Welcome to my new blog!

A Steadfast Light is a "spinoff" of the blog that I created for my six month mission trip/internship with Nehemiah Vision Ministries in Haiti; Jordan's Haiti Ministry.  Since I started the blog a couple months prior to me flying down to Haiti on January 16, 2012, it has accumulated almost 6,000 hits, with visitors from the United States (4,855), Haiti (268), Russia (120), German (84), China (82), Israel (62), Ukraine (32), Latvia (30), Canada (28), and last but not least, the United Kingdom (26).  I have no clue how people from those countries ventured unto my blog, but I thank God that they did.

I pray that God will give me the words to say in these blog posts, through this new blog, that can truly reach and speak to the people that visit this site.  I also pray and believe that He can use this blog in a multitude of ways, all for the glory of His Kingdom!

Please feel free to visit Jordan's Haiti Ministry!  I will occasionally update that blog with only Haiti-related posts.  I imported all of the blog posts from that site to this blog, A Steadfast Light.  I enjoy writing, although I'm definitely not the best at it.  Hopefully you will enjoy my new blog!  Please keep me in your prayers as I seek to utilize avery avenue possible to reach people for Jesus!

This blog is still a work-in-progress!  I haven't figured out exactly how I want it to look, but this will do for now.  Bear with me as I tweak, add, delete, re-add, and tweak more things on the blog!  Also, I want to reiterate that all of the blog posts leading up to this "introductory" post were imported directly from my other blog, Jordan's Haiti Ministry.

"Produces perseverance..."

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.  Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."  James 1:2-4 (NIV)

Amen.  The book of James is one of my favorite books in the Bible (not saying that ALL the books of the Bible aren't great..).  The verses posted above have definitely resonated in my heart this week, as I've been battling some sort of sickness for the past 4+ days, causing me to miss work, get a shot of antibiotics in my gluteus maximus, painfully swallow Amoxicillin, but being taken care of by my amazing wife...what a blessing she is!  Sickness in combination with financial aid difficulties with school and a few other small issues could have given me the 1-2 punch combo to knock me flat on my spiritual back.  However, not by my own strength, but by the glory of God and the indwelling Holy Spirit, I didn't let these issues affect my relationship with God (also thanks to everyone who has been praying for me this week...you are awesome!)  In fact, it drew me even closer to Him.  You might be wondering, "What in the world is up with this guy?"...and I'll say refer back to the verses posted above.  

It's so easy to let trials and difficulties get the best of us, causing us to lose contact and even distance us from our Almighty Lord....whom we should be calling upon and crying out to during these times. Sadly, I don't  always recall these verses during trials and issues; sometimes my flesh likes to take control and think that I can handle it all on my own....but the reality is, I can't.  Not without God.

"But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.  That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.  Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do."  James 1:6-8 (NIV)

Whomever my come across this blog and are now reading this post, let these verses encourage you.  Seek the Lord, cry unto God during your trials and praise Him during times of blessing!  

"Brothers and sisters, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.  As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered.  You have heard of Job's perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about.  The Lord is full of compassion and mercy."  James 5: 10-11 (NIV)

In Loving Memory of Grandma; Lector Mae (Bailey) Piper

I love this photo of my grandmother, Lector. This beautiful Wednesday morning, my lovely wife Nikki and I attended her funeral in Creedmoor, NC. I heard individuals share hilarious memories of my grandma, knowing that she was smiling down at us from Heaven. Although we heard stories that made us laugh, the stories that truly resonated with me this morning, were those told by an elderly cousin of mine, whom preached the ceremony, stating how he could recall as far back as 60 years ago, my grandma diligently serving in the church and community for the Lord. The pastor spoke of how Mrs. Lector Mae (Bailey) Piper was always willing to serve the Kingdom, and how even to this day she would run into him, asking "Are you still a'preaching?" 

Throughout the service at the church, I felt my grandmothers presence; I knew that she was watching and listening to every word. I was able to speak at the gravesite for the final ceremony. I shared with family members and friends how, growing up, Grandma Piper was constantly talking about the Lord...but as a rebellious child and adolescent, it went through one ear and out the other.. But that didn't stop her from praying for each and every one of us; how I know that those prayers have helped me become the man that I am today; that after hearing countless testimonies of how my grandmother was a genuine follower of Christ, a true servant, I truly realized that her faith in Christ truly reflected through her life....that Christ came to this Earth to serve the people and my Grandmother did the same for us.

I closed the ceremony with these verses:

"I thank God, whom I serve, as my ancestors did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers. Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy. I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also."

2 Timothy 1: 3-5

Grandma, thank you for the prayers. Thank you for never giving up on me.

Humble Inspiration; "Twelve Ordinary Men".

I have recently started reading a book titled Twelve Ordinary Men by John MacArthur.  The back cover of this book states the following description:

"When you take a fresh look at the disciples, you'll be faced with a stunning fact: The men the Savior chose were ordinary.  Hopelessly human.  Remarkably unremarkable.  But they were available and obedient to the Master's call.

And, under Jesus' teaching and touch, they became a force that forever changed the world...The message of Twelve Ordinary Men is clear.  If Christ can accomplish His purposes through the lives of common men like these, imagine what He has in store for you!"

I have only read about twenty or so pages of this book....and those twenty or so pages are packed with  lines that I literally scribbled 'Amen!' beside.  Here is an excerpt from Twelve Ordinary Men that reminded me of these verses:

Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called.  Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were noble of birth.  But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.  God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things-and the things that are not- to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before Him.  It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God-that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.  Therefore, as it is written: "Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord."

1 Corinthians 1:26-31

Excerpt:

"So there are no intrinsically qualified people. God Himself must save sinners, sanctify them, and then transform them from unqualified into instruments He can use. The Twelve (apostles) were like the rest of us; they were selected from the unworthy and the unqualified. They were, like Elijah, men "with a nature like ours" (James 5:17). They did not rise to the highest usefulness because they were somehow different from us. Their transformations into vessels of honor was so\>lely the work of the Potter.

Many Christians become discouraged and disheartened when their spiritual life and witness suffer because of sin or failure. We tend to think we're worthless nobodies-left to ourselves, that would be true! But worthless nobodies are just the kind of people God uses...

Satan may even attempt to convince us that our shortcomings render us useless to God and to His church. But Christ's choice of the apostles testifies to the fact that God can use the unworthy and the unqualified...They turned the world upside down, these twelve (Acts 17:6). It was not because they had extraordinary talents, unusual intellectual abilities, powerful political influence, or some special social status. They turned the world upside down because God worked in them to do it.

God chooses the humble, the lowly, the meek, and the weak so that there's never any question about the source of power when their lives change the world.  It's not the man: it's the truth of God and the power of God in the Man. (We need to remind some preachers toady of this. It's not their cleverness or their personality. The power is in the Word-the truth that we preach-not in us.)" 
-John MacArthur, "Twelve Ordinary Men".

When Two Become One: Mr. and Mrs. Jordan Piper

A great man of our church, evangelist Pastor Craig Maclaughlin, surprised my beautiful wife and I with this video of our wedding day.  This thirty-six minute video will give you a mere glimpse of our beautiful wedding day on November 3, 2013; a day filled with countless tears of happiness, laughs, smiles, hugs, kisses, and memories that will never be forgotten...a day that two people, became one.

Happy 1st Birthday, Liljana!!

Today is a monumental day for my family; my sweet, beautiful niece Liljana, turns one!!!  

Happy Birthday, Lili!!!

Liljana and my nephew, Elijah!

Daddy and Lili!

Having some fun in Croatia!

It's hard to believe that this precious little girl was born a year ago today.  I pray that as she continues to grow up, she will maintain her purity and innocence, not becoming polluted by the perverse ways of our world; that she will become a Christ-following young woman; a voice and light for her generation.

November 2013 Update

Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Jordan Piper!

For those of you that have visited my blog, and read my 'August 2013 Update' post, you know that I proposed to Nikki back in July.  Well, by the grace of God, we tied the knot on Sunday November 3, 2013!  We had an absolutely incredible wedding ceremony and reception!

I can honestly say that the past (almost) three weeks have been the best weeks of my entire life.  I know that short time that Nikki and I have been married is only a mere glimpse of all that God has in store for us.  I (we) are praying and believing that God is going to use my wife and I to do extraordinary things for His Kingdom.

On behalf of my better half and I, we would like to thank each and every one of you that were able to make it to our wedding and/or have supported Nikki and I in any way, shape, or form.  November 3rd, 2013 was one of the greatest days of our lives; we are fortunate that many of our family members, friends, and co-workers were able to celebrate such a monumental day with is...it is a day that we will truly never forget; a day filled with countless tears of happiness, laughter, and absolute joy.

Nikki and I simply ask that you continue to pray for us as we seek God's will for our lives; not individually, but united as one.  As I stated earlier, we are praying and believing that God is going to use us in powerful ways.  Please pray for divine opportunities and arrangements; for boldness to fearlessly proclaim the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Stay tuned for an update filled with pictures and video from our wedding ceremony and reception!

"Haven't you read," he replied, that at the beginning the Creator 'made them male and female,' and said, 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh'?  So they are no longer two, but one flesh.  Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate."

Matthew 19: 4-6 (NIV)