Matt Appling is a former child artist turned art teacher, pastor and writer. His work is helping children and adults in creative and spiritual pursuits.
His first book, Life After Art, was released by Moody Publishers April 2013 and explores the intersection of life, faith, and becoming the people God made us to be. Matt can be found every week at his blog.
Can I confess something?
I struggle with contentment. That one word is the probably the most elusive in my life. Everyone has something that constantly evades and escapes them in their life. Contentment is mine.
It isn’t that I’m not thankful. No, this is a struggle that makes me wonder if I’m doing enough, if God is happy with me, if my life means something. It makes my brain click on in the middle of the night and says, “Wake up, Matt! You’re a failure!” No joke. My brain thinks 3 am is the best time to dissect all of my life decisions.
It isn’t that I’m not content with my life or my family.
I struggle to be content with myself.
And the more I confess it, the more I discover that I’m not alone. I find good friends at church who are secretly afraid that they have wasted their lives. I find people at work or new acquaintances online who just don’t think they’re good enough.
In fact, I don’t have to go any further than the art classroom where I teach to find all the discontentment in the world.
Let’s see, who’s coming in? Fifth graders. Perfect.
These fifth graders are so different than they were in first grade or kindergarten. Their cares and worries have multiplied. They no longer look at themselves through the lens of how God sees them, but through the lens of how their peers see them. Everything is image.
And for such big kids, they seem so helpless. Not like the five-year-olds.
The boys don’t think they are talented enough. Some of them scribble around on the paper, deflecting attention from their perceived inadequacies by performing below their talents.
And the girls…the girls are much more verbal. They put themselves down so much, it breaks my heart to hear them. The girls at this age spend so much time putting themselves down, criticizing themselves. Their souls are hunched over, weighed down with self-doubt and every kind of anxiety imaginable.
And in a few short years, they will be adults like you and me, still struggling to be content with themselves, still lacking the confidence to go and act boldly in the world because they don’t think they are good enough.
I ask them to stop working.
“Where does all of our talent come from?” I ask.
“God,” they answer.
“God,” they answer.
“If God made us, and gave us all of the talents that He wanted us to have…” I pause a little, “How much sense can it make to complain about how God made us, to tell God that He didn’t do a good enough job?”
And suddenly, I realize that I’m preaching a little sermon that I desperately need to hear myself.Another one. Really, every little message and pep talk and sermon I’m giving the kids is something that I’ve forgotten how to live and am trying to re-learn, one baby step at a time. Along with these children, I’m trying to slowly realize that we have enough, we are enough. We are exactly what God wanted us to be. We just have to discover how God actually created us in the first place.
Reaching that discovery of how God created us is what Life After Art is all about. It’s the journey I’m taking, and I hope you’ll take it with me. Let’s recover the life and faith we were created to live, by rediscovering the children we used to be.
“Do you believe that He would send those men out to preach the gospel to every creature unless He wanted every creature to be saved? Do you believe He would tell them to preach it to people without giving people the power to accept it? Do you believe the God of heaven is mocking men by offering them His gospel and not giving them the power to take hold of it? Do you believe He will not give men power to accept this salvation as a gift? Man might do that, but God never mocks me. And when He says “Preach the gospel to every creature,” every creature can be saved if he will.” D.L. Moody
Kerry Mauldin is a wonderful missionary and minister that is a frequent quest minister at our church. He is located in Northwest Ark and spends most of his time building churches and ministering in India. He always has a powerful message. He had a bad fall last week and broke his leg and arm and yet is still working hard at getting the message out. His email below is reprinted with his permission. Please read the wonderful message that he shares. Thank you and God bless!
I just recieved this report from Govinda Reddy today. He is faithful to walk in the villages with us these 17 years until a scooter accident last year when he broke his hip and right leg. Now he is stirring the urgency in spite of a huge test…
I am 8 days past the bike accident and broken right leg and arm. I can use my right hand some now and being very careful with the leg….always on the bed or couch and tedious ride in between.
There is time to spend quality time with the Lord. He poured in my heart the book of Amos. There are so many pictures in the Word of the USA, as with Isreal, God blessed us with His blessing to fulfill His covenant and to bring every heart to Him and God will use us to accomplish… But we have taken His blessing and trampled on His plan to use USA–each of us. The church is not effective and we have no real heart for God, but a day will soon come:
Amos 8:11 Behold the daydays come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the Words of the Lord;
12 And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, and they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the Lord, and shall not find it.
We as a nation have become Biblical illiterate. We do not know His truths or His promises. We must dig in, get our hearts filled, share His truth and show His love!!
As you read Govinda Reddy’s note, imagine the simple villages, many challenges, but determination….
Please Note ::-Greetings to all the elders in the Majestic name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ … Sir I am Evangelist K.C. Govind Reddy continuing in the Lord’s Service under your guidance and once again reporting you after a prolonged break of 8 months which I had to take due to my health condition … Sir 8 months ago I met with an accident which made me bed ridden – since then I had been Praying with tears to God for my health – the pain in my leg didn’t allowed me to go out of my house and Preach , so during this period but I use to keep Praying on bed for the Church and the Preaching Ministry …. When I heard about Rev.Kerry Sir and his team’s visit to India in the month of February I regained my lost confidence and restarted to continue in the Lord’s Service no matter what come may … Slowly I started moving out and Preach Word to whomever I was sent to – few people use to visit me and hear the Word from me when I was at home – God Blessed me and gave me strength to share His Word even when I was laying on the bed …Praise God !!! Sir, I am glad to share with you that God is Healing me from my injury and hereafter I shall resume sending my monthly reports to share my Testimony of Preaching with God’s given new strength ….
16 , 17 & 18. Mar. ‘ 12 ( Fri , Sat , Sunday ) :- These three days I was admitted at Kurnool hospital – Scanning and X-ray tests were conducted … shared God’s Word with other patients there – Prayed for Madhelette and Kittu – on Sunday , I went to attend a local Church there and worshiped the Lord who gave me strength to Praise His name in my weakness – some medicines are prescribed to me which I am taking regularly … please Pray for my health…
19. Mar. ‘ 12 ( Monday ) :- At Karrimadella , a believer named Boyya Lakshmi Devi was suffering from snake bite – immediately went to attend her wound and helped her with first aid …. Prayed for her and strengthened her Faith with God’s Word … she slowly recovered and was Healed ….
20. Mar. ‘ 12 ( Tuesday ) :- Preached Gospel to a youngster whose a non believer named Madhu – he was spending in fasting in his idol worshiping …. Preached about the Real Savior and Prayed for his conversion of Faith towards the Real God…
21. Mar. ‘ 12 ( Wednesday ) :- Attended a Prayer meeting held in Sammanna’s house at Pessarwai gudem … shared God’s message with them and Prayed for their family….
22. Mar. ‘ 12 ( Thursday ) :- Went to Beemawaram to Preach among the non believers living there… met washer men namely Nadipenna and Lingamma – Preached to them referring to the Scriptures from Mark 5th Chapter – Prayed for their Salvation…
23. Mar. ‘ 12 ( Friday ) :- Visited Saremma and Dhanamma’s families at Karrimadella – Prayed for their domestic needs and peace in their families…
24. Mar. ‘ 12 ( Saturday ) :- Few people have come to attend the Prayer meeting held at our place …. Preached to them about the Creator’s wonderful greatness and joined in chain Prayers with the people gathered – Prayed for their building Faith and for Rev. Kerry Sir and his Ministry…
25. Mar. ‘ 12 ( Sunday ) :- Sunday Service was conducted at Lingapuram – in the evening , along with Joesph visited few houses of our Church members and Prayed for their families…
26. Mar. ‘ 12 ( Monday ) :- Along with Bro. David went to Abbulapuram to visit the house of the members who were Baptized by Rev. Kerry Sir … discussed with them about Salvation bands and explained to them its importance and meaning …. all theses members are regularly coming to attend Prayer Services and are gradually strengthening in Faith….
27. Mar. ‘ 12 ( Tuesday ) :- Gathered members at Karrimadella and Preached to them about the ” importance of Word to the World ” … everyone attentively listened to the Word and Worshiped the Lord’s name … Prayed for the elders, Ministry and for our Church development…
28. Mar. ‘ 12 ( Wednesday ) :- At Balanagamma’s house conducted a Prayer meeting where many non believers have come to attend and hear the Word …. Preached to them about Christ’s Holy Sacrifice on the Cross – Christ’s Crucifixion and Resurrection … they all listened attentively … Prayed for their Salvation…
29. Mar. ‘ 12 ( Thursday ) :- Went to Devallapuram and conducted a Prayer meeting at Ranga Reddy’s house – many women gathered there – Preached to them referring to Acts of Apostles – and Prayed for their Salvation ….
30 & 31. Mar. ‘ 12 ( Fri & Saturday ) :- Church members of Karrimadella and Lingapuram were invited by Deva Raju Church of Ramapuram for its inauguration … many believers and Evangelists were invited to grace the occasion – non believers too took part in the celebration … we all rejoiced in the Lord’s name for all His Blessings bestowed over this new Church and its members … many have come forward and requested to Pray for them personally – a little handicapped girl named Jaya lakshmi have shared her Testimony of meeting Rev.Kerry Sir … we Praised and Worshiped the Almighty’s name and thanked for giving us an opportunity to join and together glorify His wonderful name … .reddyovinda c.
Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand,
by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you— unless you believed in vain.
For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,
and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures,
and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve.
After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep.
After that He was seen by james, then by all the apostles.
Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time.
For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
Therefore, whether it was I or they, so we preach and so you beiieved.
Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?
But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen.
And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is vain and your faith is also vain.
Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up— if in fact the dead do not rise,.
For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen.
And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins!
Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.
If in this life one we have hope in Christ, we of all me are the most pitiable.
Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand,
by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you— unless you believed in vain.
For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christdied for our sins according to the Scriptures,
and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve.
After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep.
After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles.
Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time.
For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
Therefore, whether it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.
Seven times he preached in the Colonies, to crowds up to 25,000, spreading the Great Awakening Revival, which helped unite the colonies prior to the Revolution. Ben Franklin wrote in his Autobiography: “He preached one evening from the top of the Court-house steps…Streets were filled with his hearers..I had the curiosity to learn how far he could be heard by retiring backwards down the street…and found his voice distinct till I came near Front-street.” Who was Franklin describing? It was George Whitefield, who died SEPTEMBER 30, 1770. Franklin wrote of Whitefield: “Multitudes of all denominations attended his sermons…It was wonderful to see.” Printing George Whitefield’s sermons, Ben Franklin financed the largest building in Philadelphia for his meetings, which later became the first building of the University of Pennsylvania. Franklin wrote to George Whitefield: “I sometimes wish you and I were jointly employed by the Crown to settle a colony on the Ohio…a strong body of religious and industrious people!…Might it not greatly facilitate the introduction of pure religion among the heathen, if we could, by such a colony, show them a better sample of Christians than they commonly see in our Indian traders?”
God is good. He makes the sun to shine on the evil as well as on the good. God sends the rain and the sunshine to ungodly nations. God’s great grace is far beyond my natural thoughts and yours. The heavens are high above the earth and just so high are God’s thoughts above our thoughts. He mercifully and abundantly gives His pardon to the guilty. Charles Spurgeon continues this line of thought: And to the one who does not work but believes in him … Read More
If God can justify me; if he can justify the ungodly; then there is no doubt that you too can be justified! Thank God that it is all of grace! Charles H. Spurgeon writes: And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness. . . . (Romans 4:5) I call your attention to those words, … Read More
J. Wilbur Chapman (1859-1917) delivered a message to preachers at the beginning of the 20th century. He was concerned by the critics of preaching as well as the lack of authority and power that was flowing from pulpit messages. The following excerpt from Chapman’s message is as relevant today as it was then: [W]e must have a message to prea … Read More
We must keep our believing eyes fixed upon Christ’s great love. This is the path of the believer in which he finds his courage and strength in Christ’s love. If we shift our eyes away from Christ, the path becomes impracticable. The Holy Spirit makes use of Christ’s love at the very beginning to draw us to His service. It is by means of His lov … Read More
In this article, Charles H. Spurgeon reminds us of our daily dependence upon the work of the Holy Spirit. In particular, ministers of the Gospel of Jesus Christ should strongly depend upon the Holy Spirit in preparing to and preaching the Word of God. Spurgeon writes: Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, declares the Lord. Be strong, O Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land, declares the Lord. Work, for I am … Read More
Everyone who reads the following article should meditate on it and read it well. If you would be saved, you must be made alive. There is no salvation without a new birth. There is a great gulf between the cultural Christian and the man who is Christian in deed and truth. The difference is between a state of life and a state of death. J. C. Ryle ex … Read More
Quoting Charles H. Spurgeon: Take care, brethren; for if we think we can do anything of ourselves, all we shall get from God will be the opportunity to try. He will thus prove us, and let us see our inability. A certain alchemist, who waited upon Pope Leo X, declared that he had discovered how to transmute the baser metals into gold. He expected … Read More
Of the many books authored by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, his book on Spiritual Depression is one of my favorites. Recently, Granted Ministries has created a video to promote the publication of a new edition of this book. It is also a great introduction to Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones. I hope you will watch the following video: The 2011 edition of Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones’ classic … Read More
Paul says in 2 Cor 4:34, "even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God." Unbelievers can see that there is a gospel, and understand the facts about it, but they do not see its light. The light of the gospel is the glory of Christ, his holiness and beauty. It is this gos … Read More
From the writings of Charles Spurgeon: Do not desire to be the principal man in the church. Be lowly. Be humble. The best man in the church is the man who is willing to be a doormat for all to wipe their boots on, the brother who does not mind what happens to him at all, so long as God is glorified. (From: "Micah's Message for Today") … Read More
