Discovering the Lamb’s Book of Life

As I sit here today in my local Barnes and Noble, I thought it as a day of product research. But it has actually become a day of discovery for me. On the recommendation of my sister Mechelle, I picked up the book Produced by Faith by DeVon Franklin and begin reading. A book with an interesting structure, to say the least, is what I found in Franklin’s intricate narrative weaving of faith and profession. But as I close out the third chapter something quite remarkable occurred as I answered a simple question: What is the vision and mission of my life? Now through self reflection and meditation I’ve answered this question on several occasion; however, this time it was different. Revolutionary, to be exact.

I answered this question again truthfully, and one of the main bullets always added to my list is to leave a lasting legacy of righteousness and godly character for future generations. But immediately, God open my understanding as my thoughts traveled to Abraham, who God called righteous because of his faithfulness (Genesis 15:6). And the reason I am able to recall this story is because IT IS WRITTEN in the Scriptures. It is a part of the tapestry of God’s rhema Word made logos. And the epiphany of it all was that the Bible is precisely the Lamb’s Book of Life! Stories are continuously being written by the cloud of witnesses who monitor life here on earth (Hebrews 12:1). The Bible proclaims heaven and earth shall pass away but, God’s Word will prevail eternally (Matthew 24:35).

Therefore, I no longer look at The Book of Life abstractly as some mystical, glowing, illumination where I will one day view my printed name. Why, because my story is being written NOW in the hearts of the people who observe my life. Stories are documented through my ups and downs just as the biblical characters' lives were. And their legacy, written in Holy Scriptures, is used as the precedence that beleivers follow in order to bring clarity, virtue, and direction to our lives. And by walking out my calling I see that I am now not only written within the eternal Lamb’s Book of Life, but my living is actually the script that future generations will read for inspiration just as I read Paul, Timothy, and Jesus’ journeys when I need inspiration.

Wow! This is absolutely amazing, and I pray that you’ll never again perceive the Lamb’s Book of Life as a dusty library book. I hope you take God’s illustration that He imparted in me; taking it and living out your best inspirational life. Living is not passive and being called is not always roses and gumdrops; but, the thought of one day inspiring someone to follow the Faith because of your life is absolutely breathtaking! Join me today as I live out my name that God has eternally inscribed in the Book of Life!

Nikki D

Fearful: For What?!

"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." 2 Timothy 1:7

The spirit of fear is a very peculiar emotional response initiated by the enemy in order to detour the people of God from His divine plan. The Bible clearly states that God has not given us the spirit of fear. Thus, why do so many of us operate in it? This spirit manifests hindering strongholds, denying the destiny that God has appointed for every individual life.

When contemplating the emotional responses of fear, I began to understand the lack of substance in the enemy’s booby-trap. It becomes apparent that many of us are fearful of possible outcomes to situations that have yet to be tried and/or experienced. This is absolutely insane! We fervently pray asking God to help us better our current realities, and when He shows us the avenue to grant our requests we run and hide. How do we expect God to help us? On the contrary, the enemy never offers a solution to our problems, but we rather lean into his spirit of fear than to trust God!

Just for a second think about the two sides of this scenario:

You have a job that you hate for whatever reasons, and know that you posses the credentials to be better paid and/or self employed. You could either A) step out on faith and say God I’m miserable here so I'm willing to try another route, or you could B) stay in your current reality.

The enemy makes us fearful of failure, but in reality we don’t fail unless we never try! Even if your leap of faith does not produce reciprocals worthy of your efforts, what did you really lose? You would still have your job; however, you would now have gained knowledge that would help you step out again wiser and smarter. Moreover, our trying of something never attempted is what builds our faith in God. You won’t know how much you trust Him and can really depend on Him until you step out of your comfort zone!

The gifts and passion that God has placed within your heart are not haphazard or coincidental, so go forth and posses the land! The fear or anxiety will eventually subside, but God remains steadfast through your times of good, bad, and indifference. He loves us just that much! Take a leap of faith!

Nikki

What's In Your Pocket: Faith or Pipe Dreams?

Hola Mis Amores (Help me out... I'm trying to say "My Loves" in Espanol)

Faith according to the world is merely the belief in something, a sort of abstract phenomenon of the thinking mind. Utilizing such a definition, allow many to associate faith with some mystifying thought process that comes and goes usually in times of trouble and hardships. It's interesting how people "get" faith during times of turmoil, after they have exasperated all other possible human solutions to their problem(s)! It seems that after this trial and error session people say "okay, well I'll give God a try now." Moreover, it is after such epiphanies that we concoct a plan: we pray, attend Bible study and early morning service, fast, hop up and down the isle, go to the alter for pray; and then and only then, do we feel that God must be satisfied with our efforts! We feel that God just has to "show up and show out" on our behalf.

Well, sad to ruin it for you, but God does not work like that people! A common phrase of this world is "I'll believe it when I see it". However, for born-again believers God holds us to a different standard! His expectations assure that, "we must first believe it, before we will ever see it." Everything that we physically see with our eyes started off in the conception stage as a thought, which was then sprinkled with faith in order to produce the final product. This is the faith that God requires of his people!

God is so sick and tired of these part-time, in and out Christians. He longs for those true believers that have faith like Abraham and Job; those radical faith leapers who believe God and his promises no matter what the circumstances. Get your minds right people and choose (TODAY) whether or not you will have true faith in God or just some pipe dreams that you pull out of your back pocket and rid of lint when all your OWN solutions dissipate. Think about it.

Until Next time, be blessed good people!

Nikki

The Question: Does This Dress Make Me Look Fat?

Hola Amigos!

This entry will address the question that so many women ask either one another or poll from the opposite sex: "Does this dress make me look fat?" To further clarify, this question may not necessarily involve a dress or a woman for that matter ; however, this and similar inquires stem from the insecure nature of human beings. According to dictionary.com the term insecurity means: lack of confidence or assurance; self-doubt or the quality or state of being insecure; instability. Of all the words used to define the word the one that struck me as the most relevant is INSTABILITY! Wow, this is precisely what many are looking for when they ask of one another The Question and those of the like.

People you will not receive the STABILITY that you crave from one another because against all possible beliefs we all are asking our own questions. That longing to be accepted; and thus, identified with or loved by someone unconditionally was purposely placed in our hearts by the supremely reigning God in heaven. That question will never be answered by our fellow brothers and sisters with as much fulfillment as it will from the God who is self proclaimed the epitome of LOVE! Therefore, why risk an answer to such a defining question that could possibly be laced with, jealousy, envy, or complete disregard of care by the polled individual? I have gotten in the habit of asking my heavenly Father how I look everyday and the answer is always the same: like one who's glow resembles the love of Christ.

We must be fully delivered from people and the strongholds that the enemy helps place within our minds from our first perceptions of the meaning of beauty. We are all beautiful, and why wouldn't we be if we were created in the image of such a majestic, almighty, loving, and AWESOME King! Let's start counting ourselves as worthy of true inner confidence people! We are loved by the One in charge of the heavens and the earth and he loves us and says that we are redeemed by the redeemer because we believe. Not because you are a perfect size six, not because red is your color, not because your skin is flawless; but because you believe in Jesus Christ's birth, death and resurrection from the grave! People that's all the information that we need to know. So let's stop with the self deprecating thoughts and questions (that is not of God); and when they do arise put some word on them!

Daily Affirmations Straight from the Good Book
"I am fearfully and wonderfully made." Psalm 139:14

"For as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he" Proverbs 23:7

Be blessed good people and understand that you are worthy of high esteem because the King of kings thinks just that much of you.

Nikki