How is my life prioritized? Is God first in my life? Do I put other things before God? Do I seek the presence of God and live from His grace? These are some of questions that I have been challenged with lately. At this point in my life I am being challenged more than I ever have and stretched in so many ways. This challenge to put to death the old man and seek a life in Christ that is powered by His Spirit and motivated by Love.
When I prayed and ask God to take my life and make me new I had no idea what I was asking or what would come out of it. I know this is what God wants and what is best for me but I had no idea what this required. I have to say that I am at a really hard place in my life but I know that there is breakthrough ahead. I know that since I am coming against strongholds in my life and that I am seeking Christ I will have breakthrough and I will walk in more and more freedom. Since I have started battling and putting to death desires to give up and continue to press in, I am seeing breakthrough and God is revealing so much to me that I was oblivious to.
Since I am leading an outreach team, closely walking with three male students, helping manage and prepare our building for the the extra amount of students that will be arriving next quarter, working the classroom sound, as well as many other responsibilities, how do I spend time with the Lord and prioritize my relationship with Him first? I can't say that I have done this as well as I hoped I would but I am learning more than I could ever imagine. If I knew that staffing was going to be this amount of hard work and stress with constant 12 hour days and needing to be constantly physically, mentally and spiritually ready I would probably have chose a different path. I know that God is leading me in this and He is wanting me to grow closer to Him and more dependent on Him. I know that this is a lifelong process and a daily decision to pick up my cross and follow Christ.
"Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit." Galatians 5:24-25
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Monday, August 23, 2010
Great is His faithfulness
Please read this slow and try to think about your own life.
What would I do if my right arm stopped working? I wouldn't be able to play guitar, baseball, frisbee golf, go fishing or many other things that I love doing. All of these things that I love and enjoy are possible because God has allowed me to have two working arms. I am so blessed to have the things that I have. In no case do I deserve to have what I have or be where I am.
Life can be so frustrating sometimes and can cause us to forget the things that God has done for us or stop appreciating the things we do have. Last year during my discipleship training school one of the speakers made the statement "gratitude will change your attitude." I took that and ran with it. Going on outreach to Thailand last year was amazing but there were many sacrifices that went along with it. I realised how much I had when it was taken away. Sometimes at that point its too late and we can't get back what we have lost. Thankfully I was able to come back home from Thailand and have new perspective on how much God has blessed me.
My challenge to myself and any reader is to spend a couple minutes every day and thank God for what He has done and for what He has given us. It's when I am most frustrated or just in my worst mood that this has completely changed my life.
What would I do if my right arm stopped working? I wouldn't be able to play guitar, baseball, frisbee golf, go fishing or many other things that I love doing. All of these things that I love and enjoy are possible because God has allowed me to have two working arms. I am so blessed to have the things that I have. In no case do I deserve to have what I have or be where I am.
Life can be so frustrating sometimes and can cause us to forget the things that God has done for us or stop appreciating the things we do have. Last year during my discipleship training school one of the speakers made the statement "gratitude will change your attitude." I took that and ran with it. Going on outreach to Thailand last year was amazing but there were many sacrifices that went along with it. I realised how much I had when it was taken away. Sometimes at that point its too late and we can't get back what we have lost. Thankfully I was able to come back home from Thailand and have new perspective on how much God has blessed me.
My challenge to myself and any reader is to spend a couple minutes every day and thank God for what He has done and for what He has given us. It's when I am most frustrated or just in my worst mood that this has completely changed my life.
Thursday, August 5, 2010
He restores my soul
What happens when you just run out of gas, or when you hit a wall, or you just can't do it anymore. Is it a lack of sleep, or a lack of caffeine or a lack of food? When the weight of the world is on your shoulders and you just can't do it anymore what do you do?
I got to this point this past week and was in one of the hardest spots I've been in a while. The school is going so well and I am seeing more and more of the awesome power of God in other peoples lives, but it's requiring so much more of me constantly giving of all that I have. I didn't get much rest during the weekend and started off the week physically, emotionally, and spiritually drained. This was beginning to worry me since I need to be there for the students and I didn't think that I could even make it through the week. This was where I realized that I could not do this. With all of my heart and all of my efforts I could not possibly do this on my own strength. I came to the end of myself and had nothing left to give.
This is where I realized that I was not receiving my strength from Christ. My focus went from putting Jesus first always and living from His love to putting the school and the students first and losing the intimate relationship with Jesus that I had. Getting to that point of burning out truly led me to the place of realizing how much my soul longs for the living God. These days are getting harder and harder but I know that putting Christ first in my life and seeking revelation of His love will always give me the strength and hope I need for every day.
"The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake." (Psalm 23:1-3)
If you can relate at all to how I was feeling I highly recommend checking out this weeks speaker Andy Byrd. You can listen to the podcast HERE. This gave me great perspective and taught me so much. Peace and Love!
I got to this point this past week and was in one of the hardest spots I've been in a while. The school is going so well and I am seeing more and more of the awesome power of God in other peoples lives, but it's requiring so much more of me constantly giving of all that I have. I didn't get much rest during the weekend and started off the week physically, emotionally, and spiritually drained. This was beginning to worry me since I need to be there for the students and I didn't think that I could even make it through the week. This was where I realized that I could not do this. With all of my heart and all of my efforts I could not possibly do this on my own strength. I came to the end of myself and had nothing left to give.
This is where I realized that I was not receiving my strength from Christ. My focus went from putting Jesus first always and living from His love to putting the school and the students first and losing the intimate relationship with Jesus that I had. Getting to that point of burning out truly led me to the place of realizing how much my soul longs for the living God. These days are getting harder and harder but I know that putting Christ first in my life and seeking revelation of His love will always give me the strength and hope I need for every day.
"The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake." (Psalm 23:1-3)
If you can relate at all to how I was feeling I highly recommend checking out this weeks speaker Andy Byrd. You can listen to the podcast HERE. This gave me great perspective and taught me so much. Peace and Love!
Monday, July 26, 2010
Borrowing soil
Our speaker last week, Matt Rawlins spoke on "Fear of the Lord". It was a very challenging topic and I didn't have very much time to process it all. I did go back and listen to one of the days that he spoke on the podcast that we have available Click Here. It took me about 2 hours to listen to a one hour lecture since I had to pause every ten seconds to write down certain quotes that really hit my heart.
One thing that I just barely caught was that we can borrow other peoples soil. In other words we can borrow other peoples experiences and revelation of God and use it to help us in trusting and obeying God. Now this is something that I do all the time. When I listen to speakers here or go to church on Sunday and hear the preacher share his revelation, I can usually come away with something that encourages me or gives me a boost of faith.
This made me think about my life and how many people have spoken into my life. How much soil I have borrowed from other people. I have to admit that it feels pretty good when I get to hear the latest revelation from some of my favorite pastors. Its like I just got some nice, fresh, dark soil. It looks good and it feels good at first but how long does it last before the wind blows it away, or the rain washes it away? I eventually loose grip of these revelations and then I'm back to needing more.
I am not saying that listening to sermons is pointless and that sharing revelation is meaningless. I am saying that it is important to work that soil down deep where my roots are so that I can use it to grow. I want to take that revelation and use it to build faith so that in obedience I may know/experience God. Simply, revelation requires a response.
James 1:2-4
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
One thing that I just barely caught was that we can borrow other peoples soil. In other words we can borrow other peoples experiences and revelation of God and use it to help us in trusting and obeying God. Now this is something that I do all the time. When I listen to speakers here or go to church on Sunday and hear the preacher share his revelation, I can usually come away with something that encourages me or gives me a boost of faith.
This made me think about my life and how many people have spoken into my life. How much soil I have borrowed from other people. I have to admit that it feels pretty good when I get to hear the latest revelation from some of my favorite pastors. Its like I just got some nice, fresh, dark soil. It looks good and it feels good at first but how long does it last before the wind blows it away, or the rain washes it away? I eventually loose grip of these revelations and then I'm back to needing more.
I am not saying that listening to sermons is pointless and that sharing revelation is meaningless. I am saying that it is important to work that soil down deep where my roots are so that I can use it to grow. I want to take that revelation and use it to build faith so that in obedience I may know/experience God. Simply, revelation requires a response.
James 1:2-4
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Peace
The students are here and the first week of lecture is in full swing. This weeks topic is hearing the voice of God which takes me back to last year in my DTS when I was here fresh from Cleveland and so hungry to hear God. I know these students are just as hungry as I was and it just makes me excited knowing that God is so real and wants them to hear His continual proclamation of love over them.
I started my day at 4:30am saying goodbye to my sister Jessica as she heads off to India for her Photogenx outreach. It was amazing seeing her for the month and Her extended two weeks since her visa came late. I am considering that a blessing since we were able to hang out more and pray with each other more and have crazy times of uncontrollable laughter. I consider our lives as a true testimony of God bringing families back together and uniting them in His love.
What God has been doing in my life here so far is giving me His peace. I have never been so at rest with where I'm at and what I'm doing. One thing I realized is that this school is bigger than me and discipling these students is also more than I could ever handle, but I know that it's not me teaching these students. I know that the Spirit of God is going to teach these students and love these students more than I ever could. I am truly finding peace in knowing how much God is in control of this school and in control of my life. The more that I let go of my worries and the more that I acknowledge God then the more I am feeling His peace wash over me and His joy strengthen me and His passion drive me to do things out of Love.
My hope is that I can continue to have this perspective and live from it. I know that this is the best place to be discipling these students. I hear so much about staff being burnt out and sometimes even hurt after a school. My prayer is that I can continue to live from the abundance of God and be a servant to these students constantly giving out of the overflow.
I started my day at 4:30am saying goodbye to my sister Jessica as she heads off to India for her Photogenx outreach. It was amazing seeing her for the month and Her extended two weeks since her visa came late. I am considering that a blessing since we were able to hang out more and pray with each other more and have crazy times of uncontrollable laughter. I consider our lives as a true testimony of God bringing families back together and uniting them in His love.
What God has been doing in my life here so far is giving me His peace. I have never been so at rest with where I'm at and what I'm doing. One thing I realized is that this school is bigger than me and discipling these students is also more than I could ever handle, but I know that it's not me teaching these students. I know that the Spirit of God is going to teach these students and love these students more than I ever could. I am truly finding peace in knowing how much God is in control of this school and in control of my life. The more that I let go of my worries and the more that I acknowledge God then the more I am feeling His peace wash over me and His joy strengthen me and His passion drive me to do things out of Love.
My hope is that I can continue to have this perspective and live from it. I know that this is the best place to be discipling these students. I hear so much about staff being burnt out and sometimes even hurt after a school. My prayer is that I can continue to live from the abundance of God and be a servant to these students constantly giving out of the overflow.
Sunday, June 27, 2010
In My Place
There is nothing like being put in your place by the Creator of the universe. While snorkeling for the first time yesterday I was just amazed by how scary, beautiful and vast this ocean is. I was about 50 yards off shore swimming by myself looking down at the beautiful coral and all the different sea creatures. I could have stayed out there forever, floating around thinking about all of Gods creation in that tiny speck of ocean I was in.
Being in that place gave me a good perspective of where I am and who He is. He is the creator of the universe and submitting my life to Him gives me perfect peace. Also, knowing that the creator of the universe thinks about me and knows my hearts desire gives me hope for my dreams and my future. "How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand." Psalm 139:17,18
Students arrive in 11 days!
Being in that place gave me a good perspective of where I am and who He is. He is the creator of the universe and submitting my life to Him gives me perfect peace. Also, knowing that the creator of the universe thinks about me and knows my hearts desire gives me hope for my dreams and my future. "How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand." Psalm 139:17,18
Students arrive in 11 days!
Friday, June 11, 2010
Simply Jesus
Aloha friends and family,
Arriving in Kona, Hawaii was almost like a dream. Friends from last years school came and picked me up at the airport. It was like I'd never left. They couldn't stop talking about how the Spirit of God was being poured out on the campus like never before. They told me about some pretty intense encounters that they had and I was a little overwhelmed. Going from home and living the more normal American lifestyle to the largest YWAM base put me in spiritual shock. It took about a week to let go of my doubt, burn my ships and accept the fact that I am exactly where God wants me.
Right now our staff consists of fifteen with a possibility of five more. We have been meeting in the mornings to work on student applications and we spend the afternoons in prayer. These past two weeks we have had the most amazing times of prayer together and we have really been able to get to know each others hearts. We all went on a retreat to a nearby Christian center and spent three days sharing testimonies, praying, and prophesying over one another. God gave me his heart of love for each staff member and really bonded us together.
Being part of the staff for the first time is definitely intimidating. Having the opportunity of walking with Gods beloved and to be involved with their discipleship is a responsibility that I know I couldn't handle if I didn't have revelation of the simple fact that Jesus loves me! He not only loves me but he likes me! I know that there will be really hard times during this school but I also know that if I abide in His love than I don't have to worry about how much experience I have. It's God's love that flows through me and it's His Spirit that will transform the hearts of the students and make an eternal impact in the Kingdom. It is the simplicity of the love of Christ that I want to truly know first and foremost in my life. "What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ" (Philippians 3:8).
This is just the beginning. The students arrive in 26 days from all over the world. My prayer is that they would simply know Jesus.
With love,
Matthew Scaparotti
Arriving in Kona, Hawaii was almost like a dream. Friends from last years school came and picked me up at the airport. It was like I'd never left. They couldn't stop talking about how the Spirit of God was being poured out on the campus like never before. They told me about some pretty intense encounters that they had and I was a little overwhelmed. Going from home and living the more normal American lifestyle to the largest YWAM base put me in spiritual shock. It took about a week to let go of my doubt, burn my ships and accept the fact that I am exactly where God wants me.
Right now our staff consists of fifteen with a possibility of five more. We have been meeting in the mornings to work on student applications and we spend the afternoons in prayer. These past two weeks we have had the most amazing times of prayer together and we have really been able to get to know each others hearts. We all went on a retreat to a nearby Christian center and spent three days sharing testimonies, praying, and prophesying over one another. God gave me his heart of love for each staff member and really bonded us together.
Being part of the staff for the first time is definitely intimidating. Having the opportunity of walking with Gods beloved and to be involved with their discipleship is a responsibility that I know I couldn't handle if I didn't have revelation of the simple fact that Jesus loves me! He not only loves me but he likes me! I know that there will be really hard times during this school but I also know that if I abide in His love than I don't have to worry about how much experience I have. It's God's love that flows through me and it's His Spirit that will transform the hearts of the students and make an eternal impact in the Kingdom. It is the simplicity of the love of Christ that I want to truly know first and foremost in my life. "What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ" (Philippians 3:8).
This is just the beginning. The students arrive in 26 days from all over the world. My prayer is that they would simply know Jesus.
With love,
Matthew Scaparotti
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