Sometimes Good Things Fall Apart So Better Things Can Fall Together

“Sometimes good things fall apart, so better things can come together.”

I remember years ago I was in a very dark place, I was driving down the interstate lots of construction going on, it was a huge mess. But as clear as I could tell you God spoke to my heart and said “That is what I’m doing with you, Nicole. Sometimes I have to tear things down to rebuild them the right way.” WOW! I was speechless. Has God ever tore something down in your life in order to rebuild it?

Is it painful, heck ya! Is it worth it…..ABSOLUTELY!

“You can suffer the pain of change or suffer remaining the way you are.” ― Joyce Meyer

God is close to the broken hearted and rebuilds the broken!

Come let us return to the Lord; for he has torn us, that he may heal us; he has struck us down, and he will bind us up” (Hosea 6:1).

Old habits, old ways have to be torn down to allow the new to come. What do you need to let go off and allow God to tear down and rebuild?

Ephesians 4:20-24 we have been taught to “put off your old self which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds.

As you go through dark times, remember you are NOT alone. He brings RESTORATION!

You Bring Restoration– David Brymer

You’ve taken my pain
called me by a new name
You’ve taken my shame
and in it’s place, You give me joy

You take mourning and turn it into dancing
You take weeping and turn it into laughing
You take mourning and turn it into dancing
You take my sadness and turn it into joy

hallelujah, hallelujah
You make all things new, all things new

Therefore the LORD waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you. For the LORD is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him. Isaiah 30:18

We tend to to walk by what our feelings tell us, but our feelings are fickle and CANNOT be trusted. See we can only see what’s going on in front of us or around is but God sees a much bigger picture. He sees the beginning to the end. He knows ALL the details. He knows what you need and exactly when you need it.

His plans are to give you a hope and a future, not disgrace, heartache and despair. He loves you with an everlasting love precious one. So never doubt when something begins to fall apart, TRUST that God must have something even better for you and your family! I’ve seen it so many times in our family.

In times of rebuilding having a great support system like small groups, friends and family are so important. This is where being vulnerable can be hard but I’m just telling you if you can open up to safe people in your life you will find you are not alone in your struggles. So often you find people are going through the same thing. Keeping people at bay and not allowing them in, hurts you but it also hurts them in the process because they aren’t able to do or say what God wants them to do. We are build for relationships.

“Vulnerability is not winning or losing; it’s having the courage to show up and be seen when we have no control over the outcome. Vulnerability is not weakness; it’s our greatest measure of courage” -Brene Brown

Highlands Worship- How I Need You

“You are powerful, God above it all I believe in You, I believe in You. You do miracles, the impossible. I believe in You, Jesus. Jesus, Jesus, oh, how I need You. You stay the same, You are good in Your ways. Jesus, Jesus, oh, how I need You. You are enough, all my trust is in You, Lord” 💗💗💗🙌🏻

Ask God to rebuild what is broken in you, your family, our nation. My friend you are anointed for hard! You are NOT a wimpy Christian! YOU ARE A WARRIOR, destined for greatness. God is with you and He has trained your hands for battle and your fingers for warfare.

Declaration:

I am the God of restoration and I will do what they say can’t be done. I am in the miracle making business. BELIEVE that what the enemy meant for harm precious one I will work for YOUR GOOD! I will rebuild what’s been broken and restore to you a double portion.

In Jesus name, Amen💗

God bless you sweet friends!

Big hugs,

Nicole 💗

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Wake Up And Be Awesome

Good morning sweet readers! How is your weekend going? Do you have plans? Our daughter is home from college and her fiancé is here visiting from Franklin. We are working on wedding stuff some as well. I also have 2 of my grand pups since Thursday, as well as Brinley who I’ve had about 2 weeks, that’s always fun. Yesterday I taught the puppy to shake and lay down.

This Max the puppy.

Below is my other grand pup, Brinley. I’ve had her for a couple weeks now, for some reason she likes to get on my tables. We call her the table meister 😂🙈🤦🏼‍♀️

Done rambling……This is just your friendly reminder to wake up and be AWESOME today go out in your world and contaminate as many people as you can with your pearly whites!! 😬

Sweet one, just in case no ones told you lately, you are beautiful, awesome, talented, creative, favored, blessed, righteous, forgiven, and wonderfully made. So go walk in it. I hope you have a great weekend!! 😊👊💗😘

Big hugs,

Nicole 💗

Unleashing The Power Of Prayer

The POWER of prayer, let it be UNLEASHED in your life!!!

The word UNLEASH means to release from a leash or restraint.

• cause (a strong or violent force) to be released or become unrestrained.

Just think about that, if we pray for God’s Power to be UNLEASHED in our lives, our family, our cities, our country and our world how much different things would be.

His resurrection power is IN YOU can do amazing things!

I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection. – Philippians 3:10

I pray that you will begin to understand how incredibly great His power is to help those who believe Him. It is that same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated Him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in heaven. – Ephesians 1:19-20

Gods Attributes….

The devil has NO control over your prayers, but he might make you think your prayers aren’t being heard or that God simply does care about you or what’s important to you. I’m here to tell you that is a lie straight from the pit of hell. God does care and He loves you and cares about what concerns you sweet one.

The enemy is just hoping you won’t open that pretty little mouth of yours and speak God’s Word and promises over your life and family!! But unleash it sweet friend!!

Your prayers and offerings to God are like sweet fragrance.

The Word:

Matthew 7:7 Ask and it will be given to you seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

Matthew 21:22 And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.”

Mark 11:24  Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

John 14:13-14 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it

God simply adores you and wants you to RISE UP HIGHER from what’s keeping you down precious one. You are wonderfully and beautifully made in the image of God. I pray that He will UNLEASH all that he has for you, your life and your family…..all of His goodness, kindness, strength, wisdom, love, peace, favor and joy.

May He strengthen your inner man and help you to preserver in whatever you are going through, may he bless you abundantly in Jesus name, Amen!

Big hugs,

Nicole💗

Leave A Legacy

Love this!

Like the old saying “Children close their ears to advice but open their eyes to example”

Wow! That’s profound!

When I was kid I always remember my mom saying “Because I said so!” Oh how I hated that. But as a young mom I remember saying it too, LOL. I’m sure we’ve all said that.

If you’ve been a parent any amount of time you’ve probably figured “Do as I say, not what I do” doesn’t work!

Our brains learn primarily from what we see and observe and yet we can talk and preach our kids to death. I know I’ve done it.

Children are like sponges, and they take in what they see and hear. What are they seeing and hearing from you?

Children notice how you handle stress….do you yell or scream at them? I’ve done that too when my girls were little. I’m not proud of it but I did. Maybe you can relate?

I think my most shining moment was when the girls and I were going somewhere, I don’t remember the specifics but Hilliary (our oldest) was being argumentative and disrespectful so I pull over to the middle lane made for turning and me and my wonderful parenting skills proceeded to fuss and shake my finger at her. In a moment of clarity I realize that everyone driving by is seeing my booty in the window 😂🙈🤦🏼‍♀️ and probably all my craziness….SMH. This is pre Alanon. As I come to my senses and realize that I’m being ridiculous I bust out laughing and then they start laughing and now we’re all laughing at all my craziness. Praise God I am not like that anymore!

They also notice how you treat others. Are you giving and serving? Do you see a need and try to meet it? Do you gossip and talk about others all the time? We all have to vent but gossip is very different.

What are you speaking? When a problem arises, how do you respond? Do you say “God’s got this! He will help us and work all things out for your good!” Or do you say “Well that’s just great! Yet another problem. Nothing ever goes my way! Nothing good ever happens to me!” What you’re saying your children are soaking it all in and are learning from how you respond, behave and the way you speak.

I know it’s “just” a little white lie but when someone calls do you say “Tell them I’m not here.” Your now making them lie for you so whether you realize it our not the message is “If you do I can do it.” But when they lie to you, it’s not acceptable.

Kids will always do what they see you do, not necessarily what you tell them to do.

Being a parent is tough and hard work!! But worth it all, leave a legacy for them. It’s our job to teach them morals, values, character, respect others, accountability, confidence, courage, leadership and so much more.

Be the kind of parent your kids will be proud of. Your not on an island to yourself, every decision you make or don’t make affects your kids and family.

Call out to God to help you be the best parent you can be. Because in and of ourselves we can’t, we do crazy things like I did fussing at my kid in the middle intersection with my booty in the air😂🙈 I mean maybe you’ve never done that exactly but I’m certain there is something you’ve done as parent you weren’t proud of.

My friend we have the opportunity to change the world with how we love, teach and parent our children.

Leave a legacy!

I know I’ve made many mistakes but I’m thankful that I serve a God who helps me, teaches me, leads and guides me on the journey that He has entrusted to me…..being the best wife to my hubby and the best Mom I can be to 3 of the most awesome, precious, Ahhhmazzzing daughters anyone could have!! Now God has blessed us with a precious son in law and soon to be another precious son in law in July. They are such a treasure to me and I am choosing to leave a strong, godly legacy for my family.

Will you choose the same?

This is my legacy!

😂😂😂😂

My friend God will do exceedingly, abundantly far above and beyond what we can hope, ask or think. So keep going to God, he’s our Rock, our Deliverer, our Provider, our Healer, our Victor……He is our everything.

Lord help me to seek You first to help me be the best person, the best wife, and parent I can be.

Help me to be a good example to my family to not just talk the talk but actually walk the walk. Guard my tongue from saying harmful things to my children, spouse, and friends in my life.

Help me to build up and encourage and use my words to edify instead of tearing down, belittling and speaking words that cause pain that penetrate deep in their heart. Our words our so powerful, we can speak life or death to people, help us to choice wisely and SPEAK LIFE.

Help me to be a blessing and bless those around me.

Help me to show the love of Jesus, to extend grace where needed. Give me Your eyes to see those around me.

Help me to trust You more and worry less. Show me how to be an example to my children so they can learn to trust You more and see You in the things and circumstances around us and to know that despite what it looks like You always work ALL things to our good.

Thank You and I praise You just for who You are and for loving this hotmess. You are such a good, good, Father and thank you for never giving up on me. In Jesus name, Amen!

Big hugs,

Nicole💗

The Great Exchange

Its The Great Exchange….Jesus traded His life for our sins. He traded His health for our sickness, and His abundance for our poverty. He broke the curse and chains and carried all our blame. He gave His life in a beautiful exchange. You have been forgiving and your sins remembered no more.

The Spirit of God dwells in you and the Resurrection Power lives in YOU! So sweet one, you have EVERYTHING you need already IN YOU for whatever you are going through.

Your blessing, your breakthrough is on the way. You are walking in God’s grace, and His unmerited favor today!! Keep believing, keep standing, keep praying and NEVER EVER give up and you WILL see God’s glory revealed!

GOD is ALWAYS FAITHFUL, and He holds your life in the palm of His hands.

Have a wonderful day sweet readers! May God bless you and keep you; The LORD make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace. In Jesus name, Amen!

Big hugs,

Nicole💗

Enjoy these to songs🙌🏻

Beautiful Exchange by Hillsong:

https://g.co/kgs/xw3HhX

Resurrection Power by Chris Tomlin

https://g.co/kgs/UTSCuX

There’s No Way Around Pain…Feel It And Move Through It

There’s no way around pain…you gotta feel it and move THROUGH it. Your pain has a purpose. So often we try to bandaid our pain and numb it or stuff it instead of feeling it. We all deal with pain differently….tv, alcohol, drugs, pornography, food, shopping, etc. All these do is mask the pain.

How do you deal with pain?

Do you you try to mask your pain?

Have you been self medicating your pain in some way?

Pain causes us discomfort and fear. But precious one life is full of pain that’s meant to be felt…”When you numb your pain you also numb your JOY.” Move THROUGH it.

God wants to heal you everywhere you hurt. So the next time your tempted to stuff or numb your pain remember we have Savior who knows what it feels like to be pierced, crushed, chastised, and abandoned. He overcame and you to can to if you go to the Source of healing.

Feel the brokenness and allow it to do it’s perfect work in you.

“I loved you at your darkest.” Romans’ 5:8

https://nikhop320.wordpress.com/2018/11/12/i-loved-you-at-your-darkest/

It’s so important to acknowledge your pain. I know it causes discomfort and yes the tears may come but that’s not bad, it’s healing for your soul.

“You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book.” Psalm 56:8

Tears heal our heart and help us see things more clearly, and yet it’s one of things I’ve struggled so much with. See growing up I had to be “stronger” and more “grown up” than others my age and my feelings weren’t as important to others in my life. I quickly learned that my job was to make them happy and feel better about themselves at all cost. So I learned to stuff them soooo far down….thus an eating disorder was birthed. When we are not permitted to be who God created us to or feel what we feel without being ridiculed, controlled or manipulated, it does detrimental things to how we deal and view life in general.

First I’ll say my mom did the best she could given how she grew up and the things she learned that were wrong and dysfunctional. I KNOW IT in my heart but it doesn’t make it any easier. If we don’t allow our children to be children and all we do is control and manipulate, then we set our children up for failure and an EXTREMELY difficult life. One of people pleasing and one that makes others feeling more important, meanwhile yours gets stuffed down further and further and you become less and less.

https://nikhop320.wordpress.com/2018/11/01/people-pleasing/

Growing up with a parent with untreated personality disorders is extremely difficult. Everything is about them and nothing about you. Their feelings are the most important and if you don’t follow suit then your life will be miserable as well…..This will be a later post.

So now for me, I’m learning to set healthy boundaries and learning to feel the pain, feel my emotions…..NOT be led by them but feel them instead of stuffing or numbing myself from them. See as a child I learned that pain and fear were to be avoided at all costs but what I’m learning now is life can be full of pain and feeling that pain is good for me because it also helps me to experience and see JOY as well.

https://nikhop320.wordpress.com/2019/01/24/joy-unspeakable/

https://nikhop320.wordpress.com/2019/01/20/count-it-all-joy/

So sweet one, there’s no way around pain, we can put it off for weeks, months or even years but at some point you gotta feel it and move THROUGH it because on the other side is your healing, freedom and JOY!

Father God, your word promises when I draw near to You, You will draw near to me. I want to dwell in the secret place. Help me feel the pain and move through it because on the other side is freedom, healing and joy. Help me to help others on this journey I’m on. I don’t want my pain and tears to be wasted, I want Your glory to be seen in my life. Tear down the walls that keep me in fear and bondage. Help me to rejoice and be stable in the storm. I declare I will trust You in the midst of my pain, for You Oh Lord are my Rock, my Shelter, my Deliverer and a ever present help in time of need. You cause ALL THINGS to work for my good. I love You and praise You and believe that You are a good good Father who only wants what’s best for His children. May Your glory be seen in my life, in Jesus name, Amen!

Big hugs,

Nicole💗

Fear Or Faith

Sometimes our greatest challenge is to believe His Word over our existing condition.

Whatever your predominant focus is, that is what you permit to exist in your life.

So often we focus on the negative which causes us to live in a cycle of negativity. You MUST make a choice to focus on the positive, and be expectant for something good to happen instead of ALWAYS expecting bad. For most of us it doesn’t just automatically happen, it’s a choice we have to make.

Renew your mind!

Whatever is going wrong in your life is a result of where your focus lies. If you don’t like it, change your focus. It’s all about your perception to our circumstances around us, not necessarily the circumstances themselves but how we react to them……whether fear or faith.

Your focus will either feed your faith or confirm your fears, AND since God didn’t give us a spirit of fear but one of power, love, and sound mind and self discipline. Speak LIFE, be positive and call those things that be not as though they are.

Have a wonderful weekend sweet friends!

Big hugs,

Nicole💗