thoughts by Alec Niemi Archives - Thoughts about God

On Being Humble

admin — Thu, 05 Feb 2026 08:03:42 +0000

My wife and I 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 131:1

By Alec Niemi
used by permission

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Rough Character

admin — Fri, 21 Nov 2025 08:06:31 +0000

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

By Alec Niemi
used by permission

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Wavering Focus

admin — Mon, 17 Nov 2025 08:06:35 +0000

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

By Alec Niemi
used by permission

Struggling With Issues

admin — Fri, 14 Nov 2025 08:03:19 +0000

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

By Alec Niemi
used by permission

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To Humble Ourselves

Devotionals — Thu, 06 Nov 2025 08:03:31 +0000

“God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” 1 Peter 5:5b

Humble people seem to be blessed with pervasively portioned patience, peace, perseverance and unpretentiousness.

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:6

Humble people are also alert, affecting, attentive, affectionate, affable and not anxious.

“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.” 1 Peter 5: 8-9

Humble people are strong, solid, steadfast, sincere, serving and unswerving.

“And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.” 1 Peter 5:10-11

My prayer for us

Heavenly Father, please help us to not be anxious about anything. In everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, we present our requests to you. We know that your peace, which transcends all understanding, will guard our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus. Amen. Philippians 4:6-7

By Alec Niemi
Used by Permission

Cornerstone

admin — Tue, 21 Oct 2025 07:03:01 +0000

The cornerstone is the first stone set in the construction of a masonry foundation, it is important because all other stones are set in reference to this stone, thus determining the position of the entire structure.

What a blessing to have Jesus as our cornerstone.

My prayer for us this week

“Heavenly Father, Thank you for Jesus, thank you that you sent Him as the cornerstone for our lives. Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved. Amen” Acts 4:11,12

Have a great week!

by Alec Niemi
used by permission

God’s Peace

Devotionals — Wed, 15 Oct 2025 07:03:03 +0000

While reading Psalm 116:12-19 this morning I was reminded again of God’s goodness and love to us. My thoughts echo the psalmist’s and I pray that yours do too.

“How can I repay the LORD for all his goodness to me?
I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD.
I will fulfill my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people.
Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.
O LORD, truly I am your servant; I am your servant, the son of your maidservant; you have freed me from my chains.

I will sacrifice a thank offering to you and call on the name of the LORD.
I will fulfill my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people,
in the courts of the house of the LORD—in your midst, O Jerusalem.
Praise the LORD.”

My prayer for you:

“Heavenly Father we love you. You heard our voice; you heard our cry for mercy. Because you turned your ear to us, we will call on you as long as we live. In Jesus name, amen.” Psalm 116:1,2

By Alec Niemi
Used by Permission

Remembering God’s Goodness

Forever Faithful

God is Good All the Time

The post God’s Peace can be found at Thoughts about God.

Stiff Necked

admin — Mon, 29 Sep 2025 07:03:02 +0000

Jesus asks, “Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?” Luke 6:46

Is there repercussion for not listening to the Lord?

“This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: ‘Listen! I am going to bring on this city and all the villages around it every disaster I pronounced against them, because they were stiff-necked and would not listen to my words.’” Jeremiah 19:15

Seems like it, doesn’t it?

My prayer for us this week

“Our Lord, our God, our Creator, we come to you and repent of our selfish attitudes and ask that you heal our stiff necks and help us focus on what it is you ask of us. We worship you and you alone. In Jesus name amen and amen.”

by Alec Niemi
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Save Me

admin — Thu, 11 Sep 2025 07:03:35 +0000

The 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

by Alec Niemi
used by permission

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Can’t or Don’t Want to?

admin — Fri, 29 Aug 2025 07:06:27 +0000

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

By Alec Niemi
used by permission