America's Desperate Need

Only give heed to yourself and keep your soul diligently, so that you do not forget the things which your eyes have seen and they do not depart from your heart all the days of your life; but make them known to your sons and your grandsons.  – Deuteronomy 4:9

Some days it seems like there is an increase in violence, hatred, murder, racism, stealing, and divorce in our beloved America. Do you wonder why? I do!

I was challenged by the Lord’s words to Israel right before they were to enter the promised land. Notice that the first instructions God gave His people were to “give heed to yourself and keep your soul diligently.” The foremost concern was to be their life; next was their family’s. Jesus Christ emphasized the same priority when He said, “You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye” (Matthew 7:5). Paul highlighted the same value to Timothy: “Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you” (1 Timothy 4:16). God instructed the Jewish parents to pass on to their children and grandchildren what their eyes had seen. The order was essential!

Ask God to help you live a humble, holy life of love for God and others, so that you will be able to impart a living example and genuine faith to your children, grandchildren, and other disciples. Solving America’s desperate need begins in each life, then in our families, and finally out to our neighbors and coworkers. Change one life—your life, and (together) we can change a country!

Nelson Newsletter - February 2016

Good News! “Like cold water to a weary soul, so is good news from a distant land.”  Proverbs 25:25 

We are bombarded with bad economic, social, and political news daily. It’s depressing and gets old doesn’t it? We have some good news for you that will refresh your soul!

Atlanta House Church Jesus told us to “love one another.” That is exactly what Rebecca Scott from Walnut Creek Church in Des Moines, Iowa did when she told us that Julia Yap needed fellowship. Julia is from Malaysia and was a part of their church in Iowa. After she graduated from Drake University, she got a job in Atlanta. Rebecca contacted us and we contacted Julia. She attended the first time about a month ago and has “jumped in with both feet.” As a matter of fact, I overheard her ask our daughter, Grace, if she could use those feet to go rock climbing with them this week! J Pray for her to growth in Christ, and for her two roommates to come to know Jesus too.

Our fall Regional House Church Conference is going to be October 28-30 in Charleston, SC. We are excited that Todd Watkins, from Austin, Texas, will be our speaker. Todd has a heart for going to the lost with the gospel, starting new groups from those who are interested, leading them to faith in Christ, and then teaching them to reproduce. If you want to attend our conference, please contact us and we will be happy to send you the details.

Clemson Conference February 11-12^th  Danelle and I always love to return to Clemson where we served the church from 1973 to 1986. We share so many fond memories of what God did with a group of young college students willing to follow Christ. We both came to know Christ personally when we were students. We met each other while serving together, and got married in 1975. Five of our seven children were born while living in Tiger Town! From Clemson the churches in Raleigh, Columbia, and Atlanta were started- all of which provided many sweet memories with dear friends, including some of you who are reading this letter!

This time we were invited by Brian and Miriam Bridgeman to speak with the Clemson students about a Christ-centered family. God gave us another sweet memory to add to the big pile of others.  One young student described the time together after our last session as, “Awesome!”  It was encouraging to see one former student drive up from Columbia, SC just to be a part of our time. Thank You Lord!

“How lovely on the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who announces peace and brings good news of happiness, who announces salvation, and says to Zion, “Your God reigns!””  Isaiah 52:7

Missions Conference Last weekend I had the pleasure of teaching at the One Hope Church Missions Conference in Athens, GA. It’s always satisfying to speak to those who are seeking to grow in their faith and want to change. I spoke on two subjects that I am passionate about, “Lifestyle Evangelism,” & “Discipleship Is For Everyone.”  It was exciting to seek God together on these all-important issues. Below is Chet Boyd, the pastor of One Hope, and long-time friend. We enjoyed fellowship over lunch, especially hanging out with the little people. J They too are growing up with God!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

                                             Prayer Requests   

1. Conferences Pray for everyone at both conferences to apply what God showed them.                                                                                                                                  

2. Atlanta House Church Ask God to reveal Himself to Jairo, Michael, Edwardo, Able, Carolina, and others we are spending time with in hopes of helping them finding the good news.

3. Pat Nelson Please pray for our sister-in-law’s health. She remains at the Mayo Clinic for intensive testing related to her inability to swallow. It has been a long ordeal, and she and her husband, my brother Kurt, need our prayer support. They could use some good news.

We appreciate you!

Steve and Danelle

Courage

Be strong and courageous, for you shall give this people possession of the land which I swore to their fathers to give them.  – Joshua 1:6

The Lord gave this charge to Joshua after Moses died and before he was to lead Israel into the Promised Land. The land was not empty. Nor were the inhabitants cheering and hanging out the “Welcome, Israel!” signs on their city gates. The land was filled with hostiles—enemies who served other gods and practiced evil! Why did the Lord command Joshua three times not to be afraid but to be courageous instead? Joshua didn’t have Moses to follow, and the enemy was formidable!

Being courageous is doing something difficult in the face of opposition. Most people look within themselves to come up with the strength to overcome the difficulty or attempt the impossible. God says courage must come from faith in Him, not from within ourselves.

Here is what the Lord told Joshua about the source of courage: “Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go” (1:7).

The Word of God is the source of our inspiration to be courageous. Believing in and acting on His Word helps us trust Him for courage. “No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you” (1:5).

What fear has kept you from doing God’s will? What person makes you anxious? Make the Lord the source of your courage by reading, believing, and obeying His word.

Don't Doubt Me

Don't Doubt Me 

God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent; has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good? Numbers 23:19

King Balak requested the prophet Balaam to come to him and curse the invading Israelites. After he met with God, Balaam informed the king that God would not allow him to come and proclaim any harm on His people Israel.

"Then Balak again sent leaders, more numerous and more distinguished" to bribe the prophet with riches to get him to return to God and ask for judgment on his enemies. Balaam doubted God and caved, and he went to God a second time to see if God would change His mind – repent. He doubted God and His word.

The first time Balaam listened to the Lord and obeyed – not going to Balak. The second time, when tempted to compromise, he questioned God's initial command and doubted. Balaam confessed his sin of unbelief to God and told the king, "Behold, I have received a command to bless; when He has blessed, then I cannot revoke it" (23:20). Balaam was learning that when God said He was going to do something, you could always count on Him to do it! How do you respond when you hear from God?

Learn from Balaam's example and don't doubt God when He speaks to you through His Word, even when you are pressured by people. Be quick to confess your unbelief to God when you doubt, and ask Him to strengthen your faith. All of us have lied at one point in time, but God has never lied. Everything He says He will do He does. Don't doubt Him!

Nelson Newsletter - January 2016

Faithwalkers Conference 

Danelle and I began the New Year with hundreds of Christians at Faithwalkers in Asheville, NC. We especially enjoyed the one-on-one conversations with friends from other churches, and singing our favorite old Scripture songs. Like Paul said to the Romans when they were together, “that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.” My seminar, “How to Win Your Family to Christ,” went very well with good attendance & many heartfelt questions. You can listen to the teaching on line by going to this link: http://www.gccweb.org/podcasts/episode-2746/reaching-your-family-for-christ-steve-nelson.mp3  

Singing the Oldies Together

Barbara Wilson & Danelle

Atlanta House Church Our church recently discussed our vision for reaching unbelievers in Atlanta and multiplying disciples. We want our vision to be God’s vision, not ours. “So, King Agrippa, I did not prove disobedient to the heavenly vision, but kept declaring both to those of Damascus first, and also at Jerusalem and then throughout all the region of Judea, and even to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds appropriate to repentance.” Acts 26:19-20 Our church discussed specific steps of faith God wants each of us to take. What specific people are we loving, praying for, and wanting to come to Christ? We had some open and honest discussion. Pray for God to give us His love for unbelievers! Especially pray for opportunities for me to speak with Mario, Jairo, Michael, and Carolina.  

Clemson Conference Brian Bridgeman invited Danelle and I to come speak about the family February 11-12^th to their Clemson student group. These students elected to have us speak on the family, because they felt it was a great need of theirs. We were impressed at their foresight and maturity, as well as their honesty in regards to many of their family backgrounds. As we all know, the family has been attacked, questioned, and abandoned by many, making it confusing and difficult to know what to do as a young single person. Please pray for our time to be Spirit-led and encouraging to each of those who attend. Pray too for God to bring all He wants to come.    

                                                                                                                                                                              Our Financial Support                                      Thank you to all those who helped us end 2015 on solid financial ground! Your special gifts, as well as those who give monthly are a blessing to us! If you wish to become a partner, please go to  www.Reliant.org/Steve.Nelson and follow the instructions.

 Prayer Requests   

1. Clemson Conference. Pray for Danelle and I as we teach on the family, February 11-12^th.      

2. Atlanta House Church. Ask God to transform our hearts to care about those without Christ.

3. Unbelievers Salvation. Pray with us for Mario, Jairo, Carolina, and other friends in Atlanta to turn to Christ in true repentance and faith.

We are thankful for you,

Steve and Danelle

God Chose Children

God chose to send His son Jesus Christ to die for our sin. Aren’t you thankful that Mary and Joseph chose to have their son?
 
Here is a recent devotional I wrote about God’s attitude toward children. Remember, you were once a child too. He chose to bring you into this world. He chose you!

God Chose Children

Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." Genesis 1:27
I notice how God chose to have children. They were not an accident - He wanted them. We continue to read the historical account, "God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. God blessed them; and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth."

Some people don't want to have children because of the inherent problems and heartaches. Others may have felt unwanted by their parents. However, God chose to have us, knowing we would bring Him many problems! He knew we would break His heart by rejecting His love, rebelling against Him, and going our selfish way. And yet He still went ahead and made us. He knew that it would cost Him everything to buy us back from our sin. He would have to come and die on the cross and pay the ultimate price to rescue us. Why create creatures who were going to be ungrateful? Because it is His nature: "God is Love."

God wants us to experience the joy of loving others, and that is why we choose to have children. Not because they are easy or pain-free, but because we want to love them. Ask God to empower you to sacrificially love your children (and all those in your life) as He loved you.

  

Eric’s Testimony

(I met Eric when he was a student at the University of Georgia and I was working with our campus ministry. May Eric’s story inspire you to be active in sharing your faith. Maybe you want to write your story some day. They are great tools! Enjoy!)

I grew up in a Presbyterian family, but religion never meant much to me and I became disillusioned with the church as I got older. I went to the University of Georgia and took full advantage of college life - drinking, dating, and debating philosophy and religion with my friends.  I also sought fulfillment through running on the UGA track team.  According to conventional wisdom, this should have been the best time of my life, but I still felt empty and unfulfilled.  I started seeking more extreme pastimes and over-the-top friends, hoping this would help.

Fortunately some of my teammates were believers who realized that I had lost my way.  Two in particular, Adam and Whitney, shared their faith openly and encouraged me to attend a campus Bible study led by a pastor named Steve.  Steve took the time to build a friendship with me, and I came to realize that he had something I hadn't know was possible - a personal relationship with our Creator. 

Being naturally skeptical, it was hard for me to accept Christ "cold turkey".  But eventually I prayed to God, confessing my sins and asking Jesus for a new life. As I studied the Bible, my hope grew that I could be forgiven.  I discovered how faithful God is.  Life didn't always go my way, but He helped me handle my problems with His grace. I began learning to be thankful and joyful in good times.  In turn these spiritual gifts increased my faith.

Later I had the opportunity to teach English and share the gospel in Ukraine. Although I am not outgoing and get very nervous talking in front of groups, God gave me the ability to speak boldly without difficulty in Ukraine.  If that was not enough of a miracle, I also got to know my wife (now of ten years!) on that trip.

Though I still struggle with faith from time to time, my relationship with Christ has been the most liberating experience of my life.  It has given me the fulfillment I was seeking for so many years.  Praise God!

“Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst.  Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (John 4 13)

Please write if you have any questions.

Thanks,

Eric Morris

eric.al.morris@gmail.com