MhAX Blog with Nick Costello
Evangelist, youth communicator, school assembly speaker, seminar and conference speaker Nick Costello tackles issues facing youth and young adults.
Nick Costello has experienced the glamorous rock star life millions of teens only dream about. Success didn't fulfill his search for inner peace, security and purpose in life. His bad attitude and fast lane lifestyle of sex, drugs, rock and roll nearly destroyed him. One night, Nick surrendered his life to Jesus Christ. God miraculously redeemed and transformed his life.
Today, he ministers as an evangelist, youth communicator, school assembly speaker, seminar and conference speaker. He's calling christians of all ages to an uncompromising walk of obedience to Christ. In public schools, he's equipping kids to make healthy, right life choices. Respected leaders say he's a "dynamic, relevant, passionate, challenging, inspiring communicator!
Visit Nick's website
What Do You See?
- Details
- Published on Thursday, 28 April 2011 15:35
- Written by Nick Costello
When you look at people around you, what do you see? I'm not talking about their physical appearance or personality. Do you recognize their spiritual condition. Everyone you meet is either LOST or SAVED, going to HEAVEN or HELL. There is no in between!
Do you ever wonder if your friends are followers of Jesus?
Do you care if your lost friends go to hell?
Do you share your faith... give it away?
Imagine sitting on the beach with a hot date. You're all oiled up, got your favorite CD playing, not a care in the world except for the hot date you are drooling over. Suddenly, screams come from the ocean. You see a person frantically grasping for air. You realize they are in great danger and about to drown. The lifeguard has fallen asleep. YOU are the only one who sees the soon-to-drown swimmer. Are you going to do anything? I think so. You will throw them the life preserver sitting on shore or swim out and get them. You won't stand by and let them drown.
All around you are people in great danger, not of drowning in water, but in danger of spending eternity in hell!
You know their names. You play on the same sports team with them. They sit right next to you in class or in the lunchroom. You hang out together. You know they aren't a Christian and follower of Jesus, but has reality hit you that without Christ, they will go to hell? Imagine when you get to heaven and stand before God. He opens the Lambs Book of Life to see if your name is written in it. Behind you stands your best friend we'll call Bill. God sees your name and says, "Enter heaven with me forever." As you walk towards heaven, you turn and then hear Him say to Bill, "I don't see your name listed here. I don't know you. Away from me into hell forever." You watch your best friend being led into the agonizing torment of hell forever and there in NOTHING you can do.
How would that make you feel?
Now is the time for you to save your friends, a family member or somebody you come into contact with every day from sure spiritual death and offer them an incredible personal relationship with Jesus Christ!
NOW! TODAY! BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE FOR THEM!
You may say, "I'm scared, I don't know what to say, I don't know what to do, I don't know where to begin."
I'm going to help you in the next series of articles. Tell your Christian friends to tune in each month for lessons on how to rescue lost souls. Lesson 1 is simple. It begins by seeing lost people around you through the eyes of Jesus. When Jesus sees your classmates, He doesn't see students. Jesus sees hell bound, dying people. What do you see? Jesus has a passion and burden for the lost. PRAY this prayer every day, post it on your mirror, in your car, say it often and watch God change your heart.
Jesus... I want to give my faith away. Give me your heart of love and compassion for the lost. Give me your eyes to see them. Give me your passion and burden to tell them about you and show them the way to heaven. Break my heart for lost people all around me. Amen!
Setting Goals & Priorities
- Details
- Published on Tuesday, 01 March 2011 00:00
- Written by Nick Costello
Have you ever heard anyone say, "He's running around like a chicken with it's head cut off?" Obviously, with no head, the chicken has no idea where it's going. Christians can be like that. They're busy going nowhere. They don't know where they're going. Maybe they're running around in circles. They have no direction for their life and never accomplish anything. Why is that? God tells you:
"Where there is no vision, the people perish." (Prov. 29:18 KJV)
If you expect to get anywhere in life or accomplish anything, you must have a vision for the future, a goal, a list of priorities, a dream, something you are shooting for. Do you? If not, God says your life won't accomplish much. You will never become all God has designed you to be or to do. God sees you as important and wants you to succeed. Success means you have some goals to achieve before you die. God has some goals for you from His point of view.
"Seek first the
"For God knew His people in advance, and He chose them to become more like His Son." (Romans
"Whatever you eat or drink or whatever you do, you must do all for the glory of God." (1 Cor.
What is God saying to you your first goal in life should be?
All about Jesus!
Have you decided to make the priority of your life becoming like Jesus and living a life all about Jesus? That's your first goal in life. Now... write a few goals on a piece of paper. All my life I have set some goals for myself. Before I knew Jesus, I set a goal to become a rock star and accomplished it. With God's help, I accomplished my goal. Two years ago I set a goal for myself to write a book. It's a huge undertaking. It takes a lot of time and work. This year I set a goal to learn guitar and lead worship. I'm working on it every day. You may have some big goals and dreams. 
"What is impossible from a human perspective is possible with God." (Luke 18:27 NLT)
Start with setting some goals in these five categories: Intellectual, Physical, Spiritual, Social, Occupational. Pray and ask God to help you achieve your goals. Give Him freedom to change your goals or priorities. Persevere. Be patient. Never ever give up. Surround yourself with encouraging people, not discouragers. Spend time with jesus every day of your life. Do you really want to live your life running around like a chicken with your head cut off? Eventually, the chicken drops dead. When you have goals, dreams, priorities and future vision for your life, you may at times think you aren't going anywhere, but God is still doing something. I am convinced about one thing. Millions of successful Christians will agree with me. You can never fail when...
You keep Jesus the #1 priority of your life!
Knowing God's Will For Your Life
- Details
- Published on Tuesday, 01 February 2011 00:00
- Written by Nick Costello
Think about a tough decision you had to make. How did you make it? What happened as a result? Would you have done anything differently in making your decision? If so, do you know what that would be?
A Christian wants to know God's will when making decisions
A follower of Jesus wants to please God. God cares about the decisions you make and how you live your life. Much of God's will for you is revealed in his book, The Bible. For example read The Beatitudes in Matthew Chapter 5, The 10 Commandments in Exodus 20 or Galatians 5:22-26 and discover God's will. Ephesians 5:1 tells us it's God's will that you imitate Him, live like Christ. So, the more you know Jesus, the more you'll now God's will for living your life. Every Christian can learn these things and then allow Jesus live his life out through you, because you'll become more like Him.
How do you make decisions that please God?
There is God's will for every Christian, but also His specific will for you! You will have to make decisions about a job, college, marriage, work, friends, finances and more. Some decisions will be big, others small. They're all important to you. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart." (Prov. 3:5-8) God is great. He sees all and knows all. He knows what's best for you. He'll never lead you astray. Trust Him, not your own understanding. Sometimes you can't see your whole life picture, but God can. You may not like what He is directing you to do, but you must trust Him. He's still directing you. God never directs us in the wrong direction. "Don't depend on your own wisdom." (Prov. 3:7) Rest in His wisdom, His understanding. "Be quiet and know that I am God." (Psalm 46:10)
Pray. Trust. Ask Him what he'd have you do. Wait. Listen for His small voice speaking to your heart. Sometimes, it's a real strong impression to make a certain decision. Sometimes, God uses other Christians to confirm what He's put in your heart.
If you miss it... go the wrong way... God will get you on track.
"He will make your paths straight." (Prov. 3:6b) He will direct your steps. He will give you success. You can't fail with God. You fail when you do nothing. God loves you. He will even use you where you are at if you end up somewhere that wasn't God's will for you because maybe you missed God. Pray "God, I'm here. I don't think it's where I am suppose to be. I trust you. use me while I'm here so I can glorify you. help me get to where you want me, be who you want me to be."
Big doors open on small hinges!
Remember to be faithful in the small things God directs you to do. Starting small is okay. I have rarely ever seen God start big. You may have big dreams, big visions or big plans, but God will oftentimes start with baby steps. Don't despise small beginnings. Be faithful where God plants you.
Tips to find God's will:
Pray, read your Bible and get counsel from other mature Christians you know and trust. God doesn't hide His will from you. Being in His will brings you joy no matter the circumstances. Knowing God's will is a step but step process. Allow your mind to be Spirit-controlled. Listen for His still small voice. Don't expect your problems to disappear even when you are in God's will. God will give you enabling, empowering grace to do his will. Be ready to wait. Be patient. Trust God.
