Category: <span>thoughts by Alec Niemi</span>

by Alec Niemi
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Christian DevotionalRelaxing on a log a ways up from the edge of the Fraser River, enjoying the sun and the view of the water I noticed a couple of children walking along the edge of the water. The boy was perhaps four or five years old and the girl, maybe seven or eight. As they walked she would give him a little shove and he would go into the water. Each shove seemed a bit harder and each time the boy would go in a bit further. The slope into the water was fairly steep and the current, swift. I could see that it wouldn’t take much of a push and the boy would be in trouble.

Just as the thought struck me – it happened – the push, the cry of the boy as he slid into deeper water and the scream of the girl, realizing the boy was in over his head.

To this day I can’t explain it. Whether it was an adrenalin rush or supernatural, I know I moved faster than humanly possible. I crossed the beach to the river and grabbed the boy just as he was going under.Â

Hearing the screams, the parents looked up from where they were sitting and realized what was happening. They were too far away to do anything. By the time they got there I had already pulled the boy out. The mother quickly ran up and took the crying boy from me. The girl was crying, “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, we were only playing.”

As she cuddled her little boy the mother looked at me and said, “Thank you, you are an angel, you rescued my son.”

I’m not sure of the ‘angel’ part but I do believe it was a divine appointment.

My prayer for you this week.

Lord I thank you that we can know without a doubt that you send angels to rescued us. Amen.” Acts 12:11

Have a great week.

You can comment on this devotional online at:
https://thoughts-about-god.com/blog/2009/05/04/an_divine/

thoughts by Alec Niemi Thoughts by All Thoughts by Men

by Alec Niemi
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Old BarnThe farmer was up doing repairs to the roof of his barn when he started sliding off. He prayed, “Lord help me, if you save me I promise to change my ways.” Just then his pants snagged a nail and stopped his slide. He quickly said, “It’s OK, a nail caught me.”

Question: Do we make deals with God and then when He answers do we forget to give Him what we promised? Or how about with other people? Do we do the same thing?

My prayer for you this week

“Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but keep the oaths you have made to the Lord.’ But I tell you, Do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one. Amen.” Matthew 5:33-37

You can comment on this devotional online at:
https://thoughts-about-god.com/blog/2009/03/02/an_save-me/

thoughts by Alec Niemi Thoughts by All Thoughts by Men

by Alec Niemi
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My father was raised in a “Churched” family and my mother was not. She knew nothing about spiritual things until late in life. It wasn’t until after Dad had passed away that we found out about his spiritual life. He had been very involved in the church. Because he could read and write Finn as well as English he did a lot of translating for the church and even wrote articles for their church magazine. Yet the only spiritual leadership my father gave was in allowing us the freedom to go to Church or Sunday School but there was never any mention of God in our house.

Uncle Ike, Dad’s brother, showed us several of the articles that Dad had written and went on to say that Dad had been very much involved until he went into the army. For whatever reason this changed him and he turned his back on the Church.

Mom never gave any instruction because she had none to give. But I remember Aunt Jessie, Dad’s sister, writing letters every once in awhile that would include some encouraging words from the Bible. Mom would tell Dad, “It’s from your religious sister!!” He would just say, “Uh.” But Mom would read them and she would let us read them too if we wanted to. I would read them and always found them to be comforting. Although I wouldn’t tell anyone else that. They might call me a ‘religious nut’ too!

And I wonder how many people are the same way. If there was no spiritual instruction in the home where would the spiritual teaching come from? How do we react to ‘religious nuts’. Are we being ‘nutty‘ enough to give comfort to those around us? As a pastor I am always meeting people needing comfort. As a Christian, I know that the only real comfort comes through knowing Jesus. He is the one that calms the raging storms that come in our lives. It is through our faith in Him that we find true comfort.

My Prayer for you this week:

Lord I pray that you would rebuke the wind and the raging waters; that the storms will subside, and all will be calm. Give us faith. Amen
Luke 8:24 & 25

Have a great week!

You can comment on this devotional online at:
https://thoughts-about-god.com/blog/2009/01/12/an_giving-comfort/

thoughts by Alec Niemi Thoughts by All Thoughts by Men

By Alec Niemi
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I took Christy our daughter fishing when she was about three. We were jigging for cod and got our hook caught on the bottom. Yarding on the line I felt it let loose from the bottom but it had snagged something that came up with the hook. It was round, long and soft sea cucumber. When I pulled it into the boat Christy had this radiant glow of excitement on her face. I told her we had caught and that they grew on the ocean floor. When we got home she ran into the house hollering, “Mom! Mom!” and then she stopped and turned to me and with an inquisitive voice asked…”Dad, what kind of a pickle was it we caught?”

Luke chapter five tells about how some fishermen were out fishing but were not catching anything. When Jesus told them to cast their nets out the other side of the boat they were skeptical but did it and then were surprised at the fish they caught. These fishermen then became disciples of Jesus and He told them they would become Fishers of men.

There is no greater joy than to see the radiant glow of excitement on a person’s face when they are ‘caught‘ by the reality of the Gospel and submit to the call of Jesus.

Anticipating a great year for ‘Fishers of Men,’ I trust that you have all your fishing gear in order so that 2009 will be a great year for fishing.
My prayer for you this week (and year).

Lord I pray that when You speak, we will listen, leaving whatever we have to, in order to set our nets where you tell us to set them. And then Lord, that You would fill these nets so full that we will have to call our partners to help us bring in the catch. Amen.” Luke 5:4-10

Have a great week and a great year.

You can comment on this devotional online at:
https://thoughts-about-god.com/blog/2009/01/03/an_fishers-of-men/

thoughts by Alec Niemi Thoughts by All Thoughts by Men

By Alec Niemi
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On Sunday we attended a little country Church in the valley. It was such a delight to meet with the local (small but enthusiastic) congregation. There is just something about country folk… friendly greetings… “Hi, I’m Judy”… “Hi, I’m Tom”. . . different people came and introduced themselves before and after the service… the open time for prayers during the service… the enthusiastic singing (including several of the old gospel favorites)… a solid expository message… a lunch for all in the basement after service where the encouragement continued… the Korean lady who promised a Korean BBQ if we let her know in advance when we were coming again. And this was all done in the desire to serve Jesus.

We were blessed!

My prayer for you this week

I pray that you are holding unswervingly to the hope you profess, for he who promised is faithful. And that you are considering how to spur others on toward love and good deeds as you have done for me. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another and all the more as you see the Day approaching. AmenHebrews 10:23-25

You can comment on this devotional online at:
https://thoughts-about-god.com/blog/2008/09/30/an_friendly-church-folks/


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thoughts by Alec Niemi Thoughts by All Thoughts by Men

Years ago I fell and broke my ankles. For days after it happened I had no feeling in the bottom of my left foot and sharp stabbing pain in my toes when muscles cramped up. The pain would only be released by someone taking my toes and bending them up and down. I had casts on both legs and couldn’t reach down far enough to bend the toes myself so I was always grabbing someone to bend them and release the pain. One day while I had a visit from a friend my foot started cramping again so I had him bend my toes because the pain was driving me crazy.  Later, before he left, while he was praying for me my foot started cramping up again. I didn’t want to interrupt the prayer so I just gritted my teeth and waited.

And then I felt a hand on my foot. A warm and soothing sensation went through my whole foot. I thought that my friend had noticed my anguish and had gone down to the foot of the bed to bend my toes. It felt good. I could feel the warmth of the hand and the stabbing pain went away. After his ‘amen‘ I opened my eyes and was about to thank him for bending my toes when I noticed that he was still up by the head of the bed. Looking down to see who was holding my toes I was astonished to see that there was no one there. The warmth remained and the cramping never happened again. I am grateful that he was there to pray.

Later that day when the doctor drew his pen up the bottom of my foot I jumped because it tickled. I was improving…  I now had feeling in the bottom of my foot.

My prayer for you this week

“I pray that you are being blessed because you are following the example set for you by your ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and washing the feet of others. Amen.” John 13:13-17

Have a great week!

By Alec Niemi

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thoughts by Alec Niemi Thoughts by All Thoughts by Men

By Alec Niemi
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We have had the joy of having a friend from Kenya visit us. He is an executive with a full time career. He is also working with executives trying to reach them for Christ. Besides his full time career and his ministry to executives he is also pastoring a church he started this last year in the slums. As he shared his vision for reaching people with the gospel we were so impressed with how humble a man he has become, focusing on people not position. We were blessed.

My prayer for you this week:

I pray that your heart is not proud, and your eyes are not haughty; that you do not concern yourself with great matters or things too wonderful for you. But rather that you have stilled and quieted your soul; like a weaned child with its mother, like a weaned child is your soul within you and you are putting your hope in the LORD both now and forevermore. Amen.” Psalm 131

You can comment on this devotional online at:
https://thoughts-about-god.com/blog/2008/06/18/an_being-humble/

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Alec Niemi, an entrepreneur, lifestyle evangelist and pastor is passionate about helping people find Christ.  He lives in the Fraser Valley, British Columbia, Canada.

thoughts by Alec Niemi Thoughts by All Thoughts by Men

By Alec Niemi
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It was old and rusty and the interior was wrecked but I saw the potential. I wanted to use it as a project for what I called ‘putts and pray’, where I could find time to be by myself, do something with my hands and have time to talk with the Lord.

I sanded and painted and tinkered and upholstered and it started to come together. But I was struggling with trying to find parts. I went on the Internet and found that there were groups of people out there with the same type of car. Car clubs, chat rooms full of enthusiasts, people who I spent hours with talking about my car. And I found myself more busy talking with these like minded people than I did with my ‘putts and prayer’. I had lost my focus. I had really wanted to spend more time praying. But by talking with these other enthusiasts I became more enthralled with the car.

And finally it was finished!! I was now the proud owner of a shiny, black, fully restored Jaguar Vandenplaus. A classic. What a beauty. Me, Alec, full of pride and self confidence. I had done it! Wow!

But somehow some of the joy was gone. I had switched my priorities. There was nothing wrong with owning the Jaguar but I had let it own me.

I drove it a couple of times and then sold it.

My prayer for you this week:

I pray that you are watching out for those people and/or things that can cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Amen.”
Romans 16:17

You can comment on this devotional online at:
https://thoughts-about-god.com/blog/2008/06/13/an_wavering/

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Alec Niemi, an entrepreneur, lifestyle evangelist and pastor is passionate about helping people find Christ.  He lives in the Fraser Valley, British Columbia, Canada.

thoughts by Alec Niemi Thoughts by All Thoughts by Men

By Alec Niemi
______________________________________

Years ago there was a very rough character living in our community. When he drank he would get into fights. Everyone avoided him because he even looked mean. Others challenged me by saying that he was the worst in the community and if anyone needed God it was him. I spent a lot of Saturday mornings going over to his house, making coffee and getting him out of bed. He would come downstairs cursing me. When he lit a cigarette he would intentionally blow smoke in my face.

He even asked me one time why I kept coming around when he intentionally did things to try and irritate me. I said, “I don’t have to like you, I just have to love you.”

In time we became friends and one day he did turn his life over to the Lord. And on that day he said to me, “Alec, I have been watching you for over a year now and you live up to your words, you loved me even though you didn’t like me.”

I’m sure we all have these “rough” characters in our lives. We don’t have to like them; we just have to love them.

My prayer for you this week:

I pray Lord that you would give us above all, love for each other, because love covers over a multitude of sins. That you would help us offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Help us use whatever gift you have given us to serve others, faithfully administering your grace in its various forms. And if we speak, help us to do it as one speaking your very words. When we serve, provide us with your strength, so that in all things you may be praised through Jesus Christ. To you be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.” 1 Peter 4:8-11

You can comment on this devotional online at:
https://thoughts-about-god.com/blog/2008/05/29/an_rough-character/

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Alec Niemi, an entrepreneur, lifestyle evangelist and pastor is passionate about helping people find Christ.  He lives in the Fraser Valley, British Columbia, Canada.

thoughts by Alec Niemi Thoughts by All Thoughts by Men

By Alec Niemi
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This week I sat with a couple who were struggling with many issues in their lives and marriage. It would have been so easy to judge them and tell them all the things they were doing wrong. But the thing they needed to hear the most was about God’s love and that He had already administered true justice through his son Jesus. After sharing with them the simple truth of salvation they both prayed together asking Jesus into their lives. Later that same day I took them a Bible. The husband greeted me at the door with a big smile and informed me that they remembered the song, “Yes Jesus loves me,” from their early childhood days and were now singing it to their children.

My prayer for you this week:

I pray that God grants you the ability to administer true justice; showing mercy and compassion to others, not oppressing the widow or the fatherless, the alien or the poor and in your heart not thinking evil of others. Amen.” Zechariah 7:9,10

You can comment on this devotional online at:
https://thoughts-about-god.com/blog/2008/05/17/an_struggling/

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Alec Niemi, an entrepreneur, lifestyle evangelist and pastor is passionate about helping people find Christ.  He lives in the Fraser Valley, British Columbia, Canada.

thoughts by Alec Niemi Thoughts by All Thoughts by Men

By Alec Niemi
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During my years of travels and involvement in ministry I have met a lot of very special people who have heard the call to serve in ministry and have dedicated their lives to God’s service. I have also noticed that they are usually underfunded. God’s call is obviously upon them and so I wonder why they struggle with support. The support they receive primarily comes from others who God has raised up as givers. And so I wonder, “Are they underfunded because they are not doing something they should be doing; are they doing something they haven’t been called to do; is God taking them through an exercise of learning to depend on Him, like a test of faith; or what…?”

In 2 Corinthians 8:1-7 Paul seems to address this very issue. In a message to his ‘givers’ he stresses three thoughts. First, giving is a privilege not a chore and givers are to plead with God for the privilege of sharing with those He has called to serve. Secondly, ‘givers’ need to understand that it is His grace that He has given and thus giving comes from the exercising of that grace. And thirdly, ‘givers‘ are to excel in giving. So perhaps the lack of support has less to do with those called to serve and more to do with those who are called to give. And my enquiring mind asks, “So then who are the givers?”

My prayer for you this week:

And now, I praise God, for the truth about the grace that He has given; that out of the most severe trials, overflowing joy and extreme poverty wells up rich generosity. Give as much as able, and even beyond your ability. Entirely on your own, urgently plead for the privilege of sharing in the service to the saints. And do as expected, give yourself first to the Lord and then to His workers in keeping with God’s will. And just as you excel in everything in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for His servants see that you also excel in this grace of giving. Amen.” 2 Corinthians 8:1-7

You can comment on this devotional online at:
https://thoughts-about-god.com/blog/2008/05/14/an_giving/

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Alec Niemi, an entrepreneur, lifestyle evangelist and pastor is passionate about helping people find Christ.  He lives in the Fraser Valley, British Columbia, Canada.

thoughts by Alec Niemi Thoughts by All Thoughts by Men

By Alec Niemi
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A neighbor died suddenly of a heart attack. I had just met him a short time ago and had never met his wife. Although I have to admit I was a bit hesitant, I went over right after it happened to offer any assistance I could, despite not knowing anything about them. Still, it seemed like the proper thing to do. As it turned out, there was little I could do, but the wife was grateful that I had made the effort. Later I was asked if I would take part in the memorial service.

If we only focus on our own needs we can miss the opportunities to bless someone else. When we focus on the needs of others, even though sometimes there is very little we can offer or do, it still bears fruit.

My prayer for you this week:

“I pray that: you love His law, meditating on it all day long because His commands make you wiser than your enemies, for they are ever with you; you have more insight than all your teachers, because you meditate on His statutes; you have more understanding than the elders, for you obey His precepts; you are keeping your feet from every evil path so that you might obey His word; you have not departed from His laws, for He Himself has taught you. How sweet are His words to your taste, sweeter than honey to your mouth! And that you gain understanding from His precepts and therefore hating every wrong path. Amen.”
Psalm 119:97-104

You can comment on this devotional online at:
https://thoughts-about-god.com/blog/2008/05/02/an_neighbourly/

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Alec Niemi, an entrepreneur, lifestyle evangelist and pastor is passionate about helping people find Christ.  He lives in the Fraser Valley, British Columbia, Canada.

thoughts by Alec Niemi Thoughts by All Thoughts by Men

By Alec Niemi
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I spent a lot of time talking about spiritual matters with a friend who was diagnosed with cancer. During one of our conversations he gave his heart to Christ. The doctors said he would never walk again and would probably spend the remaining few months of his life in the hospital. Over the next weeks we did a lot of praying and his cancer went into remission. He began praising the Lord for the miracles taking place in his body.

Well, he not only walked again, he went home, and even drove his car. As time went on he started denying the power of God and instead insisted he had done it himself. We remained friends and shortly before his death three years later (the cancer returned) he asked God to forgive him for his arrogance.

My prayer for you this week:

I pray that your confidence is found in Christ for such confidence as this is ours through Christ before God. Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. Amen.”
2 Corinthians 3:4-6

You can comment on this devotional online at:
https://thoughts-about-god.com/blog/2008/04/21/an_denying-god

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Alec Niemi, an entrepreneur, lifestyle evangelist and pastor is passionate about helping people find Christ.  He lives in the Fraser Valley, British Columbia, Canada.

thoughts by Alec Niemi Thoughts by All Thoughts by Men

By Alec Niemi
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I hear from different people as to how they have been ‘turned off’ by something some Christian has done. Or they say that so-and-so is such a hypocrite. My usual first response is that if we allow a hypocrite between us and God then the hypocrite must be closer to God than we are. However the biblical model is that we need to be more others centered, trying to be the model of Christ rather than a stumbling block.

My prayer for you this week:

I pray that whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, you do it all for the glory of God, not causing anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God. Amen.” 1 Corinthians 10:31, 32

You can comment on this devotional online at:
https://thoughts-about-god.com/blog/2008/04/15/an_hypocrites/

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Alec Niemi, an entrepreneur, lifestyle evangelist and pastor is passionate about helping people find Christ.  He lives in the Fraser Valley, British Columbia, Canada.

thoughts by Alec Niemi Thoughts by All Thoughts by Men

By Alec Niemi
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Working with people with an addiction can be hard at times. One such person told me if there was no change in the next thirty days, suicide would be the only answer. However, in the same breath said, “I don’t want to die.” This individual wanted help, yet wanted to keep up with the addiction. This person acknowledged Jesus as Savior but would not submit to His Lordship, saying, “I can beat this by myself.” This has proven to be wrong time after time and the person knows it. And we will continue trying to help…

Gambling, alcohol, drugs (prescribed or otherwise), and pornography are the addictions we most often hear of. But what about work, computers, TV and food? Anything that becomes a ‘must have’ in our lives to the detriment of self and/or others is an addiction. Anything that becomes a ‘must have’ in our lives to the detriment of our relationship with the Lord must be dealt with.

My prayer for you this week:

“I pray that you are seeking good, not evil, that you may live. Then the LORD God Almighty will be with you, just as you say he is. Amen.”
Amos 5:14

You can share your comments online at:
https://thoughts-about-god.com/blog/2008/04/10/an_want-to/

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Alec Niemi, an entrepreneur, lifestyle evangelist and pastor is passionate about helping people find Christ.  He lives in the Fraser Valley, British Columbia, Canada.

thoughts by Alec Niemi Thoughts by All Thoughts by Men