Day One hundred and six....

There is a time to be joyful in your presence, there is a time to weep in greif over loss, there is a time to ask you what we need to do. In all these times God, remind us that it is about you. No matter what we are feeling, how our days go, whatever we choose our attitudes to be, you will never change. Lord, I'm so thankful that through the storms of this life you sometimes calm that raging storm outside, but sometimes you calm me. Walking in peace day by day is a struggle for me, with school, work, home, and holidays coming up. New things that I have volunteered for, people I will eat lunch with, my husband, my dog, all those attributes of my life somtimes make me worry. It's stupid really to worry about those things, so today God I cast all my cares on you, take them and I will trust You and think about and dwell about peace, and the word. I love you Lord, in Jesus name. Amen.

105 family

Thank you Jesus for the amazing family that you have given me. It's beautiful the way you orchestrate our lives together, you purposely chose those people to make my family. I love you Lord.

104 I'm so thankful!

For the time I get to spend with my family that I don't see very often!!! Thank you God for reminding us everyday of how blessed we are just to be alive and living and able to talk to you. I love you lord!

103 its good for me...

You are so enough for me Lord, your presence in my life today. It cleanses me, reminds me of who you are, encourages me, and there is nothing that compares to your love. No one can fill me like you do! Fill me again Lord, renew my love for you again.

102: The past..

Today I am reminded of my past. Those things that I cannot change, those things I did I wish I could forget, and some things I can't figure out what I was thinking. It's our human nature to want to change what we already did, but there is a catch. In the bible Isaiah 43:18 is says "Forget the former things(exactly what I just described above!); do not dwell on the past." We are not perfect people, we never will be until we see our Jesus face to face, but now in this moment I pause to remind myself that God has given me a command today to forget it all that is in the past, and don't think about it. It is a waste of time obviously or He would not have put that verse in the bible. God always knows what is best for his children. And we can make excuses all day long about how much we wish that our past was not as dirty as it is, but the truth is he has forgiven us COMPLETELY! That in itself is so freeing to me. I can walk in that statement, that I do not have to remember the past because it has been wiped away clean, the blood of Jesus was enough to cover my sins, no matter what kind of scars they left behind. Thank you God for that beautiful illustration of love towards me, you constantly want me to come boldly to you and get your promises ingrained into my head so I can not dwell on what is done. I love you Lord, and thank you for your forgiveness, you took my place. In Jesus name, amen.

101 ways to make your mondays wonderful...

1-100 pray, pray, pray, pray x's a bunch and you have the answer to a wonderful monday. If that doesn't work start confessing the scriptures over it! It will be a great monday, I will have a good attitude, I have so much to be thankful for, my husband is incredibly supportive of me, my dog loves me so much, I have a wonderful family, I have talents that God gave me, I can walk, talk, love, and breath! Those should be enough to make any day the best!!!!

Day 100: Finishing

Lord, you stick to your word. You don't forget about what you promised. You always finish what you start, and always say, it's good.

Day 99: In our faces...

Sometimes the answers to our prayers are right in front of us. I have found that the bible gives the most elegant design of ways to have the most amazing life. Every single thing that we need as humans can be found in the bible. Not by bread alone....but by every word of God. Yes we have wants, but the need of our spirits lie waiting in those pages that have been scribed for us, His children. Taking that promise that there is nothing impossible for him to do, at all. He can change any situation. I have heard it a thousand times, but it is the truth. I am trusting in my God to change things that cannot be seen, prepare things that he said he already thought about, rearrange things in my heart only he knows. Just incredible, that is what he is.

Day 98: Missions

Lord you have given me a heart for your people. Grow that deeply inside so I never lose sight of the reason you died for me. To share you with all those I come in contact with, to minister to the hungry, the poor, those that need, those that are hurting. You are completely wonderful Lord, I don't want anyone to miss that chance they have to create a relationship with you. The best most important relationship in the world, you determine our heartbeats, our breath, our days. How can I not listen to your beckoning, how can I push you away. Oh I want you to draw so near to me that I hear your breath God, and I hear the cries of your heart. In Jesus name. amen.

Day 97: Joy

"You have made known to me the ways of life; You will make me full of joy in your presence." Acts 2:28

Full of joy, walking in peace, knowing that you are the fullfilment. You are what keeps me satisfied, you are the craving of all of me. Thank you Lord, for filling me with joy while I am in your presence. In Jesus name, amen.

Day 96: What He deserves?

Lord, we cannot take credit for the talents or creativity we have been given. It is you that fashioned us by your hands and you thought about us before we were even born. Remind us that you deserve all the glory, honor, and praise for everything amazing and wonderful in my life. Even the things that I have been through Lord, you still turned my ashes into beauty. All the brokeness that I walked hand in hand with you, you took it and healed me and gave me a reason to live. Thank you God, for this day to praise you with all that I am. In Jesus name. Amen.

Day 95: Thank you for....

My family, my husband, ability to go to school, my vision, I can hear, smell, taste, feel, you have given me a beautiful life Lord, I am so thankful for you and that I came to know you. I love you Lord, help me to not forget how blessed I am to be in a relationship with you. In Jesus name, amen.

Day 94: ???

Not really sure what to pray. Sometimes I come to that point. So I will just wait, wait in silence for his voice to speak to me. We make our prayer life so complicated, using big words, sitting or kneeling in a specific position thinking this will make God the happiest. Really it is a waste. All those times where I have wanted to be noticed because of my long, drawn out prayers for one compliment. It sounds silly, ya it is. Be honest though! So humbly I come today before God, trying not to be noticed by what I pray or how I pray it. Just me and Him. He looks at the heart of the person praying. He will notice me today, he will hear my petitions rise to Him. I honor him with coming boldly to Him knowing that He can do all things. In Jesus name, amen.

Day 93: Perseverance

Nikki, you can do this, just keep on walking/running to the finish line," I told myself while I was on mile 18 in the San Diego Rock-N-Roll Marathon this past June. My feet were hurting, the skin on my face was burning, due to lack of sunscreen applied, my legs just would not run anymore, and I was starving. For one thing, a marathon is pretty much crazy to accomplish. Seriously, who in their right mind would dedicated months of training to a single day of work (I'm raising my hand). Whatever the subject is that is being prepared for is the goal. The thing that needs to get done. It needs to be in the past, not really in a negative sense, but there is anticipation to it. My mind was prepared for miles 18-20. I heard that was the hardest, to my discovery yes it was. Really mile 20 was the killer. My feet all of a sudden just started throbbing, my ankles felt fat, and my energy level was gone. I felt blisters on my feet, now I know not to change my socks I have been training in the week before the big day. I walked mile 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26. Oh ya, it was great. I was relaxed, as much as I could be, and my time was of no concern by now. Previously in Nikki's running world, I had written on my calender 3 half marathons. Successfully I managed to drag myself past the finish line all three times. I never considered myself an athlete. In my high school years I played basketball, a little, I did like volleyball, but I really enjoyed cheerleading. So as the reader can see, my athletic abilities were minimal when God created me. I do not feel cheated that I didn't score 50 points in a basketball game, or really know how to spike the ball. I just know that there is no room for practicing those specific things that I really don't enjoy. Cheerleading was another story. Whether or not you feel it can be put in the "sport" category is of no importance. I still am really horrible at sports. My lovely sister called me one day and asked me to join her in a half marathon. I accepted the offer, trained as much as I could, and then really loved it to be honest. The thrill of finishing, the t-shirt, the metal, the crowd, and then the blessed conversations emerge. Yes, I did it, I didn't quit, I didn't talk myself out of it, I just ran....well, ran/walked. Now I can say I gladly completed all 3 half marathons, and with the help of my beloved savior Jesus, he guided me to the finish line in my first marathon. 26.2 miles is a long way. I could not have done it without him. Isn't that how our lives are? We just run/walk to our goals, passing others, so we can get where we are going. Busy, busy people living life one appointment at a time. Ignoring those that we are running or walking with. Don't pass up the opportunity to bless someone you are standing beside. Those in your work place, or family. People that you see everyday at the grocery store or gas station. Reach out, give of yourself to see them come to know your God. My challenge to the readers today, don't let a great moment go by where you could have been Jesus to someone:)

Day 92: Work

Lord we have the ability to do so many things for you. I know that it is not by works that we please you. In all that I do with my hands, let it please you. God I pray that I would not try to please others with what I am doing but just you. That when I am cleaning toilets it is praise to you, when I am washing dishes let it bless you God. Complaining will be far from my lips because I have the ability to work Lord, and work diligently in everything I do. In Jesus name, amen.

Day 91: Decisions

Teach me to listen so closely to your voice God that I do not make any decisions without first coming to you. I know that you have plans that are not mine, you already thought my life through without my help. So I am leaning on you minute by minute to hear what you have to say. To be led by your hand and follow you. I love you Lord, in Jesus name, amen.

Day 90: Spirit of God

Oh Lord you build me up with your spirit, the comforter, the encourager. Dwelling in me to quicken my spirit to respond to you. Praying things that have not yet happened, praying for myself to walk in your spirit and not the flesh. Thank you for that gift that you gave to your children so long ago, your spirit. Fill me with freshness today, fill me up so that I can overflow onto others helping them come to you. I love you Lord, in Jesus name I pray, amen.

Day 89: Giving

Lord, there are many times during my day when I have time to give to someone else. When I have a conversation and I don't really feel like talking, that is my chance to just listen to them, hear what they have to say, pray for them when we are done talking, just be there for them. I don't always make time to stop and actually give my full attention to one conversation. Things I need to do, people I need to give other time to, papers I need to write, projects I have to start, tests and quizzes I haven't studied for, and of course there is the obvious food I need to cook or plan to buy, things I have to clean or organize. Yet still in that little world of mine you remind me that there are people that deserve my attention to the fullest, that they need my shoulder to lean on for those few moments. So out of my comfort zone I walk to minister, listen to, help, encourage, guide others that may come in my path. With thankfulness God, I am so glad that you give me time to talk with you and you still have time to listen to everybody else at the same moment! I love you Lord, you still amaze me, in Jesus name I pray all of this. Amen.

Day 88: Attitudes

Lord, I know when I am having a really stinkty attitude, one that really is pointless. I understand that there are times when things do not go the way I planned, but that is no excuse for grumbling and complaining under my breath. Ok so I need to work on that just a little. Help me God, guide me while I put into practice the fruits of the Spirit, love, patience, kindness, gentleness, self control, faithfulness. You showed all of them without failing. I can do this because you live in me. In Jesus name, amen.

Day 87: Adoption

You adopted us(Ephesians 5:1), we were orphans spiritually, didn't have a father to run to. You are our father, and our mother. Nurturing us to the point of extreme love. That is what you have for your children. When we give our hearts to you, you promise to never leave us or forsake us(Deuteronomy 31:6) because you can't turn your back on us. I know that we can do that, turning our back on you. Run from you, forget about you, ignore that you called us your children. Today Lord you have beckoned us to have this relationship that will not be broken, only by our choice. I know that in the deepest part of myself I could not run from you, only if I was insane. You have shown me complete forgiveness, how to love others, faithfulness, satifaction beyond my knowledge. In Psalm 16:11 you said through your servant David that in your very presence there is the joy that will fill up my whole life, something I cannot get from anyone else or anything. Thank you Lord for you word, those little things that you promised make such a difference every day. Love you God, in Jesus name.

Day 86: Deeper

Beyond just a relationship God, you are the very being that I have to have to be alive. It isn't normal for a person to walk around in this life without you. Continue to remind us that you are the reason we are alive. In Jesus name. Amen.

Day 84 & 85: Hello November!

So this month will be a great month, I know it. First of all we all choose how our mood will be each day, no matter what our circumstances scream at us. Reactions is all it boils down to. November is full of opportunity to give of ourselves, and step slowly away from it's all about me right now. It is so easy to get caught up in what we feel, think, know, realize, want, dream, have, all that stuff is hard to ignore when there is so much going on. We all have something to give out time to, work, school, husbands, wifes, children, moms, dads, family, people we work with, and then we have to take into consideration God. He is still yearning for out attention despite our crazy lifes. It is our choice to what we devote our time to, choose him. During the day spend a few minutes just reflecting on what he has given to us. What he has promised. What he knows. What he has already done. Wow it might take longer than a few minutes, but the time is not the issue here, it is the motive, the behing the scenes attempt that we make at striving towards a God that loves us. We are all trying so hard to please others, I do it probably every day. Just wanting people to notice you, ya it's kind of ridiculous, but I admit that it is a waste of time. I will never get enough praise from people, but I know where I can get my encouragement. God has alot to say to me everyday, what if I miss something! So I will give of myself, in my busy day to listen to his voice. Maybe he will lead me to bless someone else today, but I never want to be in a place that I am so selfish I cannot help but see my own stuff, I want to see others the way God sees them, desperate for Him. Today let your heart be broken before God, give him those unnecessary things that are just extra weight you do not need. He said cast your cares on Him!