1.1.11

Wow what a day! I woke up very early with a song in my heart...."Where can I go from Your Spirit? Where can I go from your presence...If I go up to the heavens, you are there, if I go down to the grave you are there."

But this day has been anything but a song. Chaotic little ones and dinner at our house for the family....nothing extravagant just some collards and black-eyed peas ect... I chose this picture because it's simply beautiful and reminds me of my honeymoon...very tranquil without a kid in sight! ;)

I have been trying to get a moment to sit still and write, to just have a moment that a little one wasn't pulling on my every emotion. So here it is. 7:45pm.

I'm doing a little challenge this year along with the Beth Moore and the Siesta's....very very excited about that. You memorize scripture throughout the year as a community through her blog. Post *your* memory verse on her site on the 1st and the 15th. So by the end of the year you will have memorized 24 verses. I've been wanting a challenge with this for a while. Pastor John at Liberty Church - Marietta always encouraged us to memorize not just verses but chapters and books of the Bible. He asked, What would you do if you didn't have a Bible or devotional or much less Internet to refer to? Good question....

So, let's hide His word in our heart....no one can take that from you. And daily battles will be much less time consuming if you have memorized your "weapon strategy", right?

I am taking the challenge with a this in mind.

Psalms 139 is my first chapter to memorize. (hince the song in my head) Exactly 24 verses, perfect for the challenge!

My first verse for 1-1-11 is:

O' Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. Psalms 139:1

I can't think of a better verse to start off this year...because through all of the chaos, misunderstandings, or feeling inadequate. I know He knows everything about me. He knows everything. I rest in that this evening....

Winter

2011 will be a year of Winter for me. Less doing. More intimate times with the Lord & with Harley. I was outside taking down all of my decor for the Christmas season and I found myself saying - goodness I hope Spring comes fast I'm done with this cold weather. But isn't it just like the Lord to show you a whole new side to something you thought you already had figured out.

As I stood in my driveway, the whole neighborhood in silence. The snow that covered everything became very beautiful. Mesmerizing. Flurries of snowflakes were gently falling and the air was crisp.

The Lord said: Nicki, Winter has it's place. I created this time for a reason. Because of Winter: fresh water can build up for later..It activates many plants and seeds to grow or sprout later. It's rest for the land. And it makes for beautiful scenery and light. It's a time for refuge, coming in, building up energy for the next season.

Me: Well okay, I get that....but

The Lord: This season is exactly what you need sweetheart. You've been so busy going and going, doing and doing. Don't you remember (Psalm 139:1-3) "O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts from far away. You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do."

Me: I do remember and I do know that this season of my life will be different. I accept the solitude, the change and I gladly can't wait to see what you will be doing during this intimacy.
I am humbled that this is my "Winter". I look forward to staying home, saying no, not planning dinner parties and outings. I'm looking forward to snuggling with the King of Kings waiting on what all He wants to share with me during this next year. I will probably have to have the gentle reminder about halfway through when my go-go personality tries to rear it's head. ;) But I'm sure I've surrounded myself with some pretty amazing people to do just that.

I had to snap this picture before I took down my mailbox decor'..it was just a little reminder of this season for me...and I think it was the Lord's lavish love to introduce me to this "season" with a beautiful snowfall. He's quiet awesome, huh?

Family Pictures

Hayden (5yrs) Rachel (2yrs)

My growing family!

Me & My brother's family (a picture for Mother & Dad for Christmas)

Harley,Nicki,Hayden&Rachel Gambrell....Michael,Brittany & Madison Poole

#1 Reason to Never Leave a 2yr Old in the Bed with a Pen!

I thought this was a good idea....to keep Rachel busy while I finished getting ready. Humm....busy is exactly what she was! Gotta love it!

....but Rachel was beautiful....Gen.29:17

Crock-Pot Chicken Nachos

Recently I posted on facebook that I used a recipe that a friend shared with me...(thx JB)...I was astonished by the response I received from those wanting the recipe. So friends, here it is. I hope you enjoy it as well as me and my family did.
Just a note. You never know when your post on fb will effect someones life. I couldn't believe how many friends wanted this recipe.....I hope that my post are always a brief look into my life and how I desperately depend on God. Be blessed friends!




Crock-Pot Chicken Nachos

4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 can black beans
1 can corn
3 cans Rotel (drain 2 of the cans)
1 pkg cream cheese
Tortilla chips
Optional Toppings
Lettuce
Salsa
Sour Cream
Shredded Cheese
Guacamole

Put the first four ingredients in the crock pot. Cook on high for 4-6 hours, 8-10 on low. 30 minutes before eating, chop up cream cheese over the top. When ready to serve, break apart chicken and mix everything together. Serve on top of tortilla chips and with desired toppings. Serves 6-8

Aleph Tav

It's easy to say a quick...Thank you Lord...when He has recently met a need. In the morning, during my "quiet time" (aka: a bathtub full of water, me laying on my back...eyes closed) I begin to thank my Father for the simple things....Thank you Lord for giving me the ability to wake up and enjoy Your presence....the ability to walk, see, talk, get my children ready for school, the ability to drive them to school, fix my family breakfast.....the simple things. Things in my past I have simply took for granted. That's just life right? Everyone gets that, right? Well...if you have ever took a moment to watch a "Save the Children" episode, or driven by a "bad neighborhood", you begin to see....goodness, I take such luxuries for granted...I begin to think I deserve them..that they are just a necessary part of my life.

Recently my Sunday iConnect class has been studying "toiling, laboring, time vs eternity etc" We have critiqued Solomon's life in every angle. I truly love this, I have felt this was perfect "timing" for me and my family. (thx JB & DB)

In Solomon's life he certainly knew greatness (this I'm sure), but he also knew the worthlessness of everything under the sun. He first wrote Proverbs...beautiful wisdom, then Ecclesiastes...a man who had it all began to question it all, and even his own life. Then in the Song of Solomon he pours out his heart for his beloved.....as we know the beloved relationship was Jesus. Isn't it beautiful that Jesus was the beginning and end. (Aleph Tav) That through Him everything under the sun finds it's purpose.

I made my works great, I built myself houses, and planted myself vineyards. I made myself gardens and orchards, and I planted all kinds of fruit trees in them. I made myself water pools from which to water the growing trees of the grove. I acquired male and female servants, and had servants born in my house. Yes, I had greater possessions of herds and flocks than all who were in Jerusalem before me. I also gathered for myself silver and gold and the special treasures of kings and of provinces. I acquired male and female singers, the delights of the sons of men and musical instruments of all kinds. So I became great and excelled more than all who were before me in Jerusalem. Also my wisdom remained with me. Whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure, For my heart rejoiced in all of my labor; and this was my reward for my labor. Then I looked on all the works that my hands had done And on the labor in which I had toiled; And indeed all was vanity and grasping for the wind. There was no profit under the sun. Ecclesiastes 2:4-11

Peace,Be Still.....

When Harley and I began "trying" to have a baby, it drove me crazy. I simply didn't understand why some people could just "wanted to" and they became pregnant. I struggled through depression and disbelief that I would ever conceive a baby. If you don't already know, Hayden isn't my biological child, and having him only made me want a baby even more. I would cry out to God, proclaim scripture everyday....only to land on my face crying and sobbing that I must not deserve to get pregnant. This was a very painful time for me. I felt like it would never happen. Over all of this time, I would hear this small gentle voice say:

"Peace, Be Still..."

Then one day in April 2007 I took a pregnancy test (for no reason at all). POSITIVE. After all of my negative test, I couldn't possibly believe this was accurate. So, I rushed to the store and bought at least five or more test....(with several in each box) I took them all. Astonished, I sat in my office bathroom, on my knees....crying. My gratitude of thanks to my child's creator could not be expressed through words. I sat silent, crying. I didn't have words to express the joy I felt. I got up, and took my news to Harley. Rachel Maelaine Gambrell was born December 20th 2007 at 3:15pm ...7 lbs 4.3oz, 20inches of the purest love I had ever held in my arms. I don't think til' this day I have matched that joy.

Motherhood means more to me than I could ever express through words. Most of the time when I pray for my children I literally feel pain for them. My heart completely tears when I feel them in pain, or disappointment. When they fall down, fall sick, or simply fall in my arms in laughter my heart nearly crushes with a joyful pain. I love them so much it hurts. =)

Here we are again, four months into "trying" to conceive. I don't know how long it will take me to be blessed again with a baby...but one thing I'm sure of is that it will be in His time, and His time alone. I won't be filled with worry, doubt and anger....I will only..... Be Still.....

For this child I prayed and the Lord has given me which I have asked of Him....

I Samuel 1:27