“And other [seeds] fell on good soil and yielded a crop, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty.”  - Matthew 13:8 NASB

We recently harvested over 60 onions from our family garden.

What caught your eye in the photo above?  Most likely your eyes were drawn to the larger onions, while the smaller ones you probably ignored.  And which ones did I showcase on facebook?  The larger ones, of course!

In each of the seed heads were hundreds of onion seeds.  Put those seeds back into the ground, and we would have a bumper crop of onions!  Our modest garden plot isn’t big enough for what could be grown.

Note the size of the onion that produced the seed head.  Average in size, maybe even one of the smaller of the crop.  Nutrients that in the larger onions went to the bulb, in this one went to the seed head and the taller, woodier stalk.  As a result the bulb is no showcase.  But this one is a key to future harvests.  Diminuitive in size, unpretentious in appearance, yet essential for future generations.  Not to take away from what the big onions give us here and now, but this one gives us hope for the future.

Do I seek to be all that I can be - successful, fruitful in my own right, as a showcase?  Or do I invest my resources in future generations?  Lord, make me fruitful according to your plans and purposes for me.  Amen.

Please pray with us:

Later this month on Sep 29th, some of us will be going to a one day conference near Baltimore that will provide focused input for our personal growth and ministry effectiveness. Please pray with us that the input and interaction we have would equip us to better serve God in advancing His Kingdom. Thanks.

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Greetings all.

During the past few weeks I have been preoccupied with a major family event.  My father, John Donovan Nellis (whom I am named after; I am a “Jr”) passed away late last month.  It was not a surprise.  He was 89 and his health had been declining for some time.  As a family, every six to eight weeks we have been traveling the three hours to visit him in northern VA, and visiting other extended family as well on most trips.  We have been making those regular trips since we moved here to Pennsylvania eight years ago, so I guess that means that conservatively we have made over 50 trips to visit him, my mother while she was still alive, and the rest of our family in the DC area.  That seems like a lot, but it doesn’t feel like it’s been that many.  And it’s been worth it.

When I got the call that he was showing signs that he might not have much time left, I headed south that evening and spent most of the next four days in his room.  My wife and son followed the next day, and for the next several days we kept vigil at his bedside until he took his final breaths.  A wearying activity, but no regrets.  I can look back on that time knowing that we were there for him, whether he was aware of it or not, holding his hand, talking to him, reading Scripture, praying, and some singing (mostly my wife on that).

I am processing memories as much as grief.  Because of his dementia, our relationship slipped away one step at a time over the past few years.  With the sadness and loss, there is also a sense of closure and relief.

Please pray with us as we continue to process his departure.  Thanks much.

I have set up a web page in his memory at Don Nellis Remembered.

Thanking God for you -

John

P.S.  A musical version of Psalm 23 sung by my daughter that was played at his memorial service can be heard on the player below.

Please pray with us:

As I continue to engage with my friend, please pray that God will reveal Himself and His truth to us as we seek Him wholeheartedly (Jeremiah 29:13).

From the Word:  WHAT’D SHE KNOW? (John 2:1-12)
“His mother said to the servants, ‘Whatever He says to you, do it’.” (John 2:5 NASB)

What insight did Mary have about Jesus?  She knew something about Him that enabled her to confidently make this statement. I would like to think that His mother knew Him well, and knew what He was capable of.  ”How well do I know You, Lord, and what You are capable of?”

And His guidance to the servants was simple: fill the pots with water, and take some to the head waiter.  No more complicated than that.  A good reminder that, most of the time, Jesus’ guidance for me is also simple and straightforward.  And as with the water, He did what they could not do, turn it into wine.  ”When You speak, Lord, may I listen attentively and act faithfully.  AMEN.”

Please pray with us:

“Pitching” Philadelphia to the students - we tossed out almost 200 bags of Philly made Herr’s® chips at last year’s conference.  (One of the Herr family is a partner in ministry with us)

I am travelling again this weekend, this time with Tina and Katie, to The Navigators’ mid-Atlantic collegiate conference in the mountains of Pennsylvania.  There ought to be about 150-200 college students from campuses in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland and Virginia.We are going there to meet seniors due to graduate this spring who may be moving to the Philadelphia area (reps from other metro areas in the mid-Atlantic will be there as well).  This is a good chance for us to meet them before they graduate and move here.  And we sure would like to be able to help them get settled and launched in this next phase of life.

Please pray with us for good interaction with the students, as well as a great conference overall.  If you are interested in some of the details of the conference, you can check out the conference website.   You may notice on the website a photo with Carl front and center - a picture from last year’s conference.  There are also writeups for the main speaker and the workshop leaders, some of them good friends of mine.  (It was at last year’s conference that I slipped on the ice and broke three ribs when I fell backwards onto my Bible!)

Thanks.

Carl manned the Philadelphia info desk at last year’s conference.

From the Word:  HEAR AND FOLLOW (John 1:35-51)
“The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.” (John 1:37 NASB)

What a great word picture!  And how simple.  Because of who John the Baptist was, how he lived his life and what he had already said to his followers, all he needed to say to them was “Behold the Lamb of God”.  And his disciples began to follow Jesus.

May my life and my words be a signpost to You, Lord, as John’s was.  AMEN.

P.S.  And then Andrew, one of these two guys, found his brother, and brought him to Jesus (v41-42).  What a great follow on!

Please pray with us:

Pictured here are the directors of The Navigator’s Metro Missions in major cities around the U.S. Also in the photo are our national Metro headquarters team.  I am travelling to Kansas City, MO this week to meet with them (and others).  We have been gathering annually in late January for encouragement, for keeping up with concerns and issues in our cities, and for time in the Word and prayer together (one of my favorite parts).  This year our time in the Word is focused on the issues of poverty, corruption, and injustice.  Leading up to this time, we have all done a Bible study on these topics and will be discussing our findings together.  Please pray for us that our discussions and our other times together will be led by the Holy Spirit.  Thanks.

Cities represented above include Atlanta, Boston, Philly (me - back row center), Chicago, Detroit, Minneapolis, Denver, DC, and more (including Kansas City).

My prayer on Dec 31, 2011:
“Lord, the last day of the year.  How have I done trusting You?  How have I done loving people?  I commit 2011 to You, and I commit my heart, soul, mind and strength to loving You wholeheartedly and serving You in 2012.”

What my biggest problem may be in 2012:
“They came to the chief priests and elders and said, ‘We have bound ourselves under a solemn oath to taste nothing until we have killed Paul.’ ”  (Acts 23:14 NASB).

When I read this passage, I usually wonder what happened to these guys.  Did they keep their oath?  I doubt it.  They were so determined to accomplish their goal of eliminating Paul, but they didn’t have the big picture, only their own agenda.  They couldn’t have guessed that God would arrange for half a battalion of Roman soldiers and cavalry to escort Paul out of the city to the safety of custody in the Roman governor’s palace in Caesarea 50 miles away (23:24-33).

This makes me wonder what plans I have that I am so determined to accomplish, yet I don’t see things from God’s perspective.  My biggest obstacle to seeing God’s plans accomplished this year may be myself: my blind spots, my weaknesses, my self-interest and lack of faith.

“May I trust You this year, Lord, to reveal Your plans to me and show me the part You want me to play in Your plans, rather than me coming up with my own plans without knowing what is over the next hill.  Amen.”

From the Word:  A heart of obedience (Psalm 119:59-60 NASB)
“I considered my ways and turned my feet to Your testimonies.  I hastened and did not delay to keep Your commandments.”

While stationed with the Navy in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba years ago, several base residents, including me, were interviewed by the base paper, the Guantanamo  Gazette, as to what our New Year’s resolutions might be for the coming year.  I remember my response almost verbatim:

“I am not in the habit of making New Year’s resolutions.  I have submitted my life to Jesus Christ, and when God points out a habit or attitude that needs changing, I don’t want to put it off until another time but take action and make the change right away.”

Although my response in the interview was spontaneous, I realized that my thinking and priorities had been significantly influenced by the passage above.  I don’t want to delay obedience, but immediately obey God when I become aware of something in my life that does not line up with what He wants me to do.

If you are planning to make resolutions this year, don’t let this thought keep you from doing so, but let me suggest that your first resolution be, regardless of the day, that when God taps you on the shoulder about something, not to put off making the change until another day.

And may God give you a Happy New Year!

Please pray with us:
Pray for us for hearts of obedience, of immediate obedience, as we enter the new year.  And not out of obligation, but out of appreciation and gratitude for who Jesus is and for what He has done for us.  Thanks!

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From the Word:  Restoring my soul (from Psalm 23)
“He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside ‘waters of rest’, He restores my soul…”  (Psalm 23:2,3 NASB)

Lord, what do I need right now - comfort? encouragement? motivation? admonition? rebuke? exhortation? chastisement?  You know what I need better than I do.  If it was up to me, I would probably try to give me an incentive from the rear.  Ahhh, but You provide very practical help from the side!  The ox, the yoke; that’s where I want to be, Lord.  You say there is rest in being yoked with You! (Matt 11:29)  Now that is an amazing thought:  a yoke is supposed to be an implement of labor, yet You call me to join with You in Your yoke in order to experience rest!  Talk about encouragement - that is “en-heartening”!

Only You, Lord Jesus, can make labor an activity that produces rest.  I can see that; it makes sense.  Just as an athlete is invigorated, even refreshed,  in the exertion demanded by his routine,  I am able to feel Your strength pulling us along as I keep stride with You in the yoke and sense the surging of Your strength through the yoke from Your side to mine.

Lord, may I yoke up with You and hang on - and rest, experiencing the restoration of my soul that Your strength provides.  May I honor You with my faith, trusting You alongside me (or should I say me alongside You) - and may You give me the wisdom and courage that I will need for today.  Amen.

Please pray with us:
December 1st is World Aids Day.  I will be attending a prayer gathering in Philadelphia tomorrow morning that will address this global problem, specifically focusing on the impact of HIV/AIDS here in the Philly metro area.  Please pray along with us for your own community, as well as for the ongoing problem around the world.  Since 2004 Saddleback Church (pastored by Rick Warren, author of The Purpose Driven Life) has been mobilizing prayer and other resources and encouraging the body of Christ to be actively engaged in addressing the AIDS epidemic.   “HIV/AIDS is still the greatest humanitarian crisis of all time, killing millions every year and leaving millions of orphaned and vulnerable children behind.” (- Kay Warren, Rick’s wife).  You can check out the Saddleback website for more information as to what they are doing not just on Dec 1st but throughout the year.

Thanks.

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From the Word: “He rescued me” (from Psalm 18)
“He brought me forth also into a broad place; He rescued me, because He delighted in me.” (Psalm 18:19 NASB)

Lord, this is encouraging to read how David delighted in You…no!  How You delighted in him!  He loved You (v1) and he lived his life for You with fervor and commitment.  But because You delighted in him, You watched over him and did things for him that he couldn’t do for himself.  And as for me, Lord,  I need Your hand of safety on my life today - just driving to the airport may be my biggest challenge, I don’t know.  So many circumstances totally out of my control, but certainly not out of Yours.

Give me wisdom for today, Lord,  I belong to You, so I can trust You that You will do with me what needs to be done, what You determine to do with my life, and through my life, according to Your purposes.  There is great security knowing that inasmuch as things are out of my control, I, with David, can trust You to bring me into a broad place, if that is Your plan.  I do love You, Lord.  Thank You from rescuing me from myself.  Amen.

Please pray with us: This week I am turning 60.  I have been pondering how much time God will give me from here on out to walk with Him and serve Him.  I have also been thinking about Veterans’ Day, and how much we owe our military, past and present, for the freedom we have to worship.  It is a young man’s pursuit.  I couldn’t do it anymore.  But I am thankful for the Scriptures that give us examples of military life, as in II Timothy 2:4, “No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier.” (NASB)  I must say that the armed forces of the 21st century are a far cry from what life as a soldier used to be - it wasn’t all that long ago that a man had to get permission from his CO to get married.

May I embrace the spirit of what was required when Timothy wrote his words, and recommit my life to serving God, loving Him and fearing Him with all my being, for all the remaining time God gives me.  (Deut 6:4-9, Deut 10:12-13)

Thanks.

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From the Word:  Satisfied with You (from Psalm 17)
“As for me, I shall behold Your face in righteousness; I will be satisified with Your likeness when I awake.” (Psalm 17:15 NASB)

What a thing to say! To be satisfied with You, Lord Jesus!  A simple goal, yet so profound and unattainable in the flesh.  And in my flesh I wouldn’t even think of this as a goal or sense it as a yearning.  Yet David is expressing the deepest desire of his heart, and is speaking with a confident expectation that he will be satisfied with You, a desire that will no doubt be fulfilled in just a few hours.

He even says he expects to “behold Your face”, a privilege reserved for the pure in heart (Matthew 5:8 - “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God”). Makes me wonder if, when David wrote these words, he had not yet sinned with Bathsheba.  He could speak with confidence about his feet not slipping (v5), that You had tried his heart and tested him and found no transgression, that there was no evil device in his mouth (v3 footnote).

That is certainly not my experience, Lord!  Can I, will I ever be satisfied with You?  I so want this, yet I consider how distracted I still am by worldly cravings.  Maybe the question I am asking is, “will I ever be satisfied with my own performance?”  If I conclude that I can never be good enough, my heart never pure enough to experience contentment in You, then I am forgetting who You are and what You have done at such a huge price.  How easily I forget what You have done to wash me and sanctify me, to make me holy and set me apart in my behavior?  My only hope is to join with David in his confession in Psalm 51.  It is Your Holy Spirit that gives me the joy of my salvation, not my accomplishments or a bravado generated in the flesh.

Thank You, Lord, that I can be satisfied with You because of what You have done.  When I awake, rather than dreading the day and thinking of the demands and difficulties that I will face, may I think of You first thing, may I see You and rejoice with gladness in my heart (Psalm 4:7), for You have lifted up the light of Your countenance upon us (Psalm 4:6).

On the practical side, then, how am I to control my thoughts?  How can I be assured that I will see Your likeness when I awake?  Part of the answer may be based upon how I prepare myself for bed the night before, and fill my mind with thankful thoughts of You, to remember You on my bed and meditate on You in the night watches (Psalm 63:6), to wait for You eagerly (while following Your judgments, longing to for You at night, seeking You diligently in my spirit Isaiah 26:8,9).  Thank You, Lord, for these thoughts from other men whose hearts were captivated by You, who sought You wholeheartedly and without reservation or hesitation, and were totally committed to and focused on You.  Amen.

Please pray with us:
Now that the hub-bub of the mid-term elections is over, there is the inclination, for me at least, to get back to my own business as usual and leave the ruling of the country up to our elected officials.  Whether or not you voted for them, or voted at all, please pray with us for those in authority, that God will guide their decisions to eventually create an environment that will be conducive to people being saved and coming to the knowledge of the truth (I Timothy 2:1-4).