Spring

 I think this recent, albeit short, bout of warm weather was for me.  The Lord so decided to arrange it to encourage me.  Sorry to burst your bubble on that, if you were thinking it was for you, or otherwise, but it was for me.  I really, really needed it.
  This morning, in our Staff Chapel service at work, my friend Jon Long lead us in worship and felt that God was taking us into a Spring-like season in our lives and hearts, not just in the weather.  I really feel truth in that (spot on Jon!).  It's amazing how the warm weather has just brightened people's spirits!  It's certainly brightened mine.

  This will be my first Spring in the High Park area, and I'm just delighted to be here.  Soon the trees will grow their leaves again, the grass will glow green again, and the smell of fresh plant life will be in the air.  It makes me happy just thinking about it!  God is so good to me, having me here.  My apartment is perfect for me.  My roommate is great, my area is great, my apartment is great, my friends are SUPER AWESOME great, my church is great, my family is great, my work is great.  I'm so flipping blessed!!!
  It's interesting how the warm, fresh weather has brought all my blessings to my attention.  I don't know exactly why it makes me feel so elated, but who cares, it's great!

Mr. Spring

oh what great gifts he brings, Mr. Spring

the smell in the air filled with new life

songs for birds, the warmth of the sun, grass that's green

colourful flowers too!

he brings the rain and the ground drinks deep

the trees start to dance and come alive with his joy

and even the waters cannot be still any more

all of nature rejoices, it's their party time

what a tease he is, that Spring!

a warm day here, a gentle breeze there

he builds our anticipation

and when we're most longing for him he makes us wait a little more

I know you are close, so hurry up Spring

stop making us wait

bring us your splendour and your exuberance again!

we are waiting, waiting, waiting...

waiting for you, Mr. Spring

-Matt Mitchell

I just loooove starting blogs!

And I have a new one.
It's a blog specifically for us bachelors, full of tips and tricks and musings from yours truly.

check it out.

The Bachelor Guide: The How-to blog for Bachelors in the City

Cheers!

Live. Love. Dream.

Live fully.
Live intentionally.
Live righteously.

Love truly.
Love deeply.
Love freely.

Dream big.
Dream high.
Dream often.

Powerless

The power went out in my neighbourhood today for a few hours.
I came home in the dark, to a dark apartment.  And since there was no power, I simply (using my iPhone as night light) went to the washroom to pee, dropped off my stuff and went to cell.
I was thinking, briefly, about the scripture in the Bible where it says, "in our weakness he is strong," or in the NLT, "My power works best in weakness."  Paul then goes on to say how he rejoices in his weakness so that Christ's power can do it's thing.
I began to think of the parallel at work in the High Park area.  Here we are, here I am, and I have no power of my own.  I'm incapable of doing anything, really.  There's no power to do it with.  I'm completely devoid of it.  That was when I felt the Holy Spirit remind me of that passage.  I was totally at peace.  I knew that everything was going to be okay.  I mean, it's not like a power outage in Toronto is ever that big a deal, they don't generally last long, and I had to go out and have cell anyway, but I was just reminded of how God has all the power I need.  I have power, yes, but only through him.  HE is my power.  Without him, I'm powerless, hopeless.

Anyway, hope you enjoyed that.  Remember to enjoy your powerlessness and embrace his power (which becomes yours, yes, but you get the point).

As...

As a creation, made by God my Creator, I can't help but feel a little more like him when I'm doing something creative.

As a lover, in relationship with God who is Love, I can't help but feel a little more like him when I'm giving or getting love.

As an intellectual being, learning from God who is Truth, I can't help but feel a little more like him when I'm discovering something new.

As a man and a warrior, in service to God my Great Warrior and King, I can't help but feel a little more like him when I'm fighting for goodness and righteousness.

As a leader, under the authority of God my Leader, I can't help but feel a little more like him when I'm leading someone or something deeper into a life-changing, world-changing movement.

As a servant, in debt to God my (kind) Master, I can't help but feel a little more like him when I'm serving someone in their moment of need or greatness.

As a redeemed, righteous temple for Holy Spirit, the spirit of God, I can't help but feel a little more like him when I'm choosing righteousness over compromise.

As Matt Mitchell, the Matt Mitchell who is in and of and one with God, I can't help but feel a little more like him, when I'm becoming more and more the Matt Mitchell I'm made to be.

Genesis 1:27a - "So God created human beings in his own image." (NLT)

Esther 4:14b - "And who knows but that you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this and for this very occasion" (AMP)

Acts 17:27-28 - "God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. 'For in him we live and move and have our being.' As some of your own poets have said, 'We are his offspring.'" (NIV)

Ephesians 5:1 - "Imitate God therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children." (NLT)

Redemption

the harder the attack, the greater is the victory
the more devastating the loss, the better is the redemption
the dryer the desert, the more bountiful is the harvest
the deeper the persecution, the more beautiful is the reward
the darker the path, the brighter is the future
the tougher the season, the more joyous is the breakthrough
the more painful the death, the greater is the resurrection

Matt