Keep On Keeping On

Hello everyone,

I know it's been a while since I've last shared with you, but at this point I just wanted to say one very important thing. Keep on keeping on! 

I know, I know, that's not very deep or philosophical, but however, it is the word of God.

"So I tell you, continue to ask, and God will give to you. Continue to search, and you will find. Continue to knock, and the door will open for you. Yes, if a person continues asking, that person will receive. If a person continues looking, that person will find. And if a person continues knocking, the door will open for that person."  (Luke 11:9-10)

No matter where you may find yourself, know that God has not given up on you and you are not a mistake. Even if your thoughts are telling you to give up and quit. I say to you today, keep on keeping on, for the best is yet to come.

Much Love!

Nicole

Can You Reach My Friend....

As Christians, how many of us are really concerned or even thinking about the needs of others we pass on a daily basis?  And better yet, who God may want to minister to.

Well, this past weekend, I was driving down Lincoln Boulevard in Marina Del Rey where I favor a particular Starbucks.  I was sitting at a stop light and just happened to look up and notice a young girl on the bus stop.  The sad thing was she had all these bags of clothes and stuff cluttering the bus bench.

Honestly, I see homeless people all the time and I'm not really moved by every one I see. Why? I guess maybe its because I'm not fully sure of their circumstances, so I only move based on compassion of the Holy Spirit, not feelings.

Anyway, I looked at this young woman a second time and noticed she was holding a small baby in her arms. Of course, I let out an audible reaction "oh my God, that's a little baby she's holding".  And as I looked closer there was another little baby on the bus bench. A little toddler. At that moment, I felt the presence of God all over me. I turned into the gas station and parked in front of the bus stop.

The young woman sees me approaching her and without hesitation, she smiles at me. As I walked closer to her, I begin to ask her about her circumstances and she shares about living in a nearby shelter. 

Just then, I asked her if she has money does she need anything?  She just began to cry and refused to take anything from me. And I just began to hold her and comfort her. I prayed for her and her babies and held her closely and encouraged her on the corner of Lincoln Boulevard and Venice. Traffic was so thick, it was barely moving. But God was in the midst of a traffic filled corner in Marina Del Rey that afternoon.

The Creator of this universe took the time to stop and pour Himself into a hurting young woman. This encounter has brought such change, not only into the young woman's life, but also into my life. Not to mention all those individuals who drove pass us and witnessed compassion being poured out as we embraced.    

I put a substantial amount of money in her hands and she just cried.  Which brings me to my next question:

Are you available for God to make Himself real in the lives of those who are in need and hurting?

We are the body of Christ. We are the hands and the feet of Christ to move on this earth and be the difference that the world so desperately needs.

Will you be the answer this world needs?

Let the Love of God be seen in you and demonstrated through you with compassion.

Much Love


                    

A Time to Give Thanks

How many of us are truly grateful for who we are? And better yet, for where we are?

Well, I for one have had my struggles along this path called life, but I have to admit, God has been so good to me, I shutter to even think where I'd be if I did not have the Lord in my life. Although I haven't blogged in a while, there's been so much in my heart and on my mind I could have gone in several directions, but somehow, I'm led to give thanks. 

The picture above was made by Tawanda Cooper who is one of my closest friends. She is a one of those people who I know I can take to war with me, as well as take to lunch. These types of people are far, few, and in between. We have ministered in many countries all across the nations, but seeing her recently put things into a whole new perspective for me. My friend is a highly educated woman, beautiful, and extremely talented. Yet, I've never seen her more happy and fulfilled as I witnessed her simply being a wife and mother to her little girl Kennedi.  

Anyway, this brings me to my next question:

Is living a purpose producing life about how much you accomplish and how important you are? Or with gratitude, making the most of your life, no matter where you are?

Honestly, if you would have told me twenty years ago that I'd be where I am today, I probably would have laughed and said "yeah right!!!".  The amazing thing is, God has been leading me for a long time and my life doesn't look anything like I thought it would. Actually, its more beautiful than I could have ever imagined.

Anyway, I said all of that to say this. I am so grateful to God for where I am right now. I trust God because He has brought me this far, and He will lead me into my tomorrow. I'm living a purpose producing life filled with all the very best that life could possibly offer. Why?  Because I have God who reigns in my life and who is the very best that life could possibly offer. 

Much Love

             

The Moment of Truth

How many of you have ever come to a place in your life where you knew it was time to be real with You? I'm talking about a moment when you meet your true self.

This moment is "eth" consumed with truth and harsh reality....

I know you think you may know where I'm going with this, but hear me out. God has chosen me with a holy calling upon my life and although I am everything God says I am, there is a real war that rages against the very best of who God is in my life.

Well for me, I just happened upon myself through a mistake I kept making. It became a ritual of committing this sin every weekend and afterward I would cry out to God and ask for forgiveness.  I knew however God would forgive me and forget those mistakes.

Yet in reality, the moment of truth came when I realized I liked doing what I was doing and more than likely, I was going to do it again. So, that brings me to my next question:

How do you face the truth of yourself when you like/love doing something you know breaks God's heart?

This was heart breaking for me as well because I love the Lord. I was dealing with this issue from the religious perspective of me controlling a weakness. When in fact, regardless of how wrong it may be, I liked it and wanted to do it again. 

Just like the prodigal son, the bible says "he came to himself", or in other words he came to the realization of who he really was at that very moment. I got to a place where I knew this was a real weakness in my life that I was ashamed of.   

Bottom line, my moment of truth was realizing that there are some parts of me that I may struggle with for the rest of my life.  The only answer to freedom from sin is letting Christ be healing and deliverance in that part of my life where I'm weak, not how good I am at not committing a sin.

A purpose producing life is filled with all sorts of struggles and hardships. However, it is the life of a true over comer. Its a life that Christ reigns in; especially those parts of my life which are weak. "In my weakness He is made strong". 

    

LOVE

I am the most sought after, yet the most misunderstood. Oh how I long to be found and embraced, but I am far too often rejected. I am the object of your desire you say, as two eyes meet across a smoke filled room with hearts racing, panting, longing.

But oh my friend, you are very much mistaken, you see...I am what men are willing to die for, steal for, lie for, and even kill for. It takes only a moment to find me, and a lifetime to forget me. You see, I only want what’s best for you, but to have me, I will cost you everything to keep me.

I am who brings two people together who have never met, and I am who causes people to part, who have known one another their whole lives. I was there when it all began, when the foundations were laid. I was there when the stars were placed one by one in the heavens.

Sometimes, you don’t truly know you’ve found me, until you’ve lost me.  Because however will you know the difference. I am a mother ferociously protecting her children, while simultaneously nurtures and comforts them.

My friend, the key is giving yourself, and once you’ve given yourself. You won’t have to look for me, I will find you. You see, love is not love until it's given away. For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son. So I ask you, what are you willing to give for me.


Nicole Payne

You Are A Treasure

I found a treasure one day, it was like nothing I’ve ever seen before. When at first I saw it, wasn’t quite sure what material or substance it came from, but one thing is for certain, it's uniquely beautiful.

I could immediately tell by looking at the defined markings, that it has endured much. I guess that’s what really made me take a second glance of it. Not exactly sure how long it’s been here, but it’s obviously very valuable, even priceless.

That’s when I realized, I was meant to find it, and to appreciate it’s true beauty. Wow! the honor of experiencing such beauty was a gift for me to enjoy. I just had to thank God for creating such a beautiful treasure, and allowing me to find one.

Well, I know now it wasn’t just for me to enjoy all alone, but I’m grateful all the more that I had the chance to. And if you didn’t know it already, I was talking about you. Thank you for coming into my life and being such a blessing.

This is what you are to me, a beautiful treasure that only a very few get a chance to experience. You are priceless to me.

Much love and many blessings

Nicole
 
 
 
 

A Love That Says No....

I find myself in a wonderful place now. Why? Because I found the courage to say no.
Even though, the thing being offered to me was what I wanted more than anything else.
A struggle between what I want, what I need, how I feel, who I am, damn what about me.

Yet the love in me says no. Why can’t I let go and just be? Free from this pain inside of me. But oh what shall I do, when society says, you can’t, your not, go back. Hell you’re going through what you’re going through because you are a woman who is black.

Wanting to hate and kill somebody, anybody, because why me? I didn’t ask for this, No this can’t be. Although it’s the only reality I can see.

God is this all You have for me?

When upon asking, God reveals purpose is what I have for thee. The purpose or the reason why is the question you feel what you feel. For I’ve made you especially. Cut from the blackest of coal from a deep dark place...Hidden.

There was a process of pressure and cutting away that had to be. Oh, now I see. Now it all makes sense to me. A diamond in the rough is what I was. And at that moment I realized why I couldn’t love or be loved because the one I hated was me.

Nicole Payne