Nikao (verb)/nik-ah'-o/ (Greek) To conquer, triumph, overcome, to be victorious
Recently, I watched a Netflix talk by Brené Brown on the necessity of vulnerability. Among the many great lessons she presented to listeners, one piece of wisdom stood out among the rest. Each day she settled to choose courage over comfort, and she encouraged viewers to do the same. “‘Be strong and courageous. Do not…
Reading the Bible can be overwhelming, especially when we use it as a mirror for our lives. There is so much to work on, so much to do, so much not to do, so much forgiveness to ask for, so much forgiveness to give. But, one thing is for certain. As we love God with…
Once when I was in middle school, a “he said, she said” dispute developed between two of my classmates. When the pair couldn’t come to an agreement, someone in class turned to another one of my classmates and asked him what happened. My classmate said, “How should I know?” And the investigator responded with something…
It often amazes me that the entire Bible speaks of God’s love for us, while seldomly speaking the words “I love you” in succession. But, the more I learn God’s character, it’s evident that God’s love is all about action. “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it…
Recently, I had to make a return at a local grocery store. Before I could proceed to the customer service desk, one of the workers greeted me, and asked if he could see my return. He diligently rummaged through the items marking each tag to signify a return, and then marking those same items on…
The fear, anger and anguish of seeing black man after black man, black woman after black woman, being attacked, murdered and punished unjustly is too heavy for words. It’s difficult to comprehend the senseless violence that continues to take lives. But, when human comprehension fails, God speaks. I have no notion of telling you how…
In my house, I identify myself as an efficient, supersonic dishwasher. But, with this speed comes little nicks and dings on my fingers from various cooking utensils. One of my most memorable gashes came in the form of a vegetable peeler. As I washed it rapidly (too rapidly), I peeled off part of my thumb.…
Think of a place you’re most comfortable in – past or present. Maybe it’s a relative’s home, a best friend’s bedroom, a favorite teacher’s classroom, a sunny beach. For me, reminiscing about my childhood home makes me all warm and fuzzy inside. The harmony created within these walls was a solid rock throughout my ever-changing…
The unprecedented access we have to the wisdom of others on YouTube, Netflix, social media, in books, etc. proves bittersweet. On one hand, these outlets provide encouragement, wisdom and advice. On the contrary, these sources can easily take the place of our own personal knowledge and revelation of the Bible, which comes from reading it…
A few years ago, I settled in my heart to forgive someone I hated for about ten years. After years of thinking I had finally forgiven, I soon realized I still harbored hate for a person who was and is one of the most important people in my life. Unforgiveness proved to be a terrible…
The Nikao Collection 