Nelson Newsletter - February 2026

 “We love because He first loved us.” 1 John 4:19

 

Dear Followers of Christ,

Valentines is a popular event in February. The average amount spent on cards, gifts and meals is about $200. Wow! Is the love we receive proportional to the amount of money we spend on others? The lyrics in an old Beatles song seems apropos. “Money can’t buy me love,” One would think we must have figured it out what works by now! Unfortunately, our relationships show the opposite.  So what can bring us love? What is love and how do we find it? What can we learn from God about love. After all, “God is love.”

As followers of Christ, we realized that we were selfish and not able to love sacrificially as God loves. It was not within our nature. We asked God to save us from our selfishness in response to His loving us first in our helpless condition. See 1 John 4:19 above. God loved all sinners, “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Now that we are His children, we have the Holy Spirit who empowers us to deny ourselves and put needs of others ahead of our own. “For God did not give us a Spirit of fear but of power and love and self-control.” 2 Timothy 1:7 We can now practice this kind of love, “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.” Philippians 2:3-4 This is real love! The kind of love that people are longing for! 

Atlanta House Church We continue to pray for God to give each of us a personal goal and how to live it out in practical ways. We are also sharing Christ with people in our community. It is the most loving thing we can do for others! Recently, I met DJ at LA Fitness. He was preparing to teach swimming lessons to his class. We had an open and honest discussion about how to be saved by grace and not by our good deeds. I expressed my desire to meet up soon for further discussion. He gave me his number, and I hope to see him soon to follow up!

Prayer & Praise

Carbondale Church Stephanie met a young woman who wants to visit their church. There is also a homeschool family who wants to come one Sunday. None of them are Christians yet.  

Springfield Church Mike’s father has health problems. Pray too for people to come to Christ.

Virginia Church Pray for Josh’s high blood pressure. A friend of Sarah’s, Ellie, just had a miscarriage. Pray for God’s comfort and care to be real to her and her husband.

Atlanta Church Pray for more opportunities to get with DJ, and that God would save him. Pray too for Grace and Ward’s two six-year-old son’s, Will and Fred, to come to know Jesus. Pray for some of our members’ adult children to seek the Lord wholeheartedly and follow Him.  Finally, several of our members have elderly parents with significant health needs. Pray for God’s wisdom and grace to love and serve them well.

Nick – He finished his testimony tract. Most importantly, his love for the lost has grown, and he has shared the gospel on his own initiative! Pray for Nick and his wife to keep fishing for men!

Yours in Christ’s sacrificial love,

Steve and Danelle    

  

  

        

www.reliant.org

11002 Lake Hart Dr, Suite 100, Orlando, FL 32832

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