Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Embracing the Journey an Interview with Nicole from Coming Alive in Christ

We are all on a journey are you embracing yours?

Interview # 1 Meet Nicole
I have gotten to know Nicole a little through blogging and I am encouraged by her walk with the Lord.


Get to know Nicole:

I have a 4 year old daughter and am married to an amazing man! I am a Christian and am doing my best to be a better one. I have always believed in God but didn't always do what was right, especially once I turned 18 and actually got to go out and do things. I strayed a bit off the path and once I was done partying and got married, I was trying to get closer to Him again. What really helped bring me closer was my cousin's little one year old son. He had cancer and was such a fighter. My cousin was so strong in her faith that it just amazed me. How strong they were when God healed him His way and not our way! That really got me back into church and trying to be a better person and learn to lean on God more than anything. I rededicated my life in July of 2010 and it was the best thing I did! This relationship I have with my Father and His amazing Son is nothing like I have ever known!!!


Our Interview:


What is your favorite Scripture and why?


"But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus" Ephesians 2: 4-5

This is the verse that I found after praying about what I should name my blog. When I was praying I just told Him that He knows that I feel like I am coming alive again and this is the verse I found!


Who or where do you look to for inspiration and encouragement when you feel downcast?

I pray and read my bible. I also call my mom. She is my best friend and is always there to give me great advice and scripture too! And I have a few ladies from The Imperfect Wives club that are also very supportive too. Very Godly women!!


How do you find time in your busy lifestyle to spend time with the Lord, and when have you found is the best time that works for you?

This one is sometimes hard.. I have to admit that I don't always get a chance to have my quiet time with Him in my 'closet' like I should. Every morning I do thank God for giving me another day and pray that He will help me through it and keep us safe! I like to use YouVersion and I have a few Bible Studies/Devotionals I do on there every morning.


How do you pursue a deep personal relationship with the Lord? What have you found are essentials in your Christian life?

Definitely reading my Bible, praying and having a welcoming church to go and refuel! I had to learn to pray again. I used to just always pray asking for stuff, but now I have learned to pray with thanksgiving, praise and asking for forgiveness, wisdom and strength to be the wife, mother and daughter that He wants me to be!


How would you encourage a Sister in the Lord to be encouraged in the Lord, and to pursue a more intimate relationship with Him?

I would just encourage them to continue to study His word. The closer you draw to Him the closer He will be to you. If you have questions look them up or ask your pastor or another Godly friend for advice. Don’t ever give up if you don’t feel like He is close or if you don’t hear Him. The more you study His word and pray then He will show you what He wants from you. The hardest thing for me is shutting off my brain so I can listen. Write down your prayers and pray them out loud to help shut out the noise in your brain. That is when I am the closest to Him, when I take time to be alone with Him to write in my prayer journal and to read in peace. He is the only one that can give you that peace and knowledge that you seek!


Did you have a mother or a Titus 2 woman in your life as you were growing up or have someone that you looked up to and wanted to model your life after?

I was very lucky to have a mother who was raised up in the love of our Lord. My grandmother was also a Titus 2 woman and she taught my mother, and thank GOD that she taught me. I didn't always want to listen or read much but I finally stopped running and started listening to Him and learning about our Father and how He wants us to live. Oh, I am definitely still a work in progress though!


What would you say were some of the most valuable things you learned as a child that still have an impact on your life today?


That I can always talk to God. He knows my heart anyways and that if I am ever feeling upset or sad I can just tell Him all about it. I didn’t do it so much when I was younger, I didn’t really think it mattered but now I talk to my Father all day long!


What do you think are some of the most important things that you can pass on to your daughter or have passed on to your daughter (if you have one)?


To always be praying in everything and always giving thanks to our Father! We wouldn’t be who we are without Him. He gives us the abilities to do our jobs, to just be who we are! Also, I would love for her to remember that by His grace we are saved. He loves us and will never leave us even when we feel like we disappointed Him or failed Him. Each day is a new day, I am so thankful He gives us that! As long as we keep trying to get close to Him, to learn from Him and Jesus we are doing what He wants! Just always remember that if you are truly asking for forgiveness, He will always give it to you! You need to thank Jesus for that too!! And that He loves you no matter what, more than we can even comprehend!


What specific things as well as character qualities would you encourage other women, either older or younger, to teach and pass on to other woman and girls that are lacking in this day?

This one is a hard one for me…
Once I rededicated, I learned that we need to be living for Him! What I mean is that we need to work on making our Father happy, not worrying what everyone else thinks. Stop trying to please all the earthly people because we only need to please our Heavenly Father and Son!

Modesty is also another thing I think seems to be missing anymore. All the new fashions of the tight clothes and the revealing outfits are a little ridiculous. Like I said above, we need to please Him and dress appropriately.

Oh and that His time is not our time. When we are praying and asking for things, healing, wisdom, whatever it might be, He will give it to us when He knows we really need it. His ways our not our ways and that is something I have come to learn. He knows I don’t always like that but I am learning to let go and trust Him.


Can you share any resources books, movies, websites etc. that have been a help and encouragement to you in striving to be the Woman God created you to be as you live for His Glory?

The Power of a Praying Wife is one of my favorite books… I have also gotten a lot of use out of my Mom’s Devotional Bible too. as for websites, there are just so many out there! Of course, like I mentioned earlier, I am really loving the Imperfect Wives club right now. They are God’s Warrior Princesses!!


You can find Nicole at: Coming Alive in Christ

There will be another interview posted next Tuesday don't miss it.

As an added Benefit in Honor of Motherhood, Christian Living and being a Titus 2 Woman I have a very special GIVEAWAY sponsored by Vision Forum.  This is for the Book:   Large Family Logistics: The Art and Science of Managing the Large Family.


Click on the book to go to the giveaway:

Please feel free to leave your Comments about the interview:

4 comments:

My Mad World said...

Thank you so much for the opportunity to share my faith with everyone! I am honored!

I hope you have a great day!!

Unknown said...

Great interview! I popped over here from Nicole's blog. Nicole is such an inspiration! I love her blog posts!

Cherie said...

I love Nicole and her heart for God and those he's placed in her spear of influence. She is strong in her faith and quite tenacious about it.

Nicole,your heart shined right through in your interview! So enjoyed reading. Thank you for the "shout outs" for the Imperfect Wives and for introducing us to Angie!

Whoot whoot!!

Cherie :)

OLLIE MCKAY'S ~ A Chic Boutique said...

What a wonderful post! And the photo is amazing beautiful!! Actually can't tell for sure - I think it is a watercolor painting or is it an actual photo?? Beautiful either way - I may borrow it! :) Happy Thursday!

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