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#missionstrong
Meeting People Where They Are
& Tying Everything to the Great Commission
Recent Articles
Faithful When It Doesn't Make Sense
"Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: 'The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He will reign forever and ever!'" - Revelation 11:15 (CSB) Lord, In a world that often feels chaotic and unclear, steady my heart. Help me not just to understand Your Word but to live it. Remind me, God, that You have been my fourth Man in the fire—more than enough—even when it didn’t make sense, You were there. Give me courage to be faithful, even whe
Ron and Star Nelson
Apr 233 min read
The Pattern We Keep Missing
Revelation 6:1–8 (MSG) 6 1-2 I watched while the Lamb ripped off the first of the seven seals. I heard one of the Animals roar, “Come out!” I looked—I saw a white horse. Its rider carried a bow and was given a victory garland. He rode off victorious, conquering right and left. 3-4 When the Lamb ripped off the second seal, I heard the second Animal cry, “Come out!” Another horse appeared, this one red. Its rider was off to take peace from the earth, setting people at each o
Ron and Star Nelson
Apr 153 min read
Clean House, Lord.
Matthew 21:12–13 (NIV) “Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there… ‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’” Matthew 21:18–19 (NIV) “Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves… ‘May you never bear fruit again!’” Father, We come before You not just to be inspired but to be transformed. As we reflect on this moment in Your Word, give us the courage
Ron and Star Nelson
Mar 302 min read
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Faithful When It Doesn't Make Sense
"Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: 'The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He will reign forever and ever!'" - Revelation 11:15 (CSB) Lord, In a world that often feels chaotic and unclear, steady my heart. Help me not just to understand Your Word but to live it. Remind me, God, that You have been my fourth Man in the fire—more than enough—even when it didn’t make sense, You were there. Give me courage to be faithful, even whe
Ron and Star Nelson
Apr 233 min read
The Pattern We Keep Missing
Revelation 6:1–8 (MSG) 6 1-2 I watched while the Lamb ripped off the first of the seven seals. I heard one of the Animals roar, “Come out!” I looked—I saw a white horse. Its rider carried a bow and was given a victory garland. He rode off victorious, conquering right and left. 3-4 When the Lamb ripped off the second seal, I heard the second Animal cry, “Come out!” Another horse appeared, this one red. Its rider was off to take peace from the earth, setting people at each o
Ron and Star Nelson
Apr 153 min read
Clean House, Lord.
Matthew 21:12–13 (NIV) “Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there… ‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’” Matthew 21:18–19 (NIV) “Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves… ‘May you never bear fruit again!’” Father, We come before You not just to be inspired but to be transformed. As we reflect on this moment in Your Word, give us the courage
Ron and Star Nelson
Mar 302 min read
👑 Who’s on the Throne of Your Heart?
“Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”— Matthew 6:21 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.”— Proverbs 3:5 We come before You today not just with words—but with our hearts open and exposed before You. Search us, Lord. Not what we show people… but who we really are. If there is anything sitting on the throne of our hearts that does not belong to You—remove it. If pride is there, humble us. If fear is there, strengthen u
Ron and Star Nelson
Mar 233 min read
Waiting on God
“Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.” — Psalms 27:14 Gracious and Sovereign Father, We come before You with hearts that long to trust You more deeply. In a world that moves quickly and demands immediate answers, teach us the sacred discipline of waiting upon You. Lord, quiet our restless thoughts and calm our anxious hearts. Help us to remember that Your timing is perfect and that Your plans for us are good. Wh
Ron and Star Nelson
Mar 123 min read
Rely on God (And Not Yourself)
(Inspired by a devotional from Cornerstone Baptist Church, Arlington, TX) “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.” — Proverbs 3:5 (NLT) Father, Before we read another word, quiet our hearts. Strip away distraction. Remove pride. Expose anything in us that competes with You. Teach us again what it means to depend on You daily — not casually, not occasionally, but completely. In Jesus’ name, Amen. This morning, we were struck by a devoti
Ron and Star Nelson
Feb 263 min read
London, Paris, and the Danger of Becoming a “Local”
“May God be gracious to us and bless us and make His face shine upon us, that Your way may be known on earth, Your saving power among all nations.” — Psalm 67:1–2 It is possible to be blessed… and yet become small. Psalm 67 reminds us that God never blesses His people for containment. His grace is not meant to circle within our walls; it is meant to radiate beyond them. The psalmist connects blessing with purpose — “that Your way may be known on earth.” The favor of God car
Ron and Star Nelson
Feb 244 min read
🌍 Welcome Our Newest Missionary Partner! 🌍
We are excited to welcome Morris Tsuma as the newest missionary to join the Sowing Seeds of Joy family! Morris has answered God’s call to serve faithfully, and we are grateful for his heart for the nations and his commitment to advancing the gospel through compassionate service. To our donors and partners—thank you. Your prayers and generosity make it possible for missionaries like Morris to step into God’s work with confidence and support. As Morris begins this journey with
Ron and Star Nelson
Jan 281 min read
Pray for the World
“And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” — Matthew 24:14 (ESV) Lord, have mercy on the nations. We lift before You every country, culture, and people group. Where there is war, bring peace. Where there is oppression, bring justice. Where there is spiritual darkness, let the light of Your gospel shine. Strengthen Your church around the world and raise up faithful witnesses who wil
Ron and Star Nelson
Jan 283 min read
Pray for Strength
Isaiah 41:10 (ESV) “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Lord God, You see the places where we feel weak, tired, and worn. You know the burdens we carry and the responsibilities that weigh on us. Today, we come to You not pretending to be strong but trusting that You are. Strengthen us where we are depleted. Help us where we feel overwhelmed. Uphold us when we
Ron and Star Nelson
Jan 263 min read
Praying for Patience
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” — Romans 12:12 (NIV) Lord, Slow our spirits when our minds are racing. Quiet our frustration when things don’t move at our pace. Teach us to trust You in the process, not just in the outcome. Amen. Patience grows when we trust God’s timing. Waiting seasons refine faith more than quick answers ever could. This morning, while working inside Wix to fix and build an additional website for Sowing Seeds of Joy, I encou
Ron and Star Nelson
Jan 142 min read
Raising People Who Build Nations
Sowing Seeds of Joy has never fit neatly into a traditional box. From the very beginning, God did not call us to build monuments—He called us to build people. He did not assign us to raise funds for things, but to raise faith in hearts. He did not instruct us to complete projects, but to cultivate purpose. Many ministries are built around projects. A well. A building. A trip. A campaign. A moment in time. And there is nothing wrong with those. They are visible. They are measu
Ron and Star Nelson
Jan 133 min read
Praying for Wisdom
James 1:5 (NIV) “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” Proverbs 3:5–6 (NIV) “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.” Father God, We acknowledge today that we need You. We do not want to rely on our own understanding, emotions, or instincts alone. We invite Your wisdom into ever
Ron and Star Nelson
Jan 122 min read
God Be Glorified Forever
“To Him be the glory forever! Amen.” — Romans 11:36 “In everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” — 1 Thess. 5:18 “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.” — Psalm 150:6 Heavenly Father, We come before You today not with a list of requests, but with hearts of gratitude. You are holy, faithful, and worthy of all praise. Before You do anything for us, You deserve our worship. Teach us to slow down, to behold Your glory, and to honor You
Ron and Star Nelson
Jan 73 min read
“When God Looks at the Offering”
Scripture Focus: Genesis 4:3–7; Hebrews 11:4 Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020) 3 In the course of time Cain presented some of the land’s produce as an offering to the LORD. 4 And Abel also presented an offering—some of the firstborn of his flock and their fat portions. The LORD had regard for Abel and his offering, 5 but he did not have regard for Cain and his offering. Cain was furious, and he looked despondent. 6 Then the LORD said to
Ron and Star Nelson
Jan 53 min read
Words Shape Community
“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” — Ephesians 4:29 (NIV) At Sowing Seeds of Joy , we often remind one another that everything we do is about sowing forward —planting seeds today that will produce a harvest tomorrow. Scripture makes it clear that one of the most powerful ways we sow is through our words , especially within community. The boo
Ron and Star Nelson
Dec 29, 20253 min read
Hot Pursuit
Scripture Focus: “I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.” — Philippians 3:12 (NIV) Lord Jesus, We come not to perform, but to pursue. Awaken our hearts again—stir holy hunger where routine has dulled us. Help us lay aside distractions, disappointments, and delays that slow our steps. Draw us close and give us the courage to press on after You with our whole hearts. Amen. To be in hot pursuit of Jesus is to refuse a faith that is casual, co
Ron and Star Nelson
Dec 29, 20252 min read
It’s a Wonderful Life — When Heaven Pulls Back the Curtain
“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” — Psalm 34:18 (NIV) Father God, We come to You carrying questions we don’t always say out loud—questions about purpose, impact, and whether our lives truly matter. Quiet our hearts as we reflect today. Open our eyes to see ourselves the way You see us, not through disappointment or comparison, but through Your eternal truth. Restore hope where weariness has settled and let Your Spirit remind
Ron and Star Nelson
Dec 22, 20253 min read
When Peace Is Interrupted on the Mountaintop
Guarding the Spirit When Conflict Knocks Uninvited; trouble don't last always Gracious Father, We come before You now, grateful for Your presence and mindful of our need for You. Thank You for being the God of peace in a world filled with noise, tension, and unrest. As we enter this moment of reflection, quiet our hearts and still our minds. Where distractions linger, remove them. Where unrest tries to settle, replace it with Your calm. Holy Spirit, guard the atmosphere of th
Ron and Star Nelson
Dec 15, 20253 min read
"Let God be True"
Romans 3:4 — “Let God be true, and every man a liar.” Father, Quiet our hearts in Your presence. Remove the noise of opinions, fears, and doubts so that Your voice becomes the clearest one we hear. Teach us today what it means to let You be true in every part of our lives. Align our hearts with Your Word, anchor us in Your promises, and help us walk by faith and not by sight. In Jesus’ name, amen. There is a phrase tucked inside Romans 3:4 that invites every believer into a
Ron and Star Nelson
Dec 7, 20255 min read
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