); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: break-word;">Creation itself was designed to praise ... praise Him!</p><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: 20px;" /><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: calc(1rem*var(--kv-ee-global-font-size-factor)); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: break-word;">So while we are all free to cheer for our team, clap for those who speak and stand for what we believe, enjoy music at concerts, or even shout in surprise at our favorite show, may we that call upon Christ as our LORD reserve our true praise for Him.</p><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: 20px;" /><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: calc(1rem*var(--kv-ee-global-font-size-factor)); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: break-word;">Hail to the One True Victor!</p><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: 20px;" /><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: calc(1rem*var(--kv-ee-global-font-size-factor)); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: break-word;">His,<span style="font-family: var(--kv-ee-body-font-family,Nunito Sans,Open Sans,sans-serif);"><span style="font-style: var(--kv-ee-body-font-style,normal); font-weight: var(--kv-ee-body-font-weight,normal);"><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--kv-ee-body-font-family,"Nunito Sans","Open Sans",sans-serif); font-style: var(--kv-ee-body-font-style,normal); font-weight: var(--kv-ee-body-font-weight,normal);" /></span></span>~Matt</p>Matthew Gasperonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492467760748615196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5808989054892934504.post-15734082396344801742022-12-21T16:38:00.002-05:002022-12-21T16:38:08.582-05:00Coming into Harbor<p> <img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/production-domaincom-v1-0-6/136/587136/qByTPDxb/65c77c72ad02487bbcdcb3efe4901ac4" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border-style: none; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--kv-ee-body-font-family,"Nunito Sans","Open Sans",sans-serif); font-size: 20px; font-style: var(--kv-ee-body-font-style,normal); font-weight: var(--kv-ee-body-font-weight,normal); vertical-align: middle; width: 770px;" /></p><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: 20px;" /><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: 20px;" /><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: calc(1rem*var(--kv-ee-global-font-size-factor)); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: break-word;">There is always an unmistakable feeling of safety when I turn my boat into harbor and away from the open water. This is especially true if the conditions are rough, or a storm is rolling in.</p><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: 20px;" /><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: calc(1rem*var(--kv-ee-global-font-size-factor)); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: break-word;">As much safety that the harbor can offer, it is still limited. Limited both to this world, and even to certain grades of storms. Yet there is another Harbor, or rather Harbormaster, that calls us with His Grace to safety. Do we come to Him like that? Not as one who has safety to offer, but who is Safety Himself.</p><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: 20px;" /><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: calc(1rem*var(--kv-ee-global-font-size-factor)); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: break-word;">For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. (Colossians 3:3 ESV)</p><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: 20px;" /><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: calc(1rem*var(--kv-ee-global-font-size-factor)); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: break-word;">Christian, seek not the harbor, but the Harbormaster.</p><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: 20px;" /><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: calc(1rem*var(--kv-ee-global-font-size-factor)); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: break-word;">Not sure where to start? Please reach out, we would love to pray and help you on this journey.</p><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: 20px;" /><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: calc(1rem*var(--kv-ee-global-font-size-factor)); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: break-word;">His,</p><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: calc(1rem*var(--kv-ee-global-font-size-factor)); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: break-word;">~Matthew</p>Matthew Gasperonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492467760748615196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5808989054892934504.post-87388374659463978032022-12-21T16:37:00.007-05:002022-12-21T16:37:46.090-05:00Rough Roads<p> <img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/production-domaincom-v1-0-6/136/587136/qByTPDxb/e658cfe4e11d439a895d5b85d7aefc77" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border-style: none; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--kv-ee-body-font-family,"Nunito Sans","Open Sans",sans-serif); font-size: 20px; font-style: var(--kv-ee-body-font-style,normal); font-weight: var(--kv-ee-body-font-weight,normal); vertical-align: middle; width: 770px;" /></p><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: 20px;" /><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: 20px;" /><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: calc(1rem*var(--kv-ee-global-font-size-factor)); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: break-word;">What is a "good day" for you? Often I get caught up in what my friend calls a 'performance idol'. Setting out, planning, and seeking to accomplish much in my day. This may not be bad in and of itself, but it can seriously leave me feeling defeated at the end of the day. This is often because my "good day" is far less realistic than my life often permits.</p><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: 20px;" /><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: calc(1rem*var(--kv-ee-global-font-size-factor)); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: break-word;">I think if I reflect more deeply, I pray and plan for smooth roads rather than praying and planning how I can glorify God in my day and make Him know.</p><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: 20px;" /><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: calc(1rem*var(--kv-ee-global-font-size-factor)); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: break-word;">I think sometimes the flesh strives to stay away from those rough roads, those detours, those interruptions - in hopes that we can just keep our day "predictable". Yet this is far from our calling!</p><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: 20px;" /><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: calc(1rem*var(--kv-ee-global-font-size-factor)); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: break-word;">May we have the courage to adventure with God, and not avoid being uncomfortable. Time to turn off the cruise-control and flip on 4WD! If I know anything of my "off road" experiences with God, it's bumpy, but oh so much more fulfilling than anything I could have "scheduled" for myself!</p><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: 20px;" /><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: calc(1rem*var(--kv-ee-global-font-size-factor)); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: break-word;">Take the detour Matt ... take it ... </p><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: 20px;" /><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: calc(1rem*var(--kv-ee-global-font-size-factor)); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: break-word;">His,</p><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: calc(1rem*var(--kv-ee-global-font-size-factor)); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: break-word;">~Matthew</p>Matthew Gasperonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492467760748615196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5808989054892934504.post-35975808143152286902022-12-21T16:37:00.003-05:002022-12-21T16:37:15.230-05:00Worship<p> <img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/production-domaincom-v1-0-6/136/587136/qByTPDxb/c2a8fd97ea0845f5b0fe986a87842691" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border-style: none; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--kv-ee-body-font-family,"Nunito Sans","Open Sans",sans-serif); font-size: 20px; font-style: var(--kv-ee-body-font-style,normal); font-weight: var(--kv-ee-body-font-weight,normal); vertical-align: middle; width: 770px;" /></p><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: 20px;" /><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: 20px;" /><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: calc(1rem*var(--kv-ee-global-font-size-factor)); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: break-word;">Often I hear (and even talk) of the "idols in our life" and what we can end up essentially worshiping. It may not be, but certainly could be, a false God, or a false idea of who God is. It can even be loved ones that we hold more dear to us than the God of the universe that created and gifted us these loved ones to be with. It can be money, toys, pleasure, and chasing after fleeting temporal happiness.</p><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: 20px;" /><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: calc(1rem*var(--kv-ee-global-font-size-factor)); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: break-word;">However, while important to repent from, may we not spend all our time and energy on identifying what we shouldn't worship, and spend more time on worshiping Who we should!</p><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: 20px;" /><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: calc(1rem*var(--kv-ee-global-font-size-factor)); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: break-word;">How often do you worship God?</p><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: 20px;" /><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: calc(1rem*var(--kv-ee-global-font-size-factor)); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: break-word;">Yes, we glorify God in our lives when we serve (as a father, husband, son, daughter, friend, or brother/sister in Christ). We glorify God when we flee from sin, repent, and call out to Him. We glorify God when we represent Him well by the way we conduct ourselves at work, with family, and around others. We glorify God by spending time with Him in bible studies, Sunday school, or serving Him at church.</p><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: 20px;" /><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: calc(1rem*var(--kv-ee-global-font-size-factor)); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: break-word;">All these are very good things - yet when was the last time you spent time at the Throne, just worshiping, praising, and thanking our Holy God? Not doing things for God, but just being with God? Just pausing to pray and worship? Day and night the Throne is surrounded in worship (Revelation 4). If the heavens declare the glory of God, how can I do less?</p><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: calc(1rem*var(--kv-ee-global-font-size-factor)); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: break-word;">I've been trying to reflect more on how imbalanced my life is with respect to my worship. Let us encourage each other to not just "do" the Christian life, but to "be" the Christian - the one who seeks, follows, adores, and worships the one we serve.</p><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: 20px;" /><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: calc(1rem*var(--kv-ee-global-font-size-factor)); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: break-word;">His,</p><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: calc(1rem*var(--kv-ee-global-font-size-factor)); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: break-word;">~Matthew</p>Matthew Gasperonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492467760748615196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5808989054892934504.post-2346830482471165232022-12-21T16:36:00.006-05:002022-12-21T16:36:37.043-05:00A Soldier<p> <img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/production-domaincom-v1-0-6/136/587136/qByTPDxb/27299e39cb8a441e801af09c2ec58f94" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border-style: none; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--kv-ee-body-font-family,"Nunito Sans","Open Sans",sans-serif); font-size: 20px; font-style: var(--kv-ee-body-font-style,normal); font-weight: var(--kv-ee-body-font-weight,normal); vertical-align: middle; width: 770px;" /></p><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: 20px;" /><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: calc(1rem*var(--kv-ee-global-font-size-factor)); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: break-word;">I have to admit, there is something fascinating (and even inspiring) when I think about the military sometimes. Often romanticized are my thoughts, and likely far from realistic, but the idea of waking up, getting orders, and rushing into the mission is something I can easily get drawn into! Sometimes my imagination is more trench-like, and sometimes more tech-like (think mission impossible!).</p><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: 20px;" /><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: calc(1rem*var(--kv-ee-global-font-size-factor)); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: break-word;">Imagine if I took just 10% of that energy, and instead of waking up in the morning and asking God for help in my day, what if I woke up like a Christian soldier, seeking orders for the day from my Commander? Oh how different my life and day may be ... </p><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: 20px;" /><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: calc(1rem*var(--kv-ee-global-font-size-factor)); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: break-word;">Yet, unlike my "Top Gun" thoughts and imagination, this type of solder is not the hero in the story. The Commander is. My role is to serve and be on mission, and not for my glory, but for His.</p><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: 20px;" /><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: calc(1rem*var(--kv-ee-global-font-size-factor)); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: break-word;">Here's another twist - we didn't enlist - we were drafted! Not because we were needed, but because we were wanted.</p><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: 20px;" /><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: calc(1rem*var(--kv-ee-global-font-size-factor)); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: break-word;">Let that sink in.</p><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: 20px;" /><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: calc(1rem*var(--kv-ee-global-font-size-factor)); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: break-word;">God chose us to serve Him, and in turn, when it is time, our service will be rewarded with far greater things than a medal of honor.</p><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: 20px;" /><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: calc(1rem*var(--kv-ee-global-font-size-factor)); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: break-word;">So, with this knowledge, what shall our prayers be when we lay our head down at night, or open our eyes in the morning God permitting? To ask Him to heal our back ache, or to reply: "Your servant is ready LORD, just give me the command and let us storm the gates of hell today!"</p><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: 20px;" /><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: calc(1rem*var(--kv-ee-global-font-size-factor)); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: break-word;">His,</p><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: calc(1rem*var(--kv-ee-global-font-size-factor)); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: break-word;">~Matt</p>Matthew Gasperonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492467760748615196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5808989054892934504.post-29399600802740073582022-12-21T16:36:00.002-05:002022-12-21T16:36:10.541-05:00Generosity<p> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: calc(1rem*var(--kv-ee-global-font-size-factor)); white-space: pre-wrap;">The discussion about generosity can be surprisingly controversial, and even confrontational at times. It's easy to try and point a finger at a billionaire that seems to give nothing away, and seems to care little for the poor. However there is a whole lot of space between extreme wealth and the poor. Are you wealthy? Am I wealthy? I sure feel I am - even when I struggle to find money to put into my savings accounts I still drive a nice truck, have the luxury of a camper, and many worldy pleasures that a lot do not have.</span></p><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: 20px;" /><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: calc(1rem*var(--kv-ee-global-font-size-factor)); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: break-word;">Money can and does become a deep rooted idol.</p><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: 20px;" /><figure style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 1rem;"><div class="kv-ee-blog-image blog-image" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--kv-ee-body-font-family,"Nunito Sans","Open Sans",sans-serif); font-style: var(--kv-ee-body-font-style,normal); font-weight: var(--kv-ee-body-font-weight,normal); width: 770px;"><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/production-domaincom-v1-0-6/136/587136/qByTPDxb/065e0a6710834ed58ec68fb8c36d274c" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border-style: none; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--kv-ee-body-font-family,"Nunito Sans","Open Sans",sans-serif); font-style: var(--kv-ee-body-font-style,normal); font-weight: var(--kv-ee-body-font-weight,normal); vertical-align: middle; width: 770px;" /></div></figure><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: 20px;" /><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: calc(1rem*var(--kv-ee-global-font-size-factor)); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: break-word;">However, when I think about wealth, two passages come to mind ... </p><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: 20px;" /><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: calc(1rem*var(--kv-ee-global-font-size-factor)); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: break-word;">One, a passage from Proverbs that I continue to come back to (and have often prayed this myself) ... </p><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: 20px;" /><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: calc(1rem*var(--kv-ee-global-font-size-factor)); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: break-word;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--kv-ee-body-font-family,"Nunito Sans","Open Sans",sans-serif); font-style: var(--kv-ee-body-font-style,normal); font-weight: 700;"><em style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--kv-ee-body-font-family,"Nunito Sans","Open Sans",sans-serif); font-weight: var(--kv-ee-body-font-weight,normal);"> Two things I ask of you;</em></span></p><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: calc(1rem*var(--kv-ee-global-font-size-factor)); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: break-word;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--kv-ee-body-font-family,"Nunito Sans","Open Sans",sans-serif); font-style: var(--kv-ee-body-font-style,normal); font-weight: 700;"><em style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--kv-ee-body-font-family,"Nunito Sans","Open Sans",sans-serif); font-weight: var(--kv-ee-body-font-weight,normal);"> deny them not to me before I die:</em></span></p><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: calc(1rem*var(--kv-ee-global-font-size-factor)); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: break-word;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--kv-ee-body-font-family,"Nunito Sans","Open Sans",sans-serif); font-style: var(--kv-ee-body-font-style,normal); font-weight: 700;"><em style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--kv-ee-body-font-family,"Nunito Sans","Open Sans",sans-serif); font-weight: var(--kv-ee-body-font-weight,normal);"> Remove far from me falsehood and lying;</em></span></p><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: calc(1rem*var(--kv-ee-global-font-size-factor)); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: break-word;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--kv-ee-body-font-family,"Nunito Sans","Open Sans",sans-serif); font-style: var(--kv-ee-body-font-style,normal); font-weight: 700;"><em style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--kv-ee-body-font-family,"Nunito Sans","Open Sans",sans-serif); font-weight: var(--kv-ee-body-font-weight,normal);"> give me neither poverty nor riches;</em></span></p><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: calc(1rem*var(--kv-ee-global-font-size-factor)); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: break-word;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--kv-ee-body-font-family,"Nunito Sans","Open Sans",sans-serif); font-style: var(--kv-ee-body-font-style,normal); font-weight: 700;"><em style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--kv-ee-body-font-family,"Nunito Sans","Open Sans",sans-serif); font-weight: var(--kv-ee-body-font-weight,normal);"> feed me with the food that is needful for me,</em></span></p><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: calc(1rem*var(--kv-ee-global-font-size-factor)); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: break-word;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--kv-ee-body-font-family,"Nunito Sans","Open Sans",sans-serif); font-style: var(--kv-ee-body-font-style,normal); font-weight: 700;"><em style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--kv-ee-body-font-family,"Nunito Sans","Open Sans",sans-serif); font-weight: var(--kv-ee-body-font-weight,normal);"> lest I be full and deny you</em></span></p><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: calc(1rem*var(--kv-ee-global-font-size-factor)); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: break-word;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--kv-ee-body-font-family,"Nunito Sans","Open Sans",sans-serif); font-style: var(--kv-ee-body-font-style,normal); font-weight: 700;"><em style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--kv-ee-body-font-family,"Nunito Sans","Open Sans",sans-serif); font-weight: var(--kv-ee-body-font-weight,normal);"> and say, “Who is the LORD?”</em></span></p><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: calc(1rem*var(--kv-ee-global-font-size-factor)); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: break-word;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--kv-ee-body-font-family,"Nunito Sans","Open Sans",sans-serif); font-style: var(--kv-ee-body-font-style,normal); font-weight: 700;"><em style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--kv-ee-body-font-family,"Nunito Sans","Open Sans",sans-serif); font-weight: var(--kv-ee-body-font-weight,normal);"> or lest I be poor and steal</em></span></p><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: calc(1rem*var(--kv-ee-global-font-size-factor)); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: break-word;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--kv-ee-body-font-family,"Nunito Sans","Open Sans",sans-serif); font-style: var(--kv-ee-body-font-style,normal); font-weight: 700;"><em style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--kv-ee-body-font-family,"Nunito Sans","Open Sans",sans-serif); font-weight: var(--kv-ee-body-font-weight,normal);"> and profane the name of my God. (Proverbs 30:7–9 ESV)</em></span></p><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: 20px;" /><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: calc(1rem*var(--kv-ee-global-font-size-factor)); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: break-word;">I don't wish poverty upon myself (or anyone), but I also don't wish riches either. I've seen the emptiness, depression, and claws that money can bring (even in my own life) and to wish for more seems futile.</p><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: 20px;" /><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: calc(1rem*var(--kv-ee-global-font-size-factor)); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: break-word;">Then there is this other passage that to me, summarizes what our lifestyle and hearts should be toward generosity ... </p><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: 20px;" /><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: calc(1rem*var(--kv-ee-global-font-size-factor)); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: break-word;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--kv-ee-body-font-family,"Nunito Sans","Open Sans",sans-serif); font-style: var(--kv-ee-body-font-style,normal); font-weight: 700;"><em style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--kv-ee-body-font-family,"Nunito Sans","Open Sans",sans-serif); font-weight: var(--kv-ee-body-font-weight,normal);">For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened, but that as a matter of fairness your abundance at the present time should supply their need, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be fairness. As it is written, “Whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack.” (2 Corinthians 8:13–15 ESV)</em></span></p><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: 20px;" /><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: calc(1rem*var(--kv-ee-global-font-size-factor)); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: break-word;">Some have extra, and some are in need. Those two should strive to balance eachother out.</p><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: 20px;" /><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: calc(1rem*var(--kv-ee-global-font-size-factor)); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: break-word;">Yet for me it goes one step further.</p><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: 20px;" /><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: calc(1rem*var(--kv-ee-global-font-size-factor)); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: break-word;">My hope is not to just "give more" ... but to live a life and lifestyle that grows in my 'abiliity' to be generous. Strive to live on less, so that my abudnace grows not because my income goes up, but that my cost of living goes down.</p><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: 20px;" /><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: calc(1rem*var(--kv-ee-global-font-size-factor)); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: break-word;">This is my struggle ... this is my idol ... it's not so much collecting more things, or wanting more money - but wanting to keep what I have. In some ways (certainly not all) I have been by the Grace of God been given a spirit of contentment with what I have been given. Yet I need to grow much in being content with "less" ... </p><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: 20px;" /><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: calc(1rem*var(--kv-ee-global-font-size-factor)); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: break-word;">Let's pray for eachtoher ... </p><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: 20px;" /><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: calc(1rem*var(--kv-ee-global-font-size-factor)); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: break-word;">His,</p><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: calc(1rem*var(--kv-ee-global-font-size-factor)); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: break-word;">~Matt</p>Matthew Gasperonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492467760748615196noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5808989054892934504.post-45148797253426210522022-12-21T16:35:00.004-05:002022-12-21T16:35:40.785-05:00The Ark Encounter<p> <img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/production-domaincom-v1-0-6/136/587136/qByTPDxb/1cc2abd813ed4543a1bc8b04f8e1f6b6" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border-style: none; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--kv-ee-body-font-family,"Nunito Sans","Open Sans",sans-serif); font-size: 20px; font-style: var(--kv-ee-body-font-style,normal); font-weight: var(--kv-ee-body-font-weight,normal); vertical-align: middle; width: 770px;" /></p><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: 20px;" /><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: calc(1rem*var(--kv-ee-global-font-size-factor)); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: break-word;">On Marceen and I's 20th anniversary trip to Kentucky, we managed to stop by the Ark Encounter and spent most of the day there. What a blessing that day was!</p><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: 20px;" /><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: calc(1rem*var(--kv-ee-global-font-size-factor)); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: break-word;">I really didn't know what to expect, but I surely didn't expect to be as moved as I was that day. The Ark was impressive, the floors inside were laid out to show how things may have been, and the exhibits were truly top-notch!</p><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: 20px;" /><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: calc(1rem*var(--kv-ee-global-font-size-factor)); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: break-word;">The Ark is one of those historical accounts in Scripture that is a stumbling block for some. Much like Santa Claus, it's treated as a fairy tale with smiling lions and cute giraffe's sticking out of a plastic children's toy. Yet the story is much more real, more dark, and yet full of hope.</p><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: 20px;" /><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: calc(1rem*var(--kv-ee-global-font-size-factor)); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: break-word;">I could explain how this exhibit does a great job explaining the truth of what the Scriptures say about the flood, the animals, the story, and the people - which differ greatly from those that don't understand (or want to understand) its story - yet my greatest takeaway were not facts, but faith.</p><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: 20px;" /><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: calc(1rem*var(--kv-ee-global-font-size-factor)); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: break-word;">I love how God gives us plenty enough to believe yet leaves the needed room for faith and has us to choose where we stand.</p><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: 20px;" /><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: calc(1rem*var(--kv-ee-global-font-size-factor)); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: break-word;"><em style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: var(--kv-ee-body-font-family,"Nunito Sans","Open Sans",sans-serif); font-weight: var(--kv-ee-body-font-weight,normal);">If this is a stumbling block for you, just reach out, and I can try to point you to resources.</em></p><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: 20px;" /><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: calc(1rem*var(--kv-ee-global-font-size-factor)); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: break-word;">His,</p><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Roboto Slab"; font-size: calc(1rem*var(--kv-ee-global-font-size-factor)); line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; word-break: break-word;">~Matt</p>Matthew Gasperonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14492467760748615196noreply@blogger.com0