Let Me Introduce Myself

I want to start this blog off by introducing myself and helping you understand my purpose in venturing out on this endeavor. My name is Nicole, and first let me start with the usual descriptors we use to identify ourselves. I am a wife of 23 years, a mother of two (and three that I will meet in Heaven), a prior military spouse of 21 years, an employee, a daughter, a sister and a friend, to name a few.

Of all these titles, I have probably struggled the most with being a daughter, and that is what brings me to this blog. Not the earthly daughter that we all think about immediately, but the daughter of the King of the Universe. I am on a journey to embrace that and be obedient to the will of my Heavenly Father.

About 10 years ago, I began recognizing the Lord speaking to me through life and nature, situations and people and so many other things. These little whispers were the beginnings of lessons. Some for myself, and some to be shared. I have, over the years shared those lessons with different people in my life as the Lord has given me opportunity, and I have multiple notebooks of scribbled phrases and sentences that I have kept over the past 10 years. However, I have also felt called over the past 5 years or so to develop them and share them in written form somehow.

To say that I am hesitant to put myself out there like that is an understatement. I have had multiple discussions with myself about how I am not qualified from a Biblical knowledge perspective, from a formal writing experience perspective, from a confidence perspective and many other perspectives. I have reasoned with myself that I need to let go of my insecurities and let God do what he will with what he has given me and just be a piece of his puzzle as he guides and leads, but until now I have not been able to convince myself to take the first step.

So, why now? I don't really know the answer other than it's about time. I have been struggling with the fact that I am not a bold proclaimer of the Gospel. I try very hard to live my life as an example, and I am not afraid to use the name of Jesus and share the hope that I have or my faith or my personal relationship with Him. However, I rarely share without a clear invitation or a prior knowledge of someone's openness to our Lord. Recently I realized that perhaps the reason that the Lord has continually encouraged me to write the things that he shares with me is because this will be the way that is easiest for me to share the Gospel. I have always enjoyed writing and it has always been the way that I sort out the big stuff in my life. When all the feelings and emotions and decisions and options seem overwhelming I take to pen and page. So why would this be any different?

Here starts my journey to sort through years of notes and turn them into lessons that can be shared with anyone that is seeking. I will never claim to be a Biblical scholar or that I know and do everything correctly, but I know that I am able to hear and feel the Lord in my life and I will do my best in this blog to be obedient and honor Him with it. I hope that this journey is one that will bless you as well, because I know that taking this first step already feels like a huge blessing to me.

Thank you Father for your patience with me and your willingness to not give up on me. I ask that you would guide me as I share what you have laid on my heart over the years. Help me to always be conscious of you and your will. Help me Lord to honor you in all that I say through these blog posts. Let me not be a stumbling block to others in any way. Guard my heart and mind and keep my words free from any pride or judgement. Give me a heart of love toward my brothers and sisters as we share our thoughts and feelings, and keep me humble. I ask all of this in the name of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen!