Monday, December 5, 2011
Sunday, December 4, 2011
What Will You Choose?
Thoughts From the Mount of Blessings pg. 91-93
Singleness of purpose, wholehearted devotion to God, is the condition pointed out by the Saviour’s words. Let the purpose be sincere and unwavering to discern the truth and to obey it at whatever cost, and you will receive divine enlightenment. Real piety begins when all compromise with sin is at an end. Then the language of the heart will be that of the apostle Paul: “This one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” “I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ.” Philippians 3:13, 14, 8.
But when the eye is blinded by the love of self, there is only darkness. “If thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness.” It was this fearful darkness that wrapped the Jews in stubborn unbelief, making it impossible for them to appreciate the character and mission of Him who came to save them from their sins.
Yielding to temptation begins in permitting the mind to waver, to be inconstant in your trust in God. If we do not choose to give ourselves fully to God then we are in darkness. When we make any reserve we are leaving open a door through which Satan can enter to lead us astray by his temptations. He knows that if he can obscure our vision, so that the eye of faith cannot see God, there will be no barrier against sin.
The prevalence of a sinful desire shows the delusion of the soul. Every indulgence of that desire strengthens the soul’s aversion to God. In following the path of Satan’s choosing, we are encompassed by the shadows of evil, and every step leads into deeper darkness and increases the blindness of the heart.
The same law obtains in the spiritual as in the natural world. He who abides in darkness will at last lose the power of vision. He is shut in by a deeper than midnight blackness; and to him the brightest noontide can bring no light. He “walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.” 1 John 2:11. Through persistently cherishing evil, willfully disregarding the pleadings of divine love, the sinner loses the love for good, the desire for God, the very capacity to receive the light of heaven. The invitation of mercy is still full of love, the light is shining as brightly as when it first dawned upon his soul; but the voice falls on deaf ears, the light on blinded eyes.
No soul is ever finally deserted of God, given up to his own ways, so long as there is any hope of his salvation. “Man turns from God, not God from him.” Our heavenly Father follows us with appeals and warnings and assurances of compassion, until further opportunities and privileges would be wholly in vain. The responsibility rests with the sinner. By resisting the Spirit of God today, he prepares the way for a second resistance of light when it comes with mightier power. Thus he passes on from one stage of resistance to another, until at last the light will fail to impress, and he will cease to respond in any measure to the Spirit of God. Then even “the light that is in thee” has become darkness. The very truth we do know has become so perverted as to increase the blindness of the soul.
Singleness of purpose, wholehearted devotion to God, is the condition pointed out by the Saviour’s words. Let the purpose be sincere and unwavering to discern the truth and to obey it at whatever cost, and you will receive divine enlightenment. Real piety begins when all compromise with sin is at an end. Then the language of the heart will be that of the apostle Paul: “This one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” “I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ.” Philippians 3:13, 14, 8.
But when the eye is blinded by the love of self, there is only darkness. “If thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness.” It was this fearful darkness that wrapped the Jews in stubborn unbelief, making it impossible for them to appreciate the character and mission of Him who came to save them from their sins.
Yielding to temptation begins in permitting the mind to waver, to be inconstant in your trust in God. If we do not choose to give ourselves fully to God then we are in darkness. When we make any reserve we are leaving open a door through which Satan can enter to lead us astray by his temptations. He knows that if he can obscure our vision, so that the eye of faith cannot see God, there will be no barrier against sin.
The prevalence of a sinful desire shows the delusion of the soul. Every indulgence of that desire strengthens the soul’s aversion to God. In following the path of Satan’s choosing, we are encompassed by the shadows of evil, and every step leads into deeper darkness and increases the blindness of the heart.
The same law obtains in the spiritual as in the natural world. He who abides in darkness will at last lose the power of vision. He is shut in by a deeper than midnight blackness; and to him the brightest noontide can bring no light. He “walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.” 1 John 2:11. Through persistently cherishing evil, willfully disregarding the pleadings of divine love, the sinner loses the love for good, the desire for God, the very capacity to receive the light of heaven. The invitation of mercy is still full of love, the light is shining as brightly as when it first dawned upon his soul; but the voice falls on deaf ears, the light on blinded eyes.
No soul is ever finally deserted of God, given up to his own ways, so long as there is any hope of his salvation. “Man turns from God, not God from him.” Our heavenly Father follows us with appeals and warnings and assurances of compassion, until further opportunities and privileges would be wholly in vain. The responsibility rests with the sinner. By resisting the Spirit of God today, he prepares the way for a second resistance of light when it comes with mightier power. Thus he passes on from one stage of resistance to another, until at last the light will fail to impress, and he will cease to respond in any measure to the Spirit of God. Then even “the light that is in thee” has become darkness. The very truth we do know has become so perverted as to increase the blindness of the soul.
Thursday, December 1, 2011
My Personal Translation of Psalm 147
Psalm 147
Praise the Lord
It’s good to sing to Him about His goodness
It’s enjoyable, a thing of beauty
The Lord has built up His church
He is the one who brings in His people from unknown places
He heals those who are broken inside
He makes safe the causes of that brokenness
He knows how many stars are in the sky
He remembers their names (He was there when they received them)
Our God is amazing and has no lack of power
He knows and understands everything about everything
The Lord not only takes care of the humble, He exalts them
The wicked are cut off from His help (unless they become humble in time of course)
Sing praise to the Lord with exuberant gratitude
Sing praises accompanied by your guitar to God
He’s the cloud Creator
He's the one who waters the earth
The one who dresses the mountains with grass
He provides food for wild animals
He hears the cry of young ravens and is moved
It’s not the strength of horses he delights in (or the greatest help men can employ)
Not the legs, not the best of men's strength
He finds joy in those who fear Him (those who realize who He is)
He delights in those who hope is in His mercy (the same mercy that cares for even obscure animals)
Praise the Lord REACH Philadelphia
Praise Him blessed of the Lord
He is Your defender
He cares for your young
He give You peace among yourselves
And blesses You with the best for your needs
When He gives the word
Time is no obstacle
The beautiful snow is His covering creation
He can cover the ground with frost as well as ashes
He has abundant hail to dish out
Who is His match?
Just as easily He can melt the frigid
Bring the wind and let the waters flow for new life
He has made His word known to us
We know his rules and the consequences of our actions
This is our special privilege as His people
Those without His Word don’t get know what causes what
God has been so good to us!
Praise the Lord
It’s good to sing to Him about His goodness
It’s enjoyable, a thing of beauty
The Lord has built up His church
He is the one who brings in His people from unknown places
He heals those who are broken inside
He makes safe the causes of that brokenness
He knows how many stars are in the sky
He remembers their names (He was there when they received them)
Our God is amazing and has no lack of power
He knows and understands everything about everything
The Lord not only takes care of the humble, He exalts them
The wicked are cut off from His help (unless they become humble in time of course)
Sing praise to the Lord with exuberant gratitude
Sing praises accompanied by your guitar to God
He’s the cloud Creator
He's the one who waters the earth
The one who dresses the mountains with grass
He provides food for wild animals
He hears the cry of young ravens and is moved
It’s not the strength of horses he delights in (or the greatest help men can employ)
Not the legs, not the best of men's strength
He finds joy in those who fear Him (those who realize who He is)
He delights in those who hope is in His mercy (the same mercy that cares for even obscure animals)
Praise the Lord REACH Philadelphia
Praise Him blessed of the Lord
He is Your defender
He cares for your young
He give You peace among yourselves
And blesses You with the best for your needs
When He gives the word
Time is no obstacle
The beautiful snow is His covering creation
He can cover the ground with frost as well as ashes
He has abundant hail to dish out
Who is His match?
Just as easily He can melt the frigid
Bring the wind and let the waters flow for new life
He has made His word known to us
We know his rules and the consequences of our actions
This is our special privilege as His people
Those without His Word don’t get know what causes what
God has been so good to us!
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Sexual Healing
I saw this during summer and was reminded of it today. I'd say it's worth sharing. I hope it's memorable, impacting and worth sharing for you too.
Monday, October 31, 2011
Are You Listening?
“Hiro, are you listening to me?? I asked you a
question!” It was another Monday afternoon and
Hiro, my adorable, yet difficult, 4-year-old client was once again
giving me a
run for my money during our therapy session. He wasn’t
paying attention to anything I was saying and
refused to participate in what I had planned. “How am I
supposed to help him with his language problems if
he won’t listen to me??” I asked myself in frustration. Every
time I asked him a question, he would
talk about a number or a color he noticed hoping that that answer would
be
sufficient. That was his typical reaction when he didn’t know the answer
to
something. Instead of working hard
at figuring it out, he blurted out something about numbers or colors,
something
that he was really good at. Later
during the session, he started getting out of his seat and copying
everything
that I would say to him. When he
realized that I wasn’t going to back down and let him go off and play
Candy
Land, he stuck his hand in front of my face and said, “stop talking!”
Was this really happening? I was literally
speechless. Hiro then looked at me with a serious
face, pointed at me with his tiny 4-year-old sized finger and stated,
“This One,
bad.” When Hiro forgets my name,
which happens every session, he calls me “This One.” He
was calling “This One,” Deanne, bad?? I was hurt,
confused, and tremendously
disappointed.
The therapy session felt like a complete failure. All the time I spent carefully planning out the session felt pointless and I wished at that point that Hiro was old enough to understand how much I cared. How much I wished that he would just pay attention so that I could help him get better. If Hiro would just pay attention, he would improve very quickly.
Isn’t it the same with us and God? God knows exactly what areas of our lives need improvement. He plans out perfect therapy sessions for each of us every day. Sometimes we show up and sometimes we don’t. And even if we do, we don’t always pay attention. We don’t listen to His carefully thought out activities that, we may not always like, but are designed for our improvement and growth. When we realize that God is challenging us to grow in our weaknesses, we don’t like that it’s hard. And what we do instead is bust out with our strengths hoping that they will compensate for our weaknesses. Sometimes we get so fed up that things aren’t going the way we want them to that we stick our hand out in front of God’s face and say, “stop talking!” And sad to say, we can get so selfish and self-absorbed sometimes that we even forget the name of God.
It makes me smile that God could take this makes-me-want-to-rip-my-hair-out-of-my-head-little-boy, Hiro, to teach me about the true Hero in Heaven, God my Father. God is the perfect therapist and He has the perfect session planned for you and me everyday. Let’s pay attention and stop trying to be the heroes of our own lives.
The LORD came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” 1 Samuel 3:10
Deanne Kazumi Snell
The therapy session felt like a complete failure. All the time I spent carefully planning out the session felt pointless and I wished at that point that Hiro was old enough to understand how much I cared. How much I wished that he would just pay attention so that I could help him get better. If Hiro would just pay attention, he would improve very quickly.
Isn’t it the same with us and God? God knows exactly what areas of our lives need improvement. He plans out perfect therapy sessions for each of us every day. Sometimes we show up and sometimes we don’t. And even if we do, we don’t always pay attention. We don’t listen to His carefully thought out activities that, we may not always like, but are designed for our improvement and growth. When we realize that God is challenging us to grow in our weaknesses, we don’t like that it’s hard. And what we do instead is bust out with our strengths hoping that they will compensate for our weaknesses. Sometimes we get so fed up that things aren’t going the way we want them to that we stick our hand out in front of God’s face and say, “stop talking!” And sad to say, we can get so selfish and self-absorbed sometimes that we even forget the name of God.
It makes me smile that God could take this makes-me-want-to-rip-my-hair-out-of-my-head-little-boy, Hiro, to teach me about the true Hero in Heaven, God my Father. God is the perfect therapist and He has the perfect session planned for you and me everyday. Let’s pay attention and stop trying to be the heroes of our own lives.
The LORD came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” 1 Samuel 3:10
Deanne Kazumi Snell
Thursday, October 20, 2011
The Taylor Street Open House: Worth It for at Least One Young Man
After weeks of planning and publicizing the Taylor Street Open House through flyers and personal invitations in the neighborhood of the location as well as announcements at church the event finally ensued at 11 A.M. April 16, 2011. The REACH Philadelphia Interns and their supporters were organized together, prayed for God’s leading and blessing and they were expectant. The Ministry House sign was freshly set, gospel music was playing into the streets, the scent of freshly prepared vegan sandwiches and other goodies invited passers-bye into the kitchen for food and conversations. Some of our members even went into the streets to bring people into the home but honestly...it was a harder sell than most expected. But that didn’t take away at all from the amazing work that God had for the team to do that day.
The guests who came and the contacts the young adults acquired made all the effort well worth it. One example of those connections is Young Ervine. Shortly after this youth’s entrance he shared with those around the refreshments that he had a hard time trusting people but that he felt safe in the Ministry House for some reason. He’s already had Bible studies since the open house and is extremely interested in more. Though we weren’t overwhelmed with more attendees than we could accommodate, it is overwhelming to realize how God uses our humble efforts to bring in a harvest for His kingdom. Luke 15:7 NLT states, “heaven will be happier over one lost sinner who returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven’t strayed away!"
This is the Taylor Street Ministry House before the sign was added.
The guests who came and the contacts the young adults acquired made all the effort well worth it. One example of those connections is Young Ervine. Shortly after this youth’s entrance he shared with those around the refreshments that he had a hard time trusting people but that he felt safe in the Ministry House for some reason. He’s already had Bible studies since the open house and is extremely interested in more. Though we weren’t overwhelmed with more attendees than we could accommodate, it is overwhelming to realize how God uses our humble efforts to bring in a harvest for His kingdom. Luke 15:7 NLT states, “heaven will be happier over one lost sinner who returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven’t strayed away!"
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Muzungu!
There I was, the only muzungu (white man) for miles standing before a congregation of over 800 Kenyan church members. I was about to preach to them a message that I was actually unenthusiastic about for the audience I had. I was speaking about healthy living and the guidelines we find in the Bible and I was confident that they already knew the message well. I prayed that God would help me in the moments before the talk. I needed inspiration and fresh insight to get beyond the rules that nobodies excited about, past the stereotypical apologetic sermon, to share a message of God's love revealed in His Word and experienced in my life.
All I want to say is that somehow God provided. He made the topic come alive as Satan's counterfeits were exposed and God's unmatched blessings were revealed. The way to an abundantly healthy life became clear: commit yourself ad submit yourself to following God's Word. Science is has finally understood why it is unhealthy to eat pork, thousands of years after God commanded us not to eat it. There's probably a reson I grew up hearing of people getting sick because of eating crab meat, oysters and so on. God told us to drop it in his Word before we were born. It's clear to me that soany are suffering because they don't know the truths of God's Word.
The Word is an amazing gift that needs to be shared and studied. It needs to be spread wide. We need to dig deeper. We need to pray big prayers in accordance with the Bible and expect answers that will shock our confused minds into a new reality. If we trust in God, He will show up, he will do miracles. I believe it.
May God forgive me for the years I've only dabbled in His Word, in prayer and in applying it to my life. I want to live for Him now and to trust His Word that is filled with thoughts far superior to my own.
Praise God from whom all blessings flow that He could inspire someone like me to preach with power. All scripture is so useful and He is glorified in it. May we move from skeptical scoffers to faithful witnesses. God bless Kenya, God bless Africa, God save the people o this world from the deep deception of Satan into the freedom of God's own truth.
-Nick
All I want to say is that somehow God provided. He made the topic come alive as Satan's counterfeits were exposed and God's unmatched blessings were revealed. The way to an abundantly healthy life became clear: commit yourself ad submit yourself to following God's Word. Science is has finally understood why it is unhealthy to eat pork, thousands of years after God commanded us not to eat it. There's probably a reson I grew up hearing of people getting sick because of eating crab meat, oysters and so on. God told us to drop it in his Word before we were born. It's clear to me that soany are suffering because they don't know the truths of God's Word.
The Word is an amazing gift that needs to be shared and studied. It needs to be spread wide. We need to dig deeper. We need to pray big prayers in accordance with the Bible and expect answers that will shock our confused minds into a new reality. If we trust in God, He will show up, he will do miracles. I believe it.
May God forgive me for the years I've only dabbled in His Word, in prayer and in applying it to my life. I want to live for Him now and to trust His Word that is filled with thoughts far superior to my own.
Praise God from whom all blessings flow that He could inspire someone like me to preach with power. All scripture is so useful and He is glorified in it. May we move from skeptical scoffers to faithful witnesses. God bless Kenya, God bless Africa, God save the people o this world from the deep deception of Satan into the freedom of God's own truth.
-Nick
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Our Anniversary!
It was a special day for my wife and I. It was our 730th day of marriage (also known as a two year anniversary). It's almost like it was a holy day for our relationship where we pulled away from the rest of the group a tad to focus more on each other. We had some sweet moments at lunch time at a table for two by the pool. A couple of members of the team even served us the samosas (probably the best I've ever had) without us asking them. We have an amazing team.
Sadly we lost a dear member of our team today as Rob Lloyd, our Share Him day block manager from Hawaii, left us in Eldoret to rejoin his church group in Chuka where they are finishing up their campaign. Before he left God used him to bless us with a very thought provoking worship called the "buts of the new testament." It was about how we as Christians shouldn't have an "if only" mentality that looks back on our lives with regret, rather we should have a "but now" mentality that is filled with hope for every new day. He also helped us to cut down four sermons that are coming up so they wouldn't be so long or confusing. He worked on these from four o'clock in the morning. He is a great example of a servant leader. We took pictures and had some closing thoughts and hugs and sent him down the bumpy road to Nairobi.
As far as preaching and preparations go it was an interesting day too. We needed to get two sermons ready so we could travel to Kisumu the next day for a safari and still be ready to preach after a long day of fun, sun and travel.
The sermon prepared for the first night was called, "Your Day in Court." This was the first sermon I've ever preached where a person came down to the front during the sermon and started yelling and raising their hands. My site is in a cool location because it is right out in the open air in a field next to a small town with lots of shops which enables anyone in the area to hear the message and see the presentation because of our loud speakers and our big screen where we show a movie about Jesus before the presentation and a slideshow during the sermon. The hope is that many will hear the message and be drawn in and that seems to be exactly what happened with this man. When the yelling man first came and all throughout the sermon and the appeal I didn't know if he was filled with a spirit because he was raising his hands and speaking a language I didn't know or what. But I found out as he and many others came down for the appeal that he was filled with a different kind of spirits. He was drunk and yelling "I repent" in the local language.
Pastor Maiyo, who is also my translator helped me to take a picture of the man and informed me that he believed this man would soon be in the church because he had seen many others come that same way.
Praise God that Jesus covers us in the judgment and doesn't reward us according to our mistakes, but now he claims us as His own when we respond to his invitation for forgiveness. May we renew our commitment to our Lord and savior now and pray that many more will come to Jesus through these campaigns in Kenya and around the world.
Nick Snell
Sadly we lost a dear member of our team today as Rob Lloyd, our Share Him day block manager from Hawaii, left us in Eldoret to rejoin his church group in Chuka where they are finishing up their campaign. Before he left God used him to bless us with a very thought provoking worship called the "buts of the new testament." It was about how we as Christians shouldn't have an "if only" mentality that looks back on our lives with regret, rather we should have a "but now" mentality that is filled with hope for every new day. He also helped us to cut down four sermons that are coming up so they wouldn't be so long or confusing. He worked on these from four o'clock in the morning. He is a great example of a servant leader. We took pictures and had some closing thoughts and hugs and sent him down the bumpy road to Nairobi.
As far as preaching and preparations go it was an interesting day too. We needed to get two sermons ready so we could travel to Kisumu the next day for a safari and still be ready to preach after a long day of fun, sun and travel.
The sermon prepared for the first night was called, "Your Day in Court." This was the first sermon I've ever preached where a person came down to the front during the sermon and started yelling and raising their hands. My site is in a cool location because it is right out in the open air in a field next to a small town with lots of shops which enables anyone in the area to hear the message and see the presentation because of our loud speakers and our big screen where we show a movie about Jesus before the presentation and a slideshow during the sermon. The hope is that many will hear the message and be drawn in and that seems to be exactly what happened with this man. When the yelling man first came and all throughout the sermon and the appeal I didn't know if he was filled with a spirit because he was raising his hands and speaking a language I didn't know or what. But I found out as he and many others came down for the appeal that he was filled with a different kind of spirits. He was drunk and yelling "I repent" in the local language.
Pastor Maiyo, who is also my translator helped me to take a picture of the man and informed me that he believed this man would soon be in the church because he had seen many others come that same way.
Praise God that Jesus covers us in the judgment and doesn't reward us according to our mistakes, but now he claims us as His own when we respond to his invitation for forgiveness. May we renew our commitment to our Lord and savior now and pray that many more will come to Jesus through these campaigns in Kenya and around the world.
Nick Snell
Monday, August 8, 2011
Thoughts from Kenya!
Greetings from Kenya!
What a journey this has been. Since our last post Deanne and I have moved to Philadelphia where we have been constantly on the move. We worked in a literature evangelism ministry with about 30 others and God blessed us with great success and many stories and miracles.
Now nine of us from the summer program we did have flown to Kenya and are preaching to the locals of Eldoret.There are actually many Seventh-day Adventist Christians here that seem to be much more excited about the gospel than the people I commonly meet in the good ol' USA. These people are inspiring!
Being here and prepping sermon has actually allowed me more free time and internet access than the busy, busy summer program permitted. It's amazing how when you really do put God first some of the other things just fall away. It was interesting to talk to one of my group members here today. He ended his Facebook account because he wasted too much time on there looking at many, many pictures and so on. I told him that didn't think Facebook was bad but pointed out that our priorities determine how much time we spend doing what.
Working in ministry full time with many others who are extremely committed has been a great blessing to me and has added so much quality to mine and Deanne's lives. We get to celebrate our two year anniversary in Kenya! God is so good and I'm looking forward to going on many more adventures with Him.
I pray that all who come across this post will seek God first and see Him add amazing gifts and goodness to your life! I'm not financially rich as some of the locals wish I was but I have all I need in Jesus. Amen!
Nick
What a journey this has been. Since our last post Deanne and I have moved to Philadelphia where we have been constantly on the move. We worked in a literature evangelism ministry with about 30 others and God blessed us with great success and many stories and miracles.
Now nine of us from the summer program we did have flown to Kenya and are preaching to the locals of Eldoret.There are actually many Seventh-day Adventist Christians here that seem to be much more excited about the gospel than the people I commonly meet in the good ol' USA. These people are inspiring!
Being here and prepping sermon has actually allowed me more free time and internet access than the busy, busy summer program permitted. It's amazing how when you really do put God first some of the other things just fall away. It was interesting to talk to one of my group members here today. He ended his Facebook account because he wasted too much time on there looking at many, many pictures and so on. I told him that didn't think Facebook was bad but pointed out that our priorities determine how much time we spend doing what.
Working in ministry full time with many others who are extremely committed has been a great blessing to me and has added so much quality to mine and Deanne's lives. We get to celebrate our two year anniversary in Kenya! God is so good and I'm looking forward to going on many more adventures with Him.
I pray that all who come across this post will seek God first and see Him add amazing gifts and goodness to your life! I'm not financially rich as some of the locals wish I was but I have all I need in Jesus. Amen!
Nick
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Our Trip to Holland Michigan
Recently Michigan has been trying to promote tourism in the state to boost the economy with the slogan "Pure Michigan" and I've gotta say that growing up here I love this place. We live near lake Michigan, we've got the seasons and their colors and today I found one more thing to love about this state in Holland.
We’ve been talking about going for a while now and since it’s now tulip season, we’re moving to Philly on Monday and today was date day it was a prime opportunity.
On the way we stopped at a little pond about a minute from our house to check out some geese and their goslings.
Centennial Park.
An interesting fountain.
Cool texture! I think they were called Swan’s Wings.
Trying to be artistic:)
Dancers in wooden clogs...I think they wore like five pairs of socks.
A quick lesson from Ben.
This was like my third shot of Deanne in her elegant squatting position because I eventually decided I wanted to include the yellow hydrant.
My dad liked the toilets in the background.
This is art!
Tourist shops on Windmill Island.
Nice clogs!
Cool Tree.
Just a cool picture
The Windmill! Over 100 years old, hid Jews in WWII, shipped to Holland MI, the only one like in the U.S.
On top of the mill.
My favorite spot of the day!
Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God shines forth.
-Psalm 50:2
I hope your day is filled with beauty!
We’ve been talking about going for a while now and since it’s now tulip season, we’re moving to Philly on Monday and today was date day it was a prime opportunity.
On the way we stopped at a little pond about a minute from our house to check out some geese and their goslings.
Centennial Park.
An interesting fountain.
Cool texture! I think they were called Swan’s Wings.
Trying to be artistic:)
Dancers in wooden clogs...I think they wore like five pairs of socks.
A quick lesson from Ben.
This was like my third shot of Deanne in her elegant squatting position because I eventually decided I wanted to include the yellow hydrant.
My dad liked the toilets in the background.
This is art!
Tourist shops on Windmill Island.
Nice clogs!
Cool Tree.
Just a cool picture
The Windmill! Over 100 years old, hid Jews in WWII, shipped to Holland MI, the only one like in the U.S.
On top of the mill.
My favorite spot of the day!
Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God shines forth.
-Psalm 50:2
I hope your day is filled with beauty!
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Way cool clips
It's been way to long since I've written on here. Life has been filled with so many good things it's been hard to pull away and write and I actually won't do it now but I wanted to share two awesome but very different YouTube clips. Enjoy and God bless.
I want to be part of this:
It's amazing what our bodies can do:
What will life be like in that perfect world when God makes all things new?
God bless
Nick
I want to be part of this:
It's amazing what our bodies can do:
What will life be like in that perfect world when God makes all things new?
God bless
Nick
Monday, February 21, 2011
Our Movie Surprise!
I bet you never thought we would be the lead actors in a full length movie. Neither did we. But for some reason playing actor and actress was our summer job last year. The title is Time Collectors: The Return of the Giants. It’s supposed to be released on February 27th which is this coming Sunday. There’s a cheaper pre-order price if you want to save some money. Regardless of if you buy it or not enjoy this trailer for the flick.
May the God who’s ways are higher than ours bless and lead you,
Nick and Deanne
May the God who’s ways are higher than ours bless and lead you,
Nick and Deanne
Time Collectors [2010] - Official Trailer from Son Films on Vimeo.
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Japanese Campmeeting: One Sentence Testimonies
Yesterday marked the beginning of the Seventh-day Adventist Japanese campmeeting here in Loma Linda CA. Campmeeting is basically an SDA name for revival meetings where people would traditionally come out to huge tents to hear inspirational speakers, bring friends and reunite with old friends they hadn’t seen in a while. It was very outreach oriented. The tradition dates back to the early-mid 1800’s, born out of the Second Great Awakening. These days many Adventists still go out and camp on location usually from one weekend through the next. They attend workshops and prayer groups and inspirational meetings and share food together. At least that’s what I’ve experienced with the campmeeting I’ve attended for the last four years in Auburn Washington. But things have definitely changed since the good ol’ days.
The Japanese campmeeting only lasted from yesterday (Friday) until this evening (Saturday night) because people want the meetings but don’t want to use their vacation time. Most of the people from out of the area just drove up for the Saturday meetings because hotels are expensive and there’s not much camping in the city.
I was privileged with the role of leading worship music for the youth with a youth band that had its debut last night and changed members by the next meeting. I also got to lead out in Sabbath School (which is like Sunday school but on Saturday...our Sabbath) in which we had a Bible study on the Parable of the Sower from Mark 4.
One of the high points of our time together was an ice breaker during church that we set up like speed-dating...kind of. The intent was not to play match maker, though some sparks may have flown, but rather to help the youth who came from different churches to connect with each other. The theme for the campmeeting and our little game was witnessing. So the outreach mentality has lived on in a different form. There were many different stations, some were more fun centered and some were intended to encourage more deep thinking. Pictures were drawn, popcorn was thrown, some of it was caught by gaping mouths, puzzles were solved, story’s were written and people got prayed for. But the station I wanted to share simply asked: How would you write your testimony in one sentence? Write it down. These are some of the responses:
I came to Christ, becoming a Christian at 3rd grade sunday school
I was raised a Christian my whole life but when I became older my faith deepened and strengthened over time.
Jesus loves us very much!!!
I have been a 7th-day Adventist since I was little, but ever so recently I found out how much Jesus really loves me.
I still don’t have one...
I don’t know what that means...hehe...
Jesus loves us. Very much also.
Anywhere you go, God is with you. So trust in Him and believe!
To believe in God without any doubt.
God has found me and loves me.
I was born in a Christian home and it’s shaped who I am.
I was born a seventh-day Adventist, became more spiritual in 8th grade, and I’m continuing my walk with Jesus.
I was able to go to bible camp and see how weak I was and how much I need Him.
To trust God and not myself.
I was born into an Adventist home, and home-schooled. I continue to trust God, and try to draw closer to Him.
God does great things when you need it most and when you expect it least.
To build on my character and on my relationship on God
To talk to God as often as I can so I may have a closer relationship with Him.
After going to a public school I have come to appreciate my church and Christian friends so much more.
I was born into a Christian family and didn’t really come to know God until just this year at school!
I am kinda like a ball. I keep bouncing away from and toward Jesus. Hopefully I stay close one day.
To love God without hesitation or doubts
A good time was had by all and hopefully all were inspired, changed and will go out to share their experience with Jesus with their whole lives.
Blessings,
Nick
P.S. This was our theme song:)
The Japanese campmeeting only lasted from yesterday (Friday) until this evening (Saturday night) because people want the meetings but don’t want to use their vacation time. Most of the people from out of the area just drove up for the Saturday meetings because hotels are expensive and there’s not much camping in the city.
I was privileged with the role of leading worship music for the youth with a youth band that had its debut last night and changed members by the next meeting. I also got to lead out in Sabbath School (which is like Sunday school but on Saturday...our Sabbath) in which we had a Bible study on the Parable of the Sower from Mark 4.
One of the high points of our time together was an ice breaker during church that we set up like speed-dating...kind of. The intent was not to play match maker, though some sparks may have flown, but rather to help the youth who came from different churches to connect with each other. The theme for the campmeeting and our little game was witnessing. So the outreach mentality has lived on in a different form. There were many different stations, some were more fun centered and some were intended to encourage more deep thinking. Pictures were drawn, popcorn was thrown, some of it was caught by gaping mouths, puzzles were solved, story’s were written and people got prayed for. But the station I wanted to share simply asked: How would you write your testimony in one sentence? Write it down. These are some of the responses:
I came to Christ, becoming a Christian at 3rd grade sunday school
I was raised a Christian my whole life but when I became older my faith deepened and strengthened over time.
Jesus loves us very much!!!
I have been a 7th-day Adventist since I was little, but ever so recently I found out how much Jesus really loves me.
I still don’t have one...
I don’t know what that means...hehe...
Jesus loves us. Very much also.
Anywhere you go, God is with you. So trust in Him and believe!
To believe in God without any doubt.
God has found me and loves me.
I was born in a Christian home and it’s shaped who I am.
I was born a seventh-day Adventist, became more spiritual in 8th grade, and I’m continuing my walk with Jesus.
I was able to go to bible camp and see how weak I was and how much I need Him.
To trust God and not myself.
I was born into an Adventist home, and home-schooled. I continue to trust God, and try to draw closer to Him.
God does great things when you need it most and when you expect it least.
To build on my character and on my relationship on God
To talk to God as often as I can so I may have a closer relationship with Him.
After going to a public school I have come to appreciate my church and Christian friends so much more.
I was born into a Christian family and didn’t really come to know God until just this year at school!
I am kinda like a ball. I keep bouncing away from and toward Jesus. Hopefully I stay close one day.
To love God without hesitation or doubts
A good time was had by all and hopefully all were inspired, changed and will go out to share their experience with Jesus with their whole lives.
Blessings,
Nick
P.S. This was our theme song:)
Thursday, February 17, 2011
A Dead Girl and a Sick Woman
Have you ever tried to be “perfect”? If so, did you succeed? Let me just confess that I have tried to be “perfect” many times, almost daily, and I have failed every time. I wake up each morning with a “You can do it!” mentality that I will be able to shed every flaw I am plagued with. It’s as if I wake up and begin my worship time as an ugly caterpillar but when I’m finished, I expect myself to come out of worship as a beautiful butterfly fully transformed. I literally create my “perfection” checklist during worship time and expect myself to keep all of those checks in place throughout the day. When I miss once check, it’s easy to get discouraged and give up. This vicious cycle is utterly exhausting, disappointing and frightening.
This morning for devotions I read Mark 5:21-43 about A Dead Girl and a Sick Woman. I’ve read this story many times, but today, I felt like I was reading about myself. The story begins with a father desperately asking Jesus whether he will heal his dying 12-year-old daughter. Of course Jesus is willing and goes with the man. While Jesus makes his way through the crowd to heal the little girl, there is an old woman there who has been bleeding for 12 years. No one, not even doctors, have been able to heal her. However, when she hears about Jesus, she believes that if she just touches Him she will be healed. And that’s exactly what happens. Jesus tells her that her faith has healed her and that she’s is freed from her suffering. Right after that, some men bring news that the man’s daughter has died. Jesus simply replies, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.” Soon enough, Jesus is at the girl’s room and raises her from the dead.
I had a wonderful childhood, but during high school betrayal, heartache and life’s horrible consequences got the best of me. It resulted with many of the struggles that I still battle today and sometimes it feels like I died before I was able to become an adult. And other times it feels like the problems had no beginning, that they’ve just always been. This internal struggle that I have to solve my own problems and become “perfect” has literally made me feel like an old woman. So there I am, a girl who only got to live 12 years of her life and an old woman who has been suffering an illness for 12 years.
The beautiful thing about this story is that they were both healed. What was it that healed them? What was it that made them “perfect”? Jesus, of course, is the only one who could help them, but if it wasn’t for faith perhaps the healings wouldn’t have taken place. What I love about this story is how there were two different faiths that healed. With the old woman, her own faith allowed her to be healed. With the little girl, it was her father’s faith that healed her.
Jesus is not only able to heal all of our problems, He also wants to. If you’re like me and you’ve been longing to be freed from the bondage that sin has caught you up in, believe and allow Jesus to do it. What can you do to believe? Spend time getting to know Jesus. Come to Him in worship, not to meet one of your “perfection” checks, but to get to know the Healer. You see, we cannot make ourselves “perfect.” But Jesus, well, “He can do it!” And if you feel like your faith is struggling, then find someone who loves you and who has the faith that Jesus will heal you. Remember the words of Jesus, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.”
Deanne
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
V-Day Compliment
I hope everybody had an enjoyable V-day. Deanne and I went to Target armed with the gift cards we have been generously blessed with by her family on Monday. By the way there are an amazing number of Targets here in California. After we picked out some shorts and swimsuits for our vacation to Hawaii next week we were strolling through the snack aisles browsing for Pop Chips. There was a tall, beautiful, casually dressed black woman about our age scoping out the goodies at the same time. As we were passing by she gave Deanne a quick compliment. She just said, “I love your hair cut.” Deanne said thank you and we walked on.
I was so impressed that she would actually pause her search to share some kindness with total strangers. We wouldn’t have missed it if she didn’t say anything but it was such a pleasant plus to our shopping experience that it got me thinking...wouldn’t it be great if everybody did that sort of thing every day? People have a natural fear of the unknown, especially people they don’t know. Maybe Deanne just looks so cute and cuddly that the young woman decided to take her chances. But regardless of how wonderful my wife is, everybody in the whole world was created in the image of God and has their own unique beauty that reflects their Maker. It is worth complimenting and much, much more. The power of a compliment, a warm gesture or a common courtesy can break down huge barriers of isolation in our culture and make fast friends.
Moments later as we walked towards the check out lines, we saw the kind young lady again and affirmed her kindness. She seemed just as surprised as we were at her gracious words. May you take the opportunity today to pause from your business and surprise someone with praise. Remember, one of our greatest responsibilities is to love our neighbors as ourselves. Be intentional in the small things and true love for total strangers will follow.
Kind words heal and help; cutting words wound and maim.
-Proverbs 15:4 The Message
-Nick
I was so impressed that she would actually pause her search to share some kindness with total strangers. We wouldn’t have missed it if she didn’t say anything but it was such a pleasant plus to our shopping experience that it got me thinking...wouldn’t it be great if everybody did that sort of thing every day? People have a natural fear of the unknown, especially people they don’t know. Maybe Deanne just looks so cute and cuddly that the young woman decided to take her chances. But regardless of how wonderful my wife is, everybody in the whole world was created in the image of God and has their own unique beauty that reflects their Maker. It is worth complimenting and much, much more. The power of a compliment, a warm gesture or a common courtesy can break down huge barriers of isolation in our culture and make fast friends.
Moments later as we walked towards the check out lines, we saw the kind young lady again and affirmed her kindness. She seemed just as surprised as we were at her gracious words. May you take the opportunity today to pause from your business and surprise someone with praise. Remember, one of our greatest responsibilities is to love our neighbors as ourselves. Be intentional in the small things and true love for total strangers will follow.
Kind words heal and help; cutting words wound and maim.
-Proverbs 15:4 The Message
-Nick
Monday, February 14, 2011
Daniel's Gloves
My Good Buddy Filip forwarded this story to me in an email and I just wanted to share it on Snellections. May God lead you today:)
Daniel's Gloves
I sat, with two friends, in the picture window of a quaint restaurant just off the corner of the town-square. The food and the company were both especially good that day.
As we talked, my attention was drawn outside, across the street. There, walking into town, was a man who appeared to be carrying all his worldly goods on his back. He was carrying, a well-worn sign that read, 'I will work for food..' My heart sank.
I brought him to the attention of my friends and noticed that others around us had stopped eating to focus on him. Heads moved in a mixture of sadness and disbelief. We continued with our meal, but his image lingered in my mind. We finished our meal and went our separate ways. I had errands to do and quickly set out to accomplish them. I glanced toward the town square, looking somewhat halfheartedly for the strange visitor. I was fearful, knowing that seeing him again would call some response.
I drove through town and saw nothing of him. I made some purchases at a store and got back in my car. Deep within me, the Spirit of God kept speaking to me: 'Don't go back to the office until you've at least driven once more around the square.'
Then with some hesitancy, I headed back into town. As I turned the square's third corner, I saw him. He was standing on the steps of the store front church, going through his sack. I stopped and looked; feeling both compelled to speak to him, yet wanting to drive on. The empty parking space on the corner seemed to be a sign from God: an invitation to park. I pulled in, got out and approached the town's newest visitor.
'Looking for the pastor?' I asked.
'Not really,' he replied, 'just resting.'
'Have you eaten today?'
'Oh, I ate something early this morning.'
'Would you like to have lunch with me?'
'Do you have some work I could do for you?'
'No work,' I replied 'I commute here to work from the city, but I would like to take you to lunch.'
'Sure,' he replied with a smile.
As he began to gather his things, I asked some surface questions. Where you headed?'
'St. Louis '
'Where you from?'
'Oh, all over; mostly Florida ..'
'How long you been walking?'
'Fourteen years,' came the reply.
I knew I had met someone unusual. We sat across from each other in the same restaurant I had left earlier. His face was weathered slightly beyond his 38 years. His eyes were dark yet clear, and he spoke with an eloquence and articulation that was startling He removed his jacket to reveal a bright red T-shirt that said, 'Jesus is The Never Ending Story..'
Then Daniel's story began to unfold. He had seen rough times early in life. He'd made some wrong choices and reaped the consequences.. Fourteen years earlier, while backpacking across the country, he had stopped on the beach in Daytona .. He tried to hire on with some men who were putting up a large tent and some equipment. A concert, he thought.
He was hired, but the tent would not house a concert but revival services, and in those services he saw life more clearly. He gave his life over to God
'Nothing's been the same since,' he said, 'I felt the Lord telling me to keep walking, and so I did, some 14 years now.' 'Ever think of stopping?' I asked.
'Oh, once in a while, when it seems to get the best of me But God has given me this calling. I give out Bibles That's what's in my sack. I work to buy food and Bibles, and I give them out when His Spirit leads.'
I sat amazed. My homeless friend was not homeless. He was on a mission and lived this way by choice. The question burned inside for a moment and then I asked: 'What's it like?' 'What?' ;
'To walk into a town carrying all your things on your back and to show your sign?'
'Oh, it was humiliating at first. People would stare and make comments. Once someone tossed a piece of half-eaten bread and made a gesture that certainly didn't make me feel welcome. But then it became humbling to realize that God was using me to touch lives and change people's concepts of other folks like me.'
My concept was changing, too. We finished our dessert and gathered his things. Just outside the door, he paused He turned to me and said, 'Come Ye blessed of my Father and inherit the kingdom I've prepared for you. For when I was hungry you gave me food, when I was thirsty you gave me drink, a stranger and you took me in.'
I felt as if we were on holy ground. 'Could you use another Bible?' I asked.
He said he preferred a certain translation. It traveled well and was not too heavy... It was also his personal favorite.. 'I've read through it 14 times,' he said.
'I'm not sure we've got one of those, but let's stop by our church and see' I was able to find my new friend a Bible that would do well, and he seemed very grateful.
'Where are you headed from here?' I asked.
'Well, I found this little map on the back of this amusement park coupon.'
'Are you hoping to hire on there for a while?'
'No, I just figure I should go there. I figure someone under that star right there needs a Bible, so that's where I'm going next.'
He smiled, and the warmth of his spirit radiated the sincerity of his mission. I drove him back to the town-square where we'd met two hours earlier, and as we drove, it started raining. We parked and unloaded his things.
'Would you sign my autograph book?' he asked.. 'I like to keep messages from folks I meet.'
I wrote in his little book that his commitment to his calling had touched my life. I encouraged him to stay strong. And I left him with a verse of scripture from Jeremiah, 'I know the plans I have for you, declared the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you; Plans to give you a future and a hope.'
'Thanks, man,' he said. 'I know we just met and we're really just strangers, but I love you.'
'I know,' I said, 'I love you, too.' 'The Lord is good!'
'Yes, He is. How long has it been since someone hugged you?' I asked.
A long time,' he replied
And so on the busy street corner in the drizzling rain, my new friend and I embraced, and I felt deep inside that I had been changed.... He put his things on his back, smiled his winning smile and said, 'See you in the New Jerusalem.'
'I'll be there!' was my reply.
He began his journey again. He headed away with his sign dangling from his bedroll and pack of Bibles. He stopped, turned and said, 'When you see something that makes you think of me, will you pray for me?'
image 'You bet,' I shouted back, 'God bless.'
'God bless.' And that was the last I saw of him.
Late that evening as I left my office, the wind blew strong. The cold front had settled hard upon the town. I bundled up and hurried to my car. As I sat back and reached for the emergency brake, I saw them... a pair of well-worn brown work gloves neatly laid over the length of the handle. I picked them up and thought of my friend and wondered if his hands would stay warm that night without them.
Then I remembered his words: 'If you see something that makes you think of me, will you pray for me?' Today his gloves lie on my desk in my office.. They help me to see the world and its people in a new way, and they help me remember those two hours with my unique friend and to pray for his ministry. 'See you in the New Jerusalem,' he said.
Yes, Daniel, I know I will...
'I shall pass this way but once. Therefore, any good that I can do or any kindness that I can show, let me do it now, for I shall not pass this way again.'
My instructions were to send this to four people that I wanted God to bless and I picked all who read this blog. Please pass this to four people you want to be blessed.
Prayer is powerful and there is nothing attached. Please pray for me and for those dear to you as well as your "enemies." Prayer is one of the best gifts we receive. There is no cost but a lot of rewards. Let's continue to pray for one another. God bless and have a nice day!
'Father, I ask you to bless my friends, relatives and e-mail buddies reading this right now. Show them a new revelation of your love and power. Holy Spirit, I ask you to minister to their spirit at this very moment. Where there is pain, give them your peace and mercy. Where there is self-doubt, release a renewed confidence through your grace, In Jesus Christ's precious Name Amen.'
I sent this to more than four by posting it here, but this story is so touching I felt each of you would enjoy it greatly.
God bless,
Nick
P.S. Just thought I'd add a song about service from one of the first cd's I ever owned.
Daniel's Gloves
I sat, with two friends, in the picture window of a quaint restaurant just off the corner of the town-square. The food and the company were both especially good that day.
As we talked, my attention was drawn outside, across the street. There, walking into town, was a man who appeared to be carrying all his worldly goods on his back. He was carrying, a well-worn sign that read, 'I will work for food..' My heart sank.
I brought him to the attention of my friends and noticed that others around us had stopped eating to focus on him. Heads moved in a mixture of sadness and disbelief. We continued with our meal, but his image lingered in my mind. We finished our meal and went our separate ways. I had errands to do and quickly set out to accomplish them. I glanced toward the town square, looking somewhat halfheartedly for the strange visitor. I was fearful, knowing that seeing him again would call some response.
I drove through town and saw nothing of him. I made some purchases at a store and got back in my car. Deep within me, the Spirit of God kept speaking to me: 'Don't go back to the office until you've at least driven once more around the square.'
Then with some hesitancy, I headed back into town. As I turned the square's third corner, I saw him. He was standing on the steps of the store front church, going through his sack. I stopped and looked; feeling both compelled to speak to him, yet wanting to drive on. The empty parking space on the corner seemed to be a sign from God: an invitation to park. I pulled in, got out and approached the town's newest visitor.
'Looking for the pastor?' I asked.
'Not really,' he replied, 'just resting.'
'Have you eaten today?'
'Oh, I ate something early this morning.'
'Would you like to have lunch with me?'
'Do you have some work I could do for you?'
'No work,' I replied 'I commute here to work from the city, but I would like to take you to lunch.'
'Sure,' he replied with a smile.
As he began to gather his things, I asked some surface questions. Where you headed?'
'St. Louis '
'Where you from?'
'Oh, all over; mostly Florida ..'
'How long you been walking?'
'Fourteen years,' came the reply.
I knew I had met someone unusual. We sat across from each other in the same restaurant I had left earlier. His face was weathered slightly beyond his 38 years. His eyes were dark yet clear, and he spoke with an eloquence and articulation that was startling He removed his jacket to reveal a bright red T-shirt that said, 'Jesus is The Never Ending Story..'
Then Daniel's story began to unfold. He had seen rough times early in life. He'd made some wrong choices and reaped the consequences.. Fourteen years earlier, while backpacking across the country, he had stopped on the beach in Daytona .. He tried to hire on with some men who were putting up a large tent and some equipment. A concert, he thought.
He was hired, but the tent would not house a concert but revival services, and in those services he saw life more clearly. He gave his life over to God
'Nothing's been the same since,' he said, 'I felt the Lord telling me to keep walking, and so I did, some 14 years now.' 'Ever think of stopping?' I asked.
'Oh, once in a while, when it seems to get the best of me But God has given me this calling. I give out Bibles That's what's in my sack. I work to buy food and Bibles, and I give them out when His Spirit leads.'
I sat amazed. My homeless friend was not homeless. He was on a mission and lived this way by choice. The question burned inside for a moment and then I asked: 'What's it like?' 'What?' ;
'To walk into a town carrying all your things on your back and to show your sign?'
'Oh, it was humiliating at first. People would stare and make comments. Once someone tossed a piece of half-eaten bread and made a gesture that certainly didn't make me feel welcome. But then it became humbling to realize that God was using me to touch lives and change people's concepts of other folks like me.'
My concept was changing, too. We finished our dessert and gathered his things. Just outside the door, he paused He turned to me and said, 'Come Ye blessed of my Father and inherit the kingdom I've prepared for you. For when I was hungry you gave me food, when I was thirsty you gave me drink, a stranger and you took me in.'
I felt as if we were on holy ground. 'Could you use another Bible?' I asked.
He said he preferred a certain translation. It traveled well and was not too heavy... It was also his personal favorite.. 'I've read through it 14 times,' he said.
'I'm not sure we've got one of those, but let's stop by our church and see' I was able to find my new friend a Bible that would do well, and he seemed very grateful.
'Where are you headed from here?' I asked.
'Well, I found this little map on the back of this amusement park coupon.'
'Are you hoping to hire on there for a while?'
'No, I just figure I should go there. I figure someone under that star right there needs a Bible, so that's where I'm going next.'
He smiled, and the warmth of his spirit radiated the sincerity of his mission. I drove him back to the town-square where we'd met two hours earlier, and as we drove, it started raining. We parked and unloaded his things.
'Would you sign my autograph book?' he asked.. 'I like to keep messages from folks I meet.'
I wrote in his little book that his commitment to his calling had touched my life. I encouraged him to stay strong. And I left him with a verse of scripture from Jeremiah, 'I know the plans I have for you, declared the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you; Plans to give you a future and a hope.'
'Thanks, man,' he said. 'I know we just met and we're really just strangers, but I love you.'
'I know,' I said, 'I love you, too.' 'The Lord is good!'
'Yes, He is. How long has it been since someone hugged you?' I asked.
A long time,' he replied
And so on the busy street corner in the drizzling rain, my new friend and I embraced, and I felt deep inside that I had been changed.... He put his things on his back, smiled his winning smile and said, 'See you in the New Jerusalem.'
'I'll be there!' was my reply.
He began his journey again. He headed away with his sign dangling from his bedroll and pack of Bibles. He stopped, turned and said, 'When you see something that makes you think of me, will you pray for me?'
image 'You bet,' I shouted back, 'God bless.'
'God bless.' And that was the last I saw of him.
Late that evening as I left my office, the wind blew strong. The cold front had settled hard upon the town. I bundled up and hurried to my car. As I sat back and reached for the emergency brake, I saw them... a pair of well-worn brown work gloves neatly laid over the length of the handle. I picked them up and thought of my friend and wondered if his hands would stay warm that night without them.
Then I remembered his words: 'If you see something that makes you think of me, will you pray for me?' Today his gloves lie on my desk in my office.. They help me to see the world and its people in a new way, and they help me remember those two hours with my unique friend and to pray for his ministry. 'See you in the New Jerusalem,' he said.
Yes, Daniel, I know I will...
'I shall pass this way but once. Therefore, any good that I can do or any kindness that I can show, let me do it now, for I shall not pass this way again.'
My instructions were to send this to four people that I wanted God to bless and I picked all who read this blog. Please pass this to four people you want to be blessed.
Prayer is powerful and there is nothing attached. Please pray for me and for those dear to you as well as your "enemies." Prayer is one of the best gifts we receive. There is no cost but a lot of rewards. Let's continue to pray for one another. God bless and have a nice day!
'Father, I ask you to bless my friends, relatives and e-mail buddies reading this right now. Show them a new revelation of your love and power. Holy Spirit, I ask you to minister to their spirit at this very moment. Where there is pain, give them your peace and mercy. Where there is self-doubt, release a renewed confidence through your grace, In Jesus Christ's precious Name Amen.'
I sent this to more than four by posting it here, but this story is so touching I felt each of you would enjoy it greatly.
God bless,
Nick
P.S. Just thought I'd add a song about service from one of the first cd's I ever owned.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Relish the Sense of Awe that Comes from Feeling Small
As Deanne was browsing through some blogs connected to Alicia Silverstone’s Kind Life website yesterday, she came across punkrockponies.blogspot.com. I love the quote this girl has up on her blog. It says, “I believe there are two types of people in this world: those who live their lives doing everything they can to feel big, and those who relish the sense of awe that comes from feeling small.”
Which person are you? I’ve noticed recently that there are a lot of people trying to make themselves look and feel big (more-so the closer I get to Hollywood). They get really flashy clothes in some extreme style even if they are totally uncomfortable and impractical. They make sure everyone within a block of their fancy and probably too expensive car can hear their music pumping as they roll down the street. They talk only about themselves and the different forms of egomania go on and on. I can’t deny that the times are all too frequent that I want to be the center of attention, times I get distracted from what’s real and lose my security.
But I want to be in that second, “awe that comes from feeling small,” group that realizes the world doesn’t revolve around me and it’s really best that way. Understanding that I am just a small part of one of God’s masterpieces and simultaneously knowing that having Jesus value is way better. My description of Jesus value: according to God (who’s opinion is fact regardless of what anybody says) my life is as valuable as Jesus’s as He demonstrated at the cross where He laid down His life for mine. We’ll return here.
When we’re trying to be big we miss out on the fulfilling identity God has created us for: to be in relationship with Him. When it’s all about me, it’s can’t be about Us (me + God = Us). It’s when we realize that we are nothing on our own but worth more than a universe in Him that our lives start pointing in the direction of our true purpose here.
In Mark 6:7-14, Jesus sends the disciples on a study tour that surely drove this message home. Jesus had the disciples go out to preach a simple message of repentance without hardly anything material, but spiritually they were equipped with limitless power and dressed to the nine’s. Supported only by Himself, God used men to cast out demons, heal sick people and lead many to salvation.
When we make life all about ourselves we try to support our image with stuff. God doesn’t need our stuff because He has more than enough since it’s all His anyway. Back to the cross. Why? Because the point is driven home there more than anywhere else in scripture. It was when Jesus was stripped of everything, even the clothes on His back and nailed to a cross that He made salvation a reality by giving up His life completely.
So in our weakness He is strong (2 Corinthians 12:9-10) and united to His strong and outstretched arm is where we belong. May we embrace the reality of our smallness so we can experience our purpose as being part of God's salvation bringing masterpiece in uninhibited relationship with Him.
-Nick
P.S. I love the song All I Need Is You by Hillsong. Give it a listen if you want to take some time to reflect on this thought...or if you just want to hear an awesome song.
Which person are you? I’ve noticed recently that there are a lot of people trying to make themselves look and feel big (more-so the closer I get to Hollywood). They get really flashy clothes in some extreme style even if they are totally uncomfortable and impractical. They make sure everyone within a block of their fancy and probably too expensive car can hear their music pumping as they roll down the street. They talk only about themselves and the different forms of egomania go on and on. I can’t deny that the times are all too frequent that I want to be the center of attention, times I get distracted from what’s real and lose my security.
But I want to be in that second, “awe that comes from feeling small,” group that realizes the world doesn’t revolve around me and it’s really best that way. Understanding that I am just a small part of one of God’s masterpieces and simultaneously knowing that having Jesus value is way better. My description of Jesus value: according to God (who’s opinion is fact regardless of what anybody says) my life is as valuable as Jesus’s as He demonstrated at the cross where He laid down His life for mine. We’ll return here.
When we’re trying to be big we miss out on the fulfilling identity God has created us for: to be in relationship with Him. When it’s all about me, it’s can’t be about Us (me + God = Us). It’s when we realize that we are nothing on our own but worth more than a universe in Him that our lives start pointing in the direction of our true purpose here.
In Mark 6:7-14, Jesus sends the disciples on a study tour that surely drove this message home. Jesus had the disciples go out to preach a simple message of repentance without hardly anything material, but spiritually they were equipped with limitless power and dressed to the nine’s. Supported only by Himself, God used men to cast out demons, heal sick people and lead many to salvation.
When we make life all about ourselves we try to support our image with stuff. God doesn’t need our stuff because He has more than enough since it’s all His anyway. Back to the cross. Why? Because the point is driven home there more than anywhere else in scripture. It was when Jesus was stripped of everything, even the clothes on His back and nailed to a cross that He made salvation a reality by giving up His life completely.
So in our weakness He is strong (2 Corinthians 12:9-10) and united to His strong and outstretched arm is where we belong. May we embrace the reality of our smallness so we can experience our purpose as being part of God's salvation bringing masterpiece in uninhibited relationship with Him.
-Nick
P.S. I love the song All I Need Is You by Hillsong. Give it a listen if you want to take some time to reflect on this thought...or if you just want to hear an awesome song.
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