This Is All Preparation for The Future

                So something strange happened to me the other day. Well, I say strange but it sure didn’t seem that way at the time. Until I was talking with good friend of mine and he asked me if I thought it was a coincidence that we were talking at that very moment over that specific subject. My answer of course was no. I personally don’t believe in things like luck or coincidence no matter how important the matter (ex: running into a friend or finding $10 in your jacket pocket). I believe there is only God and the mysterious (or not so mysterious) ways and people through whom/which He works to make everything according to His perfect will. 

                The “strange” thing that happened that I mentioned really wasn’t that strange. Through a series of circumstances my finances happened to be a little lower this month than the norm. So, when my friends decided to head to the movies I decided to not. I could have easily headed back home from where we were but I decided in going to a friend’s (an elder in the church) house nearby and visit. This man is quite wise. And, it happened that we eventually sat in his living room talking and ended up on the subject of our work here in León. And, as I mentioned earlier, he asked me the question over coincidence. This made me think back as to what happened throughout my day, week, month, and last years that have lead up to the very conversation we were having in his living room. 

                Now you might be thinking that this was a little deep. But, think back in your life and where you are now and what you are doing and think about all of the events that lead up to it. A lot of things had to come through for you to be where you are and I guarantee you that it can’t be a dead, lifeless, thing like luck, but a very alive and loving God. This is your story, and it is very unique to you and you alone. You cannot have the same story as another. Trust me too that you don’t want to. God is constantly preparing you for what you are about to encounter in the next 5 minutes or the next 5 years. So this AIM program, the death of a loved one, or the spare cash you found in your jacket pocket is all preparation for your unique story and future. And, in the end, He is preparing you to be more like Christ, because He loves you that much. Just as an old friend once told me, “Your whole life has lead up to this one moment.” So stay in the path of God and don’t rely on your own plans like is says in James 4:13, because we are “a mist that appears for a little while then vanishes.” (James 4:14 NIV) But we are to trust in the Lord's will.

“I am telling you your story…. I tell no one any story but his own.” –Aslan, The Horse and His Boy, The Chronicles of Narnia.

- Nick Flesher (Aim, Mexico 09)











(read more of Nick's blog articles here)

God Will Always Be With Us

So think about your life. Where you have messed up. The times where you have fallen. The times where life was hard, either on account of circumstances out of your control, or even the ones that you yourself had caused. What did life look like in those moments? Did you feel broken? Broken to the point of tears? Lost? Angry? What did you feel? What did you do in those moments? Pray to God for grace to save you? What happened then? God lifted you up, didn't He? This is what happens every-time. Whether we see it in the moment or not. Whether or not we deserve it. God comes through every single time.

The beautiful thing is that when we reflect upon our lives and take a long hard look at where God had restored order to the mess that we had created, we slowly begin to realize that this isn't OUR life at all. God is the one that gives the life. From Genesis on, that has been the message. In the beginning God made order to chaos and then He gave us life.

Now He gives us a whole different type of life. A life offered through grace through the death of His son. A life to be lived to the full (Jn. 10:10). A clean start that we don't deserve. A life in which He himself said, "And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." (Matt. 28:20)

If also you remember the passage in Isaiah 43:2, "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through the fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall no consume you." And again in Isaiah 40:31, "... but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up on wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint."

God is faithful, and He promises His faithfulness. Not convinced? Read Romans 8, the whole thing, it's beautiful. It tells us that we are "more than conquerors through him that loved us." (Rom.8:37) and that, "nothing in all creation can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Rom.8:39)
So what am I trying to say? Is this another Jesus loves you pep-talk? Yes, yes it is. You know why? Because, that's the truth. Jesus does love you, and He wants you to know that. I encourage you brothers, to never give up. Even when you think that what you've done is too bad. That when your life seems just too chaotic, remember Who has the control. When you can't walk, crawl. Just don't give up. And ALWAYS put your faith in Him who saves and loves completely. Because, He gave up His life for us to have life, and to put it back in His hands, the hands of the One who breathes it.

- Nick Flesher (Aim, Mexico 09)











(read more of Nick's blog articles here)