Dreaming... It's Ok!

Hi, I'm Nikki and I am a dreamer. I dream dreams of all sizes: big, small, now and future. In fact, I'm such a dreamer that many of my strengths from Strength Finders play in to dreaming... (side note: if you have never taken a Strength Finders test I would highly suggest you do it. Whether you are in ministry, school, business, etc it will help you to hone in on your strengths to be able to reach your goals more effective and efficiently. So after you read my post, google Strength Finders! Commercial over.)

Back to my being a dreamer. Because I love coming up with new ideas and casting new vision I can sometimes be so caught up in the dreams that when I look reality in the face it all seems so impossible. My current circumstances often pulling my feet back to the ground and informing me that these 'dreams' will never become reality. That I will never see the things my heart longs for. See, the enemy loves to come and steal, kill and destroy and by telling a dreamer that these desires are not possible He makes a good attempt at achieving his goals. But I am thankful that I serve the God of dreams. The God who showed Joseph unbelievable dreams that caused Joseph to cling to the promises. And so I get to laugh in the enemies face and remind him who I serve... Johovah Shammah: The Lord who is There! He is, He was and He always will be. He knows my dreams and I can rejoice in that... even if I don't see how they will ever come to be.

I know I'm not the only dreamer out in this crazy world, and that is why I wanted to write this blog. It doesn't matter if you've been dreaming for 5 minutes or for 80 years, don't lose hope. Remember all the crazy things Joseph had to go through before he saw his dreams fulfilled: mocking, abandonment, slavery, imprisonment... but he never gave up. He trusted the Lord. I want that to always be my example and I pray you can allow his story to rekindle any lost hope that may have faded over the years. 

You see, I often get discouraged that the majority of the people around me do not support or encourage my dreams. But instead of dwelling on what those people don't do, I remind myself of the ones in my life that do support me and do want to see these dreams come to pass. Those are the kind of people I want to keep in my life. Friends who know that my heart to travel and love on people is a huge part of who I am. It is a piece of me that the Lord created and that I want to see fulfilled... and they get it. They support me in prayer, they support me in conversations, they support me in hugs and sometimes even in finances. I am grateful for those dream encouragers!

I think I say all this tonight because I know how easy it is to get discouraged and want to give up. Feeling stuck in the now and it looks like you'll never move out of this place... that's exactly where I am right now, feeling stuck. But I want to remind you (and myself) that just because you FEEL stuck doesn't mean you ARE stuck. Trust the Lord, lean not on your own understanding, submit all your ways to Him and HE WILL make your path straight (Proverbs 3:5-6 paraphrased), that right there is a promise we can cling to! 

So Lord, let us dream even more. Let us lean in to You and submit all to You and see how You do Your wondrous works in our lives. I ask that you would bless us who are dreaming of the things You have for us; teach us to wait in You. Encourage those who are struggling to hold on to their dreams and remind them that You are the dream giver. I pray that the deceitful ways of the enemy would be broken off and that in place of his negativity You would plant hope and expectancy! Thank You for allowing us to dream! Thank You for allowing us to be excited for the things You have called us to. I ask for open doors and opportunities to swing wide in this season. And help us to be ready in season and out of season. All of this for Your glorious and wonderful name, Amen!

Why I Celebrate Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day is tomorrow... first of all, how the heck are we already half way through February?!?! Geez la wheeze! But with that being said I have been spending some time thinking about this silly little holiday that is wrapped up in all things pink, red and chocolate covered.

It's a pretty funny thing the responses us single folk get around Valentine's Day... you know: the awkward avoidance's of the subject, sympathetic smiles, apologies after asking what our Valentine's plans are. And for some, I guess those precautions are needed, but for me I thoroughly enjoy celebrating February 14th. Why? Well let me break it down... 

In a day and age where love is often times stifled and looked at as a form of business thus fading fairly quickly, I find immense joy in having a whole day set apart to celebrate the true love shared around the world. To celebrate the man and wife who have fought for their marriage and stood the test of time for 60+ years; to rejoicing with the couple who have recently made the bold commitment to love each other in sickness and health; even celebrating the love a dating couple has for each by saving themselves till marriage... I will celebrate these things because they have value and when we don't recognize the worth of something so special it tends to fade away.

We see a world filled with hate and bitterness. Where divorce runs amok like an overflowing toilet. When couples can't seem to remember why they chose to say "I Do" in the first place and have lost every ounce of love they once held. We have seen over and over again the negativity that happens in a world where love is lost... so I choose to celebrate when love is found.

God, the I AM, Love Himself, blessed the earth when He gave Adam and Eve to each other. From their love came nations! Love creates; love changes things; love stretches us; love gives us depth. And I want to see those things not only in my life, but in the lives of those who I cherish. So I choose to acknowledge the value of love. In fact, I wish there were more of it around me to be able to celebrate.

I hope that the love I celebrate on this day will still be there many years to come. I pray that those who have not experienced love, that they will allow the Lord to be that for them! I have hope for this world and believe that Love can change it.

So this Valentine's Day if you are single I challenge you to not see the day as depressing and heavy, but take the chance to celebrate those who are fighting the good fight of keeping love alive in this world! It's hard work and it deserves to be celebrated! Yes, I do want to be able to celebrate it one day with a man of my own (lol) but today I choose to celebrate for those around me!