If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.
Galatians 5:25
Hi there! I’m Nate, and this space is essentially my open catalog for scripture studies and day-to-day snippets from my life as I learn to live by the Spirit of God. If you find anything here to be at all edifying, praise God! I try to post 2-3 times per month and update the Highlights section often, so check back regularly to stay up-to-date. I hope you enjoy our time together.
What And Who Is This For?
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Howdy! Welcome to my blog. As someone who grew up in a Christian and then sort of Hebrew Roots and then sort of Messianic Jewish household, I had a lot of confusion and frustration towards faith when I was younger. As a teenager and younger adult, I was very rebellious and hypocritical in my professed faith. I had a very incomplete understanding of and appreciation for the Gospel and the God who gave it to us. The things I share on this blog are my attempt to clear up those areas of confusion, make up for lost time, and help others who may be in a similar place with some of the same issues.
Some things you can expect to see here will be my own studies on certain topics, music that I find to be conducive to worship, some of the resources that I like use for research, and whatever else I happen to come across as I move forward and grow in faith.
I’m NOT here to preach at you or sell you anything. I’m just a guy trying to live my life in a way that is pleasing to God, and I want to help you learn to do it with me.
If you have any topic or site suggestions, please feel free to send me a message through the contact page.
Highlights
These sections are for videos (songs, studies, episodes, etc.) that I find edifying. Think of it as a revolving door of highlighted content and media that I hope will bless you.
Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs
Good evening! (Or morning! If it is afternoon for you, then you’re out of luck. :) )I only have one song to share with you this week: Isaiah 38/40- The Lord is Ready to Heal Me. I have had it in the back of my mind for at least a week now, and I find the simple cry in the first verse, “I am in trouble, Lord. Help me!” to be incredibly powerful in its simplicity. It reminds me that God listens to simple prayers and pleas for help and mercy, like the father of the demon-afflicted boy in Mark 9:14-27. The father’s plea was simple, “I do believe; help my unbelief.” (9:24) And, like God heard Hezekiah’s desperate prayer in Isaiah, Jesus healed that boy and saved him from an affliction that had persistently threatened to take his life for years. Years. Now, I don’t read these passages and take them to mean that the Lord will always heal physical afflictions in this life, but I certainly feel comfortable and confident looking at them–and other passages–and asserting that even weak or uncertain faith is enough for God to work with. Even enough to say “I do believe; help my unbelief.” I’ve been there before, and I’m sure you have as well. Mercifully, I’m not in such a season right now–though I have certainly had some struggles of late–but you never know when one is upon you. It is deeply encouraging to me to be reminded that it is not strength that God requires of us in order to call out to Him, but faith, like Hebrews 11:6 says: “6 And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.” And how does He reward those who trust in Him? It is with strength, as Isaiah 40:31 says: “31 Those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not [be] faint.”
If you are struggling this week with sin, or if you are in a difficult season of life, please be encouraged in knowing that even the small prayers are heard by God. He is listening. He is pleased when He sees your faith, and He will sustain and strengthen you. He is faithful.
Words of Life
This section is for sermons/drashes, podcast episodes, teachings, testimonies, and other edifying words that I have come across and wanted to share with you all. I will do my best to make sure that what I share is always doctrinally sound, but I of course encourage you to pick up your Bible and inspect everything for yourself.
Good day to you! This week, I have two sermons/podcasts to share with you: “Are you a Man or a Boy?” by Paul Washer and “Teach your kids to work (before it’s too late)” by Johnny Ardavanis and Joel and Mary Beeke.
In my life, I have often (almost always) found it difficult to practice diligence in everything that I do. I'm a passionate person by nature, but I am inconsistent. This is not a hallmark of a Godly man, or a Godly person. Lately, I've been feeling really challenged by the realization that my inconsistent tendencies have been affecting myself and my wife more and more; we've been more stressed, less joyful, spent less time in scripture and prayer, and I personally have fallen behind on many of my own daily responsibilities because, frankly, I'm tired and lazy. This is not right, and I want to share this struggle here both to create some public accountability for myself towards the friends and family who read this blog, and to help encourage you who are reading this: are you a diligent person? Do you read your Bible? Do you teach it to your family? Do you honor your commitments faithfully and consistently? None of us are perfect, but a wise man told me recently that the goal is perfection so that, if we miss, we still hit excellence. I struggle deeply with that, and I bet a lot of you do, too. Please, join me this month in taking a little extra time each day to prioritize the Lord and to consider how you are spending your precious time, time that He has entrusted to you and to me. Are you being a faithful servant?