Walking Amongst the Thorns

May 17, 2022May 17, 2022 by nikicks ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Last night, I was just finishing-up my animal chores and came back inside, then remembered one last chore I had to do.

Heading back outside, I realized I had forgotten my shoes and stopped at the edge of the lawn—gazing at the thorny expanse between me and my destination.

A slight whisper said, “Walk through it, you will not get any thorns–for I will protect you.”

At this moment, I knew God was going to give me an analogy…but should I trust Him? Could He just tell me the punch line–without my actually crossing the foot-aching path? Because, last week, I legit tried walking across it barefoot and got 4-5 thorns in my feet (these are the thorns that seem to attack in groups–after a well thought out plan). 😬🥴 #shescoming #attack

I sighed, and with a combination of laziness of not getting my shoes and a dash of faith, I set my eyes on my destination and walked regularly across the thorny weeds, did my chore, and walked back across…and you know what? I didn’t get a single thorn in my foot. 👀

God then said, “When you are in thorny–troublesome surroundings…I will be with you. I will not forsake you. Even when you don’t feel prepared–I will make a way for you.”

You see, if I was properly prepared, I would’ve brought my sandals. I don’t know about you, but I ALWAYS desire to be prepared. Especially with these last few years of absolute craziness, the stress of preparing for what may come–has, at times, been a burden…and there are moments when I am tired or may forget to “wear sandals” during a thorny path ahead.

End thought: It’s fine to prepare…but God’s got our back even if we aren’t. ♥️

The Unfitting Puzzle Piece

March 27, 2020 by nikicks ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

~ We are the body of Christ—of one mind ~

Have you ever felt like you were the puzzle piece that was shoved into the wrong place—never truly fitting in?

Well, there’s a chance that you weren’t meant to be there.

Many times, there are people with opinions who speak on what you need to do in life—how to live and especially how to serve (Don’t get me wrong—serving is important but there are many outlets and God has a specific one for you). They do believe that they are helping because they’ve had such amazing experience with what God led them to and through—but there is a chance that God is calling you to something different.

Okay, let’s consider this term, “Body of Christ.” We each have a potential role like the parts in a body—the eyes for seeing what others do not, the much needed listening ears, the voice to speak to millions, the helping hands behind the scenes, the feet that guide us in the right direction, etc. and the head—that should always be Christ’s position—guiding the eyes, the ears, the voice, the helping hands, and the feet to be of one mind.

We all have a purpose and just because it may be different than yours, does not mean it is the wrong path—it might just be different than others. It may be a path so unique that you are paving a way for others with the same unique calling.

The hand needs the wrist and the wrist needs the forearm and the forearm—the elbow. These body parts work together wonderfully…just like the puzzle piece finding the right spot to fit with others of similar calling.

Yes, we all work together in the body of Christ, but I want you to know that if you feel that nudge on your heart from God—calling you elsewhere—pray. There is a chance you’re not in the right spot.

Hey, and let me just say, you are doing great. You got this because God has got you and knows where you’re supposed to be—question is, will you let Him?

Love is…

December 10, 2019February 1, 2020 by nikicks ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

I recently asked God what areas of my life I specifically need to work on and instead of dumping all the “fine tunings” that my imperfect self needs, He led me to the 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NASB

Me reading: “Love is patient—”

God: “Stop right there. I want you to break-down this passage and focus on one aspect of love each day. Today, look at your personality towards others. Is there an area that you are lacking patience? Maybe it is with someone who has a trying personality or maybe it is yourself—maybe you need to give yourself time to grow and continue to transform to whom I’ve called you to be.”

Patient: bearing pains or trials calmly or without complaint
: not hasty or impetuous
: steadfast despite opposition, difficulty or adversity

Over the next several weeks, I’m going to read through 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 and am going to break-down and meditate on each part of what love truly is and should be. Follow along on my Instagram account: https://www.instagram.com/onthecliffoflife/

Side Note:

This last weekend, I read these verses with someone I know, and they stated, “In all my life, I have NEVER met a person who has succeeded at all of these testaments of love.”

My response: “Maybe it was meant for us to meditate on before we speak or respond, so that our words would be spoken through the filter of love. Maybe it is something for us to strive for—a goal.”

Their response: “I like the verse, ‘Cease striving and know that I am God.’ So, we shouldn’t be ‘striving.’” (Psalm 46:10 NASB)

My response: “I do believe that we are not to strive to a point of self-condemnation or guilt, but shouldn’t we try to be better than who we were yesterday?” (If God didn’t believe in change, then He wouldn’t have sent His Son to die for us, in the hope that we all would one day come to know Him and be transformed in the forgiveness that He so willingly gives)

Their response: “That is true and a different version of the Bible—the Amplified—translates Psalm 46:10 to ‘Be still and know that I am God.’

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I find it interesting that “strive” has two definitions…

Strive: to devote serious effort or energy; endeavor
Strive: to struggle in opposition; contend

So, the “striving” in Psalm 46:10 is most likely to struggle in opposition. “Cease struggling and know that I am God” or “Cease contending and know that I am God.”

The amplified version says to “be still” and I just had to break-down that word as well.

Still: calm, tranquil

“Be calm and know that I am God.”

It is amazing to dive more into the definitions of what we once imagined the true meaning of a word or verse. Where I was considering that we should strive to be better, as in, “devoting serious effort or endeavoring,” the person I was conversing with considered that Psalm 46:10 meant the same thing—which endeavoring and contending are opposite in meaning. #HearIGoAgain

Endeavor
- to work with set purpose
- to attempt (something, such as the fulfillment of an obligation) by exertion of effort
Contend
- to strive in debate: argue
- struggle

Sources: Word definitions from Merriam Webster Online Dictionary, Bible verses from NASB & AMP

An Ageless Lifetime in a Day

September 7, 2019 by nikicks ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

An Ageless Lifetime in a Day
By: Nicole Renee Kent

If we lived an ageless lifetime in a day
Would we care about what people say

Would we follow God without doubt or dismay
If we lived an ageless lifetime in a day

Would we know that everything would be okay
Would we stay the course and not be tempted to stray

Would we not put stock in the petty things people display
Would we place the worries aside—far away

Would we see life as vibrant colors and not a subtle grey
Would we know it’s never too late to be something new—molded like clay

Would we notice that life is something more than a mere cliché
Would we understand that there is hope amongst the disarray

Would we catch a glimpse of a magnificent ending that is underway
Would we open our hearts now, instead of waiting someday

Would we change our ways to prepare ourselves for heaven’s résumé
If we lived an ageless lifetime in a day

© Nicole Renee Kent and On the Cliff of Life [2013-current year] Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Nicole Renee Kent and On the Cliff of Life with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Our Country

July 9, 2019July 9, 2019 by nikicks ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Our Country
By: Nicole Renee Kent

What has our country come to be
Is it still the home the brave—the land of the free?

With basing laws and regulations on how we feel
Are we losing what is moral—what is real?

What is right—what is wrong
Division, strife—will we ever get along?

Debates turn to tearing one’s character to the ground
Not fighting with facts—cutting with lies that the media spreads around

Have we forgotten to listen to both sides
Using our own brain—thinking for ourselves—no longer letting the falsehoods abide?

We were meant to have two parts of government—showing different views
To see each other’s sides without the vision becoming askew

As iron sharpens iron—the two parts were meant to debate
Finally coming together in a compromise—not in an unrelenting hate

But has our government become engorged with wealth and status itself
Being bought beneath the table—turning their own views by being paid in stealth

Freedom of speech has been choked from what is viewed as wrong
But is that not what thinking for ourselves is—what makes our country strong?

Chasing Reflections

February 10, 2019February 10, 2019 by nikicks ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Chasing Reflections
by: Nicole Kent

Driving to work each and every week day
Beginning to memorize the same cars that weaved and swayed

I noticed a girl who seemed to sing with all her might
Not caring who saw her expressions…(which may have been a fright)

I got used to seeing her along my usual drive
Smiling at her contagious grin that seemed ever to thrive

No matter what day it was, she made best of it
Going to and from work, singing songs that never seemed to quit

But one day, I noticed tears in her eyes
Attempting to sing- but the sorrow wouldn’t be disguised

I waved at her and tried to make her smile as she once did for me
But her focus was on nothing, heartbreaking-urging her to flee

I followed and tried to signal her to stay
But she began to leave as if I chased her away

Soon losing track of her, I continued to drive on
When all-of-a-sudden, the sun made a revelation dawn

Looking at the lighted reflection in the window I began to see
That the girl was not someone else…but was me

I chased after the smiles and joys I once knew
Instead of focusing on the One who can heal and renew

I grasped for the happiness that was once there
But needed to look nowhere else but the One who can repair

I believe the One knew to light my way
Revealing that my reflection was here to stay

Open Bible & Heart Poem

September 3, 2018September 3, 2018 by nikicks ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Poem by: Nicole Kent (@onthecliffoflife )

•
Do not fear
For God is near
•
Do not be shook
By man’s deprivational look
•
Pick up the truth, the Word
The hope, the healing, where burdens are deferred
•
The desires of your heart He will provide
Under his love you will abide
•
Don’t be afraid my neighbors, my friends
For we know the truth and the forgiving end
•
Open up your Bible and your heart
Knowing it’s not to late to start

Left Lane Ends

June 26, 2018June 27, 2018 by nikicks ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

I was driving to work and saw the ever-known orange road construction signs. *sigh* One sign signified that the lane to the left would end, so I stayed on the right. Suddenly, almost all the cars in front of me started going to the LEFT LANE. I began to doubt that I read the sign correctly. After steering my car to the left, I soon came to a halt. You want to guess why? The left lane ended. The sign was right. The people in front of me were wrong…AND I FOLLOWED THEM.

While waiting for a kind driver to let me squeeze back into the CORRECT lane, God decided to bring in a “spiritual lesson” to beat some time.

Spiritual Lesson:

God: “Have I not given you directions on where to go? Have you not doubted my Word and decided to go the way of the crowd?”

Me: “This is some ‘pep-talk’ before work today. Thanks, God.” *sigh* “But, yes. I know You, yet I have gotten swayed by taking my eyes off your guidance and by going by the way of the majority.”

God: “It is easy to sway in the way of the world, but I have overcome the world. You need not look to where the group is going, for their way is a large path where many will enter…go by the narrow path where few are called.”

Me: “Technically, everyone who was in the wrong lane began scrambling to get back towards the correct lane (especially when they realized the end of the road was near).”

God: “Exactly. When the end is near, and they see their errors, they will try to come back…but for some, it will be too late. Keep your eyes upon Me and listen to My direction.”

Me: “What about the cars to the right that stop to let the wrong lane back in?”

God: “They are willing to help those be free of their wrong path. Will you be one of them?”

Me: “What if the person who wants back in was the one that cut me off earlier?”

God: “What about grace? You should be excited that they want to go on the right path and turn from their error.”

Me: “I see your point…but we’re still talking metaphorically, right? Not in handling real traffic, right?”

God: “….”

Me: “Hello?”

********************************

End Note:

Don’t you just love when God uses those simple day experiences to teach you a life lesson? Whether driving to work, being at work or even being at home, God will meet you where you’re at. He will use those “interesting moments” to speak to your heart. Let’s just say, there are many lessons that God has been revealing to me when I drive through traffic (and I might just share a few more of the stories with you).

What and where has God been speaking to your heart recently? Please share in the comment section below.

P.S. (A nice driver let me squeeze back into the correct lane. Thank you kind sir! 😉)

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

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>.