Part 1 Interview w/ Chesapeake Examiner

Poetry Corner

As an author and a poet, I give honor and praise to my Lord and Savior for opening up doors for me that no man can close. 

Luke 11:9 (New International Version, ©2011)

   ⁹ “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.

Check out Part 1 of an exclusive interview with me written by the Chesapeake Poetry Examiner writer Easter Dodds. 

Let’s support Easter Dodds, if you like this article click the “LIKE” Button on the article and share it with others.  Thank you. 

Part 2 coming soon!

Click on link:

http://www.examiner.com/poetry-in-chesapeake/q-a-exclusive-with-nicole-ellis-poet-and-author-of-reflections-of-the-son

 

Reflections of the Son by: Nicole Ellis is available now in person, by mail order or Pay pal! Contact me at niklellis@live.com or click on the BUY BOOK NOW page on the blog*

Mrs. Nicole “Sunshine” Ellis

Can’t breathe: Try Spiritual CPR: Consistent in praying, Persistent in pursuing the knowledge of God, and Resistant to temptation.

© Nicole Ellis and Sunshine’s Reflections Blog, 2009 to 2014. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blogs author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Nicole L. Ellis and Sunshine’s Reflections Blog with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

A Great Review

Hello Blog family and friends,

Easter Dodds the writer for the Chesapeake Poetry Examiner wrote a great review:

Check it out and pass it along.  Click on the link below and if you like the review, click the Like Button and leave a comment. 

http://www.examiner.com/poetry-in-chesapeake/review-music-and-poetry-night-presents-featured-poet-nicole-ellis

 

Thanks for your support!

~Nicole Ellis

Author/Poet

It’s time to STOP

Sunshine’s Reflections

Good Morning.  Happy Friday!  You thought I forgot you.  (Giggling)  It’s been a busy week in my neck of the woods.  I pray that your day will be blessed.

TFTD: It’s time to stop

Have you ever felt like you had to apologize for God blessing you because of the few negative voices around you that make you feel guilty for being blessed?  Have you ever found yourself suppressing your testimony because the few people around you who always complain are still waiting on their blessing and you don’t want them to feel bad?  We’ll I want to say it’s time to stop it.  Your life is an example of God’s ever flowing favor.  Your testimony is so powerful and your life gives someone hope.  So do not apologize for what God is doing in your life.  Do not apologize for who you are in Him.  Continue to walk in a humble manner giving honor to God and He’ll changed the hearts of the people around you. 

It’s time to stop allowing nay sayers the opportunity to rob you of your hope

It’s time to stop allowing doubt to keep you from taking the next step

It’s time to stop complaining about what you see in front of you and have faith in what you can’t see

It’s time to put action to our words and our thoughts

It’s not enough to talk about it, it’s time to be about it

It’s time to stop allowing your past to cripple you from walking towards your future

It’s time to stop apologizing for who you are in Christ

It’s time to stop depending on a man-made system and begin relying on a God made system

It’s time to stop being comfortable in sin

It’s time to stop being complacent and settling for mediocrity in life

It’s time to stop walking in darkness and begin running in the light

It’s time to stop making this life about us and realize it’s about God

It’s time to stop wanting to be the head without first learning how to serve

It’s time to stop holding a grudge and learn how to forgive

It’s time to stop speaking death and start speaking life

It’s time to stop!

I don’t know what you need to stop, but I guarantee you need to stop something

The moment you stop doing the things contrary to the will of God is the very moment your life will begin to change.

What do you need to stop doing today?

I pray that you take inventory over your life.  It’s a new year and it’s a new day and I don’t know about you, but I am changed in Jesus and I am going to stop doing somethings that are not pleasing to Him.  I want to grow closer to Him, but more importantly I want to represent Him properly to all of His children.  Someone is watching you and waiting to see if living like you is worth accepting Christ.  Imagine what will happen if you stopped something today and someone starts watching you tomorrow.  You just gave someone hope.

Have a blessed day and weekend in the Lord. 

 

Reflections of the Son by: Nicole Ellis is available now in person, by mail order or Pay pal! Contact me at niklellis@live.com or click on the BUY BOOK NOW page on the blog*

Mrs. Nicole “Sunshine” Ellis

Can’t breathe: Try Spiritual CPR: Consistent in praying, Persistent in pursuing the knowledge of God, and Resistant to temptation.

© Nicole Ellis and Sunshine’s Reflections Blog, 2009 to 2014. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blogs author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Nicole L. Ellis and Sunshine’s Reflections Blog with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

What do you bring to the table?

Sunshine’s Reflections

Good Morning!  Happy Wednesday to you all!  I apologize for missing the beginning of this week.  I’m adjusting to a new season in my life and finding balance in all that I do, proves challenging and fun.  I am enjoying growing with God.  I pray that you continue to pray for me as I pray for you.  Remember to always find time for daily devotion with God.  If it doesn’t come via Sunshine’s blog on a particular day, always create a habit to meet God in some private time to read His word.

Thanks for your support in all that I do.

TFTD: What do you bring to the table?

1 Corinthians 12:4-7 (New King James Version)

⁴ There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. ⁵ There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. ⁶ And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. ⁷ But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:

 When we accept Christ as our Lord and Savior we are all given at least one gift.  At least one.  My question to you is what do you bring to the table?  What do you bring to your church, community, job, house, or ministry?

There are a lot of believers who sit back complaining about what is or is not happening at their church.  Are you one of those people?  Have you ever been one of those people?  Be honest.  It’s easy to complain.  I’ll admit that.  I use to do it.  Sometimes I have to catch myself from complaining now.  However, the closer I grow to God, I begin changing my perspective.  Instead of complaining and saying, “They need to do this, or they need to do that.”  I ask God, “how can I help?”

We have to stop worrying about the speck in other ministries eyes or even other people’s eyes and begin focusing on the plank in our eyes.  Ask yourself, “What do I bring to the table?”  How can I be of service to this ministry or my church?  How can I get all that God has for me out of my church community?  How can I contribute all of my gifts to the body of Christ in order to be a blessing to the kingdom?  How can I help edify God’s people?

Consider the ministries in church as a spiritual buffet.  Everyone can be apart of this grand feast.  You may not eat everything that is on the table, but you can contribute something that you would like to eat.  And guess what, someone else will be glad that you brought that to the table to share with them.

Ask yourself what you can bring to the table and bring your very best.

Have a blessed day!

Reflections of the Son by: Nicole Ellis is available now in person, by mail order or Pay pal! Contact me at niklellis@live.com or click on the BUY BOOK NOW page on the blog*

Mrs. Nicole “Sunshine” Ellis

Can’t breathe: Try Spiritual CPR: Consistent in praying, Persistent in pursuing the knowledge of God, and Resistant to temptation.

© Nicole Ellis and Sunshine’s Reflections Blog, 2009 to 2014. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blogs author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Nicole L. Ellis and Sunshine’s Reflections Blog with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Make the best out of what God gives you

Sunshine’s Reflections

Happy Friday!  I pray that you had a blessed work week/school week.  Enjoy your weekend.

TFTD: Make the best out of what God gives you

1 Thessalonians 5:18 (New International Version, ©2010)

¹⁸ give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Sometimes I look around and see that we can be an ungrateful bunch of people.  We have our health, our strength, a roof over our head, a means to eat, clothing to cover our bodies, the articulation of speech, the reasoning of thought, the movement of our limbs and the list goes on.  Instead of us giving thanks and being grateful we can find ourselves comparing ourselves to others.

I would step out and say some of us covet what our neighbors, friends, family members, and even strangers have.  We are to give thanks in ALL of our circumstances, this is the will of God for us.  This means when things are tough or when things are great, you should give God thanks.  We have to learn how to make the best out of the things God gives to us.

You may not eat steak and shrimp every night, but I’m sure you eat.  Learn to make the best out of the food that is in your cabinets.  You may not drive a BMW or Mercedes, but I’m sure you are able to get around.  Make the best out of the transportation that is available to you; public transportation, personal transportation, or even your friends picking you up and dropping you off.  You may not make six-figures, but I’m sure you make something.  Make the best with the income God has provided you, tithe, and give him thanks for it and I guarantee He will supply all of your needs.  Take a moment to think about your toughest situation?  Now, when you where in that situation I’m sure you didn’t think you would make it, but did God bring you out?  I’m sure the answer is YES.  If, that’s the case then why doubt Him now?  Make the best out of what He has given you.  God is watching how you handle the stuff He blesses you with now to see if you are ready for what He has for you later.

We have to stop comparing ourselves with others or even measuring ourselves based on what we use to have.  We need to give thanks in all of our circumstances and make the best out of what God gives us.  Let’s practice being grateful until it becomes a way of life.

Have a blessed day.

Reflections of the Son by: Nicole Ellis is available now in person, by mail order or Pay pal! Contact me at niklellis@live.com or click on the BUY BOOK NOW page on the blog*

Mrs. Nicole “Sunshine” Ellis

Can’t breathe: Try Spiritual CPR: Consistent in praying, Persistent in pursuing the knowledge of God, and Resistant to temptation.

© Nicole Ellis and Sunshine’s Reflections Blog, 2009 to 2014. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blogs author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Nicole L. Ellis and Sunshine’s Reflections Blog with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

MUSIC & POETRY TONIGHT 7pm!-It’s FREE!

It’s our First Show of the New Year and it’s Time to Celebrate!

 

Poet/Author: Nicole Ellis

Author/Reflection of the Son

And

Musician: Dominic Dixon

 

Are the featured artists for the evening!

 

Dreason Ruckett- is your host.

 

Music and Poetry Night was created to offer artists in our local area a place to share their work and perform; and to provide quality entertainment at no cost for the community.

The night is open mic set up; we need entertainers to entertain and listeners to listen!

 

January 20^th

7:00 p.m.

West Hampton Community Center 

1638 Briarfield Road

Hampton, VA

Contact: (757) 896-4692, mstclair@hampton.gov or

Facebook search/ Music and Poetry Night

 

West Hampton Community Center….Keeping the Arts Alive!

                    

Hurt people, hurt people

Sunshine’s Reflections

Good Morning!  This is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it.

TFTD: Hurt people, hurt people

Hebrews 12:14-15 (New International Version, ©2010)

 ¹⁴ Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. ¹⁵ See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.

Hebrews 12:14-15 (New King James Version)

¹⁴ Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: ¹⁵ looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled;

During my life I’ve seen “hurt” people allow their hurt to consume them and eat away at all of their relationships causing them to hurt others emotionally, spiritually, mentally, and even physically.  I’ve been a “hurt” person who allowed what someone did to me or say to me affect my way of life.  I allowed my past hurts to affect the blessings that were waiting for me.

 We all experience hurt on different levels, but in Christ we have to know that we are not the “hurt” that we are experiencing.  We are more than conquerors and we can get through this.  When people wallow in their hurt and pain they become bitter.  Once they become bitter they allow roots to grow.  The roots of bitterness are so deep that the person who is hurting doesn’t even realize they are hurting others.

Take a tree for instance; a large beautiful tree, looks perfect and strong above the surface, but underneath the ground are long, deep, and ugly roots.  Have you ever seen a tree in a person’s yard when the roots begin breaking ground and starts damaging the foundation of a house?  This is much like a “hurt” person.  They look great on the surface but deep within are some damaging roots growing.

That’s the scary and dangerous part of hanging around hurt people.  They are hurt so they will not think rationally.  They are oblivious to the fact they are hurting others.  We have to make sure we cut the “hurt” off at the roots so that healing can begin.  The reality is we can’t fix the hurt in others or the hurt in ourselves.  We have to turn it over to God.  Pray for others and pray for yourself.  Use caution when dealing with people who are hurting.  It’s contagious and you don’t want to fall prey to their damaged emotions.  It could cause you to become hurt and then begin to hurt others.  It’s a chain that we have to break and I’m starting today.

Food for thought: If hurt people, hurt people.  Then healed people, can heal people.  Let’s share the effects of emotional, spiritual, physical, and mental healing with others.  Hurt people can be healed from all they are hurt from.

Have a blessed day.

Reflections of the Son by: Nicole Ellis is available now in person, by mail order or Pay pal! Contact me at niklellis@live.com or click on the BUY BOOK NOW page on the blog*

Mrs. Nicole “Sunshine” Ellis

Can’t breathe: Try Spiritual CPR: Consistent in praying, Persistent in pursuing the knowledge of God, and Resistant to temptation.

© Nicole Ellis and Sunshine’s Reflections Blog, 2009 to 2014. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blogs author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Nicole L. Ellis and Sunshine’s Reflections Blog with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

What if God treated us like we treat others?

Sunshine’s Reflections

Good Morning!  I pray that you had a wonderful weekend and if you were off from work; a wonderful day off on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday.  I enjoyed my weekend filled with chores and rest.  Always give God praise for the little and the big things. 

TFTD: What if God treated us like we treat others?

Romans 13:8-9 (New King James Version)

⁸ Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. ⁹ For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not bear false witness,” “You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

Take a moment to think about what your life would be like if God treated you like you treat others?  I want you to be honest and really think about how you treat others.  I’m not talking about how you treat others when people are watching or how you treat others when you are at church on Sunday morning.  I want you to dig into how you treat others when you are having a bad day.  How do you treat others when you’ve been rubbed the wrong way?  How do you treat others who spitefully use you and abuse you?  How do you treat others?

I can only speak from experience and even from personal observations and the truth be told I don’t treat everyone the way God wants me to treat them.  There are some people who just rub me the wrong way.  So, to answer the above question, I wouldn’t want God to treat me like I treat others.  Because in my flesh, I treat others according to how they treat me.  There are days if someone doesn’t speak to me, I don’t want to speak to them.  That’s not Christ like.  There are moments when someone doesn’t want to help me at work, and I don’t want to help them when they need it.  That’s not Christ like either.

Each day I have to feed my spirit in order to starve my flesh.  Each day I have to submit to the will of the Spirit in order to deny the flesh.  God has called us to love our neighbors as we love ourselves.  I don’t know about you, but I love myself and I want to be treated with respect.  I want others to see me as God sees me.  NEWS FLASH: I have to do the same.  I have to return the love that God shows me to ALL of His children.  I have to show the love of Christ even to those who are nasty and disrespectful.  Why?  Because I have to love them as I love myself.  So regardless of how they treat me that moment, I have to ask myself,  “Nicole, how would you like to be treated?”  Then I have to treat them that way. 

You see, God does not give us the punishment we deserve.  Rather, He gives us blessings that we don’t deserve.  His grace and mercy reach way down to even me.  If you honestly wouldn’t want God to treat you like you treat others, then I urge you to change.  I urge you to saturate your life and spirit with the Word of God so that you can begin demonstrating His love to others.  Oh, it’s not easy, but it’s possible with Christ.

I pray that you will be honest with yourself and allow God to change you and stop worrying about when He is going to change others.  Just love them.  Love them until Christ calls you home. 

Have a blessed day my neighbors.  I pray that when I encounter you even if you have a bad day that I will treat you with the love of Christ.

Reflections of the Son by: Nicole Ellis is available now in person, by mail order or Pay pal! Contact me at niklellis@live.com or click on the BUY BOOK NOW page on the blog*

Mrs. Nicole “Sunshine” Ellis

Can’t breathe: Try Spiritual CPR: Consistent in praying, Persistent in pursuing the knowledge of God, and Resistant to temptation.

© Nicole Ellis and Sunshine’s Reflections Blog, 2009 to 2014. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blogs author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Nicole L. Ellis and Sunshine’s Reflections Blog with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Walk it out in the Lord

Sunshine’s Reflections

Good Morning!  Happy Friday to you all!  I pray that you have a blessed day and a wonderful weekend.  Seek the Lord in all you do and watch Him transform your life.

TFTD: Walk it out in the Lord

2 Corinthians 5:7 (New King James Version)

⁷ For we walk by faith, not by sight

Proverbs 3:5 (New King James Version)

⁵ Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
      And lean not on your own understanding;

Have you ever stopped and looked at your goals and dreams and thought, “This is too big or too much for me, I’ll never get through this”?  If we are honest, I would say we have all experienced a moment of doubt in our lives.  Sometimes God will bless us with opportunities that exceed our mental capacity.  In our flesh, we are trying to figure out how in the world we are going to manage all of this.

I’m here to encourage someone to “Walk it out in the Lord.”  For years you have been praying for God to manifest a supernatural blessing in your life and now that He has you are second guessing your ability.  You better walk it out in the Lord.  It is in these moments when your ability in the natural needs a supernatural boast.

Walk it out in the Lord.  Trust in the Lord.  He will equip you with everything that you need to be successful.  When you stand up against a challenge measure it up against God’s ability to see you through.  Walk it out in the Lord.  He will never let you down.

Have a blessed weekend in the Lord.  Be sure to walk by faith and not by sight.

 

Reflections of the Son by: Nicole Ellis is available now in person, by mail order or Pay pal! Contact me at niklellis@live.com or click on the BUY BOOK NOW page on the blog*

Mrs. Nicole “Sunshine” Ellis

Can’t breathe: Try Spiritual CPR: Consistent in praying, Persistent in pursuing the knowledge of God, and Resistant to temptation.

© Nicole Ellis and Sunshine’s Reflections Blog, 2009 to 2014. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blogs author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Nicole L. Ellis and Sunshine’s Reflections Blog with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Poetry Corner-Power to Pray

Poetry Corner

 

Good Morning.  Write down three things that you are grateful for today.  Let’s spend more time being grateful instead of being negative and complaining.  There is so much power in your tongue.  Declare that today will be a great day in the Lord.  Spread that positive speech with everyone you encounter today.

Power to pray

by: Nicole L. Ellis

I have the power to pray

The power to fall on my knees and say

Lord, you are awesome and the head of my life

I bow to you in reverence and rebuke living in strife

I have the power to pray

The power to speak healing over this land

The power to encourage a fallen man

I have the power to pray

Fancy words are not needed

Theological training is not necessary

Just a desire to know You

The ability to open my mouth and say

Lord, I need you

I have the power to pray

With this power I will change the world…

 

Matthew 21:22 (New King James Version)

²² And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”

John 14:14 (New King James Version)

¹⁴ If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.

We have so much power and potential through prayer.  Many believers just have not tapped into the power of prayer.  One of our greatest weapons as Christians is the ability to talk to God and intercede on others behalf.  Make prayer a vital part of your daily living and watch God change things in your life, in your community, in the lives of others, in your church, in your family, in this country and even in your enemies.  You have the power to pray.  Please use it!

Reflections of the Son by: Nicole Ellis is available now in person, by mail order or Pay pal! Contact me at niklellis@live.com or click on the BUY BOOK NOW page on the blog*

Mrs. Nicole “Sunshine” Ellis

Can’t breathe: Try Spiritual CPR: Consistent in praying, Persistent in pursuing the knowledge of God, and Resistant to temptation.

© Nicole Ellis and Sunshine’s Reflections Blog, 2009 to 2014. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blogs author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Nicole L. Ellis and Sunshine’s Reflections Blog with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.