God – Page 19 – Nicole L. Ross ~ letstalkaboutlife365

Separation from the Norm

June 11, 2013June 11, 2013 Author, Nicole L. Ross1 Comment

As I’ve gotten older and experienced many aspects of life, I have come to realize that change is inevitable. A lot of times we are reluctant to change but what God has shown me is that as we grow and mature on a daily basis there may be times when He has to pull us away from our regular routine in order to take us to a new dimension in Him. I like to think of it like this, He has to separate us in order to elevate us. I remember a few years after I graduated from college, I got a new job and I was extremely excited about it. I was going to become a flight attendant. I’d be doing something I never even thought about doing, heck I had only been on an airplane once before even getting the job. But, deep down inside I knew this was the change I needed. What I didn’t realize nonetheless was that I would have to leave everything I knew to take this job. I had to leave Florida, where all of my friends and family were located, and go up to Atlanta. Now, technically for the job it was not required that I move, but for God it was a requirement. This was what He told me I had to do, so I did it. When I first moved to Georgia, I felt so alone and out of place, even though I loved my new job. What I had to realize was that God was separating me from my comfort zone. I had gotten so comfortable with the things, places and people around me He was pulling me to a place where it would be just Him and I. A place where He could change and rearrange some things in my life that could have never happened had I stayed where I was.

When you are stretched out of your comfort zone or separated from the norm it can be a very testing, challenging and grueling experience and for me it was all of the aforementioned plus some. But why is that? If we know that change is inevitable, why are we so reluctant? Why does it feel as though it is such a difficult journey? I know personally, the reason it was so tough is because I did not understand what was going on or why. We all desire understanding, especially in the midst of undesirable situations but there will be times when we just don’t get it. The understanding comes after it is over and sometimes it never comes at all. That is like the clay trying to understand the potter while it’s being molded into a vase or something, it just won’t happen.

Separation brings elevation. Try not to focus on the situation while you are going through, focus on what the outcome will be once it is over. As the saying goes, there is light at the end of the tunnel. You just gotta make your way through that tunnel full speed ahead with your eyes wide open so you can see the end. If you don’t understand anything else, know that there is purpose behind any shift, change or alteration that comes your way. God is calling you higher, how will you respond? #iDeclare #separationfromthenorm

Prayer:

Father God in the name of Jesus, I come humbly before your throne of grace. I come to give you thanks just for being who you are. Thank you God for the shift and the changes that are taking place in my life. In times when I don’t understand why, please help me to stay focused and increase my faith and trust in you. I decree and declare that there is purpose behind every shift, change and alteration taking place in my life and instead of running from it, I will embrace it. Thank you Jesus for being such an awesome God. In Jesus name, Amen.

Scripture Readings:

Ephesians 2:10 ESV “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

Romans 12:2 NLT “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”

Let’s Talk About You!

June 10, 2013 Author, Nicole L. RossLeave a comment

When someone asks the question who are you, at first thought it seems easy enough to give them your name or maybe where you’re from. Simple enough right? Not so much. When asked who you are, if you truly think about it, it can be one of the most difficult and challenging questions for you to answer. I know for me, if someone asks me that question depending on who it is and situation, I will more than likely go down a list; I am Nicole, I’m from Florida, I am a mother, I am a wife, I am a sister, I am a daughter, and the list could just go on and on and on. Nothing wrong with this list because I am all of these things. I have come to realize however that my life is so much deeper than that, which in turn is why I can see how this question could be a lot more complex than it first appears.

Yes, we all could probably use a list of titles to describe who we are, but what about who you are deep down inside. What are you all about? Why on earth are you here? One revelation that God gave me while I was asking myself these questions, was to shift my perspective a little on life and I will use this analogy to help explain. I’m sure that most of you have heard of a business having a mission statement. In fact, the mission statement is one of the first things established before the business can ever begin operating. I’d like to point out the main goal of a mission statement for a business, which is to define the organizations purpose and primary objective. Its prime function however is internal. It brings the leadership together and helps them stay focused on the overall main goal, which for a company is to be successful. Bring it back to you. Do you have your own personal mission statement? If not, before you do anything else you should write one. Doing so will help you a great deal as it relates to being able to identify your main purpose in life. As you create a mission statement, you will be able to pin point key areas of interest, areas that you maybe want to learn more about or grow in, as well as your strengths and weaknesses. What you think about, dream about, talk about, or actually do the most – this is what you are all about. These are the things that make you who you are. Or at least it should. This brings me to my last question I want you to think about. Does your life truly reflect what is important to you and how you want others to see you? In other words, if people on the outside looking in had to say what they thought seemed to be important to you, what would they say?

Today’s topic of discussion has been all about you. I truly hope and pray that you are able to read this and do a little self-reflection. I only write about what I am thinking about and going through at the time and this is truly a time of self-reflection for me. So many things are going on around me, a lot of which I know are distractions sent by the enemy. But I hear God telling me to be still and concentrate on me right now. Before I can successfully move forward I must do an internal investigation of myself to make sure me and God are on the same page.

I want to challenge you all to follow suite and take a few moments for self-reflection. I say it’s a challenge because we often get so caught up in day-to-day activities that we don’t give our self the time and attention that we deserve. Today, God is saying be still. Establish your mission statement. What does your life reflect? Do you like it? If not, change it. If yes, keep doing what you are doing but look for ways to enhance it and make it better. You are you wherever you are, so be sure that you are the best you that you can possibly be. God Bless. #iDeclare #letstalkaboutyou

Prayer:

Father God in the name of Jesus, I first want to say thank you for creating me. Thank you for making me so uniquely and different from everyone else. I ask now God that you will help me to take some time and focus on me. I decree and declare that not only will I take time to do a real self-reflection, I will also do what it takes so that my life can reflect a life that exemplifies those things that are important to me. Thank you Jesus for helping me to be the best me that I can possibly be at all times, no matter where I am or who I’m around. In Jesus name, Amen.

Scripture:

Philippians 2:5 NIV “In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:”

Proverbs 16:9 ESV “The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps”

Opportunities

June 9, 2013June 9, 2013 Author, Nicole L. RossLeave a comment

Here we are in June, the sixth month of the year half way through 2013. I know several people who made resolutions when the year first started. Stop doing this, start doing that, but I can be honest and say I didn’t really make any resolutions for the New Year. I began 2013 with great expectations. I couldn’t really pin point what those expectations were, so I did not specifically sit down and write a list I just knew it in my spirit. I came into this year knowing that some things were about to change in my life for the good and I just needed to be ready when the opportunity presented itself. What is an opportunity? I’d say it is pretty much when doors are opened or a set of circumstances fall into place that make it possible to do something. I had to get myself in the mind state to know however, that opportunities are around me every day and I cannot just sit back and wait for them. This is something I want to pass on to you as well. Opportunities come a lot of times in ways we don’t even expect and if we are not ready for them, then it could just pass us by. In my dialogue with people, I hear many different excuses and complaints as to why things aren’t working out for them or how nothing seems to be falling in place as they had planned. Ok, so my question is this, how many times did an opportunity present itself but you let it pass you by because you were not ready?

I read the other day something that was extremely profound, it simply said that every gift, every talent and every skill that God gives you is an opportunity. That took me back for a minute and I had to do a self-evaluation. I know that gifts, talents and skills all come from God. They are not something that can be earned or that you can buy. I also believe that the more we use the three of these (whatever they may be because they are different for every person), the more they grow. But, here is where I’d like to mentally separate the spiritual and natural things going on within to gain a better understanding of how opportunities manifest themselves and we may not even realize it. Regardless of if an individual is saved, they are given a natural talent. That natural talent is usually the result of genetics and the surrounding environment. For instance, if you have a family history of musicians, more than likely you will be talented with music. Spiritual gifts on the other hand are given to all believers, people who are saved and have accepted Jesus Christ as their personal savior. As far as a skill, this is something you do well, simply put.

Now, think about your talents, gifts and skills. What are some opportunities that you may have missed out on and at the time didn’t even realize it? Once you are able to identify what it is that God has placed on the inside of you, it begins that process for you to move forward and fully capitalize on the opportunities I’ve been talking about. Increase only happens when you learn how to discern the opportunities that God sends your way. My prayer is that God will continue to help me discern these new opportunities and that I will trust Him enough to walk by faith and take total advantage of this new thing that He is doing in my life. I encourage you to do the same. Don’t sit back and wait only to have new opportunities pass by. Get yourself together so that when those doors do open right in front of your eyes, you will be ready to walk right through in confidence. My story may not be your story, but we all have a story. Purpose in your heart to make your story one that counts and one that will make a lasting impression not just for yourself, but for people all over the world. Are you a world changer? You can be! I challenge you today to be ready. Open your eyes and ears so when the next opportunity comes your way, you will take full advantage, to the glory of God! #iDeclare #opportunities

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, I come thanking you for who you are in my life. Please forgive me for not taking advantage and recognizing new opportunities that you have placed before me. Help me to have a stronger spirit of discernment. Help me God to not just talk the talk, but walk the walk and trust you with all things. Help me to know and identify the gifts, skills, and talents that you have placed inside of me and operate in them for your glory. I decree and declare that I will receive the increase of God in all areas of my life. Thank you Jesus for hearing my prayer, In Jesus Name, Amen.

Scripture:

Romans 12:3-8 NKJV “For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function,so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith;or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching;he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.”

1 Corinthians 12:8-11 NKLV “for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.”

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