“Faith is not rooted in fear.” These are the words the Spirit of God spoke you my soul in the middle of the night.
There is something so special about when the Lord speaks. His voice like a gentle breeze that kisses our cheek. We must be still. We must wait. We must listen, but we can hear His guidance and trust He is the pilot directing our life when we continually put Him in control and understand He IS in control.
When listening for the Lord we may sometimes doubt or lack confidence in knowing what is us and what is Him? The evidence is found in the fruit. Fit fruit is patient, kind, gentle, joyful, self controlled and full of goodness. You can read about it in Galatians 5:22-23.
Love does no harm. (Rom. 13:10)
Love always protects. Always trusts. Always hopes. Always perseveres. Love never fails. Never is a pretty emphatic word. It doesn’t say, in 1 Corinthians 13, that love sometimes fails, or is almost always successful. It says love is always victorious. This is because God IS Love, and where love is there is no room for fear. Where love abounds the flesh fails. The good news is we want our flesh to fail. Not fail as in poor health. That’s not what I’m saying. What I’m saying is, our desires and wants that aren’t in our best interest will fail, but God’s love will remain. But the two are at constant odds with each other. We must choose the way of love, the Hugh road, and we must know we can never be too kind, loving, gracious or generous with love. Love is for everyone.
Love is for you.
So we can be love where ever we go and who ever we interact with.
Seasons change. People change. But God’s love still remains.
Faithful.
Change people, not by pointing out their flaws, but by loving them well, without letting them change you. In other words, don’t let someone else’s bad attitude, mood, negativity or critical spirit affect you and who you are. Just keep shining on. He is a God of peculiar means and methods. Embrace it. No more worry or fretting. Life is changing, from the inside out.
If you feel weary and worn, but are trying your best to pursue the path God would have for you, then this post is for you to edify, exhort and encourage you. Know that faith is always tested. So if it seems the fiery trials have stepped up and your courage is fading, it must be growing. God wants it growing. Temptation is not a sin. Don’t let the enemy shame you into thinking otherwise. The test may merely be an unintended compliment from the enemy that you’ve got some fit fruit in the making!
“On this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.” Matthew 16:18
“LORD, bless us with dauntless courage. To GO, DO and PURSUE the doors God has opened— Because fear is a miserable reward, we will choose faith and wade into the waters deep. Amen.”
Nothing will be able to seperate you from this love. (Romans 8:35) You will overcome. You have already overcome. Beautiful blessings will come, wait and see…Just you wait and see. Your life is changing, ‘worse for the better’. (Romans 8:37)
“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer”
Romans 12:12
In Matthew chapter 5 we are encouraged by the gospel as it teaches us thatblessed are those who mourn. In the past year or more we have all endured much, mourned much an suffered all sorts of losses. Loss of jobs, loss of a lot of our personal freedoms, loss of loved ones. During 2020/21 I personally lost four family members and just found out another has a body riddled with cancer. So much death was a lot to digest.
How do we on the daily handle the impact of loss, grief, pain?
We take joy.
What? That’s right. We take Joy.
We do not rejoice because we suffered. We do not rejoice because we lost. We do not rejoice because of the deep wounds and voids left from the loss of love—but we rejoice in the One who Loves and we trust that He will bring what we need to fill the voids we have suffered.
I don’t know how to explain how to obtain joy. It is an anointing. It is a mindset for sure, but it is so much more than that. It is faith, patience, and confidence. It is a super natural optimism that even when life isn’t so good, God is. God is better than good and we can place our focus on Him and allow Him to handle everything else one day at a time, one step at a time. He will be the lamp for your feet an the light to illuminate your path (Psalm 119:105). He’s got you always. Joy is a fruit of the spirit (Galatians5:22-23). Joy often rises within us when we have the least reason to feel joyful.Joy is like warm honey running down from the crown of our head to the soul of our feet.It is exuberant. It is captivating. It is smile producing. It is the superpower of heaven and it came craddled as a baby.
Faith * Patience * Confidence
“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer”
Romans 12:12
Faith, that the Father above holds you close, hand in glove, He knows the perfect fit for your life and sent His son to die for you to have the purest love of all.
“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1
Patience, that He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it. I recently had a friend share with me that they knew God was bringing them through the worse for the better. That’s faith in God, patience and trust for His plan, and confidence.
“But we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.” Romans 8:25
Confidenceis knowing that when we don’t understand God does. We don’t have to do the math. We don’t have to have it all assessed and figured out. Analysing the situation and trying to mentally calibrate our circumstances dosn’t really work when we are living by faith. Jesus said to come to him like a little child. He wants us wide eyed, mystified, and compelled by a God who knows a lot about timing, healing an what’s best for us.
“Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.”
Psalm 27:14
Has God made you some promises? Sure He has…a whole Book of them. But God also makes us promises in the recessed regions of our soul. It can come by a whisper, a leading, something highlighted in your heart and mind, so to speak, or by the prophetic anointing. God still speaks to people via the Holy Spirit. Be still, listen and wait for God. He will guide and direct your steps (Psalm 16:7) and tell you exactly what you need to do and He will handle your break through. He has decided His heart on you and wants to bless you with better. The Word says we sow in tears, but we reap in joy. (Psalm 126:5-6) He will take your pain and turn it to gain as He gives beauty for ashes (Isaiah 61:3).
Perhaps He has sent me to help you through, encourage you, inspire you, and hold you by vehicle of my pen. My tongue is the pen of a ready writer (Psalm 45:1). Embrace it, you are not alone and everything happens for a reason. We may never know the reason, but this is where the awe, wonder and trust of heaven delivers something mysterious, magical and full of the chemistry of heaven.
So take heart…
Nicole💕
“The Spirit of the SovereignLord is on me, because theLordhas anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, 2 to proclaim the year of theLord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, 3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of theLord for the display of his splendor.“
I am having trouble with my subscription plug-in for my website. So here’s the link to my blog. Brokenandbrave.com is my main location. Hopefully I can update the subscribe plug-in soon and you can follow me there.
I am honored to encourage you with faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these, is love. ~Nicole
All week the Holy Spirit has had one theme with me…”Breathe”. I have been compelled over and over again to listen to the song “Breath of Heaven” by Amy Grant. My devotional is on the theme of Breath of God. It resonates within.
Here’s what I know…
We breathe without thinking about it. Breathing is apart of the autonomic nervous system–things we need to do internally to live that we don’t have to think about. Another example is our heartbeat. We breathe to carry oxygen to all parts of the blood and body down to the cellular level. Without oxygen we die.
God is all around…we experience Him in ways we need every moment of everyday without even thinking about it.
We need Him to live, even if we aren’t thinking about it.
Today, during the day, when you may feel anxious, concerned, overwhelmed or stressed–take 45 seconds (that’s it!)…45 seconds to practice some mindful focus on God. 45 seconds to breathe deeply. Let Him get your mind off of the circumstances and onto Him. Breathe Him in…and find your heart, mind an soul refreshed and revived.
Just Breathe…
Nicole ♥️
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”
If you want to be excellent at something you study excellence. You practice the required disciplines. You show up every day, every moment regardless of how you feel. Obstacles challenging you? Find a way to overcome them by working a little harder, a little smarter and rising to the occasion with a flame in your heart and an unmatchable cadence to your pace. Don’t forget! A smile on your face that cannot be erased!
Every ounce of 2020 has equipped and prepared you for this upcoming New Year.
You’re ready to take it on! 🎉
Make 2021 your best! -Nicole❤️
P.S. I am pointing to my weight vest in the photo. Just like how adding weight makes you stronger, difficulties of life also make you stronger—if you embrace it! Live Strong!♥️
When you realize just how valuable you are, you gain appreciation for the balanced importance of self care. So take care, You!
TIPS TO AVOID OVEREATING:
Use a smaller plate. This will control portion sizes.
Avoid having “treats” or “splurge” foods in the house.
Drink water before a meal.
Choose foods which are similar to what you would normally consume, but substitue a healthier alternative. For example, swap brown rice for white rice.
Identify obstacles or your personal “triggers” that are preventing healthful food choices.
TIPS FOR SUCCESSFUL WEIGHT LOSS:
Write down the number of calories consumed to maintain a caloric deficit. You have to be in a deficit to lose weight, even if what you eat is healthy.
Determine calorie consumption targets (what you can eat and still be in deficit). I recommed you track your calories with a food journal-on paper or with an app.
Identify what makes it hard to choose the right foods or to stick to a nutrition plan.
Have a back-up plan. This will help to avoid getting derailed. Avoid keeping foods in the house you know you can’t resist. Instead, have an alternative snack plan. Maybe instead of chips, have carrots. Instead of a bowl of cereal, a bowl of blueberries. You get the idea.
Eat well & Live STRONG! ~Nicole🍽
About Me:
I’ve been studying nutrition since the late 80’s. I help people with their overall wellness by guiding my clients in their dietary habits, exercise for their goals and body type, and rest. Balanced living is essential! A component to my strategy is supplementation with only products I use and believe in. I select from quality, efficacy and ample scientific notations to support each formulation.
If you want to lose weight, gain strength and build a strong immune system as an act of prevention, I am honored to help. Contact me at:
I Will Use My Voice To Spread His Love To The World.
My daughter found an excellent deal on a MacBook Pro laptop. It was someone she knew professionally who was selling a barely used computer for next to nothing. Because she knew the person is probably the only reason she knew it was legit and not a scam. She knew it was too good a deal to pass by, so she called John and my entire family (boys included) chipped in to buy me the MacBook for Christmas.
God has been telling me all month that I was going to receive a Christmas miracle. I know this was it…well, maybe only part of it. My kids had one of the best Christmas’ they have had in a very long time. Andrew even told me last night how they got more presents than they ever had before. My heart warmed and was blessed. I recognize God’s fingerprints all over it, but especially special given it is 2020, the year most had to go without, God started putting a lot of tangible resources and blessings back into the life of the family McBride.
I am grateful to God for the love He affords me. I want His love to be strong in my heart, strong in my family, and strong in my voice. My pen is my sword, and I write for the Lord. This is my anthem. This is my plea…to extinguish the flames of piety upon humanity and deposit Hope where hope may otherwise not be found. I want to heal the broken and wounded and resurrect the dry and crusty. I love big, I love bold, I love hard and I love strong. And all this love God has afforded me, that flows through me vigilantly holds strong with tenacity, endurance and perseverence.
I have been patient for many, many years waiting for the Lord to give me this laptop of my own. I have written on desktops. I have written more than my far share on my smart phone. I have waited as other family members received much needed laptops for their academic careers or my husband for his business affairs. I have borrowed them all…
My daughter instructed me that I had a gift and I was to open it last of all. I usually do anyway because watching my family open their presents is a gift all of its own. Once everyone was done, Alex, who continually made sure I waited, then she looked to me and said< “Ok Momma, open your present.” I had absolutely no idea what waited inside, but when I layed eyes upon it, it was like something resonated within…my season to author books would now begin. My pen has been fierce, but now it had the tchnological resource to keep the pace I was designed to keep. I used to have dreams about misplacing, losing or having my phone stolen. This is because all of my typed writing was on it. Not anymore. Thank you, Lord, for this incredible door you have opened for me, all set with the right keys, blessing, gifting and opportunity to advance and have a blast as I do it. What was the biggest key to my being able to wait so patiently for many years for this gift to be granted me? Gratitude. Beyond a shadow of a doubt, good things come to those who wait and when they wait they display impecible faith, fortitude and a posititvely grateful attitude. Glory to you, God, couldn’t do it without you!
Here are some keys to help you become all you were designed by the Father above to be. Let’s unlock some doors in 2021.
5 Keys to Live Attractively:
1.Gratitude
2.Attitude
3.Patience
4.Fortitude
5. Tenacity
GRATITUDE:
Gratefulness fosters Joy. Joyful people smile more, laugh more and aren’t rattled all that easily. Gratitude is a tool our heart and mind uses to give perspective of what really counts. Gratitude enables us to not sweat the small stuff and see the silver lining in every cloud. There is in fact, a bright side to be found in every situation. God’s Big Book of Promises says in Romans 8:28: “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”
ATTITUDE:
Few things stink more than a rotten attitude. Gratitude will directly affect and influence a persons attitude. Too little of either will yield complaining, comparing and moodiness. A moody person is difficult to be around. Even if you like the person and enjoy them, if they are moody you will be walking on eggshells all of the time and this component, over time, will turn most anybody away becuase it will just be easier than to stay. But even the crustiest of crusty hearts can soften and warm and feel the completely compelling love of the Lord. The only way to help someone out is to be the example. Loving others requires a stellar attitude and gratitude for all the benefits of God. Everyday is an opportunity to choose our attitude and this is something to be grateful for. People with a healthy attitude are infectious and attractive and others draw near, even if its only with curiosity. Let’s face it, society is relatively joyless and most people absolutely do not know how to respond to a joyful person. It may be misinterpreted, but there is no doubt it is captivating and compelling. Joyful people also enjoy health benefits. Research shows it. Joy directly benefits the heart and mind. In 2020 mental health suffered dramatically. Research also shows joyful people are less likely to suffer from a heart attack, healthier blood pressure, cholesterol, weight management and overall less stress ( or they manage stress better).
BENEFITS OF JOY (as reported by: Healthline)
*PROMOTES A HEALTHIER LIFESTYLE
*BOOSTS IMMUNE SYSTEM
*FIGHTS STRESS AND PAIN
*SUPPORTS LONGEVITY
Let’s set our hearts on an attitude of gratitude for the New Year. It may be the best beauty tonic on the market!
PATIENCE:
“Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and later rain.” James 5:7
So much can be overcome and accomplished when we practice patience. Patience is an effective safeguard against frustration, against anger, against assumptions. Any goal requires patience. In a few days people will be making their New Year’s resolutions and top of the list is always health, fitness and getting into shape. By January 18 most people will have already given up on their quest for health and fitness. Why? Because it is hard and they won’t have the patience to persist. Persistence yields patience. If you look up the definition of patience it will tell you that patience is “the capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering without getting angry or upset.” People ofte tell me I am such an incredibly patient person. I’ve been thinking about this lately because the Holy Spirit has been speaking to me a lot about patience. I often feel I don’t have patience, or whether, where I lack patience I make up for it with self control. A person with high levels of self control can achieve patience as an outstanding virtue.
Benefits of Patience Short List:
Mental Health
People magnet
Goal Achievement
Better Health
There is also research findings out of UC Berkely that suggest patient people make better decisions, practice kindness, and have more overall gratitude. (see how this is all tying together?)
FORTITUDE:
Dictionary.com says fortitude is “mental and emotional strength in facing difficulty, adversity, danger or temptation courageously”. It’s interesting to me that the definition closes out by saying all of these attributes require courage. Courage is doing something diffiult or scary in the midst of your discomfort or fears. Do it afraid so to speak. Fortitude is essential for Hope and Faith. Hope and Faith will require us to act out of our belief of an outcome even when we don’t see it yet. The outcome could be any of our goals achieved, like that health and wellness resolution. The outcome could be a risk with your business or a strained or broken relationship. Hope and Faith are required to take the first step into belief in God. All of life requires fortitude…right from a baby’s first steps, to the end of life physical struggles and dignity. Every day in between will go better, not necessarily easier, but better when we adhere to a heart full of fortitude. Every woman of worth clings to fortitude just like the example in Proverbs 31.
“She clothes herself with fortitude, and fortifies her arms with strength.”
Proverbs 31:17
Esther had it, Ruth had it, Naomi had it. Deborah had it. It’s time for the Eshter’s and Deborah’s of this modern age to arise! They will do it with fortitude!
TENACITY:
The mark of tenacity in a persons life will look very similar to fortitude. So whats the difference? Tenacity means “to hold fast; persistence”. A person with tenacity has a don’t quit, never give up mindset. Some synonyms of tenacity are courage, resoluteness, guts, grit, determination, backbone, heart…you get the idea. A Biblical example of tenacity might be Moses. He was sent by the Lord to be a voice for God’s chosen people to Pharoah. And through a season of Pharoah displaying hard heart, soft heart, back to hard heart; Moses displayed countless miracles and was finally able to set free the captives of Egypt. This took incredible moxie! Being tenacious can change the trajectory of your life!
Qualities of a Tenacious Person:
Tenacious people always find a way.
Tenacious people are focused on the outcome and the methodology can change in order to achieve.
Tenacious people are confident.
Tenacious people are leaders.
Being teancious doesn’t necessarily mean you are aggressive, outspoken or demanding. Think of the water current that paves it’s way through a rock to reach the larger body of water. Think of the flower that manages to grow through the crack of concrete. Tenacity can be gentle. Tenacity can be quiet (it often is). Tenacity will get you where you want to go and will be a necessary component to patience.
Let’s hit 2021 strong. I believe there are many people who are wishing, hoping, praying that the dismay, heartache an struggles of 2020 will magically disappear with the start of a new year. We must harness our heart to the above listed attributes and push through. It may get harder before it gets better, but have Hope, the Lord says:
“Behold, I am doing a new thing: now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and riers in the desert.” Isaiah 43:19
Cheers to the New! New season, new path, new year, new you (same you just the best version)!
it’s really more like a muscle shirt, that is black and has flames across the chest. It says “girl gang“ next to the flames. It has rips, tears and holes all over it that were intentionally put there. I’ve had this t-shirt for a few years now. I had forgotten I had it and rediscovered it this week and I learned something—not much has changed when it comes to the response I receive for this shirt. I get a lot of compliments of people liking my shirt each time I wear it. It kind of makes me giggle. The shirt cost me $3 at a discount clothing store. The return on my investment has been abundant.
Do you ever feel like a ripped up garment, full of holes from the bullets life has shot at you? Feeling like your worth about 3 bucks? Has discouragement left you feeling less than or incomplete? If so I want to tell you something. God looks at you and sees something worth His investment. He sees the return in your life He will get from His investment. You may think you amount to “not much“. You may not feel all that fabulous. But I’m here to tell you that you are. You are…. you are. You have fabulous inside and it’s imperative you know it. So shine, Baby. . . Shine.
James 4:6, ESV says:
“But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
These are the words that penetrate my mind first thing this morning. What a blessing because these are all words of special significance to me.
Protected.
“But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you.“ Psalm 5:11
Most people want to feel safe, but I think women especially have a need for this kind of security. I know I do. When we think of protection I think most people immediately think about physical safety. However, I think it is this and more. I think protection in its fullest includes protection of our heart and mind and soul. It even includes emotional protection. After all, human intimacy grows deep in an atmosphere of emotional safety.
Protection is something God promises in his word, but it’s something he has guaranteed me especially in the last year as a promised reward in the midst of some specific obedience. Where I fail to receive this from people, I know I can receive it from God—and so can you.
Worthy.
“being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.“ Philippians 1:6
The lie the enemy has whispered to me my entire life is that I was not enough. It was in my own self talk or the actions and words of others (who probably were acting out of their own worthiness issues). I felt less than, like I didn’t do it right, I was told I wasn’t doing it right, and because I was so quiet as a child I learned at an early age to feel invisible. I grew to become very comfortable being invisible, cruising below the radar and unseen. It was easier to self preserve this way, but it wasn’t God’s way or his plan. God designed us to be risk takers—this includes with our hearts. One way he has spread my wings is to love and heal me to a level of worth that I am able to share in transparency by vehicle of my pen. Not ever easy or comfortable, but I have great comfort in him and my worth is tied to what God thinks of me and the edification that my obedience bears is the best I have known.
Loved.
“In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” 1 John 4:9-1
There are many reasons why we should understand that God is real and he not only lingers above, but he made the effort and allowed himself the inconvenience to drop in on humanity and prove to us his enormous love. He dangled from a tree-scandalously-for people who didn’t deserve his love or forgiveness—and he did it to prove this love.
God has spent my entire life working, sowing, mending the fabric of my soul and the health of my heart. Understand that he began the major portion of this work when I was at the age of 23. He has flooded me with his presence and carried me on his back. He poured himself into me so deeply I could feel his protection. I could discern my value and worth because of how he loved me.
God speaks to everyone personally. For me he speaks with loving, gentle and kind words. Even when he is convicting me and correcting me—he is dove like. I never hear him yell. He knows my heart, I don’t respond well to that. I’m not sure God yells at all. If you believe you hear God yelling at you, I want you to consider it may not be God’s voice you are hearing. I know he dealt with the religious leaders sternly, but the Bible to my knowledge gives no explanation of him yelling in his discipline and he dealt with women and children differently than he dealt with men.
My friends, God cannot lie. It says so right in the book of Hebrews. But do you know who can? Satan. He is a thief and he will lie to steal your security. He will lie to diminish your belief of your worth—he will especially lie and tell you that you aren’t worth loving. Thank God I began to ignore that lie a long, long time ago. Be encouraged. You can forget that lie as well and time will pass and you will become so secure in his love you will begin to forget what it was like to dwell in the insecurity apart from his love.
Let me exhort your soul this morning. You have a safe space in the presence of God. He longs for your company so much he was willing to sacrifice his worth to give you worth and security. Discard every insecure thought you ever had about yourself. You are indeed worthy, loved and completely adored. God doesn’t see you through a lens that keeps record of your mistakes. His love is patient and kind. His love keeps record of no wrong. His love is faithful and long suffering. It sees all, endures all, and it never fails. His love never gives up! His heart is full of grace and his mercy runs deep and wide like the oceans tide. You are loved. You are loved. You are loved. Embrace this love. Allow it to wrap itself around you and hold you. Let it fill you to overflow and patch every broken piece within. Brokenness is not the end, it is the beginning. For it isn’t until we have allowed our will to be broken that God can make us new. Love is in the details and he missed no attention to detail when he created you. What a beautiful view.
Your smile looks lovely on you. Make sure today you share your smile more, drawing other people in so they can win against the lies of the enemy as well. Give your heart in to the full knowledge of what I’ve said. . . You are adored.
Protected. Worthy. Loved.♥️
“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you.” Isaiah 43:2
You must be logged in to post a comment.