SIN vs. GOD
isn't this the endless battle being fought in the supernatural realm? good vs. evil. ligh vs. darkness.
how much energy do you spend trying to fight against the sin tendencies in your life? how much energy do you spend fighting to get closer to God?
how's that working for you? (w/dr. phil tone)
i am believing more and more that we must put our energies into drawing closer to God, being filled more with His Spirit, and displaying healthy fruit in our lives. if we do this, then we will naturally allow sin less and less in our lives.
have you been stuck in the rut though when you put ALL your energies into fighting sin and have nothing left to go after God? i've been there and it can get frustrating.
i recently had a close friend remind me that i can defeat sin by opening my heart more to God's Spirit and allowing that to change me. my fight is against sin, but i can't line up and fight that 100% of the time, or i will never receive from God all that i need in order to truly change!
remember the house that was swept clean in the Bible, but not filled with more of God? when the enemy returned, he came in 7x stronger and the man was worse off.
i need to sweep my house clean of sin (don't miss my point), but then i need to go after God's Spirit with ALL the energy i have. only then, will i defeat sin. only then will i be who God wants me to be.
start today!
seek His presence, His Spirit, and His heart. do it right now! do it in a few hours! do it tonight! and get up tomorrow and do it again!
do you want change? start by pressing in closer to God!
peace
Friday, June 26, 2009
Saturday, June 20, 2009
heat wave
yesterday was definitely one of the most humid days i have experienced in a long time. after the storm blew through, it seemed like you could cut the air with a knife!
we, @ the Valantine house, have been holding out to light up the air conditioner . . . that is until last night. at 3am nash seemed upset and wouldn't fall asleep, and i had tossed and turned for 2+hours, so i gave in. i shut all the windows and began to embrace the cool breeze that we Americans are so fortunate to appreciate.
i fell right to sleep.
in fact, i feel more productive today! i am dreading the grass cutting which in inevitable today. i need one of those helmets with the thermos and a line to my mouth to inhale some H2O as i manicure the lawn.
spiritual implications to all that . . . well, here goes . . .
the storm blowing through can symbolize a fresh encounter with God. often, we can bottom out (dry out) shortly after this experience. we seem to hold out during this dry time thinking we are weak to go back to the source for more refreshing. we kick and scream not wanting to turn the air on because it will cost us something . . . time? energy? sacrifice?
we get frustrated, irritable, and tend to lose sleep during this dry time, when really at any moment, we could turn on the air and experience another round of refreshment, another touch from the source - God!
when we finally give in and return to the source and live in the refreshment, we wonder why we waited so long. it feels so good and seems to make everything go a little smoother. or, we at least fell less irritable.
so, my application for this is . . . experience God today in some way, but don't get satisfied and comfortable with what you get today. go back for more tomorrow, let Him fill you, and then, go spill out on others. 2 days from now . . . repeat the process. 3 days . . . do it again. 4 days . . . well, i think you get the picture!
peace
we, @ the Valantine house, have been holding out to light up the air conditioner . . . that is until last night. at 3am nash seemed upset and wouldn't fall asleep, and i had tossed and turned for 2+hours, so i gave in. i shut all the windows and began to embrace the cool breeze that we Americans are so fortunate to appreciate.
i fell right to sleep.
in fact, i feel more productive today! i am dreading the grass cutting which in inevitable today. i need one of those helmets with the thermos and a line to my mouth to inhale some H2O as i manicure the lawn.
spiritual implications to all that . . . well, here goes . . .
the storm blowing through can symbolize a fresh encounter with God. often, we can bottom out (dry out) shortly after this experience. we seem to hold out during this dry time thinking we are weak to go back to the source for more refreshing. we kick and scream not wanting to turn the air on because it will cost us something . . . time? energy? sacrifice?
we get frustrated, irritable, and tend to lose sleep during this dry time, when really at any moment, we could turn on the air and experience another round of refreshment, another touch from the source - God!
when we finally give in and return to the source and live in the refreshment, we wonder why we waited so long. it feels so good and seems to make everything go a little smoother. or, we at least fell less irritable.
so, my application for this is . . . experience God today in some way, but don't get satisfied and comfortable with what you get today. go back for more tomorrow, let Him fill you, and then, go spill out on others. 2 days from now . . . repeat the process. 3 days . . . do it again. 4 days . . . well, i think you get the picture!
peace
Friday, June 19, 2009
back . . . again
ok, so i am still struggling with being a consistent blogger. i haven't even looked at the page for 2 months, but today i noticed i have 17 followers. wow, i must be cooler than i thought.
also, Amanda is challenging me to blog more faithfully, so here i am.
some updates in my life over the last few months . . .
(1) everyone had a b-day in the Valantine family except for me (amanda - 30, annie -8, kaitie - 3, nash - 2)
(2) i went to my first PGA Golf practice round at muirfield in Dublin, OH
(3) we celebrated our first Easter at Journey Church
(4) we changed the name of the church to Journey Church!!!
(5) we had our first community outreach - saw 16 new families represented
(6) my great-grandmother (98) passed away - love you gram!
(7) played the drums at my first ever gig (Ohio Girl's Retreat) - well, not really a gig, cause it was volunteer, but had a blast!
(8) took annie to get glasses for first time
(9) connected with a great group of pastors in delaware for fellowship regularly
(10) helped patch some holes in our parking lot with blacktop patch - first time i've done that!
(11) almost killed myself on the church's riding lawn mower - twice!
(12) started tweeting on twitter (check it out twitter.com/mattvalantine)
(13) went diving off cliffs in the cayman islands - jk
well, that should get you caught up on me. check back soon & i will do my best to write some things that might inspire you, challenge you, or encourage you in your faith journey . . .
or you will at least get some laughs at my expense
peace
also, Amanda is challenging me to blog more faithfully, so here i am.
some updates in my life over the last few months . . .
(1) everyone had a b-day in the Valantine family except for me (amanda - 30, annie -8, kaitie - 3, nash - 2)
(2) i went to my first PGA Golf practice round at muirfield in Dublin, OH
(3) we celebrated our first Easter at Journey Church
(4) we changed the name of the church to Journey Church!!!
(5) we had our first community outreach - saw 16 new families represented
(6) my great-grandmother (98) passed away - love you gram!
(7) played the drums at my first ever gig (Ohio Girl's Retreat) - well, not really a gig, cause it was volunteer, but had a blast!
(8) took annie to get glasses for first time
(9) connected with a great group of pastors in delaware for fellowship regularly
(10) helped patch some holes in our parking lot with blacktop patch - first time i've done that!
(11) almost killed myself on the church's riding lawn mower - twice!
(12) started tweeting on twitter (check it out twitter.com/mattvalantine)
(13) went diving off cliffs in the cayman islands - jk
well, that should get you caught up on me. check back soon & i will do my best to write some things that might inspire you, challenge you, or encourage you in your faith journey . . .
or you will at least get some laughs at my expense
peace
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
living the dream
it doesn't always "feel" like a dream, but i am truly LIVING THE DREAM!!
what i get to do/what i am blessed with:
(1) LIFE
*when i first met my father-in-law, Joe Cotter, and discovered that he thanks God every time he prays - for breath and another day of life - at first, it sounded odd, but now that i am over 30, i realize how important those things are. i mean, without them, we are dead, right? this is the air i breathe and each breath is a gift from God. today i am blessed with LIFE.
(2) SALVATION
*i have no idea where/what/who/how life would be without my relationship with Jesus. my dream is to serve Him with all i am and to hear him say, "Well done, good and faithful servant!" i'm living each day for Him and with Him. to process that Christ left Heaven to come to Earth and doe for me to have life, that is true love! that's how i understand SALVATION.
(3) DAD
*what an honor it is to raise 3 amazing children. not the easiest thing, but the most fulfilling for me. i pray that i get it right more than i get it wrong. maybe they will learn some good along the way from me. to think i will help shape these little lives from the moment they arrived in the world to the moment i depart! wow! it's a crazy ride, being DAD.
(4) HUSBAND
*let's be real. marriage has to be the hardest thing to master. does anyone ever get there? so many rewards from marriage, but so much work. it doesn't scare me anymore, but i've realized it doesn't just happen either. i have to be intentional. i'm thankful i get to be married. marriage is a great honor! i hope i can be what my wife needs me to be as her HUSBAND!
(5) CALL
*when i was 18, God called me to serve Him full-time in ministry as a pastor. i always wanted to be a heart dr. and my grandma says i still am, just a different kind. i am humbled by His call to be a pastor, especially now that i have the honor, with my wife at my side, to lead the church in Delaware, OH. not easy, definitely an adventure, and full of life-change, for me and others! thanks, God, for the CALL.
(6) FRIENDS
*i couldn't ask for better friends! i am not just saying that either. i have friends all over the USA, different ages and backgrounds, all with passions and dreams of their own, and i wouldn't be who i am without them. i can turn to them when i need a good laugh, a good cry, to vent, to brainstorm, to share good news and bad. i'll show you my friends, and you can show me how i have gotten this far. know that i am a better person with them in my life. i have the best FRIENDS!
a dream? YES! someone pinch me. ok, not really, especially not on the back of the upper arm . . . OUCH!
i am matt valantine, and i am living the dream!!
peace
what i get to do/what i am blessed with:
(1) LIFE
*when i first met my father-in-law, Joe Cotter, and discovered that he thanks God every time he prays - for breath and another day of life - at first, it sounded odd, but now that i am over 30, i realize how important those things are. i mean, without them, we are dead, right? this is the air i breathe and each breath is a gift from God. today i am blessed with LIFE.
(2) SALVATION
*i have no idea where/what/who/how life would be without my relationship with Jesus. my dream is to serve Him with all i am and to hear him say, "Well done, good and faithful servant!" i'm living each day for Him and with Him. to process that Christ left Heaven to come to Earth and doe for me to have life, that is true love! that's how i understand SALVATION.
(3) DAD
*what an honor it is to raise 3 amazing children. not the easiest thing, but the most fulfilling for me. i pray that i get it right more than i get it wrong. maybe they will learn some good along the way from me. to think i will help shape these little lives from the moment they arrived in the world to the moment i depart! wow! it's a crazy ride, being DAD.
(4) HUSBAND
*let's be real. marriage has to be the hardest thing to master. does anyone ever get there? so many rewards from marriage, but so much work. it doesn't scare me anymore, but i've realized it doesn't just happen either. i have to be intentional. i'm thankful i get to be married. marriage is a great honor! i hope i can be what my wife needs me to be as her HUSBAND!
(5) CALL
*when i was 18, God called me to serve Him full-time in ministry as a pastor. i always wanted to be a heart dr. and my grandma says i still am, just a different kind. i am humbled by His call to be a pastor, especially now that i have the honor, with my wife at my side, to lead the church in Delaware, OH. not easy, definitely an adventure, and full of life-change, for me and others! thanks, God, for the CALL.
(6) FRIENDS
*i couldn't ask for better friends! i am not just saying that either. i have friends all over the USA, different ages and backgrounds, all with passions and dreams of their own, and i wouldn't be who i am without them. i can turn to them when i need a good laugh, a good cry, to vent, to brainstorm, to share good news and bad. i'll show you my friends, and you can show me how i have gotten this far. know that i am a better person with them in my life. i have the best FRIENDS!
a dream? YES! someone pinch me. ok, not really, especially not on the back of the upper arm . . . OUCH!
i am matt valantine, and i am living the dream!!
peace
Thursday, March 5, 2009
spoiled
spolied?
a 1 year old baby boy who wakes up at 12:30am and gets daddy to stay awakewith him for 2 hours is probably spolied.
at least i got to catch up on some TIVO'd shows. remember life before TIVO? i faintly do. it's amazing how accustomed (spoiled) we have bcome with the latest technology.
i remember living in Bowling Green. Annie was was 3 years old. we had to make some cutbacks financially. satlellite TV would have to go for awhile. we busted out the bunny ears and we rolling with "farmer vision." annie was watching TV and had to go to the bathroom. she asked me to pause the show she was watching. when i told her we couldn't do that anymore, she started crying hysterically. i don't think she believed me. pretty spoiled, huh?
how have you become spoiled in life? compared to people who lived 100 or 1000 years ago? i bet you are. just imagine life without fastfood, microwaves, cell phones, computers, alarm clocks, ipods, garage door openers, dvd players - for your van or SUV, answering machines, fax machines, cell phones, copier/printer/scaners, the internet - google, youtube, facebook, netflix, online shopping, remote controls (imagine having to get up and change the channel manually), washing machines, dish washers, thermostat controls, video conferencing, GPS, did i say cell phones?
i just read about 4-way golf glasses that block out background colors so you can find your ball easier and they reduce contrast so you can read breaks and contours of the green easier. wow!
that's not all, they now have laser guided parking systems that show you exactly how far you need to pull in to the garage so you can safely shut it once you park you car! are you kidding?
what is the common thread of all these things? technology. why am i reminded of the closing scene of Napoleon Dynamite right now? have you wondered what the next greatest tech device will be?
whatever it is, it will most likely spoil us even more. why are you talking about this, Matt? why to sudden soapbox on tech? don't you have a cell phone, a GPS, and sweet 4-way glasses for golf? yes, well, except for the glasses.
i guess i just long for simplicity in some ways. while most of the tech advances are conveinent, some tend to be inconvenient at times, like my cell, my laptop, and my answering machine.
i long to be disconnected from the world instead of so connected. i desire a place of solitude - ok, i desire a stranded desert island most days. don't get me wrong, i love people, especially my family. i love my ministry too, but i just need to disconnect so i can connect with my Heavenly Father.
actually, i plan to do that sometime today. i need that time regularly. it's a hard discipline, but crucial!
so, if you call, e-mail, text, or facebook me and i don't respond right away, you will know why!
peace
a 1 year old baby boy who wakes up at 12:30am and gets daddy to stay awakewith him for 2 hours is probably spolied.
at least i got to catch up on some TIVO'd shows. remember life before TIVO? i faintly do. it's amazing how accustomed (spoiled) we have bcome with the latest technology.
i remember living in Bowling Green. Annie was was 3 years old. we had to make some cutbacks financially. satlellite TV would have to go for awhile. we busted out the bunny ears and we rolling with "farmer vision." annie was watching TV and had to go to the bathroom. she asked me to pause the show she was watching. when i told her we couldn't do that anymore, she started crying hysterically. i don't think she believed me. pretty spoiled, huh?
how have you become spoiled in life? compared to people who lived 100 or 1000 years ago? i bet you are. just imagine life without fastfood, microwaves, cell phones, computers, alarm clocks, ipods, garage door openers, dvd players - for your van or SUV, answering machines, fax machines, cell phones, copier/printer/scaners, the internet - google, youtube, facebook, netflix, online shopping, remote controls (imagine having to get up and change the channel manually), washing machines, dish washers, thermostat controls, video conferencing, GPS, did i say cell phones?
i just read about 4-way golf glasses that block out background colors so you can find your ball easier and they reduce contrast so you can read breaks and contours of the green easier. wow!
that's not all, they now have laser guided parking systems that show you exactly how far you need to pull in to the garage so you can safely shut it once you park you car! are you kidding?
what is the common thread of all these things? technology. why am i reminded of the closing scene of Napoleon Dynamite right now? have you wondered what the next greatest tech device will be?
whatever it is, it will most likely spoil us even more. why are you talking about this, Matt? why to sudden soapbox on tech? don't you have a cell phone, a GPS, and sweet 4-way glasses for golf? yes, well, except for the glasses.
i guess i just long for simplicity in some ways. while most of the tech advances are conveinent, some tend to be inconvenient at times, like my cell, my laptop, and my answering machine.
i long to be disconnected from the world instead of so connected. i desire a place of solitude - ok, i desire a stranded desert island most days. don't get me wrong, i love people, especially my family. i love my ministry too, but i just need to disconnect so i can connect with my Heavenly Father.
actually, i plan to do that sometime today. i need that time regularly. it's a hard discipline, but crucial!
so, if you call, e-mail, text, or facebook me and i don't respond right away, you will know why!
peace
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
inspired
my wife has renewed my passion for blogging. i must admit, i hit a wall and was ready to turn in my blogging profile to the authorities, but i have been inspired by Amanda to reignite the flame of blogging fire.
i suggest each of you visit amanda's blog (amandavalantine.blogspot.com), it is full of much more wisdom and maturity, but i will at least try to make you laugh and keep you updated on my life.
(1) today i am meeting with other ministers in the delaware area to build relationship and begin partnering to reach our community.
(2) our church is still journeying through the book of Nehemiah and we are in chapter 8 this week.
(3) i am thrilled to have my wife and kids home after 8 days of them vactioning with my parents in Florida!
(4) i am sad to let Amanda go again this weekend to help WLMB TV 40 in Toledo with their bi-annual telethon. go. girl!
(5) fine arts festival for Ohio is in 9 days which means the official crunch is on. i have the ooprtunity to serve on the committee and i am honored to say the least
*i am more excited this year than i have ever been to see the amazing talent and creativity of the Ohio students in action
*i am praying for all of you! keep using your gifts to glorify God and draw pre-christians to His love!
(6) i have received my dose of exercise each of the last 2 Sundays playing basketball at Johnstown HS with other guys my age. i still have a decent shot, but i am way out of shape!
keep checking back for updates. thanks for your patience as i strayed fromt he path of blogger faithfulness!
peace
i suggest each of you visit amanda's blog (amandavalantine.blogspot.com), it is full of much more wisdom and maturity, but i will at least try to make you laugh and keep you updated on my life.
(1) today i am meeting with other ministers in the delaware area to build relationship and begin partnering to reach our community.
(2) our church is still journeying through the book of Nehemiah and we are in chapter 8 this week.
(3) i am thrilled to have my wife and kids home after 8 days of them vactioning with my parents in Florida!
(4) i am sad to let Amanda go again this weekend to help WLMB TV 40 in Toledo with their bi-annual telethon. go. girl!
(5) fine arts festival for Ohio is in 9 days which means the official crunch is on. i have the ooprtunity to serve on the committee and i am honored to say the least
*i am more excited this year than i have ever been to see the amazing talent and creativity of the Ohio students in action
*i am praying for all of you! keep using your gifts to glorify God and draw pre-christians to His love!
(6) i have received my dose of exercise each of the last 2 Sundays playing basketball at Johnstown HS with other guys my age. i still have a decent shot, but i am way out of shape!
keep checking back for updates. thanks for your patience as i strayed fromt he path of blogger faithfulness!
peace
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
a simple teaching
God has been reminding me of 2 simple lessons in 2009 for success as i serve Him with my life:
(1) a pure heart
(2) a desperation for Him
**when it comes to having a pure heart, I believe God is looking for people who are willing to deny the desires of their flesh day after day, moment after moment. we all face temptation. we all battle the enemy in this area. are we winning more than we are losing? you don't have to be perfect to have a pure heart, but you need to win much more than you lose.
it often comes down to whether we want God more than we want to satisfy our desires. do you love the world more than God? remember, the pleasures of this world are temporary. as Paul warned us, "don't handle, don't taste, don't touch!" get on your knees today, repent, and don't look back.
many of us battle with the enemy's voice daily. he lies to us and tricks us into believing that we can never have a pure heart because of the extent of our past failures. put the enemy in His place today, listen for God's voice which tells us, "the old has gone & the new has come." live in victory today!
what area are you losing more often than not? what do you know you can do/should do to change this? find someone today who you can talk with about the purity of your heart. find someone who will be completely honest with you and ask you the toughest questions. and remember, being honest is the first step to improving in this area.
**when it comes to being desperate for God, I believe God is looking for people who will rely on Him to make their plans succeed. we all have creative ability, charisma, and a passion to make a difference, but that will only get us so far. we must commit our plans daily to the One who can "do above and beyond what we can ask or imagine."
when God moved the Valantines from Bowling Green to Delaware, OH, we knew some things we had to do to help our new church. however, when we listened to God, gave Him control of the steering wheel, and yielded to His plans, we began to see breakthroughs that no human ability could've orchestrated.
we prayed and fasted over the finances, and immediately God released His blessing and we've seen over a 100% increase in giving! How god is our God? i couldn't have done that without holding a gun to people's heads and forcing them to give.
what areas of your life have you been in control of? what are you trying to do without the covering of God? stop today, declare your desperation for Him. fast and pray over that area/decision/dream/situation before you make another plan/seek any advice/or try to figure it out yourself.
when our heart is pure and we are relying on God to make it happen, we can rest assure we will see God's will & that will become our will & we will know we have done all that we can do!
do it today!
(1) a pure heart
(2) a desperation for Him
**when it comes to having a pure heart, I believe God is looking for people who are willing to deny the desires of their flesh day after day, moment after moment. we all face temptation. we all battle the enemy in this area. are we winning more than we are losing? you don't have to be perfect to have a pure heart, but you need to win much more than you lose.
it often comes down to whether we want God more than we want to satisfy our desires. do you love the world more than God? remember, the pleasures of this world are temporary. as Paul warned us, "don't handle, don't taste, don't touch!" get on your knees today, repent, and don't look back.
many of us battle with the enemy's voice daily. he lies to us and tricks us into believing that we can never have a pure heart because of the extent of our past failures. put the enemy in His place today, listen for God's voice which tells us, "the old has gone & the new has come." live in victory today!
what area are you losing more often than not? what do you know you can do/should do to change this? find someone today who you can talk with about the purity of your heart. find someone who will be completely honest with you and ask you the toughest questions. and remember, being honest is the first step to improving in this area.
**when it comes to being desperate for God, I believe God is looking for people who will rely on Him to make their plans succeed. we all have creative ability, charisma, and a passion to make a difference, but that will only get us so far. we must commit our plans daily to the One who can "do above and beyond what we can ask or imagine."
when God moved the Valantines from Bowling Green to Delaware, OH, we knew some things we had to do to help our new church. however, when we listened to God, gave Him control of the steering wheel, and yielded to His plans, we began to see breakthroughs that no human ability could've orchestrated.
we prayed and fasted over the finances, and immediately God released His blessing and we've seen over a 100% increase in giving! How god is our God? i couldn't have done that without holding a gun to people's heads and forcing them to give.
what areas of your life have you been in control of? what are you trying to do without the covering of God? stop today, declare your desperation for Him. fast and pray over that area/decision/dream/situation before you make another plan/seek any advice/or try to figure it out yourself.
when our heart is pure and we are relying on God to make it happen, we can rest assure we will see God's will & that will become our will & we will know we have done all that we can do!
do it today!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
