Reflections on Life and Ministry – by area leader Bill Nichols

As I reflect on God’s perfect will, I am continually drawn to His love, His power, His compassion, His truth, and His deep desire to have fellowship with us—even when we were still sinners. The apostle Paul reminds us in Romans 5:6, “For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.”

When I look at my own life, even my best efforts seem like “filthy rags.” I try to do good, yet often fall short or give only a half-hearted effort. My thoughts sometimes wander where they shouldn’t. But as I begin to quote Scripture, sing songs of praise (for I am a singer at heart), and worship God, my mind starts to align with the mind of Christ.

By the time that harmony settles in, the perfect opportunity for witnessing or doing good may have already passed—but I’m learning. Day by day, I see progress. Still, when I compare myself to the perfection of Christ, all of my righteousness amounts to nothing but dung.

Yet, there is hope. One day, in the very presence of God, my glorified body will function exactly as the Creator intended—free from sin, distraction, and weakness. Until that glorious day, I will keep pressing on toward “the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

And as I journey onward, I’ll keep sharing a few nuggets of truth along the way—reminders of His grace, His patience, and His unfailing love that keeps drawing us closer to Him.