Sneaking in...

...to say, it's been too long, but just right. Slowly, there's gonna be some changes around this here little  old blog. There's a stir in my heart and words inside to get back to a passion long set to the side as life  took many changes. So many new things for me to learn around the web and this here blog but I'm ready. It's gonna take time...lot's of time. But this time, it's different. I can't wait to catch you up.

So the first thing you might see is the header up there to give you some direction as to which way God has been working on my heart over the past few years. Yep... years. Sometimes, it takes that long, doesn't it? But, that's okay. It's all for Him and I'm ready. I hope you'll join us.

Much Love,
Nicole Marie

Grasp...

I want to grasp the will of God,
His good, acceptable, and perfect will.

Not just "fly" by in this life doing what I think, what others "think" I should do,
but be so in-tune with Him that I hear His voice leading me, guiding me.

Oh, the sweet joy of seeking Him.

Being transformed by the renewing of my mind.

Trusting in His unfailing love,

rejoicing in His salvation.

 

Singing to the Lord,

for He has been good to me.

 

I don't know how the story will end.

But what I do know is that He is here.

 

Leading me. Guiding me.

 

Into His...

Good, Acceptable, and Perfect will.

 

By His Grace,

Nicole Marie

Spilling words out onto the page.

No editing, no worrying if I have it just right or not.

Writing for five minutes with friends.
Kindred friends who are a sweet blessing. 

 

Letting the words flow across the screen, seeing the story that will unfold...

Sharing thoughts on the word Grasp, tonight.

Joining Lisa-Jo  and friends here:

Getting back to...

...penning words of encouragement that

occupy a little bit of space in that mail bag to...

in-turn, occupy the heart spaces of another.

These past few weeks have a been a wonderful reminder of how the words of

another can so greatly uplift, encourage, and put salve over our weary and torn hearts.

I have been so greatly blessed by the actions and words of others here on-line 

and in the paths I walk each day!

A kind act in the gift of a watermelon.

The handmade card in the mail.

The words scrolled across the twitter feed and straight into my heart.

I've decided...

I'm getting back to sending words of encouragement,

little notes dropped into the slot of our quaint post office,

to travel the miles and sometimes entire states to those I love.

It is something I used to do... all the time.

Without hesitation.

Full of love.

That is why I was so excited when Dayspring sent me a pack of their 

Redeemed All Occasion cards to review.

They are full of inspiration, encouragement, and they are cute!

This being my favorite one...

I've decided that I'm going to send these cards out to those 

who have encouraged me through this change,

and to those who may need encouraging.

These cards truly are...

salve for the heart and soul.

By His Grace,

Nicole Marie

* Disclosure: Dayspring provided me with a free pack of Redeemed All Occasion Cards. The opinions are solely mine, and I sure do love them!

Wide and full of Grace...

¹² Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. ¹³ Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, ¹⁴ I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:12-14 NIV 

...That is the verse she gave me tonight...
A verse aptly spoken, wide and full of the grace of God.
Grace that covered and flowed over my heart and soul.

Wide with promise and hope of what is to come.
Even when I can't see it, nor know what it will be, it is wide with promise.

To forget what is behind me,
reach forward to what lies ahead,
press on towards the goal.

The goal of Christ Jesus.

But, I must step.
I must act.
I must make a choice.

He's there right beside me.
And, He's there beside you too.

...with arms open wide.

I will keep on the journey.
I will trust He is there, working behind the scenes even when I can't "see" Him.

 Wide with Grace.
Wide with Promise.
Wide with Hope.

By His Grace and Hope,

Nicole Marie

Spilling words out onto the page.

No editing, no worrying if I have it just right or not.

Writing for five minutes with friends. 
Kindred friends who are a sweet blessing. 

 

Letting the words flow across the screen, seeing the story that will unfold...

Sharing thoughts on the word Wide, tonight.

Joining Lisa-Jo  and friends here:

Lesson from a watermelon...

There it sits...
green, football like, sitting on my front porch,
and I smile.

Just a few minutes before, that smile wasn't there but tears.
Tears that flow when stress hits, prayers go unanswered,
in the middle of trials and waiting on change.

She had a whim,
a thought,
and she acted on it.

Something so small,
an act so kind,
to change my focus...

To focus on the blessing of the moment.
To focus on the provision of the moment.
To focus on the truth that God has not forgotten me in this time.

A moment to take the focus off of all that has been weighing me down.
To open my eyes and see the small gifts HE would bring after that...

A card.
An email.
Friends reaching out.
An opportunity to create again.

When my thoughts go to the weight of the waiting and trials.
The reality that is now.

I just focus...

Focus on that green, football like watermelon,
now sitting on my counter.

And, I smile.

“Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”
Hebrews 13:5 NIV

What small, little gifts has He left you lately?


By His Grace and Hope,

Nicole Marie

Spilling words out onto the page.

No editing, no worrying if I have it just right or not.

Writing for five minutes with friends.

 

Letting the words flow across the screen, seeing the story that will unfold...

Sharing thoughts on the word Focus, tonight.

Joining Lisa-Jo  and friends here:

Change...

Spilling words out onto the page.

No editing, no worrying if I have it just right or not.

Writing for five minutes with friends.

And, go...

Change...

I am in the midst of change.
Smack-dab in the middle of the ocean, change.
The kind of change that requires "getting out of the boat."

I was here once before.
Frozen.
Scared.
Afraid to move.

But since that time,
God has placed circumstances,
people,
and learning into my life in such a way that...

Causes growth.

Growth to see that God is always with me.
He will never leave nor forsake.
That through this change,
He is there.

What's it going to take?

Getting out of the boat.
Walking with my eyes and heart focused on Christ.
Because,
you see...

I'm done with looking at the waves.
I'm done with sitting in the boat, looking out over the ocean...

It's time for a change and I'm stepping out.

Let's go God.
Things are happening, and they are good!

I know you got this.
I know you got me!

I can't wait to see what you have in store for me!

---Stop---

By His Grace and Hope,

Nicole Marie

Letting the words flow across the screen, seeing the story that will unfold...

Sharing thoughts on the word Stretch, tonight.

Joining Lisa-Jo  and friends here:

Together...

So, so thankful for friends near and far who join in prayer.

Speaking of...

Have you seen this site yet?

Go ahead...

Take a peak.

 You won't regret it. 

By His Grace and Hope,

Nicole Marie