God Knew

Have you ever had several events happen in your life during a given period of time, seemingly disconnected, that you later realized were a bigger part of God’s plan? That totally happened to my family and me over the past few days. I can say with confidence that God knew, and that my Father planned it all (that phrase is important later in the story). Here’s what all unfolded.

1. On Thursday (May 10th), I bought a used 2006 Toyota Avalon for myself despite already having a 2008 Honda Civic EX-L coupe that I’d bought last fall. The Honda coupe had been good to me the whole time, and was a good next option when my Cadillac started giving up the ghost. I later grew tired of having a coupe vs sedan though, and the engine was pretty underpowered for what I was used to (I lost to a VW Beetle leaving a red light). I came across this Avalon via our family mechanic, and though it was high mileage, I valued his opinion and figured it’d be reliable. Plus, it’d been called the Buick of Toyotas, and it did remind me quite a bit of my Cadillac. So I got a loan online and picked it up Thursday. Might seem foolish at the time, but God knew.

2. On Friday, my mom took my Honda coupe into the local Honda dealership because of my SRS airbag/seat belt light being on. They originally were going to charge me at least $80 for diagnosis, but discovered that the issue was a seat buckle which was covered under some type of warranty for another 3 months. I have NO idea what warranty that was, but I didn’t pay a dime for parts or labor on something that was at least $300 otherwise. Praise the Lord! We figured that was the end of that issue, but God knew there was something else ahead…

3. On Saturday, my mom and I were driving around town in my Honda while my Avalon was at Walmart getting a new battery. I went to use my passenger seat belt, and the whole assembly came up in my hands when I pulled on the belt. Turns out, the seat buckle (we think it was the one replaced on Friday) wasn’t bolted into the actual seat. So, I’d essentially been riding around with an untethered seat belt. We went back to the Honda dealer right away, and they bolted that seat buckle back in for no charge (and they had free snacks!). God knew!

4. Also on Saturday morning, my mom and I went to the license bureau to get my Avalon registered and taxed (if it pleases the crown?). We got that all done with a little hiccup; I couldn’t swap plates from my Cadillac to the Avalon, because the Cadillac hadn’t ever actually been titled in Missouri. Oops. It all worked out, though, and the Avalon was ready to roll. God knew! Side note: The Columbia license bureau on Grindstone Parkway is amazing, and they’re open every Saturday till 12:30 PM!

5. On Sunday (Mother’s Day), I let my parents drive my Honda coupe back & forth to church. Mom’s car hasn’t had working air for a week or so, and she doesn’t do well without cool air, so I wanted to help in whatever way I could. Glad that I had my Avalon to drive around, and that I was able to let them borrow the Honda. God knew!

6. On Sunday night at their church, Mom sang the hymn “My Father Planned It All” as a special (click here to listen, or click play on the below embedded player). Mom picked that because of all she’d gone through with losing her voice and job, and job searching in the past 9 months or so. She didn’t know that song would take on another meaning only a little while later, but God knew… (Side note: Congrats to Mom on getting assistant manager at the Columbia Build a Bear mall store!)



7. Around 7:30 PM on the way home from church in my Honda, a deer ran in front of Mom & Dad on Route B (about 3 miles from our house). Mom didn’t have time to react, and they hit it broadside with the front of my Honda while going around 60 MPH. Mom & Dad pulled onto the shoulder, and were shaken up but fine other than some minor whiplash for Mom at least. The deer (likely a mom, unfortunately) ended up dead in the weeds next to the road. The front of my car was a disaster, but somehow the airbags didn’t go off; that probably would’ve made things worse (God knew!). Praise the Lord for that passenger seat belt being fixed over the weekend, because Dad probably would’ve hit or gone through the windshield otherwise…God knew! The car made a grinding noise, but since they were close to home, Mom figured they’d try to limp home. My bumper fell off to the side, and we later went back to pick that up and take it home. When they pulled in our driveway, it was smoking and hissing (probably the radiator). I’m so glad they were able to get home safe with my car at least getting them there! Sounds like it could’ve been so much worse! God knew.

8. I went to the door to greet them as usual, and that’s when they said “Nathan, we’ve got some bad news…” I was actually quite calm about the whole thing. I can’t say I felt this inexplicable Holy Spirit peace about it, but that could’ve indeed been what it was! I’ve never been in a bad wreck before, but with all the car issues I’ve had in the past, I’ve kinda just taken things in stride at this point. God’s worked it all out before, and I know He will again. We had a friend from their church come take a look at the car, and he prayed with us all before leaving which was cool too.

9. Mom & I talked to our insurance companies (since it was my car but her as the driver). I heard back from my insurance (Geico) over the next couple days, and today (Tuesday the 15th) an insurance adjuster came to inspect everything. He said my car would be about $4700 to fix, but the cash value of the car was around $5700 (pretty close to what I’d seen from KBB for private selling). After taking out my deductible, they are going to be able to pay off the remainder of my LightStream loan and I’ll also have some extra cash left over! I was hoping to sell the Honda as soon as I paid it off this fall, and use that money to hopefully pay off all or most of the LightStream loan for my Avalon. God knew better though, and His way is best! I’m waiting to hear back from a towing company as well as Geico’s payment department about taking care of my loan, etc, but it’s looking like I’m not going to be losing much ground compared to what I was hoping for originally. Amazing.

Overall, I believe that God had a plan through all of these different events. I can see where everything fell into place despite not looking like that on an individual basis (like me getting another car when I had a working one already, for instance). It’s truly been amazing to see how God worked out the details of each situation, and how His plan is better than anything I could’ve planned on my own. We don’t know why God has things happen the way they do sometimes, but we have to trust that He has our best in mind and that He cares about us as our heavenly Father. “I sing thru the shade and the sunshine, I’ll trust Him whatever befall; I sing for I cannot be silent – My Father planned it all.”

Sunday School Nugget - Surrender

This past Sunday night at my home church in Missouri, I got to preach a little 10-minute sermon along with three other men as part of a preaching service. Originally I was supposed to preach this message in 5-minute form on a Sunday morning in May, but things didn't work out then. I've been on vacation in Missouri for about a week though, so this opportunity worked out great. Enjoy and I hope it's a blessing to you!



Click here if you're unable to view the above embedded audio. Here's the outline of my nugget:

Sunday School Nugget – Surrender

Topic that I think is applicable for all of us. Something we can all think about and evaluate.

Romans 12:1, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”

Paul’s calling us to present ourselves as a living sacrifice to God. It’s our reasonable service.

-How do you present yourself?                 Through SURRENDER.

Luke 9:23, “And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.”

-Deny himself

Definition of the Greek word means “to deny utterly, that is, disown, abstain”

Note: DISOWN, or abstain.

It’s saying “NO” to the flesh, and “YES!” to God. It’s saying NO to my will, and YES to His will.

-Daily              

Surrender isn’t a one-time event. It’s every single day.

It’s a conscious, daily decision to say no to the flesh and yes to God through the Holy Spirit.

Surrender is taking things out of your hands and putting them in God’s. All State asks if you’re in good hands. When you surrender your life to God, the Creator of the universe, you can emphatically answer “YES I AM in good hands.”

-Surrender takes worrying out of the picture. 

Philippians 4:6-7 “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.  (7)  And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

This passage says give it over to God and don’t be anxious about it.

-Carrie Underwood’s song “Jesus Take the Wheel”

First verse starts with a woman driving her baby home to see parents on a Christmas Eve

o   Car loses control on ice

o   She throws up her hands in fear and yells out “Jesus take the wheel”

Second verse, she uses this example to reflect on her life.

o   She prays to God and apologizes for the way that she’s been living.

o   She knows she has to change and asks from that night on for Jesus to take the wheel of her life

o   “I can’t do this on my own…” “Save me from this road I’m on”

What is that? SURRENDER. It's realizing the error of our ways and the greatness of His ways. It's turning the direction of life over to God.

The car analogy is indeed a good example for surrender.

o   God and the steering wheel; “he will direct thy paths”, Proverbs 3:6

o   You have to let Him steer! Where we’re going is up to God.

o   We have to use the gas to get anywhere; steering w/o gas won’t get you far.

§  God can lead, but if we don’t get up and do it, we’re not doing His will.

§  We’re not truly surrendered if God’s leading goes in one ear and out the other.

The Bible uses walking as an example of surrender.

-Again, Proverbs 3:6 – “he will direct thy paths”; you walk those paths
-Luke 9:23 – take up your cross and do what? FOLLOW Him

How do we get direction when we surrender? One main way we get direction is through God’s Word.
-Psalm 119:105, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”
-Christian song that says, “You’re calling me to freedom, I think that it's time to walk/I don't see every step but the next is out of the dark”
-God won’t illuminate the full path of our life miles down the road, because then it wouldn’t be faith. But He gives us light for the next step we take by faith, when we surrender to Him.

It’s clear that when we surrender to His will, He offers us direction and will direct our way as pilgrims in this Christian life.

Frank Sinatra’s song “My Way”
-The lyrics are so full of humanistic pride. God gets no credit or acknowledgement. It’s all about ME, ME, ME.

In the Christian life, things can’t be done MY WAY.

Jesus clearly states in John 15:5, “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.”

We all know, but God’s way is better than our way could ever DREAM of being.
-Situation few months back where I tried to do things my way. God slammed the door shut, and I realized that my way definitely wouldn’t work. It had to be His way, and I know His way is better than mine ever could be.

New Testament example of “my way” mentality: the prodigal son

-We know the story; he went out into the world, partied and did things his way

-What happened after that though?

     -He got to the end of himself.

     -His response: Luke 15:18-19 “I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.”

     -He says “My way didn’t work!” No longer living like a king, willing to make himself like a slave.

Old Testament example of “my way” mentality:      Jonah

-Jonah ran from God; he tried to do things his way

-God gave Jonah a command to go to Nineveh and call them out for their sin

-Jonah 1:3a, “But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD…”

-Not only can you not run from God, but you definitely can’t hide!

-Jonah did what God told him to…the second time (Jonah 3:1).

-However, Jonah went so far as to be unhappy when Nineveh did repent! He STILL wanted it done his way and it didn’t happen.

Old Testament example of “HIS WAY” mentality:     Abraham

-God said in Genesis 12:1b, “Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee:”

-Hebrews 11:8, “By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.”

-God said GO, and Abraham went

-Abraham was called the FRIEND OF GOD (James 2:23) and is in the Hall of Faith.  God recognized Abraham’s surrendered life and blessed him for it.

New Testament example of “HIS WAY” mentality:     Jesus

-Even at age 12, He said He must be about His Father’s business (Luke 2:49)

-And of course, in the Garden.

o   Matthew 26:39, “And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.”

o   Verse 42, He prays a second time and says, “if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.”

o   That’s surrender!

God’s will for each of us is basically made of:

-His plan

-Done His way

-In His time

God never said surrendering to Him would be easy. But it’s worth it!

Psalm 16:11, “Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.”

Sunday School Nugget - Don't Worry About It

This morning to kick off the Sunday School hour at church I did a little nugget (mini-sermon) on worry. I was supposed to do a nugget last week for Mother's Day but I was out of town and switched with one of the men at church. I wouldn't have done this particular message if I'd done it last week, so God knew what was best. This particular subject is a passionate one for me; I always enjoy hearing messages preached on the passages I'm referencing today. I'll be honest, I remember very very few of the chapel messages I sat in on at Emmaus. But, I remember one very well that Khellan Fletcher did during student chapel on Philippians 4:6-7, and the quote (from George Muller) that he used during it. And that provided some inspiration for my nugget today. I hope it's a blessing and a challenge to you like it is me!
P.S. I wore my green duct tape tie like I have one or two other times at church. It was a big hit.

If you can't listen to the audio based on the above embedded player, then click here for the actual file.

 Nugget on Worry (Outline)

Brother Holliday asked me awhile ago what I was doing my nugget on, and I told him “Don’t worry about it.” That’s the subject of my nugget today.

In America, we’re mainly worried about materialism. Jesus addressed that head-on in Matthew 6 and Luke 12. Read Luke 12:22-31. Focus on vv. 25-26, 28.

Jesus called them “O ye of little faith”. Worrying demonstrates a lack of faith in God, both in how He provides for us and how He guides us. And that’s not good.

Romans 14:23b, “for whatsoever is not of faith is sin”.

George Muller was an evangelist in the 1800’s and a great man of faith who cared for over 10,000 orphans in his lifetime. One of his quotes has really stuck with me since the first time I heard it: “Faith ends where worry begins, and worry ends where faith begins.” Worry robs your joy.

Do you want peace in your life? Do you want joy?

Philippians 4:6-7, same Greek word (careful) as in Luke (take thought). Notice certain words in this passage: “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (emphasis added)

1 Peter 5:7: “Casting all your care [anxieties, worries] upon him; for he careth for you.”

Lots of what-if’s in life. My question: What if, instead of using our energy to worry about the past, present, or future, we actually prayed and took EVERYTHING to God? What if we actually thanked and praised God for what He’s done and what He will do? If we do these things, we have a promise from Philippians 4:7 – “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus”

There is NO ONE better in this life that we can trust. Remember the exhortation of Hebrews 13:5 “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” God is faithful, and He is good, ALL THE TIME.

Sunday School Nugget - God's Will

I've done three Sunday School nuggets at my home church so far. The first one was on God's timing, and the second one was about our Heavenly Father. My most recent one was given in mid-June this year, not too long after I graduated from Emmaus with my Bachelor's degree. Unfortunately, the recording of it was lost because our church computers crashed. So instead, here's a picture of me delivering this most recent nugget to the congregation from the pulpit.

Most importantly, here's the outline of my nugget. I hope it's a great encouragement and challenge to those of you reading it; I know it has been to me!

Nugget on God’s Will (6/10/12)

Background: I'm a college graduate, looking for a job (preferably with computers)

Lot of questions in my life right now: What can I do for work? Where am I supposed to live (home, Iowa near friends, somewhere else)? Will my future at any location be further shaped by someone of the opposite gender (haha)? Basically, as a Christian my main question is: WHAT IS GOD’S WILL FOR MY LIFE? With certainty I can say, I’m not the only one in the world asking that now.

Next question logically: “Does the Bible say what God’s will for my life is?” The answer is, ABSOLUTELY. It also might not be quite what you’re expecting to hear. I'm barely scratching the surface, but here are some things I’ve found.

Verses:

1 Thessalonians  4:3, 7                    BE HOLY

1 Thessalonians 5:18                       BE THANKFUL NO MATTER WHAT

                In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

1 Peter 2:13-15                              BE SUBMISSIVE TO AUTHORITY FOR THE LORD’S SAKE

These are all known examples, clearing stating what God's will is. But...

                        What about God’s will not explicitly stated?

Romans 12:1-2 (three parts)

 -          Present your bodies a LIVING SACRIFICE

                Who was the ultimate Sacrifice before God? JESUS CHRIST. And what were His words when He was under great agony at Gethsemane?

                Matthew 26:39, “And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.” In Luke it says, “not my will, but thine, be done.”

                In order to be a living sacrifice, we have to adapt this to our prayer life and our way of thinking. James 4:13-15 confronts the alternative to this right mindset. You can’t say “I have all this planned out for the next day/month/year and that’s how it’s going to be.” You don’t know what’s coming tomorrow! Life is but a vapor, and for that reason say, “IF THE LORD WILLS…”

-          Be not conformed to this world; it won’t show you God’s will, it won’t tell you to follow God and seek after Him.

-          Be transformed by the renewing of your mind; keep your way of thinking on the Lord and not on yourself or things that will cause you to stray. Part of Philippians 2 talks about Christ’s humility and sacrifice, and it starts with this: “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus…” (v. 5)

Proverbs 3:5-6

-          TRUST IN THE LORD

-          DON’T DEPEND ON YOURSELF

-          KNOW HIM; PUT HIM FIRST IN EVERYTHING

-          HE WILL DIRECT YOUR PATHS; He knows it better than anyone else!

Christmas Break 2011 Update

It's been over 4 1/2 months since I've updated my blog. And I didn't even do a regular post then. So it's probably time I do that.

Things have been going quite well for Christmas break so far. I got done with finals on Wednesday the 14th and came home on Friday, after stopping at my grandparents'. My car hadn't started Wednesday night, but it did the times after that, so I drove home. Just the other day, it didn't start again. I think it has to do with rain and moisture getting somewhere in the electrical system, because it rained both here and at school when it wouldn't start. As long as it doesn't rain, I can drive, right? I'll get it looked at before going back up to school.

I've been able to relax and just hang out over break so far, and that looks to continue. I went to see "Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows" with my buddy the other day. In order to be caught up, I watched the first Sherlock Holmes movie the night before that at 1 AM. They were both very good, I thought. A semi-modern twist on the characters. It had the old-school look but with a modern feel, somehow. I much enjoyed them, at any rate. Maybe I'll have the opportunity to watch one or two more movies in theater yet this break. We'll see. I'm also planning on watching all six of the Star Wars movies, since I haven't done that yet. I've been a deprived child, I suppose.

How might I be able to spend money on movies? Plasma donation. I do it at Biolife in Dubuque, but there's also a plasma center here in Columbia, MO. I went during the summer and got rejected for 6 months because I had same-day eye surgery in May. Well, that six months has passed. Time for another go, methinks. I plan on going in this morning/afternoon and seeing if I can start donating. I'd get about 3 donations in before going back to Dubuque for spring semester. But this place in Columbia pays new donors $40 each time for the first few donations; ours in Dubuque pays $50 a week total. That extra $80+ would be really nice to have, if possible. God knows, though. He'll provide if He sees fit and if not, it wasn't meant to be. I'll survive either way.

That's about all for now. Until next time, God bless and merry Christmas early!
-Nathan (White Boy Fresh)

Sunday School Nugget - God's Timing

This is a Sunday School nugget I did last year, my first time doing one. I decided to do it on God's timing.

Here's an outline of my message. Funny thing is, I had to do this nugget without notes because I had forgotten to print them out ahead of time. But I stuck to the outline pretty well I think.

If you're unable to listen via the above embedded audio, click here for an alternate link to the audio of my nugget.

God's Timing

Whirlwind nugget, as I have several Bible passages to read though well-known to most of us.
Talking about something which I am currently up against - Time. Specifically, God's timing in life!

I.    God is all-powerful and He's all-knowing
Psalm 139:1-3 "knowest my downsitting...my uprising"
Psalm 139:17-18 "how precious are God's thoughts toward us!"
-If God cares about the sparrow, how much more does He care about us!

II.    Timing relates to us in many areas of life, including school, work, relationships, and major decisions that need to be made.

-Today we often want Instant gratification - microwave minute.
-Tendency is to try forcing everything by our time. Not patient and want everything done now.
    Abraham & Ishmael - not in God's timing (Genesis 17:20-21; "And as for Ishmael, I have heard thee...but my covenant is with Isaac")
        -Ishmael was born when Abram was 86, and Isaac was born when he was 100 years old! Talk about God's timing and not man's!

III.    God's timing is the only thing that matters. He knows everything about us and He has a plan for us! Why not trust in Him for our wants/needs instead of trying to force everything ourselves?

-Isaiah 40:31 - "but they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength..."
-Psalm 39:7 - "what wait I for? my hope is in thee"
-Psalm 130:5 - "I wait for the Lord...in his word do I hope"

-In every area of life (job-related, ie getting a job; relationships, ie when or if the time is right; decisions, ie when to take that big step forward in whatever it is) we need to work by God's timing!

IV.    Challenge for Us

1. Trust the Lord for whatever area (Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart...lean not unto thine own understanding")

2. Wait on HIM! (phrase/words on my phone as part of wallpaper, w/getting to know different girls from school past year and couldn't help but wonder "Could there be something there in the future between us?" - looked promising at least in my eyes but then door closed and I got discouraged; Psalm 27:14 - "wait, I say, on the Lord!")

Father's Day Nugget

I was scheduled to do a Sunday School nugget at my church, and it was on Father's Day this year. The format of our morning beginning is to have one of the men give a little 5-10 minute nugget (sermon) for the whole church before everyone dismisses for Sunday School. And like I said, mine was on Sunday which happened to be Father's Day. This is the spin that I put on the special occasion. I hope it's an encouragement and a challenge to you like it was for me just putting it together.

If you can't listen to the audio based on the above embedded player, then click here for the actual file.

Here is my sermon outline:

The Greatest Father of All

Happy Father's Day! For this special occasion, I felt led to give a nugget about the greatest Father that any of us could ever have: our Heavenly Father. Hopefully it's a challenge and an encouragement to you, as it has been for me. I'm gonna talk about three things that God our Heavenly Father does for us.

I. He Disciplines Us (Heb. 12:5-7, 9-10)

- God disciplines us as a sign of His love for His children. Pretty clear from this text.
- This second part is interesting. Parallel between earthly fathers and our Heavenly Father. Earthly fathers disciplined us so we would follow and obey them; how much more is it with God? Verse 10 is HUGE. Earthly fathers discipline us as it seems best to them; they're doing what they know to be right. However, God the Father disciplines us for our profit (NO DOUBT) so that we can share in His holiness. WOW!!!! That totally blows my mind.

II. He Loves Us (1 John 3:1)

God has called us His sons! He's given us an inheritance that none of us deserve. He sacrificed His only begotten Son for us. "How deep the Father's love for us, how vast beyond all measure..."

III. He Cares for Us (1 Peter 5:7, Matt 7:11)

- Cast all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. Reminds me of Philippians 4:6-7 (be anxious for nothing; give it over to God in prayer and supplication, and He'll give you peace). Matt 6:8b, "...for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him."
- Jesus uses example of children asking for bread and being given a stone. Earthly fathers know better than that. How much more then does our Heavenly Father give us good things (like the Holy Spirit in Luke 11:13) when we need them? God cares for us as His children. I'm thankful for a Heavenly Father Who disciplines me when I need it and Who loves and cares for me as immensely as He does.