Author: Nick

KK on a good day I am writing this while listening to Kaydence cry from her room. Apparently she has been quick to cry all day. She’s had a “bad day.” That is defined as a day when nothing seems to go her way. I can sympathize. I have days like that. Some days I can’t seem to do anything right, in spite of what I feel are good intentions and honest effort. I sometimes wonder why we have such days. I think it may be because we need to learn not to rely on our own effort. What may be a bad day for us; may be a good day in God’s eyes. A day when we recognize our need for Him and our dependence on Him is a good day. Although such a day may be accompanied by frustration and tears.  Perhaps we could avoid, or at least greatly reduce, such days by acknowledging our dependence on Him up front, first thing in the morning. I know when I reach the point of saying, “I can’t do this. I need help.” Things seem to turn around. He takes over and, when He does, things just seem to […]

Last night was “Fear the Beard” night at the Cajundome. A fun promotion based on freshman J. J. Thomas’ bearded countenance. A look which has been adopted by other players. The stands were filled with the bearded, real and fake.  After having started the season by losing to practically everyone, the UL basketball team last night won their ninth game in a row now challenging for first place in the division.  Just a  month ago the fans were trying to find satisfaction in a “wait ’til next year” attitude. This morning visions of championship are dancing in their heads. Life is like that. Are you on a streak now? A winning streak or a losing streak? Sometimes it seems in life we can’t do anything right and at other times it seems we can’t do anything wrong. We can either be very up on ourselves or very down. Those streaks can turn around over night.  Watching our won/loss record can cause anxiety and uncertainty. The key to a satisfied life is not to look at our won/loss record. How we seem to be doing in life is not the key. Rather, how are we doing in matters of eternal […]

 John 17:  20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. Isn’t it amazing how Jesus will settle for nothing but the best for us. He calls for us to be perfect as His heavenly Father is perfect. He prays for unity for us like He and the Father are one. Yet we seem willing to accept so much less. Perfect unity is what He prays for us. We try to construct unity with giving His church a wide umbrella or watering down His message to make it more palatable to more people. This is not the way of perfect unity. On Sunday night as we continue to study what it means to Be the Church, we will look at the question of Unity as Jesus intended. Please consider unifying with us. We have been learning, having fun and becoming The Church. Come and be blessed. Nick  

Matthew 19:13-15  Jesus blessses Little Children 13 Then some children were brought to Him so that He might lay His hands on them and pray ; and the disciples rebuked them. 14 But Jesus said, “Let the children alone, and do not hinder them from coming to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” 15 After laying His hands on them, He departed from there.  We are born needing to be touched. For nine months we are surrounded by our mothers. During that time we became dependent on touch to feel secure. The skin of a newborn, which has over five million sensory cells, thrives on sensation. Touch enhances bonding and facilitates trust between a parent and a child. The calming effect of touch also helps adapt an infant to its new surroundings and to the large and intimidating world. Conversely, many studies have been done on children raised in orphanages who were not regularly touched as infants or who suffered prolonged periods of time without any human contact whatsoever. The result of this lack of touch was almost always a failure to thrive. Infants who were not soothed and nurtured by touch did not […]

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. 1 Peter 5:6-7  Sometimes we can take in the entirety of God’s word for us. These verses are a good example. Occasionally we can cast a worry upon Him for a while; but we seem unable to case ALL our cares upon Him, PERMANENTLY. It really is a question of pride. That’s why this verse ties humbling ourselves with casting our cares. To cease worrying means to let go of control; that’s all about pride. We seem grotesquely fond of our worries. We must have a love for them since we have such difficulty casting them away. Jesus has told us “Don’t take an anxious thought for tomorrow.  Sufficient for the day is the evil thereof.”  There is a reason that our time is wrapped into 24 hour cycles. God a plan in giving us things “new every morning.” We just are not wired to handle more than 24 hours of responsibilities. When we try to handle more; we fail to do what we must do TODAY. When we worry about tomorrow, […]

The Truth Shall Make You Free      “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:32   Elephants are controlled in the circus by chaining them to a small stake in the ground. The elephant could easily pull up the stake; but he doesn’t try. In fact, elephants have died in fires chained to stakes they could have easily pulled up, but don’t. You see when an elephant is very young he is chained to a tree. He learns that he can not break away. As he grows older the lesson sticks with him, well past the point that the confinement is no longer effective. I know that I am, in some ways, similar. If I tried and failed at something long ago, I won’t easily attempt it again. But I’m not the same person. In the natural, I am older and more experienced. In the spiritual, I am a completely new man. How true that is of you and me who have ingrained thought patterns in our lives. We say, “I am chained to this habit and I can’t break free.” Or we say, “I’m not good enough.” All kinds of lies […]

Jesus, Lover of My Soul. How did your Valentine’s Day go? Not exactly as you hoped. Maybe you’re “alone” and didn’t expect much from it. You could cheer yourself by recognizing that it’s just a day created by florists and the greeting card industry; or you can just remember that you are loved.   “The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love.” Jeremiah 31:3   Our Lord loves us with an infinite love, an everlasting love, and an indescribable love. Are you without a valentine today? Take heart…His heart. He has set His affection on you. Jesus has purchased you, not with silver or gold as a bridegroom would have in Jesus’ day, but our Lord has purchased you with the silver of His tears and with the gold of His blood. You are loved by the One who loves best! Love Nick 

Saint Valentine  is the name of several(14 in all) martyred saints of ancient Rome. The name “Valentine”, is derived from valens (worthy, strong, powerful). Of the Saint Valentine whose feast is on February 14, nothing is known except his name and that he was buried north of Rome on February 14. It is even uncertain whether the feast of that day celebrates only one saint or more saints of the same name. Today Debbie Reed announced a service program for the women at Amana. The ladies will meet on Wednesday mornings, have a devotional and then, as led by the Holy Spirit, will perform service ministry. Sounds like a great idea. How about it men. What should be our response?  Let me suggest that men meet for prayer at 6 a.m. on Wednesday. I promise that group will provide prayer support and any man help that might be needed for spirit inspired ministry. Let me further suggest that you support your woman tomorrow by promising to support her in this service ministry. Backing her up with prayer, help at home and, perhaps, an occasional helping hand with the service is is called to perform.  Candy and flowers are great, […]