April 16, 2018
Art credit: http://drawingfit.com
We share from what we possess. That’s why the joy of the Lord is our strength. Once we have our hearts in tune with the Maker of our Souls and comprehend His incredible love and forgiveness, THEN we feel whole and we realize how much He values us. THAT alone can make us happy.
As we embrace the individuality of whom He made us to be, THEN we are able to sense a uniqueness and a happiness in the person He designed and is in the process of making. That happiness sloshes out of us in greater and greater amounts upon the people we surround ourselves with and THEN they are attracted to us or repelled by us because of the joy and the uniqueness.
As time passes someone will see us for whom we are and how we enjoy who God made us to be and will want to walk life’s journey together with us. They will be drawn to us because they realize they see joy and a stable, strong, self – someone who is safe and secure in their individuality to the point that they can share life together and pour into them from their abundance.
- That is WHAT marriage becomes.
- That is WHY marriage succeeds.
- That is WHEN life grows sweeter and the journey grows lighter.
- That is HOW God designed life to be.
I welcome your comments and thoughts.
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April 9, 2018
Photo credit: https://www.lifehack.org
I was asked recently … Why don’t today’s marriages have the longevity, stability, strength, endurance & true essence of LOVE?
Here’s my response …
Love = sacrifice. (John 15.13) Most people don’t understand that and have a different understanding: Love = lust. This basic failure in understanding is the crumbly foundation that ensures marriage failure.
Marriages fail because of …
* Selfishness.
* Self-centeredness.
* A misunderstanding that marriage is two friends coming together to fulfill the vision and mission of God for their lives together – that they can do MORE together than they can do separately for the King of kings and Lord of lords.
* A thinking that marriage will solve the problems of their immaturity and fulfill their fantasies of their irrationality.
* Some foolishness about believing that marriage is easy and they don’t have to work at the relationship on an hourly basis.
* An unwillingness to “wash the feet” of their spouse figuratively and literally.
* A pre-planned “exit strategy” if things get rough.
* An intolerance to living within a budget of time, money, and wisdom.
… and so much more.
Marriage is first and foremost a friendship between good friends. It is a covenant vow to work together not against one another. It is the choice that you will sacrifice your everything for the one you choose to love. It is “till death” – with the implication that we must “die daily” (1 Corinthians 15.31) to our self and live for the one we say, “I do” to each and every hour of the rest of our lives because we chose to.
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April 2, 2018
Years ago I established a personal disciple that yielded immense benefits to my life. It was a simple discipline, but it was not always easy. I chose not to eat breakfast before I had taken time to read my Bible.
Life has a way of interfering with our disciplines. When Melodee got sick last year, and we begin to travel, the “No Bible, No Breakfast,” discipline fell away.
It was this past week, when one of my former students and a leader in my church, Kuya Fred Sangalang, posted about the “No Bible, No Breakfast,” discipline. He had learned it from me over a decade ago. He was talking about its benefits. It was at that moment, I realized that what had become a tremendous blessing to my life in years past had fallen away because of life’s interruptions.
So this morning I chose to once again, afresh, restore that discipline to my life. I know what that means. It means I choose to follow the path laid out by Jesus:“If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me.” (Luke 9:23, CSB) I also choose not to follow the grumblings of my tummy and bring it into submission. Yes, I have gained a few pounds lately listening to its demands more than being disciplined. Thank you for asking.
Perhaps you’ll think about your disciplines as a result of this post. Maybe it’s time for you to set aside some of your life’s interruptions, and discipline your self so that you can enjoy the abundant blessings that naturally flow from great choices. If so, leave a comment. I’d love to pray for you as you pray for me.
Posted in Bible Reading, Deeper Walk With God, Discipleship, Just Read It! No Comments »
March 22, 2018
Art by: http://miniguette.com
Prosperity and success are much easier when we are healthy! It’s easier to do the things and be the things God calls us to do and be when we don’t have to fight our bodies – right?
I’m Dr. Matthew Lee Smith and I want to share some Hope For Today to remind us that God wants us to Thrive, not just survive!
Click the link below and listen now!
Hope For Today is a part of the ministry of Eagles In Leadership. If you would like to know more about the hope God gives and His abundant life through Jesus Christ, I would invite you to check out our website: Eagles In Leadership . org; that’s Eagles In Leadership .org.
Posted in Hope For Today, Transformed No Comments »
March 15, 2018
Art by http://stylesaveus.com
Success is God’s secret to our lives! While so many people think that God is mad at them, the reality is that God is mad about them!
God longs for us to thrive, not just survive. Thriving is about the path we choose to take daily, the choices we make hourly and the faith we hold clearly.
I’m Dr. Matthew Lee Smith and I want to share some Hope For Today to remind us that Jesus has come to bring us peace with God!
We are hear today to unlock the key to God’s wisdom and shine light on the way of His gracious hand so that we thrive!
So, let’s get right into it Joshua 1:8–9 (NKJV)
8This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
9Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Wow! Those are some powerful words from God Himself to Joshua. And do we remember what Joshua accomplished when He acted on these words? The Children of Israel
- Entered the Promised Land
- Conquered the impregnable fortress of Jericho by walking around it and shouting on the 7th day!
- Defeated all their enemies
- Plundered those enemies until they were rich and prosperous
- Established a solid homeland for the nation of Israel for some 1,500 years!
What about you this year?
Do you want to stop doing donuts in desert and enter into all God has for you this year?
Do you want to conquer the barriers you have only dreamed of overcoming this year?
Do you want to defeat your enemies – whether they be flesh and blood, person and internal or financial or social – this year?
Do you want to plunder those enemies and watch God prosper you and give you success this year?
Do you want to establish a solid base for you and your family for generations to come this year?
Then, God has a message for you today:
I want you to enjoy the courage and strength you need to prosper and have good success! Follow my instructions and watch me work!
Hope For Today is a part of the ministry of Eagles In Leadership. If you would like to know more about the hope God gives and His abundant life through Jesus Christ, I would invite you to check out our website: Eagles In Leadership . org; that’s Eagles In Leadership .org.
Posted in Hope For Today, Transformed No Comments »
March 11, 2018
In the midst of our darkest hours, God is our light! In this message of encouragement and inspiration, Dr. Smith shares his own story of pain and loss through the death of his beloved wife, Melodee. As he turns our hearts toward Heaven, he shares the powerful truth of how God cares and loves us in ways we can hardly imagine … but must if we are to lose our fear and embrace our faith.
Join Doc as he speaks to the wonderful people who are Touch Point Church of Bell Gardens, California by opening your Bible app to Isaiah 43 and listen to these words of life and hope!
Posted in Hope, Transformed No Comments »
March 8, 2018
This photo of Driftwood Beach is courtesy of TripAdvisor
It’s so easy to get caught up in life. We’ve talked about it before, but it bears repeating often: Life has a tendency to drag us away without our even noticing. And all too often, it’s to the detriment of our priorities.
I’m Dr. Matthew Lee Smith and I want to share some Hope For Today about the danger of drift!
Peter tells us in Hebrews 2.1 (Modern English Version): “We should be more attentive to what we have heard, lest we drift away.”
Why is it that we seem to have spiritual ADD? We want to walk with God. We desire to be in His presence. We long for the abundant life He promises. And we know that, like in ANY relationship, we will need to put in OUR part if we are going to see any of that happen. Remember, James (4.8) said we need to draw near to God first, and then He WOULD draw near to us. In other words, the next step to a close relationship with God is ours!
But then … life happens! Kid’s games, the husband’s work schedule, your boss wants you to stay later for this “special project.” Days slip into weeks of an “out of control” lifestyle – pulled and banged around by the streams of others needs.
And then, like right now, someone reminds us to be more attentive to what we have heard – the Word of God – lest we drift away from Him! Isn’t it time you put God and His Word back on your calendar and your Day-Timer? Why not do it right now – God first – just write Him into your life schedule!
Hope For Today is a part of the ministry of Eagles In Leadership. If you would like to know more about the hope God gives and His abundant life through Jesus Christ, I would invite you to check out our website: Eagles In Leadership . org; that’s Eagles In Leadership .org.
Posted in Hope For Today, Transformed No Comments »
March 1, 2018
Recently, Dr. Smith has the opportunity to speak to the youth, teens, and adults of three different churches on the topic of, “Tue Love Waits.” The event encouraged these singles to remain sexually pure until marriage.
In his gregarious style, Pastor Matt sought to bring to light the enormity of the issue with the levity of the moment. We hope you will both appreciate and share this video with the youth, teens, and singles you know, thus encouraging them to remain sexually pure until marriage.
And please, as always, leave a comment below.
Posted in Deeper Walk With God, Discipleship, God's will, Sex, Transformed No Comments »
January 30, 2018
Photo Credit: https://salemnet.vo.llnwd.net
We are so glad you are back! Today we open our Bibles to the second chapter of the Apostle John’s first letter to the disciples in his church as we study of what it means to walk in the faith by walking with Jesus here on the Transformed Podcast!
I’m your host Mike Powers here to guide you through this intensive, verse – by – verse study of one of the Christ-follower’s most life-changing Biblical journeys!
As we open the second chapter of 1 John, remember we have discovered from chapter one that fellowship with God, the Father can only be maintained by recognizing our daily sins, honestly confessing them quickly and forsaking them as they are revealed to us.
Now, building on that foundation, John explains that to know God and the power of His love is impossible without practical observance of His Word, which means that we must seek to walk as Christ walked, in love toward our fellowmen and in separation from the things of the world.
Let’s listen in as Dr. Matthew Lee Smith teaches his seminary students how to know God and the power of His love in our daily lives …
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