Nifty Nisha

As the year comes to a close, I am able to reflect on so many blessings! This year has been good to me and my family! It's so easy to get caught up in the blessing and forget they are blessings! I've had some very hard years where I was so glad to move into a fresh start but this year feels different.... I love new beginnings and fresh starts but I'm kind of sad to leave 2013 :)  I made up my mind at some point this year to find good in everything and be as happy as humanly possible! I can't pin point the moment I decided to live in the moment to the fullest but I'm sure glad I did.  Here are some highlights of 2013: - My husband became the Georgia District Youth President. - We celebrating our 1 year anniversary Pastoring Faith Tabernacle. - Corban (Our 1st born) started Kindergarten. - We moved into a new house. - We FINALLY got a second vehicle! - Our niece (Mia Kate) was born. - We took our kids to Disney World & their first plane ride. Thanks to Mema & ...

We all have our own separate traditions but at the end of the day we must stay true to the real reason for this season. Jesus Christ our Lord and savior is the ultimate Christmas gift. Santa, an elf, frosty or rudolf didn't give their life for me. It's so easy to get caught up in the fun of these things and spend more time celebrating them than Jesus. I say this just as a reminder and reality check it's not to say that playing into these fantasies that help create Christmas Magic are wrong because that's not at all what I am saying. My children love the tree, lights and Christmas Spirit but just like Disney World they know it's just for fun! So often we get offended at ministers or saints this time of year thinking they are crushing our modern forms of celebration. If you are someone who gets agitated every time you hear someone say  "we need a little more Jesus and a little less Santa" then you truly need to re-check your priorities.  As someone in a youn...

I read this passage today and it gave me a slight kick in my back side! We can be different and not hate. We have to be cautious in our disagreements and differences to not hurt or lose sight that we are a follower of Christ! I hope it speaks to you the way it did me! Proverbs 15: 1-33 (KJV) 1. A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.  2. The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.  3. The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.  4. A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.  5. A fool despiseth his father's instruction: but he that regardeth reproof is prudent.  6. In the house of the righteous is much treasure: but in the revenues of the wicked is trouble.  7. The lips of the wise disperse knowledge: but the heart of the foolish doeth not so.  8. The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the...

For many a Pastor is a spiritual leader who helps keep them on track. Someone who you come and confide in once or twice a week. Someone who encourages you and helps you sort through problems. For me it's a little different, I have the unique & profound pleasure to share a special bond with my Pastor. I call him husband and my children call him Dad! My Pastor is seamless with his transition from home to church. He is a kind, caring & compassionate man who I completely trust my soul with and that's an easy decision for me because he treats my heart with the utmost care. My pastor naturally exudes character qualities that assist him in being an astounding Pastor. They say your age shouldn't affect your ability to minister and trust me he has not allowed his young age to hold him back one bit. He has complete confidence in God so he doesn't require confidence in men which completely inspires me. To be courageous & have wisdom beyond your years isn't foun...

Having the innate ability to touch a life is a special gift that really anybody can have. How we shape our words and body language will ultimately determine how effective we are and whether we touch someone positively or negatively.... Hmmmm something to think about. I try my best to smile, be polite and never raise my voice because we know that's how a lady should act. However, like any lady we all have the potential to turn into a monster if someone treats our family poorly :) I hope and pray we all strive to be this way instead of the opposite and we should teach out children to be kind and good people... Whatever happened to teaching the Golden Rule? I watch on Social Media as we attack each other for having different views, or use the fact that we are typing on a screen vs talking face to face to act like someone different than people know us to be. As a child I was taught to not speak if I didn't have anything nice to say and to turn the other cheek and be a bigger p...

There has been so much loss around me lately and it truly puts life into perspective. My husbands great uncle just passed and he was a man who truly feared The Lord and walked everyday in faith. I went to a funeral today of a wonderful & special lady. She was a Godly pillar to her family. Her grandchildren are dear to my heart & full of so much spiritual potential. I love people and it breaks my heart to see those close to me hurt. As we stood at the graveside one of the funeral ushers dismissed everyone by encouraging them to connect with someone in their life by reminding them how much you care. It's so easy to walk through life blinded by the trials of those around you. After being so emotionally exhausted I called my Nana (by marriage) and reminded her how important she was to me. There have been times she has understood me when no one else has. It feels so refreshing to share your feelings and not be a closed book. Today, make sure your outlook on life isn...

Time is something that requires balance and strategy. Without these two things it can be wasted and lost. Unfortunately we can't buy time and we are only given small windows to accomplish a task. I have a 5 year old and 1 year old who take up much of my time and as you can imagine need undivided attention. Today my children were into every piece of mischief they could get their hands on.... imagine that! I finally had stressed to a point where I made them both take a nap which is an activity never exercised in my house! I enjoyed my 2 hours of rest and relaxation more than I can tell you. There is no price you can put on a Mother's time, especially her rarely given alone time. Most days I rely totally on Jesus to get me through, but today more than most! I love my children so very much and I love all of my church work but something I've learned a very hard way is that I am of no use to my children or my ministry without peaceful rest and "mommy time"! I usuall...

A man with a vision can lead God's people into great revival! My husband is not only a profound visionary for our church, but for our family and for our district! I grow more in love with him with each passing day and I know that everything he does is in love and compassion. My husband has taught me to be loving, kind and most of all forgiving. I remember having such a hard spirit and for the most part only viewing through pessimistic eyes. Now, I live in a world full of hope, plans and dreams! Growing up I never really looked forward to anything, because I spent too much time putting everything before God. When we put people and "things" before God we need a reality check. The Bible clearly says: "He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me." You see growing up I worried so much about pleasing and fitting in that I was fighting to be what God didn't want me to be...

Life... A 4 letter word that is sometimes the worst of them all. When life rears it's ugly head we must allow God to stay in control! Problems left uncared for will start to spoil in our heart and soul. Keeping God first everyday is the key to a fresh clean spiritual life. How we react to trials we face is a true gauge of what we look like on the inside. Do you prune the hedges of your soul each day? It is the most important thing in your life. Remember internal hygiene is up to you and God gives you every tool required to be a caretaker. Allowing the weeds and thorns of life to prick your soul each and everyday is not only exhausting on your but on every one around you. Like rotten fruit your inner most being will rot when it is not properly cared for. The saying "It's what's on the inside that counts." Proves true in so many ways by the actions you take in the trials you face. How you deal with each situation will truly show your character. When you f...

Isn't it funny that our best ideas come in the shower! Maybe yours don't but I most certainly have my most award wining thoughts while I'm washing my hair. Sometimes God puts us in a place where we must do the thing he's been urging us towards! My life changed 9 years ago and I will never be the same. There are days I question the trials I've seen but then I know there will come a day I can use it to help someone else along their broken path. I hope today is that day. I long to be a servant and guide those that are broken to a place of repair. We all have scars but learning to let them heal leaves the most amazing beauty mark. Be blessed!

The beautiful young lady in this photo is Crystal. She was born with dextrocardia, a medical condition in which the heart is on the right side if the body instead of the left. Crystal has fought with this & its accompanying difficulties her  entire life. Crystal has been attending our church for a few months & last Thursday she attended our youth bible study. After which she, along with many of the other young people, went to eat then the group decided to have a prayer meeting at the home of one of our young men. During this meeting they prayed for each other & any special needs. Crystal had been having some pain & would be going to her cardiologist the next day so she asked the young people to pray for her. At her doctor's appointment the next day, they did some tests and.... Get ready for it...... Her heart was no longer on the right side of her body! It was perfectly placed on the left side where it should be! What an AMAZING miracle! We are so happy for Crys...

This morning I ran around like a mad woman to get my two boys dressed and ready for church then to get myself ready.... Then to run through & get food at Burger King...... Then to pick up my Bass player for musicians practice.... See this Sunday was a bit more hectic considering my husband was preaching at our newly launched daughter work and I was doing the "Sunday Routine" solo! No worries though when we are busy doing God's work we are Happy Christians (I heard a smart lady say that once) I try to always be sure I'm smiling when serving in the church because that's what God likes to see! Today we took communion at Faith Tabernacle and it is always such a humbling time! Taking that sacred cup that is filled up with God's love and blood is a feeling no words could describe! I played "The Old Rugged Cross" for the first time ever and playing it while absorbing the congregation singing as a choir in unison all while we felt God's love pour...