Kristina N.

Today, Kristina shares with us about foreign service officers and how they are real heroes, the importance of rest, and how God told her that there is room for everyone.

Kristina N.

Inspiring biblical passage of the moment: “Though we experience every kind of pressure, we’re not crushed. At times we don’t know what to do, but quitting is NOT an option.” 2 Corinthians 4:8

This verse speaks to me on every level. He always brings it front and centre to my mind just when I need it.

Spiritual growth focus at the moment: I feel like I’m on a constant journey to believe God is good even when He says no. I’m sure we can all relate to that on some level. I’ve been believing for healing in my body for years now, and it still hasn’t come even though He promised it. And He always whispers ‘Do you trust me?’ It’s just that whole journey of learning to trust Him even when it hurts. Trusting God is like peeling back layers of an onion for me… it never ends. And just when I think I’ve mastered it, He peels back another layer and sends me right back to square one.

“Trusting God is like peeling back layers of an onion for me… it never ends.”

Profession: Marketing & Administrative duties for a start-up company, and Christian Blogger/Influencer on the side.

A one sentence bio of yourself: I’m just a Jesus-loving world citizen who came out of the fire ready to inspire the world around me to dance through the mystery and sing through every storm.

When did you first encounter God and how did you encounter Him? Oh wow, whatta crazy day. I was living in Israel, and I was completely backslidden. I grew up in church but never encountered Jesus, so I was broken and trying everything to fill the void. We went up to Jerusalem for the Easter Sunrise service at the Garden Tomb, and I did NOT want to go. I kicked and screamed the whole way up. I was hearing voices in my head all day long telling me not to go.

But God clearly had a plan that couldn’t be thwarted, because we made it to the Garden Tomb. And I’ll never forget the moment worship began, I instantly felt the presence of Jesus fill my body with fire and lift the weight of the world off my shoulders. My hands went up in worship for the first time in my entire life. And I think it was sweet and symbolic too, because now I love using my voice to lead people into His presence.

Needless to say when I walked out of that garden, I was not the same person who came in.

What has helped you grow spiritually in this season? The power of rest. Not as a rescue, but a RHYTHM. I’ve pretty much pulled the plug on everything, and just stepped back into the face of God and enjoyed Him.

I think sometimes we don’t even realise we’ve said yes to everything, and all of a sudden we find ourselves doing WAY beyond what we’re graced for. So, I’ve been asking God what each season’s supposed to look like. And this one looks a lot like less social life, more family time, and more intimate moments with the Father.

Just read/currently reading (and what has it taught you?): I just finished a book called Hiddenness and Manifestation by Graham Cooke, and it’s all about what to believe when God feels silent. Honestly, I thought I’d mastered the art of knowing God is always present and always good, until I came into a whole new season of having to relearn that all over again.

I’m also currently reading Stronger Than the Struggle by Havilah Cunnington and loving it! She breaks down the concept of spiritual warfare and really demystifies the whole thing. And I’m planning to read Spirit Wars by Kris Vallotton once I get done with that one!

Oh and I also just bought a book called Why You Love Music by John Powell. It talks about the emotional, physical and psychological aspects of music and how it affects our brain. It’s fascinating. Music really does heal!

Top three essentials: Phone, owl necklace, hair tie on my wrist at all times.

How did God speak to you recently? Oh gosh, so many ways. I was on a drive up to Aspen, Colorado, and when I looked out over the trees, I was shocked at how many there were. It was like billions of pinewoods for MILES! And I felt Him whisper ‘There’s room for everybody’. It was so sweet. There’s room for all of us and what we have to offer in this world – comparison and competition have no place.

“There’s room for everybody.”

Hobby: Singing my guts out, and practicing piano. I’m taking vocal lessons to really fine tune my craft. Worship is my number one, but I also feel called to use my voice for musical theatre and voice overs in the future. So, I just love singing every chance I get.

Top three practical tips for staying spiritually strong: First off, be open to hearing from the Lord in ways you wouldn’t expect. Sometimes we think we have to spend an hour with our Bible each day or we won’t get to hear from Him. Don’t get me wrong, daily scripture is always essential… but He’s also everywhere, in everything. You can speak to Him while you do the dishes or take the dog for a walk. It’s a continual conversation.

Number two: DO NOT isolate yourself! The enemy loves isolation, because it keeps us stuck in our mess and feeling purposeless. And when we go rogue, we’re not functioning the way we’re designed. God created us to need people. Learning to ask for help and stay in community is a game changer. I always say pain has a way of clipping our wings so we forget we were created to fly. That’s when we need people to lift us up and remind us we can soar!

And lastly, find your rest and make it a rhythm! Rest isn’t just taking a day off from the gym, it’s activating a part of your brain you don’t regularly use for work, ministry or day-to-day life. And that could be anything really! Watch a cooking show, edit some photos, go for a run… and make it a lifestyle. We need to remember we’re human beings FIRST, and our ‘doing’ should flow from that place.

Favourite person in scripture? Well, besides Jesus, I’d say Moses and Joseph. I feel like I relate to them on so many levels. Oh and David because He’s total worshipper goals. And sorry, but also Daniel. I love interpreting dreams, and his life fascinates me. (It’s so hard to narrow this down!!)

What do you want people to learn about God when they look at you? I want them to see Heaven in me. And for His goodness to shine so brightly that all they can do is look up. I want my life to spark hunger in their hearts to chase after the presence of a God who really is just that good.

Favourite season? I’m a sucker for sun, so summer. But I do love when the leaves change colour in autumn. I just can’t stand chilly weather.

Favourite holiday? Yom Kippur! In Israel, they shut the roads off so no cars are allowed for the whole day, and everyone bikes across the city to get around. It’s so cool. (I’m not Jewish, but I still love that holiday). And also Easter, because that’s the day I was saved.

A dream you have? Sooo many. First to be healed from a nerve injury I’ve had for about four years now ever since my spinal cord injury in 2014, and to become super excellent with my vocal abilities. I also have huge plans for my blog, to start creating resources to help women step into their purpose and grow deeper in the presence of God. And eventually to write a book.

A special tradition you and your family engage in or keep: My dad gave me and my siblings each a nickname when we were little and he always writes them on our holiday cards and letters. Mine was ‘Bright Rainbow’, which is pretty fitting!

Question you will ask when you get to heaven? I’ll ask Him to show me where His light was in the darkest moments of my life, when I couldn’t see Him or feel Him and almost gave up believing He was there. I want to see how He was working in those moments for my good and His glory, all along.

“I’ll ask Him to show me where His light was in the darkest moments of my life, when I couldn’t see Him or feel Him and almost gave up believing He was there.”

Thing you want to raise awareness about: This is random, but I’d love for people to know how hard foreign service officers work. My dad lives in Iraq right now, and every country we’ve moved to he’s had to learn their language fluently and work hard to foster international relations with the country. He’s my hero.

What do you usually do before 9 a.m.?Well, when I’m on my regular schedule, I love to either work out before breakfast or light a candle, pull out my prayer journal and spill my heart out on paper.

What is on your nightstand? Just my phone and some sheet music.

Define Christianity in a sentence: Christianity is becoming awakened to the Heaven in you and the Heaven all around you, and discovering who God is so you can become who He created you to be.

For more Kristina:

Website: kristinanoelle.com

Instagram: @kristnoelle

Pinterest: KRISTINA NOELLE | INSPIRATION

Until next time, keep witnessing!

XOXO