Come sit with me on my porch and hear what God has been teaching me this year. I trust it will encourage you!

What has he been teaching you?

https://matt2thailand.wordpress.com/2023/12/24/7-lessons-learned-in-2023/

I'm determined to pass this test.

What kind of test are you facing and what will it take to pass it?

Here's where I'm at and my thoughts about the mountains and valleys of life.

Read along the ChatGPT edited transcript at https://wordpress.com/post/matt2thailand.wordpress.com/403

My coach recently invited me to do an intriguing exercise: List all the things you feel you ought to do and should do if you were a better husband, father, missionary, etc. What are the things you feel you should be doing in every area of life? What are you not doing that makes you feel not good enough?

I was horrified. "That sounds terrible!"

https://matt2thailand.wordpress.com/2023/04/29/the-ought-to-should-do-list/

Here's the story behind the name of the podcast. It's all about a Father who loves giving good gifts to His son.

https://matt2thailand.wordpress.com/2023/04/20/enjoying-the-cookie-the-dough-behind-the-goodness/

The last episode was a short sermon I preached on Evangelism at One

In this episode, I want to share a few stories. I always find myself inspired and motivated when I hear people’s stories. I hope these do the same for you.

https://matt2thailand.wordpress.com/2023/04/05/thats-why-im-sitting-here-stories-worth-sharing/

This is a short sermon I preached on Evangelism at One Light Church on February 26th, 2023. Nui did an amazing job translating for me. Perhaps the best thing about this short message is it got me moving. Teaching often has that effect on me - it gets me serious about applying it! In the weeks since, I've prayed for and expected more opportunities to share the Gospel, and God has answered that prayer. But more on that in the next episode...

I have a tendency to say “Yes!” to far too many great opportunities and good ways to serve. But when I do too many things, I do none of them well. Can you relate to that? 

Today I share God's encouragement to me to hold fast to my calling and not give up. May it encourage you too!

https://matt2thailand.wordpress.com/2023/03/17/messiah-complex/

That was me. I was like that. I felt that way. I cried those tears. I felt so much pressure and so overwhelmed by my inability to rise to the expectations on me. Most of those expectations weren’t communicated to me - I assumed that others expected such and such and so I expected it of myself. The problem was that the expectations were impossible. A man who had been a missionary for decades told me that he had also struggled with trying to be the ideal missionary. The “ideal missionary” as he described it, somehow spent every hour of every day sharing the Gospel, leading Bible studies, and praying. How they find time to do laundry, develop new skills, have rest and recreation - well, that hasn’t been considered.

https://matt2thailand.wordpress.com/2023/03/01/trying-to-be-the-ideal-missionary/

If I could summarize what I’ve been learning lately in one word, it’d be this: Vulnerability.

Now if you’ve known me for a while, you might assume that I don’t struggle with being vulnerable. I’m open, honest, and transparent about my story and my struggles - and yet I’ve been really struggling to be vulnerable lately. Why’s that? I’m talking about emotional vulnerability. That’s different than factual openness. It’s a lot harder too. Because to be emotionally vulnerable, first you have to be emotionally aware. 

https://matt2thailand.wordpress.com/2023/02/12/a-vulnerable-moment/

The story of the King and the Carrot reminded me of a phrase I have prayed many times over the years. This short little prayer has been a game changer. Sometimes it even feels like a magical prayer that brings me back to the right perspective. It’s felt that way this week too. Here’s a few journal entries of mine since I started praying this prayer back in 2015. See if you can find the paradigm shifting phrase in each of these. In what areas of your life do you need to pray a prayer like this?

https://matt2thailand.wordpress.com/2023/02/05/more-than-answers/