Author: nikicks

My name is Nicole and I have two blogs. On the Cliff of Life was created when I became chronically ill in high school. I was sick for 3 1/2 years before God healed me of my food allergies, chronic pain, chronic fatigue and so much more. This blog was a great outlet for me when I felt like I was on that "Cliff." Now, as I go through life--I realized that there are still those "cliff-like" moments and the need to encourage one another to become overcomers. KentCreated is my crafting business. I love to create, design and free-hand all of my products. Who knew something that I learned as a child would one day become my passion and career?

Tithe Lesson

June 19, 2018June 19, 2018 by nikicks ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Me: “Who do you want the rest of my tithe money to go to?”

God: “Wait, I will tell you at the right moment.”

Me: “ If I don’t give the money now, I might forget.”

God: “Wait.”

A few days later…

God: “I want you to keep that tithe money for yourself.”

Me thinks to self: *is this a deceiving spirit? Or is God wanting me to keep a part of my tithe money? This HAST to be a deceiving spirit.*

Me: “Are you sure? There are poor people and others who will need it more than me.”

God: “Yes, I am sure.”

Later on…

Me to self: *I cannot spend what God has given me, on myself. He has trusted me with it. I will help someone with what He has given me.*

God: “That is why I wanted you to keep it. I knew that with what I trusted you in little, you would give unto others of what I have given you. Now, this was a lesson. Have I not given you the greatest gift of all? Is my Son not greater than any amount of money? Do not forget to give as you have been given; share as has been shared unto you. Tell of the Greatest Gift. It is worth more than all the money in the world combined.”

Trust Fall Poem

April 4, 2018April 4, 2018 by nikicks ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Trust Fall Exercise

By: Nicole Kent

There once was a man who trusted only in himself
To find happiness, strength and all his wealth

Then one day there were trust exercises at his company
People were falling with arms crossed into the other employees

The coach called the man up for his turn to trust and fall
But the man exclaimed he only needed himself and no one else at all

The coach smiled and said “cross your arms and let go
Let’s see how trusting in yourself will begin to show”

The stubborn man grumbled and started to say
“I will surely fall and injure myself in many gruesome ways”

The coach said, “So you can’t trust yourself when you begin to fall
Let someone care for you, will you let down your guard; your walls?”

The man acquiesced, moved forward and crossed his arms
Falling backwards, the employees caught him before he could come to any harm

Realization came with a warm feeling inside
The man began to trust others and behind his protective wall he could no longer hide

Spiritual Battle

March 4, 2018March 12, 2018 by nikicks ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

The enemy threw spears and shot arrows at me
But his weapons fell against my armor, as useless as an unfitting key

His aim turned desperate in pushing every piece of my protective shield
Trying to find a weakness, but it was unrelenting and would not yield

Laughing at his meager attempts I wielded my sword to scare off my enemy
Knowing the power of God would be revealed for all to see

But as my arm lifted in a deafening blow
He saw a weakness begin to quiver and show

The enemy lifted his eyes in a mocking way
Causing my blade to stutter and sway

He began to mimic the painful words from long ago
That I would never amount to anything, that I should just cower and go

He made me feel like I lost the battle before it had even begun
The lies and fear of a failure whose song has not yet been sung

The enemy began to beat me with his dagger-like speech
I dropped to my knees and felt God’s hand out of reach

I begged God to show me a way to break free
But He said that the power and truth was already given to me

With the realization becoming stronger than before
I stood on the Rock, my salvation, the One who knocked on my heart’s door

I saw the truth that in God I find my identity
Not in the failures or the stinging lies of my enemy

I lifted my sword with a new strength that I had ever known
The enemy cowered and fled when he saw the true power shown

Yes, there will be more battles to be won
Resisting the enemy and fighting, but the war is already finished and done

Be More…

February 4, 2018February 4, 2018 by nikicks ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Be More.

This is not what you expected me to say, is it? In a world that pushes the “be yourself” and “you are great just the way you are” movement, this may sound like a shocker to you. Well, stay with me here…there is a deep meaning behind these two words…

For Instance:

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When someone you know stumbles in their walk of life.

Be More.

Encourage them to overcome that obstacle in their path.

Don’t push them down in an accusing tone. Help them. Encourage to be more, as you, yourself become more than the normal responses of everyday people in everyday life.

++++++++++++++++

When someone has great accomplishments in life, be more than the everyday human/fleshly/jealous response.

Be More.

Don’t search for their flaws and try to bring them down by bringing attention to their imperfections. Be more. Be happy for them. Congratulate them.

+++++++++++++++++

When someone has a different personality than you. Love them, quirks and all, for we as the body of Christ, have been uniquely made.

Body of Christ.

A body is composed of different parts that have their own purpose. A hand cannot expect the foot to do exactly as it does, but it has a purpose in the body. Same way, everyone in the body of Christ has a different purpose but the same goal. This goal is to follow God and serve him in the unique way that He made them…that He made you.

Be More.

Ask God what part of the body your brother or sister in Christ is and how you can encourage them to be who God intended them to be…NOT how God intended YOU to be (*remember the hand and the foot*).

Be More.

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Here are some verses to remember in your “be more” movement (the mission, should you choose to accept it):

“Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:11 NASB
“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” Ephesians 4:29 NIV
“Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.” Philippians 2:3-4
“A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.” Proverbs 11:25 NIV
“The soothing tongue is a tree of life…” Proverbs 15:4 NIV
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” Proverbs 18:21 NASB
“Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.” Proverbs 16:24 NASB

*This message will NOT self-destruct in 10 seconds* 😉

Speaking Against the Wind

January 20, 2018January 23, 2018 by nikicks ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

The girl whispered against the wind, but her words were thrust back to her face with the powerful gust. Why do I continue to speak against something so strong? My breath returns to me as if I never spoke. Why do I even try?

Then a voice cut through the walls surrounding her heart saying, “You speak against the wind for you wish it to blow a different way. You wish there to be a change…but why do you do it on your own strength? Why not first speak to the One who created those winds, why not speak to the One who created your breath…why not speak to Me?”

The girl shed a tear, but it too was blown away with the powerful wind. I can do this, I got this, God has given me the power.

The voice continued, “I have given you power to trample the serpent under your feet, to give command to the storm, and to heal the broken…but have you left your first love? Have you forgotten to listen to Me? I will guide you, so your aim will be true as an arrow to its target. It was never on your shoulders to make everything right, but it was for you to listen to Me, and I will make everything right.”

The girl’s shoulders slumped as she began to fight the burden that held power over her for so long. Then, deciding to give it to Him, she let go and fell to her knees. With head bowed, she waited and listened. Peace filled her heart and beat against the walls causing them to crumble. The girl was reminded of the love her Father had for her. Have I been lacking in sharing this love to others? This realization was a shock…but awakened something in her that desperately needed to be shaken from its deep sleep…

After some time, the voice spoke to her. “Now, get up my child and speak to the wind with the realization that has come into your heart. You see, dear one, you were trying to speak against the wind with your heart so guarded (you had such a hardness of heart). You wished for it to be changed, but the bitterness inside you was a stumbling block to your belief.”

The girl got up, and spoke to the wind. She smiled as her breath didn’t return to her but penetrated the powerful gust and went further than she ever would’ve imagined. You see, she had been speaking to the wind with the wrong mindset; the wrong heart…and in her own strength. She had forgotten the greatest part…Love.

∴∴∴∴∴∴∴∴∴∴∴∴∴∴∴∴∴∴∴∴∴∴∴∴∴∴∴∴∴∴∴∴∴∴∴∴∴∴∴∴∴∴∴∴∴∴∴∴∴∴∴∴∴∴∴∴

End thought: Love is great. Love is greater when it is first discovered that God has an infinite love for us. Love is greatly shared when we remember to “love because He first loved us” and to pray for those who need that love.

End thought to the end thought: When we speak to the “winds” in our life, with the realization that we are loved by God and find our identity in Him, we can conquer more than our puny minds can comprehend. Our words will be carried through the storm and penetrate to the depths of need by the power of God.

End verse to the end thought of the end thought:

“If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. ²If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. ³And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing.” 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 NASB

Pure as Snow

January 2, 2018January 3, 2018 by nikicks ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Me: *Points to area on white shirt.*

Me: “But what about this spot?”

God: “I don’t see anything.”

Me: *Points to new area on shirt*

Me: “What about this dirty stain? This one has to be the worst yet.”

God: “I see you pure as snow. Why do you keep searching for old stains that aren’t there anymore?”

Me: “I remember them…are they always to haunt me?”

God: “Were you not forgiven? Was My Son’s sacrifice not enough for you?”

Me: “I know it should be, but the bullies of past…their words feel like words etched deeper than the shirt. Like I am always to see myself through their eyes.”

God: “You have put much in man’s opinion of you…find your identity in Me. Every time you remember the hurts & the pains, remember Me. Every time you remember the wrongs done unto you or even your own wrongdoings, remember Me…”

Me: *Stops searching for the marks of the past and focuses on God.*

God: “…every time you feel like searching your pure white shirt, remember that it was bestowed upon you. Remember that I have given you the greatest stain remover, an eternal one…lasting forever…remember Me.”

Will You Still Love Me?

December 26, 2017December 29, 2017 by nikicks ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Will You Still Love Me?
By: Nicole Kent

Will you still love me with my frizzy hair
With curls galore; going everywhere

Will you still love me with a zit on my face
Big as a fist on my forehead; hard to misplace

Will you still love me with puffy eyes
Not from crying but from a restless sleep below the night skies

Will you still love me when my weight fluctuates
As the scale jumps around beneath my undecided weight

Will you still love me when wrinkles and crinkles appear
As a testament of my gaining on in more years

Will you still love me in sickness and wealth
Both can change life in an instant no matter how stealth

Will you still love me when you find out I do not look like the women on TV
Imperfections becoming unfolded…but will you flee?

Will you still love me as I was, am, and will become
The journey will be great if your love is deeper than some

Will you still love me as I love you
Looking past the world’s desires and views

Will you still love me…?

Bitter or Better?

December 10, 2017December 26, 2017 by nikicks ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

There once were two girls who walked down a tree-laden path. One day, a couple bullies were hiding in some fruit trees, waiting for the girls to come near.

The mean kids threw the freshly-picked oranges at the girls’ heads. Sadly, their aim was true, causing the girls to fall backwards at the fruit-flavored impact. Bruised and battered with a few scrapes here and there, Girl #1 bent down to help up Girl #2. They then grabbed the fruity weapons, but alas the bullies had already come and gone.

Talk about a “hit and run.”

Girl #1 brushed off the fruit and began peeling it. “At least we got something positive out of the dastardly thing that happened to us.”

Girl #2 did not respond but the scowl on her face was evidence of her anger. She too brushed off her orange, but instead of eating the fruit, she partook of the peel. Bitterness filled her mouth…her whole being. All she could see was the peel, causing the sweet/positive fruit to become discarded.

Girl #1 was ready to move on due to not holding onto the bitterness; however, Girl #2 began to see the world in the most pessimistic way…just waiting for someone to throw something at her again. Because of her suspiciousness, she drove the possibility of more friendships away. She even turned against Girl #1, taking out her past frustrations on her…

Girl #2 couldn’t fathom how her friend could be so happy after being so hurt. One day she asked her, “Why do you continuously seem to be happy after each bully threatens to steal your joy away?”

Girl #1 smiled, and responded with, “Remember when you and I were hit with oranges?” seeing her friend nod she continued, “Well, if you recall, I ate of the fruit. It was sweet and reminded me that there will always be a positive found within a negative circumstance. Sometimes you have to look deep for it (like past the peel of the orange) and it will be there.”

Girl #2 wanted the happiness so much, that she gave up her eating of the bitter peel and dove deeper into what could fill her true hunger in life. She began to partake of the sweetness in life. It took some time, but the bitterness went away as she became full on the fruit’s happiness.

In conclusion, we all have the choice to be Girl #1 or Girl #2…which part of the fruit will you eat?

Needy Vs. in Need

August 18, 2017December 26, 2017 by nikicks ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

We can do Godly things for people, but we should not become “God” to them. There is one God and He is the only One who can truly supply every one of our needs.

Yes, there are needy people, but there are true people in need.

People in Need:

Rarely ask for help.
Are gracious for your help.
Don’t expect items, money, gifts, time, etc. from you.
Are usually wanting to reciprocate the kindness in some way.
I have noticed that these are the people that you feel drawn to. Like God has put something on your heart to help them.
Do not always appear like they are in need…but like I stated on the previous bullet, you feel drawn towards them. God usually tells you what they need.

Needy People:

Demand things from you.
Expect you to give money, clothes, anything that they see around your house.
Expect you to come to them at the “drop of a hat.”
Want you to take care of them when they are unwilling to take care of themselves.
Usually use “guilt” to get want they want.
I have noticed that this type of person will use you and abuse you.

By becoming God to the needy people, we are trying to supply their every need. Whether it is physically being there (helping with deeds around the house, etc.), supporting them financially, or even supporting them emotionally. We can be there for them, to some extent, but we cannot always be there. That is God’s place.

Example:

If we did try to take God’s place and supply their every need…what purpose would they need the one true God for? By being overly giving to the needy person, we could become a stumbling block to their walk with God.

o I don’t know about you, but I have found God in the darkest times of my life; when He was the only One that could supply my needs. If someone stepped in and took that place, would I have found God on such a substantial level?

Discerning when it is time to lend a hand or point them to the direction of God.

Sit down and pray about the situation (It’s time to use that “walking and talking relationship with God”).
Remember, God doesn’t condone guilt. It doesn’t come from Him(Paul).
Don’t let people guilt you into giving.
When you have that urge from God to give to a certain person at a certain time, do it. You will never know what giving to someone feels like until you do it with God’s guidance.

Have a good day, brothers and sisters, and may we never stop learning and listening in our walking/talking relationship with God.

-Nikicks

Works Cited

Paul. Romans 8:1. n.d. <https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+8%3A1&version=NASB>.

The Domino Effect

July 7, 2017February 14, 2021 by nikicks ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

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Look at the dominoes in this picture. Now imagine each domino is a person who has been hurt by another (the pieces, one-by-one, knocking into each other). We have a choice to either let the hurt be harvested and continue on by pushing our neighbor down…or we can rise above the hurt and chose to let the vicious cycle end with us.
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It’s our choice (and what a difficult choice it is).
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Bitter or Better?