Lord, I just have to give You praise this very minute. I try to thank you at all times because You are amazing and You love me no matter what but I have to give a special prayer right now.
Lord I thank You for your promise. I am so amazed at how you are working in my life and I pray for Your guidance and wisdom in navigating this wonderful and amazing experience.
I knew Your promise.
I believed when You said you would not forsake me.
I understood that You have perfect timing.
I guess I just never imagined!
How can You love me so much?
Lord, I just thank You so much for filling my life and for adding the icing to the cake. I thank You for the friendship you have given me in John. I want to be filled with Your love and I am so thankful that I am. I want Godly conversation and relationships and You bless me with that. You are truly faithful and I know that. What a silly little human I am. I could never imagine it would be like this... ever. You are amazing. I am so blessed. Thank You! It sounds so simple and so silly, I don't know how to express this in words but I felt the need to say something. It seems like it isn't enough just to say thank You. I know You know my heart and what I am feeling. I know You are at work and all of it is because of You. I praise You for the gift of my life, of Your only Son and for all of the blessings you have bestowed on me. Help me to live for Your glory and to build my relationships to honor You.
In Jesus' precious name.
Amen
These are some "oh so thankful" words...
By Nicole
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Monday, April 13, 2009
God's blessings for obedience
My last post was on March 9th. This is a follow up to that post...
I broke things off with Michael the following week. He was out of town for a week and I was unable to see him until St. Patties day. It was easier than I expected. I didn't cry until he said "If you knew you were going to break up with me, I wish you wouldn't have made me pay for dinner." He was joking of course and said he was trying to lighten the mood but it made me sad anyhow. Overall, it went really well. Michael said he understood and that he didn't hate me. (a concern of mine) We parted ways and haven't talked since.
I think that this is where God's blessings for obedience come in.
I haven't looked back and have not once felt like I made a mistake after we ended things. I think that is one of the blessings God has bestowed on me for my obedience to His will. People keep asking if I miss Michael, if we are back together, or even talking. I tell them no on all accounts. I don't miss him. I have nothing bad to say about him, he is a great guy, but I really don't miss him and I don't feel the need to talk to him or get back together. I don't know if that sounds kind of callous, but I don't think it is. I think God has blessed me with the peace of knowing he wasn't the one and that is why I feel that way.
Here is where other blessings from God come in.
The day after I broke things off with Michael, I received a text from my friend CJ. He said that another friend of mine, Tonya, had told him that I had asked for a meeting with the Momentum pastor, Jeff. I didn't recall ever talking to Tonya about that but I figured meeting with Jeff couldn't hurt. He is a great leader and I knew we would pray together and I love doing that so I set up a meeting for the following Wednesday.
The weekend before my meeting with Jeff I was blessed to have Erynn and Doug to hang out with. We went out for a nice dinner and then out to a movie. On top of that, a friend of mine from Camber who I hadn't talked to in months, Vanessa, also invited me out to a movie. I already had the plans with Erynn and Doug but it was nice to know Vanessa was thinking about me and wanted to hang out. :) We had a great time that night and actually ran into Vanessa and her friends at the theater. I think it was a message from God letting me know that Vanessa and I would soon be hanging out together.
My meeting with Jeff started like this... Jeff: "So, what's up?" Nicole: "I don't know, I didn't really ask for a meeting, CJ just said Tonya said I did, so I'm not sure." Jeff: "Yeah, there are some people who were concerned about you." :) Apparently, people were concerned about me dating Michael. I had no idea that there were people at Momentum who cared so much about me, enough to talk to Jeff and ask for guidance on how to help me. We talked about how I got into the situation and how to avoid it in the future. It was a good talk and I feel stronger in my conviction to be found by a Godly man who will provide the kind of marriage that puts God in the center of it. The people who went to Jeff were my co-leader Dana and one of the male leaders, John. Dana is a great lady who has been a wonderful support in my growth with God. John is someone who I didn’t really know until this all happened.
Last weekend, the 4th, I was able to hang out with Vanessa, John, Jude and the rest of their “group.” We went to Golfland and played miniature golf. Then we went over to Jude’s house and watched a movie. The night was so much fun! I had such a good time and it was so nice to hang out with such wonderful people. Poor John and Jude had to experience first hand the annoyance of my food allergy but they took it in stride and were actually very sweet about it. It was really nice because they were so concerned about me. :)
This past Friday we all went hiking in the Superstition Mountains. It was a beautiful, perfect day. I had a great time with my new “group.” It is so much fun to be included in such a cool group of people and to be accepted there. We went to a movie that evening and diner after that. It was the best day I have had to date. Great God talk, good clean fun and the growth of some amazing friendships. I am having so much fun getting to know John in particular. He is such a Godly man and we have had some really great God conversations! I am really enjoying having people like him in my life and I am looking forward to growing those relationships.
So all of these things I feel, are the ways God is blessing me for my obedience. I thank Him every day for my new relationships and for blessing me with people in my life who really care. I know God is going to continue to bless me for being obedient to His will. I already have so much to look forward to! I have great people to hang out with now, I’m going to Hawaii with all of them at the end of May, and I am totally stoked about all of it!
These are some "blessed for obedience" words...
By Nicole
I broke things off with Michael the following week. He was out of town for a week and I was unable to see him until St. Patties day. It was easier than I expected. I didn't cry until he said "If you knew you were going to break up with me, I wish you wouldn't have made me pay for dinner." He was joking of course and said he was trying to lighten the mood but it made me sad anyhow. Overall, it went really well. Michael said he understood and that he didn't hate me. (a concern of mine) We parted ways and haven't talked since.
I think that this is where God's blessings for obedience come in.
I haven't looked back and have not once felt like I made a mistake after we ended things. I think that is one of the blessings God has bestowed on me for my obedience to His will. People keep asking if I miss Michael, if we are back together, or even talking. I tell them no on all accounts. I don't miss him. I have nothing bad to say about him, he is a great guy, but I really don't miss him and I don't feel the need to talk to him or get back together. I don't know if that sounds kind of callous, but I don't think it is. I think God has blessed me with the peace of knowing he wasn't the one and that is why I feel that way.
Here is where other blessings from God come in.
The day after I broke things off with Michael, I received a text from my friend CJ. He said that another friend of mine, Tonya, had told him that I had asked for a meeting with the Momentum pastor, Jeff. I didn't recall ever talking to Tonya about that but I figured meeting with Jeff couldn't hurt. He is a great leader and I knew we would pray together and I love doing that so I set up a meeting for the following Wednesday.
The weekend before my meeting with Jeff I was blessed to have Erynn and Doug to hang out with. We went out for a nice dinner and then out to a movie. On top of that, a friend of mine from Camber who I hadn't talked to in months, Vanessa, also invited me out to a movie. I already had the plans with Erynn and Doug but it was nice to know Vanessa was thinking about me and wanted to hang out. :) We had a great time that night and actually ran into Vanessa and her friends at the theater. I think it was a message from God letting me know that Vanessa and I would soon be hanging out together.
My meeting with Jeff started like this... Jeff: "So, what's up?" Nicole: "I don't know, I didn't really ask for a meeting, CJ just said Tonya said I did, so I'm not sure." Jeff: "Yeah, there are some people who were concerned about you." :) Apparently, people were concerned about me dating Michael. I had no idea that there were people at Momentum who cared so much about me, enough to talk to Jeff and ask for guidance on how to help me. We talked about how I got into the situation and how to avoid it in the future. It was a good talk and I feel stronger in my conviction to be found by a Godly man who will provide the kind of marriage that puts God in the center of it. The people who went to Jeff were my co-leader Dana and one of the male leaders, John. Dana is a great lady who has been a wonderful support in my growth with God. John is someone who I didn’t really know until this all happened.
Last weekend, the 4th, I was able to hang out with Vanessa, John, Jude and the rest of their “group.” We went to Golfland and played miniature golf. Then we went over to Jude’s house and watched a movie. The night was so much fun! I had such a good time and it was so nice to hang out with such wonderful people. Poor John and Jude had to experience first hand the annoyance of my food allergy but they took it in stride and were actually very sweet about it. It was really nice because they were so concerned about me. :)
This past Friday we all went hiking in the Superstition Mountains. It was a beautiful, perfect day. I had a great time with my new “group.” It is so much fun to be included in such a cool group of people and to be accepted there. We went to a movie that evening and diner after that. It was the best day I have had to date. Great God talk, good clean fun and the growth of some amazing friendships. I am having so much fun getting to know John in particular. He is such a Godly man and we have had some really great God conversations! I am really enjoying having people like him in my life and I am looking forward to growing those relationships.
So all of these things I feel, are the ways God is blessing me for my obedience. I thank Him every day for my new relationships and for blessing me with people in my life who really care. I know God is going to continue to bless me for being obedient to His will. I already have so much to look forward to! I have great people to hang out with now, I’m going to Hawaii with all of them at the end of May, and I am totally stoked about all of it!
These are some "blessed for obedience" words...
By Nicole
Monday, March 9, 2009
Here I am again...
In September I blogged about protecting my heart and learning how to know when to let someone in...
In December I blogged about meeting a really amazing man...
In January I blogged about my struggle...
September should have been a lesson, December I shouldn't have assumed and January should have been a warning.
I have been justifying this to myself the whole time. Michael was kinder to me than anyone in my life has ever been. He did everything in his power to make me happy and even in the midst of this crisis he still says all he wants is for me to be happy. I almost wish he would be mean just so I could feel better about ending things with someone who is so wonderful. Right now I feel like I am ruining something that is really good because of my faith. Its true, that is what I am doing, but it isn't a bad thing, it just feels that way right now. I am struggling because I know it is the right thing to do, that God has someone equally wonderful and then some because that is His promise, and I know that I navigated this situation incorrectly from the beginning. In retrospect I feel like a fool. In reality, I'm only human and I know God forgives me.
These are some These are some "repetitive" words...
By Nicole
In December I blogged about meeting a really amazing man...
In January I blogged about my struggle...
September should have been a lesson, December I shouldn't have assumed and January should have been a warning.
I have been justifying this to myself the whole time. Michael was kinder to me than anyone in my life has ever been. He did everything in his power to make me happy and even in the midst of this crisis he still says all he wants is for me to be happy. I almost wish he would be mean just so I could feel better about ending things with someone who is so wonderful. Right now I feel like I am ruining something that is really good because of my faith. Its true, that is what I am doing, but it isn't a bad thing, it just feels that way right now. I am struggling because I know it is the right thing to do, that God has someone equally wonderful and then some because that is His promise, and I know that I navigated this situation incorrectly from the beginning. In retrospect I feel like a fool. In reality, I'm only human and I know God forgives me.
These are some These are some "repetitive" words...
By Nicole
Monday, December 22, 2008
How could God love me so much?
Really, how could He love us so much?
It is coming very close to Christmas and I have been hearing a lot about the Christmas story. I have heard it all my life but never in the perspective that I have been hearing it lately. You all know the story too I'm sure. Jesus was born to a virgin in a manger etc. etc.... but there is more to it. More meaning than just the birth of Jesus. There is significance to the story that I have never heard about, or rather, it was never the focus of the story so I never got it. So here is what I have learned recently, and the revelation is life changing.
Luke 2:8-11 (NIV) (Bold-ing added by me for emphasis)
8And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord.
So can you get what I'm emphasizing here? Two things this year have been pointed out for me that I never really focused on before and I made the text of those things bold. The first thing is that Jesus was born for us, not as a friend, not as our "homeboy", not as a dictator, or as ruler, but as a SAVIOR. He was born to save us. The other thing is that He was sent for good news for ALL people. Not just a few or chosen people, but for everyone. Everyone who comes to know Him will be saved AND it is the heart of God that everyone come to know Him. I don't know about you but I think that is pretty profound.
Something else I have learned through the talks about the Christmas story:
Luke 2:13-14 (NIV)
13Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."
So we know that God did this amazing thing for ALL people, He sent Jesus, His only son, as our Savior. Something to take from this is also that God does not do things because of our behavior, he sent us a Savior despite of us. We can always be better but God loves us regardless. When we make the relationship with God about our behavior we make the relationship about us and not about God. We need to make it about God because get this,
Glory to God = Peace on earth.
Do you see it? This is what the Christmas story says. If we realize that God loves us so much that regardless of what we've done he still sent us a Savior and we make the relationship about God we give Him the glory He deserves. If we don't give the glory to God we miss the peace that comes with that. When we give the glory to Him there is peace in our hearts. The peace is available to ALL people because God's favor is for everyone.
I don't know about you but I think that it is so amazing that God loves me so much. I don't understand it but I am thankful for it and I accept it as graciously as I can. :)
I give thanks every day for the love of God. For everything that He provides. All I have is because of the Lord's mercy and love. Regardless of my circumstances, regardless of what I have done or do, I am thankful and full of joy and peace because I know I am loved by God. I know I can rest in that peace forever.
These are some "peaceful" words...
By Nicole
It is coming very close to Christmas and I have been hearing a lot about the Christmas story. I have heard it all my life but never in the perspective that I have been hearing it lately. You all know the story too I'm sure. Jesus was born to a virgin in a manger etc. etc.... but there is more to it. More meaning than just the birth of Jesus. There is significance to the story that I have never heard about, or rather, it was never the focus of the story so I never got it. So here is what I have learned recently, and the revelation is life changing.
Luke 2:8-11 (NIV) (Bold-ing added by me for emphasis)
8And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord.
So can you get what I'm emphasizing here? Two things this year have been pointed out for me that I never really focused on before and I made the text of those things bold. The first thing is that Jesus was born for us, not as a friend, not as our "homeboy", not as a dictator, or as ruler, but as a SAVIOR. He was born to save us. The other thing is that He was sent for good news for ALL people. Not just a few or chosen people, but for everyone. Everyone who comes to know Him will be saved AND it is the heart of God that everyone come to know Him. I don't know about you but I think that is pretty profound.
Something else I have learned through the talks about the Christmas story:
Luke 2:13-14 (NIV)
13Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."
So we know that God did this amazing thing for ALL people, He sent Jesus, His only son, as our Savior. Something to take from this is also that God does not do things because of our behavior, he sent us a Savior despite of us. We can always be better but God loves us regardless. When we make the relationship with God about our behavior we make the relationship about us and not about God. We need to make it about God because get this,
Glory to God = Peace on earth.
Do you see it? This is what the Christmas story says. If we realize that God loves us so much that regardless of what we've done he still sent us a Savior and we make the relationship about God we give Him the glory He deserves. If we don't give the glory to God we miss the peace that comes with that. When we give the glory to Him there is peace in our hearts. The peace is available to ALL people because God's favor is for everyone.
I don't know about you but I think that it is so amazing that God loves me so much. I don't understand it but I am thankful for it and I accept it as graciously as I can. :)
I give thanks every day for the love of God. For everything that He provides. All I have is because of the Lord's mercy and love. Regardless of my circumstances, regardless of what I have done or do, I am thankful and full of joy and peace because I know I am loved by God. I know I can rest in that peace forever.
These are some "peaceful" words...
By Nicole
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
We made history today and I was a part of it!
Today we elected Barack Obama to the presidency, as this nation's 44th president.
He is 47 years old, a democrat, and African American.
I think that this is an amazing thing and I am proud of our country for the move forward.
I am really looking forward to seeing what happens next.
I know there are some issues that are of concerns to those of us who are Christian and I understand that many of my friends are going to be upset by the outcome of this election. I have my own thoughts but, what I can say is that I am excited to be a part of such a monumental election, one that our children are going to study and learn about in history books one day.
I pray for Obama's safety. I pray that God gives him wisdom and strength to lead our nation. I pray for his family and for his cabinet to support him and help him do what God leads him to do.
I am so excited. I realized today... I will say to my grand children someday... I elected the first ever African American president and that is a super cool thing I think. It isn't just that though, its more than that, but the historic part of it is pretty neat.
These are some "historically exciting" words...
By Nicole
He is 47 years old, a democrat, and African American.
I think that this is an amazing thing and I am proud of our country for the move forward.
I am really looking forward to seeing what happens next.
I know there are some issues that are of concerns to those of us who are Christian and I understand that many of my friends are going to be upset by the outcome of this election. I have my own thoughts but, what I can say is that I am excited to be a part of such a monumental election, one that our children are going to study and learn about in history books one day.
I pray for Obama's safety. I pray that God gives him wisdom and strength to lead our nation. I pray for his family and for his cabinet to support him and help him do what God leads him to do.
I am so excited. I realized today... I will say to my grand children someday... I elected the first ever African American president and that is a super cool thing I think. It isn't just that though, its more than that, but the historic part of it is pretty neat.
These are some "historically exciting" words...
By Nicole
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Emily's Halloween Costume 2008
This is a video of Stephanie trying Emily's Halloween costume on. I find it HILARIOUS!
These are some "hopping" words...
By Nicole
Friday, September 26, 2008
More pics of Emily
Emily is such a little angel. Most of the time she is all smiles.
Her newest trick is pulling herself up on anything. Here she was on the couch and pulled herself up to look behind it. She is crawling now and she has the funniest way of doing it. She crawls with one foot constantly underneath her. I think she does it because she is just so eager to walk.
A friend of mine was kind enough to give Matthew and Stephanie a bunch of clothes for Emily. This is her new bathing suit thanks to Stu and Stella.
On Mondays and Tuesdays I like to go over and spend some time with Matthew and Emily. We play cards and sometimes backgammon. Here Emily was supposed to be helping me beat Matthew. She isn't very good though cause we lost all 5 games!
Emily really likes lounging in her swing. She props her little leg up and gets comfortable. She just hangs out and enjoys the rhythm of the swing. She looks so funny sitting like that because its such a grown up thing to do. I do that all the time and it is cute to see my niece doing it.
Matthew, Stephanie and I all have blackberry phones. Its nice because we can send pictures to each other with ease. One day Matthew sent me this picture.
He said that she played under there for over half an hour. She is so funny!
Oh.. I love this picture. It shows so perfectly how cute and smiley she is.
Stephanie's mom took this picture. I love how she looks like a baby from a magazine.
Thats more for now. Hope you enjoyed them :)
These are more "photographic" words...
By Nicole
Her newest trick is pulling herself up on anything. Here she was on the couch and pulled herself up to look behind it. She is crawling now and she has the funniest way of doing it. She crawls with one foot constantly underneath her. I think she does it because she is just so eager to walk.A friend of mine was kind enough to give Matthew and Stephanie a bunch of clothes for Emily. This is her new bathing suit thanks to Stu and Stella.
On Mondays and Tuesdays I like to go over and spend some time with Matthew and Emily. We play cards and sometimes backgammon. Here Emily was supposed to be helping me beat Matthew. She isn't very good though cause we lost all 5 games!
Emily really likes lounging in her swing. She props her little leg up and gets comfortable. She just hangs out and enjoys the rhythm of the swing. She looks so funny sitting like that because its such a grown up thing to do. I do that all the time and it is cute to see my niece doing it.
Matthew, Stephanie and I all have blackberry phones. Its nice because we can send pictures to each other with ease. One day Matthew sent me this picture.
He said that she played under there for over half an hour. She is so funny!Oh.. I love this picture. It shows so perfectly how cute and smiley she is.
Stephanie's mom took this picture. I love how she looks like a baby from a magazine.
Thats more for now. Hope you enjoyed them :)
These are more "photographic" words...
By Nicole
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