Author: nicole

The Nicole J Phillips Plan to Seek and Pursue Peace:

1. Decide in advance that you will not be shaken.
2. Know that Step 1 is completely unattainable if you ever interact with people.
3. Pretend you are a toddler and give yourself a timeout until you’ve reset your body.
4. Reenter civilization while reciting Step 1.

I’ve tried this numerous times ... Read More


Have you ever been traveling and met someone from your hometown? There is an immediate bond.

Even if you don’t know any of the same people or came from completely different sides of the tracks, for just a brief moment, meeting someone from home feels like running into family. We immediately trust them and go out of our way to show ... Read More


It’s okay to tell the world to be quiet. If the world chooses not to listen, it’s okay to put it on vibrate.

My favorite part of Psalm 46:10 reads “Be still and know that I am God.”


God, I love that every time I start worrying about not having enough time in my day, you remind me it’s actually Your day.

“This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.” -Psalm 118:24


After being married to a basketball coach for 13 years, I can finally sit through a close game without feeling like I’m going to vomit. I know to the depths of my soul that God has a good plan for my husband and his players. Now, if I could just get that faith to transfer over to every other part ... Read More


Try not to be easily offended. 99.9% of the time, other people’s actions have nothing to do with you.

Proverbs 19:11 “Sensible people control their temper; they earn respect by overlooking wrongs.”


A five minute phone conversation turned into a list of life lessons. I’m going to use these in a future Kindness is Contagious column, but I couldn’t resist sharing them with you now! West Fargo students are lucky to have physical education teacher/coach, Chris Haugen, and his “Words to Live By.”

  1. Play by the rules.
  2. Give good effort.
  3. Encourage yourself and others.
  4. When life ... Read More

When the world begins spinning faster and faster this week, when responsibilities become increasingly demanding and when temptations start looking like the only way to cope, God, I pray, let me fall in step with you.


“Most of us spend the first six days of each week sowing wild oats; then we go to church on Sunday and pray for a crop failure.” -Fred Allen, American Comedian