Nicole H.

We are thrilled to have Nicole with us. Today, she talks to us about her ministry Planted, motherhood, the miracle healing she witnessed in her son and staying in the word. Thank you, Nicole, for sharing such a powerful testimony of His goodness in your life.

Tell us a bit about how you grew up and your childhood: My parents started a church when I was eight months old. My earliest memories are in the church – eating my fill of watermelon at church potlucks, going door to door to invite people to attend a Sunday Service, singing in the Children’s Choir, setting up chairs for Bible Studies. I was the youngest of three and the only girl. Through all the ups and downs of my growing up years – a few things were consistent: (1) My mom’s reading of scripture and missionaries’ stories to us before bed, (2) her determination to eat as many family dinners as possible and make as many memories as we could, (3) and my parent’s authentic faith and deep love for people. They didn’t just preach it at the pulpit – they lived it. 

Inspiring biblical passage of the moment: Lately, I can’t get away from Jeremiah 29:11 and all the surrounding verses. To realize this was written to a people in captivity – a people who had every reason to think their story was over…only for God to show up and speak over them, “I’ve still got plans for you. I’m not done writing your story. Seek me and you will find me.” The entire portion infuses me with such incredible hope!

Spiritual growth focus at the moment: As a mom of fourteen (that is not a typo-  we have fourteen kids: Nine boys, five girls.), I find a million excuses why I’m too busy…and they can feel so valid! But over the past few months, God’s really been calling me into a deeper prayer life and reminding me of the importance of that in my everyday. Prioritizing more time to sit with Him and communicate about the things on His heart and on mine has led me to a greater place of peace. 

Profession/Mission: After years of pastoring, I felt led to step out 3 years ago and start a ministry called Planted. My passion is to see women of all ages encounter the love of the Father, walk in their identity as His daughters, and take their place to be used by Him right where He has planted their feet – to live their lives on purpose for His purposes. My prayer is that every resource we provide, retreat we host, and relationship we make would speak to those we reach that they matter, they are loved, and they have a purpose! 

If you wrote a memoir, what would the title be? It’s Worth It. 

When did you first encounter God and how did you encounter Him? I was four years old. My mom was reading to me at night from a Bible that had a picture of children surrounding Jesus on the cover. I couldn’t stop staring at it. I knew I wanted to be one of those children near Jesus. I began to weep and asked my mom how I could be one of those children. She took me to my father, we knelt together and they led me in a prayer to receive Jesus as my Lord and Savior. If I close my eyes, I can still picture the Bible cover and my dad holding my hand as we prayed. God’s presence was so real that day. Thirty-three years later -I still delight in being His child. 

How would you describe Jesus? Faithful. Kind. Constant. Worthy. Beautiful. Present. I could go on and on…so maybe the best way to describe Him is simply this: I have found Him to be everything He says He is. 

How has your relationship with Him changed you? This could take awhile. Here are some of the highlights: When I was a little girl, I battled intense, crippling insecurity. It led to an overwhelming sense of self-hate and a daily struggle to control my explosive anger. I hurt my family. I hurt everyone around me. One day, I told my mom, “I hate this. I can’t stop.” She said, “I believe you. I know you can’t on your own, but Jesus can help you.” She took me to the store and bought me a Bible. She had my name engraved on it. She told me, “Read God’s Word. He promises that His Word will set us free. Let Him change you.”

I read that Bible cover to cover, cover to cover until the binding began to break. And guess what? As God’s Word went in – my anger went out. I was transformed and so were my relationships with my family. Skip ahead to my teenage years – I’m struggling to eat because of fear of gaining weight. I hate what I see in the mirror. I don’t want to get out of bed. And in that brokenness and despair, God meets me and says, “I have more for you.” He gives me hope of a future. He pulls me out of my pit. I begin to memorize scriptures about who He says I am and say them to the mirror every morning – I say them until I believe them, His love making me bold and brave and fearless.

Keep turning the pages of my story and you will find Him carrying me through deep heartbreak, providing for every adoption, holding me close in hospital rooms as I prayed for my baby to survive, healing my heart from the wounds of inflicted by others, comforting me with His presence as I drove my child to rehab and prayed for the end of addiction, giving me wisdom as a child screamed late into the night and I had no idea what to do to comfort them, and loving me through every high and every low that life brings. On every page of my story, you will find His name. I often think of that line, “If it had not been for the Lord…” I can honestly say, if not for Him – I don’t know where I’d be. 

“On every page of my story, you will find His name.”

What has been the darkest time in your life, and how did you see God in it? Years ago, our two year old son choked at Christmas dinner. It led to his lungs collapsing, a ventilator, pneumonia, seven surgeries, and a blood clot planting itself between his brain and his heart. I can still remember the night they told me to call the family to return to the hospital to say goodbye. They said he wouldn’t make it through the night. His body was so swollen.

As I waited for everyone, I stood by his bed and wept. And then, I just started singing. I sang of God’s faithfulness. I sang of God’s love. I just sang every worship song I could think of and I remember the moment it hit me: Whatever the outcome, I would be okay because even here – in the worst nightmare for every parent – God was with me. He wouldn’t leave me. He wouldn’t forsake me. During that whole journey – God never left my side. Even doctors and nurses would comment as they entered our hospital room, “There is so much peace here. This room feels so full of love.” His presence felt tangible.

My son turned 12 this year. The doctors say his lungs look brand new. The scarring has disappeared. But the lessons I learned from that journey are permanently etched upon my heart. 

What has helped you grow spiritually in this season? Consistent time in the Word and in prayer has been huge. I have also been blessed with incredible women of God who pour into me their wisdom, cover me in prayer, and challenge me with truth when I need it. I always want to pull out my journal and take notes when they open their mouths because I know I’m going to grow from whatever they say. 

Just read/currently reading (and what has it taught you?): I just finished 1 Samuel and wrote so many notes in the margin! I love the stories – so much can be learned from them. One of the key lessons that stood out to me was David’s honor of King Saul even in the face of King Saul’s dishonor of him. He didn’t seek revenge. He didn’t repay insult with insult. It reminded me of the lesson in 1 Peter 3:9, “Repay insult with blessing.” I found myself asking, “Would I do the same? Do I do the same?” and then praying, “God, help me to always do the same.” 

Top three essentials: My Bible, my Journal, and a cup of coffee (I’m raising nine boys… Coffee is essential! Even if I have to pull nerf bullets out with every sip!) 

How did God speak to you recently? I was at a Women’s Conference recently where they encouraged us to sit with the Lord and ask, “Where are we going?” I was hoping for direction for the ministry, but God knew what I needed instead. He spoke directly to the secret pain in my heart, to a fear I had been harboring. I love how He does that – knows exactly what we need when we need it. So thankful. I walked away so much lighter. 

Hobby: Reading, adventuring with my family, and playing piano.

Top three practical tips for staying spiritually strong: Stay in the Word, stay in the Word, stay in the Word. Be intentional – don’t just say, “I’ll do it.” DO IT. It’s so important. John 8:32 says that as we abide in God’s Word, we will know the truth and the truth will set us free. Psalm 1 promises that as we delight in His Word, we will be like a tree planted by streams of water whose leaf does not wither and prospers in all we do. It is life-changing and life-giving. We have to make time in His Word a priority. 

“It is life-changing and life-giving. We have to make time in His Word a priority.”

Favorite person in scripture? These are hard questions! Hmm…right now- probably Enoch. I love that He simply faithfully walked with God and that’s what He’s known for – just faithfully walking with God everyday of His life. I want that to be my story, too.  

What do you want people to learn about God when they look at you? That He is wonderful. That He is worth following. That He loves them. 

How do you engage with your community? We are a part of a local church – serving in the children’s ministry and other areas of ministry and outreach. I host Bible Studies and mentor young women. But the best way we’ve engaged in our community has been to say, “Come on over. We’ve got a seat for you at our table.” We post it on Facebook, “Worship Night at our house,” or “Come over Friday for a bonfire.” And people come…it started with a few. Now, we often pack out our barn on a worship night and the amount of smores we make in the summer around our bonfire pit is crazy! We will look at each other and ask, “Do you know that person?” “No, do you?” It’s been just beautiful. Young and old from different churches, from no church – all just loving each other, laughing together, praying together, living life together. Now, we host a teen girls retreat on our property every year and next year, we will add a kids day camp. We just want people to know they matter, that they have a place, that they are welcome at the table. The response has been humbling and incredible. Only God. 

Favorite holiday? Christmas. 

A goal you have? To begin writing songs again. It’s been awhile and I can feel my heart longing to sit at the piano again to create. I’m carving out time this winter to do just that. I’ve learned that saying, “I’ll get to it,” is just code for, “I wont get to it.” I have to be intentional. 

A special tradition you and your family engage in or keep: We actually decorate the last day of October. On that day, years ago, after the completion of one of our adoptions, our new daughter sat at the dinner table, sighed, and said, “Family feels like Christmas.” And everyone agreed. So, we decided to decorate for Christmas and the tradition has lasted all these years. 

Question you will ask when you get to heaven? I used to have a lot of them – an entire list in fact. But now – after everything we’ve been through, after all God has done, how He’s carried us – I just want to sit in His presence. I just want to say, “Thank you.” 

Thing you want to raise awareness about: I want to shout from the rooftops, “You are not an accident! You are here on Kingdom assignment! You are not a mistake. You are God’s Masterpiece!” I want women to know the TRUTH of God’s Word and what He says about who they are and I’m passionate about attacking the lies our culture feeds us about identity. I’m also passionate about raising awareness for foster care and adoption – for the hundreds of children still in need of somebody to step up for them and say, “You matter.” 

What does your morning routine consist of? I wake up at least an hour before my kids. I’ve learned I’m a better mother and wife if I prioritize quiet time with the Lord in the morning and start the day dressed and ready to go. My husband gets up at the same time. By the time we finish our devotions, the coffee is brewed and we sit together for a few moments before our early risers join us. These moments with God and with my husband in the morning have become so precious to me over the years. Once the kids wake up, the noise level increases 1,000% and the fun begins. 

What is on your nightstand? A lamp (because I love to read before bed), a picture of my family, and usually some book I read way too late into the night. 

Define Christianity in a sentence: A community of people who have set their hearts on following Jesus. 

For more Nicole:

www.plantedministry.com

Instagram: planted_ministry

Facebook: Matt Niki Homan

Until next time, keep witnessing!

XX