HOPE....

What does your hope look like?


Hope is what you expect. Hope wants far more than where you are and longs for the very best to come. Hope says “I can‘t wait to get there”. Hope presents an excitement of expectation. When all else is gone and there is nothing left, hope always seems to anticipate the best and look onward to the future. Hope is the vision and the desire of where your faith takes you.

When your hope is gone; you have stopped expecting, looking, and working toward your desires. There’s a scripture in the bible that says “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life” this really is a great example of what death or dying looks like. If we are the just and the just shall live by faith, then once we’ve stopped hoping for our desires to come to pass, a death process takes place in our lives. As people of faith, we must live in a perpetual state of faith to be an example of life on this earth. With that being said, this brings me to my next question.

What is it that you are hoping for and are you moving in the direction of that hope by faith?

Another scripture that comes to mind is Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen”. In spite of whatever place you may find yourself, if you’ve got hope in the midst of your situation, you will continue to keep moving by faith, even when you cannot see the way. Hope is what we envision our faith to be, but faith is what we do to get there.

A purpose producing life is a life filled with the hope of fulfilling God’s purpose. Throughout my everyday life, hearing what God is saying and then, doing what God says, establishes God’s plans on this earth to advance the Kingdom of God, while I’m on this earth.

Keep hope alive!!

Nicole

Who Are You?...

Do you know who you are?

Well, this is a question I often ask myself.  Who are you?

Not because I don’t know myself as far as what I like or dislike, but more along the lines of understanding where I am right now.  And, honestly, am I okay with the answer? 

  

This is an extremely profound question for one reason, the answer is always changing.   Okay, I can hear you asking; Huh?  Well, how many of you are the same exact person you were twenty years ago?  Precisely! You’re not. This brings me to my next question.

Are you okay with being who and where you are? And if not, are you willing to make changes?

Along my journey, in living a purpose producing life, I’ve discovered that I’m always discovering something new about myself.  However, one of the most important factors in the success of being who I am is the key component of acceptance. Especially, in whatever I find at the other end of the question: Who are you?

One of the biggest distractions a person can face in life is self rejection. A successful life is the one who totally loves and accepts who they are. With that in mind, I invite you to ask that question. Regardless of whatever your answer may be. I will ask however, if your not pleased, be willing to forgive yourself. 

No matter your body size, wealth, gender, race, religion, or color of skin, loving you is a major key to your success in this life.  Often we are our biggest enemy because of rejection of our own self. Give yourself permission to forgive, love, and accept YOU.

Much Love,

Nicole      



                                             

What Shall I Render

“What shall I render, tell me what shall I give? For God has everything; and everything belongs to Him.”


This is a song I have not sang in a long time. But, in all honesty, what do we really have to give God other than ourselves. I read a scripture today that caught my attention, especially. Psalm 86: 11 says “Teach me your way, LORD, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.”

When I read in particular the part about “give me an undivided heart” that really struck a chord with me. I had to stop and think about that passage for a moment. If my heart is divided; how do I trust, believe, love, or rely on God; if I have a divided heart. With that in mind; this brings me to my next question.

Am I truly giving anything to God if my heart is divided?

And, better yet, how can I possibly receive anything from God? What I discovered; is no I’m not. This takes me to another scripture that says "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, (oppressed, depressed, tired, or stressed) and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28) Truth is, God wants to give us far more than we really want or desire. But there is something that God requires of us. To bring Him everything that we truly are.  Meaning, the good, the bad, and the ugly. Bring it all to Jesus.

When we give to Him wholeheartedly, He restores us fully because we are relying on His grace, and not our own understanding or ability.

So, I leave you with this question to ponder, what do you have to give?

Much Love,