Deep Sorrow

“I have deep sorrow and unceasing grief in my heart for my brethren according to the flesh.” Romans 9:1-4

“Do you see? Do you see… all the people sinking down? Don’t you care? Don’t you care? Are you gona let them drown? How can you be so numb not to care if they come? You close your eyes and pretend the job’s done. “Bless me Lord, bless me Lord” you know it’s all I ever hear. No one aches. No one hurts. No one even sheds one tear. But He cries, He weeps, He bleeds, and He cares for your needs.” Keith Green-Pianist, Songwriter, Singer (1953-1982)

Why did Paul have “deep sorrow and unceasing grief?” Because God weeps over people who are lost! Paul had the love of God in his life to such a degree that it caused this deep sorrow over their lost condition. What did Paul do with this grief? He prayed! “My heart’s desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation.” Romans 10:1

He preached! “And Agrippa replied to Paul, “In a short time you will persuade me to become a Christian.” And Paul said, “I would to God, that whether in a short or long time, not only you, but also all who hear me this day, might become such as I am,

except for these chains. Acts 26:28,29 He paid. It cost Paul to preach the gospel to lost people. Paul was stoned, beaten, and imprisoned, laughed at and homeless. It will cost you too, but it is worth it!

When was the last time you cried in prayer for a lost person’s soul? Have you ever had deep sorrow over someone’s eternal separation from God? I can tell you of only a few times in my life where I was moved to tears over someone’s need for Christ. I find it hard to relate to Paul’s great emotion and radical commitment to his fellow Jews over their salvation. He was a radical extremist for Christ! Are you? How can you become so filled with self-sacrificial love? I ask God to show me anything that hinders His love. Is there sin to confess and turn from? Then I ask Him to fill me with His Spirit and love through me. I challenge you to ask God to put His love in your heart for lost people. He will.

Nelson Newsletter October 2013

Dear Praying Friends,

“Faith is this extraordinary principle which links man to God; faith is this thing that keeps a man from hell and puts him in heaven; it is the connection between this world and the world to come; faith is this mystic astounding thing that can take a man dead in trespasses and sins and make him live as a new being, a new man in Christ Jesus.” – Martyn Lloyd Jones. We trust that you are living with faith (an expectation of God working) in God doing new things in you, no matter how long you have known Him! This is how we should live isn’t it – not by sight, but by faith? Here are some recent steps of faith we have taken and how your prayers offered in faith brought God’s blessings to others. Thank you!

House Church Retreat Six people from our house church had a faith-building time with Ray Vaughn and other Christians from Columbia, SC at a fall retreat. The house churches gathered to study the book of Philippians together, worship God, relax, and enjoy the fellowship. Thank you for interceding for them!

Florida State Beach Retreat Danelle and I had the privilege of speaking with college students at the Florida State Beach Retreat the last weekend in September. About 40 people gathered to hear Steve speak on salvation, assurance, baptism, and the local church. The students brought a number of unsaved friends to hear the good news of new life in Jesus. Three students were baptized (see photo) on a beautiful Saturday afternoon on the beach. Finally, Danelle and I shared Saturday night with the men and women separately. All in all God did many beautiful things in everyone’s life! Thank you for praying!

      

FSU Students Luke Gordon & Conner Moon

Rocio's Story We are happy to tell you that Rocio is headed back to Mexico to be a mother to her two daughters, ten and fourteen years old, which she has not seen in nine years! We are also sad to tell you that Rocio is going back to Mexico because we will miss her so much! We have developed a deep fondness for our new sister and have enjoyed her enthusiasm for God and His word. Please pray for Rocio, as it will be difficult for her children to overcome the hurt feelings of abandonment after nine years of absence. Pray for her to win their love as well as lead her whole family to Christ. 

Thank you to all who have faithfully supported us through the years. We are planning trips in 2014 to Mexico to help Rocio, to Ukraine, and to help with LINC again this summer for a longer time. If God puts it on your heart to start supporting us monthly, or with a special gift, it would help make these possible. You can go to the GCM website below to give, or use their mailing address. The account for which we are responsible is #5951. We greatly appreciate it!

 

Prayer Requests

1. Rocio. Pray for Rocio’s return to Mexico-that there would be real healing in her relationship with her girls. Pray that she will be safe, and that she would be able to get a job. Most importantly, pray for her continued spiritual growth, and that her family would to come to Christ. Finally, pray we would have God’s wisdom about going to help her find a healthy church family, and/or potentially starting a church there.

2. Secure In An Insecure World. The Spanish translation is finished! The English is almost ready to print. Pray for the money to print both books. Pray for us to get the Spanish on Amazon.

3. Financial Support Please ask God to provide for our financial needs, as He has done so faithfully through many of you for years.

4. Clemson vs. Georgia (38-35) for the college football National Championship? Our children would like to see a rematch. GO TIGERS!

Thank you for your love, prayers, and gifts!

Steve and Danelle