I, Jesus, take you, Church, to be my wife. I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. I will love you and honor you all the days of my life. I, Jesus, take you, (insert your name), for my lawful wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death brings you to heaven.
Song of Songs 8
6 Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm; for love is as strong as death, its jealousy[q] unyielding as the grave. It burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame.[r] 7Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot sweep it away.
Lately at our base we've experience quite a bit of sickness. Nothing serious or life-threatening, but just enough to humble us and bring us to our knees and our beds. And its in the place of weakness that we really do discover God's amazing love.
You see, while we were still sinners Christ loved us enough to die for us (Romans 5:8). "He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy." (Titus 3:5) Jesus said: “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Mark 2:17) And thank the Lord that the strength of our relationship does not depend on our pursuit of God, but of His pursuit of us!
Because of who He is, Jesus is an unending, unrelenting wedding vow to love us, to honor us, to pursue us no matter what our condition is. What a glorious truth!
I discovered that as a follower of Jesus I have to continually keep coming back to that reality. Even when I'm doing good, I'm fasting, praying, studying the word, evangelizing, giving, and loving, He loves me the same. And when I'm in rebellion, falling into temptation, sick and tired of being disciplined, He loves me the same! When I don't want to read my bible, He loves me the same. When I say no to the Holy Spirit, He loves me the same. When I sleep 12 hours and completing miss my appointment with Jesus, he loves me the same. When I disciple the nations and bring a whole country to Jesus, He loves me the same. When I give all of my money away, He loves me the same. When I memorize the whole bible, He loves the same. He already loves me, is already proud of me, He is already pleased with me. If I never opened my bible again, we would still want to be my friend. God loves me the way God loves God, even when I am as far away from being like God as possible.
This amazing, unconditional, unrelenting love is what keeps us going. Its what keeps us coming back to our first love. So please, wherever you are, just remember the He already loves you. And be compelled by His love, and let it be an overflow of this amazing love that touches the world around you.
And Please pray for the YWAM base in Kona that the God who loves us and can heal us would fill us with the knowledge of His love and His healing power. Thank you.
Nathan's Adventures with Jesus
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Its all about Jesus
Jesus has been teaching me something so precious: its all about Him. This life is not about living for people's approval, fame or fortune. Its not even about having fun, or even living life to the fullest, although those are all good things.
This life is about being in love with our creator. Falling in love, and then going where he goes. Abiding in the vine, and bearing much fruit. Being like a tree planted by streams of living water, so that our leaves are always green.
This is my prayer for my life, that I would be solely focused on one things: intimacy with Jesus. Please join me in praying that we would be so consumed with loving this man that our only desire is to love him more.
I really believe that God is calling the church to really put the first commandment first in our lives, and we will see the world truly transformed when our walk is not just about doing ministry, doing good things and not doing bad things, but being in love with God!
So please, pray for the church of Jesus Christ, that we would not be swayed by any other mission, other than loving our precious King.
This life is about being in love with our creator. Falling in love, and then going where he goes. Abiding in the vine, and bearing much fruit. Being like a tree planted by streams of living water, so that our leaves are always green.
This is my prayer for my life, that I would be solely focused on one things: intimacy with Jesus. Please join me in praying that we would be so consumed with loving this man that our only desire is to love him more.
I really believe that God is calling the church to really put the first commandment first in our lives, and we will see the world truly transformed when our walk is not just about doing ministry, doing good things and not doing bad things, but being in love with God!
So please, pray for the church of Jesus Christ, that we would not be swayed by any other mission, other than loving our precious King.
Monday, January 24, 2011
First week of staff training
Hey everyone! I'm here at University of Nations where I am on staff with Youth With A Mission. It has been a week now of being on staff, and it is an incredible experience. I feel like I'm exactly where God wants me to be, and I see His goodness all around me. I've been rejoined with so many good friends, and have made many more. Everyone is so eager to talk and be friends. And everyone has the pursuit of one person on their mind: Jesus.
We spend much time as a campus and as individuals simply being with our precious savior. It is in His presence that we get transformed, we get refreshed and we receive new strength for the new battles. It is in His presence that we find out who we really are, and who God really is. What a privilege to live in the presence of the Almighty God!
Looking ahead to future, we are very excited about the April Call2All DTS. We already met as a school and have been hearing so many good things from the Lord, who is giving us our identity as a school. So far we have 11 staff, and they should all get here early February.
We are in the process of praying for and recruiting students. We are expecting the Lord to send a huge workforce into the harvest fields, and we are hoping for 60+ students in our school. Will you be part of the faithful intercessors who join us in praying for these students?
Also, here is a little more information about the school and how you can join us as we follow the Lord.
Video:
U of N Kona
Call2All DTS
YWAM home page
We spend much time as a campus and as individuals simply being with our precious savior. It is in His presence that we get transformed, we get refreshed and we receive new strength for the new battles. It is in His presence that we find out who we really are, and who God really is. What a privilege to live in the presence of the Almighty God!
Looking ahead to future, we are very excited about the April Call2All DTS. We already met as a school and have been hearing so many good things from the Lord, who is giving us our identity as a school. So far we have 11 staff, and they should all get here early February.
We are in the process of praying for and recruiting students. We are expecting the Lord to send a huge workforce into the harvest fields, and we are hoping for 60+ students in our school. Will you be part of the faithful intercessors who join us in praying for these students?
Also, here is a little more information about the school and how you can join us as we follow the Lord.
Video:
U of N Kona
Call2All DTS
YWAM home page
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Its actually happening!
This is one of those exciting moments where I can just see God's hand at work in amazing ways! I'm finally going to Kona! After three and half months, I am soon going back to the YWAM base to start the work the Lord has prepared for me! I now have enough support where I can confidently go back, knowing that I am in God's will and He is providing for me! Its so exciting that after talking about it for so long, its actually happening! Praise God!
And I have really cool news about my family as well. They are just so fired up for God! It has been such a blessing to see in each one of my family members. My parents are coming back from Haiti with a week long missions team that they are leading! They continue to amaze me everyday by their willingness to go wherever and do whatever the Lord has them do. I am truly blessed to have such amazing parents. Papa mweh aye Mama mweh, M' reme ou. (My father and my mother, I love you, in creole).
My brother is doing amazing at Oregon State University, where He is studying Graphic Design. He is working hard, getting good grades, working a job on campus, and He has just started leading a high school group at his local church. It really is incredible to see God just dramatically turn his life around! Please continue to keep my family in your prayers, because we know that Satan doesn't like it when people follow Jesus.
If you could partner with me in prayer for the following things:
Also, I hope you enjoy this awesome video about the Call2All Discipleship Training School.
And I have really cool news about my family as well. They are just so fired up for God! It has been such a blessing to see in each one of my family members. My parents are coming back from Haiti with a week long missions team that they are leading! They continue to amaze me everyday by their willingness to go wherever and do whatever the Lord has them do. I am truly blessed to have such amazing parents. Papa mweh aye Mama mweh, M' reme ou. (My father and my mother, I love you, in creole).
My brother is doing amazing at Oregon State University, where He is studying Graphic Design. He is working hard, getting good grades, working a job on campus, and He has just started leading a high school group at his local church. It really is incredible to see God just dramatically turn his life around! Please continue to keep my family in your prayers, because we know that Satan doesn't like it when people follow Jesus.
If you could partner with me in prayer for the following things:
- For spiritual authority in our staff team to lead a powerful school
- For all of our financial and housing needs met
- For God to send the right staff and students to our school
- For vision and passion to really see this school be the best it can be
- For us to be focused on intimacy with Jesus, that ministry would be an overflow
- For my family to have unity, God's direction and deeper intimacy with Christ
Also, I hope you enjoy this awesome video about the Call2All Discipleship Training School.
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas! I know its a little late, but at the same time I'm getting an early start on this year! I hope everyone has had a great holiday season, full of family, friends and lots of JESUS!
Its been a while since my last post, so this one is a recap of everything that has happened over the holiday season.
The first big event was having Tom & Alex Purvis leave, a young couple that are on staff with Campus Crusade for Christ. My parents were very generous in letting them stay with us. We really miss them not being here, but we're very excited that they get to do the work of the Lord! They are going to be working in Utah, which surprisingly is an unreached people group, with about 1% of the population Christians. Feel free to check out their website: tomandalexpurvis.com. I highly recommend them as people to support. From the first day they stayed with us through the very end they were incredibly encouraging, friendly, hard working and have amazing hearts to pursue God.
Next, we had all the family home! And this was the first Christmas where everyone was believing in Jesus! We had a really cool time reading the story of Jesus' birth and praying and worshiping together.
The day after Christmas, I flew to Kansas City, MO for a young adult conference called "onething". It was put together by the International House of Prayer in Kansas City (IHOP-KC). There were amazing times of worship and teaching, and everyone walked away more encouraged to live what society says is radical, but the bible says is normal. I want to highly encourage anyone that is interested to check out the free archives of teaching and worship, its powerful. Click this sentence to watch the onething archives.
So now I'm in Sisters, Oregon getting the final details taken care of before I head to Kona January 17th.
Merry Christmas! Here is a video showing the highlights of this past holiday season:
Its been a while since my last post, so this one is a recap of everything that has happened over the holiday season.
The first big event was having Tom & Alex Purvis leave, a young couple that are on staff with Campus Crusade for Christ. My parents were very generous in letting them stay with us. We really miss them not being here, but we're very excited that they get to do the work of the Lord! They are going to be working in Utah, which surprisingly is an unreached people group, with about 1% of the population Christians. Feel free to check out their website: tomandalexpurvis.com. I highly recommend them as people to support. From the first day they stayed with us through the very end they were incredibly encouraging, friendly, hard working and have amazing hearts to pursue God.
Next, we had all the family home! And this was the first Christmas where everyone was believing in Jesus! We had a really cool time reading the story of Jesus' birth and praying and worshiping together.
The day after Christmas, I flew to Kansas City, MO for a young adult conference called "onething". It was put together by the International House of Prayer in Kansas City (IHOP-KC). There were amazing times of worship and teaching, and everyone walked away more encouraged to live what society says is radical, but the bible says is normal. I want to highly encourage anyone that is interested to check out the free archives of teaching and worship, its powerful. Click this sentence to watch the onething archives.
So now I'm in Sisters, Oregon getting the final details taken care of before I head to Kona January 17th.
Merry Christmas! Here is a video showing the highlights of this past holiday season:
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Youth With A Passion
A good friend directed me to a great article about Youth With A Mission (YWAM) written by Christianity Today. The article is seven pages and has a great overall summary about the history, struggles, triumphs and everything in between. I hope you enjoy it, and please click on these words to get to the article.
Also, YWAM is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, and just concluded the final celebration in Kona, Hawaii, which is the home of the co-founders Loren and Darlene Cunningham. Its a very exciting time to be In YWAM, as they are really looking forward to the future full of vision and faith.
Also, YWAM is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, and just concluded the final celebration in Kona, Hawaii, which is the home of the co-founders Loren and Darlene Cunningham. Its a very exciting time to be In YWAM, as they are really looking forward to the future full of vision and faith.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
My parents and Haiti
Hey everyone! There has been so much happening lately I'm really glad that I have more to write about! Praise God for being exciting and full of adventures!
So for those of you who don't know my parents, David and Cindy Uttley, my mom is from California and my dad grew up in Haiti through high school, and then moved to New York. But the cool thing, and its totally a work of God, is that they both went back to Haiti and met each other at a print shop my dad was working at. So then, of course, because I'm their child and I'm alive, they got married!
This is another reason that Haiti is very dear to my heart, I have heard about it all my life, and they actually took me there when I was in 6th grade.
But back to my parents. As a result of all their life experiences such as their time in Haiti, my mom's nursing skills, my dad's fluency in Haitian Creole and their relationship with Jesus Christ, they have been used powerfully by God over the last 11 months.
The latest devastation that has hit Haiti is the latest Cholera outbreak. It is a deadly waterborne disease that can easily be prevented through proper hygiene. It grieves many of us to hear about the casualties that have numbered over 1,000 now. And at the same time, we know that there may be pain in the night but joy comes in the morning. And honestly the only reason I have hope for Haiti is because a little about who God is. God is faithful, he is patient, he is just and also merciful, he is good and loving, and is also full of wrath towards sin. I know that anything that happens there God is working for their ultimate good.
Currently my mom is in Cite Soleil, a slum in Port-au-Prince training the local Haitian nurse to prevent and treat Cholera. She is having the time of her life and feels like she is exactly where she needs to be. It is also quite a struggle, emotionally, physically, spiritually. And its in those times that we truly come close to Jesus, even sharing in the fellowship of His sufferings.
My dad is also leaving tomorrow, Friday Dec. 3rd to join my mom for a few days, as well as documenting Samaritan's Purse work in distributing shoe boxes full of toys for Christmas. It is such a great opportunity to share the love and message of Jesus Christ!
So if I could humbly ask you to walk with me in prayer, please continue to pray in the following ways:
Spiritual safety for my parents- I know that being in God's will is the safest place for them to be, please pray that they would continue to feel and hear His leading.
Faith for the Haitians- Pray that the locals would believe that they are capable of being used by God to bring transformation to their land. Also pray that they would come to a right knowledge of God.
If you would like to follow my mom's blog, clicking this sentence will take you right to it!
So for those of you who don't know my parents, David and Cindy Uttley, my mom is from California and my dad grew up in Haiti through high school, and then moved to New York. But the cool thing, and its totally a work of God, is that they both went back to Haiti and met each other at a print shop my dad was working at. So then, of course, because I'm their child and I'm alive, they got married!
This is another reason that Haiti is very dear to my heart, I have heard about it all my life, and they actually took me there when I was in 6th grade.
But back to my parents. As a result of all their life experiences such as their time in Haiti, my mom's nursing skills, my dad's fluency in Haitian Creole and their relationship with Jesus Christ, they have been used powerfully by God over the last 11 months.
The latest devastation that has hit Haiti is the latest Cholera outbreak. It is a deadly waterborne disease that can easily be prevented through proper hygiene. It grieves many of us to hear about the casualties that have numbered over 1,000 now. And at the same time, we know that there may be pain in the night but joy comes in the morning. And honestly the only reason I have hope for Haiti is because a little about who God is. God is faithful, he is patient, he is just and also merciful, he is good and loving, and is also full of wrath towards sin. I know that anything that happens there God is working for their ultimate good.
Currently my mom is in Cite Soleil, a slum in Port-au-Prince training the local Haitian nurse to prevent and treat Cholera. She is having the time of her life and feels like she is exactly where she needs to be. It is also quite a struggle, emotionally, physically, spiritually. And its in those times that we truly come close to Jesus, even sharing in the fellowship of His sufferings.
My dad is also leaving tomorrow, Friday Dec. 3rd to join my mom for a few days, as well as documenting Samaritan's Purse work in distributing shoe boxes full of toys for Christmas. It is such a great opportunity to share the love and message of Jesus Christ!
So if I could humbly ask you to walk with me in prayer, please continue to pray in the following ways:
Spiritual safety for my parents- I know that being in God's will is the safest place for them to be, please pray that they would continue to feel and hear His leading.
Faith for the Haitians- Pray that the locals would believe that they are capable of being used by God to bring transformation to their land. Also pray that they would come to a right knowledge of God.
If you would like to follow my mom's blog, clicking this sentence will take you right to it!
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