Nikki Rosen's Blog, page 12

Thankful Thursday

"Many nights we've prayed with no proof anyone could hear.  In our hearts, a hopeful song we barely understood.
There can be miracles when you believe." Stephen Schwartz

Miracles! I believe in them. I know they happen. I've witnessed them again and again and again. 

I hope and pray and believe and then Voila! They materialize and it always leaves me standing in awe, gratitude filling my heart.

Miracles - those things that are out of my control. Things I long for but need Someone bigger than me to make them happen. Super huge things like a friend battling an illness, and then amazingly recovers. And smaller things, like my daughter getting her driving license. 

Grateful today for miracles, big and small, everyday, and all because of Him. 

Happy Thursday, Guys. 

Thankful Thursday

“Where there's a will, there's a way." English Proverb .

I've learned there's always a way to get what I want. Even when the thing seems unattainable. Even when everyone is saying, 'no way.' 'can't.' 'won't happen.' 

I believe if something is in my heart to do, then I'm going to at least try for it. I don't want to sit on the sidelines wishing, hoping, dreaming. I want to get out, get up and make things happen. It's the way I'm built. It's who I am. 

Impossible to do something? No way!!! As Emily Dickensen said, "I dwell in posibility."  Grateful for.....

-taking back a community centre that a small group tried to destroy. It's a centre that has been a landmark in the community for years, giving hope to many. A core group of us who banded together and against odds, we fought, others became inspired and joined us until we became this incredible army of people, and we won the place back. 
-writing books - so many said, 'you can't, no one will buy it, it won't sell.' Well, the books are selling and now translated into Russian and being distributed in the Ukraine and also here across North America.

Want something? Go for it. Nothing is impossible, especially if He's in it. 

Happy Thursday, Guys.

Thankful Thursday - Trust.

“I looked up in the sky and trusted in God.” Anne Frank


When I visited Anne Frank's 'hiding place,' I looked out the attic window, the one Anne looked out of everyday, and saw the old chestnut tree. 

All I could see was that old tree and the blue sky. Hope spilled from that tree. And so did faith that God was still in the world. 

Looking out that window, reminded me He's always there spilling out hope. He's there in the good and wonderful times and He's there in the bad and awful.

Grateful today for my faith because with it, I can climb above all the tough stuff, the not so pretty, the sad times, and the confusing.

Every time I look up at the sky, or I wander in the woods, I get this amazing assurance, that He's there, working stuff out, reminding me not to be afraid.  He's the one thing that never changes. 

Happy Thursday, Guys.

Thankful Thursday - To Fly.

"To fly we have to have resistance." Maya Lin. 
It was a wild night....a night that brought two opposing groups together to fight it out. One side was determined to exercise power and control through the use of lies and deception. The other moved in kindness and truth. 
Truth won. Truth always wins. But it didn't come easy. There was a  struggle. Terrible tension led up to that win. Still, in the end, Truth proved the best defense. So did kindness. 
The past seven months I've been part of an amazing group of people, fighting to restore a Centre in the community that for 26 years provided hope, compassion and support to many. Those who had grabbed control over the Centre had almost destroyed it and hurt many who needed the place. 
The fight to win it back at times was frustrating and intense. But in the end we won and people who were fearful at first to stand up, gained courage and stood strong. 
Now the task of rebuilding. To fly...we really do have to have resistance. And bottom line, He was with us and He is Truth and love. Truth and love always wins. 
Happy Thursday, Guys.  

Thankful Thursday - The Difference

“One day spent with someone you love can change everything.” Mitch Albom

Sometimes I go about doing whatever it is I do.....taking care of things I have to...living day to day with all of life's must dos, and then I stop, take time, grab someone I love, and everything changes. 

Being with someone(s) I love, experiencing the moment.....revealing in the day, giggling, sharing - those are the absolute best times, what really counts and what pumps me to keep going. I love those moments, the moments when love takes over.  

I'm grateful for those in my world who I can be myself with.....the people who love me just as I am.

There was a time I couldn't feel love. I ran on all the lies I had been told, I was worthless and undeserving of love and kindness. It's what I'd been told and what I believed.

All the kindness and love in my life started b/c He touched me, broke the chains,  and stayed. Love is so incredibly powerful. It frees and it makes me want to reach out and give back...again and again and again. 

Love makes all the difference. Happy Thursday, Guys.

Thankful Thursday - Words

“Books are easily destroyed, but words will live as long as people can remember them." Tahereh Mafi.

Words....they're incredibly powerful. Words spoken and words not spoken. They have the power to tear apart and also, to build. Words can become a life raft, the one thing to hold onto, to stay afloat when life hits hard. 

"You can make it. I believe in you. I'm in your corner. We're in this together." 
Words - powerful, enriching, infused with love and faith. Words that rise above despair, and encourage hope...words to hold onto when there's nothing else.

I love words...it's why I write. I have seen and felt how just a couple of words thrown together can help someone lift their head and trust again.

I'm grateful for words...words that have been given to me again and again by people in my world who care, so today, I want my words to reflect back faith and hope and love.

Happy Thursday, Guys.

Thankful Thursday - Just Because.

"Where there is great love, there are always miracles.” Willa Cather

The biggest miracle to me is having 'peace.' Peace that outshines whatever yuck stuff the world throws....the sad, the painful, fears and losses. Peace which trumps a restlessness, and angst of wanting more, being more, doing more. 

And for me, that kind of peace comes from knowing I'm loved. Loved for who I am. Loved just because. 

That's really how I broke free....His love, unconditional, gave me what nothing else did, love, just because. And it's had a snowball effect. Others stepped into my world and showed me love, just because. And everyday, miracles happen, because of that kind of love. 

I hope today, you feel loved, just because. 
Happy Thursday, Guys.   

Thankful Thursday - Adventure.

“It's the heart afraid of breaking that never learns to dance.”  Xiaolu Guo
I used to be afraid to open my heart and trust people. I was afraid to get hurt.  Not anymore. Some people, I know will hurt me, but most won't. Closing my heart to others is to block out love. And  love is what enlarges my life and makes me want to fly.    I've always told my kids there are more good people in the world than bad. I believe that. So for today, I'm grateful to all those who cross my path and make my world happier, richer, fuller. 
Happy Thursday, Guys.

Thankful Thursday - Springtime

"As long as this exists, this sunshine, the cloudless skies, while this lasts, I cannot be unhappy." Anne Frank
Everyday this week has been amazing. We're back hiking the hills and valleys and it feels so incredibly good.  It's almost like waking up from a long sleep.

Brilliant colour replacing dull brown makes my heart sing. Birds that haven't been around all winter have returned and are making their voices heard. When I step outside their voices greet me with such loud chirping as if they're saying, we too love the spring. 

Everywhere life is coming alive again and I get to be a apart and witness it's amazing glory. It's a gift and I'm grateful to walk in its beauty.

Happy Thursday, Guys. 

Thankful Thursday - Brave.

"Acts of bravery don't always take place on battlefields. They can take place in your heart, when you have the courage to honor your character, your intellect, your inclinations, and, your soul by listening to its clean, clear voice of direction instead of following the muddied messages of a timid world." Anna Quindlen
It's not always easy to listen to that voice inside or stand up and speak what I know is right for me. It's especially hard when there are people who want me to be silent, who try to insist I go along with them and follow their needs. 
People pleasing is something I've struggled with. It's hard sometimes to say no or say what I want, especially if it's contrary to what others want. I've gotten much better at it but some days it's a deliberate consciousness effort. 

I'm grateful for the people in my world who allow me to be me and for every opportunity to stand up, be my own person and make a difference in my corner of the world. And mostly for the courage He always gives me to stand strong.

Happy Thursday, Guys.