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,

FAVOR...

When you think of the favor of God, do you think of all the wonderful blessings that come along with the goodness of God? However, we rarely ever consider all the pain that accompanies the blessings of being a chosen vessel of God.

One of the many things I’ve struggled with in my walk with God is the hatred, jealousy, and the envy at times I’ve experienced from others just for being who God called me to be. I better understand now, that many of those attacks were intimidating tactics to keep me from moving forward. I know, some of you are probably saying, “but how is that so, you’re in the will of the Father”

Well, serving God is good, but it’s not always fair. There have been times when others have competed with me over a particular thing they’ve wanted so badly, and I’ve walked right into the very same situation and accomplished that very same thing, effortlessly. Not to mention how angry that may have made the individuals who have worked for that very same desire. Yet, I believe God uses different situations to challenge and provoke us to change. I’ve also been on the other side of this as well. God has placed people in my life who have provoked me, and yes, they have irritated the heck out of me.

Well, at this point of my life, I see things very differently in the sense of being far more aware of others and their feelings, as well as, sensitive to not be so threatening, or at least not giving the appearance of flaunting my blessings in front of others. However, some people just don’t like you and there is really nothing you can do about that but show love where it’s received and keep on moving.

This brings me to my next question.

How are you responding to the favor of God in your life?

Sometimes, we get angry about situations that are occurring in our lives that make us uncomfortable as well as feeling persecuted, and we try to make it stop. We start to do things like push people away, we even get angry with God about certain situations that have not turned out the way we expected, and are often totally clueless to the fact that God’s favor is covering you.

I said all of this to say, God’s favor is not always a fun place to be, nor does it always position you to look as if your life is in the best place, but that’s where the lie begins. God’s favor sets you up to receive nothing but the best even though it sometimes does not appear that way.

Trust God in whatever place you find yourself and let the Lord lead you into that place of blessing where you also are effortlessly producing the purposes of God in everything that is within your heart.

Much Love,

Nicole

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