AMONG LILIES – BLOG #14

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HOPE THAT PERSEVERES

“don’t allow your hope to die

with other people’s unbelief.”

-A tweet recently tweeted on X.com

Some take unbelieving to a whole and an entirely

different level completely.

It s a professional gig for them.

Some take negativity there too.

Some take doubt, and they choose to wear it as a badge of honor, it is their pride and joy in life.

To say the words “I knew it, I knew that wouldn’t work.” or “ I knew they weren’t going to make it.” or a “Yup, that missed the mark.” is what convinces them that they are knowledgeable.

So what do you do?

When constantly surrounded by what is negative?

Sometimes it isn’t even on purpose or intentional.

Sometimes others need to express what they are going through, but it isn’t because they are negative, the circumstances just might be.

So what do you do?

You have to set your affections, your intentions, and your own personal thoughts on things above.

While you may be living in a very natural world, it does not mean that you should avoid the spiritual aspect of things and vice versa. There are natural things that are and have to be handled and dealt with practically, but you are spiritual and a spiritual being.

As a Christian you have to acknowledge the truth of the matter that there is an underlying and that underlying will always be spiritual. Although, we address things in the natural, the spiritual is what is the reason, the spiritual is what is responsible for the natural.

Here’s where your belief steps in. What you believe will shape your world. It will shape your natural and it will shape your spiritual. Who you believe in will give you the wisdom to address the spiritual in your life. The spiritual controls the natural and sometimes one wants the natural to change via osmosis or just through practical means but that is just one part of the solution.

Your hope will control the spiritual in your life which is why you must hold onto your hope. You must be clear on that hope and you must be sure about what you want and what you are interested in regarding your hope. Your hope cannot die where others do not come alongside you to believe. Your hope has to persist beyond that place of other people’s belief and lack thereof. They will catch up.

Knowing that the one who began a good work in you is faithful to complete it. Renewing, refreshing and reviving your life day in and day out until you are who He says you are, in its entirety.

Here’s the deal…

Everything you do will not be believable to everybody.

everything you want to accomplish,

everything you are after,

every hope,

every dream,

and every time you have a desire,

Now it isn’t totally their fault. Here’s the thing, some people; possibly like you and I have this innate ability to see and to envision the best life for themselves. They, or you, or I have the ability to dream and to bring to a reality that dream.

Even if the natural of that dream seems or might be as far as far can be we, well we see it clearly. We see how the pieces will piece together. We see our deliverance. We see our vindication, and we see the way the LORD has decided to bring us through. So because it is clear to us; we’d hope that it would be clear to someone else as well.

The lack thereof isn’t that persons fault in its entirety. Maybe they were never brought into what was or experienced what is beyond their everyday lives. Maybe their world was shaped too small for them at whatever age and they just thought to keep it that way. Maybe discouragement and unbelief has really got them in a chokehold; and they are in need of someone else or something else loosening those strongholds.

Some are truly glass half full people and others, are glass half empty people. No matter which of these you are I’d like to speak to the Individual of each of you and say:

That detail doesn’t matter as much as losing your hope does. I will be the first to tell you that I am a “there is NO limit” kind of woman; and that detail is the moral of the story.

I also understand the need for limits and respect other’s limits; and so long as they do not try to stop me. I am a “go for it all” type of girl.

Here’s why:

I have done the work of the motives.

I believe that the motives on my “drive” are entirely pure;

and above that there is a God who is committed to straightening out what is not, in me;

(as well as around me.)

Song of Songs 8:7
A huge torrent cannot extinguish love; rivers cannot sweep it away…

life #amonglilies

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ANOL ENCOURAGEMENT BLOG POST – #28

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YOUR THOUGHTS ON TRENDS

What are your thoughts on trends?

I’ll go first. I love them? and most people that either have a mind or an eye like mine typically, tend to hate trends. I am guessing, the fact that trends are something that is either ever-changing or is recurring will do that to some; and as in some I mean those that would rather leave the trend out of the group chat.

What are your thoughts on trends?

I love the truth of the matter; that trends can be interpreted

differently and by the individual. You never have to presume that the trend can only be conducted or executed in one way. The trend can be styled up or styled down and made to each, its own. A trend is up for interpretation and cannot really, ever be interpreted the same way twice.

Now let’s discuss mass production, something that will ever be reliable. For example, I am hypothetically looking for a few autumn must haves and essentials and I need to stop off at one of your most well known retailers of these items for women. I need a crew neck sweater, a white under tee for layering, denims, barrel, boot, or slim cut and fitted. I need a trendy baseball cap, some sort and chunky socks to accompany a necessary square toe black boot that rises to and a bit above the ankle. I need a belt with a statement buckle and a few necklaces for layering. Tennis bracelets are a must and a watch will work also. Come to think of it, let’s throw in a trench coat just in case it gets chilly, and a shoulder bag big enough to hold general and daily things, practically the basics; and for intimates let’s go for a matching set and a workout look for the following morning. We need a headband and a hair tie, a few cute rings and studded earrings. If I needed these items on the fly in the most busy and sought after city in the world and, right now I’d easily think up 5-6 well known stores that all manufactured everything I listed, and in no particular order and in not one standout way. They’d have those items and I’d easily be able to order or retrieve from the store these items and without having to scour the shops for it. I’d easily be able to find what I was looking for.

I definitely love trends; and my reason for liking them is because when you allow a trend to take form in the mind or thoughts of an individual or a group it is a great thing to watch. It is special to acknowledge the interpretation of that trend in the style or, translated by another individual. In the same breath I am not a fan of mass production, although appreciated, and easily accessible and duplicated something’s aren’t able to stand alone when mass produced.

Although it may be a quick fix and reliable. The individuality that is removed when something is mass produced is notable.

It is important to acknowledge the perks or the blessing in mass production, but also it’s cons. Although these things produce what might be dependable, something much greater can be lost in the process.

Again, if you are needing something basic or fashioned the same way that something else of a higher price point is. What would be considered a dupe or a replacement or something to meet a specific need not having to be exactly like the original – the mass produced item is a great fit for that.

Now if you are interested in what is original and organic – individuality and creativity is what is better…

Trends as well as what is mass produced both are helpful but don’t forget to include what makes the items styled, you, in the process.

Be encouraged!

There is more to come! C R E A T E like it matters!

Best,

ANOL ENCOURAGEMENT

AMONG LILIES – BLOG #13

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A PEARL OF GREAT PRICE

Matthew 13:46

When he found one priceless pearl, he went and sold everything he had and bought it.

“He” went and sold all “he” had. A shameless plug for the girl in the back, and to my women among the lilies, we aren’t selling what we have, we are multiplying it. You are the “priceless pearl” in this analogy and, in your own story. 

Are you in search? and Are you prepared? 

We are playing the “and” game, as you multiply you can never forget that you too, are simply adding. There is a long game and then there is the long game played wisely and the wise way, is to multiply. 

You are who God says you are, but you already knew that. You are going to do what God has called you to, but you already knew that as well. You are anointed and appointed to live among lilies and to shine as though God has called you to roam those fields. These are all elementary concepts, but when applied, they make the world’s difference.

In this thing called life you are always in search of “fine pearls” nothing less and always more. Abundance is only a sin when you struggle with contentment. 

In this thing called life you are always the woman who is prepared. You are prepared for the long game and the short. You are prepared to live like God called you and, to sacrifice as necessary for the vision at hand. You are prepared to love and, to be loved. You are prepared to be called, you are prepared and you know what to do; and, because you are prepared you are given the rights to leisure and the rights to roam. 

Knowing that neither of these are to be taken for granted, they are a luxury and a privilege. You know your breakers and, you know your bounds; and they are all for your safety, of course. You belong to God and He belongs to you. You are allowed the privilege of roaming and the privilege of growing in grace and knowledge. You get to build your life the way you have imagined it to be. You get to cultivate a life of good and right culture, and you get to acquire hobbies and interests that add to, uplift, and multiply your world. You get to be all that God has called you to; and, you get to do so without apology.

As a woman who is found among the lilies, you are a gatherer of what is good. You are a woman who acquires every kind of good thing and, all sorts of mysteries and wonder. You are making and, you are multiplying the good, as well as storing it up in the finest of containers. There is a time for everything under heaven, it is your obligation and, your burden to be ready. Ecclesiastes 3:1

When He comes the women among lilies will be ready. You were made to pursue God in peace. We weren’t just made to know God, we were made to experience Him, but it isn’t suppose to be complicated.

Song of Songs 8:7
A huge torrent cannot extinguish love; rivers cannot sweep it away…

life #amonglilies

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ANOL ENCOURAGEMENT BLOG POST – #27

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WHO YOU ARE TO GOD

Have you ever asked the question to yourself?

Have you ever wanted to know? 

Who you are to God? 

and 

What you mean to Him?

Sometimes we can fixate on the general understanding that every individual under heaven was created by this Master Builder so to speak. We can understand that we were all put here on earth for a specific purpose and in order to desire specific things. We were all put here with longings on our hearts and things as well as people that our hearts yearn for. It is very human of one to feel strongly for one thing or another and, for one cause or another.

It is important that you don’t take that strong feeling lightly. It is important that you take the time to pursue God on the reason or for the reasons it exists. It is important that you try to comprehend why God has given these strong feelings and inclinations to you in the first place.

You are a spiritual being first. I know that you may think that you first identify as human but that would have to be incorrect. The only reason why your earthen vessel feels anything ever or at all is because God breathed the breath of life into you at conception and this provoked your birth. You are immediately an image bearer and immediately a living being due to this truth. There is a nature that only God could deposit on the inside of you and it can be cultivated by acknowledging the spiritual being that you are. Your spiritual being desires more from and of God because He is your Maker. You desire safety, intimacy, and relationship with Him because He is your Maker. He is the One who formed you oh Jacob, and the one who knew you, o Israel. Before the beginning of time He had a plan and intended to make you great throughout the land. You are who God says you are and you are made for intentional and impactful living. 

Have you ever asked God who you might be to Him? 

Have you asked Him what your life might look like if you rendered what He has given you back to Him in order for Him to move as He’d will? What is your hope for your own life? How does living in God’s truth about you sound for all of eternity? Do you know that plans that He thinks of you? They are not to harm you but to give you a hope and a future? 

God is truly wild about you and it is time you start acting like it. It’s time that you start to love yourself as He does. He is the author and the finisher of your faith. His plan for you is yours if you are willing. He desires most for you to love Him and to be loved by Him.

Be encouraged! 

There is more to come! C R E A T E like it matters! 

Best,

ANOL ENCOURAGEMENT 

THE BRIDES CLUB BLOG – #53

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MARRY UP

INTERRUPTING YOUR NORMALLY SCHEDULED 

BLOG CONSUMPTION – TO ADDRESS MATTERS 

OF THE BRIDE AND THE BRIDE TO BE

Here are a few words to declare:

“I am marrying up.”

“I am going to marry up.”

“the Bridegroom is indeed up.”

This topic is such a big deal. Now, as I look over my timeline and trending bridal news and postings…

We have to be honest and say that no one wants to marry down. No one in the history of forever looks at their own life and decides or determines to marry someone who might be socially and|or spiritually behind them.

Supposing my own personal story and testimony for example. In the natural I presume to factor in my hereditary as well as my spiritual lineage, ancestry and genealogy. I consider how hard I have fought personally to maintain a specific spiritual calling and natural existence in life. I consider all that I have worked towards and all that I continue to work towards. I consider all that I have been as a contribution to this earth since conception into now and, I for one can speak for myself and say that I will never marry nor date, or court down. 

Now when I factor in the contributions of my lineage, and biological gene pool I’d have to double or even triple down on my pride and preference in this life. What I mean by this is simple, the surest way to become poor in life is to; discount and to discredit the sacrifices and the work that was put in by the generations that contributed to the earth before you. God is always up to doing something new, or “a new thing” as He calls it; but He is also after the things that will remain, and should remain.

Now let us, who are spiritual also consider all of the work it took to save you, meaning save your souls; 

and the work that it has taken to renew your mind.

Think about what it has taken to sanctify you, as well as the work that it takes for you to be saved daily; and now you tell me, if you’d be willing to play around with that and marry downwards. Who on God’s green earth would choose a life that didn’t contribute to their own personal advancement, for and towards themselves. Who wants to be married to what would allow them to contribute in this lifetime in a lesser way; NOT the bride of Christ, that’s who.

Now let’s consider your education, your ability to solve problems and not to become them. Your ability to make a house feel like a home, and a family feel like a unit of safety, loyalty, comfort and love. Let’s consult your bodily maintenance schedule, all those hours you spend at the gym, your skin care routine, the time that you are taking to be snatched, as in well looking and ladylike. As well as what it takes for you to be put together, for the purposes and preferences of just you. Consider the things that you are doing to improve yourself, the new hobbies you have acquired, the books you are reading, the new skill set you are choosing, the mentality you are practicing, and the life you are preparing yourself for individually. Why would you waste that on someone with no stamps in their passport and someone who is not on the same level as you? Their intentions aren’t on the same level as your intentions towards yourself either. 

Now let’s talk the Bridegroom, who is already up. The trifecta and the perfect One. Imagine a God that would literally die for you, and sacrifice His entire earthly existence all for you. He took on a not so good name for Himself, of course depending on who you were asking; and although completely innocent and never having ever committed a faulty deed, He sacrificed Himself for you. 

He took on what would be deemed a questionable earthly reputation all for you. In order for you to take on a Godly reputation and, in order for you to live the best life possible in this lifetime. He accomplished this over 2,000 years ago and did it just for you. Not only has He done that has been mentioned but He has also asked you to become His bride so that you would not be alone here and on this side of life. He has covered everything for you, and has sorted out the most amazing life for you on this side of life; and promises to love you and remain faithful to you and only you. On top of this, He puts your love and life first, He cares for you first and He acknowledges you first. 

He also asks for this same devotion from you. He wants for you to be as devoted to Him as He is to you. He asks that you believe in Him and that you hold fast to all that He has already accomplished for you on this side of life. Here is your reminder that the effort and accomplishments of your LORD and Savior alone, provides you with the assurance that you cannot afford to marry down in life. You do not have the bandwidth due to the family of faith that you belong to. The great cloud of witnesses deserves to witness more and better concerning your own personal marriage and testimony. 

The God who created you and the Bridegroom who covers you deserve to see you thrive on this side of life; because you married the right one and have decided to be tremendously impactful on this side of life. The Bridegroom who rescues you has more written in His, the Lambs book of life concerning you and who you choose to marry on this side of life. Marry for purpose, marry because you can clearly see a future for yourself and your spouse on this side of life. Marry because you know that you would be wrecking the plan of hell towards your life and the life of those connected to you on this side of life. Marry because you have been chosen and have chosen the best possible outcome for your life and for the future you wish to share with someone else. Marry because your life and legacy depend on the vision you choose to behold from now and into eternity.

Here’s your reminder not to minimize your own altars as His bride.

xoxo,

His Bride, By Design

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ANOL ENCOURAGEMENT BLOG POST – #26

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AT THE SAME TIME 

During a moment of rest and reflection I started thinking; and more recently that specific train of thought lead to the following words: 

“You can be Bathsheba, Uriah, David and the Prophet Nathan in your own story, all at the same time.” 

I also began to think on the way that the relationships can also mimic the Trinity, One God, displayed in 3 persons. God shows Himself to the human race as God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Thinking about the characters in the story mentioned above; put an emphasis on the idea and the truth found in the power of God and the revelation of His Spirit. 

The story that I am referring to can be found in 2 Samuel 11 and 12. Now here’s the juicy part where I explain how you can be all of these characters at the same time, and in your own story, sit tight. David was King at the time and saw a beautiful woman bathing from the rooftop of His palace. He sent others to inquire about her and once it was confirmed who she was; she was brought to him regarding more than an introduction. She became someone that David, the King knew, and their bond and relationship escalated. 

There was also one thing wrong with the matters mentioned above, the woman was married. She was not just married to anyone; she was married to a soldier in the Kings Army, and not just any soldier, but a faithful soldier. What David did was within his power to do, but also not the most integral thing that He could do. Later on in the story He is spiritually checked and confronted regarding the matter; and following this, he is restored by way of repentance. The story is much juicier than I let on, I mean really; and you should take a listen or a look of it whenever you do get a chance. Bathsheba becomes and remains the wife of David throughout the rest of the story and something great flourishes as a result of their union. 

“Amazing story Arielle, now how does this apply to my life?” 

I’ll start by telling you that we can easily be every character in our own individual lives: 

You can be King, similar to King David, knowing and observing what you want and then seizing the opportunity to obtain that thing with the rights and power already bestowed upon you in order to do so. You can reign in your own life over the places and within the jurisdiction that God has already given you and given you the clearance to conquer. “I have given you every place where the sole of your foot threads, just as I promised Moses.” Joshua 1:3 Reminding yourself often that God has given you the green light to take territory, as necessary and, as you see fit. 

You can also be Bathsheba, yielding to the whim of her King and honoring His command. You can also be like her in the ways where she refuses to hide how broken she is inside regarding matters concerning the heart. You can be passionate and poised when your story works in your favor, as well as when it does not. 

You can be Uriah who was faithful at every turn of his story and loyal to the King and to the causes and the assignment he was tasked to. 

You can also be the Prophet Nathan towards you own story. Choosing brutal honesty with yourself so that you might also live your best life knowing how undeserving you are of it; but equally as glad for God’s grace and His mercy. 

You can be the King, living and operating in your rightful Lordship as you deem appropriate and according to the standards of God. 

And, you can be Bathsheba, reaping the rewards of her own obedience even if you didn’t understand how you landed in that situation to begin with. It was of no fault of your own, maybe there were forces much greater than you orchestrating the story according to their own desires, and because you innocently obeyed, you were granted a much greater hand than you were dealt previously. 

You can be Uriah, shielded from some of the facts but determined to remain faithful to what would remain true. 

You can be the Prophet Nathan, unmoved and not intimidated by levels of power and choose to call out injustices as the Lord leads you and to confront all of the facts because of God’s revelation through you. 

You can see a bit of all of these characters within yourself knowing that ultimately God is on the throne but we each play a specific role under heaven yielding to His ultimate plan and purpose for our lives; knowing that it is all good and never leading towards our individual or collective demise.  

You can also grasp the way that although God is found in 3 persons He is working collectively towards a greater will and purpose. You can understand in a deeper way that as Jesus took on flesh to redeem the entire world how He wasn’t necessarily being cheated or smudged. He just answered to the call, will, plan and purpose over His life. He responded to the intentions and the perfect will of God for His life so that you and I could live free enough in our own. 

Be reminded that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him in Spirit and in truth. 

Be encouraged! 

There is more to come! C R E A T E like it matters! 

Best,

ANOL ENCOURAGEMENT 

AMONG LILIES – BLOG #12

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REMAINING CALM UNDER PRESSURE

Can we be honest for a moment? Sometimes circumstances in life can get you worked up. You want to remain calm and you’ve practiced this. You’ve practiced the presence of God, you’ve practiced His peace and still something’s can ruffle your feathers until no end. You feel like hell keeps getting away with it’s schemes. You feel like your prayers are hitting a blank heaven. You feel like you keep going around the same mountains and it is wearing on your soul. It is wearing on your emotions, it is wearing on the truth applied in your life. You are who God says you are, you are doing what you know to do and still, you are finding it difficult to glean among lilies. Something isn’t sitting well with you, and you are a bit uneasy. 

You want to remain calm and you are trying to remain;

but everything in you might want to flip over tables, spiritually and literally. Things are dragging, they are moving slower than they ever have and there is no response when you call. The devil is laughing at you because he knows the emotional pain that he has caused you.

God knows the tears that those things have caused you. He knows your emotional pain, He knows the way that the problem has kept you up and worried about its outcome. He knows that, that thing has caused you to mourn and lament, and to feel sick to your stomach about it. He knows that you are in composed despair and He is coming for you. He is coming to your rescue and you won’t need to worry about that problem anymore. There are some things that you just cannot fake no matter how hard you try. Some things disrupt one to their core and no matter how hard one tries to ignore the problem and keep the focus on Jesus, it hurts. It isn’t something that you can shake as easily as other problems; especially when you know that you are the one who has been wronged. When you are the one who has been taken advantage of and when you are the one who has been wrongfully defamed. You are the one who has been going through it quietly and patiently. You are the one who God needs to remain by Jesus’s side. You are the one He needs to remain prayerful and steady amidst the awaited and assured, expected victory. This one hurts, but hold on. 

You were made to pursue God in peace. We weren’t just made to know God, we were made to experience Him, but it isn’t suppose to be complicated.

Song of Songs 8:7
A huge torrent cannot extinguish love; rivers cannot sweep it away…

life #amonglilies

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AMONG LILIES – BLOG #11

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DEATH GRIP ON JESUS

To the one found among the lilies, 

The title of this blog should absolutely excite you, because here goes…

Some are holding on for dear life. Some declare that they will never let go and then return to their own ways;

and others are gracefully walking hand in hand with their Lord and Savior, and Maker. They completely understand the need. They understand the hypothetical and sometimes literal desperation of being tethered to Jesus; in order to pursue godliness and for a right life. 

I understood and I am understanding as of late, 

the need, to be fully centered on this one thing. 

The one thing, found in the nature and the face of Christ. 

The focus that is Him; and the evidence of being off centered in focus when we are. The thing with this is that things can seem ok, they can seem right until the undeniable presence and nature of God starts to peak through and He begins to make His presence known. Territories that once seemed like a blur or, as though they were lost, begin to resurface in new ways. The way you once noticed what was saving you at a specific moment in time, begins to seem strange and you wonder how it could have ever been a rescue to you in the first place. You decide to question what seemed like the right choices as though they might be counterfeits. You wonder where your knight and shining armor was all this time; when it felt as though you were defeated and like you were drowning? You wondered, could this rescue be real because of how clearly things are beginning to show themselves. The flame that once kept you warm begins to take the place of sloppy second because of the sweet presence that comes flooding in once your full and complete rescue arrives. 

To be found deep in His embrace, and to be tucked away in His arm. It’s as though you are surrounded on all sides by His embrace. It is as though you hug Him and are drawn deeper into His constant being because of how steady He is. You believe that He will always be there, because where can you go from His presence? Where can you go that would escape his warm embrace? And when the emotions all subside, you realize, that maybe you weren’t holding on for dear life (although it seemed like you were). 

Maybe He had you all along but when everything started raging, and drawing you with it’s attention; the thought of His presence became faint and you questioned if you should begin to grip even tighter or if just remaining would do. 

You were made to pursue God in peace. We weren’t just made to know God, we were made to experience Him, but it isn’t supposed to be complicated…

Song of Songs 8:7
A huge torrent cannot extinguish love; rivers cannot sweep it away…

life #amonglilies

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ANOL ENCOURAGEMENT BLOG POST – #25

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A NUDGE

Here goes…

I’d like to introduce the notion that I am, a pretty innovative individual. I love to introduce new ideas, original methods, and creative approaches as a means of doing things. 

I started the business A NUDGE OF L E T T E R S as a products and services business. It has been a landing page for Hand Crafted Letters, DIY Projects, Events & Idea Consultations, Blog Posts, Weddings, Christian Encouragement, Business & Building Encouragement, and I even published my first devotional under the umbrella belt of the business. 

My son, who is now 8 was just months old when I founded the business. I love all that the business stands for and the creative and whimsical side of me that it represents. I can feel a measure of expounding happening, or inching its way forward. One that I cannot ignore and I’d love to take you on the journey with me.

A NUDGE OF L E T T E R S will be undergoing some minor and, some very major changes and shifts and I’d love nothing more than for you to join us as we do so. 

You’ll still get a bit of the magical and some kind of wonderful from our page; and, we’d like to elevate things a bit. The stakes are higher and we know this to be true. We’d like to put our best foot forward, by and through “nudging you in all the right ways…”. We want you to experience every advancement with us! We understand that there is a need for OUR specific nudging’s and we’d like nothing more than to fulfill those requests. 

We are truly enthused at what we get to do, and cannot wait to take you along with, as we rally all those longing to be nudged in the right direction concerning a thing or two, (or more). 

A NUDGE OF L E T T E R S has had a lovely 8 year stretch and we look forward to 8 more years of being found under excellent and good management and, in tip top shape. At ANOL we immensely value our contribution to the world of creatives as well as to the worlds we have decided to take on and venture into. We take seriously the quality of advice that we offer up to our clientele as well as to our vast audience. We want to improve and become more of what God has intended for our business to be. We plan to remain innovative in leading and, stewarding our gifts and our talents well. We can’t wait for you to experience, touch, feel, and taste all that we have in store for our audience next. ANOL will continue to blog on occasion and alert you of the things that are to come as they do. 

Be reminded that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him in Spirit and in truth. 

Be encouraged! 

There is more to come! C R E A T E like it matters! 

Best,

ANOL ENCOURAGEMENT 

AMONG LILIES – BLOG #10

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AMONG LILIES?

Are you confused about your location? Are you confused about your vocation? Are you confused about who you are? 

Are you confused about your location?

Are you allowing where you are physically to determine where you are going in the natural. Naturally you can only place one foot in front of the other, and naturally you can only take one step at a time; and while this is the natural approach to life, it certainly is not the heavenly; 

nor is it fully the approach to life according to cause and effect. You see, heavenly speaking, your one step can equate to thousands in the Kingdom of God; 

and your thousands of steps can equate to no impact at all in the Kingdom of God, all at the same time. 

God rewards effort and in the same breath He doesn’t. God rewards heart posture and in the same breath He’ll honor someone with a janky heart posture with a cause at a moments notice. 

God rewards integrity and good character and,

in the same breath He’d plead and win, a case for an individual who is less than perfect without ever even questioning it. God’s ways are past finding out, and we will leave that there. 

FOUND AMONG LILIES

So what about being found Among Lilies in spite of your shortcomings baffles you? What about it makes you feel like an imposter? I can assure you that you are not; all have fallen short of the glory of God, and yet He invites you still. He invites you to partake in the promises of glory after glory and, grace upon grace. He invites you to lavish in His goodness time and time again. Have you accepted His offer? Or, do you think of it as some sort of trick or something so baffling? 

What about your vocation confuses you? 

Either…

You feel under qualified to be where you are and like you do not have what it takes. 

You are riding the wave of success like none other and you are not coming down for anything, ever or, at all. You may be trapped in a place of “that isn’t for me.” and waiting on God for the clearance to let it go. You are experiencing your promised land and you love it here, but it does not come without its challenges. You are waiting on your next and you are doing so very graciously in spite of the temptation not to. You are coasting without a care in the world but you also know that you are onto something even greater.  You are flustered at the time it is taking to get where you know you should be but you will not let go of your God or take your eye off of the prize; even for a moment. 

What about these things tell you, you are not going to make it? What about these things tell you to brace what is ahead? What about these things tell you to question your worthiness? What about these things causes you to doubt who you really are? 

Your identity is not up for negotiation and neither is it up for grabs. Whether you are on the mountain top or passing through the valley; your identity, remains the same. Let’s give up allowing those that have not taken the time to identify who they truly are to sway our thinking. You know the time you have put in as well as your discipline and dedication to covering yourself in your truest identity. Don’t allow any miscellaneous soul or spirit to rob you of that. Either you call them higher or you leave them in your dust. Don’t be bound to people, places or things that are hell bent on remaining the same. The LORD frees you from them, remain free. 

You were made to pursue God in peace. We weren’t just made to know God, we were made to experience Him, but it isn’t supposed to be complicated…

Song of Songs 8:7
A huge torrent cannot extinguish love; rivers cannot sweep it away…

life #amonglilies

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