Perspective: Lessons from the Journey

By Nicole A Jones

Perspective: Lessons from the Journey, is the first book written by Nicole A. Jones. It is a book of faith consisting of affirmations and devotions that capture dialogue between God and the author as well as divine wisdom and insight. Perspective: Lessons from the Journey, was inspired in part, by Mark Twain's quote, "We should be careful to get out of an experience only the wisdom that is in it and stop there lest we be like the cat that sits down on a hot stove lid. She will never sit down on a hot stove lid again and that is well but also she will never sit down on a cold one anymore." Perspective: Lessons from the Journey contains only lessons and insight. Many of the writings are rhythmic expressions of various emotions but in the end proves that when we are honest with God and ourselves, God will give us wisdom, understanding and perspective to help us throughout our personal journeys.

• Language: English
• Publisher: EnProse Books LLC
• Release date: Oct 22, 2014
• ISBN: 9780998916316

Book preview

Perspective:

Lessons from the Journey

Nicole A. Jones

Table of Contents

Introduction:

The Step Backwards

The Choice

The Day of Deliverance

The Day of Acceptance

The Commitment

Section 1: Our Relationship with God

Life on Purpose

Love Your Enemies

Church Hurt

Good, Well- Pleased, Well Done

Guidance

Hold On

Holy Ground

Confused

I Am God

I Am Here to Love You

Immanuel

My Sheep

The War. The Weapon. The Victor.

Wisdom

Works

Section 2: Our Relationship with Ourselves

Slowing Down My Own Progress

All the Way

A Special Lump of Clay

Don’t Flaunt It

Don’t Get Weary

Failure

Is Good Ever Rewarded?

Keep Dreaming

Life

Motivation

Not My Problem

The Promise

Pain Hurts

Rest

The Point of No Return

Today’s Declaration

Section 3: Our Relationship with Others

The Humility to Love and Embrace

More

Remain Committed

Soul Mates, Matches & Mixed Matches

In Conclusion...

Closing Prayer

Introduction:

The Journey

The Step Backwards

T ell God I said NO THANK YOU! I yelled while standing on the sidewalk outside my suburban home, as if I were talking to my guardian angel. If this is the best God can do, then I can do better, were the words I spoke when I made the conscious decision to walk away from God.

Having grown up in a Christian home, evil was not appealing to me, but on that early autumn evening in 2005, after surveying the quality of my life, any side opposite God’s side appeared to be the better side. Many people were proud of me because I made good decisions. I was considered blessed because I had things: a nice home in the suburbs, a new car, a college degree, a decent job, a ‘saved husband,’ a beautiful baby, leadership roles in the church, and Christian friends and family. However, I was empty, and I longed for something more substantial.

The void was not logical to me, so I vigorously prayed and sought godly counsel from respected church leaders. Over and over, I was cautioned that it was Satan trying to get me to forfeit the blessings of God in my life. Certainly, I wanted to resist Satan, so I humbled myself and continued to walk the path of righteousness. However, the void and yearning never left. Instead, they multiplied. After a while, I found myself drowning in the misery of my blessings. I was buried under the weight of my duties and routines and had completely lost my identity. I struggled to live.

Before long, evil showed up. I began wrestling with the righteousness that I knew, and the fulfillment that appeared to be in sin. The fight was real, yet I didn’t want to be influenced by the fulfilling pleasures in sin that I saw. All I needed was to find one person with a testimony. I was convinced that if I could find one person who walked the path that I was on, and overcame it, their words would rescue me. Out of desperation, I reached out to a leading lady in the church, and expressed my struggles one final time. However, rather than receiving the living testimony that God could indeed keep me, I was strongly admonished by her not to fall for sin like other leaders and become exposed like the others who fell. I was utterly irritated by how judgmental that guidance felt. When I finally