GOD IS THE SUGAR IN MY LIFE, BABY!!!

I’m enjoying my 5K runs (3.11 miles) with God every day! I crazily started a support group for myself some months ago feeling so broken down, sad, anxious, overwhelmed, hurt, and frustrated, but now I’m bragging to them how I’m feeling stronger than ever, with such love and confidence in God, AND I WANT THE ENTIRE WORLD HERE WITH ME. Today, I just want to share the song Sugar by Maroon 5 that I’ve been singing all day to God:

I’m hurting, baby, I’m broken down (me starting that support group!)
I need Your loving, loving, I need it now
When I’m without You
I’m something weak (crazy, depressed, hurt, sad, anxious and overwhelmed!)
You got me begging
Begging, I’m on my knees

I don’t wanna be needing Your love
I just wanna be deep in Your love (where I want us all!!!)
And it’s killing me when You’re away
Ooh, baby,
‘Cause I really don’t care where You are
I just wanna be there where You are (every moment heart to heart with God)
And I gotta get one little taste

Your sugar
Yes, please
Won’t You come and put it down on me
I’m right here, ’cause I need
Little love and little sympathy
Yeah you show me good loving (He exceeds my expectations!)
Make it alright
Need a little sweetness in my life
Your sugar
Yes, please
Won’t You come and put it down on me (He has!)

My broken pieces
You pick them up (God makes me better!)
Don’t leave me hanging, hanging
Come give me some
When I’m without Ya
I’m so insecure (God wants us all to know we are secure in Him!)
You are the One Thing
The One Thing, I’m living for (doing it all for His glory!)

I don’t wanna be needing Your love
I just wanna be deep in Your love
And it’s killing me when you’re away
Ooh, baby,
‘Cause I really don’t care where you are
I just wanna be there where you are
And I gotta get one little taste

Your sugar
Yes, please

I want us to know without any doubt that we have God’s continuous Presence with us at every moment and tapping into His constant love, approval, favor, wisdom, strength, boldness, courage, generosity, guidance, and plans. His sugar! (HUGE SMILE) Don’t miss out! Tell God that you want to walk closer with Him!!!!

GOD LOVES ME TOO MUCH!!!

That’s how I honestly feel! I felt a little silly telling you guys how God revealed His invisible Presence with me when a customer’s tag renewal of $41.10 lined up perfectly with a verse from Isaiah 41:10 that ended a post I wanted to reshare yesterday. Fast forward to today, I read a post from my WhatsApp friend, Rani. The message resonated so strongly with me that I remembered I was missing her daily messages. I go back to see the last time she sent me one. It was from almost two months ago, and can you believe in that post, she quoted this very verse that I felt so silly telling you guys about:

“Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.” – Isaiah 41:10

That was AGAIN no coincidence! For her very last post that she sent me to include that verse, out of all the verses in the Bible, was, again, everything lining up too perfectly, and God’s loving and sweet way of confirming that verse: Niks, I will strengthen and help you!!! HE HAS!!!!!!!

See how talkative God is when you have ears to hear Him and eyes to see Him! Nothing is more beautiful than knowing He is by your side through the good, bad, and ugly. But if you want me to be really honest with you, this 41:10 includes the number “411” which is the number that He uses to specifically tell me that He will support me and help me with our business here. We’re at a crossroads right now with it and having conversations with God about our next step. So this verse showing up yesterday and again today was God’s way of confirming He is with us as we make this crucial decision about moving forward. HEEHAW!!!

Don’t play around with your relationship with God! See how He is building my confidence by planting that glimmer of His presence from two months ago in Rani’s post to comfort and strengthen me. My faith and hope in Him give me the courage and joy to take on my life CONFIDENTLY with Him by my side. As the motto for this business states: IN GOD WE TRUST! We can expect the best, knowing He is with and for us!!! Just pray for His direction and guidance in everything! Tomorrow, I have an important meeting to attend, and I will listen to God through my spirit, paying attention to my feelings (His voice)- peace means yes, doubt, anxiety means to hold up; let’s rethink this! God is an expert in everything, and the WISER Nikki has learned to go to Him all day, every day!

GOD LOVES ME TOO MUCH!!!

That’s how I honestly feel! I felt a little silly telling you guys how God revealed His invisible Presence with me when a customer’s tag renewal of $41.10 lined up perfectly with a verse from Isaiah 41:10 that ended a post I wanted to reshare yesterday. Fast forward to today, I read a post from my WhatsApp friend, Rani. The message resonated so strongly with me that I remembered I was missing her daily messages. I go back to see the last time she sent me one. It was from almost two months ago, and can you believe in that post, she quoted this very verse that I felt so silly telling you guys about:

“Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.” – Isaiah 41:10

That was AGAIN no coincidence! For her very last post that she sent me to include that verse, out of all the verses in the Bible, was, again, everything lining up too perfectly, and God’s loving and sweet way of confirming that verse: Niks, I will strengthen and help you!!! HE HAS!!!!!!!

See how talkative God is when you have ears to hear Him and eyes to see Him! Nothing is more beautiful than knowing He is by your side through the good, bad, and ugly. But if you want me to be really honest with you, this 41:10 includes the number “411” which is the number that He uses to specifically tell me that He will support me and help me with our business here. We’re at a crossroads right now with it and having conversations with God about our next step. So this verse showing up yesterday and again today was God’s way of confirming He is with us as we make this crucial decision about moving forward. HEEHAW!!!

Don’t play around with your relationship with God! See how He is building my confidence by planting that glimmer of His presence from two months ago in Rani’s post to comfort and strengthen me. My faith and hope in Him give me the courage and joy to take on my life CONFIDENTLY with Him by my side. As the motto for this business states: IN GOD WE TRUST! We can expect the best, knowing He is with and for us!!! Just pray for His direction and guidance in everything! Tomorrow, I have an important meeting to attend, and I will listen to God through my spirit, paying attention to my feelings (His voice)- peace means yes, doubt, anxiety means to hold up; let’s rethink this! God is an expert in everything, and the WISER Nikki has learned to go to Him all day, every day!

WOW!

I am here typing with massive goosebumps all over me! A customer called me earlier today to request a copy of his car’s registration. In looking at it, though, I noticed it was about to expire, so I told him I would renew it for him. The lady at the tag agency immediately texted me back the price of $41.10. To be honest, I didn’t feel like writing a post today, so I went to copy one I read earlier from our family’s website and look what showed up at the end of that very post:

“So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” – ISAIAH 41:10 (Wink! Wink!)

That 41:10 showing up there, THE EXACT PRICE OF THAT TAG RENEWAL, was another one of my God winks where everything lined up a little bit too perfect to be an ordinary coincidence. God again planted it there to say, ‘Nik, I’m with you! My invisible Presence is always with you!’ I called my customer and read the verse to him, and he got goosebumps, too, because his company just told him that they were letting him go. So this comforted him, letting him know that God was also with him. See the sweetness of God! This customer purchased this vehicle months ago but needed a copy of it today as he tries to hustle and find new employment.

Notice I didn’t have to help him get that tag renewed but I said let me go the extra mile for someone who purchased a vehicle from us, and going the extra mile was where I found God’s Presence waiting for me with that verse, surprisingly showing up. The way I’ve been supported lately, I’m trying to up my game in being more supportive of others. Life is a two-way street, and we all need each other! May we all go the extra mile in loving and supporting each other, so help us, God.

How’s your relationship with God going? WE NEED HIM!!! Like my friend, Curtis, said yesterday, it’s such a beautiful thing that I’ve developed a relationship with God, and I’m able to know His voice and direction. That’s where I want us all! Tapping into God’s voice and direction every second, every moment, seeking to be the people he would have us be. Today, that meant having a tough conversation with someone, but I felt God nudging me in my spirit to speak, even though He mostly is telling me to KEEP SILENT (HUGE SMILE). We won’t get it right all the time, but we can try to feel God’s direction, and with practice, practice, and more practice, we will know exactly what He would have us to do (OR NOT DO!). Tell him that you would like to recommit your life to Him today! He has the best plans and paths for our lives! He got us!

“THAT’S WHAT’S UP!”

That’s from my friend/loyal customer, Curtis! He was excited about my close relationship with God after I shared how God showed up for me using his words. This wink started this morning when a situation came up, and I remembered what he taught me one day about life being a game of chess where you strategize your moves four to five steps ahead and not checkers, where you quickly move without adequately thinking. I said, ‘Nik, it’s chess playing time! You must be the wise woman your brother, Kevin (in the pic with me!), has been training you to be.

Fast forward some hours later, I said let me have an appointment with God on our family’s website. It was 21 minutes past the hour, so I went to page 21, and look what incredibly showed up:

“Like this angel (Curtis) explained: Life is chess where you strategize 4 to 5 moves ahead, not checkers where you just react without thinking through the next moves.”

Currently, the website is up to 144 pages, so for me to go precisely to Curtis’ words on page 21 at 21 minutes past the hour was God’s sweet way of making me aware that His invisible Presence is with me (He knows every thought we think!!!). No coincidence whatsoever! And that I’m not handling this situation alone!

Now that’s really what’s up! Knowing you are not handling life alone and have the Creator of the universe walking with you through it all, talking with you, and even finding ways to cheer you up on difficult days. (HUGE SMILE)

I loved my conversation with Kevin today about not having to resort to drugs or alcohol to cope with life so that we can go to God instead and hash out the never-ending problems that come our way with Him. The Lord is our Shepherd!

Honestly, this relationship with God is the best! He wants to be our Man – our right hand, our go-to in every situation. With my problem from today, I’m asking Him, ‘God, how can I step into this and use it to glorify You even more?’ Being obedient to His direction one step at a time (every moment pausing before reacting and seeking His direction through His Spirit within us), knowing God’s ways are always best! HEEHAW! God’s girl, all the way, baby! God, we pray for your EXTRA strength and wisdom. Amen!

“NEEKS, I NEED TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT SOMETHING”

That statement from my extremely generous brother, Kevin, led to a beautiful, unplanned vacation in the Bahamas. He paid for my airfare and treated our 90-year-old mom and me (in the pic) to an all-expenses paid trip to the exquisite SLS Baha Mar Resort. He personally went to check us in and left his credit charge to pay all our expenses. Honestly, your girl is back from that trip feeling so incredibly loved by God, who made His Presence deeply felt with me the entire trip.

Starting from that morning before that conversation with Kevin, I accidentally pulled out my swimming shorts. So, when Kevin asked to talk to me about something, I remembered seeing those shorts I used to wear on vacation in the Bahamas and immediately responded, “Talk to me in person! Send me a ticket to come over, please!” My God influencer, Ceri, has been teaching me that God talks to us continually in signs that are everywhere. Me pulling out those swim shorts that morning by accident was God saying, ‘Nik, My girl, I think you need a vacay!’ I did! I’m here back at work, recharged and refocused more than ever to be the greatest of all time person, wife, and mom, on behalf of God Himself! God’s Rockstar, baby!

Ceri has also influenced me to get into Rocky mode, training as if I’m preparing for a big fight – my life is currently one! So, for 50 days, I’m running a 5K (3.11 miles) every day to get myself in a fighter’s stance to take on my life like a professional boxer (don’t play with God’s girl!). That meant the morning before taking an early flight to the Bahamas, getting up and running in the dark. To get to that 3.11 miles, though, I decided to take a more extended route home. Can you believe that as I’m passing my cousin’s house around 5 am, he sent me his daily God devotional text as I’m directly in front of his house? Wow! God completely freaked me out, having my cousin send me his devotional text PRECISELY as I was in front of his home. Our footsteps are ordered by the Lord! God’s spirit told me to take that route home! I went to the Bahamas so happy feeling God’s Presence STRONGLY with me.

A very special God wink happened on the way back as well. I sent a message to my support group that morning while running my 3.11 miles on this gorgeous pier going out into the ocean at the hotel, saying:

“Feeling like God’s fav girl more than ever! Neeks, God wants you to know that you are secure in Him!”

I was referring to Kevin’s message to me one day under my God tree, saying that God wanted me to know I was secure in Him. Fast forward to the plane taking off to leave, I decided to see what God had to say to me in an appointment with Him. Look what incredibly showed up (written as if God was speaking directly to me):

“Remind yourself often that I am the One who makes you secure (Wink! Wink!)—in all circumstances.” – Jesus Always

God went to the trouble to figure out a way to confirm that text message! That was another one of my God winks, with everything lining up too perfectly to be some coincidence, with God reminding me that His invisible Presence is always with me. From texting that message to my support group early that morning (they’re sincerely helping me improve!) to taking off on that flight back home. Never one moment that God is not with us!

God. Thank You for all the love You show us all!!! May we all commit to walking closer with You at every moment. Amen!

“CAN I ASK YOU A PERSONAL QUESTION?”

That was someone calling me on a business matter. “Feel free,” I replied. They were curious as I why the last time we spoke why I was in Nigeria. I explained that my husband was Nigerian, and he asked if my husband was Muslim. “He isn’t, but he acts as if he is, if you know what I mean! (HEHEHE!)” I replied. That led to me to tell him about my daughter’s boyfriend, Mo, who is a real Muslim.

I shared how Mo blew my mind when I asked him how God fits into the positive mindset he preaches to my daughter. He said that HIS FAITH IN GOD WAS WHAT GAVE HIM THE REASON TO BE SO POSITIVE. He knew that because God was the ultimate Controller of His life, everything would work out well for Him. He knew God was behind the scenes working on His behalf and that He didn’t have to handle life alone. He just has to show up, do His best and leave the rest with God. Mo, chop knuckles, my man!

Mo just sent me this message a short while ago:

“That’s one thing that I say to Ember, that you are always joyful and strong. I’m glad I’ve impacted your life in a positive way. Thank you for reminding me to keep God first because everyone needs a reminder. I will continue to make Ember happy and make her a better version of herself every day!”

If Ember and Mo break up, I think I will be more heartbroken! See the blessings of God, guys! My daughter is far from me, but God has brought her a wise and positive friend! Honestly, today, under my God tree, I prayed with hubby only this: “God, thank You!”

And speaking of my “Muslim” hubby (Mo also wisely taught me that all men are! It’s just the way God wired them!), I feel God asking me to return to being EXTRA SOFT with him. To overwhelm him with my deep love, respect, and appreciation by being extra gentle, patient, and supportive. He has earned it! And like Mo wants to do with Ember, make hubby happy and help him become the best version of himself by the grace of God. This marriage thing is certainly not easy, but it’s our vital work for God to keep our homes and families happy and together. Just as Mo accepts Ember for her strengths and weaknesses, I will do the same for hubs as he hopefully does the same for me.

Where is your faith in God? I pray that we all can get closer to God this year, knowing He is walking with us every moment, guiding, directing, supporting, and helping us. WE ARE NEVER ALONE, FOR GOD EXISTS!!! Feel me? THE GOD PERSPECTIVE CHANGES EVERYTHING!!!

WHATEVER IS A CONCERN FOR ME IS A CONCERN FOR GOD

That’s my testimony! Like I just got off the phone with my daughter, Ember, and her boyfriend, Mo. Honestly, nerdy momma here sent Mo this message for Valentine’s Day:

“Just wanted to say thanks for being a beautiful friend and support to my daughter. Hearing her happy makes me happy.”

What I most like about Mo is his strong faith in God. When I asked him one day about where God fits in with the positivity that he stresses to our daughter, he gave the perfect response: “My faith in God is the reason I can be positive. Knowing everything will turn out good because I trust God controls my life.”

This is where I want us all, with our confidence in God, knowing that He is always with us and He is the ultimate Controller of every detail of our lives, including hooking my daughter up with such an excellent, wise, cool, down to earth guy who loves our daughter for both her strengths and weaknesses. She just finished an interview for an internship that she is pretty excited about getting, by the grace of God.

I gave my daughters deadlines to have jobs, and Julie rocked her interview this week! She was immediately hired, immediately started training, and immediately started working. She started making money the same day, clocking five hours of work! That’s how we do, boo! The interview was speedy, with Julie bragging about how she showed off her Julie charm, making the interviewer laugh. That’s my daughter!

I say all this to say don’t play around with your relationship with God. This blog is a testimony of a family rolling with God and how His blessings and favor follow us wherever we go, baby. Both of my daughters are in universities in New York, and I do not doubt that God’s Presence goes ahead of them, with them, behind them, and over them. Wholly protected and guided by God! That gives me the peace that you cannot buy! Make sure you have your appointments with God, asking for a closer walk with Him!

“EVERY DAY IS VALENTINE’S DAY WITH YOU, MY BOO”

That was me to my hubby, calling him from under my God tree to pray with him. Today, both of our daughters have interviews for internship opportunities in New York, and I’m incredibly proud of our family, y’all. But of course, I’m giving all the glory and praise to God for being the guardrail of our lives and giving us His strength, favor, protection, and wisdom that helped us to get here. GOD, WE THANK YOU!!!!

Mission accomplished!!! That’s how I’m feeling! Hubby gave his blessings for us to leave Nigeria and come to the US for the girls to pursue their goals of attending university in New York (I got the best baby daddy!) Let me tell ya, IT TOOK LOTS OF STRENGTH TO GET THEM THERE. But God did it! Having a husband on the other side of the world was highly complicated, but I love this recent comment:

“Hmmmm that’s also for your peace of mind while you keep believing in God to give you more strength to keep your home together. May God’s love and harmony reign in your home, ma’am.”

That’s my prayer for us all! That God’s love and harmony reign in our homes and in our hearts as we strive to be the loving, going the extra mile people God Himself would have us to be, not only in our homes, but that everywhere we go, our lives will reflect God.

I was chatting with someone running for an important government position, and I’m encouraging him to read my posts to get current and up-to-date information on God. Like I can’t get over how God told me when it was time for me to leave Nigeria and get back to work at our office in the US. I honestly went to God in tears, upset about my little emotional woman issue. I felt God saying in my spirit to listen to a message from my God influencer, Ceri. That morning, I had read in an appointment with God Exodus 14:14, and incredibly the message from Ceri was taken from the next two verses Exodus 14:15-16:

“Then the Lord said to Moses, “WHY ARE YOU CRYING OUT TO ME (Exactly me in that moment, literally crying out to God!)? TELL THE PEOPLE TO GET MOVING!”

Ceri said that he didn’t even plan on speaking that day, but it was a feeling (a pulling) that told him to just do it and say those verses. He explained that he didn’t know who the verses were for, but obviously, he was pulled in by the spirit to read them. Ceri went on to explain that God was telling Moses to tell the people to get up and GO TO WORK. See how talkative God is? He spoke to me clearly through Ceri – Nik, get back to work in your office in the US!!! And honestly, that was the best decision!

Notice how Ceri felt that strong pull to speak (God’s voice!), even though he had no plans to. Also, notice how I went crying to God and His spirit (God’s voice again!) led me to that perfect message from Ceri that continued right on from the very verse I had read earlier in my appointment with Him that morning. WE ARE NOT GOING THROUGH LIFE ALONE; We all have God’s voice within us, and the wiser Nikki here has learned to feel Him out in the 1,000 decisions I make every day, where I can consider every day Valentine’s Day sticking with God and hubby. Wink! Wink!

“THAT’S TOO MUCH!!!”

That was from my mom a few minutes ago, making me laugh over some messy stuff in my marriage. And if I’m keeping it real with you guys, it really was too much. I always tell you guys how I take the 10,000 punches, but this blow went way too far, and the crazy lady had to come and make a special appearance. I will take this, this, and this, but I can’t take this. Always, though, having constant conversations with God as to what He would have us take or not take — ALWAYS BEING OBEDIENT TO GOD!!! Got that?

“What is Kevin advising you to do?” That’s the question I loved yesterday regarding the whole complicated drama. I responded, “Kevin is advising me to be a wise woman. That I have too many things going on to rock the boat.” So that meant CALMING DOWN, PAUSING, AND SEEKING GOD’S PERSPECTIVE ON WHAT HE WOULD HAVE ME TO DO. It’s not what crazy lady wants, but what God Himself would have me do. I love the advice of my beloved Mottos for Success calendar that God talks to me through:

“A team player thinks of his teammates whenever he makes a move, and makes decisions according to what is better for the team, not just for himself.

Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.” – Philippians 2:4

So with hubby in deny, deny, deny mode, I said to him today, “Hon, I’m giving you the benefit of the doubt. I love you infinity percent. I respect you A LOT. Please, let’s keep it like that.” This husband has truly earned my deep love and respect. Nobody gets it right all the time, says the lady who falls a million times, but in the same way God keeps unconditionally loving and forgiving us, we’re to do the same for others (especially in our homes!!!).

Honestly, even with all this messiness, can you believe today I’m saying a special prayer to God, THANKING HIM FOR EXCEEDING MY EXPECTATIONS? Even the fact that hubby denies everything is a huge blessing. I respect him because he tries to keep his wife and home happy. And like Kevin has taught me, “Neeks, Manny (my husband) takes great care of his family, he respects you, and there is nothing more you can ask for.” In other words, if he has his little side chicks (it is what it is, folks!), pretend you don’t see what you see or hear what you hear and be the glue keeping the home (the entire team) at peace and together. Just keep that s* over there, boo; not in my face. Homie don’t play that!