The good, the bad and the ugly

I took a week off of blogging because I had been doing it for 30 days straight and I had exhausted my ideas. But I'm back.

Since I last blogged me and Ryan finished the set for the musical. Had the musical and have since torn the stage down. What took days to make, took maybe an hour to take apart. The musical was very good. It was about the Good News of Jesus. What could be better to sing about? As if we weren't in the Christmas mood enough our pastor started preaching about Christmas (about Jesus). It was a good change up. We've just finished our radical study.

Yesterday got some unexpected news, my step-granddad died. It, for the most part, was unexpected. He had quad-bypass open heart surgery a week ago, but seemed to be getting better. Be in prayer for my grandmother, as this is the second husband she has out lived. Luckily she is a woman of God and understand that His plans are perfect.

I was reminded yesterday of two things. 1) God isn't surprised by anything that happens. He's all knowing. When we all woke up we had no idea what the day would hold, but God did and he had prepared us, without our knowing, for it. Which leads me to number 2) The God that is comforting my family now is the same God of old. He is never changing. What a great God we worship. He's the same today, tomorrow and yesterday.

Be in prayer for me and my brother and sister-in-law and niece as we will be traveling tomorrow and the next day to go to the funeral and grave side service.

Counting all things loss,

Timothy Mathis

P.S. idk why I named this post "the good, the bad and the ugly", It's just the first thing to pop into my head.

Running out of cool and/or groovy titles

I'm really tired again. And it's really late again... ugh. I sure hope this isn't what the "real" world feels like lol. We got up at around 8ish and went and played in the snow. Yeah, snow in Abbeville. Our pastor made it with a snow machine. And, on top of that, he made a slope. So we were sledding today! It was fun.

After that we went and painted some more. Ate lunch. And kept painting. When we were done with all that I laid in Ryan and Mandy's chair in there living room and was about to take a nap when I remembered that I told Mike (my pastor) that I'd help him with basketball practice (he really didn't need me I just wanted to help). So I got up and did that. Went and ate dinner and watched Inception... again. It was awesome... again. Anyway it's time for bed. We got to do something tomorrow with that set again, I'm sure.

My 30 days of blogging is coming to an end, but I think I'm going to continue to blog. Just not every day.

If you didn't know me and MaeLee were blogging for 30 days up until she left the country, so the end of my 30 days means MaeLee needs your prayers as she prepares to spread the gospel throughout the nations.

Counting all things loss,

Timothy Mathis

Working hard

As I wrote yesterday, today was a busy day. We almost got the stage done. That's hard to believe seeing as how we thought it was going to take 3 days. We just worked really hard. But we arn't done and it'll take a fair amount of work tomorrow to get it finished. Anyway, there's nothing really to write as bad as I hate to say it. We just worked all day, literally. We were helped by John a little after lunch, and Phillip showed up after 5ish. All in all it was a good day. Time for bed, we (me and the Johnsons) are getting up early to play in the snow. Our pastor has a homemade snow machine so he'll have about 4 inches of snow in his back yard tomorrow morning.

Counting all things loss,

Timothy Mathis

Busy week ahead

Today wasn't full of adventure but is sure did set up a busy week ahead. Today I went to church and it was awesome (more to add to that later). Then played some xbox with my cousin then went to choir practice. After that I came home and Payton and Teara were hungry. You won't believe how hard it is to find eggs and bread now-a-days. Went to two different stores before I decided, "heck, i've gone this far might as well go to wal-mart." So there's me walking around wal mart with Dr. Pepper pj's on and a rush of fools hoodie on and grey shoes. Perfect combination to get stared at when walking through a store.

Next week is gonna be full of stuff. I guess God's been reading my blog and seeing where i'm not waking up until lunch and complaining about having nothing to do. So next week I get to help Ryan build a set for our Christmas production. I get to work on my sermon for January (yeah, already. Preaching is the only thing I don't procrastinate on... well unless it's typing my final notes). Then I get to help Phillp with his Christmas album. Did I say help? I mean force him to do it. I've been bugging him for about a month to get it done and this week I'm gonna be in town all week so he can't get rid of me. Of course, he could just kick me out of his house, but failure is not an option on my part. The to end the week we have dress rehearsal for our Christmas production on Saturday and it is preformed on Sunday night. Yeah, you added right, that gives us 5 days to do the full set. Minus Wednesday and Friday because stuff Ryan has going on and we have 3 days! Should be an eventful week. Pray for me and ryan that by Friday we won't want to put nail guns to eat others face. I mean I don't think we will because we have been battle tested. We build 'Fort Johnson' together without any problems but you know how guys can be when they get together trying to build stuff. So be praying for us and be praying for me through out the week.

Also, my good friend MaeLee Taylor will be leaving the country very soon to go on a mission trip and I would like to ask that you all pray for her over the next month. If you don't know MaeLee you can check out her blog here: http://mtaylorg3.blogspot.com/. I know she will appreciate your prayers.

So while preaching today (this is what I was going to come back to from earler) Mike was talking about not comparing our self and our standard of living to others, because Jesus isn't calling us all to live the same and give the same. And Mike went to John 21:21: [21] When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?” [22] Jesus said to him, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!”

(John 21:21; John 21:22 ESV)

Peter is talking worrying about Judas, the one who betrays Jesus. Jesus pretty much tells Peter, "It's none of your business what I'm doing with anyone else, just follow me the way I want you to follow me." We should all worry more about what Jesus is calling us to do rather than trying to peep in everybody else life.

Counting all things loss,

Timothy Mathis

MMA

Today was all dedicated to one thing and one thing only, UFC 124. I've been waiting to see these two dudes fight for some time now so I had today all planned out. We came down to Abbeville around 2 and played some xbox. Went and ate El Burrito at 5:30 then watched the Heisman Ceremony at 7. Then came the UFC at 8. It was everything I had hoped for. Plus about 7 people were here so we split the cost and that's awesome too. Nothing else really happened today.

Looking forward to tomorrow as always, ready for worship with church family. Tomorrow is also the day I'm going to start talking to Ryan about what I'm going to preach about in January. So keep praying for that.

Counting all things loss,

Timothy Mathis

Very much nothing

Today was about as useless as a day could get. I woke up at... 1:24 p.m. It was pretty incredible. I got up and watched some ESPN. When mom got home from work I went and got some lunch/dinner.

I really can't think about what else I did today. It really a blur because nothing happened. Oh yeah, I watched the weigh in's for UFC 124! And tomorrow a.k.a. latter today I'm gonna watch UFC 124! I also went to wal-mart today, again. We went to print off some pictures from our family picture's. You can check those out on facebook, they are pretty awesome. Especially the ones of my niece!

I've worked a little already on my sermon for January 2nd. I'm already getting that exciting feeling that comes with teaching God's Word. It's going to be incredible. I've got a long way to go on the sermon but I got the outline and main idea/purpose of it. Keep praying for me.

Counting all things loss,

Timothy Mathis

Preaching and teaching

So, I wasn't able to blog last night because of some unfortunate circumstances but no excuses I'm down again! Today was much better though.

Got up around lunch again and had lunch with my brother, sister-in-law and friend. It was really make shift but it was actually good. After that Sam (my sister-in-law) ask if I wanted to cut there grass...for pay. Heck yes! I need money and they had work needed doing, it's like we were made for each other. So I had a chance to have some good worship via iPhone while I was riding around on the lawnmower. After that I came home. Teara ask if I would take her to wal-mart to get stuff for s'mores. Heck yes #2! We had a good time making s'mores on the fireplace fire.

Got great news x2 today. First, I found out that I'm gonna be working at a disciple now in either January or February. I worked at it last year and loved it so being invited back was awesome. I wasn't totally taken off guard, I've been recruiting the kids I had last year to tell there youth pastor that they wanted me back. It worked I guess! Another awesome thing is it's at the church I'm hoping to go through seminary at so I'll be able to make some connections again. But youth learning about Jesus > me making connection so that's where my main focus will be.

Next good news is I'll be preaching January 2nd at our night service. I've done it once before and have actually been thinking over the past few weeks about asking Brother Mike and Ryan if I could do it again and I guess God was tired of me putting it off so he just got them to ask me if I would. It's awesome how God works. He laid something on my heart and when I was skidish about following through with it He just got Ryan to ask me. So be praying for me as I'll have two opportunities at the beginning of next year to teach the Word to a wide range of age groups. I'm looking very much forward to teaching though! Pray specifically that God would speak through me and that I would be able to covey the truth to people. Also pray that I wouldn't be able to speak (literally) if I was trying to speak for any other reason that to advance the kingdom. I know it sounds funny but that's my prayer for myself when I'm preaching. I'd rather God take away me speaking than me misinterpret His Word or rather than me seeking selfish glory.

Counting all things loss,

Timothy Mathis

Sleeping by the fire

Well as you can imagine today was another boring day for me. I got up around lunch and just watched TV all day. When mom and Teara got home my cousins came up here and we had a good time. We didn't do anything really just kinda hung out and joked around. I miss days like this from high school. Day when I could just come home after school and see everyone. But being away helps me appreciate it more.

I also found out today that I hurt my tooth somehow. It's kinda like the enamel cracked or came off and exposed whatever is underneath (nerves i guess?) anyway it's really sensitive. And it even hurts randomly throughout the day. So I went to Wal-Mart with my cousin payton to get some sensedyne (however you spell it). Just tooth paste to build up your enamel. I hope it works because I really dread going to the dentist. Anyway, that was about it for me today. I'm doing the good brother thing and sleeping with my sister by the fire tonight :) I put that like I didn't want to but I'm really pumped about it! She's awesome!

Tomorrow is my mom's day off so we will get to spend some time together :) I should also find out tomorrow if i'm preaching on January 2nd. If I do it'll be my second time preaching on a Sunday. The only other time was a night service, this one would be also. So look for updates on that tomorrow!

Counting all things loss,

Timothy Mathis

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

Today was great! I didn't have anything to do for the first day if what seems like forever!!! I got up around 12ish and just watched ESPN all day. I'm taking full advantage of my holidays. When mom got home I ask Teara if she wanted to go to the Christmas parade in Abbeville and she did so we got all bundled up for that (it was super cold) and headed out. When we got there we saw a lot of people I knew so we got to watch the parade with some of my church family. After the parade was over we went to the Johnson's because Gracie (5 yrs old) had ask me just the other day why I hadn't brought Teara (8 yrs old) over to play. So we went over there (as if I needed a reason to go to Ryan and Mandy's) and I let Teara play with the Johnson girls for a little while, while Ryan showed me how to do the dropbox app of my iPhone. So after I figured that out we left and came home so we could eat dinner! Since dinner I've just been continuing my ESPN watching in anticipation of another day full of ESPN tomorrow. Oh yeah I also ordered my Christmas present from my mom tonight. I would tell you what I'm getting but that would ruin the surprise lol. Na it's some UFC dvd's I've been wanting and they had a sick deal going on. Anyway, I hope everyone has a blessed week of finals.

Counting all things loss,

Timothy Mathis

Sunday, Sunday, Sunday

First off I would like to point out that I'm tie again with MaeLee because she missed yesterdays blog!

Today was awesome, as are most Sunday's at FBC Abbeville. The worship was awesome and Mike preached about the radical gift, salvation. After church me and some friends went and ate at Pizza Hut. After that I went and applied for press credentials for the senior bowl then took a nap. Sunday afternoon naps are so underrated. If I wasn't so afraid of missing something cool and/or groovy I would take one every Sunday afternoon. I got up just in time for night church which consisted of an Awana ceremony. Darden Kirby gave a message that was incredible. I came from Deuteronomy 6:4-9. It basically talks about how raising up your children in the Word will help them spiritually. I want to be a Deuteronomy 6 parent, "you shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise" All the time be pouring meaningful conversation about Jesus into your children. After night church me and the same group of friends from lunch ate pancakes together. It's sorta a Sunday night ritual. They were good as always. Since then I've just been chilling at home. I'm looking forward to a week or two of just relaxing and recharging before the Spring semester. It's gonna be a tough one so if you want to start praying for me now about it that would be awesome, I'm taking 19 hours so it should prove to be intense. Well, that's all for tonight, the bed is calling my name.

Counting all things loss,

Timothy Mathis

'Day off'? Not so much

Today was supposed to be my first day on Christmas break, not so much. I got up at 7...yeah a.m... and went up to the church. I met up with Ryan and Phil because some stuff needed to be done around the church. We had to run Ethernet cable throughout the entire church. I didn't anticipate this being hard. But at some parts of the church, or should I say under the church, are very small. So small that you have to crawl. On top of that I had to get in the attic. After working from 7 to 2:30, me and friends watched the SEC championship game. After that we rolled my pastors tree (he's a huge auburn fan) it was really fun. That was about it as far as my day goes. The work as stressful at points but it was fun hanging out with Phillip. When I worked at FBC we hung out a good bit but with me being at college and him working it's hard to chill. Anyway, have a great worship day tomorrow!

Counting all things loss,

Timothy Mathis

It's all over...for now

So today was my last day of class/finals for the fall semester. I'm officially a senior now. It was another late night and I had to get up at 7 this morning to study for my last test which was at 8. I did well on the final I guess. Then I went and caught up on sleep and checked out of my dorm. I came to Abbeville after that and watched ACA play. And I got to hang out with my favorite family, the Johnsons. I love that family. They're the best! Anyway now i'm watching Elf witch is pretty great too.

Tomorrow I get to help Ryan and Phil do some work at the church then we are going to watch the SEC championship game at the Johnson's with the Weems'. After that is the Ultimate Finale! should be an action packed day. Anyway that was it for today. Have a great weekend.

Counting all things loss,

Timothy Mathis

One more day as a junior

Today was awesome. I didn't think it as going to be very awesome because I didn't go to bed until 4:30ish. I had to get up at 10ish and go get a photo book binded. After that I had to go turn in the paper I was up writing until 4 a.m. After that I ate lunch (because my body was refusing to do anything else). It was like 1:30 and I had a final at 3. And I was really really really worried about this test! I haven't been doing too well in this class and I was in jeopardy of having a D in the class if I was to do bad on this test. So I did what any worried college student would do... I took a 30 min nap before I was going to study for an hour. This nap was a bad idea. I felt really bad after the nap but I HAD to study. So I studied for an hour and... I destroyed that test. IDK how I knew all that stuff but I did really well. I'm not worried at all about that class now which is good for me because I don't like worrying. I don't do it much which means when I do it's usually pretty bad. So got out of that test and had a little while to chill then I had to go present my photo book. I did really well on this too I think. Since then I've just been chilling with friends watching sports. We saw two pretty interesting games. We watch Lebron James return to Cleveland then we saw the end of the 2OT game that was Arizona v. Arizona St.

God has been faithful to remind me of His greatness. Tomorrow is my last day as a Junior in college. I'll be a Senior! It's crazy. He's working all things out for me for His namesake and I love it. I hope that over the Christmas break I'll be able to do some better blogs because I'll have more time to ponder deep theological truths... okay maybe not deep thoughts but hopefully my blogs will get better. But until then you'll have to deal with what I get you.

Counting all things loss,

Timothy Mathis

Too sleepy!

So it's 4:11...a.m. and i just got done with a paper so i'm gonna have to miss a blog. But since I posted something it's like I didn't miss one at all :)

Counting all things loss,

Timothy Mathis