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Thursday, October 29, 2015

Thursday Thoughts: Special Guest post by Nikki Turner!

Good Morning Friends,

It is always a pleasure to welcome authors with their thoughts or treasures, adds a little something extra that's not found on Saturday Spotlight. Today is no exception... Fellow Pelican Book Group Author, Nikki Turner shares some thoughts with us and then we'll get a glimpse of her brand new release and debut PBG title, Santiago Sol.

So without further ado...Here's Nikki!

Stripping Off the Labels

Think about all the labels you’re wearing right now…

Daughter.
Wife.
Mother.
Grandmother.
Christian.
Friend.
Sister.
Caregiver.
Fat.
Skinny.
Introvert.
Extravert.
Boss.
Employee.
Democrat.
Republican.
White.
Black.
Asian.
Hispanic.
American.
Old.
Young.

I could go on and on. By themselves, some of the labels we wear are innocuous, and some are a blessing. Some are difficult to carry and others hinder us from accomplishing our goals and fulfilling our purpose. Sometimes we get comfortable in a particular label, only to have the circumstances of life rip that label away, leaving us in an identity crisis.

Labels are one of the ways we promote strife and division, even while we try to find acceptance and belonging.

So what if all the labels were stripped away?

I came across the following verse in the Gospel of John last week in the Message version, describing Jesus:

“But whoever did want him,
who believed he was who he claimed
and would do what he said,
He made to be their true selves,
their child-of-God selves.
These are the God-begotten,
            not blood-begotten,
not flesh-begotten,
not sex-begotten.”
(John 1:12-13)

It gave me pause. Our true selves, our child-of-God selves, are free of labels, unaffected by family history, genealogy, economic status, physical appearance, political leanings, occupation, church affiliation, or any other natural label we could apply. That’s who Jesus is making us to be as we trust Him and believe in Him and want Him in our lives.
If we’ll let him.
I think that’s the key. As we look to Him for guidance, as we obey Him, He working in us to strip away all those manmade labels. Without them, we are free to be the spirit/soul/body beings he created us to be, loved unconditionally, accepted and adopted in Christ.
Ask yourself the following questions:
What labels do you wear that you’d like to let go of? Where did those labels come from?
When you picture your “true self,” your “child-of-God self,” who do you see in your mind’s eye? 

So True Nikki... Thanks!!

Niki Turner is a novelist, journalist, blogger, and the production manager for the Rio Blanco Herald Times weekly newspaper, one of the oldest continuously operating newspapers in Colorado. Her first completed manuscript earned second place in the Touched By Love 2009 contemporary category romance contest. She also blogs at www.nikiturner.net and is a co-blogger at www.inkwellinspirations.com.

Niki is a Colorado native who grew up in Glenwood Springs—home of the world’s largest hot springs pool. She married her high school sweetheart 25 years ago. They have four children, four grandchildren, and two West Highland White Terriers.

In 2014, she published “Sadie’s Gift” as one of the Christmas Traditions novella collection with eight other authors.  The Skiing Suitor, one of the Love’s Sporting Chance series published by Forget-Me-Not Romances, released in August 2015. 

Her latest project, Santiago Sol, is published by Pelican Book Group, as part of the Passport to Romance novella collection and can be purchased from the publisher or at Amazon

Connect with Nikki on Facebook, Twitter: @NikiTurner716, Pinterest and Linked In.

Hope you enjoyed Nikki's post...Leave a comment for your chance to win a copy of Santiago Sol and come back on November 28th for Saturday Spotlight where we'll be giving away another copy of the book!

Until next time, take care & God Bless.
PamT












11 comments:

marilyn leach said...

Thanks for your insight, Nikki. It makes me recognize that I need to see others, also, apart from labels, to the soul self. Cheers

Marissa Garner said...

Thanks for the very inspirational post.

Niki Turner said...

Blessings, Marilyn! Sometimes it's harder to see others without their labels than it is to see ourselves without labels. Good point!

Niki Turner said...

You're most welcome, Marissa! Thank you for stopping by!

Niki Turner said...

Thank you, Pamela, for having me as a guest today! I appreciate the opportunity to share with your readers!

M.J. Schiller, Romance Author said...

In some ways I've felt like I lost a label when my triplets went away to college this Fall. The label of mother. But then I realize that although my role has changed significantly, I'm still a mother, I just serve them in a different way. One label I'd like to get rid of is lunch lady. I love my job, but I'd also love to have the time necessary to really be the writer I can be.

Thank you for sharing your post, Niki, and best wishes for SANTIAGO SOL!

Janalyn Voigt said...

Niki, thanks for helping raise awareness of the limits we put on ourselves. Your book sounds amazing.

Susan Coryell said...

As a teacher, I learned long ago NOT to label students but to recognize them for their individual gifts and talents. Thanks for a thoughtful post.

Niki Turner said...

M.J., I completely understand! My youngest is a senior this year, and I'm having a really hard time with the transition to "mother of young adults." There are no instructions for this season!

Niki Turner said...

Thank you, Janalyn!

Niki Turner said...

Susan, those are wise words for teachers and for parents and grandparents! How many of our labels are ones given to us by those in authority. Perhaps well-meaning, but still limiting!
Thanks for coming by!