This girl is dancing!

Do you know what gets me excited? Seeing God work. Yep. I LOVE to see God do His thing. His amazing, grave and love filled, life changing thing in the lives of His people!

Thank you all for your wonderful participation! Reading through the comments was as close as we will get to having a 'in person' discussion. So I encourage you to 'hear' what others are saying and then take it to God and have Him translate for you!

I pray that today we will open our hearts to Him. Allow Him to speak to each one of us very personally. Each one of us is in a different spot/season in our relationship with God. And friends those spots don't have points attached to them. One spot/season is NOT better than the other.

I have prayed for each one of you to come to Him today and receive a fresh perspective of who He is, who you are and allow that to enhance your relationship!

_____________________________________________________

The Creator, God, created the earth and all that is on it. He created it to be perfect.

We were created by God, and not just simply created, rather created in the very image of God!

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. Genesis 1:27

An image that He made and qualified as very good!

God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. Genesis 1:31(emphasis mine)


When God created the first people, Adam and Eve He created them to be in relationship with Him. They were created perfect. God gave them some guidelines to follow in the Garden of Eden. Adam and Eve enjoyed an intimate relationship with God, they talked with Him and lived with Him daily.

Created innocent and with free will. A free will that allowed them to choose sin, rebellion, captivity. A choice that allowed sin and death to enter the world and a separation between God and man.

Sin causes us to be separated and disconnected from God.


Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden. But the LORD God called to the man, "Where are you?" He answered, "I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked so I hid." Genesis 3:8-10 (emphasis mine)

**What do you fear about God?

**Are you afraid of a relationship with Him?


Fear is what keeps us from a relationship with God. We are afraid that we are not good enough or will not be able to keep up the standards He has for us. We can not work or earn our way into relationship with God. But please don’t be discouraged, because God had an amazing plan!

God desires to be in relationship with us. So much that He sent His Son to reconnect us with Himself. God has an unconditional love for us. He sent His Son for that very purpose! To destroy sin and death and eliminate the separation between us and God.

As God gave Adam and Eve free will, we also have the choice to accept Jesus and start a relationship with God. If we accept Jesus and the free gift then we are made acceptable and we can enter into relationship with God. The very purpose for which we were all created, to be in a love relationship with God! A love relationship that starts on earth and lasts for eternity.

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23

**Why are we afraid of a relationship with God?

** Why are we afraid of an intimate relationship with God?

Moses said to the people, "Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning" Exodus 20:20


**Are you afraid He could ask you to....(move, quit your job, start a family, write a book, adopt a child, change jobs, become a missionary, start speaking)?

God wants us to follow Him out love not fear. To overcome this fear we must think more about His love.

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. 1 John 4:18

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38,39

May you know today that God loves you. He loves you unconditionally. And He desires to be in an intimate relationship with you.

Dear Father God please lead each one of us as we come into Your presence. Into Your presence seeking an intimate relationship with You. A relationship that is about truly knowing You! Please reveal to us what is keeping us captive from a deeper and more intimate relationship with You. We love You-Amen

Yep theres a difference

I want to start today by saying I absolutely love God! Yep...He just keeps becoming more amazing to me!

I had prepared a post for today...which I think He gave to me and led me to write, however as I entered my bed last night and started to pray there was some questions and things that need to come before that post!

So today join me in asking these questions. Ask yourself, ask God, ask your friends and family.

**Is there a difference between religion and relationship?

**Does the word of God, the Bible, focus on religion or relationship?

**Does the church focus on religion or relationship?

**Do I have a relationship with God?


May our hearts, minds and souls be open to hear the answer, the Truth!




Please share your comments, answers, and ideas! Oh and leave more questions if they come to mind!

Let's Begin

Hello! Welcome to the blog!

Today we start a new series on Relationships! I am so excited to journey with you. Where are we journeying to you might be asking? Well it is my purposeful intent to journey closer to the heart of God, for Him to reveal more of Himself to us.

Do you remember showing up to the first day of class? Well consider this post your ‘welcome to class’ and here is the syllabus for the series. Now keep in mind as I strive to be organized (The Engineer is grinning here) and have things flow smoothly I am human (The Engineer is applauding here)! I also will submit (yes I chose to use that word! And now the Engineer has a questioning look on his face) to allowing God to do His thing in and through this series!

I want to start by saying thank you to all who left comments and sent emails in regards to this new series. I have prayed and know that God will meet us right where we are at.

I encourage you to participate how you feel led too. I will try and include some bold/starred questions, concepts and/or ideas in each posting that you can either comment about, journal about, and/or blog about.

Please feel free to read the comments others leave and leave comments yourself.

I encourage you to journal down thoughts, ideas, questions, or any concerns. I also encourage you to journal about the relationships in your life.

As we begin the series on relationships today, I thought I would lay some foundation and maybe try to define some basics.

Here is a basic definition of relationships that we will start with.

Definition of Relationships:
A state of connectedness; a state involving mutual dealings


**What does relationship mean to you?

I am sure as we grow and are stretched, this definition will grow with us. My prayer is that God will breathe into us a definition that is personal to each one of us!

**The Word of God is clear on the connection between loving God, loving others, loving ourselves, and taking time in those relationships.

In this series we will cover our relationships with God. My prayer is that each one of us will hear, receive and experience the hand crafted relationship He has for each one of us.

It is my hearts desire and passion that we grow in our relationships with others:

Requests for the following relationships have been made and will be covered:

With our parents
Sibling relationships-Sisters
Mother-in law-Daughter in-law
With our children
Within our churches
With our spouse

Living life fully at peace and being free in grace will allow us to be in a healthy relationship with ourselves.

Other topics, concepts, and ideas that will be woven into these will be:

Time spent in relationships
Feeding our relationships
Relationships versus Acquaintances
Forgiveness
Healing/Repairing
Honesty
Prayer
Commitment
Effort
Healthy versus Unhealthy relationships

Dear Heavenly Father thank You for being the Creator of relationships. We come seeking You. We come seeking Your will for the relationships in our lives. May we be willing to submit to You ALL that we have. Our past, present and future and commit to living our lives on purpose! Amen

Inhale...Exhale...Inhale...Exhale

Hello Friends!

It is a busy week here in our little homestead...so I am truly reminding myself to breath. Ever have those moments?

This is just a quick post to say I know where we are going...okay wow thats a really bold statement!

I mean I know what direction this blog will be headed next! And boy does it excite me!!

I am praying and have others praying and God wants us to talk about:

Relationships

So our little journey together will begin next Monday!! I would love for you to join us. Oh and if you have a certain relationship that you would like to know how to live in...leave a comment (it can be anonymous) or send me an email- Nichole@LivingMyLifeonPurpose.com

Now remember to inhale your grace from Him today and exhale grace to those around you!

Happy Birthday Cindy

Hello and welcome to the blog!

Today is a all about celebrating the life of a very awesome friend of mine!


This is the day a 'few' years ago that God decided to reveal His masterpiece and let us meet His amazing daughter! I love to celebrate birthdays!


You see I believe we were ALL created in the image of God and when are in relationship with people we get to see the image of God revealed through them. And friends Cindy has revealed some very awesome aspects of God.


Dear Cindy,





You my friend are SO worth celebrating today. May you enjoy every minute of everyday knowing that God adores you. You are a beautifu daughter of our God. You are a terrific wife, mom, daughter, and friend! May you know that the world truly is a better place because of you! Eat lots of yummy cake,sing and dance. Celebrate knowing He has brought such awesome purpose to your life!



I love you my friend!



On Purpose,

Nichole

Go over and love on Cindy today and celebrate her life with her! Oh and send up a prayer of praise and thanks to a God who created her to be so beautiful!

Just when you think...

Hello, Happy Friday everyone!

Thank you so much for participating in the blog this week. There are some great hearts,some great questions, and some great lives pursuing God!

Will you continue to pray with me? I am hearing from God and know He has some great things for us!!

He always takes my breath away...and just when I think God is good He goes and gets even better on me!

In this short post I want to say:

• I have some great ideas for what to journey through next on this blog!!! A tiny little hint-it will be life changing for all of us!!

• Please pray for the women of the MOPs groups I get to go love on next week! Monday and Wednesday night. Pray for their hearts, minds and souls to hear the precious voice of Jesus telling them just how amazing they truly are!

• Oh and if it works out in your schedule stop back by on Monday...

May you know you are loved today...so go out and live like it!

So Excited!!!

Welcome Friends, Family, and Guests!!! I am so excited you are here today visiting the blog. Now I know its hard to actually feel excitement through a computer screen and since I have never proclaimed to be a writer...it might be difficult for me to actually share in written words my excitement.

I have been thinking and praying about where God wanted to go next on the blog. And He answered...woo-hoo! The whole asking and answering thing is so cool! I think its the answering part that's my favorite...because He reveals so much in His answer that it usually takes my breath away.

So today I am so excited to reveal to you what He has revealed to me!!

It all started this morning...yep in the shower! And just that alone excites me...He is a God who will meet us wherever and whenever!! I am taking my shower and I hear Him say:

"The journey isn't over. The experience isn't over. There is more to do!"

Have you ever heard something and think, 'what in the world does this mean?'

So I ask just that!

"God what does this mean for me? For the blog? For what You have called me to do?"

"Share the journey. Participate with them. Ask what they need"

I finish up my shower and then come over and sit up on my bed and grab my Bible. According to my Bible Reading Plan I am reading 1 Peter 5 today. So I begin to read...and that's when felt the excitement start to rush! I literally had a hard time sitting still on my bed..and had to remind myself to keep reading and with each word my heart is beating faster!

Here is what I read this morning, I will highlight some of the words that spoke to my heart, and I promise to try and explain the excitement and share the excitement with you!


To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder, a witness of Christ's sufferings and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed: Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.
Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen. 1 Peter 5:1-11

This blog has always been for God to do with as He needs to! And when I came to Him a few weeks ago and asked Him where He wanted to go next...He answered this morning!

THE REVEAL:

He has asked me to humbly serve, to learn with you...which excites me to no end. I LOVE to see God work! He has asked me to ask you...

"Where are you at in your journey?"

"What questions do you have that you want answers to?"

"What do you want to learn about?"

God cares deeply about us! He wants us to do this thing together. I am so excited to open this blog to the next steps in our journey...our journey for Living on Purpose! To live on purpose we need to know our purpose and understand our purpose.

This is where you come in! Please leave a comment on what you need, or would like to learn about. Please leave comments anonymously...I don't need to know who needs what! I am praying for you and knowing that God has great things for us. He desires for us to know our purpose and live our lives on purpose!

If you have friends or family members that could benefit from this journey please invite them!!

I will leave this up for a few days and give people an opportunity to respond.

I look forward to the next reveal: What we will be studying together!!

**Feel free to email me if that is more comfortable for you**

Nichole@LivingMyLifeonPurpose.com

Whatcha doin'

So I woke this morning and found myself in 1 Peter 3. And without sharing all the details of the insane numbers of personal convictions...I will just say...Friends the word of God is alive and active and working in me!

So I sit down this afternoon during nap time (now don't go sharing my secret with the boys for they think momma is also napping) I sit myself down at the computer to work on the sessions I will be speaking at next week. I have two different sessions to share next week, both sessions I have shared before...but I am a firm believer in the need to share what God is doing currently in our relationship...so these sessions need some updating and new life! As I sit at the computer I am feeling overwhelmed...what do I share?, what do you want me to share God? There is a lot of stuff, but I am not clear on what He wants me to share. So I am plugging away and hear God call me back to His precious word...and friends I am thinking 'its gotta be good if He's calling me to come'

So I find myself in 1 Peter 4. Here is the part I want to share with you:


The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen. 1 Peter 4:7-11 (emphasis mine)

Yeah it was all there! My amazing God speaking right to my heart.

Dear Heavenly Father thank You for Your precious word that is alive and active and working in me! Thank You for filling me with the spirit that is keeping me teachable. I praise You for the awesome privilege of serving the people around me. May You fill me with all I need to love those around me, to serve them, and administer Your amazing grace. May I speak Your words, so that You will be honored, glorified and lifted up! Amen

I want to encourage you today to know that He is alive. Know that He wants your relationship to be active and refreshed. He has great things for you. Blessings and love to pour out on you!

Arms Wide Open

Many are visiting the cross today. For some it is their very first visit, which excites me!


“Well I just heard the news today
It seems my life is going to change
I closed my eyes, begin to pray
Then tears of joy stream down my face”

“With arms wide open
Under the sunlight
Welcome to this place
I'll show you everything
With arms wide open
With arms wide open”

“With arms wide open
Now everything has changed
I'll show you love
I'll show you everything
With arms wide open
With arms wide open
I'll show you everything”

“With arms wide open”

I come and stand at the foot of the cross today, knowing who I am, a sinner in need of her Savior. A Savior who’s arms are wide open ready to embrace her and take her in.


Can you see Jesus on the cross today with His arms wide open?

For Jesus is waiting ‘with arms wide open’.... waiting for you!

Thank You Jesus for changing everything. For showing us true love.



Song “Arms Wide Open” by Creed

He'll take you there

Jesus came on a mission. He came with the intent to take you home.


"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going."
Jesus the Way to the Father

Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?"

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him."

Philip said, "Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us." John 14:1-8 (NIV)


Jesus said to him, "Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, 'Show us the Father'?

"Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works.

"Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; otherwise believe because of the works themselves. John 14:9-11 (NAS)

May you allow Him to take you there.

Untie me

Yesterday was Palm Sunday, a beginning to the Holy week. We read in Luke 19 about Jesus being determined to go to Jerusalem. He sends two of His disciples ahead of Him to the village to go and find a donkey that will be tied there. He instructs them to untie it and bring it to Him. And He says if anyone asks you why you are untying it? Tell him, ‘the Lord needs it.’

Are you being held captive today? Are you ready to be freed? Freed from a life of sin and captivity;

Are you ready to be untied?

Jesus gets on the donkey and starts down the road towards Jerusalem. The crowds recognize Him and start praising Him for all the miracles they had seen. They wave palm branches and sing out praises and glorify His name.

Do you recognize Jesus?

As He gets closer to Jerusalem He sees the city and weeps over it. He weeps because of a deep love, a sincere genuine love for His people. The very people He has come to save, the very people that within days will place Him on a cross.

Friends Jesus has come humbly seeking us. He comes seeking you. He has a deep, sincere love for you. He wants desperately to untie you from what is holding you captive.

And why does He want to untie you?

He needs you!

He wants you. He created you to be in a relationship with you.

He comes very humbly with a deep and sincere love for you.

To be in this relationship we have to say to God, ‘here I am untie me’.

May you allow God to untie you today. To untie you from what is holding you from an amazing relationship with Him.

A hearts journey

Hello Friends!

Well these 'new' modifications to my lifestyle are starting to show results. And I can definitely see when I stray too far from the proper diet, oh and the beginning YOGA this is 'my level'.

I am trying to get in a lot of walking, which I enjoy and its something I can do right along with the boys. They either walk with me, ride their bikes, or their electric Harley Davidson motorcycle, or I push them in the big ole stroller.

So on Monday we set off for a big long walk to the library. This one is over two miles one way, so the boys get in the stroller, eat a snack and enjoy the scenery! The picture below is when they were younger...but aren't they just adorable??!!



The boys love to go to the library. They get to pick out videos, new books,and put together big floor puzzles with momma. Tyler (4) finds a video on Sharks. He gets all excited and asks if this one is 'okay' for him to watch. Tyler loves to learn and watch videos about animals and learn new facts. I make sure the videos are age appropriate and such. So we checkout all our stuff and head back home! Which the trip home took a little longer, we got a flat tire on the stroller...but hey how can you go on a walk with two little guys and not have some kinda of adventure?

So we finally arrive home and Tyler is just so excited to learn about Sharks! I agree they can watch the video while I make lunch. Our family room is right off the kitchen and I can see and hear the video. So they are learning about Sharks and I am making sandwich's, when I hear this "one day Sharks just appeared on earth, we believe they evolved from dolphins, and we believe Sharks have magical powers" What? So I zip in quickly and shut the video and tv off and Tyler is sitting on the couch wondering what has possessed his momma to turn his Shark video off. I ask Tyler "Ty do you believe that Sharks just appeared one day?" "No momma, God made them, they didn't just appear." "Well Tyler this video is not speaking the truth and we are not going to watch it." To which he responds "Mom doesn't that hurt Gods heart when people don't speak the truth?" "Yes Ty, very much so!"

So later Monday night we were having a family fun night with the boys and riding in the car to our destination when Tyler shares with daddy about his Shark video. "Daddy that video said that Sharks just appeared one day, and daddy they didn't, God made them, and it hurts His heart when people say He didn't" To which daddy asks, "Ty why don't people know that God made the Sharks like you know it?"

Tyler answers: "Jesus hasn't told them in their hearts yet!"



At that time Jesus said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure.
"All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. Matthew 11:25-27


Father God thank You for giving me these two little boys to journey with. For the faith they live daily in is something I desire to live so boldly in too! -Amen