When I was a little girl, God gave me a big dream for my life. In fact, my mom tells me that I asked Jesus into my heart when I was four and while you might think that’s a bit young…I actually remember it. But what I did afterwards, I remember even more.
A few days later we were driving to see family in few towns away and, I guess this was before you had to wear seat-belts, because I remember sitting on one of the seats into our van facing the rear window. The sky was very blue and I couldn’t read the signs but I knew we were getting closer to my cousin’s house solely based on the familiarity of the drive. My heart was so excited beyond the thought of playing barbies with my cousin. I was about to share Jesus for the first time…at four.
While I cannot remember the scene exactly, I have glimpses in my mind of what occurred that day. Knowing how my Kennedy (4) talks, a four-year-olds presentation of the gospel isn’t the most theologically correct but it’s probably the most effective way I’ve ever shared the gospel. I don’t remember what I said, but I remember thinking, “Telling people about Jesus is the most best thing…ever!”
And to this day…those words are the most truthful, authoritative and guiding words in my heart. I knew that one day I would go to the ends of the earth and share the gospel…and I did. At the age of 17, I went to Kenya Africa and then to later to Amman, Jordan. But then, I went to the furthest place possible for a teenage girl…my school. Those years at my high school I spent pouring the gospel into a few souls, one of which I had the opportunity to come to see accept Christ at youth group one night.
For those 13 years God gave me glimpses of my page 23 vision for my life.
What’s a page 23 vision? I’m glad you asked.
I’ll admit it, I’ve been a skeptic. I’ve believed God for impossible things before…and He’s done it. I’ve asked God for audacious faith…and He’s allowed me to experience it…in small pieces. But asking God to make the sun stand still over certain area’s of my life right now? Sometimes I wish I had the faith of a four year old again.
About a week ago, this book came into my hands:
And since the moment I started reading it, a divine act of God has taken place. No, $10,000 didn’t drop down from the sky. And no, a publisher didn’t call me this week and offer me an amazing book contract. And no, nothing crazy or out of sorts has physically happened…but my spiritual life?
Turned-up-side-down.
My eyes have been opened to how weak my faith is. How I put God into a high position and love Him with everything within me but… that page 23 vision? It had faded. It got lost into a sea of disobedience, failure and hurt in my life.
But it has returned. Ruthlessly.
Pastor Furtick describes a page 23 vision like this:
“It will start with a seed of inspiration that takes root in your imagination. Over time, it will produce a harvest of obedience for the glory of God. And the whole process will take place deep in the soil of your faith.”
And that’s exactly what has happened. Even though my circumstances are not drastically different, my heart is moving at a rapid speed of growth. My eyes are being opened in ways I need them to be. And the Lord is changing my heart, my direction and my everything back to that page 23 vision.
It’s an exciting day for my pastor, Steven Furtick and our church. Today is the release date for his first book, Sun Stand Still. And I’m so excited because I’m giving away one copy of his book on this blog this week.
While I’m still working through gaining a better hold of audacious faith and the page 23 vision God has given me for my life…I believe in this movement. And I mean, I believe with all of my heart. This book has the ability to awaken your faith like nothing ever has. You have a page 23 vision too. God has a great purpose for your life and it will blow your mind away. He loves you, you are greatly favored and He wants to do what seems impossible to you for your life.
This book doesn’t hold all the answers. Only God does. But it holds a lot of valuable truths that will help you move closer to the heart of God.
So here’s how this will work: for one comment, one entry. For two comments, two entries…etc. You can leave an entry once a day. But if you tweet or facebook about this please make sure to leave another comment so you can have double the entries.
I will post the winner on Monday, September 27th.
27 Comments
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I Believe in the Vision God has given you and His Power to see that Vision in full completion when (someday) you stand before Him and He says: ‘Well done my Good and Faithful Servant’.
You may be unlikely but you are also Amazing!!!!!!
Nicki, I’m unlikely too. I would love to have this book. I believe it will strengthen my faith. Thank you.
Oh, how this speaks to my current situation! I am standing on the brink of a brand new ministry God has given me and I am scared! Me finding this book was no accident.
Thank you for being a REAL representation of of Him others. Especially to me!! Praying for you right now knowing that what He has started He will complete my friend! Love you!
I could certainly use some encouragement. I’ve been in a faith-funk for about a year now…and I’m tired of it. I want to get bcck in my heart-peace joy for God and his grace–I’m just trying to get passed my circumstances, leave ME behind and focus on God.
Nicki, Thank you for sharing your heart through words. What a beautiful blog today! Can’t wait to read this book! Bless you.
I read about this book last week on Lysa TerKeurst’s blog…and between her blog and your blog, this definitely sounds like a book I am going to buy as soon as I can. Even though I feel like I have a very strong faith, I need that AUDACIOUS faith back in my life.
Thanks for sharing with us today…saw the post on facebook, and flipped over from there.
I posted this on my FACEBOOK page! Awesome! I can’t wait til this book comes out!
I can so envision you as a 4 yr old telling everyone about Jesus! 🙂
I’ve been waiting anxiously for this book to come out – so fingers crossed!
I am so happy to have stumbled across this blog and this great giveaway! Seeing others in the same circumstances as myself are in itself encouraging. I pray for us all to have the unfailing faith of a child!
I could use a faith boost! I look forward to reading this book!
I am anxious to read this book. I have been standing in prayer for some things for a while and find myself discouraged too often. I am a single mom of three girls and want them to have this kind of sun stand still faith. My hearts cry is to have them walk with The Lord and their children!
Thanks, Melissa
I just told the Lord this morning how much I want to be a woman of faith right now, but I’m not. Holding on to the thought that He is holding on to me.
Ah, a seed, fertile soil, ample watering and lots of Son=bloom, fruit, a bountiful harvest. In various types of soil and climate, seed grow and produce at different rates, but they always eventually grow. . Thanks for the encouragement.
Oh, I know my spiritual walk could use a good dose of page 23 vision! I keep seeing blog posts and facebook entries about this book. I, too, am anxious to read it! Thank you for doing this giveaway. 🙂
Blessings,
K
Came across your blog via Proverbs 31 Ministries on facebook, and .. thank you!! 🙂 .. This was a nice little reminder to me that God doesn’t discount even tho sometimes our faith for others is bigger than for ourselves or even non-existent @ times .. His mercy and grace is sufficient for all! I absolutely would love for this read to be a seed in my heart. 🙂
This is exactly where I am at!! Just 3 nights ago the Lord and I had a lil discussion about my faith. When I talked to my husband about this I realized how absolutely crazy it sounds! I love Him! I do! I LOVE HIM!! And you know what, I beleive Him. I KNOW that He can do all things…any thing! But the faith issue came into play with ME. I didn’t believe that God would do those “God things” for me. For other christians, yes. For me…well, He caannnn….
Thank you for the inspiring read. My faith has also been diminished. My joy is gone. I have burden and fear that I do not even understand. I know the Lord has forgiven me. But I have been disobediant and have not walked where he told me to. I always said I dont want to wonder what my life would be like if I had followed Him, but now I am wondering. I desperately need to return to God. I thank you for your words and I hope that you can continue to lift others up.
I have been struggling with my faith lately. Circumstances from unemployment to divorce have shaken up everything in my life. It seems as if I have more faith for others than I do for myself. I believe it is of no coincidence that I came across this book today and I am anticipating the time I can begin reading it! 🙂
Nicki, this also speaks to my current situation. I would love to read this book! I don’t think our faith is ever strong enough! Been working on mine for awhile now!
To know I am a faithful Christian walking with our Lord is my goal…now why would I use this phrase? I know that God is the center of my life and I choose to have a personal relationship with Him. I wonder why at times I doubt my ability to do this simple thing, to have complete faith. I would like to read this book also!
This book looks fantastic – exactly what I need right now as I am in a restoration process of my faith as well. (I think many of us are!!) God is moving us forward and it sounds like this book is another confirmation of that!! Thank you for your blog, Nicki, I would LOVE to have this book!!
This is exactly where I am at! I have been struggling with my faith lately. Circumstances from unemployment and My husband passed away a year and a half ago, I lost my job and still don’t have a job and have really had my faith tested everyday. I often wonder way it has to be so hard to have faith? I know that we make it harder then it really is, but that is our human nature. I have been looking for a mentor to help me in my Christian walk, with no luck, This book looks so interesting to me, it looks like just what I need to see the vision that God has for me.
Oh wow Nicki! This book sounds awesome! I loved how your pastor preached for 24 hrs in celebration of the book release! That is really cool.
Love to you sister!
Nicki, I remember this incident and folks it is as Nicki describes. At the age of 4 she fully asked her Jesus to come into her heart and she did tell everyone she could about it. I vividly remember at the age of 17 her walking towards the airplane towards Kenya. The Lord impressed upon me this would not be the last time she would walk towards an airplane to share the gospel. Thank you Jesus that you keep her dream moving. It does start with a seed Nicki where our Lord takes and waters. Hold firm and get ready because you are on the ride of your life. Hugs!
You are such an inspiration! I’d love to read this book!
What a testimony you have. I sure wished I had grown up with the truths about Christ. I did, not some not fully. But..no worries..cause I have HIM now!
Helpful blog, bookmarked the website with hopes to read more!
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