it's Nita.

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    • Don’t whittle into despair

      I’m definitely feeling the strain of waiting…

      Hope doesn’t always seem like enough. Impatience is on the rise and the fact of the matter is I’m tired and cranky! My motivation is drained! And I just want to step into my promises already 😫. But…

      It’s at times like this that I have to remind myself of who I serve, even when I don’t feel like it. I have to be still and know that God has it all under control, even when I want to throw my hands up 🙄. I have to renew my mind with the truth because the lies will only derail me further.

      1) Whether waiting for a personal promise that only I and God know about or the hundreds of promises written in His Word, with God all things are possible (Matthew 19:26).

      2) His nature is unchangeable (Hebrews 13:8).

      3) His Word is sure (Psalm 119:89).

      4) His knowledge and wisdom are beyond understanding (Romans 11:33).

      5) His ways are not my ways and His thoughts are not my thoughts (Isaiah 55:8).

      6) His timing is perfect timing (Ecclesiastes 3:1; Lamentations 3:25-26).

      7) I have to fix my eyes on the Promiser not the promise (Isaiah 26:3; Philippians 4:6-7; Jeremiah 29:11).

      8) Though the promise tarries, I will wait for it. It will come (Habakkuk 2:2-3).

      Everything isn’t ok right now, but it will be! Remember the word and speak it over your life. Fix your eyes on Jesus. You will not wither in the wait. #workthewait

      Love always,

      Nita.

    • Re: Jesus and LGBTQ+ Conversations

      I recently (as in yesterday evening) read an article from Erik Fish titled “Jesus and LGBTQ+ Conversations”. Erik has always had insightful posts and teachings and so I wanted to continue to educate myself on this subject matter. He has a way of communicating the most contentious topics in the faith in a true and compassionate way. This man knows discipleship! Anywho…

      From what I read in Erik’s article, I was struck by one particular thing: arguing. It again made me consider the merit of trying to argue someone into belief or adherence to a Christian lifestyle.

      Here are some of the quotes that stood out to me from Erik’s article…

      “We cannot argue someone into following Christ by engaging in debates and conversations that need to happen over time, in the context of a loving, ongoing relationship…”


      “Does Jesus require us to have perfect theology and correct all our sinful behavior BEFORE receiving Jesus or does he change us AFTER we receive Jesus? If each of us was required to have everything figured out and clean up our lifestyle in order to become worthy of receiving Jesus, then the cross of Jesus was for nothing – and none of us could ever be saved.”


      “…there is little point to being lured down “rabbit trails” of argument and rationalizing with pre-believers that detour away from the simplicity and beauty and love and truth of JESUS. And never forget when conversing with pre-believers, it is “the kindness of God [that] leads you to repentance.” (Romans 2:4) If you’re not kind, you cannot join God in his effort to bring others to repentance. (changing how one thinks that results in a change of life.)”


      This is not to negate the importance of getting people to believe sound theology but what I got from his article is that drawing others into a relationship with Christ starts with the attitude of your heart and an intention to love like Jesus. Ultimately, the strength of The Good News is rooted in God’s goodness and not our ability to argue someone into being a believer.

      I know this from my own experience in recommitting my life to Christ. All the logic in the world does nothing unless you’ve have an opportunity to experience Jesus for yourself. Those real, personal encounters (like the woman at the well, Paul on the road to Damacus, me at my dining room table) change everything. Encountering the love of Jesus through a believer changes everything. Drawn not dragged 😌

      P.S. I’m not sure why I keep encountering messages like this/why God keeps putting the topic of drawing people and not arguing with people in my path… 😅 but I’ll keep pressing until I get understanding. I’m sure I’ll have to apply this wisdom in the near future. 👀

      Here are some questions to consider:

      What comes to mind when you think about Jesus and LGBTQ+ conversations?

      How do you approach evangelism and sharing The Good News?

      What is God challenging you to learn in your own spiritual walk?

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      His Best Always,

      Nita

    • Drawn not Dragged


      Key word… drawn not dragged.

      I say this from a point of concern in checking my own heart and for the Body of Christ as a whole. Please know that I am totally preaching to myself first in reflecting on my own experiences in discipleship and evangelism.

      —

      Friends, I fully comprehend zeal for the Lord, passion for the Gospel and a desire to see people set free and thriving in the love of the Lord… BUT the matter of “getting” people there is not to be accomplished through brut force, guilting, shaming, condemnation, threats, manipulation, nagging, control or even well-meaning Bible-thumping. In fact, it is really not about us at all. It is about the Lord, his goodness and our stewardship of The Great Commission.

      So what is our part?

      We are God’s representatives and agents on the earth. We are called to be an example of Christ’s character to the people around us. We are the light of the world and salt of the Earth. The best way we can do that is by receiving and giving the greatest attribute of Christ’s character: love.

      5 ACTIONABLE WAYS TO LOVE LIKE JESUS

      Jesus’ example and teachings show us at least five ways we can love more like Him. While it’s not an exhaustive list by any means, these practices can provide us with an actionable starting point to apply to our imperfect, human lives.

      To love like Jesus, we must:

      • Be mindful. We need to connect more deeply with our lives and the people in them, rather than living a detached, disconnected existence.
      • Be approachable. It’s important for people to feel safe approaching us; in other words, we must become less exclusive in our interactions with others and more welcoming to those who seek us out.
      • Be full of grace. We must be willing to relate to others in a less judgmental way.
      • Be bold. We have to shed our fears, “for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control” (2 Timothy 1:7, ESV).
      • Be self-giving. We need to become less self-absorbed and more invested in those around us.

      Source for “5 Actionable Ways to Love like Jesus”: https://www.symbis.com/blog/how-to-love-like-jesus/

      This my friends are a few simple ways to begin loving like Jesus. By this we draw others to God because we are demonstrating his love.

      P.S. Remember we love because he first loved us. If you find yourself unwilling or unable to give love is the ways described above, I’d encourage you to take some alone time to reflect with the Lord. (I have been in this place). Let the Holy Spirit search your heart and abide with the Lord there. Repent for any emotions or behaviors he may highlight to you. He will always reveal Truth and give you renewed strength to love others well.

      His Best, Always!

      -Nita

    • Child’s Play

      [putting away all those childish things]

      This was my Facebook status 12 years ago, today. I was 19 and I was the end of my freshman year in college. Outwardly, my life was great. Academically I was thriving! but inside I was very broken, fearful and insecure of my place within my friendships/relationships. So what was my best solution? Go along to get along. Do things as I saw my peers doing and as I felt doing (because duh this will be the best four years of my life. YOLO.) and surely all would be well. Surely, I would finally be happy and content if I just filled my desires.

      Well, it was not so… I am still healing emotionally, spiritually and in some ways physically from years of “fun”. (See my post on how I started discovering the true root of my issues).

      In hindsight, it’s all so very clear that if I could be vulnerable enough to ask for help, I could have avoided so much heartache for myself and others. Alas, the sum of my life experiences have made me who I am today but I do believe there is worth in reflection and passing on wisdom to anyone who cares to listen (or in this case read).

      Takeaway: You may or may not be a teenager but the fact remains… there is a love greater than the pit and void you are trying to fill. I would tell younger me to be honest with herself, seek spiritual wisdom and get help instead of burying insecurity, loneliness and hurt with parties and pleasures. I’ll tell you reader to do the same. ❤️

      Temporary pleasures are only temporary fixes but you were built for more! There’s a glory in you waiting to burst forth and shine!

      #growup #glowup

      His love always!

      -Nita

    • Joy in the Field

      “The Gospel means we have to sell everything but we are doing it for the joy of what we found that makes it worth it. If we are not able to communicate the Gospel in a way that shows Jesus is that treasure [that brings us joy] then I think we have places to grow.”
      – Rachel Gilson


      Follow-up thoughts: Trying to force people into an adherence to a doctrine by guilting them into submission, trying to control their behavior, preaching fire and brimstone, shunning them for “worse” sins, etc. is simply not the way. Jesus drew men, women and children from all backgrounds of life and experience to himself by showing love and revealing Truth. Being in fellowship with God changed their lives and compelled them to buy the field!


      From my former life to now, I can testify that it wasn’t until I experienced God’s love personally that my heart started changing. That love compelled me to make life changes. That love led me to want repent (yes, you read that correctly, want to repent). That love made me want to go all in to fellowship with and serve God. I wanted to grow in Christ and really see what this life in God was all about.

      💯 Truth be told I had enough of the world and what it had to offer. I’ll tell you this friends, you think that glitter is gold and you believe that sugar is sweet until you taste and see that real thing! God loves you more than you love yourself and more than anyone else in the entire world.

      Buy that field and sell it not (Proverbs 23:23). ❤️

      His love always!

      – Nita

    • Blooms and Blossoms

      Church is MUCH more than coming to a building for a set time on a particular day or days of the week. It’s koinonia which “is the Greek word for fellowship. It refers to community, one’s place in a group, and the representation of fellowship such as a joint gift.” I’ve seen the difference in my own walk with Christ. The relationships I’ve built among my Christian communities have been essential to my growth and development as a whole person. Where I have sown, I have reaped and bloomed and blossomed.

      Are these communities perfect? Nope (because they are made of people and people are imperfect). Is the process always pleasant? No. (In fact, we are promised we will experience trials and tribulations as believers.) But because I’ve committed to walking with Christ to experience the fullness of life, I’ve committed to bearing my fellow brother and sister in Christ with and in love. It’s a choice. Because I decided to pursue Christ, I’ve opened myself up to the love, fellowship and connection with his Body (The Church). Moreover, I had trusted to lean on the Holy Spirit to guide me in this journey.

      As I transition from my current city and have transitioned from a job, I am so curious where the Lord will be sending me next! All the ways I found community have been nothing short of his hand and care. I won’t go into those retellings now but I’ll say this… I wasn’t drawn back to fall in love with God because I was at church already. No, no his ways aren’t limited to four walls and tradition.

      With that being said… I know too much of his goodness to let my soul to be defeated in despair because of what ifs or worries for the future. In the waiting, I am choosing joy.

      #joychronicles


      P.S. God really does place the lonely in families (Psalm 68:6).

      https://www.compellingtruth.org/Christian-fellowship.htmlhttps://www.compellingtruth.org/koinonia.html

      -Nita

    • Permission to Grieve

      I’m going to be 💯

      I used to respond to troubling or grievous situations by convincing myself to be happy. After all, my troubles, trials and losses are much less than other people’s. However, that’s just not how life works. Diminishing and denying your sorrows doesn’t make them any less tangible or their impacts on you less acute.

      COVID-19 has displaced much hope and potential memories for a litany of life’s major milestones. For you it may have been birthdays, weddings, reunions, promotions or even just the day-to-day opportunities to gather with those you care about. Poignant to me, it’s graduation season and I’ve (still) been grieving the loss of my own graduation celebration after getting a terminal degree. I wonder what the ceremony would have felt like, the recoginition and hooding, the rejoicing with family, cheering with friends and the celebratory trip and vacation.

      I can’t get that particular moment in time back and yes I know it’s not the biggest issue in the world but hey… I know I’m not the only one struggling with this type of grief and I refuse to shame myself into pretending to be totally ok. #honesty

      So yeah, I’ve given myself permission to grieve the special moments that have passed me by. I stopped berating myself for not getting over it sooner. Now, I continue to embrace the process of choosing joy day-by-day.

      joychronicles 💕

      -Nita.

    • God Speaks: Bumper Stickers

      Ok, I wanted to share this quick moment from earlier this afternoon.

      On the way to a doctor’s appointment and I started thinking about my new job. Before I could even get a baby toe into worrying about “I need to do this or that” or a litany of other what ifs and to-dos… I noticed the car in front me… 😅 Haha well that was enough to stop the mental runaway train from even getting started.

      Persist! 

      dfn: continue firmly or obstinately in an opinion or a course of action in spite of difficulty, opposition, or failure.

      …Ok God. I see what you did there. 😏❤️

      P.S. God still speaks. Sometimes it is in a still small voice, through the Bible, through other people or even a bright pink bumper sticker.

      Be encouraged my friends.

      -Nita.

    • Try Again

      When you don’t have much to give, give what you can.

      When your strength fails you, lean on God so you can stand.

      Your power wasn’t meant to conquer it all.

      With His help you can withstand the pressure, you can withstand the fall.

      Proverbs 3:5-6

      Love always,

      it’s Nita.

    • The Fruit of Faithfulness

      Oh taste and see that the Lord is good.

      I could burst with joy for the season of life that I am in. Not even a couple weeks ago could I say that. And while I have had other bright moments and joyous moments since committing my life to the Lord… now, this moment in time I see!

      Faithfulness brings…

      – Divine placement in authority. Keyword is divine, meaning you are not striving and scratching and working yourself to the bone to get to the next level. No. You are simply faithful exactly where God places you (good, bad or ugly). Biblical example: Joseph in Egypt

      – Divine promotion and progress. Related to the previous point, faithfulness brings elevation, expansion of territory and new responsibilities. You are honored with more for being faithful with the little. Matthew 22:14, 24:45-47, 25:21; 1 Timothy 1:12; 2 Timothy 2:2

      – A deeper relationship with God and stronger faith. When you set your heart, mind and will to pursue a faithful lifestyle in Christ you enter into a journey of deep exploration and discovery with God in intimate and personal fellowship. Numbers 12:6-8; 1 Corinthians 4:1-2; Colossians 2:6-7

      – Provision, wealth, comfort. And in case you are thinking just finances, think again. God blesses us to prosper in all areas of life… mental, emotional, financial, relational, physical. Even in the low places, He carries you through. 3 John 1:2; Proverbs 28:20; Jeremiah 17:7

      – Preservation, protection and deliverance. God is faithful to watch over you. Keep that promise close to your heart. Psalm 31:23, 37:28, 97:10

      – Blessed assurance. What you have sown, you shall reap! His plans for your life will come to pass. Galatians 6:7-9; Proverbs 16:3 ; Jeremiah 29:11 ; Romans 8:28

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      Stay the course, don’t give up. ❤️

      His Best, Always!

      it’s Nita.