Can You Sit Still?

Today I want to introduce to you a hard practice.  Sitting still.  
No reading.  No music.  Just you, sitting still, allowing God to speak to you.  This is a frequent part of my abiding time with God.  This is a difficult practice but a healthy one.  I hope you will join with me today.

First, prepare yourself for this.  
Read John 15:1-8 and tell God that your here on purpose.  Of all the places and people that are begging for your attention, you are choosing to sit right here.  

Next, tell God how awesome He is.
Then, tell him the things that are on your mind.
Now, prepare to sit.

I want to encourage you to start with 10 minutes.  When you find yourself getting restless (I set a timer on my phone so that I don't keep looking at my watch) you might want to think on these two thoughts:
1. Holy Spirit, I invite you into this moment.  Please counsel me with your great wisdom.
2. Pray Psalms 103:1, "Praise the Lord, O my soul!"

After being still I read the following scriptures:

Proverbs chapter 11
Three scriptures spoke to me this morning. Pro 11:2, 11:15, and 11:22.
What is God saying here?
What will you do about it?

Psalms chapter 51-55
Specifically Ps 51:12-13.
What is God saying to you?
What will you do about it?

Utmost for His Highest

For those who are reading along with me I would love to hear from you.  If you have the time, email me and let me know what God is doing in your life.  matt@newcitychurch.com

Blessings,
Pastor Matt

Here on Purpose. December 10, 2014

Before we get to our daily reading join with me in these three prayer phases.
1. Tell God how good He is.
2. Be honest with the Lord, tell him what's on your heart (the good, the bad, the ugly).
3. Listen.  You've gotten to talk, now let God.  Ask Him to speak to you through his Word.

"Be still and know that I am God."

John 15:1-8
I realize we read this every day but don't skip this.  This is why we are "here on purpose," so that we may be a apart of Jesus.  
What is God saying to you?
What will you do about it?

Psalms chapters 46-50
Specifically Ps 50:23.  A Thank Offering was given after one of these three things had happened: persevered through a time of distress, follow the completing of a vow, or a religious renewal.  
Have you experienced one of those recently?
If so, how might you offer a Thank Offering to God?

Proverbs chapter 10

Utmost for His Highest

The Beginning of Wisdom. Here on Purpose, December 9, 2014

I'm curious, are you afraid of the wrong things?  Seriously, what are you afraid of?  What creates fear in your life?

Maybe you should make a list of your fears.  I'm curious to what would be on it.  
Would God be on your list?
Do you fear God?

Proverbs chapter 9
Specifically Proverbs 9:10.

I believe God's warnings to be truth.  This should scare the hell right out of you.  Why do you continue to walk in the direction of hell?  Why do you return, over and over again, to the source of so much pain and self-disgust?  

Please don't be angry with God when you get what you want.  Your anger will not sway him, God is not afraid of you.

Psalms chapters 41-45
You might relate to these 5 chapters?  Within these 5 chapters you find the words of a man who is in great pain and surrounded by many enemies.  Notice what King David says and prays.

What is God saying to you?
What will you do about it?

John 15:1-8
If, Jesus is the "true vine" what would be possible false vines?  
What have you attached yourself to that is false?
What is God saying to you?
What will you do about it?

Utmost for His Highest, December 9, 2014

Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.  Don't copy the methods of the world.  Copy the methods of Jesus.

Have a blessed day,
Pastor Matt

Do You Have the Time? Here on Purpose, December 8, 2014

Good Monday morning.  Don't click on something else...You are here on purpose.  Don't rush through these scriptures.  This is not speed reading.  This isn't something to check off your list.

Look what King David tells us in Psalms 40:6-7 
"Receiving sacrifices and offerings are not your primary concern.  You make that quite clear to me!  You do not ask for burnt sacrifices and sin offerings.  Then I say, 'Look!  I come!'"

Before you read anything else I ask that you pause and pray something like this (this is how I start my "Here on Purpose" time):
"Lord, I'm here on purpose.  There are other things I could be doing, but I choose you.  You are my Lord.  Please create in me a hunger for you and for your Words.  Lord, I trust that you hear my prayers but I also understand that I need to talk less and listen more.  Help me to listen to you as you speak to my through your word.  As I read help me to both hear and obey.  Amen."

Daily Reading for December 8, 2014
John 15:1-8
What brings God honor?
What does this mean for you?

Proverbs chapter 8
Specifically Pro 8:34-35
How important is it that you make time each day for the Lord?
What are you going to do about it?

Psalms chapters 36-40
Specifically Ps 37:25
What is God saying to you?

Focus on Psalms 39:1
What is God saying to you?
What are you going to do about it?

Don't rush through Psalms 40.
Notice what King David is saying.
Are you sharing, telling, proclaiming what God has done for you?  Please don't neglect to tell your story.

Utmost for His Highest
"We trample the blood of the Son of God underfoot if we think we are forgiven because we are sorry for our sins. The only reason for the forgiveness of our sins by God, and the infinite depth of His promise to forget them, is the death of Jesus Christ."

Have a blessed day,
Pastor Matt

Repentance vs Sorrow. Here on Purpose - December 7, 2014

Upmost for His Highest, Dec 7, 2014
"Repentance always brings a person to the point of saying, 'I have sinned.'  The surest sign that God is at work in his life is when he says that and means it.  Anything less is simply sorrow for having made foolish mistakes - a reflex action caused by self-disgust."

Are you repentant (turning away from) sin or are you simply disgusted at your behavior?

Psalms chapters 31-35
Look at what King David wrote  about confessing sin in Psalms 32:3-5, Psalms 32:9
What is God saying to you?
What will you do about it?

Proverbs chapter 7
What is God saying to you through Solomon's story?
What will you do about it?

Stop being sorry and start turning from sin.  Forgiveness is not found is sorrow but in repentance.

Have a blessed Sunday...If you're reading this and haven't made it to worship today, don't forget about our Sunday 5PM worship service.

Blessings,
Pastor Matt 

I fear no one! Here on Purpose - December 6, 2014

There is a reason this post is being published so early in the morning.  I had a bad dream.  One that chases away sleep and creates a pounding heart within my chest.  To be completely vulnerable, I was full of fear and anxiety.    Because of this, I made a, much earlier than expected, trip to the chair I sit in each day to reflect, pray, and read God's Word.  

So, a little past 4AM, while most of you are sleeping, I am awake sharing with you how the Lord, through his powerful Word, has replaced fear and anxiety with peace and security.  

Don't get caught up in what causes the fear.  There is no peace in those thoughts.
Focus on the Truth.  Truth has a name.  His name is Jesus.  Here is how the Lord comforted me this AM.  I trust his Word to do the same for you.

First, I started in John chapters 14 and 15:1-8. 

I revisited a scripture from yesterday's blog, Psalms 23.
"Even when I must walk through the darkest valley, I fear no danger, for you are with me; your rod and your staff reassure me." Ps 23:4
Sometimes we "must" walk through difficult days.  "Even when" you do, you can trust the Lord is there.

Psalms 26
Specifically verse 2.  
Remove yourself for a moment on what you think or what others think about you.  Give space to God to tell you about you.  
What is God saying about you?
What will you do about it?

Psalms 27 - This is the scripture that removed my fear and replaced it with peace and security.
Specifically 27:1, 27:4, and 27:14.

Proverbs chapter 6

UpMost December 6, 2014

Father, I pray for those who are too often captivated by fear and anxiety.  I ask your Holy Spirit to remind us of your truth.  Father, may we, your people, remain in you.  May we take the time to dwell, not on the source of our fear but rather on the source of truth.  Father, I ask that we would fill our lives with more of your son Jesus, both his words and his methods for living.  May Jesus' words and life replace our fear and anxiety.  Thank you for your peace.  Amen.

Enjoy a peaceful Saturday,
Pastor Matt
 

I lack nothing. Here on Purpose - December 5, 2014

Good Friday morning.  Today as I sat down to pray (both talking and listening) and read the Bible the song Take it All kept coming to mind.  If you're not familiar with it you can listen to it here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPOBuoTgSvY

The line worth repeating is "My heart is yours.  My heart is yours.  Take it all.  Take it all, my life in your hands."  

Morning Prayer:
Father, before I even speak a word about my needs and wants, I pause to remind myself that above all, I want my heart, my whole life, to belong completely to you.  In truth, my heart is often broken into fragments, some...maybe even most belonging to you, but other parts hang on to hurts, wicked desires, frustrations, and other things that are not of you.  Father, I choose not to suppress, to push these deeper down inside, but to rather lift them up to you.  Please, take all my heart.  Make it yours.  As I read your Word today my I apply your truth to my life.   Amen

John 15:1-8 
What is God saying to you?

Psalms 21
Notice Psalms 22:1 and 22:18.  Do you recognize these?  Jesus repeats 22:1 on the cross, Matthew 27:46.  And, 22:18 is fulfilled in Luke 23:34.

Psalms 23
Please don't skip this most famous Psalm.  
Notice the first line, "The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing." 
Is this your attitude?  
Is Jesus your Lord?  
He can't be your shepherd if you refuse to become his sheep.  

Psalm 25
Specifically 25:4-5
Would you make this your prayer?

Reflect on 25:7
What in your past haunts you?  Remember, don't push down deeper, but rather lift it to your Shepherd, he cares for you.

Proverbs chapter 5
What is God saying in this chapter in the context of pornography and adultery?
Serious question...Is the brief pleasure worth the consequence?
"Take it all.  Take it all, my life in your hands."

UpMost December 5, 2014
 

A King's Prayer - Here on Purpose, December 4, 2014

Good morning.  Today, before you start reading I ask that you pause and do 3 things.

1. Brag on God.  Tell Him why you think He is awesome!
2. Speak what's on your mind.  Tell Him the things that are stressing you out.
3. Be still and listen.  Don't rush this.  Now is His turn to talk.  "Be still and know that He is God."

Now...Are you ready for God's Word to speak into your life?  
What is He saying to you?
What will you do about it?

Daily Reading:
John 15:1-8

Psalms chapters 16-20
Specifically 16, 19, and 20.  In chapter 20 it's as if King David is praying for us!

Proverbs chapter 4
Take a closer look at 4:23-24.

Upmost for His Highest December 4th

Have a blessed day as we continue to walk with the Lord,
Pastor Matt

Here on Purpose - Are you asking God to do something? December 3, 2014

Good AM.  I wanted to share with you what I was reading this morning.  Before I do let me share a Biblical principal with you: 
God's power in your life comes after obedience not before it.  
If you are waiting on God to "do" before you "do"...You may find that you never will.  

With that in mind...Here is what I read this morning.

John 15:1-8
Focus on verse 8, what brings God honor?

Proverbs chapter 3
One of my favorite verses is Proverbs 3:5-6.  This is a deep and rich text.  Don't speed read this.  Take the time to chew on this powerful little verse.  
What is God saying to you about where you are placing your trust?
What will you do about it?

Psalms chapters 11-15
Focus on chapter 15. Today, would you qualify as a guest in the house of the Lord?  
If no, then what do you need to repent (turn from)?

Repentance isn't a bad thing.  It's a most beautiful thing.  It's God's way of providing us an opportunity to reconnect with Himself.  Turn from your sin and wicked behavior and prepare yourself to be a guest in the house of the Lord.

Father, I pray for each person who takes the time to read your words of truth today.  May they be much more than words but rather life!  May we be a people who not only read what you say but also have the faith and eagerness to obey.  Thank You for the truth, may it set us free.
Amen.

Have a blessed day, 
Pastor Matt

Here on Purpose - December 2, 2014

Hi folks.  Pastor Matt here.  I would like to invite you to join me in my daily readings.  However, this isn't speed reading.  I ask that you carve out at least 45 minutes so that you have the space to reflect on what God is saying to you.  

Let me start you off by praying for you.
Father, I pray for each person who is reading this blog right now.  I ask that you would speak to them by your Word.  I ask that any trouble, anxiety, stress, or to-do list that is pressing upon them would be silenced for the next several moments.  God please speak to us, for we are here on purpose.

John 15:1, "I am the true vine and my Father is the gardener."
What do you think Jesus meant by "the true vine?" 
If there Jesus is the "true vine" then there must also be false vines.  What other "vines" do you give your life to?

Proverbs chapter 2

Psalms chapters 6-10

What is God saying to you?  What are you going to do about it?

I'd love to hear what you're learning.  Please share it with me at matt@newcitychurch.com.

See you tomorrow,
Matt Miller