Great Questions Group @ MarkDeMatteo.com

As all of you know, I have a major birthday approaching, and I always like to reflect on my life at significant “Mile Markers”!

Interestingly, I recently happened upon a “Life Graph” in one of my Journals.

I was surprised to realize that I had created it almost 10 years ago–right before I turned 55!

They say a picture is worth a 1000 words, so I thought I would share it with you.

It is vitally important to regularly reassess what we are doing with our limited portion of priceless time we are each given…particularly in light of Eternity!

“Time is a wheel in constant motion, always rolling us along…

Tell me who wants to look back on their years and wonder

where those years have gone?”

–from I Hope You Dance,

Song by Lee Ann Womack

and Sons of the Desert

Birthday Soiree Update:

RSVP Deadline is Saturday, Feb. 15th.  

FYI, I will be sharing specific Time & Location only with those that RSVP!

So if you’re planning on coming, be sure that you do!

And I appreciate those that already have!

Invite is posted below and on Events Page.

Dear GQG Friends!

In this newest video, I share a very simple, yet highly effective system, which has illuminated and helped me understand more fully, a variety of key topics and themes throughout the Bible.

And since it is Christmastime, I thought I would include the links to another Video, sharing info on the Nativity you may not have heard before (or if you have, it is worth hearing again!)…

and a Classic Audio sharing a precious song about “What God is Like”.

A Christmas Message: Where Lambs Are Born

IC Christmas 2016 What God Is Like

Trust they will all bless you.

Sending along a Merry Christmas prayer to each of you!

–MD

P.S.  Stay tuned, I may have a little invite going out to everyone, shortly!

After my previous Video–The Most Potent Instrumentality On Earth–the Lord began reminding me of a number of particular instances when He answered specific prayers that I (and some others) had prayed.

As I reflected on them, I felt like He was leading me to share them with you…as faith comes by hearing!

And here is the link to the post I refer to, with both the audio and text of the Thanksgiving Prayer I originally composed and published in 2012.

A GQG Classic Message: A Thanksgiving Prayer

With my sincere prayer that each of you will have a Peaceful, Blessed and Thankful, Thanksgiving Season…which will continue, all year long!

♥️

Good Afternoon GQG Friends!

With the Presidential Election in process here in the US–although it applies at all times and in every circumstance–I thought it would be prudent & beneficial to remind us of the most powerful force on Earth.

I do so through an amazing example of it being recommended and subsequently employed by the early leaders of our country, during the convention where they were attempting to draw up what became the U.S. Constitution.

It is quite illuminating!

I have also included the link to a Classic Audio I did in 2016, before that year’s Election, which I refer to in the current Video.

I actually just re-listened to it, and it is quite enlightening too!

Is America Really A Democracy? 10. 8.16 

And several great quotes from a few of our Country’s Founders…

“Government is not reason; it is not eloquent; it is a force. Like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master.”

“Of all the habits and dispositions which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are our indispensable supports.”

–George Washington

“A nation of well-informed men who have been taught to know and prize the rights which God has given them cannot be enslaved. It is in the religion of ignorance that tyranny begins.

–Benjamin Franklin

“I place economy among the first and most important virtues, and public debt as the greatest danger to be feared. To preserve our independence, we must not let our leaders load us with perpetual debt. We must make our choice between economy and liberty, or profusion and servitude. If we run into such debts, we must be taxed in our meat and drink, in our necessities and in our comforts, in our labors and our amusements. If we can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of caring for them, they will be happy. The same prudence which in private life would forbid our paying our money for unexplained projects, forbids its disposition of public money.”

“God who gave us life gave us liberty. Can the liberties of a Nation be secured when we have removed the conviction that these liberties are the gift of God? Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just and that his justice cannot sleep forever.”

–Thomas Jefferson

With another major election on the horizon here in the US, I thought I’d share a few important guiding principles which helped me greatly simplify the process of choosing candidates.

Please note, the word I spoke @ 3:32 is “anchors” not “angers”! 

Also, after over 6 months, all ten of the blooms on my large orchid have quickly faded, reminding me of what God has told us about this brief, mortal life.

In this session–after a brief update on my Orchid!–I share some of the story of my first beginnings reading this unique book called the Holy Bible over 40 years ago, up through the present day…and what a profound and transformational adventure it has been!

One Additional Note: The closest I ever came to actually “updating” my primary Bible I refer to, was when one called the “Defender’s Bible” was published.

It contains the notes of Dr. Henry M. Morris, who was the Founder of the Institute For Creation Research (ICR), the materials from which–along with several other Creationist Organizations–have illuminated me extensively.

Dr. Morris has already passed into Glory, but he is generally considered to be the Father of the Modern Creationist Revival.

Just do a search, and you’ll find lots of options on where to get one…and oh, by the way…it’s a KJV!

The well-known line from the Declaration of Independence: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights…popped into my head recently, during one of my Morning Devotional Times.

So since our Nation’s 248th Birthday is fast approaching, I felt like the Lord was leading me to do this message…which is actually one I’ve thought about doing for a while now.

For though this Founding Document is indeed a declaration of independence from a certain tyrannical earthly government, it is moreover a declaration of belief in and dependence upon Nature’s God…their Creator, by the 56 Signers, and that they are appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions…with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence…

–Some truths I ‘m sure most of us wish more of our modern politicians–and citizens–would reflect on!

Declaration of Independence: A Transcription | National Archives

If My people, who are called by My Name,

will humble themselves and pray and seek My Face

and turn from their wicked ways,

then I will hear from Heaven,

and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

–2 Chronicles 7:14

Righteousness exalts a nation:

but sin is a reproach to any people.

–Proverbs 14:34

Happy Birthday, America!