Friday, March 15, 2024

Nelson Newsletter - March 2024

 

“But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.”  2 Corinthians 11:3 NASB

 

Dear Fellow Believers,

Following Jesus Christ should be a simple and enjoyable experience. But, like so many things in our lives, we tend to complicate them. This will rob us of the enjoyment of our relationship.

 


Atlanta House Church As a church in Atlanta, we are learning how to improve our simple and pure devotion to Christ. During the week we seek to worship the Lord personally and with our families and to bring the knowledge of Christ to our communities. This devotion to God and His word overflows in our love for others. Here are two recent examples of this overflow.


This week we had a load of mulch delivered to our house by Shabazz (in the photo). Yes, that really is his name. 😉 When I offered him a copy of Secure In An Insecure World, “Finding The Love Of Your Life,” he responded with, “That’s perfect. I will read it! I have been dating a lady for four months now. Maybe we will read it together.” I replied, “Excellent! I think you will enjoy it. I think it can help your relationship.” He went on to tell me that he was 50 years old and was not interested in typical dating like when he was young. He said he was more serious and looking for a more meaningful relationship. When he drove off, I asked God to use my book to help him find “The Love Of His Life” – Jesus!

Three days later I met Rasheed at L A Fitness as he was riding the stationary bike. For the next thirty minutes we had a heart- to- heart conversation. We both shared our stories. He graduated from Vanderbilt where he had a scholarship to play football. Now he is working as a pharmaceutical salesperson in the Atlanta area. I thoroughly shared the gospel with him. Rasheed listened intently and responded sincerely. I’m not sure if he is a believer or not, but he heard the truth and was appreciative of our time. He said he too would read, Secure In An Insecure World.

                                              Prayer & Praise

Shabazz & Rashad Ask God to open their hearts and bring them to Christ! Pray for God to speak to them through my book. Pray for more opportunities for interaction with these two. Ask God to motivate our church with His love to share Christ with those around us and save them.   

Ukraine. The war is now into the third year with no end of the killing and destruction in sight. Please remember these courageous people, both the soldiers and the families, in your prayers to God. Pray for God to bring spiritual awakening in Ukraine and Russia as well.                                                                    

Illinois & Virginia Churches David and Stephanie will be meeting Josh and Sarah, from the church in Virginia, at the Ark in Kentucky. Their families will enjoy their time there and then thew will all return to Carbondale for more fellowship. Mariella and Will, another couple from the church in Virginia, will come visit April 9-15. Please pray for quality fellowship for all!

Church in Richmond The leaders of this young church, Bryan Rock and Nick Scott, are persevering in following the Lord Jesus with their young families and a small group of other believers. Recently, illness and health problems have prevented them from getting together and tested their faith. The need one another to grow their simple and pure devotion to Christ!

Nelson Family Needs Mother fell a few weeks ago and cut her leg. The caregiver called us at 2am to come over. Mom and was taken by ambulance to the ER where she received 20 stiches to repair the torn skin on her shin. We thank God that she didn’t break anything!

Alice Marie Turnage Happy 98th birthday mother! God has blessed her with a long and healthy life and a large and growing tribe who love the Lord Jesus! We love you!

 Yours devoted to Jesus,

Steve & Danelle  

                                                                                                                                                                                             

 wwww.reliant.org 11002 Lake Hart Dr, Suite 100, Orlando, FL 32832    www.gcmnelson.com

Tuesday, February 13, 2024

Nelson Newsletter - February 2024

 (The spies speaking to Moses) “They reported to him and said, “We came into the land where you sent us, and it certainly does flow with milk and honey, and this is its fruit. Nevertheless, the people who live in the land are strong, and the cities are fortified and very large. And indeed, we saw the descendants of Anak (giants) there!” Numbers 13:27-28

Dear Fellow Believers,

Don’t leave God out of your reality! Give Him a chance to show up! The men that Moses sent into the promise land correctly assessed the situation. There were giants and fortified cities! But that is where their reality ended. They forgot God. They forgot the God who miraculously liberated them from cruel slavery to Pharoah in Egypt. Joshua and Calab did not forget God and His promise. They entered the land. The other spies died in the wilderness, along with all the men under 20, for their unbelief.  The rest of the Jews who did not die had to wander in the wilderness for forty years as well. 

A Lesson To Learn: Always remember God, who He is and what He has done for you. Then you will trust Him with your giants. HE is your reality!

 Atlanta House Church We are asking God to help us know Him better - to be our reality and we will trust Him more. We are focusing on our devotional times and how to strengthen our relationship with the Lord. This vital relationship with God  is the key to every human relationship we have - our family, church, people at work, and in our communities. Discipling others begins with us! Mark 1:35 is a verse we are all memorizing, “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where He prayed.” NIV Did you know that Spiderman attends our church? That is our reality! And yes, even Spiderman needs to rest sometime!        

Barrie & Spiderman (Will)

                                               

Illinois & Virginia Churches David and Stephanie continue to bring the reality of Jesus to people in Carbondale. Stephanie has a weekly Bible study in person with Kerianna, while David continues to share the gospel with Jeremy, her husband. Stephanie also studies the Bible with Sarah in Portsmouth by phone. She asked that we pray for both Sara (pancreatitis) and Mariella (foot injury) as well as the growth and spiritual health of their church in Virginia.

Nelson Family Needs Danelle and I seek to make God a reality to our families daily. We often support our grandchildren by attending their events, of which there are many, even though two families live out of town! Here is Ian Nelson, with the ball, during a recent game. Scott coached both Ian and Sophie’s teams.

Taking care of my mother is a way to bring God into her reality. This week she fell and could not get up. Fortunately, she did not break anything. She has had shingles, so that may have weakened her. She is still recovering from both and would appreciate your prayers. She will turn 98 in March. God has been a kind reality to her!

Merry and Nathan are expecting a baby girl in May! Please pray for all 5 of them to bring God into their reality – to raise godly children, for a healthy mother and baby girl, and to effectively disciple other young couples in their church.

 

 Prayer & Praise

1. Atlanta House Church Pray for us to imitate Paul’s passion to know Christ, “that I may know Him and to power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings.” Pray that we would seek Him in His word! Pray for our church to be more effective in building one another’s faith and our love for lost people.

2. Virginia and Illinois Churches Pray for Jeremy to repent and trust Christ, for Kerianna and Sarah to apply truth they learn from studying the Bible, and for Sarah and Mariella’s healing.

3. Family Needs Ask God to comfort Mother as she recovers from shingles and ages. Ask God to help us care for her and her changing needs. Pray for Merry and her baby (due in May) to both be healthy. Finally, praise God that He just gave Nathan a new job! He was out of work only for the weekend! See, God shows up when He is our reality – when we choose to believe in Him!

 May God be your greatest Reality!

Steve & Danelle   

 

                                         


                                                                                                         
wwww.reliant.org 11002 Lake Hart Dr, Suite 100, Orlando, FL 32832    www.gcmnelson.com

 


Sunday, January 14, 2024

Nelson Newsletter - January 2024

 

“No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you.”  John 15:5

 

Dear Friends,

Lasting Friendships These lyrics about friendships from the song, Friends Are Friends Forever, by Michael W. Smith. “That a lifetime's not too long to live as friends … And friends are friends forever if the Lord's the Lord of them…That a lifetime's not too long to live as friends.”

 It is true, that “friends are friends forever if the Lord’s the Lord of them.” We are grateful for your lasting friendship! We may not be with you, but we feel the effect of your love through your prayers and financial support of our work. Thank you!

 God has given us life-long friends like these couples pictured below. They responded to God’s love in Christ and have laid down their lives for the Great Commandment - to love God supremely and for the Great Commission - to disciple the nations. They are the real deal! Danelle and I have benefited immeasurably because of their love, prayers, and support! “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13

Timmy & Kenyon Powers

Pat & Brenda Batchelor and Joy & Glenn Page

 Prayer & Praise

1. Faithful Friends Danelle and I thank God for all our precious friends (including you!) that He has given us over the past 50+ years of knowing Him! Please pray for these saints  (including us) to be faithful and fruitful until they the see the Lord face to face! “We must work the works of Him who sent Me as long as it is day; night is coming when no one can work.” John 9:3

2. House Churches Pray for the churches we serve in Atlanta, Illinois, Portsmouth, and Richmond, to develop Christ-centered friendships that result in sinners coming to Christ. “The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Behold, a gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’” Luke 7:34

3. Support Thank you friends for standing with us in this ministry! Many of you have been on our team for years, while others have joined more recently. We appreciate each of you and each gift given. We also recognize the love for God, sacrifice for others, and the faith that is behind your generosity. Your hearts greatly encourage our faith in God and His love and mission!

 

We are your friends forever,

Steve & Danelle 

  

Merry & Nathan’s Recent Gender Reveal! (Grandchild #22!)




            wwww.reliant.org 11002 Lake Hart Dr, Suite 100, Orlando, FL 32832    www.gcmnelson.com