TheMattAndersonShow's Blog

People tend to evaluate situations from the perspective of what they do. For instance, chiropractors can look at a person walking down the street and tell that their spine is out of alignment. Auto mechanics can tell if a car needs a tune up just by driving it for a block or two. And cosmetologists? Please, sistas I know you've been to the salon after being away for a while and the hairdresser took one look at you and said "you must have done your own hair". They could tell that you used an off the shelf product to touch up your hair and that it didn't quite take all the way. It's all because people see based on what they do. When something is not functioning right, they can tell based on their training. In Jeremiah 1:5 God said, Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, [and] I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations. God had a plan for Jeremiah before he was even born. He has a plan for us as well. His design for our lives was drawn up before the beginning of time, so He knows what we're supposed to look like and how we're supposed to function. When we get out of alignment His Word helps to correct us. When we start using bootleg perms to straighten out the issues in our lives, He can tell that we tried to use a cheap product to fix it ourselves. God told Jeremiah what he would be, how he should act and what he would do. He said "I've ordained thee a prophet." Be not afraid of their faces. Then He told him to root out, pull down, destroy, throw down, build and plant. God is very detailed. When we try to use cheap imitations to get the results that only a qualified specialist can do, we can mess things up. By cutting corners trying to save time or money, we can end up having to spend more time or money fixing what we've messed up. Instead, we should use the real thing from the beginning because we're built by design. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

How many times have you heard the saying "I'm praying for you"? The intentions of the person who saw your distress most likely were sincere and heartfelt. In fact, someone who expresses concern at a time when we're going through can be comforting and reassuring that we're not alone. But, at the same time, our immediate practical need may still go unfulfilled. The lights are still off because the bill wasn't paid. Our children's stomachs are still growling from hunger. We still don't have a job through which we can support ourselves. James 2:14 - 17 (NIV) What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed, but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. The King James version of this says "faith without works is dead". Far too often we talk the talk, but we don't back it up with a confident walk. We serve with our lips, but we don't sow with our hands. I remember one time, I was talking to a brother who fell on hard times. From the outside looking in, things looked good for him. However, through a series of turns he found himself sleeping in his car. When he reluctantly told me about his situation, I was moved to tears. I prayed with him, then, without him knowing, I went to the ATM machine and took out some money. I really couldn't afford it, but truthfully, I could much less afford NOT to. While it wasn't enough to totally remedy his situation, it was enough to help. I also made a few calls to try to help him find a place to live. Things worked out. A friend of his offered him a place to stay while he got back on his feet. It really was team work from the Body of Christ. The bottom line is, we can talk a good game, but beyond that, we've got to DO something. When people see us, they should see Christ. They should also FEEL Him. Faith it will work if you work it. Work yours today. Ya feel me? That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

I remember back in the day one of my older aunts telling me of how it was when she was coming up. She didn't come up in the church. In fact, she was kinda out there hangin' at the juke joints In a way she reminded me of Madea..a lotta mouth and could back it up. If you messed with her, you might get cut. Not just with her tongue, but literally. She used to carry this straight razor and could slice somebody real quick if they got on her bad side. She would wrap a nylon stocking around the blade and could slice somebody who wouldn't even know they were cut until they got halfway down the block. The Word of God can be like getting cut by a straight razor. Hebrews 4:12 says For the Word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. On the surface we may present one thing, but deep down we mean something else. The Word is what cuts down to the bone. The Amplified Bible says "exposing the judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart." The Word is what cuts to the chase. It gets down to what we really mean. It causes us to bleed. In Mideivel times, primitive doctors would "bleed" a patient with the intent of healing them through cleansing. Blood letting was thought to allow the disease to leave the body. Cleansing happens with the way of women. But, perfect cleansing happens with the blood of Jesus. The bleeding stops when the blood coagulates. It clots and stops when exposed to air and the healing begins. Sometimes, we cover up the cut too soon and delay the healing. We put a bandaid on it and the air can't get to it. When you give somebody the Word, give them a chance to realize that they've been cut. If the Word cuts you, let it bleed. That's when the cleansing can start and true healing can take place. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Not too long ago someone asked me is it possible to motivate someone? I said "yeah". He said, "OK, go ahead and motivate me." I proceeded to shape my fingers like a gun and point at him and said "sit down". He didn't move. Then I said "OK, here's a million dollars, sit down". Of course, I didn't have a million dollars to give him, I was just trying to make a point to motivate him to sit down. Needless to say, he didn't sit down, money wasn't what motivated him. I learned my lesson. You can't motivate someone; they have to motivate themselves. What you can do is find out what motivates them and feed into their motivating factors. You see, money, houses and cars go away. But only what you do for Christ shall last. Look at what the word says in 1 Timothy 4:8 (Amp.) For physical training is of some value (useful for a little), but godliness (spiritual training) is useful and of value in everything and in every way, for it holds promise for the present life and also for the life which is to come. As much as we work out our physical bodies or train our minds on how to gather material things, eventually they have an end. I heard it said that you never see a U-Haul following a hearse. The ancient Egyptians thought that they could take it with them, but archeologists continue to find untold treasures buried in the sands of Egypt right next to the pharaohs who thought they could take it with them. They were wrong. We on the other hand, should train ourselves spiritually because it helps us to govern ourselves here in this life and it provides a guarantee for the life hereafter. The word is what governs our lives, guards our hearts and guarantees what it says. What motivates you? Is it fear? Is it success? Is it fear of success? How about money or fame? After spending a few days asking myself these questions, I came to the conclusion that what motivates me is completing the assignment that God has called me to do. While it is important to make sure that my family is provided for, I really want to make sure that I please God. Fame comes and goes. So does money. Nobody can motivate you. Only you can motivate yourself. THAT'S MY STORY AND I'M STICKIN' TO IT.