I have had something on my mind the last day or two. Children.
I think we as Christians (myself included) don't give children of all ages enough credit.
I believe that children can work miracles, evangelize, get visions or use any of the spiritual gifts just as an adult can.
I believe the Spirit of God is powerful and it can work through anyone regardless of age and for that matter regardless of how long you have been a believer.
As a parent myself of a wonderful little girl I look at her and think she could impact and change lives for the Lord. When thinking about this my mind actually drifts to when she is "older."
I think the Lord has been convicting me the last couple days showing me NO Nikke she can impact and change lives now, a year from now or even 4 years from now.
I thought I had always believed this but I guess I haven't completely when I take a deeper look at my minds process.
I think it is time as Christian parents (again me included) to tell our kids and really believe it that they can do ANYTHING through the Spirit of the Lord.
I do not want to be the one that has held my daughter back from doing God's work because I thought she was too young.
This has just been on my mind and heart lately and I hope I have made some sense here.
So, in closing.
Lord, I pray that you would shape and mold me as a parent to guide and direct Chloe as You see fit. I pray that I can be a good example and I can teach her of your ways and not my own. I pray that You will use her mightily to expand your kingdom.
Lord, she is your child and you have blessed Adam and I with her and we thank you and praise you!
Amen.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Friday, January 30, 2009
20 seconds of revelation
angie here..
i haven't blogged in a long time.
too long.
i got into the bad habit after a while of feeling that i didnt really need God in my life whether or not i wanted to admit it. i stopped trusting him and i stopped making him the center of my life because i seemed to be doing just fine on my own. you see none of this was intentional. i hadn't really realized what was happening til about a week ago when God sort of gave me a little kick in the rear since it was about the only way he could get my attention. at the time it was about 6:40 in the morning and i was riding the bus to school listening to my ipod as always and i had it on shuffle.
All I Need Is You by Hillsongs came on. It had been a while since i listened to Hillsongs. I started singing along and soon realized that the words I was saying were empty because I felt that I didn't truly need God.. an alarm went off in my head and it became apparent to me how messed up my thinking had come to be. it has also been awhile since i've been able to attend a church service at the celebration center. but when this brick hit me something pastor chris said during the last sermon i had heard of his popped into my head. that Jesus can save us by giving us eternal life yes, but sometimes we need to be saved in a different way by him. i remember pastor chris specifically mentioning being saved by a way of thinking.
I asked the Lord to do this. to save me from this way that I was thinking.. this trap being set up for myself
and of course he did. and i became so overwhelmed with this i realized that the only way i would truly realize that God was all I needed was for him to take everything away from me. for me to see then that He is more than enough when there is nothing else left in this world for me. You always hear "God giveth and God taketh away" but for the first time I saw how God taking away can be an immense blessing rather than a curse. truly immense. in about 10 seconds time i went from being ignorant to learning one of the most important lessons of my life. i understood why theres death. why theres pain here. why theres tragedy why nothings perfect because through suffering we find the true glory of God. in a way we couldnt if the world was providing us all we needed. i had known already that suffering was a way for us to grow closer to God but i had never understood it on this level before.
the more trials and suffering we have the closer we get to God.
and then something else amazing happened! all these little fears i didnt know i had subsided. and i was aware of it because i suddenly i didnt care if my home burnt down. if i lost all my possessions. if my hands got cut off and i couldnt draw anymore. if i didnt have anyones approval. if all my friends suddenly turned their backs on me and abandoned me. my attachments to all these things snapped because not only did i realize that God was all i needed.. but i saw myself wishing that i had more hardships in my life because i wanted so badly to know God on a new insanely intamite level. i found myself asking the Lord to throw something at me.. to show me true struggles if thats what it took for me to see His glory. all in about 20 seconds.
i'm not sure why but i feel as though God wanted me to blog about all of this. i'm not sure who's going to read it or if anyones going to read it at all. but God wanted me to put these words here.. for some reason. i dont know.
But God is all I need. and that is all that matters.
i haven't blogged in a long time.
too long.
i got into the bad habit after a while of feeling that i didnt really need God in my life whether or not i wanted to admit it. i stopped trusting him and i stopped making him the center of my life because i seemed to be doing just fine on my own. you see none of this was intentional. i hadn't really realized what was happening til about a week ago when God sort of gave me a little kick in the rear since it was about the only way he could get my attention. at the time it was about 6:40 in the morning and i was riding the bus to school listening to my ipod as always and i had it on shuffle.
All I Need Is You by Hillsongs came on. It had been a while since i listened to Hillsongs. I started singing along and soon realized that the words I was saying were empty because I felt that I didn't truly need God.. an alarm went off in my head and it became apparent to me how messed up my thinking had come to be. it has also been awhile since i've been able to attend a church service at the celebration center. but when this brick hit me something pastor chris said during the last sermon i had heard of his popped into my head. that Jesus can save us by giving us eternal life yes, but sometimes we need to be saved in a different way by him. i remember pastor chris specifically mentioning being saved by a way of thinking.
I asked the Lord to do this. to save me from this way that I was thinking.. this trap being set up for myself
and of course he did. and i became so overwhelmed with this i realized that the only way i would truly realize that God was all I needed was for him to take everything away from me. for me to see then that He is more than enough when there is nothing else left in this world for me. You always hear "God giveth and God taketh away" but for the first time I saw how God taking away can be an immense blessing rather than a curse. truly immense. in about 10 seconds time i went from being ignorant to learning one of the most important lessons of my life. i understood why theres death. why theres pain here. why theres tragedy why nothings perfect because through suffering we find the true glory of God. in a way we couldnt if the world was providing us all we needed. i had known already that suffering was a way for us to grow closer to God but i had never understood it on this level before.
the more trials and suffering we have the closer we get to God.
and then something else amazing happened! all these little fears i didnt know i had subsided. and i was aware of it because i suddenly i didnt care if my home burnt down. if i lost all my possessions. if my hands got cut off and i couldnt draw anymore. if i didnt have anyones approval. if all my friends suddenly turned their backs on me and abandoned me. my attachments to all these things snapped because not only did i realize that God was all i needed.. but i saw myself wishing that i had more hardships in my life because i wanted so badly to know God on a new insanely intamite level. i found myself asking the Lord to throw something at me.. to show me true struggles if thats what it took for me to see His glory. all in about 20 seconds.
i'm not sure why but i feel as though God wanted me to blog about all of this. i'm not sure who's going to read it or if anyones going to read it at all. but God wanted me to put these words here.. for some reason. i dont know.
But God is all I need. and that is all that matters.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
You rock my world Jesus!!! ( Random blog )
Hey ya'll this is Nikke here. I just wanted to share a bit about what has been happening in my life lately.
2008 was a hard year for the most part. Lots of good stuff in between but overall hard.
With me not working and being a at home mom finances were pretty tight. God straight up told us that at home is where I needed to be so we have obeyed.
We have had to learn how to manage our money better (a good thing).
Adam started a second job in addition to being an apprentice electrician as a news paper delivery boy for the TNT.
The amazing thing is we needed X amount of dollars to get by and the route he got at the TNT covered what we needed almost to the dollar!! God is amazing!
Our goal is to be completely out of debt in 8 months and thus far the plan is going well.
Have I mentioned God is so amazing?! =D
We had to give up our car because we could no longer afford. It and that was tough but we need to be wise. We have made some poor decisions but we are learning from them and I am so thankful we are learning this now instead of later. Since we are still young.
Our families stepped up to help us out in our time of need which we are so thankful for and God has really shown us the meaning of giving.
Again God is so amazing!!!!
We have pretty much completely changed the way we spend money and now have a monthly plan each month to keep us on track.
It has been really tough having one vehicle the past 5 months or so but it has also been great at the same time. God has shown me that it is ok to ask for help when you need it. Like for a ride to church on Sunday or to help babysit at church. (Thanks Hansler's and Caroline) =D
Today, our friends Nathan & Kirsten called us and asked if we would like to have their extra car that they have. A resounding YES!!!!!!! was what I said =D
God is so AMAZING!!!!
It came at such a perfect time. It is hard being at home alone all the time and not being able to hang out with other moms and things during the day. At times I will admit it did depress me. God is so faithful though and has gotten us through all of this!!
I guess my whole point to all of this is we have been through a bit this year and God has shown us how merciful, compassionate and faithful He is.
We made our own mistakes with our finances and God didn't have to provide. Once we showed that we can and are willing to be responsible and take responsibility for our own actions God completely blessed us with what we needed. He didn't give us a ton of cash or anything like that He gave what we needed and that is perfect!!!
I am so excited to see what God will entrust to us in the future as we grow and mature even more!
I am excited for the day when we are out of debt and we can help others the way we have been helped!
I cannot even begin to explain just how BIG and AMAZING God is!!!!!!!!!!!!
He has blown me away with his mercy and love this year and continues to do so. He blesses me even though I am unworthy and that is just completely and totally off the hook amazing to me!!!
Lord,
Thank you for You provision and for loving me and my family. Thank you for Your mercies that renew every single morning. Thank you for friends and family that love us and continually pray for us in times of need and times of blessing.
Most of all thank you for putting me in a position now where I can be a better servant of you! You rock my world Jesus!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Amen
2008 was a hard year for the most part. Lots of good stuff in between but overall hard.
With me not working and being a at home mom finances were pretty tight. God straight up told us that at home is where I needed to be so we have obeyed.
We have had to learn how to manage our money better (a good thing).
Adam started a second job in addition to being an apprentice electrician as a news paper delivery boy for the TNT.
The amazing thing is we needed X amount of dollars to get by and the route he got at the TNT covered what we needed almost to the dollar!! God is amazing!
Our goal is to be completely out of debt in 8 months and thus far the plan is going well.
Have I mentioned God is so amazing?! =D
We had to give up our car because we could no longer afford. It and that was tough but we need to be wise. We have made some poor decisions but we are learning from them and I am so thankful we are learning this now instead of later. Since we are still young.
Our families stepped up to help us out in our time of need which we are so thankful for and God has really shown us the meaning of giving.
Again God is so amazing!!!!
We have pretty much completely changed the way we spend money and now have a monthly plan each month to keep us on track.
It has been really tough having one vehicle the past 5 months or so but it has also been great at the same time. God has shown me that it is ok to ask for help when you need it. Like for a ride to church on Sunday or to help babysit at church. (Thanks Hansler's and Caroline) =D
Today, our friends Nathan & Kirsten called us and asked if we would like to have their extra car that they have. A resounding YES!!!!!!! was what I said =D
God is so AMAZING!!!!
It came at such a perfect time. It is hard being at home alone all the time and not being able to hang out with other moms and things during the day. At times I will admit it did depress me. God is so faithful though and has gotten us through all of this!!
I guess my whole point to all of this is we have been through a bit this year and God has shown us how merciful, compassionate and faithful He is.
We made our own mistakes with our finances and God didn't have to provide. Once we showed that we can and are willing to be responsible and take responsibility for our own actions God completely blessed us with what we needed. He didn't give us a ton of cash or anything like that He gave what we needed and that is perfect!!!
I am so excited to see what God will entrust to us in the future as we grow and mature even more!
I am excited for the day when we are out of debt and we can help others the way we have been helped!
I cannot even begin to explain just how BIG and AMAZING God is!!!!!!!!!!!!
He has blown me away with his mercy and love this year and continues to do so. He blesses me even though I am unworthy and that is just completely and totally off the hook amazing to me!!!
Lord,
Thank you for You provision and for loving me and my family. Thank you for Your mercies that renew every single morning. Thank you for friends and family that love us and continually pray for us in times of need and times of blessing.
Most of all thank you for putting me in a position now where I can be a better servant of you! You rock my world Jesus!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Amen
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Romans 9 & 10
Nikke's thoughts
9:14-24
9:14-24
What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all! For he says to Moses,
"I will have mercy on whom I have mercy,
and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion."It does not, therefore, depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy. For the Scripture says to Pharaoh: "I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth."Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden.
"I will have mercy on whom I have mercy,
and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion."It does not, therefore, depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy. For the Scripture says to Pharaoh: "I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth."Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden.
One of you will say to me: "Then why does God still blame us? For who resists his will?" But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? "Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, 'Why did you make me like this?' "Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use?
What if God, choosing to show his wrath and make his power known, bore with great patience the objects of his wrath—prepared for destruction? What if he did this to make the riches of his glory known to the objects of his mercy, whom he prepared in advance for glory— even us, whom he also called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles?
For the longest time I was mad at God for making me different than everyone else. I did not like having only two fingers on my right hand. Yeah, I still was able to get stuff done and play sports but I had to try even harder than the next person. I just wanted to be normal.
Then one day I realized that having two fingers is a blessing. I know I sound a little weird right? God formed me and molded me differently than everyone else because He has a special purpose for me. (He has a purpose for everyone).
I can just see God smiling as he was molding my hand into such a unique form knowing that the day will come when I realize He is my creator and He made me as I should be.
And that is just it! I did figure it out. God created me different because that is what He wanted to do. Plain and simple.
How much more does it say to someone who does not know the Lord when they look at someone with an abnormality praising the God that made them that way?
I know for me when I see an adult or child on TV with cancer, missing limbs, or just horrible situation and when I hear the words I love the Lord or something along those lines I am moved beyond words!
Could that be my purpose? Possibly. I am not completely sure here I am kind of just talking now. =D
All I know is that God is great and He has shown me some pretty amazing things and has used me in ways that I thought were insane at the time but have been such a blessing.
10:8-12
But what does it say? "The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart," that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame." For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
This is a pretty popular scripture. I just love how simple it is to accept the Lord! It isn't as complicated as some may think.
Step 1. Say out loud (confess) that Jesus is Lord.
Step 2. Believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead.
God is real and He will make himself real to you if you just ask. All He wants is our relationship and for us to love Him.
Lord, I love you and thank you for making me the way I am. You are such a wonderful creator!
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Romans 8
Nikke's thoughts
Webster defines "hope" as : to cherish a desire with anticipation.
As Christians we desire to inherit the kingdom of Heaven and to see God face to face one day.
At least that is what I look forward to.
Chapter 8 covers living in the Spirit and not in sinful nature.
vs. 6-8 The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.
We can never please God if we are being controlled by our sinful nature! WOW! that is deep.
Here is the great news for those who have the Spirit:
vs. 9-11 You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.
How awesome is that!?
This is where it gets really cool.
vs. 12-17 Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation—but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship.[g] And by him we cry, "Abba,[h] Father." The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
I love the part where it says "For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship"
When I think of royalty I think of confidence, fearlessness, stregnth, poise, beauty and unashamed.
A prince or a princess is born into a culture of establishment and has no need to fear what his or her future holds.
I think of how fearful and the lack of confidence I had before I found the Lord and how I was a slave to that fear like the verse says.
Now I am an heir! A princess to the Lord! I have no need to fear!
That is just so amazing to me. I stand to inherit the Kingdom of Heaven! There is nothing better than that.
We really are more than conquerors!!!
Webster defines "hope" as : to cherish a desire with anticipation.
As Christians we desire to inherit the kingdom of Heaven and to see God face to face one day.
At least that is what I look forward to.
Chapter 8 covers living in the Spirit and not in sinful nature.
vs. 6-8 The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.
We can never please God if we are being controlled by our sinful nature! WOW! that is deep.
Here is the great news for those who have the Spirit:
vs. 9-11 You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.
How awesome is that!?
This is where it gets really cool.
vs. 12-17 Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation—but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship.[g] And by him we cry, "Abba,[h] Father." The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
I love the part where it says "For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship"
When I think of royalty I think of confidence, fearlessness, stregnth, poise, beauty and unashamed.
A prince or a princess is born into a culture of establishment and has no need to fear what his or her future holds.
I think of how fearful and the lack of confidence I had before I found the Lord and how I was a slave to that fear like the verse says.
Now I am an heir! A princess to the Lord! I have no need to fear!
That is just so amazing to me. I stand to inherit the Kingdom of Heaven! There is nothing better than that.
We really are more than conquerors!!!
Monday, December 29, 2008
Romans 6 & 7
Nikke's thoughts
So I have to say as I am sure it is obvious that I have been struggling to follow my daily reading plan. So for all you readers out there if possible help keep me accountable =D And for anyone who has encouraged myself and Angie on THANK YOU!!
ROMANS 6 & 7
6:1-2 What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means!
We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?
I once met this person who said that their sin did not matter as God would always forgive them so what was the use in trying to not sin?
These are my thoughts on that statement.
God does have grace and He loves us despite our sin. However, He wants us to strive for living our life without sin as much as possible. None of us are perfect by any means. God sent His son to die on the cross for the purpose of bridging the gap between us and God. So that we may be forgiven and have eternal life if we so choose to accept His invitation. Not so we can abuse the right of forgiveness.
Lets say you threw an extravagant party for a bunch of your friends not wanting anything in return except for a "thank you" and no one gave you the appreciation that you deserve. Wouldn't you feel a bit sad or unrecognized?
Now say it happens again and again and again? How would this make you feel about your "friends"? I know for myself I might ask the question: Were they really my friends at all?
I am sure God feels that way when we keep on sinning. Except on a much larger scale and in a more justifiable manner. It is our eternal life on the line here not just what someone thinks of us!
Myself I am far from perfect and I sin just like everyone else. Lets just remember this:
God gave us the most priceless gift and we should embrace that gift with all our hearts and minds, rather than walk all over it.
Why would we want to live in sin any longer anyways? We were bound and unhappy. (At least I was)
So here is the wonderful news:
Jesus conquered sin! It has been defeated! Satan is fighting a battle that cannot be won by him!
We have victory in Jesus!
We never have to face sin alone. We have Jesus right by our side helping us conquer and persevere through it all!!!!
To you Lord I give you my all. I never want to take you for granted. You have given me a gift that is eternal and I thank you for that.
Amen
ROMANS 6 & 7
6:1-2 What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means!
We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?
I once met this person who said that their sin did not matter as God would always forgive them so what was the use in trying to not sin?
These are my thoughts on that statement.
God does have grace and He loves us despite our sin. However, He wants us to strive for living our life without sin as much as possible. None of us are perfect by any means. God sent His son to die on the cross for the purpose of bridging the gap between us and God. So that we may be forgiven and have eternal life if we so choose to accept His invitation. Not so we can abuse the right of forgiveness.
Lets say you threw an extravagant party for a bunch of your friends not wanting anything in return except for a "thank you" and no one gave you the appreciation that you deserve. Wouldn't you feel a bit sad or unrecognized?
Now say it happens again and again and again? How would this make you feel about your "friends"? I know for myself I might ask the question: Were they really my friends at all?
I am sure God feels that way when we keep on sinning. Except on a much larger scale and in a more justifiable manner. It is our eternal life on the line here not just what someone thinks of us!
Myself I am far from perfect and I sin just like everyone else. Lets just remember this:
God gave us the most priceless gift and we should embrace that gift with all our hearts and minds, rather than walk all over it.
Why would we want to live in sin any longer anyways? We were bound and unhappy. (At least I was)
So here is the wonderful news:
Jesus conquered sin! It has been defeated! Satan is fighting a battle that cannot be won by him!
We have victory in Jesus!
We never have to face sin alone. We have Jesus right by our side helping us conquer and persevere through it all!!!!
To you Lord I give you my all. I never want to take you for granted. You have given me a gift that is eternal and I thank you for that.
Amen
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Romans 5
Nikke's thoughts
5:6-11
You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him! For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
Ok lets break this down a bit. This is some really good stuff.
Jesus died for us (the ungodly, sinners)
I think a good point is made here. How often does one give up his own life for a good person? Jesus gave up his own life for SINNERS! WOW!
Before Jesus died on the cross for our sins we were required to make altar sacrifices. When Jesus died He was the ultimate sacrifice because He was sinless and pure.
His blood that was shed justified all sin! Past, present and future. No more altar sacrifices.
And in this God showed His love for us as Jesus was His son. God allowed His own son to die on that cross for us!
Is it just me or do you feel loved and special too?
Now we were justified by Jesus dying for us. Jesus rose again and is alive! He is alive through the Holy Spirit that dwells with in us when we ask Jesus into our hearts. The Holy Spirit gives us power to do amazing things to bring glory to the Lord.
Holy guacamole God is so amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!
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