REAL LIFE STORIES OF ENCOURAGEMENT, TRIAL, AND GOD’S FAITHFULNESS THROUGH IT ALL.

Can I say 'Amen', Mr. Parker?
Foster / Adoption Matt Parker Foster / Adoption Matt Parker

Can I say 'Amen', Mr. Parker?

Sometimes foster children call you all sorts of things. Sometimes they call you Mom and Dad like everything else. This go-round we are Mrs. Tammy and Mr. Parker for reasons unknown to us we acquired those names after about two weeks of being Mom and Dad. It doesn’t matter, but I will say that Mr. Parker has a very sweet sound coming out of the mouth of a tiny five year old.

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The "Be"atitudes of Disciplemaking
Disciplemaking Matt Parker Disciplemaking Matt Parker

The "Be"atitudes of Disciplemaking

When we train leaders and disciplemakers, we started giving them this list of the “Be”attitudes of Disciplemaking. Undoubtedly it will change over the years. Things will be added, maybe things will be taken away. It isn’t an exhaustive list, just some things to think about. I hope it is helpful.

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It's Finally Here! Pre-order Your Copy Today
Special Needs, Parenting, Christian Living Matt Parker Special Needs, Parenting, Christian Living Matt Parker

It's Finally Here! Pre-order Your Copy Today

We’ve waited and we’ve waited and it’s finally here! The Crucible’s Fire: A Story of God’s Faithfulness is ready for Pre-Order. Get your copy on Amazon or at Barnes & Noble. If you are not a subscriber to this blog or The Potter’s Hands, our Disciplemaking blog, Use the buttons to subscribe and receive a FREE PREVIEW CHAPTER of the book.

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Every Job Needs a Good Corner Man
Leadership Matt Parker Leadership Matt Parker

Every Job Needs a Good Corner Man

When they built our house eight years ago, I remember being fascinated by the bricklayers. There was an absurdly beautiful and oddly choreographed dance of productivity. No one even had to speak, they just moved. I am still in awe of their ability to put up a wall in so short a time span.

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Beauty for Ashes
Foster / Adoption Matt Parker Foster / Adoption Matt Parker

Beauty for Ashes

Just over a week ago a new foster placement came to our home. He is five. It feels weird to call a child a “placement,” but that is the term. He is small and lovable. As I stated in last week’s post, each new face brings to mind the heaviness of a world broken since that fateful act of disobedience in the garden. However, from time to time, out of the ashes of abuse and neglect we are privileged … no, blessed and humbled … to see a flower of life and redemption sprout where once there was only desolation.

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How to Ruin Church Volunteers in One Easy Move
The Church Matt Parker The Church Matt Parker

How to Ruin Church Volunteers in One Easy Move

When I was in college I learned something that has stuck with me ever since. It's called the Peter Principle. It was developed by a fellow named Laurence J. Peter. In simple terms, his theory states that people tend to rise to the level of their incompetence. You could say it another way:

People are often promoted one level higher than they are capable of performing.

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My Thoughts on ThoughtFull by Dorena Williamson
Matt Parker Matt Parker

My Thoughts on ThoughtFull by Dorena Williamson

In her charming and insightful book, ThoughtFull, author Dorena Williamson shines light on something we desperately need more of in our world; thinking of others and appreciating our differences. This delightful children’s book is a wonderful teaching tool and conversation starter as we attempt to teach them how to be more like Jesus as they relate to the world around them.

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How to Ruin Church Volunteers in One Easy Move
Christian Living Matt Parker Christian Living Matt Parker

How to Ruin Church Volunteers in One Easy Move

When I was in college I learned something that has stuck with me ever since. It's called the Peter Principle. It was developed by a fellow named Laurence J. Peter. In simple terms, his theory states that people tend to rise to the level of their incompetence. You could say it another way:

People are often promoted one level higher than they are capable of performing.

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Then There Were Seven
Foster / Adoption Matt Parker Foster / Adoption Matt Parker

Then There Were Seven

The first day they drop off a child at your home who has been in foster care is hard. You know something bad has happened or they wouldn’t be there. You don’t yet know the details, and truly they don’t matter at this point. A child needs a safe and stable place to sleep and that, you can provide.

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Why Do You Pursue Holiness?
Christian Living Matt Parker Christian Living Matt Parker

Why Do You Pursue Holiness?

"What is your motivation for your struggle for holiness?

"If I do things around the house like clean up, do the dishes, or laundry because of fear that if I don't my wife will go bananas and yell at me, how much joy do I find in doing those things?  However, if I do the very same things out of love for her and out of a desire to serve her and for her joy, then how much joy do I find in doing those things?

"It is the same way with God.  If my motivation for holiness is fear, then there we find no joy.  If our motivation is love, then in that we find infinite joy."

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Don't Worry About It, It's In the Past
Christian Living, Discipleship Matt Parker Christian Living, Discipleship Matt Parker

Don't Worry About It, It's In the Past

One of the things I love about scripture is the divinely inspired tensions that seem to riddle its pages. One of those moments comes from the Apostle Paul in Philippians 3:13-14. In it, Paul says, 

"13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."

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What Do You Worship?
Christian Living Matt Parker Christian Living Matt Parker

What Do You Worship?

Many years ago I heard a sermon where the preacher pointed out how we could tell what was important to us by what was in our checkbook register. Apparently at that time, as now, Wal-Mart is EXTREMELY high on that list. It isn’t that I worship Wal-Mart, it just so happens the bulk of what we buy for our family of 7 comes from there. I mean, they carry everything!

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She Said, "Yes"
Parenting Matt Parker Parenting Matt Parker

She Said, "Yes"

I remember like it was yesterday. We were expecting our second child and this time we didn't know if it was a boy or a girl. I had a boy, and that was awesome, every dad's dream is to have a son to play ball with, teach to run a drill, and how to be a man. This time, though, I wanted a girl. 

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