Team Ox Strong,
Below I provided each of you with a link to Dave and Ann's short message concerning the Art of Marriage. Our marriage conference with them is still on for November so I just wanted to keep us all excited for this event. This video gives a little insight as to who and what they're about. If God can take their mess and turn it into a god-honoring message for His glory, then just imagine what He can do in your marriage as well. May each of us get our vertical right, and resubmit our marriage to Christ!!!
Practicing His Presence,
Nate
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ZBldox2OVU&feature=youtu.be

Matt Redman writes of having 10,000 reasons to sing and worship. We truly do have so much to sing praises to the Lord about even within trials. During our family devos through the Book of James, I was also able to share the previous devotional entitled, "Is there still a reason to sing?" with my daughters last week. Both studies went together very nicely. At the conclusion my daughter Aubree shared a song with us that was totally fitting...I couldn't help but want to share it with each of you as well. Enjoy!
Nate

Desert Song Video by Hillsong United: Link

Desert Song Lyrics by Hillsong United
[Verse 1]
This is my prayer in the desert
When all that's within me feels dry
This is my prayer in my hunger and need
My God is the God who provides
[Verse 2]
And this is my prayer in the fire
In weakness or trial or pain
There is a faith proved
Of more worth than gold
So refine me, Lord, through the flame
[Chorus]
And I will bring praise
I will bring praise
No weapon formed against me shall remain
I will rejoice
I will declare
God is my victory and He is here
[Verse 3]
And this is my prayer in the battle
When triumph is still on its way
I am a conqueror and co-heir with Christ
So firm on His promise I'll stand
[Chorus]
And I will bring praise
I will bring praise
No weapon formed against me shall remain
I will rejoice
I will declare
God is my victory and He is here
[Bridge]
All of my life
In every season
You are still God
I have a reason to sing
I have a reason to worship
(4x)
[Chorus]
(2x)
[Verse 4]
This is my prayer in the harvest
When favor and providence flow
I know I'm filled to be emptied again
The seed I've received I will sow Link

Team Ox Strong,
I've learned that anything with stability will last a long time and others will be drawn to it. Once stability is removed from the equation, then it doesn't take long for everything to fall apart and for people to lose interest. Consider youth ministries. Youth ministers who remain in one church for a long time are typically the Churches with thriving youth ministries. We can learn a lot from young people...they too long for stability. Where is it that we can find sustainable stability in a time of much instability? Some of us have gotten sucked into losing hope. Some of us who once were on fire for the Lord, have allowed these unstable times to rob us of our joy (John 16:22), and or give us no more reasons to worship and sing.

Isaiah 33:6 (ESV) reminds us that the Lord, "...will be the stability of your times, abundance of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is Zion's treasure.

Praise God for being our never-ending sustainable stability. Below, we read in the Nehemiah passage that the Levites and the singers neglected and abandoned the work that the Lord designated for them. They became unstable leaders. They lost hope. They got distracted by the circumstances surrounding them. They lost their reason to sing, and others followed suit because of their leader’s example of instability. What these Levites and singers needed was a restored heart’s desire to once again get back to worshiping the Lord as an example for those around them to observe and follow suit.
Each of you have been called to be stable leaders in your homes, churches and communities. Have you lost hope during these unstable times? Is it evident to others around you that you've allowed your joy to be taken from you? Have you lost a reason to sing and worship? Take some time today to restore your heart and relationship with the Lord. Begin once again to see Him as your never-ending sustainable stability. Rejoice over the restoration taken place, and rejoice in observing others following your example. May each of us be faithful in our service to Him each and every day. Let me encourage you to at least listen to the song by All Sons & Daughters below (the others are applicable as well) to conclude your quite time alone with God today.
Practicing His Presence,
Nate

Nehemiah 13:10-14 (NLT)10 I also discovered that the Levites had not been given their prescribed portions of food, so they and the singers who were to conduct the worship services had all returned to work their fields. 11 I immediately confronted the leaders and demanded, “Why has the Temple of God been neglected?” Then I called all the Levites back again and restored them to their proper duties. 12 And once more all the people of Judah began bringing their tithes of grain, new wine, and olive oil to the Temple storerooms. 13 I assigned supervisors for the storerooms: Shelemiah the priest, Zadok the scribe, and Pedaiah, one of the Levites. And I appointed Hanan son of Zaccur and grandson of Mattaniah as their assistant. These men had an excellent reputation, and it was their job to make honest distributions to their fellow Levites. 14 Remember this good deed, O my God, and do not forget all that I have faithfully done for the Temple of my God and its services.

Psalm 40:3 (NIV) He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the LORD and put their trust in him.

Songs:
Reason to Sing by All Sons & Daughters (pick up on the lyrics, "I need a reason...that is a reason to sing"!!!)
The Reason by Travis Cottrell
Reason by Unspoken
10,000 Reasons by Matt Redman

Team Ox Strong,
I trust that each of you had an amazing Easter with your families.
My wife is a part of the Tim Tebow Foundation and Tim encouraged us to watch the message from Passion City Church featuring Louie Giglio, Sadie Rob Huff, Tim Tebow, David Crowder and others. Feel free to visit and watch as well on-line at this site https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MfI45wuw1Vg
Each of the individuals mentioned above had a part in the message and at the conclusion of the service I went around asking my wife and daughters what their takeaways were. It was a good time to hear their hearts and to know they were so tuned into what God was sharing with them through the ministering of His word.
A few of my takeaways were
1. With everything in our world being cancelled...I can be so thankful for God cancelling my debt in full as He took my place on the cross.
2. The Coronavirus is receiving so much fear, awe, reverence and respect world-wide. If anyone were to come up with a vaccine for it, then it wouldn't take long for those infected to show up at the hospitals doorstep asking to be injected with the vaccine. Our old creation needs a vaccine in order to become new, and there is a vaccine available -- it is Christ Himself. He is The One Who paid our debt in full. He is The Vaccine. So do we have an awe, respect, reverence and fear of Him even more so than we do a virus? Do we run to Him knowing that He alone can heal us? He cancelled death...He is risen. We who follow Him have also conquered death and have that hope of one day being face to face with Him in glory for all eternity. Praise the Lord!!!
I know many of you were able to watch services from pastors here in Grinnell, or services from other speakers from around the world as well. Feel free to share your personal takeaways with me...would love to hear them. Iron sharpening Iron.
Practicing His Presence,
Nate

Team Ox Strong,
Pastor Anthony Nieuwsema did an amazing job coordinating with Gary and putting together this video and YouTube link. Much thanks and appreciation to both of them for providing us with this content. Below is the link and the notes from Gary’s challenge.
Our guest speaker this month is Gary Gravert https://my.fca.org/donation?name=garygravert.
You can find his 20 minute video challenge to us on our Home Page link to our “OX Strong on YouTube” site https://www.oxstrongmen.org/.
Gary took the time to break down the 3 elements, or types of ministries that can be found in Luke chapter 10.
The 3 Elements / Types of Ministries.

1. They were sent out in pairs…missions work. The need for someone to come alongside you for encouragement and sharpening.
   1. Let others know you’re praying for them. Better yet, ask if they mind if you pray with and for them right in that moment. This might take some getting out of your comfort zone, but practice makes for improvement.  
      Ephesians 1:16;  Philippians 1:3;  2 Thessalonians 1:11.
   2. The need for Jesus in the hallways…FCA provides opportunities that schools legally cannot.
   3. Intentionally get involved with disciples making disciples.
2. The Good Samaritan. Look for ways to minister and be prepared for when those moments arise 1 Peter 3:15.
   1. Unintentionally tending to those along His path.
      1. Pray that God will show you who you can reach out to today.
      2. Sometimes He’ll send them your way as well. Be willing to be interruptible, intentional, and also
   2. Be prepared.
      1. First impressions are very important.
      2. Plan and practice your “45 second elevator talk.” Can you fit the gospel into that timeframe? Do you have a plan of what you’d say? Here’s Gary’s 45 second gospel message.
         1. There is a God. Just look around at the creation. The complexity of our bodies DNA, etc. Sin broke that relationship with the Creator. Man can’t cure his own brokenness. God sent His Son to show us how to live and to prove to us that He wants that relationship cured, and wants us to know that He loves us. Christ died for His creation, was buried and then conquered death and that we too can conquer death and live an eternal life with Him.
         2. Stick to the truth.
            1. Jesus loves us.
            2. He longs for us to change our lives so that we can come closer and closer to Him. When we do that it just makes life better.
      3. God’s given each of us a platform. Your audience just wants a nice logical reason as to why you believe what you believe…see 1 Peter 3:15 above, along with Matthew 28:18-20 and Philippians 1:15-18.
3. Martha and Mary. Sit at His feet.
   1. Martha was busy working and complaining.
   2. Mary was doing what was most important…taking the time to just sit at Jesus’ feet and soak in everything about Him and His words.
      1. Are you spending time reflecting on who God is and what He’s done for you?
      2. What do you fill your time with? Does God have a timeslot on your crazy busy calendar? Do you spend time in His word? Reading spiritual articles? What steps do you have in place that are drawing you closer to the Lord? This quality time with Him will prepare you for those 45 second elevator talks.
         1. Teachers are learners as well.
            1. Your time learning and preparing will grow you spiritually whether or not someone comes to know Christ through your ministry, witness and testimony.
            2. Learn about God and yourself during your time alone with Him. Ask for a correct perspective of Him as you read about Him.
            3. Developing an intimate relationship with Christ in the reading of His word. Philippians 3:10 (ESV) “that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,”
   3. Consider what happened to their brother Lazarus.
      1. He died, but God raised him from the dead John 11:38-44.
      2. Compare that historical event with our present time in self-isolation/quarantine.
         1. How will you come out of it? Changed? Different? What’ll you find most important and desire to leave as a legacy? How will you take what you’ve been changed by and desire to share that with the life of another so they too can experience what you’ve experienced in Christ.

Gary’s closing prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, I just want to thank You for Ox Strong. I want to thank You for strong men. Men who want to lead their families, and lead their businesses, and lead their lives for You. Lord, I pray that they have a strong effect on their children. I pray that they have a strong effect on their communities, and especially on their athletes…that sports stops being the idol that it has been for some, but starts being a vehicle for us to spread the word of the Good News – The Gospel…where Jesus Christ has come to this earth to love us, to die for us, and to set us free. Lord, I pray sincerely that all the men that are listening to this can feel your presence in their lives. And that that presence grows. I pray this in Jesus Name, Amen.
Advertisements/Resources:

• FCA’s virtual banquet…more information to come.
• Every Wednesday at 2 PM professional athletes are sharing their faith / some words of encouragement.
  • The Four is a recent example by Ben Watson…it really is the Gospel Message / his 45 second elevator talk with each of us https://www.facebook.com/fcafans/posts/10157021438838655.

Practicing His Presence,
Nate