it's Nita.

recent posts

    • Longing to be Together

      COVID-19 Update: I realize in the last few weeks (as I have not traveled at all during this pandemic nor did I for any of the holidays-Thanksgiving, Christmas or New Year’s) that this topic has become painfully salient. As someone who has and still struggles with depression, I have to be vigilant to monitor my temperament and triggers. The scarcity of regular human interaction is one such trigger.

      Like some of you, perhaps you have reached your limit of social isolation. Yes, I have gone for walks, went to the grocery store, or out to eat…but on other days when there was no reason to leave the house (as I work from home alone), I would go out. I would get in my car and drive for no reason. Why? Because I needed to see people, I needed to have an interaction even if it was just tires to pavement and jostling through traffic.

      Technology is great but there is not substitute for being among people. All the Zoom meetings, shows to binge, videos to watch and social media to scour through still doesn’t feel this void. I am abundantly thankful for the friends that check on me and for the few I am able to see in person.

      As an introvert, it was hard enough to get to know people and build/maintain authentic relationships before. However, as we approach the 10th month of lockdown, I am leaving room to grieve the ways I cannot be with others. I am choosing to be thankful for the all the ways I still can. And I am looking forward to when we can come back together hand-in-hand.

      Love always,

      it’s Nita.

    • More than flying

      Source: https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/soar

      Now with this definition in mind, consider Isaiah 40:28-31.

      Do you not know?
          Have you not heard?
      The Lord is the everlasting God,
          the Creator of the ends of the earth.
      He will not grow tired or weary,
          and his understanding no one can fathom.
      He gives strength to the weary
          and increases the power of the weak.
      Even youths grow tired and weary,
          and young men stumble and fall;
      but those who hope in the Lord
          will renew their strength.
      They will soar on wings like eagles;
          they will run and not grow weary,
          they will walk and not be faint.

      Dear reader. To trust God, to lean on God, to be dependent on God is to be lifted, strengthened and supported. He never slumbers or sleeps (Psalm 121:4). He grace is sufficient and more than enough in your weariness (2 Corinthians 12:9). Yes, trials come (James 1:2-4), but you can still take heart.

      Thus says the Lord your maker “Fear not for I will be with you, I will never leave or forsake you. The battles may bend you but they won’t overtake you. No weapon formed against you will prosper. Be courageous and endure.”

      Love always,

      it’s Nita.

    • Isaiah 43:19

      I don’t believe life magically changes simply because we are entering another year. BUT I do believe God gives us the strength and encouragement to look forward to better each and every day of our lives.

      Whatever changes you are entering into this season, I pray you sense God’s presence (Genesis 28:15), see His pathway (Psalm 119:105), and pursue the mark of your calling (Phil 3:14).

      Happy New Year!

      Love always,

      it’s Nita.

    • Dot marks the spot

      Don’t go into another year going through the motions. Grow your gifts, press into your passions, give with a heart of service… there’s a “dot” for all of us.


      Find it, go for it, live it!

      Start small, dream BIG.

      Proverbs 19:21 ; Jeremiah 29:11 ; Jeremiah 33:33 ; Habakkuk 2:2 ; Proverbs 3:5-6

      Love always,

      it’s Nita.

    • James 1:4

      I pray you find the strength in your Heavenly Father to endure the trials that have beset you. May you be empowered by the Holy Spirit to carry out all that God has entrusted to you.

      Be not weary on well-doing. Do not faint and do not lose heart. Be joyful in affliction and patient in prayer. You have not been forsaken; weeping may endure for a night but joy comes in the morning.

      Therefore, hide yourself in the shadow of his wings. Rest in the pastures of his glory. Lay down your worries and trust that he will make your path straight.

      You may not understand it now but later you will understand what he is doing. All things work together for the good for those that love the Lord and are called according to his purpose.

      Love always,

      it’s Nita.

    • faith works stillness

      faith works stillness

      My takeaway: The greatest acts of faith are often accomplished with little effort of our own. They occur without much or any sign that they will indeed come to pass. Our hardest work may simply be to step into the water (then God will part the sea), to dig the ditches (then God will fill them with water).

      Selah. 😌

      Devotional from Streams in the Desert Morning & Evening

    • No Minor Roles

      significance – the quality of being worthy of attention; importance.

      Does what I do matter? This question arises in me fairly regularly these days. Achieving as measured by ribbons, medals, accolades or pats on the back used to be my sure sign off “Yes, you’re doing the right thing”, but as I have matured and grown in Christ these outside indicators are no longer sufficient. I feel this is not because they don’t matter all together but because I believe God has been retraining me to understand what success means in his kingdom.

      “There are no minor roles.” This was the truth God whispered to me as I wondered if anything I am doing really has a major impact. After all, I am not an influencer with millions of followers, I am not a philanthropist with millions of dollars to give away… but God has granted me gifts and talents to be used to minister to others. That’s a truth I have learned to hold on to. I am learning to steer away from the world’s measures.

      These are 5 Biblical examples that came to mind as I was writing this post.

      1. God uses the foolish things to confound the wise. He has chosen the weak things of the world to confound those that are mighty (1 Corinthians 1:27). In other words, who knows what God can do with what seems ridiculous to the world.

      2. Little is much when God is in it. How would the 5,000 be fed if the 5 loaves and 2 fish were hidden and never given to the disciples? God worked a miracle that blessed thousands because someone was willing to say yes and give away their lunch.

      3. Who knows if you were placed here for such a time as this. These were the words of Mordecai to Esther at the time when the Jews were set to be destroyed at the hand of Haman (Esther 3 and 4). But let’s consider the other people in this story. Esther’s attendants (most of them nameless) acted as messengers between Esther and Mordecai. One named Hathak was a key person in this effort. How might your willingness to carry a message serve the greater good?

      4. Jesus made a point to honor the widow that gave sacrificially her two coins which was a significantly smaller amount than others were able to give (Mark 12:41-44). We shouldn’t be embarrassed or ashamed even in our lack.

      5. We are one Body and many members. None of use are dispensable. Read this longer passage in 1 Corinthians 12:12-23.

      12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.15 Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body. 21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable,23 and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor.

      You see, you matter immeasurably more than you know. Whether you know exactly who you are and what you are purposed to do in life or you are still trying to figure that out, you still matter. There are no minor roles.

      Therefore do not be discouraged! You may be called to change one life, hundreds, thousands, millions or billions. This is not for me to determine as I know not the fullness of God’s plans for your life. However, one thing is for certain. God honors those who faithfully use what he has given them.

      Thrive in the area of your calling. Be obedient even if it seems like you aren’t making a big impact. If God called you to do something, say something or give something, it is no small matter. ❤️

      Love always,

      it’s Nita.

    • Meaningful Relationships

      I received this email several weeks ago and it inspired to write this post. 

      "I’ve observed that if you'll focus most on letting others know you, they’ll often respond by sharing with you about themselves. Share stories about your childhood, about your heartaches, and about the things you've celebrated in your life. Tell them about the challenges that have made you who you are today. Share your struggles and the things you tend to worry about. Ask them to pray for you. And what you'll find is that they'll see you as a safe place because they’ll see that you have some of the same feelings and issues that they face. Over time, because you've trusted them with who you really are, they may share more deeply with you.”  
Linda Roeder; Restoring the Foundations (RTF) Board of Directors

      As I pondered this excerpt I thanked God for my growth as a person and for the areas I still had to grow. As much as I would like certain relationships in my life to be instantly wonderful, there is no guarantee that people will fully open up to me in relationships. In reality, it is not my job to try and pry them open. All I can do is put myself in the position to be vulnerable, humble, and mindful of the people God brings into my life.

      Growing to have the relationships I desire is sometimes inch work. Little by little I make progress and see hope in areas where there was no life. I choose to operate out of love and not fear. I look forward with expectation and I trust God to give my wisdom, strength, and patience to endure the process.

      I ask the Lord this question (What does it mean to love and be loved) and He gave me these words. I certainly do not operate in perfection with carrying these out but I am grateful for grace in learn to love myself and others well.

      Love always,

      it’s Nita.

    • Rethink the Rainbow

      🌈 :: In Genesis, the rainbow appeared after the great flood as a symbol of God’s mercy and a covenant promise to His people (through Noah) not to destroy the world through such means again—water (Genesis 9:13-17). When I draw, doodle, or use rainbow colors I am reminded of that covenant promise and the many more He made to us as a children of the King ❤️.

      What do you think about when you see the colors of a rainbow or a rainbow after the rain? Does it remind you of the promises of God? If not, why not?! Rethink the rainbow!

      #roygbiv #promisesofGod #covenant #rocktherainbow #rethinktherainbow

      Love always,

      it’s Nita.

    • It hurts too much to let go

      Forgiveness is not about minimizing or making excuses for the hurt (caused to you by yourself or by others). The goal of forgiveness is to release the blame and move forward. Over time unforgiveness results in bitterness, anger, stress and other trapped emotions. These are real physical emotions that impact your health. It may be little by little but letting go is worth it.

      Take your heart’s confession to God.
      “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
      Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.” Psalm 51:10-12
      His promise to heal.
      “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” Psalm 147:3
      “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” Psalm 34:18
      “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28
      Our commandment to forgive.
      “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” Colossians 3:13
      “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” Ephesians 4:31-32
      “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.” Luke 6:37
      “Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, ‘Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?’ Jesus answered, ‘I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.’” Matthew 18:21-22
      “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” Matthew 6:14-15
      “And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.” Mark 11:25
      Letting go.
      “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your cares upon him; for he cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:6-7
      “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9
      Start anew!
      “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord,” Acts 3:19
      “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it! I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” Isaiah 43:18-19
      “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” 2 Corinthians 5:17

      Prayer forgiveness

      God thank you for the gift of forgiveness. Lord I choose to forgive [insert name of person] for [name the hurt or offense]. I release all anger, bitterness, stress, depression, [name any other emotions] towards [insert your name or the name of the other person]. Thank you for forgiveness. I confess that I am free and I choose to live in peace and joy. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

      Additional resources:

      Unforgiveness and Your Health: How to learn to forgive

      Forgive and Forget: Healing the Hurts We Don’t Deserve

      Boundaries Updated and Expanded Edition: When to Say Yes, How to Say No To Take Control of Your Life

      Love always,

      it’s Nita.