Tag: self-help

Walking Amongst the Thorns

Walking Amongst the Thorns

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). đŸ˜ŹđŸ„Ž #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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An Ageless Lifetime in a Day

An Ageless Lifetime in a Day

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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 rĂ©sumĂ©
If we lived an ageless lifetime in a day

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.

 

 

 

Life is Not a Straight Line

Life is Not a Straight Line

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Me: *Draws a straight, perfect line*

Me to God: “There we go. This is my life plan, a straight path.”

God: “You do realize that most paths wind around different objects and obstacles, like mountains, trees and other landmarks
”

Me: “But how can I see the end goal—how can I follow the path where I cannot see where I’m going—like a straight path would allow? Also, if there are many turns and bumps in the road, how can I keep-up my speed
and what happens if there is a fork in the road⁈”

God: “Just begin at the path and take a step forward. Do not presume or worry about what may be around the next curve, for I am with you. I am with you the moment you take a step—till the end—where we will meet face to face
then into eternity. There will be bumps in the road, warnings of loose rocks, forks along the path—but that’s what life is. Life will have its difficulties—but you have Me. I can guide your steps, help you over those ‘bumps in the road,’ shield you from the falling rocks and help you determine which way to go when multiple paths come before you.”

Me: “Sometimes, I wish you’d just fly my family and me on a private jet to heaven and forget this curvaceous—annoying path.”

God: “You do realize that planes and jets have a path set for them too
and there are storms and turbulence in the sky, just as below.”

Me: “
but You would be the captain and tell the skies to be still…”

God: “Yes, either I would calm the skies or help you to fly through them and guide your landing. It is not the path but your perception of it. If you look at the trial in your path, you can either be overcome by it or be an overcomer.”

Me: “Okay, is there a ‘fast-pass’ for this said trial?”

God: “Maybe the trial is a part of the refining
”

Me: “I feel pretty refined already—if I were a rock that was being sanded down—I would be a speck. Although, I admit that I do know of others who have had more tribulations—worse ones at that—and some seem to even be smiling through it.”

God: “It’s their perception of their circumstances. Some see their trials as just a small detour on the journey of a greater destination.”

Me: “How do I acquire perception like theirs?”

God: “You focus on Me. You see, you have been focusing on the undulating path and what could go wrong, instead of turning your eyes on Me. You didn’t give Me a chance to bless you through it for I give you My peace. Think of the times when trials have come your way
what were you focusing on when you were most stressed?”

Me: “I focused on the issue and how it could be handled or should’ve been handled. At that time, I couldn’t hear Your voice.”

God: “You didn’t seek Me first in your trial.”

Me: “I tried, but had to move on in life.”

God: “And you continued to try handling it on your own
”

Me: “A burden I never want to bear again
”

God: “A burden you were never meant to have. So you see, the trials you’ve tried dealing with—were on your own. Don’t be afraid based on your past experiences—it is time to live.”

Trust Fall Poem

Trust Fall Poem

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Hands2Trust 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

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.”

Needy Vs. in Need

Needy Vs. in Need

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.

  1. Sit down and pray about the situation (It’s time to use that “walking and talking relationship with God”).
  2. Remember, God doesn’t condone guilt. It doesn’t come from Him(Paul).
  3. Don’t let people guilt you into giving.
  4. 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&gt;.

Pebble in the Shoe

Pebble in the Shoe

by nikicks ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

 

“I cannot go on like this,” said the girl, overwhelmed by life itself.


God: Trust…in Me. Take day by day for life is full of sorrows by waiting and yearning for tomorrow. When people drain you, do not wallow in your dehydration. I am the living water; I will fill you up. 
When people suck the air out of you, I will breathe into the breath of life. When people are like a storm threatening to break and beat you down, remember that you are built upon the rock. Do not let the enemy deceive you into believing you are built upon the sand! 


Take off your spectacles for I have already given you sight…do not believe that you must earn all my blessings. I am not like people around you. I give freely…you just have to open your present and don’t let the enemy steal it from you.


Do not fear in what you may lose, but hope in what you will gain.


Inadequacy is a lie. You are made perfect in the Greatest Sacrifice. I will call you accordingly to how I made you. Do you not believe that your interests are important to Me? Far from it! I love you and I will use you…use you in your uniqueness. Trust in Me.

 

Side note: You may talk to God about the pebble in your shoe, and He will address the rocky area where you traveled. He knows what you’ve been through…what you’re going through. The pebble will become heavier the longer you hold onto it.


Take time to speak to God…go for a walk by a stream and skip rocks across the water (throw your pebble out while you’re at it!).
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Becomings of a Butterfly

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Becomings of a Butterfly

Some days are difficult especially when I look through the transparent film that separates me from the rest of the world, and see people who have already broken forth and are flying about.
I must remember when God sees that I am ready, I will break forth, spread my wings, and fly. He is just taking His time in the moulding and shaping of me in the cocoon.

“Behold, You desire truth in the innermost being, And in the hidden part You will make me know wisdom.” Psalm 51:6

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