Tag: challenging

Breaking before the Storm

Breaking before the Storm

by nikicks ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

One of the biggest strategies of Satan is not that he brings a storm into our lives…but that he wears us down right before the torrent comes. 🌊

He does this by disrupting our focus on God and putting it on ourselves and everything around us. Little things in everyday life that seem to force our attention elsewhere.

Soon, we may be at a point where we forgot to read the Bible in the morning or talk to God or even pray about our day or situation. 🙏

We then act and react on our own judgement, understanding and anxiety/stress as we miss God’s bigger picture.

Stress makes us react faster and demands an answer or solution ASAP. Then our own judgement fails because we are relying upon what we see and our other earthly senses.

Does God not give us peace in the storm? Does He not give us foresight about the “behind the scenes” and everyone’s hearts?

We must remind ourselves that the devil comes to steal, kill and destroy…and he tends to start with the smallest seemingly insignificant things that have a rippling effect that influences how we deal with bigger trials and tribulations.

I continually ask myself that if I’m having a tough day–did I start it with God? Did I pray that morning? Did I talk to Him?

By focusing on God in a day-to-day basis, we will be like the man who built his house upon the rock. The storm came but his was set upon a firm foundation–just like we are with God. (See Matthew 7:24-27) #OnChristthisSolidRockIStand #AllOtherGroundIsSinkingSand

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Be More…

Be More…

by nikicks ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

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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.

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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.

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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

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

Pure as Snow

Pure as Snow

by nikicks ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

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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.”

Road Trip

Road Trip

by nikicks ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

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Running with endurance reminds me of driving a car…I scan the road ahead to see if any objects get in my way (looking for stumbling blocks in my life), glance in the rear-view mirror (my past-which should not be dwelled upon but rather glanced at to remember from where I’ve come), and focus on my end goal. I do not see the whole journey ahead of me…there will be twists, bumps, and possibly crashes (which seems to put a stop in the journey-but instead, strengthens you for the rough roads ahead)…I do not have time to dwell on these things, for there is a greater calling to get back on this road again and finish what was started.

I have recently been stuck in the web of thoughts on what I should do in my life. My “car” began to stall and instead of going anywhere, I wasted time on what I imagined I could do instead of doing it. Have you ever had those days? Where you think that you could do something better in life but forget what you could do in a day with what you have? Hmmm…