Love... The Vision God Gave YOU

It has been a very long time since I just sat down and wrote.  When I first began this blog, It started out as my way to vent and make sense of the journey that God has me on. Then my friends began reading what I wrote, and telling me they could relate to all the things I wrote about, so I kept writing. Then strangers were commenting on the blogs and people from other countries were reading them and saying they felt encouraged so I knew I had to keep writing. I began to see God getting the glory for the events in my life that seemed to feel hurtful or difficult for me. I soon realized my life is not about me. Whatever I do, whatever I go through, both good and bad, they aren't for me. 

God birthed Love Me 31. It was this beautiful vision full of so many amazing things God wanted to see accomplished through me. I felt so honored to be used by God and just humbled. When I first heard God tell me to start this ministry, I was NERVOUS. I felt so much like I was unworthy and just not good enough for the role God wanted me to be in. I felt so much like Moses when he was trying to give excuses to God as to why he just wasn't meant for the role of helping the people of Israel escape Egypt's captivity. 

"¹⁰ But Moses pleaded with the Lord, “O Lord, I’m not very good with words. I never have been, and I’m not now, even though you have spoken to me. I get tongue-tied, and my words get tangled.”

¹¹ Then the Lord asked Moses, “Who makes a person’s mouth? Who decides whether people speak or do not speak, hear or do not hear, see or do not see? Is it not I, the Lord? ¹² Now go! I will be with you as you speak, and I will instruct you in what to say.” (Exodus 4:10-12) 

I could think of just about everyone else who was equipped for the role, but I couldn't see myself in it. Even though I was a really good speaker and I loved to talk in front of people, I could still relate to Moses because I simply felt like I wasn't good enough. I looked at other women who are powerful in God, have amazing ministries, and I said "God I am NOTHING like them." I don't have the boldness of Heather Lindsey or the transparency of Jackie Hill. I am not beautiful like Sarah Jakes, or stylish like Real Talk Kim. I am just so different from these amazing women. God checked me real quick, just like He checked Moses. "Who makes a person's mouth? Who decides whether people speak or do not speak, hear or do not hear, see or do not see? Is it not I, the Lord?..." God told me in that moment He didn't even design me to be like those women. He designed me for the purpose He had specifically for me. You see, I don't have vision for Pinky Promise because God didn't create me for Pinky Promise. I don't have poetry skills like Jackie because God didn't make me for her ministry. I am not created to be anything like those women and they weren't created to be anything like each other either, and that is what makes them (and you) absolutely beautiful. 

You see, we get so caught up in ourselves that we forget God is STILL God. How prideful of me to even think that God would call me to something and let me fall. How arrogant of me to think that any of this is even about me. Be careful to not get caught up in it being all about you. Ministry, especially, is solely for the purpose of glorifying Christ and encouraging people to run to Him. 

I see so many people who forget that God knows what is best when it comes to who He called for certain assignments.  Romans 8:28 says that "we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them." We are called according to HIS purpose, not our own. Which means that if God told you to do it, take your little pride and ego out of the way and do it. Take the leap of faith and just do it. Everything God tells you to do will work together for your good! He called you for a reason because He put the instructions inside of you when He created you especially for that purpose. 

You weren't called to be like anybody else. Your assignment is different for a reason. If you strive to use anyone else's purpose as a blueprint for yours, you WILL fail. It is like having a house built for $250,000 but you give the contractor floor plans for a house that costs $1 million. You look crazy. God has your blue print made up and mapped out, stop trying to build somebody else's house, yours is perfect for you. 


When I realized that I had become the girl trying to do it on her own and make what God gave me vision for look like the vision He gave somebody else, I really had to stop, repent, and re-evaluate. See, when you try and do things in your own will everything gets messed up. You basically tell God he is not capable of doing what He does best , be God. You then run the risk of missing out on impacting lives of people God meant for you to impact because you were to arrogant in your attempts to become something you simply are not. 

 If this sounds like your struggle, I really encourage you to seek God on how you can get back to His plans. YOU are NOT the boss. You didn't pay the price to be. You are even lucky to be a project manager in God's plan. You really have to get back on track and in line with God's purpose for your life. Stop trying to be everybody else and just be uniquely you. 

Repent, Ask for forgiveness, and move forward on the things God asked YOU to do.

You are good enough, you are worthy, you are wonderful!


<3

Nicole L. 

Love...The Peace of God

Have you ever just been in a season in life where defeat seems to try and overtake you daily? It is a constant struggle to have a day that actually goes very smooth, without too many bumps in the road.  I have been there and done that, and I actually feel like I am in the middle of this season myself. So how to you deal with life in this season? How do you not give in to your feelings and emotions of just wanting to throw your hands up and give up? 

It is not an easy season to go through. During this point in your life you may go through things you have never faced or experienced before. You may find yourself very emotional and feeling unstable in some moments, and it gets hard. The easy way out of all of this would to be just to give into your thoughts and play the victim. Having a "woe is me," attitude about life is way too easy, and it is exactly the route the enemy wants for you to take. It takes a solid faith and an amazing God to get you through this time and avoid having the victim mentality. The best way to make it through is to find the peace of God. 

" And the peace of God, 
which passeth all understanding, 
shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. " 
-Philippians 4:7

The peace of God sounds like such a mystery. It feels like there is some secret level in life that you have to unlock in order to get God's amazing peace. There isn't, you have access to this beautiful peace the moment you confess Jesus as your Lord. So what does it take to get it? Why are so many people searching for this peace, but can't seem to find it?

The truth is, they haven't found it because they aren't rooted and grounded in the things of God, so they can't obtain it. God's peace is more than just a feeling that lasts on Sunday while you shout in the church pews, it is an everlasting presence in your life. 

I think of God's peace like a strong tower standing in the middle of a storm. The winds may rock the foundation a little, and the building may shake, but it will not be moved. You are no different than that structure, when you have God's peace, your storm may shake you, and it may feel unbearable at times, but you will not be moved. 

"You will keep in perfect peace
  all who trust in you,
    all whose thoughts are fixed on you!"

-Isaiah 26:3

The only way to obtain God's peace is to be focused on Him and to have all of who you are fixed and focus on God and His faithfulness. Your solace lies in everything God is, and to obtain that , you have to be in His will and seeking His heart daily.

Jesus has already taken on everything that you are facing today. He has already been there and done that and gotten through, for He has overcame the world. 

"I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. 

Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. 

But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

-John 16:33

Realize that the closer you get to God, which means getting in your word, seeking His face daily, making your relationship with Him personal, the more you will find peace in even the toughest situations. Have you ever heard of a story where someone's family member is killed, and they end up ministering to the murderer? That is an illustration of God's peace in their life, because forgiveness was put into motion. Have you ever seen someone who has a terrible life at home, smile and remain with constant joy? That is the peace in their life that surpasses all understanding. No matter what has happened, no matter how awful the situation, God is still very faithful and to worship Him in spite of what life looks like, gives Him so much glory. 

Never allow your situation to make you a victim. So often we get in a place where we allow the enemy to completely defeat us because we allow him to come in and do it. Instead of immediately searching God's heart in a rough situation, we get upset right away that things are not going our way. This life isn't about you, and this world doesn't revolve around you. Sometimes God allows you to feel the struggle because it will put His glory on display in the end. Your struggle may just be someone else's triumph, sounds like a cold world, no snuggie, but God will keep you, remain in Him. 

My prayer ( and Paul's prayer) for you all is this : 

"When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth.I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit.Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen."

-Ephesians 3:14-21

It takes spiritual maturity to allow God's peace to rule and reign in your world. It is not a feeling that you get, it should remain one of the many constant factors in your life that comes with the presence of God. Don't be moved by this world and the things that try and destroy you. Make a conscious effort to diligently seek God's face and find His amazing peace. 

"Don’t be afraid. I am with you.
Don’t tremble with fear.
    I am your God.
I will make you strong,
as I protect you with my arm
    and give you victories."

-Isaiah 41:10

Love you so much,

Nicole L.