Missing you!

Well today I woke up with a new year in view. I started recalling the times we shared and I cried because I was missing you.

You have been there for the past 36 years of my life. Shaping and molding me. Guiding and consoling me.

When I look in the mirror I can't help but to be reminded of you. Many of my features and mannerism are a reflection of you. My smile and especially the Hargrove nose.

Being around you was liking being in Cheers because everyone knew your name. You were just cool like that. Old school swagger these youngsters don't know nothing about that you would say. O I think about your sayings and it just brightens my day.

O sometimes I think I can't believe your gone we had so much more do and see. But God knew what was best and I can't complain because I know you living that eternal life because you called on Jesus' name.

So once again yep another new year in view, Wow Daddy I find myself missing you!!!!

Forever in my heart!!! I miss you!!!! Lov ya! Nik

2011 MANIFEST!!!!

Hey all! Today I just want to focus on the word for 2011: MANIFEST!

Websters defines manifest as readily perceived by the senses and especially by the sense of sight and easily understood or recognized by the mind. Some synonyms include apparent, crystal clear, decided, transparent, and unmistakable.

This coming year I believe the LORD wants to MANIFEST in our lives! I believe He wants to MANIFEST the following:
1. Himself. He wants us to know Him. He is not a mystery, although sometimes His ways are. He has revealed Himself to us in His Word.

2. His Commandments. He does not expect us to become saved and still live a lifestyle that does not reflect Him. We must open the Word of God (the Bible) and learn what he requires of us. YES, God does have conditions on some of His promises.
For these first points we can look to my favorite scripture Matthew 6:33.

3. His Promises. God promises us not only life but abundant life in John 10:10. In Numbers 23:19, it tells us that God is NOT a lier. He means what He says!! 2 Corinthians 1:20 tell us that in Him His promises are yes and we confirm with AMEN by His Glory being through us.

Remember manifest is not name it and poof God makes it happen. No God is in control and not us. Rest assured that God is doing His part the question becomes are we doing ours?

2011 the year of Manifest!!! To God be ALL the Glory! Cole

Don't fulfill God given needs with worldly means aka Destructive Behaviors

I believe that God has given us legitimate needs. These needs consist of various things such as love. God has really been showing me things to guard against. Right after my Daddy died in July, God warned me not to fulfill my needs with worldly means aka destructive behaviors. In the past I would fulfill my need for love with men, liquor, food and shopping. Destructive behaviors are patterns that stem from fleshly ways of getting what we want. It takes the Word of God to renew our minds of these old behaviors.

God gave me the following steps to discern how my needs are being met. I pray they bless ya!

1. Ask yourself, what need is this person, place or thing meeting in my life?

2. How is the need (name the need) currently being met by this person, place or thing?

3. Does the way this need (name the need) is being met please God?

4. Decide if I want to meet the need (name the need) my way or God's way.

5a. If I choose to meet the need (name the need) my way, acknowledge to the Lord, Yes I know I am out of Your Will but I want what I want (name the need) met by (name,person, or thing) by (name how they are meeting the need)

5b. If you choose to meet the need (name the need) God's way, acknowledge to the Lord you have a need (name the need) and if you have been using ungodly means to fulfill it (REPENT) and ask Him to show you how to meet the need (name the need) in God's way.

Meeting our needs with worldly means will never ever work because they are flesh driven. The flesh is insatiable. Please take time to discern what means are used to satisfy your needs.

The toilet seat and the blow torch

I have been trying to change the toilet seat in my bedroom bathroom on and off for the last month and half. OK so you are probably thinking what took so long. Well once I stripped the plastic screws I would try various things to no avail get frustrated and leave it alone.

So last week I was determined to get this seat off. God gave me the idea of using a blow torch. It was a mini blow torch so forgone were the mask and fire gloves. I am happy to report that the toilet seat has been changed.

The only side effect was me burning my finger on a piece of burning plastic. While I was using the blow torch I thought to myself I wonder how the news report would read if I had blown the house up or caught on fire. Yes, I know you are giggling just like I did as I made up crazy headlines details at 6pm.

The moral of the story is adapt and continue to be determined!

What I learned this week using IBM commercials

Hey all! What better way to sum up my week here @ Smith College:

-Create a clear purpose: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXrIoF-sVi8&feature=related

-Inspire others to invent (implement): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdtlZIjdUJk&feature=related

-Keep your ideas simple remember Moshe's everything comes in threes: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hoj5Scm7HaY&feature=related

-Remember the assembly line theory: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Io-S9iv9ucY&feature=related

-Remember to be a conductor: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oktVo0reBFc&feature=related

Lastly, thanks for sharing yourself with me: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKbpETScASU&feature=related

Enjoy Cole!

I am a conductor!

Today as a sat in this leadership training tears actually came to my eyes when I heard the speaker say, you have to be a generalist with a specialty - be a conductor.

OK so you may think that tears are extreme but I felt a since of relief and fear. Relief that there has been validation to what I believe God has already been telling and showing me and fear because having to let go of the familiar in order to embrace the unfamiliar.

Webster defines a conductor as the following:
: one that conducts: as a : guide b : a collector of fares in a public conveyance c : the leader of a musical ensemble d (1) : a material or object that permits an electric current to flow easily — compare insulator, semiconductor (2) : a material capable of transmitting another form of energy (as heat or sound)

Two ideas resonate with me when I read this definition. The fact that as a conductor I am a guider and a vessel that is used to transmit something. God uses us as His vessels (conductors) to conduct (a) others into a relationship with Him through sharing the Gospel.

So today is the day that I embrace the fact that I am a conductor!!!!

Confidence....in God!!!

As I sat on a leadership con call this morning, I kept wondering to myself who in the world thinks I am a leader? OK so once again my confidence was in question...OR was it?

See my struggle with confidence only becomes that when I am trying to be confident in my own skills and not in God. I thank God for showing me that this is the case.

Think about it for a moment. Our abilities are not enough to complete our God given purpose. If they were enough then we would not need God. Adam and Eve thought their abilities were enough and look at the impact that choice made.

God has chosen us to perform tasks for His glory. Why do we seem to think that He would leave us to our own abilities and devices to accomplish those tasks?

We quote scripture and even pray for His advice but then we don't wait to hear from Him. Even if we wait and hear His advice, we don't take it because we don't like what He says. We take matters into my own hands and then we become confounded (ahhhh somebody went to ToE last night LOL) when it does not turn out the way we expected. We really did not want his advice, we wanted a Yes man. We just wanted someone to agree with us. We wanted God's blessing to stay out of His will.

I chose to put my confidence in God. I trust God and I know His abilities. He does not have a plan to make us fail nor to embarrass us. He has a good plan for our lives.

By the time the call ended I had even more confidence in God. Now it is up to me to execute His plan, His way. After all, His ways are not my ways and His thoughts are not my thoughts - THANK GOD for that!!!!

So I leave you with one question - What is the source of your confidence?

Proverbs 25:19 Like a bad tooth and an unsteady foot Is confidence in a faithless man in time of trouble.