In the Nelson household, today is a day for reflection, prayer and finally THE BIG DECISION.  I can't say when or what it will be exactly, but we will share our seminary choice with you in due course.  In the meantime, I want to reflect on all the awesome things God has done 'til now.  If you read Psalms (or just about anywhere in the Bible), quite often the writer takes the time to recount the mighty works of God in ages past.  It was a way to remind themselves of God's goodness and faithfulness to his children for the purpose of giving thanks and bolstering faith for the days ahead.  Likewise, I've taken to making this a regular practice in my life.  Remembering the Lord's faithfulness is especially encouraging as we step up to the edge of this seminary faith leap.  Here goes Throwback Thursday.

God brought me to Colorado after graduating from Grove City College in 2005.  That's a pretty cool story by itself where God worked in awesome ways.  Another time perhaps.

Then the Lord directed Evan into full time ministry at Village Seven Pres in their youth department at a time when he had little to no qualifications for the job.  It was a miracle!  This was a dream come true for Evan, a confirmation on God's calling on his life to share the Gospel.  What a gift this community is to our hearts!

The Lord gives and the Lord takes away.  
Precious Cora Lane is in our hearts always.  The loss of our baby girl has marked us forever.  We thank God for her short life and for teaching us so much through her death.

There is so much more to come, I know.  The next five months hold great change for us.  We are at a fork in the road.  Lord, please go before us and guide us as  you always have done. To God be the glory, come what may! Here's to future Throwback Thursdays and all they will tell us.  How has God been faithful in your life?

I wanted to take a brief moment to update you on where Joy and I stand in regards to which seminary I will be attending this fall. When I began this journey last year I never imagined that making a final decision would be this difficult. I am struggling with the thought that I may make the wrong choice. The wrong choice for our family, the wrong choice for my education, the wrong choice for ministry…the list goes on. I sometimes (and to be honest I have) want to cry to the heavens “Lord, please, show me what to do! Now!” However, there is freedom found in the truth that God will give us clarity, that God will provide a way, that God is in control and He loves to take care of His children.

Allow me to catch you up with were we stand now.  Denver seminary has offered me the Kingdom Scholarship (half-off tuition) and they are looking for an answer by Friday, March 21st.  This means I have one week to decide my fate. I recently applied to Redeemer seminary in the Dallas area and am waiting to hear back from them (they also offer a half-off scholarship).  Southern out in Louisville has crept back onto the list as a serious contender. Those are the schools. There are pros and cons for each, and Joy and I are neck deep in trying to figure out where God would have us go. The financial aspects of each are challenging, but I do know that God will provide. Praise God for the encouragement found in His Word. “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19). I simply long to be “in Christ Jesus.”

Thank you for your prayers and support. Please continue to pray for us over the next week as we make our final decision.  As C.S Lewis stated in his novel The Silver Chair “Crying is all right in its way while it lasts. But you have to stop sooner or later, and then you still have to decide what to do” (Lewis, 1953).

For the glory of God,

Evan