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Relinquishing Control

Sep10

Hi, everyone! It’s been a while since my last post. I’m doing well. I’ve been dealing with some health issues, but KNOW that they are NOTHING that God can’t handle!!!! You see. I know that My God is ABLE and that ALL that goes on in my life is in HIS control.  And rightly so! Who could handle our lives better than an all powerful, omniscient, omnipotent, LOVING, and FAITHFUL God? I think that just about covers it!

Some people think that they are not perfect enough yet to give their lives over to God. The thing is that the longer that we DON’T turn it over to Him, the WORSE it is destined to become!!!! That, my friends, is the truth!  In my devotions today, I came across this chapter in Hebrews. We don’t have to be perfect to comet to Him. We come to Him because we AREN’T perfect and THAT’S a fact!

Enjoy this reading! I pray that it comforts your souls and gives you the confidence and the faith to just jump in and trust Him. He REALLY DOES love you!!!!

God bless, All!

Nikki

Now, here’s the reading that I promised!

Hebrews  4  AMPC

1 THEREFORE, WHILE the promise of entering His rest still holds andis offered [today], let us be afraid [to distrust it], lest any of you should think he has come too late andhas come short of [reaching] it.
2 For indeed we have had the glad tidings [Gospel of God] proclaimed to us just as truly as they [the Israelites of old did when the good news of deliverance from bondage came to them]; but the message they heard did not benefit them, because it was not mixed with faith (with the leaning of the entire personality on God in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness) by those who heard it; neither were they united in faith with the ones [Joshua and Caleb] who heard (did believe).
3 For we who have believed (adhered to and trusted in and relied on God) do enter that rest, in accordance with His declaration that those [who did not believe] should not enter when He said, As I swore in My wrath, They shall not enter My rest; and this He said although [His] works had been completed andprepared [and waiting for all who would believe] from the foundation of the world. [Ps. 95:11.]
4 For in a certain place He has said this about the seventh day: And God rested on the seventh day from all His works. [Gen. 2:2.]
5 And [they forfeited their part in it, for] in this [passage] He said, They shall not enter My rest. [Ps. 95:11.]
6 Seeing then that the promise remains over [from past times] for some to enter that rest, and that those who formerly were given the good news about itandthe opportunity, failed to appropriate it anddid not enter because of disobedience,
7 Again He sets a definite day, [a new] Today, [and gives another opportunity of securing that rest] saying through David after so long a time in the words already quoted, Today, if you would hear His voice andwhen you hear it, do not harden your hearts. [Ps. 95:7, 8.]
8 [This mention of a rest was not a reference to their entering into Canaan.] For if Joshua had given them rest, He [God] would not speak afterward about another day.
9 So then, there is still awaiting a full andcomplete Sabbath-rest reserved for the [true] people of God;
10 For he who has once entered [God’s] rest also has ceased from [the weariness and pain] of human labors, just as God rested from those labors peculiarly His own. [Gen. 2:2.]
11 Let us therefore be zealous andexert ourselves andstrive diligently to enter that rest [of God, to know and experience it for ourselves], that no one may fall orperish by the same kind of unbelief anddisobedience [into which those in the wilderness fell].
12 For the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power [making it active, operative, energizing, and effective]; it is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the breath of life (soul) and [the immortal] spirit, and of joints and marrow [of the deepest parts of our nature], exposingandsifting andanalyzing andjudging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart.
13 And not a creature exists that is concealed from His sight, but all things are open andexposed, naked anddefenseless to the eyes of Him with Whom we have to do.
14 Inasmuch then as we have a great High Priest Who has [already] ascended andpassed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession [of faith in Him].
15 For we do not have a High Priest Who is unable to understand andsympathize andhave a shared feeling with our weaknesses andinfirmities andliability to the assaults of temptation, but One Who has been tempted in every respect as we are, yet without sinning.
16 Let us then fearlessly andconfidently andboldly draw near to the throne of grace (the throne of God’s unmerited favor to us sinners), that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find grace to help in good time for every need [appropriate help and well-timed help, coming just when we need it].
1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation

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The Nikki Jordan Life Coaching Chat Room

May2

Hi, All! In case you missed it, I am, FINALLY, getting my Nikki Jordan Life Coaching Chat Room set up!!!!! I’m SO EXCITED because I’ve wanted a way that we can discuss live! I have so many things that I want to share with you and have great hope that you, too, will share with me! So, this is the first step.

Also,  I’m not getting many comments or much feedback about what you all are enjoying or not or even what you think. I REALLY want to know!!! Maybe the chat room will be a place that we can do that. I’m praying that it will.  Tell me. What topics would you like to see me cover? I specialize in relationships and communication. I teach about self esteem and how to overcome negative thinking. There’s so much more that I’m qualified to help you figure out.

If you like what I have to say on here, then maybe you’d like to go further into your self actualization by working one on one with me. For those of you who don’t live close enough to see me face to face, then we can, certainly, work over the phone or even online. The choice is yours. My rates are reasonable and my hours are flexible for the most part.

I’m eager to have the opportunity to help you become all you were created to be!!!
God bless,

Nikki

 

You can reach me at 765-243-0507. If you can’t reach me by voice, then you are welcome to text. Even if I don’t have minutes, then I DO always have texting. Thanks again and I look forward to talking with you!!!!

 

Having Hope by: Nikki Hodson

Apr5

 

As a Christian, I’ve read about hope and heard it            mentioned many times. We say we HOPE in The Lord,    but what is hope really? What’s the difference between hoping to obtain something and wishing for it? Why does the Bible so often talk of the believer as someone who has hope as opposed to wishing to go to Heaven or obtain favour from God?? Well, here’s the difference.

The original 1828 dictionary by Noah Webster tells us that hope is defined as:

Confidence in a future event; the highest degree of well founded expectation of good; as a hope founded on God’s gracious promises; a scriptural sense.

As a believer, God doesn’t want us to WISH He would answer our requests or that He would allow us to make Heaven our home. He wants us to have HOPE in those things. According to the Webster definition of hope, we don’t have to blindly wish it would happen, but we can truly EXPECT it to become a reality with a great degree of certainty! How reassuring is that?!

The Greek word, ἐλπίς or elpis simply means that the word hope as used in 1 Peter 1:3  is derived from the primary word ἔλπω or elpo which is defined as:

(to anticipate usually with pleasure);
expectation (abstract or concrete) or confidence: – faith hope.

So, in order to hope for something, we must have confidence in that thing or the materialization of that occurrence.  I like that Webster defines this anticipation as being one with pleasure. Why would we hope in something that wouldn’t be pleasurable?

The truth is that we wouldn’t. By definition, if we hope for something, then that something is by definition something that we want. So, when we hope in God, that means that we desire God and believe that He is good and will give us good things.

Now, we can read 1 Peter 1:3 in a whole new light and with even greater anticipation of all that The Father has for us!

1 Peter 1:3
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

So, let’s revel in that hope!!!  Let’s praise Our God for His goodness! He REALLY IS a GREAT GREAT God!!!!

Until next time, God bless and be sure to put your trust in Him!

All my love,

Nikki

 

Regrets

Mar31

Hi, All! It’s late here and I’m not going to write a bunch, but I do have something on my heart that I feel that The Lord wants me to share with  you.

Up until maybe the last year or two, I would throw the biggest fit when I didn’t get my way. Yes. I’m confessing to  you all. But, God NEVER gave up on me and others who are close to me have marveled at the difference in me.

So, what’s different? Well, my walk with God is different. I’ve learned to trust Him more and not to get upset when things don’t go my way. You see. I never KNEW that I could live if things didn’t go my way! Isn’t that sad??? I think it is.

But, here’s what God has done for me. God has changed me!!! He’s helped me to know that it’s OK if things don’t go my way. He’s also let me know that He forgives me for my childish behavior and that I can be strong and ask forgiveness of others.

Well, I’ve asked the forgiveness that I’ve needed to ask and I feel like a brand new person!  Things are coming together and, more importantly, my relationships are being renewed and restored!!! I can’t tell you how thankful I am!!! I’ve learned that God is all that I need and that if He hasn’t given it to me, then I didn’t need it anyway! I LOVE that lesson even though it took me a long time to really get it.

Now, here’s what I wanted to say in all of this. I’ve done some things in my life that I’m REALLY not proud of. In all of that, I’ve been asked if I regret the things that I’ve done. Here’s what I’ve learned about regrets. They aren’t fruitful. They serve NO purpose except to keep us from repeating the same mistakes. Because of this, regrets really shouldn’t be regrets. They should be more like reflections on something that you want to do differently in the future.

So, when you make a mistake and, then obtain all of the forgiveness from God and all other parties involved, then just leave it with God. (Reminder: You can only sincerely ask forgiveness. You can’t MAKE the other person forgive you. God always forgives you when  you are sincerely repentant.  As long as you’ve sincerely sought forgiveness, then you’ve done what is required of you; it’s time to let it go!)  It is what it is. God’s only allowed you to remember your mistakes so that you won’t do it again. Dwelling on them just calls God a liar when He said that He forgives you and makes all things new. So, don’t call Him a liar. Accept this blessing that He longs to give to you! Let His love, forgiveness, and grace make you BRAND NEW!! His forgiveness has already been given! Now, all that’s left to do is for you to accept it and move on to make your life and your service to Him more fruitful.

Please think about this and really pray about it. I KNOW that you will begin to find all of the peace that God has for you, but this is an integral part. You can’t have HIS peace without THIS piece of the puzzle. Whatever it is, if its already been made right, then let it go. Leave it at the cross and God will give you His peace that passes all understanding which shall keep you heart and mind in Christ Jesus!

Here’s the scripture! Hold tightly to it and learn to live it!!

God bless!

Nikki

6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.                Phillipians 4:6-7

We Serve a Prayer Answering God!

Mar30

“Faith in a prayer-hearing God will make a prayer-loving Christian”   -Andrew Murray

When I was reading this quote today, I really wanted God to show me what His insights are into this particular quote. So, I started praying that God would enlighten me. One things that God is TRULY GREAT at is answering the prayers of His saints!! So, I felt that I should just keep praying, keep meditating on this quote, and keep writing this because of this. I’ve learned many things about our God in the 25 years that I’ve served Him. One of the great things that I’ve learned about Him is that it’s, often, important to step out in faith and let Him catch you as He fulfills His part of the promise!

Now, you might be wondering how this could happen this way, so I’m going to tell you! Have you ever tried to do something that you were just sure would NEVER work?  How easy was that? How much fun was it?  It’s like making a record that you don’t believe will sell a single copy. How silly!  We inherently know that would be silly and fruitless. Why would that be silly and fruitless?  Well, I’m so glad that you asked!

First of all, WHY on God’s green Earth would a person go to all of the trouble, expense, and effort to make a record that they thought would go no further than their bedroom recording studio?  To be honest with you, I don’t believe that they would. I believe that if someone went to all the effort of properly recording a production, then the belief in the product is unspoken, but completely real.

We, as intelligent human beings, don’t normally tend to put all of our time, effort, and money into things that we don’t believe will accomplish anything. That’s JUST NOT the way that it works.

So, back to the Andrew Murray quote.

“Faith in a prayer-hearing God will make a prayer-loving Christian”   -Andrew Murray

If a person is making music that they are COMPLETELY convinced will be loved by and a blessing to others, then that person will, innately enjoy the music and the production of it. In the same way, if a Christian truly believes that God hears and answers our prayers, then we will, absolutely, LOVE offering those prayers to Him!

So, the next time that you pray, go to God like a child who believes that his or her Father will bless them with all of the best that he can bless them with. God will LOVE that!!! When God is pleased, then it is His pleasure to bless His children.  Believe that God wants to give you great things because He truly does!

Luke 12:32  Do not be afraid and anxious, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. (Amplified)

God WANTS to give you great things. He WANTS you to be happy and fulfilled. His only requirement is that you put Him first in your life which is His rightful place. This is what God’s Word says:

Matthew 6:33

33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

So, if we put it all together, we know that God teaches us that if we believe that The God that we serve is a God who hears and answers our prayers, then we will be people who love to pray!!! It’s an unending circle too! The more that we pray, then the more that we will LOVE to pray and, then the more that we love to pray, the more that we will pray!!!

So, remember that you have to believe that God is a prayer answering God because, in God, you get what you expect. Well, in life, you pretty much get what you expect. So go to God expecting Him to be kind to you and to want to bless you and He will! It’s really not complicated.

Remember that God loves you SO MUCH and LONGS to give you the keys to The Kingdom. Let’s seek Him today believing that He is waiting for us to come to Him and that He has BIG rewards that He wants to give to us!!

God love you all and so do I!!
God bless,
Nikki

 

 

Wisdom: So Much More Than Just Knowing What To Do

Mar15

Proverbs 4:7

“The beginning of wisdom is: Get [skillful and godly] wisdom [it is preeminent]!
And with all your acquiring, get understanding [actively seek spiritual discernment, mature comprehension, and logical interpretation].”

We, often, fall into the trap of thinking that just to know something is enough.  Well, knowing something is GREAT, but with knowledge comes responsibility for what you do with what you’ve learned.

Ecclesiastes 1:18  tells us, “18 For in much [human] wisdom there is much displeasure and exasperation; increasing knowledge increases sorrow.”

We, often, want to acquire great knowledge and understanding, but those two things can be very dangerous without wisdom! Wisdom is what allows us to utilize the new knowledge and understanding. Without wisdom, we are likely to take what we know and do something really stupid. Not a one of us is above making that mistake without wisdom. In her article “Putting God First in Your Priorities”, Joyce Meyer tells us, “ The key to having God’s ‘abundant life’ is keeping Him in His rightful place in our priorities. ”  How many of us are consistently successful in achieving this goal?

Well, in order to gain the wisdom that God so desperately longs to impart upon us, we must put Him in His rightful place in our life priorities. If He is not first, then we are opening ourselves up to all kinds of errors and grief. The reason for this is that all things in this life are intended for God’s glory. This is what mandates that He and His will MUST be first in our lives for things to work properly.

Romans 11:36Amplified Bible (AMP)

36 For from Him [all things originate] and through Him [all things live and exist] and to Him are all things [directed]. To Him be glory and honor forever! Amen.

According to this verse, all things STARTED with Him and, without Him, nothing would exist. Because of this fact, it makes sense that the only way to live life in the order that it was MEANT to be lived would mean that God HAS to be FIRST in the list of priorities. It makes absolutely NO sense to place the CREATION before the CREATOR. Even using the phrase, “…place the CREATION before the CREATOR.” should leave a HORRIBLE taste in our mouths as believers! Without Him we are NOTHING. So, isn’t it time to bring to Him the glory that, so rightfully, belongs to Him? I think so!

Now, I’m not going to try to kid you. The devil will do EVERYTHING in his power to try to stop us from putting God first. That’s his job. He can be very good at that job if we aren’t focused on Jesus Christ. You see, when Christ isn’t first in our lives, then everything else in our lives suffer. This includes family, friendships, finances, careers, and a myriad of other things. To NOT have Him first in our lives puts our very existence in a completely imbalanced mess! We’ve all experienced the consequences of doing this.  Let’s not keep repeating the same mistake over and over again! Let’s get God right where He belongs. He belongs FIRST. Everything in our lives should be run by Him and His wisdom and advice should be heeded. God isn’t looking to squash our dreams. He’s looking to help us to cut out the middle man and get right to the good stuff. We can do this too, but only if we are willing to PUT GOD FIRST!

I’d love to hear what you have to say in response to what I’ve presented here. You are important to this ministry.  Please, feel free to leave your comments and responses to this post and, until next time, may our God bless and keep you as you remain faithful to Him!!!

All my love!

Nikki