With whom are you committed to going the distance in life? Who can be straight with you? Who can challenge you? Who is encouraging you? When you finish a race and look around, who is celebrating with you? When you fall, who helps you stand up? When you get the wind knocked out of you, who sits with you while you gather yourself back together, and then is right next to you when you charge back into the challenge?

Every year Wellspring takes a group of men to the mountains to spend the weekend bonding in a cabin and on the slopes. We just returned from this year’s trip, and it was amazing. For me personally it was awesome because I didn’t have a single bad fall while snowboarding. I’m pretty sloppy on a board, but I love it so much. I love the quiet and being lost in the scenery, and I love knowing I’m on an adventure with my spiritual brothers.

I like to ride with the slow crew (in the photo I’m on the right in the greenish blue outfit with the white stripes), while Ben Nothrop (on the left in the bright yellow jacket) leads the speed team. Zach Armstrong (in the front middle in the black jacket) moves between our two groups, checking on us. My group looks for the smooth ride, while Ben’s group looks for the highest, fastest, and most challenging ride. By the end everyone has pushed themselves a little harder and comes off the mountain feeling like they’ve accomplished something. And when we crashed, someone was always around to check on us and to laugh at us (that’s typically what men do). Whether we’re pros or brand new beginners, there’s nearly always someone next to us, cheering us on.

Along with the adventures on the mountain, we also have many deep conversations about life, being a husband, being a father, being a son of God… The floor is open and we’re all committed to being authentic with one another. My favorite time during the trip each year is when we pray and prophesy over one another. I love this! When we first started, this time would often begin a little awkward and everyone would wait for the leaders (especially Ben and I) to do all of the talking. Now, after four years of Wellspring, all of the men participate and it goes deep and powerful fast. This year Ben and I were just part of the group, and the Holy Spirit was leading as every man willingly and eagerly participated.

It is so refreshing and encouraging to see the incredible growth of our guys as they begin to truly love and encourage one another as brothers. We are all so different from one another, yet in our commitment to loving one another we’re all growing exponentially. I can’t wait to see who joins the Wellspring brotherhood next year.

Let’s grow together!
Matt

Matt Neese
Wellspring.Live

DAILY WORD FOR FEBRUARY 10, 2021

Joseph interpreted Pharaoh’s dream to mean that there would be seven years of prosperity followed by seven years of famine. The Hebrew for “seven” comes from a root word that means “have enough”. There would be just enough prosperity to prepare for the famine, and there would be just enough famine to completely change the memory of the world. This was a massive reformatting in which leadership changed, nations moved, and wealth transferred. The famine would last just long enough to transform the world as people knew it. Life would be so extremely different that the time before the famine would become foreign, unimaginable, and eventually lost to memory. But when the reformatting occurred, God’s people were well provided for and put in positions of favor and authority.

Since COVID-19 began, everyone has been waiting and longing for the good old days to magically return. What if this is actually a “just enough” famine? What if God is reformatting nations? When this is done perhaps the “time before” will be lost to memory. The world’s “good years will be erased” — bad news for the world but good news for the Kingdom.

Joseph was a foreshadow of Jesus. Just as Joseph rose from obscurity to ruling the nations, Jesus will rise again in authority and power. Just as Joseph’s family was saved and given the best land, Jesus’ family will be led into new territory and great provision. When this famine has had enough, the world will lament the “good years” while the Kingdom celebrates the harvest.

• 2/10 Genesis 41, Psalms 41, Judges 17, Matthew 26:1-19
• 2/11 Genesis 42, Psalms 42, Judges 18, Matthew 26:20-54
• 2/12 Genesis 43, Psalms 43, Judges 19, Matthew 26:55-75
• 2/13 Genesis 44, Psalms 44, Judges 20, Matthew 27:1-31
• 2/14 Genesis 45, Psalms 45, Judges 21, Matthew 27:32-66
• 2/15 Genesis 46, Psalms 46, Ruth 1, Matthew 28:1-20
• 2/16 Genesis 47, Psalms 47, Ruth 2, Mark 1:1-22
• 2/17 Genesis 48, Psalms 48, Ruth 3, Mark 1:23-45

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