Novica's Nuggets of Faith

I had the honor and privilege to speak at my very first youth conference and believe me when I tell you I have never felt so relevant to young people than I did that day.  It reminded me that just because I am 42, I still had a lot to offer young people and they were eager to listen.   I usually shy away from middle school and teens because they get on my last nerve, and they trigger me in many ways, because of my childhood dealing with sexual abuse and being a teen mom.  I think they remind me of the time I did not have the luxury to be just a kid.  So when I see them doing and making stupid kid decisions, I can't handle it.  Notice I said "kid decisions".  That's what they get to do, and it's perfectly acceptable, but for me, I just cannot deal, call me a hater.  I'm okay with that...lol Speaking to these young adults inspired me more, because they have some adult experiences that I can easily relate and get to them on their level.  However, it's s

3  For everything there is a season, and a time for every  [ a ] purpose under heaven:  2  a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;  3  a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;  4  a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;  5  a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;  6  a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;  7  a time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;  8  a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace. Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8 We have all been forewarned that there is an end to everything.  I am reminded of my own life, and all of the endings I endured.  Some seasons were undoubtedly the greatest of my life, and I just wanted to keep rel

You are Not Alone ...As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you.                                                                                                                          Joshua 1:5 Joshua was charged with bringing God's people into the promise land after his predecessor Moses and all the Generation before them had passed. Joshua was with Moses during the 40 years of wandering in the wilderness, he was with Moses through battles and triumphs, through failures and progress.  However, he wasn't in the position Moses was in as the leader. But now, it was Joshua's turn to lead the people of God, I can't imagine the stress he must have felt.  One thing about Joshua, he had courage, but somewhere along the way, God had to remind him that He was with Joshua.   I am not sure what season you are in, but if it is anything like mine, I can feel the onset of "The Stretch".  "The Stretch" is that pla

Hi Friends, We often look at the coming of a new year as a chance to start fresh, to start something new and of course lay down those proverbial lists of resolutions.  No one is immune from it's hypnotizing promises of change, the start of a new year is no doubt one of the most hope-filled moments of our lives.  But, I challenge you to keep track of how long your "new leaf" mode will last before you go right back to your old ways.  I heard somewhere that if you do something for 30 days, it is supposed to become a habit.  Dare I beg to differ in this thinking!  I think if your attitude has not changed while mindlessly doing the task at hand for 30-days your efforts are going to be in vain.  So, what do I think we should do in this new season? The Apostle Paul writes this in Romans 12:1-3 (MSG) "So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God