Wait on the Lord!

Sunshine’s Reflections

Good morning!  Happy Friday to you all! 

TFTD: Wait on the Lord!

Psalm 27:14 (NKJV)

¹⁴ Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart;
Wait, I say, on the Lord!

Patience has never been my strong suit, but I am getting better.  As a child, when someone told you to wait it felt like forever.  As an adult, much hasn’t changed.  Waiting is a process that still proves to be challenging especially if you have been waiting for a long time or waiting for a break through. 

I want to encourage someone today to not only wait, but to wait on the Lord.  Don’t just wait on people’s empty promises, but wait on the promises of God.  While I’m in a season of waiting for new doors to be opened, I was reminded that even in my waiting periods, God has been answering other prayers and fulfilling promises.  I got excited because I took a trip down memory lane and I began rejoicing over all of the things God has done in my life.

Waiting becomes difficult when you are trying to rely on people who have no power, but when you rely on the PROMISE KEEPER who has ALL POWER  it becomes easier.  I love writing on my vision list and piling on the things God has placed in my spirit and while I’m waiting on one thing on the list, He is fulfilling something else.  God is just smooth like that.  He gives you the things you desire when your will is lined up with His. 

So, my advice to you is to seek God and find ways to expand your vision list.  Then trust God to fulfill His promises to you and wait on Him.  Sometimes I get a little impatient and it’s in those moments I have to regroup and pray.  When I pray and trust God, He begins opening so many doors that I don’t grow antsy over the one or two things I think I really want.  God knows what we need in this season.  WAIT ON HIM!!!

I pray you have a blessed day and a wonderful weekend.  Remember God will give you the strength you need while you are waiting!  God bless!

Mrs. Nicole “Sunshine” Ellis, MBA

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 “God wants a yes”

Poetry Corner

Good morning!  Happy Wednesday to you all!  God is such an awesome God.  Never take for granted the little things.  It’s in the little things that remind us that God is always with us.

God wants a yes

by: Nicole L. Ellis

God wants a yes

Not a maybe

Or a possibly after I get my life in order

A lukewarm trickling into cold territory

Words laced with empty promises

Or theological clichés

He wants your YES

That word used to express your affirmation

He wants the confirmation that you are His and He is Yours

It’s only when He receives your Yes

He can begin opening doors

Tearing down Walls and breaking chains

When you give Him your Yes

You will no longer live life half way insane

God wants your Yes

And this response doesn’t mean you will be perfect

On the contrary, it acknowledges how imperfect you are

Your Yes, tells the Lord you are incomplete

That word begs and pleads for Him to be the one you seek

God wants your yes

Not tomorrow

Not next week

He wants it today

So what will you say?

Will you say, yes?

What is keeping you from giving God a “yes”?  Are you waiting to get your act together?  Are you waiting to get all of your sinful desires out?  We’ll news flash, that will never happen.  You are incapable of getting right without God.  He wants you the way you are.  He died for you while you were still a sinner.  He already knows your past, present, and future.  He just wants your yes.  Will you accept Him? 

Romans 10:9 (NKJV)

⁹ that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

Take time to examine your life and see if you are ready to give God a “YES” today!   Have a blessed day!

Mrs. Nicole “Sunshine” Ellis, MBA

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.

Pushing past your mental limitations

Sunshine’s Reflections

Good afternoon!  Happy Monday.  I apologize for my absence.  I had an extremely busy week last week.  I’m back in the groove this week.  I pray you had a wonderful weekend! 

TFTD: Pushing past your mental limitations

Proverbs 23:7a (NKJV)

⁷ For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.

Proverbs 18:21 (NKJV)

²¹ Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
And those who love it will eat its fruit.

This weekend, I ran 10 miles for the first time ever!  Yes, I ran and didn’t stop!!!  I was completely shocked and excited that I finished.  I was even more excited that I completed this task under two hours.  This run did not come easy because I had mental barriers that were trying to limit my physical ability. 

For those who don’t know, I have a running coach.  This coach maps out a 28-day plan that assist my growth in running longer distances in a shorter amount of time.  I am responsible for uploading my activities and my coach analyzes it and gives me new goals on paces and distance.  One thing my coach does is places goals and challenges before me that he knows I will accomplish even though I can’t see it.  He sees my potential and at times I allow my mental limitations to keep me bound and in turn it causes me to hold back. 

When you are on a 10-mile jog you have plenty of time to talk to and hear from God.  I was tired and my legs felt like bricks and before we even started running I kept saying, “I’ve never ran 10 miles before.  I don’t know if I can do this.”  I started sabotaging my run before I even started because of my self talk.  Many of us do this in our spiritual walk.  We speak words of doubt because of our mental limitations.  We don’t think we can do it even when we God has promised that we can do it. 

So, I had to regroup.  Every mile I ran I began counting down how many miles I had left to go.  I started quoting Philippians 4:13, I then said, “Nicole you can do this.”  I believed I was a runner who would finish between the time I was required to finish in.  And guess what?  I did finish.  I finished and felt good.  I pushed past my mental limitations.  I learn so many life lessons through my running journey. 

1. God never gives you more than you can bear. (God knows exactly what we are capable of doing and He won’t set us out to fail.)
2. God will equip you for the journey.  (God will give you every resource you need and skill set to get the job done.)
3. Trust in who lives within you. (Since the Holy Spirit dwells within you, all of the power that Christ has is in you and if you can’t trust your ability, trust God’s ability through you.)
4. Check your self-talk.  (Watch what you say to yourself because you will start believing it.  You can either bring life to your thoughts or kill your thoughts based on what comes from your tongue.)

What mental limitations do you have to push past today?  Are you bringing life to your thoughts or killing yourself with your words?  It’s time to push past the mental limitations. 

Greater is He that is in you!!!  Remember you have more power because of WHOSE you are!!! 

Have a blessed day!

Mrs. Nicole “Sunshine” Ellis, MBA

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.

God is Great

Sunshine’s Reflections

Good morning!  My heart and prayers go out to every volunteer, every race participant, every bystander, every family member, every person directly and indirectly affected by the tragedy at the Boston Marathon yesterday.  I pray God has mercy on the people responsible for this.  The enemy thought he won, but even in the midst of this senseless crime, nations are joining together in prayer.  Communities are uniting together and praying for one another.  God is still in control. 

TFTD: God is Great

Psalm 62:11 (NKJV)

¹¹ God has spoken once, Twice I have heard this: That power belongs to God.

1 Corinthians 6:14 (NKJV)

¹⁴ And God both raised up the Lord and will also raise us up by His power.

This morning as I was driving to work I was listening to “How Great is Our God.”  Tears began to stream down my eyes as my heart received the words that were sung.  I don’t know about you, but I serve a Great GOD!  When I think about what He did for a sinner like me, I can’t help but worship Him.  How awesome is it to know that all power belongs to God?  God is so Great that He made Himself flesh for us and died so that we may have life more abundantly.  He is so great that He not only died, but He raised His own self up and with that same power He can and will raise us up. (I feel a shout in my spirit).

HOW GREAT IS OUR GOD!!! I don’t know anyone who can do the things that God can do in their own strength.  No one can compare to God.  My heart cries for the people who don’t know Christ.  Life is not even worth living if He is not at the Center of it.  When you live life without Christ as your Lord and Savior, you are depriving yourself of His overflowing grace and mercy.  You are outside of His shield of protection.  I encourage you to seek the Lord and accept Him as your own.  God is available to all who will seek Him and He has enough greatness to go around.

Have a blessed day!

Mrs. Nicole “Sunshine” Ellis, MBA

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.

Will you take up your cross?

Sunshine’s Reflections

Good afternoon.  Happy Friday!  I pray you all have a blessed day and wonderful weekend!

TFTD: Will you take up your cross?

Luke 9:23-24 (NIV)

²³ Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. ²⁴ For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it.

What are you willing to do for Christ?  Or do you merely want to reap the benefits of being a child of God with no struggle or consequence?  How far are you willing to travel in this journey called life to please the Lord?  Or are you looking for a quick fix for the moment?  Are you willing to take up your cross DAILY and follow Christ?  Tough question that we all must answer if we truly want to be disciples of Christ.

Today, being a Christian should be more than lip-service.  It should be a way of life.  We shouldn’t turn Christ on or off when it’s convenient for us, we should strive to serve Christ and do His will, His way.

As believers, we need to develop spiritually tough skin. 

A common misconception that people have about Christians, is that once we become saved we won’t struggle or suffer.  WRONG!!!  Oh we suffer and go through tough times, the difference is we have a Father in Heaven who gives us hope during our storms.  Unfortunately, there are too many people proclaiming their love for Christ, but at the first sign of trouble they curse Him and turn to the world.  Do you know anyone like that?  It could be you?

Do you want to be a disciple of Christ?  Do you want to serve Him by serving others?  If you truly want to follow Christ you have to let Him lead and you are going to have to take up your cross.  What does that mean?  You have to embrace your sufferings and trust God.  You have to pick up the things that are beating you down and carry them daily and follow Christ.  Before you were born Christ carried a cross that didn’t belong to Him, it belonged to you and I, but God!  Jesus didn’t just drop the cross and complain, He carried that cross to Calvary, embraced lashings and beatings to save a sinner like you and a sinner like me.  Jesus led by example.  He could have tried to save His life and end up losing it, but instead he gave up His life so that we may live and in turn He lives!!! (That made me get happy!)

So the question to is, “Will you take up your cross and follow Christ?”  Will you let God lead you and stop complaining and trying to take the easy way out of everything?  Will you embrace your sufferings, trusting that there is a blessing on the other end?  I don’t know about you, but I’m taking up my cross and following Christ.

Take time to search your personal relationship with Christ and see if you are ready to take up your cross and follow Him!  God bless!  Have a wonderful day!

Mrs. Nicole “Sunshine” Ellis, MBA

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.

Spread your wings and FLY

Sunshine’s Reflections

Good afternoon!  Happy Wednesday to you all!  It’s a glorious sunny day in my neck of the woods.  I love the reminder that the “SON” truly smiles on us daily!

TFTD: Spread your wings and FLY

Isaiah 40:30-31 (NKJV)

³⁰ Even the youths shall faint and be weary,
And the young men shall utterly fall,
³¹ But those who wait on the Lord
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint.

Yesterday, I posted on my Facebook status the following message, “Don’t continue pecking around with the chickens when you were born to soar like an EAGLE!!!  Greatness is in you.”  This makes me think about the saying, “You are the company you keep.” Simply put, you become who you surround yourself with. 

When you look at chickens they pluck at the ground and can’t soar high in the sky and there are eagles reading this today who have surrounded themselves with chickens.  You were destined to soar, but you have conformed and settled for mediocrity.  Are you an eagle who thinks they are a chicken?  It’s time to spread your wings and fly! 

Don’t get stuck in your comfort zone.  Matter of fact, don’t get stuck in the comfort zone of other people.  There are people who will suck you into their insecurities in an effort to keep you bound in their mediocrity.  Stop it.  Spread your wings and fly!  I dare you to stretch your arms forth and reach your potential.  It will be uncomfortable at first because you haven’t used your wings in a long time.  It will even seem a little scary because it’s been so long you don’t think you can fly anymore.  But when you wait on the Lord, He will renew your strength and you will mount up with wings like eagles and FLY!!!

What are you waiting for?  Spread your wings and FLY!!!!  God wants to take you to new places.  He wants to give you a new perspective and you can’t see what He wants to show you from the ground, you must spread your wings and fly!  God wants to show you a new thing and it requires you to take flight!  Will you fly?

Have a blessed day! 

Mrs. Nicole “Sunshine” Ellis, MBA

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.

Stretching is necessary

Sunshine’s Reflections

Good morning!  Happy Tuesday to you all!

TFTD: Stretching is necessary

Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

¹¹ For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

This morning I want to offer a little bit of encouragement to someone.  I don’t know who you are, but I know this word is for you.  Stretching is necessary to get to the next level.  There will be times when you need to stretch your faith, stretch your vision, stretch your resources, stretch your time, stretch your gifts and talents in order to get to the next level. 

The Lord has a plan for your life and in His plan He plans to prosper you and to give you a hope and a future, but that will not come by staying comfortable.  You will need to be stretched.  You have to stretch your way of thinking.  You have to look outside of what you are used to and embrace something different.  God is calling you to go higher, but He will need you to stretch!!!

When you stretch physically, you loosen up your muscles and increase your flexibility.  This flexibility allows you to reach further than you did before.  When you stretch spiritually, you loosen up your doubts and increase your faith and begin reaching new levels that you never thought you could.  Stretching is a necessary part of life and we need to embrace the temporary discomfort that will lead us to greater spiritual flexibility. 

God has placed something on your heart and you have been wondering how it will get done in your own strength, but I say don’t worry about the how, just get ready to be stretched to new levels.  Greater is coming.  Embrace the plan and stretch towards God’s face and watch Him blow your mind!

Have a blessed day!

Mrs. Nicole “Sunshine” Ellis, MBA

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.

Night of Expression

If you are in the Hampton Roads area, this is an event you don’t want to miss!

Calling all singers, dancers, poets, spoken word artist, instrumentalist, and more.  Come share your gifts and talents.

It’s Free and Open to ages 18 & up!!!

Location:

Gethsemane Baptist Church

5405 Roanoke Avenue, Newport News, VA 23605

Remember God is Sovereign

Sunshine’s Reflections

Good morning.  Happy Friday to you all!  I enjoyed a great day off with my son during his spring break the other day.   It’s nice to relax and enjoy some down time.  I pray your week is going well.

TFTD: Remember God is Sovereign

Psalm 147:4 (NKJV)

⁴ He counts the number of the stars; He calls them all by name.

Psalm 135:5-7 (NKJV)

⁵ For I know that the Lord is great, And our Lord is above all gods.
⁶ Whatever the Lord pleases He does, In heaven and in earth,
In the seas and in all deep places. ⁷ He causes the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth; He makes lightning for the rain; He brings the wind out of His treasuries.

Some days I wake up and feel down or discouraged.  Sometimes I even feel a little overwhelmed and can’t explain or pinpoint why.  Have you ever experienced a day like this?  When I experience days like this it’s hard to stay focused.  I find my mind wandering and sometimes worrying about stuff that I shouldn’t be worrying about.

I’m so glad to have a relationship with God.  Yesterday I was listening to some “soaking music”; this is music that allows you to be immersed in the presence of God.  You just lay back and become consumed with how great God is.  While I was listening to this music I was reminded who God is in my life.  God is Sovereign!  He is in control of every aspect of my life and yours.  Nothing we encounter comes to us without first going through Him. 

God rules over everything!  He is so amazing that He numbers the stars and calls them by name.  Whatever the Lord wants to do in your life, He will do it, just because He is God!  Look at Psalm 135:7  “God causes the vapors to ascend from the end of the earth; He makes lightning for the rain, He brings the wind out of His treasuries”  I don’t know about you, but I get chills thinking about how great God is. 

So whenever you have a day when you wake up and feel a little down or discouraged take a moment to think about how great God is.  He is Sovereign.  If He can rule over all things in the earth, surely He can rule over the things in your life. 

Have a blessed day.  I’m so glad I serve a Sovereign God! 

 Mrs. Nicole “Sunshine” Ellis, MBA

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.

Where’s the Evidence?

Sunshine’s Reflections

Good afternoon!  Happy Tuesday to you all!  I pray your day is going well.  It’s a beautiful day today.  Take a moment to give God praise for the little things.

TFTD: Where’s the Evidence?

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV)

¹⁷ Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

I’ve noticed that people claim to be Christians; they quote scriptures, wear a cross on their neck, and even have a bumper sticker on their car to match, but where is the evidence that they serve Christ?  Where is the evidence that they have had an encounter with Christ?  When you accept the Lord as your personal Savior and begin living a life that is pleasing to Him, there will be evidence that you have changed.  I want each person reading this to really do some self-reflection and ask, “Is there evidence that I am a Christian?”

When you become saved you don’t become perfect, but you should become more sensitive to who you represent that you begin changing.  You should make a concentrated effort to study the Word of God and as a result of seeking Christ daily your heart should be pricked to change.  2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”  The problem with many believers today is that they are still trying to keep the old man alive.  There are people who profess they are saved, but there is no evidence that they have changed. 

Have you been wondering why your family or friends never take you serious when you try to talk to them about Christ?  Maybe they turn their nose up at you because there is no evidence that you serve Christ.  Have you ever wondered why your co-workers roll their eyes at you when you begin sharing the Word of God with them?  Maybe they don’t understand how you can quote a scripture when they don’t see evidence that you serve God.

As believers, we may be the only Bible that people get to see.  They may never pick up the book and turn the pages, but they will look for evidence in your life.  We have to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit and live differently than we did before we were saved.  Again, we are not perfect and therefore will continue to be faced with temptations and have to die to old habits daily, however we should be so in-tuned to the Holy Spirit that people can see the evidence.

Where’s the evidence in your life that you are saved?  Take time to really examine your personal relationship with Christ.

Have a blessed day!

Mrs. Nicole “Sunshine” Ellis, MBA

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.