Don't give in to Fear!

How many times in our lives have we gave in to fear? What is the greatest obstacle to our growth as a people? We are afraid to take risks, chances, leap into the uknown, or do something we are not "sure" of. I am not talking about the common sense that God has given us to take care of ourselves. I am talking about our faith in Jesus and what is holding us back.
In the text of Matthew 28:1-10, the risen Christ tells the witnesses not to be "afraid" twice within the 10 verses. He knows our fears and concerns, and he wants us to give them all to him and live a life free of fear and reluctancy. Step out on faith today and love God and others like you have never done before. Look fear in the face and overcome it.
The journey of overcoming fears in our lives will take time. Begin with some small fears and build up to the bigger ones. Over time as you develop patience with God and yourself, you will overcome fear and have a fearless faith in Jesus. It will change your perspective on life and it will change your life!

Perspective

Some of the people I encounter in my daily journey often ask me about my optimism or about my attitude of the glass always being half full and not half empty. I have never really thought about it until recently with the whirlwinds of life churning about in our little world. I find myself asking others the same question in order to pinpoint a real answer and I think I have come up with something.

This is not about "being" spiritual or righteous, it's about pouring your heart out to the Father daily in prayer, it's about being angry, depressed, happy, joyful, excited, mad, sad, and all the above in one day! It's about being human with a higher calling that carries you through the next day. It's about hugging, wiping away tears, laughing, and sharing stories with others. It's about looking at life as your journey to love God and love others, while all else just falls into place as you travel with God and others. I truly believe I am still here on this planet, in this state, in this community for the benefit of loving and sharing my life with others. There is no agenda with "Trent", just a heart full of God, life, and love. That is what "drives" me from day to day, there is no doctrine, denomination, race, name, status, or position involved, only the love of Christ in unlimited measures.

This is who I am and what I am made to be, come along with me and share the life and the love, while we strive to live for God in this place, this time, and this moment.
That is my perspective and my being!!

mtt2

What Faith can do......

I wanted to post this video on here, it is also on my Facebook page too. It has been a significant song for me over the past several weeks. Take a moment and listen to it. I also posted the lyrics for you to read along or sing along if you like. Enjoy the moment!!

"What Faith Can Do", By Kutless

http://vodpod.com/watch/2360009-what-faith-can-do-kutless

Here are the lyrics

http://www.elyricsworld.com/what_faith_can_do_lyrics_kutless.html


mtt2

I Love it!

I wanted to spend some time sharing a few things about my journey concerning my family, community, and ministry with you.

Family:
Marlana, the boys and I are doing well in Earth, TX lovin the people, the schools, and the small town life. Please pray for Marlana's family, they have been through a lot over the past year. Her Grandfather passed away earlier this year, her Dad was in the hospital for over a month, and now her Grandmother is under hospice care and not doing so well. Marlana is finishing her student teaching in Muleshoe at the current time, she will have an MA ineducation when she is done! I am lovin the full time ministry and care for our Church Family and community here. Timothy is lovin Kindergarten and growing everyday, Tyler is a daily adventure and is growing fast as well! God is good,even in the midst of difficult times. I know there are others facing greater struggles as we speak. Please pray for those who may be suffering around you.

Community:
Our community here in Earth, TX is a close knit community with a lot of love and care for one another. Yeah, like every small town, it has its issues, but love seems to overcome many of them. Lives are shared at every corner from the post office, the grocery store, the bank, the local school, and in many homes across the landscape. God is good and is very much alive in Earth, TX.

Ministry:
The ministry I am involved in at the Church of Christ here is teaching me a lot, the love and care that our Church Family has for one another is amazing. I am beginning to listen to more and more stories and journeys of our members. Once you begin to invest and share your life with those around you, things begin to happen, barriers of various nature come down and love replaces any walls that may have existed before. God is good and His Spirit is active within the lives of those who love Him daily.

This is just a glimpse into the story I have found myself in these days, a story of Family, Community and Ministry at it's best!

mtt2

Clenching Fist, Open Hand....

Found this video recently, thought it could speak for itself....open your mind and heart as you listen and watch....

http://www.brianmclaren.net/archives/blog/clenching-fist-open-hand.html

Trent

Tears, Pain, Anger, Love, and Hope

I begin to shed tears of pain, anger, love, and even hope as I begin to feel the heaviness of the suffering that such a day brings upon humanity as we know it. There are many days of pain and suffering embedded with our history as a people. But this day is one I was unfortunate enough to actually experience. I look back at the losses I have personally experienced and begin to feel the pain as if it were just yesterday. Human nature has the ability to feel pain and experience it, but I must ask, is it our mere human nature that enables us to overcome the pain? After we go through the phases of pain and come out above the darkness, we will find love and hope as we look for a place to overcome the darkness.
This darkness will try to return throughout the journey of life, it has never rested in my life. Yet, I have grown over the years since my 9/11. The actual date of my 9/11 was 10/20/99 when darkness fell with a phone call from Ky. The loss of my Mother was my 9/11 and I had the choice to let it destroy me from the inside out, or to let the Spirit take over and heal me from the darkness that was embedded so deep within my bones.
Friends and family....you want to know the secret behind my outlook on life? You want to know why I see the good in all? Once you look death and darkness in the face, you have no where to look but into they eyes of God. There is nothing in the world darker than death itself. Love and Hope have saved me from the darkness and as a result I will live every day giving love and hope to others through Christ my Savior. So, through the tears, pain, anger, there is love and hope for all!!

mtt2

Good Christian Blogs I Read!!

I wanted to take this opportunity to post some of the blogs I read daily and sometime more than that. They challenge me, make me laugh, teach me something, and I want to pass them along if you don't already read them. Here they are, I m sure the authors do not mind me promoting them.

http://www.timothyarcher.com/kitchen/ Tim Archer
http://johndobbs.com/ John Dobbs
http://www.treymorgan.net/ Trey Morgan
http://blogprophet.wordpress.com/ Brian Nicklaus
http://fumblingtowardseternity.wordpress.com/ Nick Gill
http://douglasryoung.net/ Doug Young
http://www.gallagherinstitute.com/ Chris Gallagher

There are of course many others I frequent from time to time. The ones listed are the ones who have impacted me to a greater degree. Thanks Brothers for the love and encouragement!!

Trent