Walking Amongst the Thorns

Walking Amongst the Thorns

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. ♥️

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Breaking before the Storm

Breaking before the Storm

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

Walk with Me Again

Walk with Me Again

Walk with Me 2

Walk with Me Again
By: Nicole Renee Kent

God asked me to take a walk with Him
And as I took a step forward–He led my gaze within

He removed the blinders and opened my eyes to see
Of who I am–compared to who I was meant to be

Stripping the walls I’ve built around my heart
From past wounds–where I pushed others from me–far apart

God revealed errors of my past without condemnation
To help me better understand the meaning of salvation

As I looked at my heart, bare before my God, my friend
I asked Him what areas He desired to be–to touch and mend

He responded, “I want it all and every bit
And for you to use My Word–My heavenly first aid kit

For all has been given to you to walk in this world of woes
To see beyond the false pretention and to truly know

Grasp my hand, dear one, and continue to walk with Me
For I will always be with you and help you to see”

Spiritual Battle

Spiritual Battle

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

Pure as Snow

Pure as Snow

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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.”

Piggy Wiggy

Piggy Wiggy

God: Don’t throw your pearls before swine.


Me: Can Christians still be pigs? Cause I believe I’ve seen a few.


God: They’ve been freed from the pigpen but some do not know how to live differently…and they still yearn for the muddy mess. 
Don’t fall for the sinking mud pits…there are fresh pastures to explore.


Me: What of the pork chops that wander too far past the pasture?


God: They are no longer swine but transformed with knowing Me and they can never go too far with Me. Walk deeper and I will walk with you deeper still.


Me: I guess, I’m thinking about the “religious” piggies who totally wig out on info of You but continually run into a wall and can’t see past it.


God: Ah, that is the brother of the old pig pen. It looks nice and clean and when one compares it to the old pigsty, it looks like heaven…and that’s just what the blind thinks it is. They feel secure within its fencing and everything seems in order…but there is no life…just a detour that takes lost souls off their free range. They continually run into the fencing but never understand that they are trapped.


Me: Huh, thank you for this convo.


God: You’re welcome piggy.


Me: Hey! I thought I was transformed by You!


God: Yes, but remember from where you came…there were times when you didn’t want to leave the pigsty and moments where you were trapped in the delusion of the clean pen. Remember where you were, remember how I saved you, and help others to know.
The Girl in the Meadow

The Girl in the Meadow

The soft tendrils of the meadow flowers glided through her fingers as she made her way through thought-provoking valleys.
Which way to turn?
Which way to go?
She had lost her way in such beauty. The breeze caressed her hair with care…a voice on the wind’s tongue called her. She could not stop; could not wait for those calling behind her…for they did not see what she saw…for where her vision grasped the beauty…others only saw weeds…where she saw hope…others envisioned a desert of darkness.

Not to fear (for the unseeing ones) for she once did not see what she grasps in her vision now…not too long ago she saw darkness and despair. It wasn’t until she called out for help…that a wind with a whisper came a response and a call to take action. As a pounding tremor in her chest grew, she made her way through thick forests of doubt. Trees grasped at her; trying to plant their seeds of fear and death in her mind.
The path grew more precarious and the dread covered her like an old, ratty cloak.
“Help, I cannot do this alone!”
“I am here dear one, listen to My voice. Shed your doubtful cloak and do not water the seeds anymore. Let us destroy the lies with truth. Get up and follow me.”

As she followed the wind, the voice became clearer and began to permeate a shield throughout her. She continues walking and following the voice to this day.

God gave me an image of the girl in the meadow. This girl resembled me but was much stronger on leaning on the “whispering wind” that guided her, than I was with following God.
After I saw this picture, God told me these simple but powerful words: “Keep Running.” I did not name this girl because “she” can be any of us.

“Let us run the race set before us…”

Valley👉Hill👉Mountain

Valley👉Hill👉Mountain

In Valleys, In Hills, In Glorious Mountains

By: Nicole K.

The battles you are fighting are never small
For you must practice climbing hills before mountains so tall
From far away the high cliffs look scary and steep
But as you take the first step, you realize you are no longer weak
Now, it seems more possible to accomplish what you once desired
Facing your fear; walking away from the eternal fire
Strengthen your legs as you follow Him
By starting in the valley and hills that lead to the mountain
Do not feel the failure when you trip and fall
For the One who is with you can and will heal all
The high cliffs are just the beginning of earth’s end
There is yet a greater journey just around the bend
Where sorrow and tears will flow no more
As we stand in front of heaven’s open doors
So, let us start this adventure that is ahead
And follow the One who died for us and freely bled

Artichoke Poem

Artichoke Poem

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Image by: Jessica Yee

Artichoke

by: Nicole K.

I once was an artichoke, keeping my petals tight and firm
But then the heat of the day made my green shield waver and squirm
Thankfully the Gardner came to my aid
Watering my roots as I began to fade
Then something happened I did not expect
The Gardner picked me from my bush and I began to fret
My prickly petals were trimmed of their spikes
And I was put into boiling water…losing my strength; my might
I fought as hard as I could but the hot water surrounded me
Causing my petals and heart to become tender as I thought they would never be
I was plucked from the heat, exhausted and weak
Too tired to put up a fight…my future looked very bleak
The Gardner then pulled my petals away
Leaving my heart for all to see on display
Now, I understand what it means to let my petals go
And have a tender heart for everyone to see and everyone to know
It took being refined by heat
And the Garndner’s hands that trimmed me so neat
Yes, there are times when I yearn for my petals to be near
But with my Gardner by my side, I have nothing to fear