The Goodness of God for Your Marriage and Family (Pt. 3)
“Personal Vision Testimony”
Hello, Faith Heights Family!
'Tis I again, Matthew, and I'm pumped and ready to minister to you once more about the GOODNESS of God for your marriage and family. Did you receive something from the Lord in our previous writing to you? Send us your testimony to connect@kim.faith (simply reply to this email) and tell us what THE LORD has done for you. It could be something the Lord helped you to see while reading the letter—anything! We want to rejoice with you because your victories are our victories, praise God! The success of your lives is what gives us a reason to breathe: fulfilling God’s plan and ministering to you, our precious family.
Additionally, have you considered sending these letters to others who would benefit from this ministry to marriages, such as wives, married couples, and single individuals seeking to find their spouse? Jessica's and my desire is to get the Word out to as many people and marriages as possible. Christian marriages everywhere are hurting and struggling, and Jess and I are living proof of what God will do in your marriage when you put God's Word into practice. Even strong marriages benefit from hearing God's Word on the topic of marriage because marriage is a type of Christ and the Church (husband and wife).
In our previous letter to you, I stated that I would provide you with three primary reasons why we know God is only GOOD and always GOOD. The first primary reason we gave is that the Gospel is GOOD News. That's how we know God is only and always GOOD! Before moving on to the second primary reason why we know God is GOOD and always GOOD, Jess and I would like to use this letter to share a testimony with you, as it supports the GOODNESS of God for your marriage and family. You know, if a preacher tells you something is true from the Word but they never live it and bear fruit, that would be a problem, wouldn't it? It's false advertising to declare that God is a GOOD God, but then you never have any testimonies yourself! Something wouldn't be right.
Do you recall my first letter to you from Playa del Carmen, where we were on vacation? I was sharing with you about how God gave me a vision for a swimming pool in my backyard. Among other things, I mentioned that I had never been able to see our family having one until now. Being immersed in the experience of such a lovely pool setting in "Playa" elevated my vision, and now, I can envision having one in my backyard.
Here's what I’m seeing: Against the backdrop of a manicured wooded area, the pool features a curved shape. I'm 6'1" and the water comes up to my lower chest; not too deep for Jess, and not too shallow for me! I can see various palms and flora decorating the pool area. I can see some tree branches aesthetically hanging over my head, creating a semi-shaded area for swimmers. Everyone's hungry? I can see our outdoor kitchen area, where friends, family, and church family are hanging out around the food bar, and I'm serving them Baja California-style fish tacos with chips and salsa! I hear children laughing and playing, having tons of fun! I can see someone yelling, "Cannonball!" and splashing everyone lounging poolside! I see smiles on our guests' faces because of what the Lord has done!
I could go on, but to me, that has all the hallmarks of the GOODNESS of God. If the pool was just for Jess, Miah, and me, I can't see it one bit. But using it to minister to and bless other people? Now you're talking! That's the Lord's design for abundance: others enjoying the GOODNESS of God through you.
Please remember that I said that wasn't the only thing God ministered to me in “Playa.” The more important things—the spiritual things the Lord showed us—and the marriage things the Lord did for us, far outweigh the swimming pool vision!
"Well, Bro. Matthew, if the other things are more important, why didn't you share those things?"
Because some of that is special, only for Jess and me. Regarding the other things, I'll end up being a doer and ministering as the Lord leads me. Remember, we're talking about the GOODNESS of God for your marriage and family. Part of the GOODNESS that comes from God is GOOD things! Thus, the swimming pool vision. With the foundation laid, let's go on to the testimony.
Shortly after we returned from "Playa," Jess and I received a text from a GOOD friend of ours. Their text message is our testimony!
"Hey, guys. While I was out doing some yard work, I had a prompting of the Lord. He told me that you are not enjoying the full benefits of the beautiful home that He gave you, and He wants me to help. I believe He's telling me to make your backyard an outdoor extension of your house that can be used as part of the ministry, and for a place of peace and relaxation.
If you would let me, I would love to sow that into you. You may already have a VISION of what you want, but if not, be thinking about it. It may take me a while, but I would love to make that VISION a reality."
Glory to God! Now, I want you to know that I made the word "vision" from their text in all caps so it would stand out to you. Do you recall that I previously stated that in Playa del Carmen, the Lord gave me a VISION for a swimming pool in our backyard? Our friend's text message to us wasn't a result of Jess and me sharing our vision for a swimming pool with them. It's something only the LORD could orchestrate! We said nothing to them.
What our GOOD friend wants to give to us is precisely what needs to happen in our backyard first, before the pool goes in. It's the first steps we need to take to get our backyard cleaned up and into shape, and these initial stages of his labor of love are worth upwards of $5,000 just to get started! Glory to God! That's just like someone putting $5,000 in our hands and saying, "Get your backyard cleaned up and ready!" Ha!
Even if we had all the money in hand to build out our pool vision, we couldn't because our backyard is currently a forest! First, we need to cut down the unnecessary trees and remove their stumps. We need to trim the tops of the trees we're keeping to allow sunlight to reach the ground. There's ground that needs to be leveled and tiered. There's underbrush that needs to be cut out and cleared, and much more! It's quite the undertaking, but these are the things the Lord has dealt with our friend to sow and give to us graciously! It's just the GOODNESS OF GOD! It's the FAVOR of God. It's the KINDNESS of God! Oh, how He loves you and me!
Our pool vision is coming to pass, and it's due to the GOODNESS of God! However, let me be clear: we don't currently have the funds for it, and we will not incur debt for it. It's not even a priority to Jess and me. As far as we're concerned, we can take it or leave it! Personally, I’d rather go to the beach somewhere or enjoy some time out on beautiful Table Rock Lake in our hometown of Branson, MO. Having my own pool was just a “nice to have” kind of thing. I think I liked the idea for resale value for our home, but other than that, it was just a “would be nice to have” kind of thought.
"Bro. Matthew, then why in the world are you even talking about it?"
BECAUSE THE LORD GAVE ME THE DESIRE! [More on this in the following letter.]
My GOOD Heavenly Father is responsible. He's the One Who stirred me up about it! You see, I've grown enough in the Lord that I can now recognize these leadings when they come. I'm preaching to you today from my office chair, endeavoring to stir you up about YOUR GOOD Heavenly Father. He wants to overwhelm YOU with His GOODNESS. The Father wants to elevate your quality of life to the point where your marriage testifies to the GOODNESS of God, your children's lives testify to the GOODNESS of God, the vehicles you drive testify to His GOODNESS, the house that you live in testifies to His GOODNESS, the clothes you wear testify to His GOODNESS—every area! And all for the glory and honor of Jesus!
We can't earn these things, we can't buy them, and we can't be perfect enough in our performance to win the Father's favor. There's nothing you can do to get on God's GOOD side for His GOODNESS to come to pass in your life. You're already on God's GOOD side! That's why Jesus came! We were once completely separated from the Father. The curse of the law was upon us, and we had no access to the Father, nor any relationship, until we bowed our knees to the Lord Jesus. And when we did, Jesus brought us back into fellowship with the Father, He redeemed us—spirit, soul, and body—and He broke the curse that comes from the law of sin and death! Now, instead of being cursed, we are BLESSED! We are under a new Master, Jesus, and we have been BLESSED with all spiritual blessings in Heavenly places in Christ! I'm quoting Scripture.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places... (Eph 1:3, ESV)
Family, I thought I could share this testimony and get everything out in one letter, but alas, I cannot. Ministering the GOODNESS of God to you has been stirring me up, and the topic has grown on me significantly. I can’t wait to minister to you with the other things I didn’t have time or space to share today.
Stay tuned! By our following letter to you, our testimony could have grown even larger! What else can you expect from our GOOD Father when He causes His GOODNESS and MERCY to follow us every day of our lives (Psalm 23:6).
Until then, the BLESSING of the Lord be upon you, the FAVOR of God surround you, and I ask You, Lord, cause something GOOD to happen for each one who receives this Gospel of Your GOODNESS in today’s letter. In the Name of Jesus I pray, Amen!
In Him,
Matthew & Jessica