Greetings friends,
I pray this letter finds you
living out your life to your greatest potential! It’s a wonderful season out
here physically and spiritually here at G42. The weather has been un-naturally
warm for this time of year. Apparently it has broken all kinds of records as
the warmest fall in history for this area. So with 24 + Celsius weather, it has
been quite enjoyable. And more importantly, it’s been a great season of freedom
and character building for us interns. Everything we’re going through in class
we have the privilege to spend time in the surrounding communities doing.
Personally I’ve been involved with a local food program for the homeless. I’ve
made a few relationships that are slowly being cultivated into something more
than just a hug once a week. This past weekend, a few of us interns headed out
to the nation of Gibraltar on our own account to help out our dear friend and
local Andrew as he’s involved with being a resource for ministries coming into
the 2 countries here (Spain & Gibraltar).
One of the classes that I’ve
been encouraged in is “Failure”. Now that may sound quite the taboo class for a
life of ministry, but the truth is that this is the first time I’ve been
confronted with teaching that my past failures and shortcomings are part of
something great in the walk ahead of me as I live out my purpose. It’s opened
such huge doors in my life for the concepts of grace and ultimately love. The
Apostle Paul writes, “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor
uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing
itself in love.” This means that no matter who I am or
who you are, the only thing that matters in this life is faith in Christ
through the expression of love. Life is about people and loving one another! We
have to submit our shortcomings and failures of this world’s standards and hand
them over to the Lord and move forward. It’s the only way to freedom in our
lives. To break that cycle of bondage and imprisonment of fear of failing when
we know we are called to do great things (Jer. 29:11). We are each created for
an undeniable purpose.
So, I encourage all of you
wherever you are at in your own journey. If you are curious about whom Jesus is
I encourage you to read deep into the Gospel of John! If you have already committed
to following Christ, I pray for you to look at your relationship today with God
and ask him if there is anything you need to hand over to him once again to
step into that new deeper level of freedom in Him…releasing the hold of fear once
and for all!
I thank you all for taking a
minute to allow me to share what’s going on here in Spain. It means a lot to
me. I hope you in turn are encouraged. Please know that I am in need of
finances to keep going through my term and practicum’s. One of them is this
next week in Barcelona. The total I need is approx. $2,200 by December 1st.
This will sustain me through the end of the first term (December 18th).
If you are able to help out,
please send checks to:
Cheers on the journey!
– Matt
