Random – Page 2

Legacy

March 20, 2013 // by Nikol// Leave a Comment

I’m telling you, sometimes the people in the Bible seem like characters in a book rather than real people who lived and breathed and felt. However, sometimes God allows me to glimpse their humanity which is what happened when I was reading 2 Timothy 4:9-18.

In his last days, Paul felt alone and abandoned. His friends had left him.

Some moved on to work their own ministries,
others betrayed him,
some fought against his beliefs.

He found solace in writing letters to the few friends that were his: Luke, Mark and Timothy.

Humbly, he asked for the familiar things of this world:

…an old coat
…some old books
…and his papers.

I’m comforted by this man of God’s frailty, his honesty, and his desire for the minimal comforts of this life.

And I’m grateful for him.

I’m grateful that – despite persecution and pain, abandonment and loneliness – he persevered to passionately preach the Good News to the Gentiles. It is because of his passion and pursuit that I can say:

…he is my brother
…and His God is mine.

And it is because of this that I also share in his duty to preach the Good News regardless of consequence. Someone’s eternity might rest on my willingness to heed that very call.

It is my responsibility.
It is Paul’s legacy.
And my prayer is that it will be mine.
Will it be yours as well?

Like Me

March 11, 2013 // by Nikol// 4 Comments

It didn’t take completing a love language quiz to find out that I’m a “words of affirmation” girl, but it sure did make me feel affirmed seeing it in writing.

In strangely related news, I gave up the Facebook app on my phone. I know what you must be thinking, but it’s OK.

Seriously.

The sky has not fallen.
The world has not stopped spinning.
My friends have not unfriended me.

I still have Twitter.

But Facebook had to go for many reasons.

First, I realized that it is primarily a land whose commodity is time suckage. Where did that hour go? Oh, I spent it on Facebook watching endless videos of cats and dogs; staring at pictures of other peoples’ relatives; and fervently reading about what someone had for lunch.

Second, I noticed that I visited this strange land during lulls in my day for no reason other than because I could. It was instant pacification when a meeting became unriveting, a stop light interrupted my progress, or a commercial reared it’s ugly head.

Third, it started to feel a little too good when someone liked my post. Those little badges of affirmation (or lack thereof) following a status update made me smile (or un-smile) a little too often.

Which brings me to the point of this post.

Recently, I noticed that people were not liking some of my statuses. I couldn’t figure out why. I realize my status updates aren’t life changing, and I might not be as hilarious as I think I am, but my friends are usually pretty amazing in showing support (or perhaps pity) by liking at least some of them.

It didn’t bother me at first, but I was bumfuddled because some were globally like-able.

Like an Oswald Chambers quote. I mean, who doesn’t like some Oz?

Or a bible verse. At least one person has got to “like” Jesus, right?

Or a picture of Ellie. I mean, who can’t like a face like this?

But nothing.
Zero.
Nada.

Deafening silence on the likability scale.

For weeks.

The words of affirmation girl was crying out, and I didn’t like it. (See what I did there?) Inside she was screaming:

Like me!
Like me!
Like meeeee!

Then, a little truth showed up.

A co-worker was trying to find a link I’d posted on Facebook. No matter how many times she refreshed her screen she still couldn’t see the link on my page. I showed her on my phone where I had posted it, but when we compared views of my page, the link clearly was not there on her phone nor were many, many of my previous posts.

Turns out, anything I posted to Facebook via Twitter was hidden from sight because somehow a setting had changed from “Public” to view by “Only Me.”

I giggled as I heard God explain: Things aren’t always what they seem, Nikol.

I assumed people could see things, when in fact, they could not.
I mistook silence for rejection.

How often are we the same in our relationship with God?

When God is silent, we think He’s left us.
When prayers go seemingly unanswered, we assume He doesn’t care.
When progress is painfully slow, we think He’s not moving.

These are lies.

All of them.

God will never leave us even when we do not sense Him.
God is good even when things seem bad.
God is working even when we do not perceive Him.

Things aren’t always what they seem.

Intentional Availability

July 18, 2012 // by Nikol// Leave a Comment

In the movie, “Her Majesty Mrs. Brown” an outdoor servant to the Queen’s late husband was summoned in the hopes that he would be able to lift her spirits.

Instead of waiting around for the Queen to decide she wanted to take the horse out for a ride, Mr. Brown got up, saddled her horse, and stood at attention in the courtyard.

This atypical behavior caught the attention of the Queen as well as the not-so-impressed head of the household.

During a scolding, the question arose, “What is the word were you doing?”

His response: “I was awaiting my orders.”

We, too, are servants in a Royal household, and I don’t think we would be remiss to learn a thing or two from Mr. Brown.

In our day, we can busy ourselves with pretty much anything – we can piddle with our cell phones, occupy ourselves with hobbies and various other distractions – while awaiting a call from the King.

Or we can take the initiative to rise every morning, dress for the occasion, and stand at attention greatly anticipating how God will use us.

Our willingness to serve and our intentional availability will likely attract some Royal attention, and we will soon find ourselves busy – not with unimportant diversions – but in assisting with the work of the King.

Hi

March 15, 2012 // by Nikol// 2 Comments

Wow! So, I’ve been out awhile.

And…well…this is awkward.

Please forgive me for my absence. I have a really, really good excuse.

I wish I could say that I’ve been busy hammering out a new bible study or something that might be equally impressive. However, I have been at home recuperating from some unexpected surgery.

Things are all good now. The recovery process just took painfully longer than I expected. To be honest, the whole experience has been rather traumatizing on many levels and has left me somewhat speechless. (Who ever thought I’d say those words? Not me.)

While I’ve had a couple of crushing disappointments and some frightening realizations over the past three weeks, I have also experienced tremendous blessings that shined light on how awesome God is and how He takes care of us: moment by moment; step by step.

I won’t go into all those things now, but I do hope that as I process them, you will allow me to share some with you. For now, I simply wanted to reach out, say “HI” and remind you that God loves you and takes care of you in ways you never know or can comprehend.

So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. (Matthew 6:31-32)

Awkward

October 31, 2011 // by Nikol// 2 Comments

This is a totally, embarrassing, and awkward post for me, but I really felt like I needed to share this with you.

Around Memorial Day 2010, I felt God leading me to teach and to write. I never felt the urge to write anything for anyone. Even in college, as people would ask if I was going to get a doctorate in Psychology, I would look at them and disgustingly say, “I never want to know enough about something where I could write a book.” (I’m sure if I had listened close enough, I would’ve heard an angel giggle.)

With writing not high on the list of dreams, (or even considerations), teaching anything – let alone the word of God – seemed just as unlikely because…well…I never thought about it.

However, as we know, God has His own plans. Through some interesting conversations, God confirmed that writing and teaching was what he wanted me to do. So, I prayed: “OK, Lord. Sure. No problem. I’ll be glad to teach and write. If this is what you want me to do, then I’ll need an opportunity.”

A few weeks later, I received a phone call from a pastor friend of mine and he asked me to speak at the women’s conference he was having at his church that fall.

“Ummm…can I pray about that?” (I know. I’m a dork.)

A few months later, after watching a bible study video, my sweet friend, Lil, whispered to me: “I can totally see you doing something like that one day.”

Say WHAT?!

There were a couple of more “unique” experiences that confirmed where God was leading, including meeting Jamie Harper in January 2011. Turns out she found my blog because – even though she is not a coffee drinker (and is seriously allergic even to the thought of drinking it) – “coffee” had been repeating to her. So, she did some digging and found my blog…not once…but twice. Turns out, we go to the same church, and God had been leading her to speak and to write too.

Weird.

For a few months Jamie and I met not knowing what God was leading us to do but certain that He had a plan. And guess what?! He did. And this is where it gets awkward….

This January, we have been given a great (and humbling, and completely mindboggling) opportunity to teach at the women’s conference at Valleydale Church. I’ve attached a copy of a flier just in case you’d like to see. I kind of have to slap myself when I see the fliers all of the church…it’s surreal. I’d love for you to come and meet Jamie and hopefully learn some really cool things about God.

You can register by contacting the church at 205.991.5282 or you can email Amy Harris (aharrisathome@yahoo.com).

Regardless of whether or not you can make it, may I be so bold as to ask you for a favor? Please pray over Jamie and I as we continue to prepare and write and check out Jamie’s blog sometime. I’m praying that God will do mighty things for those in attendance.

OK. Awkwardness over. [Sigh]

Healing

October 19, 2011 // by Nikol// 1 Comment

The truck was loaded with some firewood, basic supplies and a warm meal. We pulled the truck off the road and headed up a small trail where we could see our friends huddled around a makeshift fire trying to keep warm. As we made our way toward them, greetings were exchanged and supplies unloaded.

I removed my gloves for a minute and went to shake the hand of a friend who lives under the overpass. He pulled back in horror. His hands were covered in soot from the fire and he refused to shake my hand. With his head bowed and eyes focused on his shoes he muttered, “No. I don’t want to get your hands dirty.”

Talk about awkward. So, I did the only thing I knew to do and hugged him instead.

I thought about my friend this morning as I was reading the story of Jesus healing the leper in Matthew 8.

Jesus is being followed by a large crowd of people and out of nowhere a leper approaches him, asking for healing and cleansing. This is a bold move because lepers were labeled “unclean” – by God Himself, mind you( Leviticus 13:3) – and were isolated from society. Drawing close to anyone, let alone this Jesus fellow, was risky.

Of course, I love that Jesus healed this man, but today I saw something more to love: “Jesus reached out and touched him” (v. 3). Can you imagine how long it had been since he felt the touch of another? I wonder if he shrunk back as my friend did.

Notice that Jesus could have simply spoken the healing, as He did in the story that follows, but He didn’t. Why? I think He knew this man needed the acceptance that we feel from the loving touch of another.

Have you hugged someone today? If not (and even if you have) get out there and hug some unsuspecting people! You never know when the last time someone showed them some affection.