Monday, November 9, 2009
Today was different
Yesterday asked me to look at things differently.
Yesterday voiced an opinion.
Yesterday needed me to slow down.
Yesterday wanted me to reconsider.
Yesterday longed for me to re-prioritize.
Yesterday begged me to live it out.
Yesterday paused me.
Yesterday changed me.
And because of that...
Today was different.
Thank You Jesus!
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
See Beyond
Recently I had the huge privilege of connecting with a friend who takes the most amazing pictures. I have the honor of showcasing them here today...please enjoy!



Now for some these will be just pictures. And for some Facebook is just a 'new trendy' way to spend time on the computer.
Can I ask a huge favor of you today?
Will you join me for a few minutes and See Beyond?
As I read this morning from the most amazing Book that was ever published I found myself in Hebrews 11.
"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see" Hebrews 11:1
That verse right there is where this whole See Beyond thing started!
I know you are starting to wonder 'how in the world does this all relate?'
"So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." 2 Corinthians 4:18
Today I have been encouraged to See Beyond
To see beyond myself.
To see beyond a 'new trendy' Facebook thing.
To see beyond issues, stresses, circumstances.
To see beyond the temporary.
To see beyond this world.
I am encouraged to See Beyond what sits right in front of me and praise Him and know there is a bigger picture, there is MORE, there is purpose!
And when I choose to See Beyond
I get to see others around me.
I get to meet up with some really great friends on Facebook and enjoy their art work of taking pictures of this most amazing Hand Crafted world.
"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth"Genesis 1:1
I get to practice living life on purpose in the midst of issues, stresses and circumstances.
"For 'she' was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God" Hebrews 11:10 (emphasis mine)
I get to see Him!
Thank You Jesus for filling us with the desire to see beyond. For there is something there, something worth seeing!
May we truly not look at anything the same again, but rather, See beyond!
***Photographer: John Anderson
Friday, October 30, 2009
The List
If we run out of something, it doesn’t work to just shout…”we are out of toothpaste”
It has to go on the list.
It can be heard in our home…”Put it on the list!”
It occurred to me in between the hours of last night and this morning that I have another special list I keep. A ”List” for God. Yep and because I want this blog post to ‘go there’, I am, out of obedience and a lesson in pride going to share that list. This list is a visual for what is currently on my heart, concerns, issues, circumstances, ‘stuff’ that I have been thinking about and talking to God about.
Nichole’s Prayer List
The Engineer and his stressful job.
Praise that the Engineer has a job.
Family sick with colds and/or flu.
Friends who are sick, or their children.
Our church in the middle of a pastor transition, health of our church.
Tyler in kindergarten, and my momma heart that is grieving.
Car troubles with both of our vehicles.
Praise for Girlfriends Unlimited, the new women’s ministry at church.
My sister, haven’t heard from her in a few months.
My mom who is in a whole lot of pain, needing relief from pain, and surgery soon.
My Father-in-laws health.
My dads job.
Bitterness, pride, jealousy, loneliness in my heart.
Many people who are without jobs, or who are having major stress at work.
Marriages, friends and family who are struggling.
Friends and family who are desperately seeking to start or expand their families with babies.
Friends who found out they are pregnant again.
Living My Life On Purpose, the ministry.
A friend in her new marriage and being a step-mom.
Praise for a healthy recovery and healing for a Cindy, who lived through breast cancer.
Finances.
My hearts desire to be less and Him MORE.
A friends daughter who was recently diagnosed with a hormone imbalance.
A friend whose little boy struggles with health issues.
Friends who went from a family of 3 to 6 recently as they adopted 3 kids at one time.
A friend who was admitted to the hospital because labor started too early.
Many friends who are pastors wives.
A friends whose husband is awaiting surgery on his knee.
Our economy.
Praise for a friends dad who got to go home.
The moral health of our world.
Friends who are traveling.
Health of co-workers of my husband.
Moms, as our jobs are hard.
Praise for such amazing family and friends!
Yesterday when I came and asked you to pray it was a hard thing for me to do. You see I am a girl who likes to hold hands with pride so often, and unfortunately it keeps me from humbling myself and asking for help…more importantly prayer.
Thank you so much for praying. For there is power in your prayers. I know that’s such a crazy term…and for years I thought so too…there is NO power in my prayers…I am just a girl! But friends hear me out on this one. And go there with me. There is power in our prayers…you see our Jesus hears them! He hears the whispers of our hearts, He hears the cries, the shouts…and He sees the ‘lists’. He is the power! When they land on Him…and He is the power…something most amazing happens! Yep! Things start happening. Peace starts flowing, love comes down, graces blankets!
Just so you know…your prayers where answered and felt yesterday! Thank you!
He whispered to my heart yesterday over and over again….
Nichole it’s not for you to figure out ‘how’ to take care of all those things on your list, your job is to be obedient.
Woo-hoo! Yeah I don’t have to the do the ‘how’…but friends can I just say His whisper still left me a little lost…you see obedience and I have been on a journey for a VERY long time…and I still have a ways to go!
Right now in this moment as I type up this blog…my obedience is relinquishing the list, knowing that He is in complete control, He is not withholding anything from me, and that He loves and adores me, and He is working it all out!
”Ah Sovereign LORD, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you." Jeremiah 32:17
Do you have a list?
Friends would you be so bold as to join me?
Would you turn over your list?
Would you go there?
Would you trust Him and hear what He has for you?
Would you allow Him to speak to you?
He loves you. He adores you.
He wants to be in complete control of your life.
Again thank you for joining me yesterday in prayer, please know I take this whole team thing, and prayer very seriously, and because of that I want to join you in praying, praying with you for the things that are on your list. Leave a comment, make it anonymous, or send me an email, either way know that there is power in prayer!
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Please Pray
Thank you for praying on purpose!
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Let The Games Begin!
I am so excited to announce Girlfriends Unlimited "Let the Games Begin!"
Would you Girlfriends and 'guys' too please lift up this in prayer! This has been in the works for a long time and I am so excited to see what God is going to do tomorrow night! There has been a most amazing team of women working on this for quite a few months now.
To have fun on purpose!
Thank you so much for your prayers!
I can't wait to come back and share pictures of the fun with you!
Have a great weekend!
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Help Received
I will forever need to seek balance in all things. I know crazy that a little moment of vanity in front of my mirror could lead to something a little deeper...stick around it gets interesting!
Over this past year I have had a HUGE lesson on balance. Which totally fits in nicely with living life on purpose.
My lesson on balance looks like this:
Relationship with Jesus
Relationship with the Engineer
Relationships with the boys
Relationships with family and friends
Relationship with myself
All of the above areas come with more specific lessons.
The relationship with myself is about taking care of myself. Balancing. Listening to my body. Spending time feeding my soul, eating healthy, drinking plenty of water, exercising, getting plenty of rest, and managing/limiting stress.
So here is where this all ties together...thanks for your patience!
Monday I get this call from a Girlfriend who is 'checking' on me making sure I am NOT stressing (I will soon be revealing a big huge fun thing...come back Friday), she wants to make sure I am staying 'healthy'.
Tuesday I notice my eyes, no not for the first time, but long enough to really notice.
Many times on Tuesday I had family, friends, and the Engineer,say the words, 'relax',
'don't stress', 'make sure you are taking care of yourself'.
Last night I purge prayed...ever done that, where you just empty everything that is on your heart to your Jesus! Woo-wee...it felt amazing!
Friends I am truly seeking balance.
I know He is balance for me.
Thank you SO much for being a part of this "On the surface eye journey that led me to a deeper level of balance into my Jesus' arms"
May we know that when we seek help we will receive it!
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Can ya help this Girlfriend out?
Now if your here for some laughs...GREAT...cause I am really trying to find some humor in this one!
Have you ever said something in the past that comes back to get ya' and then you have to end up eatin' your words?
Or maybe the thought never exited via your mouth, but it still leaves you feelin' guilty?
Well I am here to confess that many of times while someone was 'sharing' how they were lookin' older whether it was because of grey hair, saggin' somethin', I was thinkin'...oh yeah and sometimes even shouting out Just age gracefully!
Yep that was my response! It happens to all of us...we get older and so we might as well accept it! Right?
Just age gracefully!
As I stood in front of my mirror this morning that little phrase above is comin' back to get me...and now I am eatin' those words!
So here is where you come in...I have these eyes!
Eyes that are looking older...yep it happens friends! And really in the big picture I am really okay with it. But it's the little picture...the moments in which I stand in front of my mirror!
So can ya help this Girlfriend out?
Any ideas, suggestions, pointers, tips, recommendations?
My eyes are gettin' older!
Which I so know means wisdom on the inside...HA!
But on the outside...they are saggin' dark circles!
Help!
***And just to warn ya...I will have another help out a Girlfriend post! See you soon!

