Christmas Is Only 4 Weeks Away!

Posted on November 27, 2008 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

This Christmas – as money is tight – why not give a gift that will last all through 2009? Give the gift of God’s love by ordering a copy of In His Image for each person on your Christmas list.

In His Image is a daily dose of God’s love that is guaranteed to bring great hope and inspiration to your family and friends! Listen to what Val says …

“I highly recommend this devotional book!  I gave this book to several on my Christmas list last year.  The timing perfectly aligns with the New Year coming for a wonderful devotional to use along with Bible reading for 2009!”

If you would like to share our great God and His great plan for life, we suggest you purchase a copy of Dr. Smith’s book, “In His Image”. We know you will want to get several copies for your friends today. To order your copy of “In His Image” click the link on the right hand toolbar.

To learn more about the ministry and resources of Dr. Matthew Lee Smith, click the ‘RESOURCES’ link at the top of this web page.

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It’s All About Who You Know!

Posted on November 25, 2008 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

Feel free to forward this to a friend!

Fakes, phonies and cheats seem to multiply in turbulent times. Recently I heard of a crew of scammers defrauding retired seniors of the last of their savings through their smooth talk … incredible! Yet, we all know that these are desperate times and people need to be most careful of the con man or woman who seeks to take all they have of value.

While we are repelled by such duplicity, we need to realize that sometimes we ourselves are deceived into believing ‘facts not in evidence.’ One of the most critical areas is in the arena of eternity. Many people today talk a good line when it comes to spirituality. You hear them speaking of their path, the journey they are on and how they pray.

Yet Jesus wanted us to be clear about who really gets to heaven …

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ Matthew 7:21-23 (NKJ)

We become like Jesus when …

o We do the will of God the Father in heaven.

When we look closer into these words of Jesus we realize …

  1. ‘God – Talk’ doesn’t cut it when it comes to entrance into heaven
  2. ‘God – Work’ doesn’t cut it when it comes to entrance into heaven
  3. Only an intimate relationship with Jesus (demonstrated by loving what Jesus’ loves) cuts it when it comes to entrance into heaven

Melodee and I have Club cards to the two biggest shopping clubs in the USA. At our favorite store, I never have to flash my entrance card when Dan is there. Why? Because I know Dan and, what’s more important, Dan knows me! Heaven is like that – entrance is determined by who you know (Jesus) and, what’s more important, that Jesus knows me.

Do you have such a relationship with Jesus? If not, why not call our friends at 1-800-NEED-HIM right now. Someone is standing by to help you come to know Jesus in an intimate way.

© 2008 By Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

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Transformed Episode #052 – What This Table Is All About!

Posted on November 23, 2008 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

Woodrow Wilson used to tell about a group of college professors who were considering the misconduct of a certain student. One of the professors urged severe punishment. “After all,” he said, “God has given us eyes.”

“Yes,” replied another professor, “and he has also given us eyelids.”

Communion is all about God’s willingness to extend his mercy to those of us who deserve severe punishment.

In today’s episode entitled “What This Table Is All About!” Dr. Matthew Lee Smith walks us through the elements of God’s grace as represented through the communion table of Jesus.

Sponsor: Try GotoMyPC free for 30 days! For this special offer, visit www.GotoMyPC.com/podcast

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Who Are You Trusting?

Posted on November 18, 2008 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

Feel free to forward this to a friend!

The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree! This common proverb has withstood the test of time because of the truth it encapsulates. The moral of this proverb is that we have to watch the fruit of a person’s life carefully before we are taken in by their sales pitch!

When it comes to your leadership development, few things could be more important and relevant in our day! When we allow ourselves to be mentored, it is because we see something in the person that we would like to possess. We surrender some of our time and treasure to capture what that person promises to deliver.

Jesus wanted his followers to be very selective of such choices as he trains the disciples in our passage …

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them.” Matthew 7:15-20 (NKJ)

We become like Jesus when …

o We examine the results of the lives of those to whom we desire to learn from!

Simple observations can only be made when we get close enough to our mentors. The further our distance, the more we can miss these tell-tales …

  1. Check the fruit of their lives … staring with their character (make sure they are not a ravenous wolf!)
  2. Don’t make excuses for them (good fruit comes from good trees and bad fruit comes from bad fruit – period!)
  3. Remember their fruit reveals their end (bad fruit trees are thrown into the fire!)

As you look at the people who are helping develop your leadership (both spiritual and in your career), consider the fruit of their lives carefully. After all, the reason we follow them is so that we can become like them!

© 2008 By Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

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Lifestyle and Direction Issues

Posted on November 11, 2008 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

Feel free to forward this to a friend!

Which direction are you headed? Have you ever sat down and ‘mapped out’ your life course? You know, you take a few minutes and do a brief assessment of the choices you have made and the places you wound up as a result?

After all, you know that every decision limits your future. When we choose to go one way, we cannot go a number of other ways (unless we clone ourselves, and even then it is not really us making that other trip). And when we look at where we are, and the decisions that got us there, we often see a pattern … our life pattern.

This is what Jesus speaks of in the context of our eternal destiny and our earthly choices …

“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” Matthew 7:13-14 (NKJ)

We become like Jesus when …

o We carefully, thoughtfully and deliberately make choices that honor our confession of faith in Jesus Christ!

Note that Jesus tells us that in all of our choices, there are only two directions; and each direction has its visible traits.

The broad way …

  1. It has a wide gate
  2. The way is easy to travel
  3. There are many traveling companions
  4. However, the end of this road is destruction

The difficult way …

  1. It has a narrow gate
  2. The way is difficult to travel
  3. There are few traveling companions
  4. But, the end of this road is life

Can I encourage you to sit down and ‘map out’ your life today? Where have you come to and how has the journey been? The visible traits listed above may be of great assistance as you determine which direction you are headed.

© 2008 By Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

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Transformed Episode #51 – When Personalities Clash

Posted on November 9, 2008 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

Barry Phegan reminds us that, “As a leader, you can do very little about someone’s personality… but you can do a lot about the situation.”

“When Personalities Clash” is the theme of today’s episode. Dr. Matthew Lee Smith shows how our God-created personalities are often the primary source of our conflicts because they are fed by our selfishness instead of God’s Spirit.

As we listen to Pastor Matt teach the congregation at First Baptist Church of Palos Verdes, California, today from Acts 15, let’s open our Bibles and follow along.

Sponsor: Try GotoMyPC free for 30 days! For this special offer, visit www.GotoMyPC.com/podcast

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Thank You for Voting for the Transformed! Podcast

Posted on November 7, 2008 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

While we wait for the final outcome in the “Religion Inspiration” category for the 2008 Podcast awards, we wanted to thank you for your vote. As you know our Transformed! Podcast is a finalist and we are excitedly awaiting the announcement. Voting is now closed and vote review is in progress! The lower 20 Category Winners (including the ‘Religion Inspiration’ category) will be announced on Sunday, Nov 9th at 4 pm Pacific. No matter the outcome, we want to again thank you in advance for your gracious kindness. We will let you know the results as they are posted. You can watch the proceedings live at http://podcastawards.com/ on Sunday, Nov 9th at 4 pm Pacific if you so desire.

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Transformed Interview with Art Linkletter

Posted on November 5, 2008 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

Art Linkletter was the host of two of the longest-running shows in United States broadcast history: House Party, which ran on CBS radio and television for 25 years, and People Are Funny, on NBC radio-TV for 19 years. Linkletter was famous for interviewing children on House Party and Kids Say the Darndest Things, which led to a successful series of books quoting children.

In his autobiography, Confessions of a Happy Man (1960), Linkletter revealed that he had had no contact with his natural parents or his sister or two brothers since he was abandoned when only a few weeks old. He was adopted by Mary and John Linkletter, an evangelical preacher. Later moving to the United States, he graduated from San Diego State University (SDSU) where he was a member of the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity. He had previously planned to attend Springfield College, but did not for financial reasons. He later served for many years as a trustee at Springfield College, and donated money to build the swim center named in his honor.

He has had one of the longest marriages of any celebrity in America. He married Lois Foerster on November 25, 1935 and they had five children: Arthur Jack (known as Jack Linkletter, a TV host), Dawn, Robert, Sharon, and Diane. He was a good friend of Walt Disney. It might be coincidence, but Walt Disney’s children, who arrived first, were also named Sharon and Diane.

(Source: Wikipedia)

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Seeking God’s Best!

Posted on November 4, 2008 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

Feel free to forward this to a friend!

How do people treat you? How do you treat people? These are two of the most important questions we can ask ourselves, for in them we hold the ‘stuff’ of life: our relationships! Seeking the best for your self or for others is one of the keys to understanding God’s heart for us! Our prayer life demonstrates our awareness of the compassion of our loving and merciful God.

Listen to Jesus as he explains how our prayer life reflects our theological comprehension of the nature of our God …

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 7:7-12 (NKJ)

We become like Jesus when …

o We act on the love of God by asking him for good things until they arrive!

God loves us so much. And when we get that in our DNA, we want all that our relationship with God can give. We want to give to others the joy and peace, the laughter and happiness that a sin-freed life contains. Our prayers for others – and for our own lives – reflect the passion of our faith in God’s amazing grace!

Today, why not trust God as good. Seek Him for the answers to your life’s miseries and woes. Draw near to Him in prayer and He will draw near to you. And remember, in His presence is fullness of joy and pleasures forevermore as you walk the path of life together!

© 2008 By Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

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Transformed Podcast: Episode #050 – Why Grace Must Have It's Place

Posted on November 1, 2008 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

In Thomas Lynch’s popular book The Undertaking: Life Studies from the Dismal Trade, he reflects on his work as a funeral director in a small Michigan town. In 25 years, he has overseen some 5,000 burials. How has it shaped his thinking“It tends to make me want to resolve conflicts a little quicker,” Mr. Lynch says, “Because I’ve seen people go off to work who don’t come home.”

In today’s episode Dr. Matthew Lee Smith explains “Why Grace Must Have Its Place.” Without the grace of Jesus Christ we will not be able to handle the multitudes of conflict that come so easily in these distressed times.

As we listen to Pastor Matt teaching the congregation at First Baptist Church of Palos Verdes, California, let’s open our Bibles to Acts 15.

Sponsor: Try GotoMyPC free for 30 days! For this special offer, visit www.GotoMyPC.com/podcast

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