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Praying for you, Matt.
[...] http://fm.thevillagechurch.net/blog/pastors/?p=480 [...]
Suffer well Matt. He is with you.
Psalm 55:22
Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall.
Praying for you, your family and your congregation.
Praying 1 thess. 5:16-18 for you man. Strength in HIs name!
I’m praying for you brother. Thanks for the updates…can I share something from The Word that I hope you will find encouraging?
Check out Psalm 94:17-19, 22 when you get a minute. Powerful stuff! I’m sure you’ve already begun to realize the truth you’ll find in this passage.
Matt,
Add me to the list of folks who are watching & praying from a distance (North Carolina). I just love how you love Jesus in the midst of the storm. Love ya, bro.
Jay
Praying. And I hope you rest.
Praying for you daily!
I love the Lord but sometime I feel combative. I get angry. My husband suicided 09/06 and God gave me the village. I was not willing to listen to Him. So he tried again. I said I didn’t care but he kept on. He won. He gave me a great gift. When you (Matt) got sick I got angry. Why would God do something to someone who, for me, created great comfort and helped me be closer to the Lord!?! I know you have done that for others. Well, I know woman that was a student of mine several years ago She is another walking talking message from God to me. She has a disease, neurofibromatosis type 2. Tumors began growing anywhere and every place in her body. At age 14 she became Deaf. Woke up one morning and she couldn’t hear anything. She had brain and spinal surgery the summer between 8th grade and freshman year. When she returned to school she knew about 500 signs, was learning to walk and talk again. Since then a myriad of other obstacles have happened. I never questioned Gods plan with her because of her love in Him through it all. So I asked God “why did I get angry at you again?” Of course He answered me and I am closer to Him still. Thank you and your family for being such strong servants to Jesus.
praying for you…without ceasing..have not missed a beat…Jesus loves you so much…His Spirit moves me to pray.
Praying for you, your family and that God will be glorified through all of this!
So many here in Abilene are praying, Matt. Your comments today remind me of Ps 116:12. Stay strong!
Matt, I am diligently praying for you!
We’re praying for you here in Delaware! Thanks for your faithfulness to Jesus and His people. The honesty, compassion, and wisdom of your preaching have encouraged many of us here. Know that we are lifting up you, your family, and the church…that you would be able to continue suffering well, that your minds would be quieted, and that your spirits would rest in Jesus. We love you and are thankful to God for who He has made/ is making you to be. Blessings, brother.
Hey Matt,
I heard about you and your work for the Lord via a friend of mine who has learned a lot from you. Just wanted to let you know that I’m praying for you. I pray that you have peace and comfort for you family. I know that sometimes being sick is harder on our loved ones than ourselves. I have Lupus and have dealt with illness from time to time over the past few years. Take care. God is love.
~Kristen Childress (and husband Will)
You’re still doing a fantastic job displaying God and His goodness through ALL of this. I am still praying. Thank you for these updates!
Matt,
You certainly don’t know me. But, I know of you. I first heard you speak when our worship pastor provided me with a CD of one of your vision messages. Later, I heard you speak at Catalyst 2008. Your perspective of God’s work through His church was encouraging and a challenge. I obviously don’t know what he has in store for you, but your courage and dependency on Him through this have brought him glory and made many realize that God is indeed glorified when our lives reveal Him and His work.
As encouragement, Psalm 39:
4 Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered — how fleeting my life is.
5 You have made my life no longer than the width of my hand. My entire lifetime is just a moment to you; at best, each of us is but a breath.
6 We are merely moving shadows, and all our busy rushing ends in nothing. We heap up wealth, not knowing who will spend it.
7 And so, Lord, where do I put my hope? My only hope is in you.
God bless.
In Christ alone,
Russ
Matt,
We love you and are praying for you and your family. Continue to trust even in the hardest moments. You are not alone but indwelled by the Holy Spirit, surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses, and lifted up by just good ole normal people who believe in prayer.
Your friend since your were in 9th grade!
Gregg
Continuing to lift you up in prayer every day, Matt. These video updates are always so encouraging to see how you’re doing from week to week. You’re an example and an encouragement to all of us in what it means to suffer well.
We are in Glen Rose, Tx. and met you in Abilene when you did Grace at University Baptist Church. Steve Hardin is a great friend of mine. Remember doing Dnows with you in Texas City. I am Chico and know that you are in Gods hands. Matt may his POWER be on you during this time. Pray for you and your family. Chico and Eva Ukle
Continuing to pray for you, your family, and the Village from here in North Dakota, brother.
It’s just mindblowing to me how much faith, joy, and hope you have in God in the midst of this.
“Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:16-18).
Matt,
Prayers for you are being lifted to our Lord from Baranduda Victoria Australia. I attended the Pastor’s conference when you were in Sydney and have been inspired & encouraged more than you can know by your example. My prayers are that He will be your strength in times of weakness and that through whatever comes that He will be exalted and lifted high by your testimony of His sufficiency in all things.
Big hearted Aussie love your way mate.
Ray
You’re an inspiration, Matt. Don’t doubt that (and yes, I do know where the strength of spirit, and the attitude, come from).
I had prostate cancer, surgery, and then 39 radiation treatments, ending just a year ago. What I recall from them was they were draining, particularly toward the last, but I could still do the things I really wanted to do. When the energy fades, so does the desire to do stuff, so I didn’t do a lot the last few weeks. But I could still do what I did want to do.
Head radiation is different, I know, but my side effects we just in a different place, I guess.
God bless, brother.
Matt, Praying for your continued strength to ride out this storm.
Matt: You may have already read Man’s Search for Meaning, by Viktor Frankl. When I learned of your struggle, that book jumped back into my mind. Frankl writes:
“When a man finds that it is his destiny to suffer, he will have to accept his suffering as his task. . . . He will have to acknowledge the fact that even in suffering he is unique and alone in the universe. No one can relieve him of his suffering or suffer in his place. His unique opportunity lies in the way in which he bears his burden.”
You inspire me with your faith and love as you suffer, and the very way you suffer calls me to bear all I can for God.
Bless you and your family–
David
make war! love you man, praying for perseverance, healing, and protection.
Didn’t know you or your situation until today Matt, but your an inspiration and a hero to many in South Florida. Keep strong and fight the battle.
I thought of the following today as I watched the video. This is from Psalm 107 (NKJV). Starting with Verse 23. “Those who go down to the sea in ships, Who do business on great waters, They see the works of the Lord, And His wonders in the deep. For He commands and raises the stormy wind, Which lifts up the waves of the sea. They mount up to the heavens. They go down again to the depths; Their soul melts because of trouble. They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man. And are at their wits’ end. Then they cry out to the Lord in their trouble, And He brings them out of their distresses. He calms the storm, So its waves are still. Then they are glad because they are quiet…” Lord Jesus, be with Matt in this storm and bring him to the calm sea and still waters. Let Matt feel you love and power every minute of every day.
Matt,
Thank you so much for your transparency and allowing us to share in your suffering with you. We are reminded of the verses in Romans 5:3-5 – “Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance, perseverance, character, and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.” Praying daily that God will strengthen you to continue to have the physical, spiritual and emotional strength to bear this great trial. We love you, Jan and Tom Blake
Dear Pastor Matt:
You are so precious to God and so dear to more hungry souls than you will ever know! Be encouraged that God will never allow more to be put on you than His sufficient grace can handle. His word tells us that even though two sparrows are sold for a penny, not one of them falls to the ground apart from the will of the Father. You are more valuable to our Father. (Matthew 10:29-31).
Just as our Lord told Apostle Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you. For My strength is made perfect in your weakness.” That same power of Jesus Christ rests on us when we feel weak and overwhelmed. You are stronger than at any time in your life because of God’s sustaining grace that is upon you.
My son & daughter-in-law referred me to your sermons and I have been blessed many times over listening to your lively messages.
I pray for your total healing. We know that it has been paid for, you were bought for a price and you will be made whole! I pray that all side effects will be at a minimum and that God will energize you each day with His mercies that are new every morning.
What a beautiful wife and precious family you have!
Love, peace & joy in Him,
Jean Hynes
Dear Pastor Matt:
You are so precious to God and so dear to more hungry souls than you will ever know! Be encouraged that God will never allow more to be put on you than His sufficient grace can handle. His word tells us that even though two sparrows are sold for a penny, not one of them falls to the ground apart from the will of the Father. You are worth so much more to our Father. (Matthew 10:29-31).
Just as our Lord told Apostle Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you. For My strength is made perfect in your weakness.” That same power of Jesus Christ rests on us when we feel weak and overwhelmed. You are stronger than at any time in your life because of God’s sustaining grace that is upon you.
My son & daughter-in-law referred me to your sermons and I have been blessed many times over listening to your lively messages.
I pray for your total healing. We know that it has been paid for, you were bought for a price and you will be made whole! I pray that all side effects will be at a minimum and that God will energize you each day with His mercies that are new every morning.
What a beautiful wife and precious family you have!
Love, peace & joy in Him,
Jean Hynes
I’m praying for ya’ll… here in Scottsdale, AZ people are thinking and praying for you. The college group that I am a part of will be praying for you at our next prayer night, your words and sermons have blessed me immensely… thank you, Matt. There’s not much that I can say that is better than what Paul says to the church in Ephesus,
“15 For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, 16 I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, 18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might 20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.”
Your life is glorifying Him, if i were you, that’s all I would want to hear. Sola Dei Gloria, Kate
First heard you as a student in the 90s at a Disciple Now for Germantown Baptist Church (my dad was the student minister there for 12 years). I still remember a message you gave outlining Eph. 2, and it forever changed the way I viewed God and his sovereign love for me, regardless of my efforts. Praying for you, your family, your church, as you push through and live the faith you have preached. Trusting God’s plan, praying for your healing.
Praise God for His mercy. He provides in all ways at all times for His children.
Thank you Matt (and Lauren)for you steadiness.
Matt,
Keep up your spirit! My prayers are with you as I experienced much similar issues with brain tumors only mine were not cancerous. Our Lord and Savior does not always send these things for our sake but for others who are not as strong spiritually.
Ron
Dear Matt,
My husband was diagnosed with Stage 4 GBM in Nov., 2008. Steve’s treatment after his resection was similar to how you are describing yours. Of course each person is different but as I hear you tell of your journey I feel compelled to write and send you encouraging news. Steve will complete his Temador in March and to date has had no sign of recurrence. He continues to be blessed with good health and we remain positive that this will continue.
So much of what you hear of GBM is discouraging that I just wanted to give you and your family hope that there are success stories out there and we are thankfully one of them.
I have been writing of our journey on Caring Bridge (steveboswell) and you are welcome to keep up with the details of someone who is walking this path about a year ahead of you,if you so wish to.
I know I am not alone in saying that I will keep you and your family in my prayers and know that you are certainly in God’s tender care.
Thank you for your words of faith and encouragement as you walk this rocky path.
I love Corrie Ten Boom’s quote “Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.”
Respectfully,
Janet Boswell
San Antonio, Texas
hi there. Just wanted you to know I read the article on your journey in our local paper online. TBO.com
I live in Valrico Fl, which is near Tampa.
I will be bookmarking your blog and following your progress. Isn’t it amazing what God can do with something we as mere humans would see as a tragedy?
Praise be to God!!!
Valerie
Matt, I will pray for you brother. Despite your obstacle that you are going through, you have great faith in the Lord, that is truly amazing! You are a living example of God’s greatness being manifested as we speak. You continue to serve Him despite your cancer. Like you said, God is using you in ways not many people will understand. But those who are going through difficulties like you are watching you and asking how can you trust in a God you cannot see and be afflicted with cancer and still believe and preach God’s word? Makes no sense. But you are the man for the job, you are the man to carry out the word and preach it to those souls who don’t understand God’s unconditional love for them despite their sins in life. Hang in there Matt I will pray for you and your family! Whatever God’s will for you is, He is not finished yet. God bless.
What an amazing testimony. Amy Kushnir posted on FB and I was curious about your church. I was so blessed by you and to know how God’s GRACE and MERCY shields you. I believe God’s FAVOR is with you and that He has chosen to heal you completely. And yes, you will walk your daughters down the aisle on their special day. I will keep you in my prayers Pastor Chandler.
My husband recently released all leadership responsibility in our church; not knowing what God has planned next. I am studying on GRACE/FAVOR. Seeking truth, not traditional religion. I believe God will lead us rightly as we continue to seek, knock and ask.
Don’t know you brother but love you in the Lord and will pray for you and your family. Your faith in God is an encouragement to me. Shalom*
Cynthia & Noel Linox
Matt – We are praying for you and know what you are going through. My dad (a retired pastor of 40 years himself) is living this now. He’s suffering well.
I’ve been writing about it for the past 3 years! God can and will continue to speak even in the darkest of times.
Roger
http://www.dgwhealthnews.blogspot.com
Suffer well. My dad is in about his 4th year with a very rare form of cancer. He’s a retired pastor of 40 years and what God has taken us all through would cause the moth faithful to stumble. But God has prevailed and His plans have and continue to win out with one singular purpose – to make us more like Him.
Our prayers are with you in Arizona.
Roger
http://www.dgwhealthnews.blogspot.com
Hey Matt Chandler. My name is Nancie. You don’t know me but I read your article and was really touched by everything you go through. One of my best friends whose 16 has stage 4 hodgekinsons lymphoma (probably didn’t spell that right) and I know yours and his cancer are different but I’ve been through it with him so I know the basics and how much it affects you. I’m really inspired by your faith and optimism, something that my friend continues to struggle with. I am continually praying for him and for myself to help him get through this and I wanted to say thank you for being strong and pushing through. I pray God continues to give you the strength to defeat your disease.
What a inspiration you are, keep your chin up. Miracles do happen, look in your mirror and you will see one.
Will Celani~
Austin TX.
Matt in watching you in these videos I am so impressed with your vigor….will keep you and your wonderful family in prayers. God bless you all.
Matt:
We pray for your recovery and return to your congregation.
God has a plan.
A very wonderful man and great friend, your congregant Steven Branch, sent us your story.
Praying for you at Texas A&M University. You are loved by so many! Christ is using you and spreading His message through you across the world. Loved reading the recent article. Thanks for all the video updates! You and Lauren are deeply on my heart. Psalm 62:1
Hey Matt and Lauren,
Thanks for sharing your journey. I breifely went to The Village back in 2005 before I moved to Chicago where I continued to listen to your podcasts. God has used you to touch my life tremendously! Back then for sure, but ESPECIALLY now.
I am 25 years old. Two years ago this July I was diagnosed with a chronic form of leukemia. (one of the chemo drugs for my type of cancer is also used for brain cancer, gleevec, not sure if that is what you’re taking).
I just wanted to tell you I pray for you and your family often. I have a small window into what it must be like for you and I am amazed at your faith and outlook on life. God is doing a great work in you!
I also wanted to tell you since my health is much better, I will be running a marathon in June for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. I will be dedicating a mile in your honor. When I run that mile I will remember your faith and be praying extra hard for you and your family!
Many Blessings,
Lindsay
Matt – my brother has the exact same name as you and lives in Ft. Worth, which is ironically, how I found you. I now have you on my prayer list here in Lubbock, TX. My nephew was diagnosed with Leukemia back in June (he’s three) and so we all have a new-found empathy with those suffering cancer but are so encouraged by the outpouring we feel from our church community. I know it is the same for you. God is blessing you and us through your journey – may it all be clear one day…
Alisa
My name is Jennie and my husband is a former member of The Village. I think it’s amazing how God can use one person(Matt Chandler) to reach people he’s never met through others and so on. My former pastor handed me a CD excitedly. Passionate about how infectious and overwhelming this pastor’s sermon had been at the latest Pastor’s conference. I look at the name and location of the church and a smile comes across my face. I know this man by his reputation alone without ever even having heard his voice. My husband loves the message God pours out of Matt Chandler. I told my pastor that not only do I know who this person is, my husband used to attend The Village when he lived in Texas. We currently reside in Fayetteville, North Carolina. My friends and family have done our best to stay up to date with Matt’s health. Then opening the local paper this morning my friend calls and tells me who she is reading about. She was blessed to attend the Pastor’s conference and recognized Pastor Matt Chandler as the man in the article’s picture. All of that to say this, my family is praying for the health and happiness of not only Matt Chandler and his family but the entire church body as they suffer through this along with their blessing of a Pastor, Matt. Thank you for reaching those when you didn’t even realize it.
Praying…
Dear Pastor Chandler,
Thank you for your obedience and faithfulness to God’s Word. I only learned about The Village a month ago when Todd Friel on the show ‘Wretched’ mentioned you and your handling of God’s Word.
I am up to Part 10 of ‘The Path’ series and am so grateful for the truth in your messages and your faithfulness in handling and teaching God’s Word.
Through your sermons God is showing me my failures as a believer and as a wife… and He is also showing me how to please Him and be a blessing to others.
You,your family and church are in my prayers.
Thank you.
Cheryl Abel
Spring Grove, PA
Have been praying and will continue to do so for your healing and continued work in the family of God. Saw the AP article in our local paper in Nacogdoches and was pleased to hear folks at church mentioning it and glorifying the Father as they prayed for you. We look forward to hearing you in person again soon when we visit our son and daughter-in-law who are members there.May God hold you and your family close as you serve him.
We are in Hudson Ohio. Want to let you know that we are looking forward to meeting you one day at the Village Church. My husband AND I will be moving to Denton soon. We have grown to love the church and your courage trustung in the love and faithfulness of the Lord. May peace be with you today.
I just read the article about you by the AP. You are a great inspiration. Stay strong, bro.
Hey Matt,
it’s Justin livengood in Central Asia! jUST wanted to let you know that we really appreciate your spirit and are pulling for you and ask that the HS will give you a real sp of encouragement today.
Serene , joyful, acceptance, and an attitude of submission that opens you up to the supernatural -whether that be for companionship, comfort, healing, or kingdom advance.
In Him,
Justin
Matt, I was very touched by your interview with Mark Dever that I only heard last week. Since then, God has introduced me not only to your teaching, but also to your suffering. In your suffering, I see my absolute need for the Gospel and more of Jesus. Praying for you from Tennessee. Soli Deo Gloria
You are truly an inspiration, Matt. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
I read your story on the MSNBC website, and it really hit home for me. I was, previously, a pastor’s kid. I say previously, because my Dad went home to be with the Lord, on September 6th, 2000 from a malignant brain tumor.
I will be praying for you and your family, that God’s will would be done……
Harmony
[...] this video, Matt mentions the present impacts of the treatment on his health, but as I watched this, it did [...]
Hi Matt,
Still praying along with everyone else, I’ll pray your side effects remain at a minimum (to nothing). You’re a blessing brother, strangely it is encouraging to know (and not, because I wish you weren’t going through this) that someone else my age is going through the same valley of the shadow of death. I think it is encouraging because we have the same HOPE, and our HOPE does not disappoint (Rom 10:11).
You’ll come through this, bro, I know it!
In the love of Christ,
Bobby
You have many people, bible studies and churches praying for you in Rockport Texas, I am teaching 1 and 2 Thess Precept study and I am able to give my ladies a true example of suffering well for Christ, your testimony has impacted many people in this town. We will all continue to pray that you will continue to be worthy of His calling. Cecilia
Matt, as I pulled up the blog I could see visibly that you were weary before i even hit the play button. 13 years ago I was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer and spent a year of surgeries, chemo and radiation treatments. To see you struggle brings back some of those yucky feelings during treatment. I feel your pain. The prayers on my behalf are what got me through no doubt and God taught me so much through that experience. I will never be the same. It was the worst year of my life and yet in many ways the best year of my life.
I have four children and my youngest was 10 at the time. She had such peace even at a young age that God was in total control. She would tell you today it was a wonderful time of trusting in the Lord and learning of His faithfulness. Your children will learn great lessons from all you are walking through together. Just keep clinging to the cross..His plan and His ways are perfect concerning you. You are in my prayers.
Hi Matt,
I just wanted to make sure to reach out and let you know that I am praying for you and so blessed to see how in the midst of your struggle you are allowing God to have all the glory. He is using you in a mighty way, and I know He has His hand on your life.
I am believing for healing and renewed strength.
Hugs,
Joy (your HSU friend)
Matt, may I share two thoughts that have bolstered me as I go through my treatment for ovarian cancer?
(1) Last week, friends whose son is a cancer survivor told me “You’re almost through the ‘tunnel’… it’s like the tunnel in The Shawshank Redemption movie … you gotta crawl through awful stuff, because you know freedom is up ahead.”
(2) When I’m feeling those “hit by a truck” symptoms, I think of Jesus’ crucifixion and the pain and suffering He endured for us. What I’ve endured is *nothing* compared to that.
I had surgery and was diagnosed last September, and my six rounds of chemo are now behind me. I get a month of rest then radiation begins. This illness has proven what I believed, but had never been tested: God loves and provides for us in all circumstances. And it is sometimes in the worst circumstances when we fully grasp how blessed, cared for, and protected we are.
- Kathy from Coppell
Matt, my husband and I continue to pray for your children’s salvation. You have piled lots of “wood” at their feet, I pray the Holy Spirit will ignite it. We of course pray for you as well every single night all the way here in Seattle. We love you brother.
I’m praying for you…thanks for the updates. I think of three verses in Scripture that I wanted to write to you now. Romans 8:28: And we know that in ALL things, GOD works for the good of those who love HIM, who have been called according to HIS purpose” and Isaiah 40:29, “HE gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary and men stumble and fall, but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles, they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint” and Joshua 1:9, “Be strong and be courageous. Do not be terrified, do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” These verses (and many others) were powerful for me when I read them when I went through brain surgery, and in the midst of the after-affects afterwards. (Though mine was benign, I was left with significant issues with my memory) and these were so encouraging for me in the midst of all of that. Also, Psalm 71, particularly 14-17 and 19-20, which says, “But as for me, I will have hope; I will praise YOU more and more. My mouth will tell of YOUR righteousness, of YOUR salvation all day long, though I know not its measure. I will come and proclaim YOUR might acts, O SOVEREIGN LORD, I will proclaim YOUR righteousness, YOURS alone…..”and then verses 19-20, “Though YOU have made me see troubles, many and bitter, YOU will restore my life again, from the depths of the earth, YOU will again bring me up.” Also Romans 5:3-5 and Psalm 34:17-20. I will continue to pray for you and check the updates.
Dear Matt,
praying for you here in Portugal.
Deus te abençõe!
Very thankful for the Village and Matt Chandler. Praying in Houston.
I too had a brain tumor (removed 07-29-2009). It was the size of a lemon in my left frontal lobe. At diagnosis the dr said it was most likely malignant and brain tissue. After surgery, and much prayer (as you are experiencing) the dr came back with pathology and said it was benign and was not brain tissue. Dx:benign maningioma.
Having said all that, though my experience was different, and we didn’t have to endure chemo and radiation, I have an idea of what you’re going through. I was 36 at the time of the brain tumor and I had cancer (leukemia) as a child and had to go through chemo twice and radiation in between.
God has always given me songs to help me through situations. Before surgery I sang, “I Will Rise” constantly. After surgery He gave me, “Born Again” and “For Such a Time as This”, as well as Beth Moore’s “Esther Study” to do. He’s constantly reminding me that He is not finished being Glorified through me.
In the process of all this, He brought to me a vision that I am to be a mirror for Him and that the trials are His way of polishing me to His reflection is even clearer.
Over the years God has brought me through many trials, 10 surgeries in the last 11 years, besides the cancer and treatment as a child. In all those, I had no real thoughts that I was going HOME, until this last one. Even though, God put a steadfastness, unwavering, “I know He’s in control” in me, to shine as courage to others. My bestfriend called me courageous – I would have never given myself that label. But God shining through did.
Listening to your V-logs is truly inspiring. I hope to be able to see you in person preaching this side of HOME, but if not I’ll look you up when we get there.
In CHRISt,
Angie Fleener Walthall
p.s. you can see pictures from surgery on my facebook site.
Matt I just read your story in my morning paper in Fayetteville Ar. I am moved beyond belief of the incredible strength you have in your total reliance on God to see you through this battle. I am reminded of a book I read last month by David Jeremiah…A Bend in the Road. It is about his battle with lymphoma and a great encouagement. God bless you. I will be praying for you and your family.
Pastor Matt,
I’ve been enjoying your series on Prayer via iTunes. I left the series today to hear a message on Anxiety. As soon as I stepped on the treadmill and fired up the iPod I knew something was amiss. You weren’t there. It was someone else preaching. Although I’ve only known you for a week (virtually) you seem like a very old friend. And today I realized that while God was shaping my heart and molding my character and turning me towards a greater life of prayer via the word he had given you, that in fact as you preached the series He was actually preparing you, and your family, and your congregation for what was to come. Your message speaks well of who you are and whom you belong to. Now that I am on the same page as the rest of the world, I will pray for you my friend. Earnestly and fervently………
Blessings
Dewayne
Please know Matt that your struggle is touching lives here in the North-East of England. And thank you too for sharing how we can help support Kate Mcrae and her family. You are such a blessing!
Matt, Steadfast in prayer for you and your family especially this past week and teaching this weekend! Thank you for the video updates that encourage our hearts in prayer and in waiting upon God for you. ~Psalms 112
Scott and Mary Anderson