The Greatness of God

Take 10 minutes and read this. It is worth it.

I am not writing today to try to sum up the greatness of God, or to try to persuade anyone to think He is good, it actually doesn’t matter what you or I think, God is good regardless. He is God. That is what I want to talk about today.

A few weeks ago I was praying and had felt conviction about how I view each day. In a nutshell I am a planner. I plan out EVERY day in my mind, what I want to accomplish; where we’ll go, what we’ll do, how long I will do each thing, how I want to feel throughout the day. This I know is ridiculous. And I was convicted that “these are not my days, they are God’s days”. At the time I think I prayed something like “God I am sorry I make everyday about myself, help me to live my days for You and do what You want me to do with them.”

Without much thought after that I continued on my way - getting my needs met my way (the flesh).

So side note- a year ago, when Danny and I were accepted to staff with Campus Crusade for Christ, I had a “meeting” over the phone, with a woman named Diane, whom, after reading my application suggested I read a book about my identity in Christ. My discipler at the time Elizabeth McKinney suggested Lifetime Guarantee by Bill Gillham. So for whatever reason (I am not sure yet) that I struggle with following through on things that I really want to follow through on, but I guess I am afraid too… I have only read the first chapter of that book… 3x mind you, but never gotten past it. I think because the 2^nd chapter begins by saying “Caution: make it your major purpose as you read this chapter to learn from the Holy Spirit what happened to you as a child.”(Gillham, 34). Whoa! Okay now moving on.

All of that to say that I was convicted about spending my days “for myself” and not “letting God live His days through me”, THEN I immediately went on and continued to get my needs met MY WAY- which I am learning IS THE FLESH. (Gillham chapter 1). So you know we read about the flesh throughout Scripture, and if you grew up in Christian circles you can probably quote those scriptures and nod your head when a preacher preaches about the flesh, but do you REALLY KNOW WHAT IT IS? Because I DIDN’T… I didn’t realize when I said that prayer a month ago, asking God to “help me live my days “for him”…” that he really would answer, and show me. God is good.

So #1 God answered through this book, Lifetime Guarantee by Bill Gillham. He is showing me what the flesh is “flesh refers to the old ways or patterns by which you have attempted to get all your needs supplied instead of seeking Christ first and trusting Him to meet your needs”… “how you have programmed your brain with earthly techniques for satisfying your needs for love and self esteem- again the greatest needs in life” (Gillham, 35).

So instead of what my usual actions are when I feel conviction- to try and “do better”--I am seeing these patterns, and habits throughout my day and (which have been built my whole life) that are my attempt to get my needs met, and instead going to God for those needs.

Here is an example. For my mom’s birthday Danny and I surprised her by scraping off the wall paper in her kitchen and painting it (a project she has been wanting to finish for awhile). When she got home and saw it- MY FLESH NEEDED TO KNOW that I had succeeded… I wanted to KNOW that it had met her every desire, that the color was perfect, and that she was going to enjoy it, because I NEEDED to fulfill that need in me for love and self esteem. My self esteem needed to be boosted and so I set out to accomplish that.. “Mom, what do you think? Is it perfect? What are you feeling right now? What was your first thought when you saw it? Do you just love it? “… Now see “questions” are a part of me (or were! Amen!), Danny can tell you that I will ask 100 questions after I do anything… because you see, my questions are my flesh pattern (one of them). They are an earthly technique I have created for getting my needs met. When they are answered, I am assured that I am “good enough”, I am “loved”, I am “appreciated”. Now I know what to confess, Lord, I confess my questions, and instead will choose to keep silent, and trust You for my self worth” Amen. And how much sweeter it is, when you don’t have to rely on the answers of other SINFUL humans in order to maintain your self esteem. I can rest in my identity in my Savior instead. But as Paul said in Philippians 3:3-4 “…for we… put no confidence in the flesh, although I myself might have confidence even in the flesh. If anyone else has a mind to put confidence in the flesh, I far more.” In no means do I claim any of this as coming from myself, or my growth, but all God’s grace as He reveals His truth to me. Praise God for His goodness, all that is good in me is Christ. I know who I am apart from Christ, I am a selfish, tantrum thrower, who thinks her world is crumbling if something doesn’t go her way. Anything different that you see in me, is HIM.

“… I far more”. Take heart my dearest’s for Christ said "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33

I will share more about how God has specifically been showing me His goodness later. I am in awe of Him.

Nicole

Tutu's

So here is a quick post with some pics of the tutu's I have been making for our 3 nieces. They are super easy and I just googled "how to make a tutu" and spent some time sifting through what I thought would be the best way and which style fit what I was wanting. Click here if you want to use the site I found: Fairy Tu-Tu!

House Update

Sorry it has been a couple of weeks. Our life kind of got put on pause the past two weeks as we had 3 weddings & 2 graduations of dear friends! and then closed on our house on May 17th! Then spent a week trying to fix it up :) Support has kind of slowed down, which has been somewhat discouraging. I have been praying for $1000 a month to come in by the end of May, and we are not close to that mark. I totally believe God can do it, and know that if it is in His will, than He will do it... but we are supposed to pray big, and specifically right? So right now (and for the past several months) I am processing my emotions of praying specifically... then when God says no- how I react. I think I am going to try to read a book on prayer this summer. If anyone has any suggestions I will take them :) Kenny's girlfriend Brenda had this verse as her facebook status a few days ago: Romans 12:12 "Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer." I have read Romans before, probably more than a couple of times, and yet it is amazing how such a great verse can go unnoticed, and how the Spirit will use Scripture at different times to speak to us where we are NOW. Right now I rejoice in the hope of God finishing our support, I am trusting Him for patience and choosing that, believing that we are right where He wants us TODAY, and praying often. God's Word is alive and He does use it to speak to us. I am so thankful for it. Meditate on this verse, and I challenge you to see how you can rejoice in hope today, I pray that you can walk in patience in your struggles, and that you will have a heart to pray, God is so in love with you and takes great pleasure in you (thanks for that reminder Elizabeth).

Well I am going to post in a few days, some craft projects I have been working on. But without further ado, here are some pics of the house! As always we want to know how we can be praying for you.

Nic

Here is the Kitchen Before (Note how very UNcluttered it is... moving is messy!) :)

Kitchen After- but not finished. The header above the cabinets is a lighter yellow "Pale Daffodil", the main walls are brighter "Wildflower Honey". Putting the refrigerator in sure makes the kitchen seem smaller!

What you didn't know :

There was not a water hook-up for the fridge so Danny hooked up a water line and ran it under the floor boards of

the cabinets from the water line in the sink so that we could have a functioning ice-maker and filtered water!

This is my favorite part! I wish I had taken a "before picture of the laundry room. We didn't realize when we made an offer on the house that the laundry room only has room for 1 unit to fit in there...AND the hookup for the dryer was out in the garage. So Danny, MY MAN, spent over 6 hours (probably more) in the attic re-routing the electrical wiring for the dryer (because it has to have a special plug), then cutting the drywall and fitting a perfect electrical outlet, after dropping the wiring down through the wall, from the attic floor, hooking it up PERFECTLY and then cutting a dryer vent hole also PERFECTLY. Regan came over and lifted our new dryer onto the washer AND NOW we have both units in the SAME laundry room, and it is just PERFECT! Thank you sweetie! (and also thank you $8000 tax credit for our new stackable washer and dryer hehe)! Oh and I also painted it in "wildflower honey"

Guest room, I had just started taping the edges, so that we could start painting!

Guest room finished in "avacado".

Only one wall in the entire house still had wall paper on it. So we spent the first night stripping the wall paper off... never again.

This is the finished hallway, also in "avacado"

Addison (our niece) and Todd stopped by for a visit! Addison is helping paint the ugly wall while giving me her "cheese" face.

Master bedroom Before, well actually painting was in progress.

Master bedroom After! In "mountain ridge".

We bought a HOUSE!

Happy May everyone! So the three major hoops we had to get through in order to close on our house have now been conquered... jumped through.... whatever you would say HA! So now barring a major catastrophe we will close May 17th! We are SO THANKFUL to the Lord for His timing and orchestrating this. We LOVE this house. I will attach photos, but first I will tell you a little bit about it. It is a ranch style, which at first I didn't think that I wanted, but I do really like the layout of this house. Right now we are thinking we will knock out the wall separating the kitchen and living room, to create a more open layout. That will probably be the first order of business. There are a lot of options after that for Danny's craftsmanship and creativity to flow: building a deck, and finishing the attic. We are excited and thankful to the Lord for giving us this house to steward, and are so excited for how He will use it for His glory. Can't wait to have you over! If you want to be praying specifically for us. I am currently praying daily for God to bring in $1000 in monthly support during the month of May and would appreciate your joining me in this plea. Here are some pics.

2647 YAY!

My HUGE kitchen!!!!! So excited and thankful for this.

French doors!! :)

Bedroom... Hardwood floors! (I'm excited can't you tell)

Main bathroom!

Love you all. Let me know how to pray for you specifically.

Nic

Danny's 26!

So Danny and I are settling in somewhat to this new season of life. This weekend was so great. Danny and I spent Friday celebrating his birthday, with my family and then just the two of us. We went and played miniature golf, and Danny got 6 hole-in-ones! And on Saturday (his actual birthday) we were able to spend the day with family. I got Danny a ladder golf set for his birthday and we played that. Danny also got Monopoly Deal from my mom for his birthday and we are ADDICTED (seriously only $4 at Walmart for NON-STOP fun :)

So on Sunday, Danny and I spent the first part of the day at my Mom and Jerry's in Gower, Mo. We had planned to leave at around 2pm, to go back and spend the rest of the day with Danny's family. So Mary (my younger sister) was acting SO FISHY... and trying to stall Danny and I. Well she was in on this amazing surprise- she is just so sweet. Well pretty soon I am sitting at the dining room table on the computer and TURNED AROUND and there were three pieces of heaven standing in my Mom's living room: Bizzie, Annie, and Patrick had driven up to spend Sunday afternoon with us to surprise Danny and I for his bday! We had an amazing day!

Today I am at a coffee shop in Springfield. Danny and I were able to go and see the house we have under contract again today, and take a few more pictures. Hopefully we will find out whether or not our loan gets approved this week! PLEASE PRAY. Tonight we have a support appointment! Hope you all are doing well. Love you,

Nic

Here is a picture of the house we have under contract :)

Danny setting up his ladder golf set on his parents lawn in St. Joe

The sundae we shared for Danny's birthday, it was a paradise parfait!

Only my favorite place to get ice cream in St. Joe!!!!!!!!

Yay Kris & Kates!

Love Nic

We moved

So as you all know... Danny and I have moved from Columbia :( I don't think it has really set in yet. We went back last week so I could work my last shift at University Hospital, and it started to sink in a little. We were driving over to Annie's apartment (she lives about 30 seconds from our old apt) and as we were passing our old driveway, it didn't set in on me that we DON'T LIVE HERE ANYMORE and I looked at Danny like, "hey why aren't you slowing down, you just passed our driveway?"... then it dawned on me, and sunk in a little more.

So I am so thankful that it is Spring, because that in itself is so life-giving, and so it helps to make this transition more enjoyable I think. For those that don't know, Danny and I have moved in with Danny's parents in St. Joseph, Mo while we finish raising our support to be on full time staff with Campus Crusade for Christ. Although we never thought we would ever move back in with our parents, or live in St. Joe again, it is a blessing and I am thankful for it. Even if it is not exactly the way I would have chosen it to play out. And I am hopeful for the support opportunities that I know God has for us here!

Many of you are wondering how has been with giving up working as a nurse. I think right now it is too soon for me to be able to answer that. I think I am still on a high from all this great sleep I've been getting since I quit. (If you know someone who works nights, go give them a HUG!) Seriously... I feel like I am on cloud nine. Last night I practically was jumping up and down when I told Danny "I don't have to stay up all night this week, I don't have to stay up all night this week... for the first time in 4.5 months I don't have to stay up all night!!" I loved the ambiance of the night shift... But the reality of what it does to your sleep patterns, and for me- my body and emotions... I am thankful right now for a break.

Here are some pictures, more to come soon.

Here is a picture of the sewing machine Danny surprised me with. We have been talking about getting one for probably over a year now. I have a really huge desire to learn to sew, and to be able to make things like curtains, and house-y stuff once we have our own place. So this is my beautiful sewing machine... which is just AMAZING. And I have actually already done my first sewing project, and I think it turned out amazingly (love you Annabelle), thanks to YouTube videos on "how to sew an envelope pillow case" HAHA!
Here is our apartment on the first weekend that we began to start packing. (We started really several weeks before we were going to move because we didn't want to feel too overwhelmed). This is the attempt to sort through and pack up the guest room... which was really like a storage closet/office with a bed in it :)

Praying for you dear ones. I love you. Please email me and let me know how I can be praying for you. Please pray that Danny and I will get more support appointments this week. Right now we have 1.

Nic

Happy Spring

Happy Spring Everyone.

First let me apologize for not blogging for 2 months. After reading an interview online that was actually of my brother-in-law Todd Walker, I realized that if I am going to have a successful blog I need to have some structure- and as many of you know, I really need good structure in my life or else I don't get anything done :) So Mondays are going to be my blogging day! If you want to follow us, that is when you can for sure count on a post, there may be more in between, but Mondays for sure.

Okay now about our blog... the whole purpose of this blog, is really to keep the community of incredible people we've been blessed to know and love updated on our life. So I will write my posts like I am writing to my dearest friends and family.... because that is who I am writing to. Danny and I also believe in living transparent lives. I want to share our hearts here; joys, triumphs, burdens, pain. We will be real with you. I might share what God is teaching me, the sin I am struggling with, or what color I am looking forward to painting our bathroom... whatever it is I hope you will know us better, and more importantly know our Savior better. I love you,

Nic